Red and White: Dirgahayu my Indonesia

It's Independence day celebration kind of morning for me, hopped from one school -my son first- to another -my daughter afterward- . We were so ready to celebrate, dressed up in red and white and eagerly came for Upacara Bendera.

So there I was, attending Indonesia Independence day ceremony on the Netherlands School, sang Indonesia Raya, recital Pancasila and Declaration of Independence text, and seeing my son became the flag bearer for the very first time, yet I standing next to many Dutch -which once had us as their colony.

Singing Indonesia Raya was my regular chore since my son previous school has assembly once a week that include sang national anthem from both countries. Though I could not recall when it was last time I recite either Pancasila or the Declaration of Independence. And sometimes me and friends had quiz time when we will snapped the 4th of Pancasila -the longest one- and none of us could answered correctly.

Seeing bule -not one but many- dressed in red and white shivering me to the bone. I loves the view along the street lately, a festive on going with many red and white flags and banners, but when I saw people wore it -and they not Indonesian- and little children proudly march and sang Indonesia Pusaka -and again, they not Indonesian- it's remind me that I'm still Indonesia and should do more than dress up and celebrate once a year occasion like this. And less whining about this country.

Ok,lets move on before I become mellow.

It should be the say we cheer up about our independence, right?

So I moved to my daughter school, they held a celebration in fun way, with un-traditional games for the kids.

Before they started the game, once I walk to the school backyard, I greeted with very familiar song and travelled me to my primary-school age in an instant. They had Senam Kesegaran Jasmani song -oooh...I can't fint the perfect world to translate it...lost in translation-  played loud, with the kids exercise slash dance accordingly, one of the teacher stand on the front guided them and show the movement.

As it's hilarious it could be for me to see children bumping each other and tried to do their best action-; this is another thing: when did the last time I hear this song? A song played regularly once a week when I was on a kid, meant to make us do light exercise. I wonder if primary school this age still do the same. Or it might in public school? I have no clue.

Then the games begun. 3 different games, full of laugh, great way to enjoy my morning.

And of course everybody is the winner on those games. The teachers wisely gave every kids their own ribbon so no one felt left behind. 

I saw my children enjoy their celebration day, now it's got me thinking: I will find out if there will be games playing on our local kampung tomorrow, I will take them to watch.

I know Independence Day celebration it's not only about ceremony, games or dress attire, but this time let me just say:

Dirgahayu my Indonesia.

Which one you favor most: Metro Mini or Ayam Pop?

I went to SMESCO building yesterday, located on jalan Gatot Subroto -one of the main road in South Jakarta. Their UKM Gallery housed many beautiful craft from Indonesia's small business -it's a shame the caretaker could not generate visitor to this place, as I heard from many vendors. 

It's 5 storey full of batiks, wooden handcraft, jewelry and many more, but what hooked me up most is this unique pins made by Mahanagari.

I risked my life to get this snapshot, the creator won't be objected -I suppose, since I plan to spread their good craft to the world...free publicity won't do any harm...

These two were only example of many more Mahanagari has created.

So, metro Mini or Ayam Pop?

Strawberry Patch on TV..yeeehaaa

Check this out...



It's a shame that I wasn't prepared to record it, so I kind of missed the first 10-15 seconds of the opening, when they showing all our softies by calling their name.

Funny when I so eager to record it, all those buttons on my camera or mobile phone doesn't really work :-(

It's our debut in Indonesia, I really hoping this 3minutes to fame boost our sales, despite some incorrect quotes about my personal information and numbers...

Cheeers for Strawberry Patch!

Ballet on air

Before you read this through, I am telling you that I write this just because I quite like the show, not that I am this shopping mall PR or spoke person that getting paid writing this -oooh I wish-

Well, it was suppose to be quick visit to the shopping mall, just to grab some lunch and get a software for my son laptop. Once we stepped on to the centre of this shopping centre we saw crowd of people, heard loud songs and saw kind of steel structure , and there were two girls 'hanging' on that structure. It turn out that this shopping mall had a show what it call "Ballet on Air' during this holiday season. Presented by Aerial Angels from Australia, they will running the show up to July 3rd; once a day during weekend, twice on Saturday and three times on Sunday.

So I decided to watch 2nd show on 2pm with my daughter; in order to get the best seat possible, I queue half an hour before show start, my daughter was so patience she not even asked me for her Ipod to play with while waiting for the show to begin.

This is what I could I remember about the show. The show itself divided into 4 section, 1st was 2 girls playing and climbing the silk fabric that hanging down from the top of those steel-structure -what should I call it- on the centre of the stage, which were very brave and quite sensational. The 2nd section was three girls doing another fabrics on the side of the stage. Not pretty much different with the first show. The 3rd was kind of boring for me, another two girls playing with kind of white hoop with kind of sequin-around-the-edge.

The 4th? 

2 girls riding a kind of swing then pulled off to the top of the structure, then they happily playing swings, somersault on the air and so. It was the best part for me and my daughter.

There will be couple of days left for the show, if you like to watch yourself, come to Gandaria City before they pack their back and go home.

And yes I will take the credit if you go to this shopping mall because you reading this.

Happy Holidays

Day 7 Challenge : Simple Burger

Most of time, I refused to give my kids burger from one or two fast food chains here, no matter they guaranteed their patty made from 100% beef, no fat playing part. Not only the patties concerning me, it has almost no vegetables on it. You can't ask for salad too.

I tried to make my own patty with no satisfying result. Until I found recipe from Jamie' Ministry of Food. It might sound so lame, but I never looked back since. I did this couple of time, become household favourite, and I did again on my last day of challenge. 

Oh well, home-made burger always taste better.

So for the patty, I use:

* 12 piece plain crackers, ground using food processor.

* a hand full of parsley, finely chop

* 2 teaspoon of Dijon mustard

* 500g minced beef

* 1 large egg

* sea salt & ground black pepper as needed

* olive oil

How to: 

• Mix all ingredients except olive oil.
• Divide into 6 -for quite large patty- or 8 (I did 8), mould into roundish shape -you could use cookie cutter- about 1-2cm thick, drizzle with olive oil, cover and place in the fridge until you want to use it. It helps them to firm up.
• If you like to freeze them, wrap individually on cling film/ plastic wrapper and store on airtight container before freeze it. It should last about 2 weeks.

To fry, I like to use large pan with very minimum oil just to even the heat. Fry for about 4 minutes, turning once halfway.

So simple and easy, I prepared my patty with supermarket- bought bun with plenty salads on side.

Now we can call it healthy burger ;-)

Day 6 challenge: Steam Fish - Asian Style

It should be Salmon.

I do not know why I shop for white fish instead of Salmon. I had cloudy mind on the day 6 challenge, my work overtaking me and my mind, so I don't know if I could still on this challenge when I deliberately change the main ingredient. It's still fish, but grouper surely have no family connection with those  salmon.

I wish I had Jamie's on my speed dial so I could ask about this.

Things happened anyway, dinner still have to be server, so I choose to move on and cook.

For 2 serves (I always doubling it, 2 serves is what the book said)

you will need:

* A handful of broccoli (I swap white chinese greens instead, i.e baby  bok choy), slice half lenghtways , rinse well.

* 220g of water chestnut (yee-haa...still had leftover from previous day challenge), slice

* About 400g fish fillet (grouper, not salmon)

* A handfull of sugar-snaps peas

How to do your fish:

* Prepare a steamer, fill with water and bring it to boil.

* Use heat-proof bowl -kinda pyrex thing-; place the water chestnut, then add sugar snaps then bok choy on the top. Place the fish on the very top, cover with foil. Seal the edge tight so the steam stays. (Jamie used colander, I choose    not to move the fish from one to another plate)

* Steam for about 10minutes.

While you wait for your fish to be ready, you could start preparing the dressing.

For the dressing, you need:

* 2cm garlic, peel and grate

* 1 clove of garlic, peel and grate

* 1/2 fresh chili, deseed and finely slice

* 1 spring onion, finely slice

* 2 tbs soy sauce

* 3 tbs extra virgin olive oil

* 1 lemon, squeeze the juice out.

Mix everything together on ceramic bowl using spoon, put aside.

Your fish should be ready by the time you finish your sauce. 

Drizzle the sauce over. 

Ready to serve, I served with rice.

The best steam fish ever!

Day 5 Challenge : Thai Green Curry

Day 5 challenge, I started to wearing out. Its not that I don't like to cook the good food, I just frustated for not be able to get all herbs I need from my local supermarket.Challenge still on,another 3 meals for my next 3 days.

I plan to do curry this time. Thai curry,not the Indian version.

With a dash of hope, I popped back to my local supermarket to check if they stock corriander leaves. I asked my maid earlier to get it from her local vegie vendor, but this corriander leaves quite unpopular, no vendor knew it.

Then I got the biggest shock in my life -ok, I'm overreacted- but yes, how shocked could you be if you find a bunch of corriander weight 100g cost almost 40,000 rupiah, and I used to pay not more than Rp.10,000 So forget about fresh corriander, I decided to use dried corriander instead. Oh well....

So for the green curry paste, you will need:

* 2 stalks of lemongrass, trim and crush the stalks

* 4 spring onions, trim and chop

* 3 fresh green chillies, halve and deseed, chop

* 4 cloves of garlic, peel and chop

* About 2cm ginger, peel and chop 

* 2 tsp dried coriander seeds

* 8 fresh lime leaves

* 3 tbs soy sauce

* 1 tbs fish sauce

Put everything on food processor, whizz them, half way whizzing you could add soy sauce and fish sauce, whizz again until become a smooth pasta.

For 2 serves of curry, you will need:

* 4-5 stalk of asparagus, finely slice lengthways

* half fresh chili, finely chop -deseed if you like to have your curry less hot-

* 1 tbs oil - Jamie prefer nut based oil, I have none, so I use canola instead

* 1 tbs sesame oil

* 400g raw prawns, peeled

* 400ml coconut milk (I use tinned coconut milk)

* a cup of french beans or sugar snap peas -I use sugar-snap peas-

* 1 lime

How to:

* Place a large wok on high heat, once its really hot, add both oil, swirl around and add the prawn, asparagus and green curry paste, stir it for about 30 seconds. Pour in the coconut milk, add the peas.

* Stir well, bring to boil, cook for another few minutes.

* Taste it, add more soy sauce if you like it.

* Turn the heat down, squeeze the juice out from the lime on to the curry.

Ready to serve, best eating while is hot and accompany by jasmine rice.