home sweet home

yoo!!
im home :)
feels so good to be home again, after almost 5 months away! =_=
well today is my second day at home, everyone busy because one of my grandpa's sister has died, so everyone attend the funeral.. So sad.. :'(
but I havent try my mom's cooking yet, she is damn hell busy woman..
today I woke up I found nobody home but only the lunch set from hotel..
The chef sent it to me bcs they know im so hungry and nobody cook..
My mom so understanding because she knows im so tired bcs im so restless so I couldnt cook :P

fried rice+fried noodle+chicken+soup

:P

yummyyy..

Let's Get Personal

Today I wanted to share a little personal info, what better than a questionnaire!

	WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My middle name is Diane, and I was named after my aunt. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED AND WHY?   I don't cry very often, I'm generally a very happy person. Watching a girlie movie with Courtney I guess. "My Sisters Keeper"  YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?  I do! I used to practice writing when I was a kid, even while not in school.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?  Ham  DO YOU HAVE KIDS?  Not Yet, Hoping to start trying this November on our Honeymoon  IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? ABSOLUTELY, I'm the funnest person I know!  DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Yes  DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?  yes WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Maybe WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Peanut Butter Captain Crunch & Special K (with strawberries) DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Never DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?  yes, mentally and physically WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Rocky Road or Heavenly Hash WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE ? What they are wearing, how they present themselves. RED OR PINK?  Pink WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE  THING   About yourself ?  The annoying hairs on my chin. (A little too personal?)  WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST  ?  My Mother      WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? White shorts, grey shoes. I just got done working out. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE ? peanut butter, needed some protein WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Sterling "Desperation". I listen to music everyday all day, usually on Pandora IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Green FAVORITE SMELLS? Flowers, My Dog, my Husband, Lavender WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?  Nathan FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Basketball, I don't watch much sports HAIR COLOR?  Blond EYE COLOR? Blue DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Nope! FAVORITE FOOD? Anything Mexican or Cuban SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?  Happy Endings  LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Dear John WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?  Wearing a striped sports bra SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter! Its too hot in Florida in the summer HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs, unless its Nathan FAVORITE DESSERT?  Key Lime Pie, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Pretzels WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?  About to start the last twilight book WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Plain black circle, IKEA! WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?  I rarely watch TV, If I do its usually a show that I can learn something from. TLC, History, HGTV, Science Networks  FAVORITE SOUND? Familiar Voices ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?  Beatles WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? California DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?   I'm an artist, but I like to think I'm good at most things I try. Oh, and spelling, I'm a  great speller! WHERE WERE YOU BORN?  Lansing, MI

Blackberries

The sun rises…warming our backs…as time, at least for the morning, draws to a slower pace. The berries glisten in the sun the colors from white to pink to almost black and everything in between.


A baby cries in the distance, children laugh across the patch, I see grandparents moving between the rows with an experienced gait. We slowly move along our row, picking our way. Mind moves around from here to there as hands methodically pick the black ones and eyes rove around looking for the next ripe bit of sweetness to add to the growing baskets.


Somehow we have lost the simplicity of gathering our food. The simple pleasures of being outside…. no electronics, not much noise…just listening to the birds, to the outdoors, to the cries of praise that Creation sings forth. Too often we are too busy to soak in these moments, these times. Baskets full, in sister camaraderie we walk away from the patch, arms full of berries, walking back into our world of bustling business.


But I saw something today in the blackberry patch…a symbolism of us. There were lots of them and I’m going to try to link them together…we’ll see if they can go from mind to paper as smoothly as the thoughts were straying around this morning.
I saw people as the blackberry bushes. Each one of us a bush. Each one capable of producing fruit. I thought of the cycle of the berries that we were so eagerly after. They begin a small little white flower, attached to the “vine”. And as I heard one of the children squeal “There is a bee!” I was reminded how it takes the bee to produce the fruit. And here we are…attached to the vine and as the Spirit fills us, we are to produce the fruits of the Spirit….

Love. Joy. Peace. Longsuffering. Gentleness. Goodness. Faith. Meekness. Temperance.

And just as the child squeals about the bee, we squeal about the trials that are actually necessary to bring about the fruit. And yet, with patience the fruit is brought forth. Small and greenish, white to all shades of pink, until finally we can offer the full sweetness of the ripeness of the fruit that the Sweet Spirit grew in us. And as I saw each of us as a bush, the various types of fruit are all at different stages forming within each one of us. I peeked under a leaf and saw a whole cluster of berries, ripe and perfect, and I am reminded yet again, that we aren’t to hide our lights. With the Spirit dwelling within these mortal temples we all have fruit to be offered and hiding it under the leaves or under shyness or pride or excuses or whatever our “leaf” is, doesn’t really bring the Gardener of our heart glory. For it is in the final fruits that the Gardener is praised the most.


As I walked away from the patch this morning my prayer was that the Holy Spirit would have a good fruit within me. The fruit that brings my Gardener happiness and pleasure and that it would be a bountiful harvest for all those around me to enjoy.

~Tera

Grilled Swordfish with Mango and Pineapple Salsa

    

    
Tropical fruit salsas are a mainstay of summer fish grilling.  Once you know the basics, the combinations are nearly limitless.  The basics are diced fruit, lime juice, onion of some sort, cilantro, and spice like cumin if desired.  For this recipe, I had already cut up a pineapple for breakfasts, so I added that to the mango I bought.  I like to keep cilantro and green onion on hand, which I used here.  Another option is red onion, which also works well.  I was feeling it tonight, so I added in some cumin, but that is not necessary.  Salt and pepper and a squeezed lime and you are ready to go.  Serves 2.
     
Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil

2 swordfish steaks

1/2 cup pineapple, diced
1 mango, peeled, pitted and diced
1/4 red onion, diced or 2 green onions, diced white and light green parts
juice of 1 lime
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
1/4 tsp cumin (if desired)
salt/pepper
        
Directions:
Preheat a grill pan to medium.  Season the sword fish steaks and brush the olive oil on both sides.  Apply to the grill pan and cook approximately 4 minutes on each side, until the steaks are just cooked through.  Meanwhile, combine the pineapple, mango, onion, lime juice, cilantro and cumin (if desired).  Mix and season gently.  When the steaks are done, serve topped with the salsa. 
    

Madurese Chicken Soup (Soto Ayam Madura)

1 Chicken
1 Large Onion
3 Cloves Garlic
3 cm Ginger root
2 red chilli pepper
1 tsp Turmeric
1 bunch parsley
2 strands Lemon grass
2 tsp Kecap Manis
3 Eggs
3 Potatoes
oil
pepper & Salt to taste

Clean and skin the chicken. Slowly boil in 1½ Ltr water until well done.

Take meat from bone and return the bones to the water to make a stock. Shred meat and set aside.

Clear stock by passing through a muslin cloth. Boil Potatoes in water and mash with 1 egg and pepper & salt. Roll into small croquettes ( 2 cm thick 4 cm long ).

Deep fry in hot oil. Hard boil remaining eggs and slice.

Put Onion, Garlic, Ginger, Chilli and Turmiric in a pestle and mortar or food processor and make into paste.

Put 1 tbl oil in hot wok and fry paste for 3 minutes. Chop the parsley and bruise Lemon grass. Add Stock, Chicken, Ketjap manis, Parsley and Lemon grass to pastemix and heat through. Add pepper and salt to taste.

Put Potato croquettes and sliced egg in bowl and laddle the soep over this.

Serve with Sambal ulek and Kecap Manis.

Madurese Chicken Soup (Soto Ayam Madura)

1 Chicken
1 Large Onion
3 Cloves Garlic
3 cm Ginger root
2 red chilli pepper
1 tsp Turmeric
1 bunch parsley
2 strands Lemon grass
2 tsp Kecap Manis
3 Eggs
3 Potatoes
oil
pepper & Salt to taste

Clean and skin the chicken. Slowly boil in 1½ Ltr water until well done.

Take meat from bone and return the bones to the water to make a stock. Shred meat and set aside.

Clear stock by passing through a muslin cloth. Boil Potatoes in water and mash with 1 egg and pepper & salt. Roll into small croquettes ( 2 cm thick 4 cm long ).

Deep fry in hot oil. Hard boil remaining eggs and slice.

Put Onion, Garlic, Ginger, Chilli and Turmiric in a pestle and mortar or food processor and make into paste.

Put 1 tbl oil in hot wok and fry paste for 3 minutes. Chop the parsley and bruise Lemon grass. Add Stock, Chicken, Ketjap manis, Parsley and Lemon grass to pastemix and heat through. Add pepper and salt to taste.

Put Potato croquettes and sliced egg in bowl and laddle the soep over this.

Serve with Sambal ulek and Kecap Manis.