Friday 23 May 2014

Facebook, chocolate ganache dan kuah sate.

Bismillah.


I remember few times having 'friend requests' from my little brother's friends . They are all at his age, or sometimes younger. My brother, Hariz is currently eleven years old and had been very active both in academic and sports. Well, equally active in messing with his sister at home of course.
 'My sweet, little monster,' I call him.

So, I was relatively not busy the other day that I ended up (somehow) stalking his friends. I later find myself deeply intrigued by the reality of his generation. Just as you thought that the sight of little toddlers swiping ipad's screen at all times is worrying, wait till you find how these children's life are affected by social network consumption-and it made you reflect back to yourself, really.

I was always keen on the idea that any forms of gadgets or even internet should never be introduced to children at such tender age when they are supposed to play outside, under the sun and of around the bush and muds. Children nowadays can easily be entertained by gadgets. Put them in a corner with a smart phone or tablet, and they'll remain quiet and attentive. Have we all gone far from those days, where a mother would have had hard time keeping the house neat and tidy? when she got 2 to 3 kids filled with pure enthusiasm and ridiculously high energy, jumping around the house and scattering their toys on the floor. I'm not trying to say that there's less kinda similar things experienced by mothers today, i mean, kids are kids. they are expert in messing the whole house anyway.

'kanak-kanak merengek pinta masa bermain di luar rumah. Itu- lebih aku sukai daripada teriak mengamuk ingin menghadap skrin komputer melayan permainan virtual.'


***


Pulling out a 'duck-face' selfie, pouting, as her hand adjusted her tudung. This sweet little girl in her school uniform posed in a photo uploaded few hours before. Already gaining it's hundred likers. Scrolling down few statuses and thinking that this must be, in science, you called as anomalies-not in normal distribution of children's behaviour, right? Then you clicked on another facebook profile, a boy aged 9. His latest status says ' in relationship with xxx -feeling loved.'. I repeat, aged 9.
really? 

so I end up clicking on xxx 's profile and am  further confused when her dp is an image of his 'boyfriend' instead. Manifestation of love?

***

At this point I made a solemn reminder at the back of my head not to let this happen to my siblings/family in the future. Reflecting to how I've been using this powerful social media , investigating to how long am I spending time on them, or how public my life was-in terms of pictures, statuses- equally in fb or instagram, was rather ... eye-opening. 

*Made me put down some old photos. put on a much private setting. limit my time-spent, on scrolling the timeline etc. 

It's just one of those things worth-reflecting and given some thought onto.

On a totally different note, I woke up this morning feeling super hungry. and in this very week of musim meroyan sedunia, I made some Chocolate Ganache cupcakes and kuah satay to be eaten with nasi impit.



Chocolate ganache:

2 cups of double cream
3 cups of dark chocolates

stir double cream on low heat until it simmers and turn off the stove. Put it the chunks of chocolate and stir in until they mix well.

there's two types of ganache- differ by their use as frosting/icing or coating.

1) Coating
They are smooth and runny when it's still warm and get's thinker by time. You can choose which consistency you like most, by using them immediately after mixing (eg dipping strawberries) or after few minutes in the fridge ( coating cakes/ cookies).

2) frosting/ icing.

Double cream are like whipping cream. After it is cooled, whip them with a mixer and the dark brown tone will turn slightly paler as they become smooth and stiffer. Fill up your piping bag with this one. (eg cupcakes topping)
* i just used the usual buttercream chocolate batter for the cupcakes.




Kuah satay

This is rather random. 

you need..

-1 cup of cooking oil
-2 cups of ground nut/ peanut
-1 1/2 red onion (uk size)*kalau kecik2 cm malaysia around 6 ulas? (mayang halus)
-gula melaka ( i substitute with muscovado/ molasses brown sugar- sumpah rasa sama)
-salt
-1/2 cup dried chilli (blended)

dry fry the peanuts. buang kulit and blend them(jangan ah hancur ngat).
 panaskan minyak. tumis bawang sampai naik bau. pour in blended lada kering.  kacau sampai pecah minyak. then add in the blended peanuts. add sugars and salt when it starts to boil up.
senang oh.

xx









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