An Alor Setar Pie

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee. Since I came back, life has never been sweeter. One thing about me is that I love baking. Not much of cooking but baking and using the oven. In penang and subang we don't have an oven but in Alor Setar we have a built in oven so I do most of my baking here. Well the only place that i can do baking pun is here. So I made an effort to do on of my signature stuff which is ...pie!!!!

From my mom's faithful red cookbook I decided since we had a tin of red cherries, I did a cherry pie. So using my baking skills, I'll demonstrate how to make a 9 inch cherry pie...yummmy.

The crust

1. To make the crust, In a big bowl measure 2 cups of all purpose flour.

2. add 1 teaspoon of salt

3. add 2/3 cups plus 2 tablespoons of shortening or for those who can 2/3 cups of lard

4. with a spatula, cut through the shortening thoroughly.

5. Then add 4-5 tablespoon of cold water, gradually

6. roll dough into a ball. The split into half. Use the bigger half and roll the dough flat with a rolling pin.

7. Place the pie pan on top of the dough and then flip it over

8. Cut out the excess with a knife leaving a smooth side

9. Leave it aside and the other half too to start with the filling. I usually set it in the fridge so it remains cool and away from unwanted pests.

The Filling

1. In a large bowl, put 2lb of canned cherries (drained)

2. Add 1 1/3 cups of sugar and 1/3 cup of all purpose flour.

3. Then add 2 tablespoons of butter or margarine

4. then add 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract

4. Mix everything and it will look something like this.....

Back to the crust.

By this time you should start heating up the oven bout 425 degrees or for my oven was bout 150 ( can't remember what unit)

1. take out the pie pan and put all of the filling in

2. Take out the other half of the dough and start rolling with a rolling pin to make a long oval shape for the lattice top. If you want to cover up the whole top, make a perfect circle.

3. With a knife, cut the mid section making strips about one cm in width.

4. Start from the centre and weave through the pie. This uses technique, but I just use my creativity and so can you. To make lifting easier, make the end parts longer. Its ok if you make mistakes. The end product will still end in the tummy....XD

5. When its done it will look something like this.

6. Cut out the unwanted edges and it would look like something like this.

7. With a fork, press the edges so that it has some design.

8. When its done it'll look like this

9. Put in the oven for 35-45 minutes till its golden brown.

10. when done, turn of the heat and let it cool on a rack.

11. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream......Yummy!!!

So, did I make you drool???....hmm, it's warm, and juicy, and just melts in your mouth... the cold ice cream just gives it an extra kick....hehehe. I shall leave you with the pictures to imagine how it tastes like...hahahaha *evil grin*

Home, Home in the paddy fields...where the goats and the buffalo play

Home, home in the paddy fields,

Where the goats and the buffalo play,

where always is heard,

a discouraging word,

and the skies are sometimes cloudy all day.......*howls*

And yes,

The time has come to come home for CNY!!!!!

I cant recall the last time I updated and I have tones to write and share and bla, bla, bla....thing is when I don't have dads office to do my blogging its kinda difficult...*sighs*.

I hope I could try with the dial-up speed over here and be patient, so here it goes.

Yesterday after an unsuccessful talk to come back home sooner, we, being my mum and me went back home by flight to Alor Star. It was not as planned but we managed to pull through anyhow. So we'll be staying till the eve.

On the way home we realized that the plane was flying very low that we could even see the penang bridge, and so here to share the view of the lovely Alor Setar with you. Introducing.... Alor Setar from above!!!

This is actually Penang, see on the right the penang bridge....




The paddy fields, the view so calming from land.The huge green carpet that just remind you that this is NOT KL



Get the picture???.....its much more lovely in a car ride like the usual coming back for balik kampung and once in a while you could see the E&O express passing by. You can see all the people from the deck sipping wine and admiring the fresh air...*sighs*

Upon exit through the north-south highway, if you take the North Alor setar exit, this is a quite a big land mark. It's the Al-Buhqari institution. There is a mosque, a hospital, an orphanage, an old folks hostel, a Souq, a grave yard, a business area, and last but not least a wet market....quite interesting for an institution. I also heard there is an university, but I don't know how far thats true. There is also like a rest house where you could stay for the night.

And this is the Wisma Negeri where all the formal regarding the Sultan is held. I have performed here several times I think for the sultan's occasions like gamelan and to apply to see and do the interview on the kedah court music which is the Nobat. On the left of the building is a famous place to go jogging and evening strolls. Thing is, its near a golf course and that you should come very early in the morning to avoid the golfers unless you don't mind a golf ball being swung into your face. Surrounding the golf course and the park are the residence of the Sultanah of Kedah, The Raja Muda and other royalty. They too have reported broken windows before.

And this is the stadium, the place where we watch FIFA, Marching Band competitions, sports day and the sultans parade, sometimes the parade is also done near the balai besar, next to his state mosque and the Nobat Tower.

A close up version

This bridge connects with Alor Setar South

And this is the main town area. The highest building is the Alor Setar Tower. Its a telecommunication tower and there is an observation deck where you get a good view of the city. The tower also has a restaurant above it. The other tall building on the right that has like pyramid top is one of Alor Setar's best hotels at the moment and all ABRSM exams are held there. That's why I still get butterflies in my tummy when I take the lift there even just to go to the Chinese restaurant.....hehehe.

And so, my home land that I love is here to stay and that I hope it stays that way till its my time to raise children....*if that ever happens....I hope*

Hairspray??? Only hair cut

So this is my second day in subang. Having fun lately but having problems planning to go back to Penang soon because of the Human Rights Camp. The train with beds thingy is full and so we had to divert and make changes in our plan. So, I was longing for a haircut....can't seem to be daring enough to cut as short as Chan did though although I thought that the hair do made her had a more bold look and looks more in control about herself. Me and Sarah or Yaya as I have always called her went on to Cut and Blow near ss14 there.


Initially I wanted to go for the usual hairdo that I had for 2 years straight. I mean I did think to do something different but I have no idea how to cut it. I mean I need a practical haircut that can be tied when I'm hot, doesn't fall out if I wear a scarf, can party kinda hair and blah, blah, blah. So as a result the old hairstyle.

Yeah, not a fringe, fringe...but something different than what I got for 2 years!!!

A little twist that after i had cut it is that Yaya insisted that I get a fringe. Not a fringe, firinge but the one sloping downwars. So what the heck, roger with the fringe. It apparently looked nice than what I expected and then been loving it. So then Yaya wanted to make some adjustments to her existing hair

Yaya and the hairdresser

Then after we went to KTM komuter station to buy the train ticket to Butterworth, and found out that the tickets were sold out we went to Subang Pyramid to have lunch and discuss on plan B.

So we had lunch at a Japanese place in Subang Pyramid and this was our lunch.

Yaya had the 'eel' fish.

And I had the chicken thingy with an egg on top

The food?? ok lar not exited or anything. Thing is that I cant eat pasta anymore since I had it yesterday at dave's deli and that the carbonara experience which I tried to eat but after few spoonfulls It just can't go down my throught kinda feeling plus Yaya also had Secret Recipie and I got sick of Secret Recipie since I had it few times last week. Want something different, possibly not in Penang. I'm a picky eater thats for sure.

While digestion, a little time to camwhore...hehe

Me and my new hair

Yaya is shy sometimes....We still love youuuu!!

Me trying to be cute...tak jadi

And so the search for the absolute ideal way to got the camp remains uncertain. Perhaps we come back early one day and go realy early the next morning to the jetty. *Sighs* I wish we booked the train earlier.

Lights....ACTION!

Dear readers, yes, I know I was going to blog this earlier but I was damn stuck with my thesis and finals. Now I’m considered unemployed till further notice. Just kidding, I plan to take masters so scouting for scholarships to study music abroad. I keep my options and for the time being it’s a good chance to develop myself and prepare general knowledge for interviews and stuff. Perhaps dad could enroll me in a grooming school to know the proper way to walk, talk and sip tea. I shall become a socialite in the meantime….ok dreaming over, back to the acting performance.

Somewhere during the fasting month, the acting students meaning the third years had a pre-final project just for them to right on track on their project. Which was a good thing because, they now have a better direction and all the lecturers get to comment on the spot. So most of the lecturers were there commenting on their performance after they did a scene. The last group had two scenes that they performed.

I came in late so I missed out the first performance. The second was “Sakoontala” or “The Lost Ring” by Kalidasa. This is a Sanskrit play and was performed by Haneem’s group. She played the role of “Sakoontala”. It was good in terms of delivery but most of the audience agreed that the main character was a bit to harsh, she should be more soft as she was raised in a monastery by the monks and was a child of the goddess “Menaka” so she has behave princess like. The king also should have a touch of masculine and act intelligently. That’s my point of view.

Sakoontala and the King....hiaoing

Sakoontala and Ibu Gautami head female priest

Part 2 of Hiaoing...He is trying to blow dust from her eyes...old trick

Next was Hamlet the Malay version. This was a complicated scene since it has quite a number of actors on stage at one time. I have no idea of the actual story so that makes the understanding the play even challenging. The set was also a suggested set and the actors were wearing modern clothes. This was Tzyy Yun, Khairul Azhar (Chip) and Siti Fatimah’s group. I guess the delivery was ok, distance and projection was ok too. I just can’t understand the story. Perhaps they need more time.

Next was “Laut lebih indah dari Bulan”. Laut and Bulan are two different persons. The play was a monologue and the actor lacks stamina to perform to last the scene. I guess it comes by practice. The actor also should talk and face the audience even if she needs to imitate a person, this makes the projection a little unclear but I hope the next time they’ll improve.

This is Bulan

No exit came after that. It’s an absurd play and so it’s the meaning behind the whole play that’s important. I think The Actors Studio previously staged it in Malay, if not mistaken. This is Sylvester’s group. I’m not sure that I’m the one that can quickly understand the play quickly and for this case, if I ever go to these absurd plays, I’ll come equipped for the performance before going to such plays. The story is like two people trapped in a hotel room for an interview, discussing about their strength and weakness and finding out that there were in a psychological torture. In the end that the play wants to tell that the thoughts in the mind are entrapped and it’s an eternal torture. It’s confusing but you are not a passive audience because you need to think. I guess the performance was good since this was the only play in English and they have quite good diction too. Perhaps the overall play should be much more interesting.

The last was Nyonya. I thought Nyonya was the Peranakan Nyonya from Melacca but to my surprise it’s the Indonesian Nyonya and they needed to talk in Indonesian. So interesting!! This is Izni Yusrina’s group. They had full costumes and make-up on. According to Izni, the make-up and the rental of the clothes cost RM 50 per-person. Look at the hair, its real by the way. The hair even has white hair if you look closely. This play was a realistic play and I enjoyed because you look and you don’t have to think so much. Its very light and it has nice settings, I forgot the term for it. Gosh!! Just finish theater exam and I start forgetting. Story very simple, the young nyonya married the rich guy and the daughters from the previous marriage want their money. The delivery and diction was good as it was in Indonesian so we Malaysians need to be extra clear so that we can pick up.

This is the nyonya and the bad Tuan...the nyonya is the one selling off her husbands possesions

The other 'ponakans' are stalking Nyonya

And got busted

So that wraps up the performance. I had a great time and that the performance. Especially towards the end, the lecturers should have an idea on their students and that the students can improve better next semester. Now I’m going to plan what to do in Subang before coming back to Penang and going to the Human Right’s camp. Should be interesting though…I’m looking forward to it.

Baby Snail...du du du du du du...Baby Snail...XD

Hehe, from the baby shark song. Well I know I was away for some time since my thesis issues but now since my exam's are over, I thought I should post some events. On the 8th of November, I went for my first ever Mak Yong live performance. Yes, its in Kelantanese dialect, and it took some time to actually understand the jokes and everything. The performance was held at USM's Dewan Budaya and to my surprise the performance had a mix variety of audience. I guess since its been given UNESCO heritage title, a lot of people interested to watch the show and I must admit it was a great performance.

If you remembered a few post before this, I wrote that the story was about the queen giving birth to a snail. The king actually got mad and threw her out of the court. She then lived with an old man in the Forest where here the prince in the snail came out and played with the naughty children nearby. After an incident where one of the kings wise men was brutally bullied by the children. The wise man went to the king and ordered the boy (which was the prince, being the head of the naughty children) to be killed. When the prince was captured, the king's heart could not kill the boy so he felling lonely took the boy which was actually his son to be his adopted son. So, the actual story of "Anak Raja Gondang" starts after this.

Something to think about, Mak Yong is a symbolist performance so that some items like the two male jesters or "pengasuh" had daggers that could be used as other things like ruler, ore, a fan something like No theater in Japan. In the No theater a fan is used as a knife, and many other stuff, when the actors act, you should know what the fan is really is. This performance used other paraphernalia such as a toy chicken, shoes, a cloth and some other stuff that i cant remember of. Perhaps nowadays its ok to incorporate these Mak Yong which in the old days shouldn't have been. Like in theater class we were told that a troupe used an umbrella and got some feedback from saying that they shouldn't have done that.

Another thing is most of the actors are not even from Kelantan itself. Nothing wrong, its just they were very good that I thought they were actually Kelantanese. (which because i had a hard time listening). Perhaps if since if the performance would like to cater for non-Kelantanese speakers like me and my friends hopefully they put subtitles like when I watch P.Ramlee the Musical in Istana Budaya. At least others have some clue what they are talking about. Some more they should also write the program in English so that the "ang moh" or non-Malay speakers could at least understand the story before hand.

Overall I think its a good performance. I don't really mind the changing of the usual conventions because I'm not a Mak Yong expert. I support all kinds of performing arts and I hope in the future, USM students get more exposure to these arts which some are soon to be gone. The next day, there was a talk which I didn't attend but you could browse Dr. Kipli's blog to know all about it. I'm glad that all my exams are over and I hope I can pass my Macroeconomics paper...till more events come again...adios!