It’ HARI GAWAI holiday! (che mek recipe inside!)

Wait a minute! It’s Hari Gawai and I am on holiday? But why? Okay people, I don’t even get it. It’s okay because I love HOLIDAY! Dear fellow friends from other universities, please do not jealous.

Here some information, just for your general knowledge. Gawai Dayak is a festival celebrated by Dayaks in Sarawak and West Kalimantan which is officially public holidays on 31 May and 1 June every year in Sarawak. It is both a religious and social occasion. However, not many of us know about it because Hari Gawai is celebrated by the minorities in Malaysia.

I wrote this entry because I just want to share what I have done during the break!

 I am very fortunate because I just have 3 days classes so I can start my break earlier than others. After I finished my class, I went to Kamunting, Taiping, Perak, my sister’s house. Just to see my beloved cute nephew, Afham.

so ladies and gentlemen, this is Afham, my nephew.

and we were having the new Pizza Hut Italian Pizza.

I spent 3 days there and I went back to my hometown, Kota Bharu, Kelantan on Saturday. I was so happy, finally its home. I miss everything about my hometown. The people, places and foods. Whenever I’m away from Kelantan, I will try to find ways to come back home.

I was so happy to be at home, but unluckily I don’t feel good, I was kind of sick. I got fever, headache, flu, sore throat and everything. However, all the illness never put me away from my kitchen. Just to let you know, even now, I’m writing this entry, I still holding a tissue paper. I don’t fully recover. It’s too bad when a super girly girl have a matured man voice.

So here I just want to share some of my favourite food which I always want to eat whenever I’m home.

First, it’s Nasi Kerabu with Roasted Chicken. It’s a Malay Traditional food, but what I really like about this unbeatable Nasi Kerabu is they put some Thai touch where you can smell the aroma of the kaffir lime leaf and taste of a little bit lemon grass. The price is just RM2.50 and you can get it at Jalan Pengkalan Chepa just near to SMK (A) Maahad Muhammadi Lelaki.

Second, Laksa Penang, I live in Penang but when I come back to Kelantan, I will eat Laksa Penang. Weird. But I really love this Laksa Penang. It just because the gravy is thick and spicy, plus the portion also is big, I guarantee you will full with satisfy. I hope you don’t shock, it just cost you RM2. I bought it at Pasar Siti Khadijah. By the way, if you go to Pasar Siti Khadijah, I am pretty sure you spoil by the choices and the price of food is very cheap. Other than food like Malay traditional desserts, you can shop your souvenirs, clothes, dried and raw food items and many more.

its just RM2 and i got a whole hard boiled egg and they don't even peel it!

Third, homemade food! Whatever it is, I must eat something made from my own kitchen. For that time, I really want to eat Chemek or some people may call it Chemek Molek or very seldom people call it Mek Comel. Whatever they call that Malay traditional dessert, the appearance and taste are just the same. It is made from sweet potatoes and the filling is just the sugar. Let me tell you how. It is so simple and easy. Even the sick people like me can do it.

First of all, boil the sweet potatoes; let it cold because you don’t want to hurt yourselves. Second, peel off the skin and mash them, I used pestle and mortar as the authentic way. Third, add a number of egg, actually it is depends on how many the sweet potatoes you have. I used 1 kg, so one number of egg is enough. Then put some flour, mix them. The dough is ready when it is not really stick to your hands.

Next, take a small piece of the dough, make it into a ball shape and press it into thin slice. Put some sugar on top and fold it, make it like a barrel shape. Repeat the same steps until you finish all the dough.

However, you cannot let the folded Chemek unfry because the sugar may absorb the moisture and penetrate the dough, as the result your final product is not as good as you wish. You must fry them as soon as they are fold.

Finally fry them until golden brown. Caution, do not eat while hot, you can but just be careful because hot sugar syrup inside.

so i present you, chemek

            Other than food, I was so happy since I can spend time with my family, it is sort of bonding time. Well it also the school holiday, so my sisters are home, nieces and nephews. Really love them. And I have bought a new jersey, its Spain. Go Spanish! Go David Villa! Is he going to play on next FIFA World Cup?

these are part of my nephew. the red names Amir and the blue is Muaz

            And i would love to have some time with the loved one eating our favourite dessert at Pizza Hut.

So, I think that’s all for this entry, see you on my next entries. I’m going to share some lovely recipes since Ramadhan just around the corner, who knows if you want to try new recopies for your Hari Raya festive soon. 

can't wait to see her.