Stingray liver on my dining table

Hubby caught two humongous stingrays last two weeks and kept the liver. It's been a while that the liver was left untouch in my fridge. Last week, some FB friends gave me suggestions on how to cook it. Amongst them were asam pedas hati pari, cake pari (oh my!), pari lemak, grilled pari and countless of suggestions were given.

I was thinking of what's for dinner tonight. It's about time I do something about the liver, but I just didn't know what to do with it! I googled the net for some stingray liver recipe but none caught my eyes. I texted hubby and asked if it was alright to make a sumptuous asam pedas with blackpepper and heaps of vietnamese mint leaves. But hubby said "hancur", so I decided to create my own recipe.

My meal was ready in less than an hour...
For the recipe...I used

Onions, Garilic, Ginger, Fresh Tumeric, Lemon Grass, Tamarind water, Cili padi, Chili powder, Blackpepper, Some milk, Kerisik, Salt, Sugar, Kafir Lime leaves...Semua agak2 aje...( I always cook using my gut feeling)

Now, all is done...I have to take a longgggg shower. I smell very 'hanyir'...

Hati Ikan Pari Masak Pedas The stingray liver from my fridge

The hunters at sea

We usually spent our Christmas holidays at home so that we could stay fresh on Boxing Day morning. Every year we would rush to the malls on Boxing Day to get our hands on something that we had aimed for. Last year, we headed to Onehunga & Slyvia Park in Auckland on Boxing Day. I noticed that only Asians would flock these malls and tried to get goods at a bargain. Well, I told hubby that I was over shopping (ye la tu!), and I thought that we should spend the Christmas weekends at a beach house. It was rather difficult to find a beach house if you plan on a short stay. Most owners would ask that you stay for a minimum of three nights. Well, we don’t have much money or time to spend holidaying. We thought two nights would be feasible, and a “OK” for us on a budget holiday. I had difficulty looking for one suitable house. The prices of the house rents shot up during these peak seasons where everyone else in NZ was also planning on their holidays. Some owners would ask for horrendous other requests like paying a bond or cleaning fee, and bla bla bla bla bla. Alhamdulilah, we got one, which was not only reasonable but the owner was kind to our needs…

Some of us in the group left early that 24th Dec, but because hubby was still at work, we left quite late. But hubby decided we left that very day, so that he could plan his fishing outing with the guys the next day. Travelling to Coromandel late at night was a scary experience. The road was winding. It was very dark, and the only open shops/stalls/cafes were the bars. Plus, the tide was quite high and the waves from the high tide splashed on our car. It was actually quite nerve wrecking and I got sick with all these minus factors travelling in the dark.


Our rented beach house



At the beach...Look at how happy they were

They were even happier.....


The happiest of all....my hubby

Pohukutawa in bloom

Our holiday started on Xmas morning. Hubby said “today is going to be a family event…Let’s all head to the beach. While you swim, we’ll try and get some good catch for dinner tonight.” I wanted to have a dip in the clear, blue water…but the water was really cold despite the blaring sun. So I decided to just laze around and watched the kids and the guys fishing. There wasn’t any luck for them, of course…so the guys decided to change course. “OK, you stay put, while we try our luck to get a catch by the wharf”. Off, they left us….but that that was alright, of course. The kids were having a great time, and me…people watching & lazing around had a good time by myself. By 12 noon, we decided to drive home. But the guys…we didn’t have a hunch where they were! But they came back with some good catch. And before magrib, they guys went out again for another catch.....

The catch that night The guys' catch

Menu makan malam: Nasi putih with Ikan goreng cicah ayaq asam

Masak lomak cili api for dinner

Our 2nd morning was spent at home. Sembang tak berenti2, we only started our activity at around 11. The spot where the guys went fishing the night before was really awesome. Thanks to Nani who reckoned we took a trip there for its beauty!

The gushing water The guys trying their luck on the 2nd day
Everyone was all set to go
What a beauty! A view from the rocks



The group checked out of the house at 330pm, and we took a route home via Whitianga.

The guys posing in the house
while we decided to pose at the entrance of the house we rented that weekend

Nani suggested we took a ferry at Whitianga. I wasn’t excited about the idea as my kids are too big for this. But I followed along as we were doing this as a group, the least you could do is to support the group. While Nani, Fariza & Noorwan took the ferry ride from Whitianga to Ferry’s Landing, my family together with Fid and Aliyah spent our time watching them and others. It was a very relaxing thing to do.

Nani & the others taking a board on the ferry


We were walking back to our vehicles when we spotted many people by the beach, looking like they were doing something. I pointed out to Nani & Fariza...'Eh, diorg buat apa?" "Jom tengok!" But my kids, out of their laziness for an activity said.."that's going to be a far walk...Jauh tu ibu...!" That statement made me think twice..."I'm just too lazy to walk...." Then Fid said, "Jom, jom pi.." and so I went along...and watched them..."Jom kutip!" I hesitated for a while..."Errrrr...I tak suka la activity mcm ni...nanti basah..." "Jom, jom...best ni, banyak ni pipis...wow banyaknya...." And I tried putting my hands in the water, digging under the sand...and I got one...and I started digging again...got two, got more and more and more...wow...this was fun!

The shellfish we collected



We ended our holiday at Fid’s & Noorwan’s place. It was a great idea to cook this shell fish and eat them while they were really fresh. Kesian, Noorwan. He was really tired and getting ready to work the next day but had to comply with my hubby’s request. But having dinner from what the seahunters had caught that day was great!!! Thanks to everyone who made this holiday trip a memorable one!!!!

Sedap...fresh shellfish...

Heavenly Strawberry Fluff

Jean, a friend from Silverdale and also the owner of Newstead Apple Orchard, gave me this great & easy recipe which she has tried and tested. But before making it, be sure that your freezer has some space...you need to freeze it for 4 hours before serving it...What I did was to prepare one night ahead...

Strawberry Fluff Recipe

For the base, I used 250g of biscuits which I break them into small pieces and add melted butter with a dash of cinnamon powder to give the basesome aromatic flavour into it...

The fluff is rather easy. I beat 3 egg whites (recipe says 2...) using a mixer. I only have a hand-held mixer, so I found the beating job a little tedious...I'm putting on hope that one day hubby will buy me a kenwood mixer...Ok, back to the recipe...I add half cup of sugar into the mixture, a teaspoon of vanilla essence. Well, I do like to invent new things, so I decided to add some lemon juice into the mixture. This is the strawberry time in NZ, I put heaps of chopped strawberries into the mixture, making sure that the mixture turned pinkish..Continue beating for at least 10 additional minutes. Then, you freeze.

Thanks Jean for the recipe!! My guests, the kids and I love the fluffy!! it's really heavenly...It's like eating strawberry icecream, but a little lighter and less fatter....;)

Is there a white Christmas in NZ?

Bing Crosby's "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" is just one of those songs which will never hold true! For us in New Zealand, we can never have a white Xmas....It's a green, green Xmas...after all.

Christmas in NZ is nothing about snows and sleighs but it’s more of the sun, the sand & BBQ!! Unlike the other parts of the world, NZ celebrates Xmas in the middle of the summer. So, at this time, people would go out camping or spending their family time at their Baches or holiday homes. Celebrating Xmas here is nothing about being religious, but it’s more about spending time with family and friends. Most workplaces would organize Xmas BBQs, lunches or dinners to get the staff together in close spirits.

I’m currently working at Knighton Normal School Before &After School Care and at Silverdale After School care program. Last year, KASP treated us for a Xmas dinner at Lonestar while this year, the grande dinner was held at Domaine on Victoria Street. I would say that Domaine is rather posh from its deco but the choice of food was quite limited. I don’t think I can be picky at this when KASP is paying for my dinner. Thank you KASP…I had a great night last week. I just wished I could stay longer and spend the rest of the night ‘partying’ with the girls…

Silverdale ASC hosted a light lunch at the Pumice in Terapa last year and we had a sort of ‘traditional’ Xmas lunch at Hazel Hayes this year. Hazel Hayes has its retro look, very charming indeed…with quite a variety of choices especially for a ‘vegetarian’ like me…Here are some pics I took during our social outings.


Fish of the day
Diana & me
The girls: Amy, Nathalie, Louise, Jasmine, Hayley
More girls...Gaye, Val, Daphne our boss
Gaye, Bela, jacquie, paula & me

2010 Silverdale Normal School (ASC) Christmas Brunch at Hazel Hayes, Victoria Street

Present-exchange session after brunch

Courgette Fritata with Feta Cheese & Pumpkin Seeds with Strawberry & Mango salad, and Lime Chutney
Yummy Trim Latte
The retro deco at Hazel Hayes
We had presents exchange with the staff at ASC..It was Christie's turn to unwrap her Xmas present

Frances (ASC supervisor) & me
Margaret Anne & daughter Michelle
Christie & Bryce
Margaret Anne, Michelle & me posing outside Hazel Hayes Cafe on Victoria Street

2009 CHRISTMAS PARTIES

Knighton Normal School 2009 Xmas Dinner at LoneStar

The gang from Knighton (KASP) gang: Myself, Bela, Gaye, Louise

The gang from Knighton (KASP) gang, Christine, Margaret, Diana, Daphne, Val, Paula, Emma
2009 Xmas Dinner at Lone Star with the KASP gang

2009 Xmas lunch at the Pumice with Silverdale School ASC gang: Christie, Emma, Lauren, Jean, Frances and Margaret Anne

Nasri's end of school prom

Somewhere in Aug, my son, Nasri aka Along aka Eli insisted that he wanted to attend his school's prom night. And I asked him "any cost incurred?" He replied, "$75 for the entrance and $100 for the suit rental" Terbeliak bijik mata sekejap..."Ask ayah what he said about that...", and dad said "Tak payah la pergi...bukan budaya kita pun...!" "But it's my last year at school!"...Pening ibu ayah...

I spoke to my close friend, Frances about this...and she said..."oh...let him go, he's 17. Let him do what he pleased! When my children attended their proms, they were even wilder!"
"But, it's alright with you being kiwis, I dont know whether this is ok..."
"Oh..let him go, let him go...he's a good boy...I've met him..."

So, in the end, the answer was a big YES from Ayah & Ibu....Nasri was overjoyed...We didnt even know whom he was going to ask out for the prom night...We left all the details to him. He went for a fitting at Dorsett suit rental and landed a suit for $100 for a night. Mahal giler!!!

Going for prom nights is really dear in New Zealand. You have to pay up for the rental of the suit & the boy needs to get a corsage too...(Nasib budak ni pandai saving sikit buat corasage utk date dia...)I dissuaded him from renting a suit but he said..."tunggu...nanti ibu tengok along hensem..." Okay, la...whatever as long as it's not my money he's using...Sometimes you might have to rent a limo to transport the couple to the ballroom. we didnt rent any! In his case, Rasyid was kind enough to be the couple's chauffeur; that night. No limo, just my old Ruby.
And if your daughter is going to the prom, getting a dress is really expensive here. Then, there's the hairdo and the make-up which you have to pay for if your daughter decides to go to a stylist. Here are some pics of Nasri's prom night, some from my collection, and some from his FB.

The boys making corsages that morning

My once upon a time cute lil'boyand even cuter...

who has turned into a charming young man who plays music at school

Nasri Zuhaily on his prom night with his date
My boy...
& his friends from school