How To Make Yogurt

Salam & hi to all,

do you know that yogurt is sooooooooo easy to prepare?

here is how i did it :)

MAIN INGREDIENT

2 boxes of full cream milk (each box = 1 liter)

yogurt starter - natural yogurt

THE PROCESS

pour the 2 boxes of milk and put under slow fire, you can stand
there and stir or just leave it boils for 5-10 minutes

let it boils for 5-10 minutes (slow fire)

turn off the fire. let the milk cool down until about 40-45 deg cel. i dont have any thermometer at home so, i soaked my finger in it to determine the approximate temperature. it cant be too hot, or goes to room temperature. IT MUST BE WARM BUT NOT LUKE WARM. scoop out the cream layer that floats on the surface. you can make it as mask or if you dont like it, just throw it. (in my case, i ate it coz its still protein)

after the milk turns warm (not too hot anymore), pour the milk into another container,
and pour the whole natural yogurt inside

stir well so that the natural yogurt mix well with the warm milk

close the container with its cover

wrap the container with a clean towel (you can use blanket or
normal shower towel as  long as it can wrap it nicely)

like this

get another cloth to make a second wrap, this is not necessary if your blanket/towel is thick.
leave this for 8-12 hours. you can do it at night before sleeping time,
and by the time you wake up, it would be ready. you would be surprised that the container is still warm.
 (actually the slight heat comes from the multiplying activity of the good bacteria)

look! it thickens! then put in the refrigerator for an hour at least for best result

bon appetit! you can eat it with any dry or fresh fruits!

the rational of having the milk warm, not too hot nor at room temperature is because, the yogurt starter is actually an ingredient which has live bacteria in it...and its the good bacteria our stomach can tolerate or even in need of. having the approximately tolerated temperature of milk, the bacteria can multiply and they transform the milk fat into protein. why is it sourish? hmm...i need to do some research on it haha...just eat it lah...

on the nutrition point of view, yogurt is known as immune booster and also good source of protein, in case you intend to slim down.

the conventional iranian's way is they would pour the whole yogurt into a plain while cloth and hang it in order to expel the water from the yogurt, leaving it very thick and creamy. i thought of doing that in the beginning but it seems quite tedious finding a plain cloth, i just sticked to the normal way of preparing yogurt.

so, happy trying and good luck!

How To Cook Prawn Fettuccine Cabonara

Salam & hi to all,

this is something to share...tonight's dinner, we have had a creamy homemade prawn fettuccine cabonara! its pasta time!

you are going to need :-

THE ITEMS :-

2 packets of fettuccine

250gram butter (salted)

250gram cream cheese and 250gram parmesan hard cheese

300 gram cauliflower and 10-15 button mushroom

a teaspoon salt, a teaspoon dried parsley,
half teaspoon black pepper and  a teaspoon of mixed herbs

1 liter of full cream milk

fresh 500gram prawn (medium size)

some garlic and onion

4 eggs

THE PROCESS :-
Preparing the pasta

fill half the pot with tap water 2 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon salt. cook the 2 packets until soft.
when they are soft, put under tap water, rinse and put in a strainer. put aside.

Preparing the creamy gravy

peel the prawn skin, wash them and put aside

mince the button mushroom, cauliflower, onion, garlic and put aside

pour the 1 liter milk, put in the 250gram cream cheese, the eggs,
the black pepper, the salt, mixed herbs and the dried parsley
and beat them all until mixed well. put aside. (i named this as mixture A)

heat the 250gram butter until soft. then fry the prawns,
the minced onion and garlic together at a time, until the prawns turned reddish.
 its ok if the garlic & onion didnt turn brown. the smell is lovely ! (i named this as mixture B)

mix both mixture A & B, and cook under medium fire. stir and once you see it boils,
and count 10 seconds, and turn off the fire. dont worry, its considered cooked and nutritions reserved.

pour the gravy into the soften fettuccine.

scoop well

EATING TIME !

WALLAAA!!! its ready. you can grate some parmesan cheese on top of the serving.
(ops...no decoration..all those red chilis/green celery were out of stock)
suggestion : you can decorate with any colorful edible plants! ;)


GOOD LUCK !

Addiction Towards Supplements

Salam & hi to all,

this afternoon, at the parking lot, i met a long time friend of mine, whom i knew about 20 years ago. at a glimpse, i didnt recognize her, but after she said 'Assalamualaikum' to me, then all the memories bloomed out. the wrinkles around her eyes are quite vivid, but still, having the same old sweet smiles.

i remembered those funny incidents where i tried to avoid her whenever i see her, back in 1993. why? she is a multi level marketing member, who sells supplements, and still she is doing the same thing. one fact i should admit, she is one tough lady, doesnt give up easily. she 'runs after' me like an apache hunts down his prey in the orchard..damn, she was good in her persuasion, has turned my mind 360 deg and end of 1993, i gave up giving excuses, and ended up buying vitamins and prescribed to this taking supplements everyday, and put it as compulsory! there wasnt any day that i live nor skip taking vitamins. you name it, vitamin c, b, e, a, zink, calcium magnesium, instant protein, iron etc etc etc.....and this has become a daily routine for me, without fail. this is sick, i didnt know how to respond to my body reaction, or just because people say, YOU MUST, YOU MUST AND YOU MUST.

with the same way of being sweet and charming as a sales person, she greeted me. although i already opened my car door,  i didnt run away haha.....(my bad) instead,  i took her hands and we kissed cheeks, arab style hehe...and as expected, she gave me list of vitamins, and ALhamdulillah, this time, i managed to control the conversation, compared to my inability to do so back in 1993.

actually, to share with you my valued readers, after reaching maturity in thinking, i stopped being a yes woman. i have made some theory of my own, after making myself as the guinea pig. what i am trying to say is, i have observed myself throughout this 22 years, i can conclude that TAKING DAILY SUPPLEMENTS isnt necessary. although myself still take vitamins, but this time, i prescribe them occasionally.. meaning, i would only consume based on the  food intake condition i had on the that day, if that particular day my food intake isnt healthy (ops) ie less nutritious, then i know how to get the substitute.

for me, like how we educate our mind, that is how we educate our body. we know exactly what our body needs, and sometimes, our body try to 'communicate' with us by showing symptoms of mineral deficiency, for instance. there is no harm in taking supplements daily at the right dose, but ....who wants to deny the beauty of foods variety of tastes and aroma? that is my weaknesses! i love food to much! hahaha...bottom line, i want to enjoy the luxurious of foods kinds like all those cakes, kebabs, bla bla bla...haaahhh! there we go again hehe....

Allah SWT created all for reasons, and what a miss, if i havent tried them all over too cautious or strict unpractical diet plan..

i want to try up anything that is 'halalan wa toyyiban' by the syariat, and the beauty of life to explore shouldnt be missed :)

last word, eat nutritious food must be put a must. it worth trying than ignoring the fact that our body have rights on us. addiction to supplement is just in the mind, so key point- listen to your body..
PEACE !



halalan - allowed, permissible
toyyiban - good, harmless
syariat - law according to Islam