Nasi Ulam

We had a simple nasi ulam for berbuka yesterday. The nasi was the usual boiled white rice without any santan added (some recipes use santan). The ulams were either from our backyard garden or bought. The ones that we used were serai kayu, daun gajus (Noni), limau purut, daun sambung nyawa, selasih (basil), mint and we had to get bunga kantan from the sundry shop. All were finely sliced plus also some onions and desicated coconut (tumbuk halus sikit with garam and some people guna gula merah jugak).

My other half brought home 4 ikan keli from Beranang, that had already been washed and he prepared them whilst I, fried them! Our 23rd wedding anniversary had no table laden with exotic food but a simple nasi ulam which each and everyone of us enjoyed!

(**Pokok kacang botol di tepi rumah.**)

Biji Benih Tak Tumbuh??

Dua hari sudah ada yang bertanya. Mengapa biji benih cilinya tidak tumbuh? Mungkin ini boleh menolong....

1. Mungkin tempat semaian terlalu panas, tidak bersiram.
2. Ada ulat, serangga perosak yang memakan biji benih?
3. Pastikan biji benih itu datangnya dari buah yg segar, bukan yang telah dimasak. :-) (seperti anak saya yg ingin menanam biji cempedak dari cucur cempedak!!!!)

Hope this helps.

The White Jasmine

There was a news article last Saturday, on how some women could benefit from the planting of jasmines. It was in Raub, if I'm not mistaken and the function, officiated by Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen. Jasmines could be used in the cosmetic industries.

At home, we have jasmines planted near our kitchen window. In the morning, if there's a whiff of wind blowing, we'll have the priviledge of inhaling its wonderful smell.

The papers too, brought news on how two first ladies, Datin Seri Jeanne and Michelle Obama with their interest in gardening. Jeanne with her Laman Ramuan, filled with herbs while Michelle with her vegie patch. Hey, it's chic indeed to tend to your backyard... Don't you think so?

On your right is the selasih or basil. One of the many herbs that can be found in our edible garden.

Racun Ulat Mesra Alam

Ada yang bertanya tentang racun ni... Dari pengalaman, ada ulat/serangga yang mati tapi ada juga yang survive!! Jadi terpulanglah jenis serangga macm mana... Resipi yang saya guna ialah:

1. Cili padi + bawang putih ditumbuk lumat.
2. Campurkan ke dalam larutan sabun basuh pinggan.
3. Tapis supaya biji cili dpat diasingkan.
4. Masukkan ke dalam botol penyembur dan tambahkan air mengikut kepekatan yang anda inginkan.

Selamat mencuba. Kalau yang lain ada resipi sendiri, bolehlah kongsi ye.

Frugality: A dirty word?

According to wikipedia, frugality among others is the practice of acquiring goods and services in a restrained manner, and resourcefully using already owned economic goods and services.

With a looming large number of unemployment in our country, the buzz words now will be cost-cutting, savings, spend (or the economy won't grow!!) but only on necessary items, just to name a few. Whatever word that you use, it will come back to a little bit of frugality. So, is that a dirty word, in times of economic uncertainties?

Anyway, just wish to point out certain measures taken by others and myself included. These ideas may be of good use for others too.

1. A local bank has sent out its monthly statement using both sides of the paper. Usually, 2-3 pcs of paper were used but the recent one was just a piece of paper.
2. Some cos has resorted to using e-statement ie going paperless. Another membership co had sent materials to both husband-wife in one envelope as opposed to two envelopes before.
3. Plant some veggies and herbs for your own consumption. Use up the idle area in your lawn/backyard. (For examples, you can go through lamanoflife). P/S We've also gotten our share of betik from our parents.
4. Find alternatives to what you've been using all these years (I know it's hard to some), which are cheaper and if you can, locally-made items.

I can only have my hands dirty when doing gardening. Frugality, a dirty word? Think about it and be honest to yourself.

Kangkung - A Tiny Way to Self-Reliant

Don't worry, I'm not about to become another food blogger... But, just sharing something on self-reliant. Hey presto, my 'kangkung masak kicap', with the veggie harvested from my kitchen garden. Yes, why not find a way or two to become less dependent on the kedai runcit, pasar basah or even the big hypermarket. It's not hard to find one way especially if you've the skill, good attitude and willing to learn. Let us be more self-reliant and less dependent.

My daughters' nasi cawan!! They were hushing to each other before we came down for lunch the other day and no wonder.... Our own ulam raja but the coleslaw ingredients were not though. However, it was self-made. This small thing can make eating at home fun and interesting.

Laman Impiana Lagi....

Sejak kebelakangan ini, ramai pengunjung lamanoflife meng'google' majalah Laman Impiana. Memang banyak maklumat dari majalah tersebut. Edisi Jan-Feb 2009 telah dibeli semalam di Seri Putra. Belum habis membelek lagi tapi terdapat beberapa mukasurat mengenai tumbuhan herba yang boleh digunakan seperti aloe vera a.k.a lidah buaya (#9) dan roselle atau nama saintifiknya, Hibiscus sabdariffa (#10). Alhamdulillah, herba tersebut memang ada di laman kami. Memang banyak khasiat yang Allah 'sembunyi'kan dalam alam botani kita. Cuma kita saja yang kadang2 tidak mengambil tahu atau hanya bersandar kepada perubatan berasaskan bahan kimia semata.

Pagi tadi sempat menyambung semula menanam kuku jin. Pagi semalam sambung rafia untuk sokongan pada petola dgn harapan dapat hasilnya nanti!! Just wait and see. InsyaAllah.

New Seedlings

Some new seedlings have found their way to our home. Though not yet planted, we look forward to have these additions that we brought home from Pasir Mas. The seedlings include mango, sukun, a type of keladi, purple-coloured-flower misai kucing and pokok duit (the Chinese love this plant).

A few days before, I took some white rose cuttings, green ati-ati seedlings and hydragea cuttings from an ex-neighbour's house. These too, haven't been planted. Ohh...so many plants to be planted.

Btw, one of my misai kucing has gone to Pasir Mas....

Tomato....#6

Here's our lovely tomatoes. Had plucked 4 so far. Not as big as the ones we bought at the market though but that's fine I guess.

We bought the seedling at MAHA and used baja organik!! The wooden 'pancang' + the yellow rafia was done by hubby taking cue from observing MARDI's techniques! Simple and proven effective.

Another seedling hasn't borne fruits yet but I'm keeping my fingers cross.

It's a nice feeling to harvest your own vegie......

Ulam-ulam

Semalam kami berulam.
Antaranya, daun mengkudu, ulam raja dan bunga misai kucing.
Dicecah dengan cili tumbuk.

Rasa teruja kerana...
tomato sedang berbuah,
jagung pula sedang menunjukkan tanda2 ndak berbuah
putik cili pun ada 2,3.

Alhamdulillah,
Ya Muhyi, Ya Muhyi, Ya Muhyi,
Allah Yang Maha Menghidupkan.

A 10-year cycle....

the stories today:

a. consumers urged to be careful in spending so that they will be in a good financial shape in the event of a recession.

b. Be frugal but don't stop spending

c. ...makanan, kewangan dan minyak....

d. isu ekonomi global turut.....

**It's time to visit my vegie patch.... :-)**

Labour of Love

I read with interest an article in the NST on Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Iskandar, the Tunku Puan Pahang, having her own vegetable plot. But what makes me smile is the fact that she uses a toy tiger to ward off wild monkeys from invading her vegies. What an idea. I've seen these toy tigers being sold but never in my mind to have it as a 'guard' to my garden. That brings back to mind the use of 'orang-orang' in the padi fields. When I was younger, I used to live in the District of Kerian, the rice bowl in North Perak. Could see this orang-orang from afar in the bendang to fright off the birds. Toy tiger, orang-orang, now what else can we use to 'guard' our plants?

Jack of All Trade?

I'm no Amy Beh to cook up a storm in the kitchen. Neither am I coming close to those celebity chefs but hey, I'm the lady of the house, meaning I'm the cook to the whole family (though the other half do take over the duty when he's in the mood...).
With the recent increase in fuel price, there goes up the price for almost everything, food included. Creativity as opposed to frugality is the in-word now as to what to cook and how to save. And oh, it's becoming a great challenge to be a housewife in this too-dependent-on-fuel era. You've to be a Jack of all trade....

Nay, I'm not going to fight using these utensils.

1. The Jack that needs to come up with something from the leftovers in the fridge. Ideas anyone?
2. The Jack that needs to combat the garden pests that are trying to destroy my edible garden. (will share on my laman later)
3. The Jack that needs to come up with a recipe that evolves around things at home without having to go shopping for just one or two items.