Sunday Walk around Lac Léhman

Last sunday, my son asked if we could have a walk near the lake. The weather was not nice, it was cloudy and cold. But staying at home kind of boring too, so, there we went.

My nose started running after 10 minutes standing at the side of the lake, the swans were coming near us, trying to get some food. Guess during summer, lots of people come to the lake and feed them, now less people go there.....

Broiled Pangasius with Thai Coconut Curry Sauce

Yesterday I made broiled Pangasius with Thai coconut curry sauce which original recipe is using Tilapia fish. I tried to find Tilapia fish in nearby shop and an asian store, I couldn't find one. So, I bought Pangasius fish instead.

Here is the link of original recipe : http://www.food.com/recipe/broiled-tilapia-with-thai-coconut-curry-sauce-116882

At first I thought the sauce is too sweet, but once you put lime juice on it, it's really perfect. Really a wonderful dish for cold weather :D.

Recipe - Beef Roll with Yakitori sauce

Inspired by a photo in Pinterest that I didn't even open the link, I prepared the following dish for me and my son. My husband is away, but he'll be back soon. Can't wait to see him.....

So, now the ingredients :
165 gr of thin sliced beef (I had 3 slices)
1 leaf of chinese cabbage thinly sliced
1/4 red paprika or bell pepper thinly sliced
2/3 branch of fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1 pinch of ground black pepper
4 table spoon of Yakitori sauce mix with 2 table spoon of water.
3 toothpick

Direction:

1. Coat beef slice with salt and pepper.
2. Divide the sliced chinese cabbage, red paprika/bell pepper and fresh parsley on each slice of beef, roll it and lock it with toothpick.
3. Spray a skillet with cooking oil and heat it on a medium heat. Fry the rolled beef about 5-6 minutes, turn it around in between.
4. Put in the yakitori sauce until it shimmer and voila is ready now.
5. Put on the serving dish and garnish with sesame seeds if you like. Don't forget to take off the toothpicks.

I have them with warm rice. Hmmmm yummy. Bon appetite....

divide slices of chinese cabbage, red paprika/bell pepper, parsley, then roll it.

after locking it with toothpick

on the skillet

New Jakarta

Yesterday one of my friend share a news with heading "How can hurt somebody feelings?" is about the new deputy of governor who comment on his action cutting the budget of public utilities projects. Indonesia is well know of its corruption. Just Jakarta itself, the population already around 9 million people and we are using the system left by Dutch during their occupation. Lots of layer, start from RT (neighbourhood community) who manage about 80 families, RW (village community) who manage about 10 RT, Kelurahan (villages) manage about 10 RW and Kecamatan (district) manage about 10 Kelurahan. Imagine when you need to make paper work. You will need to start from RT, then letter from RW, then Kelurahan, sometimes until Kecamatan. You can see how many opportunity for corruption.

Some people, they might not see the small changes that our current president has made. What I noticed when I was preparing documents required by embassy, at least 3 departments that I went, I valued them very good. They put big sign of number of days for verification and the cost. Unlike in old days, you can't find those information anywhere, depend on the officer who welcome you and if want you document to be ready fast, you will have to pay lots of money. And the speed, I may say, now is much much better. 2 days for verification document is fast.

Now I realise the big differences between Indonesia and European countries, our population is really enormous, with different level of education (still a lot of people doesn't go to school, even if they do the quality of education is uneven between private school and public school), lack of awareness etc). These things made the leader of Indonesia is even harder, these also applied for our new governor and his deputy. Yeah....not easy to manage 9 million people and yet have to anticipate the action of other people at the higher up who still adore corruption.

I guess, changing the corruption in Indonesian government body is like swimming against current, if you are not strong enough, you will at last give up and follow the current. I hope with support all the people who also want some changes, our new governor and deputy can make lots of difference. Can't wait to see those changes....

Simple Backpack for my son

This is my first blog and just challenge my self to write what I've done and what I love to do with limited english :)).

After few days of browsing pinterest (http://www.kundhi.com/blog/2009/09/01/easy-backpack-with-bias-tape-straps/), found one backpack that I intended to make. I went to Ikea with my son to buy small piece of black and white stripes fabric for combination, already had plain black one at home.

I did some adjustment on size because my son, he is big for a 9 years old child. Here are the material that I use :

1 pc 40 x 38 cm (WxH) black fabric
2 pcs 40 x 32 cm (WxH) black/white stripe fabric
2 pcs 40 x 45 cm (WxH) white fabric for inner part lining
2 pcs 4 x 130 cm (WxH) for strap
2 pcs 4 x 10 cm (WxH) for bottom ring

First I sew all the straps and the rings material with bias stitch (I ironed it all before sewing them, its easier to sew) , then I sew together black fabric and stripe fabric, continue with finishing using zigzag stitch.

I used pins to gather the side before sewing them together, this also help to put the stripe and black fabric's seam on the same level. Then I put in the ring at the bottom part of the bag, and sew the side leave about 9 cm on the top/opening. I turn the outer bag inside out so the right fabric facing out, and start ironing the sides of the opening part, then I iron to form the tube for the straps, I made about 4 cm wide.

I sew the white fabric for lining together (2 sides), if you cut all 4 sides, then sew the 3 sides. Leave about 3.5 cm at the top opening part.

Now, no need to turn the lining, just slip into the outer bag. And the top part, slip in the opening of lining into the folded top, then sew.

Now the bag is ready, just need to put in the straps and lock the ends at the ring. I sew it normal stitch and sew the end with zigzag. Maybe I'm a bit paranoid, just want to be sure it's strong enough to hold things.

And voila, the backpack is ready :D

My son with his new backpack......