Tuesday, January 6, 2009

new semester

Another year, another semester. New faces and new challenges. Its not getting easier, works compiling and my table does not look like what it was a year ago. I look more like a dumpster now. It takes me hours just to find my pen.



I am an expect in procrastination, believe in last minute works usually produce fantastic job. Since the adrenaline rush to the whole body, gives you that tingling sensation somehow makes you more creative. That is not the case now because somehow that tingling sensation starts to centre on the heart area. So before I end up in a hospital and link to wires that linked to a machine, I should do something quick.



Class has started a week ago. I got 4 hours of lecture, 8 hours of tutorial, 2 hours of research supervision, and 4 hours of proposal supervision. That makes a total of 18 hours per week. Quite a handful for a lecturer I tell you. Some other universities for example only limit contact hours of only 6-8 a week. But then again, it is better than what I had in my previous university.



Total subject to be taught is 2 with 6 research papers to supervise. The total number of students this semester is around 200. That is a lot of papers to mark. Just imagine this semester alone I need to mark at least 200 mid term exam, 200 final exam, at least 70 individual assignments, 30 groups assignment and 2 proposal reviews and I research report. By the time I am done with this semester, I will have to buy new spectacles.



Total papers to write, 2, one for national and another one for an international conference, excluded the student’s manual cum text book. Total conference to attend 2 at least, and total training hour to finish this year is 56 hours. There is a conference in Madrid, I am eyeing on that one. But that if only I can finish the research on time, which I don’t think I can. And I’ve already rejected a summer school in Germany because it took so long to complete it.



I will update how the classes going later.



cherio

Cookbook update

I've tried a few more recipes from my new cookbooks. First and foremost, the Bon Appetit cookbook had a delicious and simple pork cutlet recipe with a sauce made of figs, balsamic vinegar, shallots and cream. If you're trying to cut back, you can leave out the cream and it would still be delicious. Don't worry about finding fresh figs, the dried ones worked just fine. You can find the recipe here: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pork-Cutlets-with-Figs-and-Balsamic-Vinegar-15604

Also from the BA cookbook, I tried to make a cornmeal crusted trout recipe. However, when I looked for cornmeal in the grocery store, all I could find was a five pound bag. I refuse to make that many corn muffins or cornmeal crusted meats. Since I had a bag of panko (Japanese bread crumbs) at home, I decided to make a panko crusted trout. Then I added a few spices to the coating, like red chili pepper and garam masala. Finally, the recipe called for a bed of watercress, which was also impossible to find in a grocery store not going by the name Whole Foods. So I ate my trout with rice. You can find the original recipe here, but my adjustments were quite tasty. http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Crispy-Trout-with-Wilted-Watercress-107920

I tried a couple of recipes from the Giada cookbook but didn't quite follow directions properly. Never mind that the pasta with shrimp and lemon oil recipe said to drizzle the oil on at the end and I just went ahead and cooked the shrimp in it. It was infused with lemony flavor! And for the broiled zucchini with parmesan, I had to skip the broiling step after sauteing the zucchini. I was getting hungry!

New cookbooks are fun.

Be-lated Happy New Year!

I finally made it to a computer! We moved into our new house the weekend after Christmas and I am still without the internet. I am at my in-laws right now using theirs.

So yes, we are moved in for the most part. That was a very stressful weekend. My brother was the first one to arrive in West Virginia to find that a tree had fallen across our driveway! So that was a 3 hour job, with some snags along the way. First the chain saw wouldn't start; then it got stuck in the tree resulting in a bent blade. So David and Phil went to Lowe's to get a new one. Finally they got enough cut up to get up the driveway. Meanwhile, Aimee and I had gotten most of the kitchen packed. Sunday we spent 4 hours loading up the u-haul (which got stuck in the driveway on the way up and that took 15 minutes getting out). We left by 2pm and arrived in Trenton at 6pm. Aimee's boyfriend David (DJ = Dave Junior) came out from Indiana to help us unload it. Monday I had to work, so everyone else finished unloading. Oh and did I mention that our box spring for our bed wouldn't fit up the stairs. So David and his dad had to go out and buy 2 twin size box springs to equal our queen. Tuesday I had off work, so I spent most of the day organizing and putting things away. David's mom had put all the kitchen stuff away on Monday which was a big help; I just did some minor moving to get things exactly where I wanted them.

So now the only thing we have left are the book cases; the upstairs twin room/office, and some pictures to hang. I am hoping to get most of that done this weekend or in the evenings this week. As soon as the house looks presentable enough I will take some pictures and once I have internet I will post them!! I just wanted to give you all an update so you didn't think I had fallen off the face of the earth! :-)

CHICKEN DO PYAZA


Ingredients:
Boneless chicken ....... 1/4 kilo
Onions ......................... 5
Tomatoes .................... 2
Green chillies ............. 2
Coriander powder ..... 1 tsp.
Cumin powder ........... 1 tsp.
Turmeric powder ...... 1/2 tsp.
Garam masala ............ 1 tsp.
Red chilli powder ....... 1/2 tsp.
Kasoori methi .............. 1tbsp.
Coriander leaves ......... handful
Ginger garlic paste ....1 tbsp.
Salt ............................. to taste
Oil
Method:
1. Slice 2 onions and fry them to golden brown colour. Add a little water, simmer.Grind and set aside.

2. Cut 2 onions and 1 tomato into cubes.
3. In a pan heat 3-4 tbsp oil and saute ginger garlic paste.

4. Add the onion and tomato cubes and stir fry for a minute.

5. Now add the ground onion paste, chicken, and all the spices and kasoori methi.

6. Stir fry and add salt. Simmer till done.
7. Cut 1 onion and tomato into cubes. Stir fry for 2 minutes and add to the chicken.
Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve with rotis or nans.

sahabatku milik org
























25th december 2008
my housemate a.k.a my wahidah
telahpun menjadi tunangan org...
sumpah die sgt chantek time tuh!!!
rase cam sebak tgk die dah jd tunang org..
i mean. ye la. dah nak jd isteri org kwnku ini. huhu.
ape pon. die ni bukan sebarangan gadis taW?
die budak 4 flat okay???
die jg model. yesss. yg penting. die baik. =]
semoga berbahgia sayangku.
hingga ke akhirat kelak. amin...

Hotcake Choco

5 Januari 2009, senin

Bikin cemilan pake hotcake mix ini emang praktis n simple.
Bahan
100 gr hotcake mix/tepung serba guna
2 bh telur
2 sdm mentega cair
2 sdm gula
1/4 cup susu cair
coklat mesis secukupnya

Cara
Aduk semua bahan sampai rata, masukkan adonan ke loyang yang dilapisi kertas roti.
Taburkan coklat mesis diatasnya
Oven toster selama 6-8 menit.

PORRIDGE FOR PREGNANT WOMAN


Ingredients :
2 ½ cups water
½ cup wheat dalia
½ cup quaker oats
½ cup milk
¼ cup raisins
¼ cup almonds
3 tsp sugar
Procedure :
1) Bring water to boil over medium heat.
2) Stir in oats and wheat dalia.
3) Mix well, until the cereals are cooked about 5-7 min.
4) Add raisins and almonds.
5) Add sugar.
6) Add milk.
7) Stir it again.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

VEGETARIAN HOT DOGS RECIPE


Ingredients :
1 bun (long rectangle)
2 slices of brown bread
½ cup soya granules
2 medium sized potatoes
½ cup paneer
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp cumin powder
2 tsp coriander powder
½ tsp chilly powder
¼ tsp ajwain
2 tbsp finely chopped coriander
1 green chilly finely chopped
½ tsp mango powder
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste
Procedure :
1) Crumble bread slices and make it into fine crumbs.
2) The soya granules should have been soaked overnight in water so that it becomes three times it size.
3) Place all the ingredients except oil in a mixing bowl.
4) Add all the seasonings.
5) Divide into eight equal portions, make shape into cyclinders like hot dog.
6) Fry them till golden brown.
7) Serve them in between the bun.
8) Add lettuce leaves, tomato slices if desired. CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

MASALA DAL RECIPE


Ingredients :
2 tbsp oil
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 tsp garlic
1 tsp ginger
1 green chilly finely chopped
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp garam masala
2 tsp kastoori methi
2 tbsp chana dal
2 tbsp moong dal
2 tbsp masoor dal
2 tbsp soya granules
1 tsp mango powder
2 tsp lemon juice
150 gm paneer
Procedure :
1) Heat oil and saute the onions till light brown.
2) Stir in garlic, ginger, green chillies and dry spices.
3) Add all dals, soya granules and water.
4) Let it boil, simmer until dals are tender.
5)Let it cool.
6) Place dal mixture and all balance ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth paste is formed.
7) Serve chilled with raw vegetable as a dip or with tandoori rotis.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

VEGETABLE AU GRATIN RECIPE


Ingredients :
1 cup macroni cooked
2 tbsp oil
1 onion finely chopped
1 tsp garlic finely chopped
200 gm mushrooms sliced
1 large capsicum finely chopped
¼ cup carrots parboiled
¼ cup beans parboiled
For the white sauce
2 ½ cup milk
3 tbsp flour
100 gm grated cheddar cheese
2 tbsp butter
½ tsp pepper powder
½ tsp chilly powder
salt to taste
Procedure :
1) Heat oil, add onion, garlic and saute for a minute.
2) Add mushrooms and capsicum, carrots and beans and saute for 5 mins.
3) Mix all the ingredients in the white sauce.
4) Light grease a suitable dish.
5) Sprinkle cheese on top and bake for about 30 mins. till the top is tolder brown.
Procedure to make white sauce:
1) In a non stick pan, add butter.
2) Stir in flour at low heat.
3) Gradually add milk mixture, stiring continously to avoid formation of lumps.
4)Continue cooking until slightly thickened.
5) Stir in cheese. CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

HEALTHY CUTLETS RECIPE


Ingredients :
2 tbsp oil
1 medium size onion
1½ tsp finely chopped ginger
1½ tsp green chillies
1 cup carrots
1 cup beans
3 tbsp fresh chopped coriander
2 tsp sesame seeds
½ cup soya granules
2 mashed potatoes
1 cup kabuli chana boiled and mashed
2 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp pepper powder
½ tsp black salt
1½ tsp lemon juice
Procedure :
1) Heat oil in a pan over medium heat, add onion, garlic and ginger till brown.
2) Add chillies and carrots. cook for few minutes.
3) Add all the ingredients.
4) Make them in balls and falten them.
5) Add the sesame seads on top.
6) Fry and serve with chutney.
Click here for healthy diet for Pregnant woman.

COOL CUCUMBER BUTTERMILK RECIPE


Ingredients :
4 cup low fat yogurts
2 tsp minced ginger
2 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
2 capsicum
½ tsp black salt
salt and pepper to taste
6-8 cupes oil ice crushed
Procedure :
1)Place all ingredients in the blender except ice.
2)Blend until smooth.
3)Serve cool.
Click here to know more recipes for pregnant lady.