IFTAR @Kota Setar!

It has been a while since my last visit to Kota Setar. Since my dearest gramps passed away last August(on the first day of Hari Raya) we seldom go back to AS. Everything is still intact at Villa Cendrawasih but his 'green' & orchids died with him. We missed his VW loud vroom engine and his welcoming smile at the front door of Cendrawasih :-(  AL-FATIHAH....

So, last week we had a lovely 'berbuka' get together with my in laws and Papa too. Unfortunately Boboy & Nicko couldn't join us coz we flew on a Friday afternoon. MIL,FIL,BIL and my only niece gathered at my SIL's new residence, LelaSari.  A lovely small iftar with family members at a beautiful house indeed. Well done! Abg Isk & Kak Watie (Mr. Hubs only sister) & Many Congrats on the new Home Sweetest Home!

 MIL's home cooked meal...except kuih muih bazaar mari ;-)

Food Fiesta!

 Nieces Damia & Salmah (bet you can guess which one the niece from my side  heheh)

 This is actually my favourite corner of the house...Charming Pink Flower on the wall!

"Papa meets Papa"

Left: Mr. Hubs Papa he's 69 going on 70, Right: my Papa going to be 62 this August..Insya'allah)

Short & Sweet Iftar at Kota Setar with loved ones. To my two brothers Nicko & Boboy: you guys missed it this time! That's alright, hope to have many more iftar for years to come...Insya'allah!

 "Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there"
 
 

Ben's KLCC...

Salam Ramadhan kepada semua muslimin dan muslimat!  

Sekejap je dah 14 hari kita berpuasa barulah ada masa nak menjenguk blog yang semakin pupus dengan cerita aktiviti keluarga kerja semualah terhenti seketika disebabkan sindrom M.A.L.A.S!

Di Bulan Ramadhan ni lah masanya kita nak berkumpul bersama-sama keluarga kawan-kawan rapat meluangkan masa untuk berbuka kat rumah ke restoran ke hotel mahupun kat kampung halaman.

Jom kita ke Ben's yang selalu muda mudi masa kini buat check-in lunch, tea, dinner kat sini dalam FB, foursquare bagai kan. Tapi perlu diingatkan kalau nak berbuka kat Ben's sila telefon nombor ni 03-21631655. Pastikan telefon semula untuk confirmkan booking anda kalau tidak adala pekerja Ben's yang terlepas pandang terlupa itu inilah *2 kali dia lupa letak my name dalam booking list dia OKAY!* Memang Harus tulis surat komplen tukar manager booking tu! grrrrrrr......barula panik diorang nak carik comfy section untuk kami bila tahap kesabaran orang puasa ni dah tak dapat dibendung. Sekali takpe la ini dua kali dalam masa dua minggu hari berbeza hishh!

Semua pun pilih Spaghetti...dunno why tiba-tiba semua rasa nak makan benda yang sama.  Aglio Olio for me & Papa, Carbonara for Mr. Hubs, Beef Bolognese for the two bratz Ha!Ha!

Inilah akibatnya kalau makanan dah sampai setengah jam sebelum berbuka, biasalah kan tukang masak kat dalam kitchen tu pun berperang nak siapkan macam-macam order, semua orang nak berbuka pada waktu yang sama...

dah penat berposing-posing sampai tertutup mata membayangkan makanan kat depan mata, apalagi yang boleh dibuat termenung ler ;-) Papa pun tengah sibuk mengupdate FB ke apa tu....

yang sorang pulak sibuk nak carik dah Azan ke belum...

Oh, sebelum balik jangan lupa makan Ben's dessert dulu...hmmm RV pilihan sayalah boleh tahan sedap tapi RV Apartment The Curve lagi moist and sedap & deco lebih Vasssss!

Alhamdulillah kami berpeluang berbuka bersama Papa pada tahun ni, sempat berbuka di Kota Setar minggu lepas. Tunggu next update ye!

Wassalam....

Prep 'n Serve...

'Ketupat' ,'Lontong' is the most popular & a must have dish during Hari Raya both Aidilfitri & AidilAdha.  Back in AS (hometown) we usually have 'ketupat daun palas' made of 'pulut' (glutinous rice).  Over here, 4 small packets of 'ketupat NONA' would be just enough for 5 of us...

Just boil the 'ketupat' for 90mins..so freakin'easy! 

To have a perfect result, advisable to boil it the night before Raya  (of coz everybody knows)...

Chop..chop..chop..

'helping hand' fr MHubs....pretty thin slice of carrots, long beans & chilies

He did a better job than me..*shy*

Since the PREP/ingredients for 'Masak Lodeh' & Tauchu Udang' all done last nite as well as the 'ketupat'. So, its quick..! By 9am all ready to SERVE (consider breakfast time) right after Aidil Adha prayer....

Lets Dig In...

also my homemade 'bergedil'...or 'pergedel' in Indonesia

Papa came and brought some beef & chicken rendang for us, Yeay! Good food indeed. Then at about 11nish we all went to Makam Bukit Kiara together.   

NOW, its raining outside & watchin' them doze off..zzzzzzzzzz one on the couch, in front of the TV, in the room...... *Yawn*

Oh...but MHubs still at the 'Surau' for the 'Gotong Royong Qurban'.  Jom tengok...ermmmm me?! I just can't coz kesiannnnnnnnn....(the photos were taken tis morning)  

waitin' to be slaughtered..

one down...

 

 oopss! the head...

Actually, Nicko, Boboy just 'tengok' not so 'berani'...lol.  The photographer you know who right!!!! 

Eid Al Adha...

SALAM AIDIL ADHA!!!! This year can't 'Balik Kampung' coz it falls on Wednesday, 17th November which is in the middle of the week. So, we just celebrate it here at Casamadre for the first time anyway. Not much prep for Aidil Adha just the normal 'Raya' food.."Ketupat Nona + Masak Lodeh + Tauchu Udang". Hmm..Rendang??! Ihave yet to attempt making my own Chicken or Beef Rendang. One fine day kay;-) Ala, cooking is an art right so why worry JUST DO IT! lol

Can't stay long in front of the lappy today coz we're going off to Bukit Kiara to visit mom's grave.

However, it seems incomplete until & unless I end every post with pix...as usual<^;^>

Here're some of our Raya Aidil Adha pix last year?!..oh maybe two years back nevermind its still the same old us except my hairstyle & colour, a bit different (it changes every year) @Cendrawasih (Gramps house)& Teratak Seri (MIL's house) in RED theme except Gramps he refused to wear red coz the colour "too vibrant" for him...errmmmm

 

Another reason why we do not plan to go back to AS also bcoz, have to wait till Gramps fully 'settle down' after the flood.  There's lotsa repair work need to be done, the flooring, carpet, furnitures... etc *sigh* Work in Progress now!

Okay peeps,  have a great day ahead & enjoy your quality time with family &  friends!

Wasalam

Eid ul-Fitr...

"SELAMAT HARI RAYA!"  Its already the 8th day of Syawal!!! A long delay to post our 'Raya Kodak Moments'...save the best for last muahaha:-). Actually been busy lately with lotsa things *sigh*.

Venue:  Istana Anak Bukit Alor Setar
Date:    10th September 2010 / 1st Day of Syawal
Theme: Blue & Classic

KDYMM Sultan & Sultanah of Kedah,  HRH Tunku Puteri Intan Shafinaz

oops..also in blue;-)

Go Classic....

 

The Gentlemen..

From Left:  Nicko, Gramps, Ashraf (eldest bro), Boboy, MHubs..

 

with nieces Tunku Zara (cutie pie), Tengku Damia, Tunku Charmaine & Tunku Sephia...

 

 Next year Nicko & FW will have to choose their own 'colour theme...

 

If last year was 'Purple', this year they chose Grey...

'Touching moment'- G w eldest Grandson..;-)

Next stop,  Teratak Seri, Jalan Langgar - PILs residence

props & outfit = blend well

MiL's Xpress Noodle

Nice to have something different from the regular 'ketupat+rendang'

Back to Cendrawasih (Gramps residence)....

 home cooking dishes still D'Best - Cheers w Barbican! *wink*

Open House @Teratak Hamka, Simpang Kuala - SILs residence.

nice & cozy hut @ their garden...

Location  : Alor Setar
Scene       : Vintage
Purpose   : Whateva..

 The END.

Luv:P

Balik Kampung...wo o o oh...Balik Kampung...

 

Not a car boot sale....OUR Luggage;-)  Off to AS tomorrow morning...

ALOR SETAR, here we come!!  The Raya mood is in the air. 

HAPPY HOLIDAY & HAVE A SAFE JOURNEY...Drive safely everybody!

Till then Tata...

Luv: P

FOOD Galore...

Day 27....

Wow! so much food we had from Day 1 till todate and already in the last week of Ramadhan...so fast :-(
 
Luv: P

Hari Raya Greeting Cards..Chasing Lights + Deco...

                                                        
Evergreen Raya song by Saloma...unforgettable and unbeatable song of all time! Raya Countdown -  less than a week from now. Nicko was busy putting up the musical chasing lights at Casamadre. I guess we're the first and the only one who has it at this gated and guarded neighbourhood.  Where's the raya spirit? Hmmm...Suburb!!! Well, used to it.  Oh yeah..this morning, I saw some bamboo torch  at the main entrance and also Raya deco at the guardhouse. Nice..! At least something.

Raya cards, I didn't buy any and  received only one card this year, I know it sounds pathetic but seriously nowadays we send E-cards thru email, greetings through facebook, twitter, MySpace, 'just click' without hassle to go to the post office etc..etc..Quick, Easy & FOC;-)

can be recycled as Raya Green (Money) packets...interesting & brilliant idea!

Turn ON your Raya (festival)  mode but not to OFF your Puasa (fasting) mode as yet *smile*

Hey! Check-out Petronas "Antara Dua Kampung" Raya TVC aired today, 4th Sept...CLASSIC!




Take care!

Luv: P

Raya Prep...

Now: Ramadhan & Next: Syawal. Yezz, we'll be celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri approximately 3 weeks from today!

I've ordered some 'Raya Cookies' for us including Gramps and also MIL.  Chocolate Chips & 'Que Makmur' from CuteBites Shop @ TTDI.  As for the Jam Tart or  "Que Tart", ordered from a new source (click)..... Actually still looking for a few more types.

Btw, I used to order cupcakes from CuteBites Shop, oh yeah one of  it was in the month of Ramadhan last year.  I gave 'em the design I wanted & the result was satisfactory. See it for yourself...

Cute isn't it! Only RM40 for 16pcs...nice fondant -chocolaty cuppies!

That's on the selected choice of " Raya Cookies", how about "Raya Couture"...wah wah!!! Theme colour?? Type of material?? Hmm..."Indo Kebaya", lace with corset style for the past 2 years, not again...BORING!!

 Why not chiffon for this year, maybe..perhaps..let it be a surprise okay! Wait for my 'Raya' post & (pose)..hehe

For the guys,  Emmer Zegna or John Master would be the options. 

Gosh..I'm so in love with the Kaftan or Caftan which is the In- Thing right now...

Gonna check it out at the nearest boutiques very soon (D'Monalisa, Shah Alam- saw some of their collections on WHI-TV3). This is definitely a must buy item.  I know its a bit pricey but Too Gorgeous Too Resist!

What say you?

Luv: P