Pandan Cake

Assalamu Alaikum.

I forgot to post this. Before I posted about Pandan pancakes, well here's the real deal. When I made this, because it's a food from my father's culture, he tells me he doesn't want me to leave. If you ever feel like trying out this recipe, then here you go.

Pandan Chiffon Cake

From Easy Malaysian Style Cookery.

You will need:

8 eggs, separated
1 1/4 cups caster sugar (superfine sugar)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla essence
3/4 cup (180 ml) coconut milk
1/4 tsp pandan extract
1 cup self-raising flour
1 tsp cream of tartar

*Note that if you don't have self-raising flour at home you can always mix 1 cup of all-purpose flour with 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt.

1. Beat egg yolks, sugar, oil, and vanilla essence in a medium sized bowl, with a whisk or an electric mixer until combined.

2. In a separate tiny bowl, combine coconut milk and pandan extract. Then beat in the coconut-pandan combination with the previous mixture.

3. Sift flour 3 times into a large bowl. Then make a well in the centre. Finally whisk egg mixture into the flour well.

4. Beat all egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer until frothy. Then add cream of tartar and beat until firm peaks form.

5. Fold in egg whites into flour mixture in 2 bachets using a balloon whisk.

6. Carefully pour mixture into a 21 cm increased Chiffon pan. Pull skewer through batter and/or lift pan with batter and mildly hit a hard surface with it to disperse bubbles.

7. Bake at 350° F for about 45 min or until cake feels springy to the touch (I did an hour). Gently invert pan on a cooling rack. Do not move or bump pan until cake is completely chilled. Run rubber spatula around the sides of the pan to release cake. Slice. Enjoy!

Another Henna Event!

Assalamu Alaikum.

Today I went to another craft fair. I only had five customers but alhamdulillah, I can feel my business growing.

If I had to give a piece of advice to the world it would be...

Assalamu Alaikum.

I know I'm not old and wise yet (I suppose that means I'm young and stupid, lol), but if I had to give a piece of advice to the world, it would be to "ask for help". And I suppose, a part of being mature is swallowing one's pride, realising when we're most vulnerable and in need, and having the strength to reach out for aide. I personally have always had trouble with that and I still kinda do. I don't like bothering people or being needy or non-selfsufficient. So, when I learned that Allah (God) is actually waiting for us to ask him for anything and everything that is good from him and as often as we want, I was pretty surprised. Ever since I started making du'a consistently my life has been changing for the better now, in every way possible. Alhamdulillah.

Childrens' Islamic Study

 

On Friday evenings, my mom teaches children from the ages 4, 5, and 6 about Islam. I recently became her assistant  and since her story book doesn't have a lot of pictures, I decided to illustrate on the white board to help the kids remember the important parts of the lesson. It's really hard to communicate with some of them because two only speak Russian and three other ones only or mostly speak Arabic. I'm glad I know at least a little bit of Arabic, words like, "kifhaliq?" meaning how are you?, "yallah!" litterally means to God but basically means let's go, "nimshi" means let's walk, and of course "assalamu alaikum" which all Muslims would know means peace be upon you. 

So, I have been studying a little bit of Russian in hopes that I can communicate with the Russian kids and help them learn. It's a good thing both the moms of the Russian and Arabic children are there; their English is minimal but sufficient. I really like them; they're so easy going and patient. 

Here are some pictures of the little bit of Russian I know so far (the Alphabet and a few words):

Nur's Henna Tattoos part 3

Assalamu Alaikum!
Today went well at the kinsmen hall where I did my Henna booth again, this time at a craft fair. I actually had two ladies who wanted a tattoo on their foot. One of them was a lady I had done it for two weeks ago at a indoor spring garage sale where she had her 31 bag table set up just like today. It was really cool to see her again! She told/showed me that her henna tattoo is still there! Even though she had gone swimming for a long period of time in a chlorine filled pool. I was most certainly happy! That same lady, just like before, showed me a specific design that she wanted me to do on her phone. It's the one on the left. The one on the right was for a lady who had booth near mine too. She sells hand crocheted hats, stuffed toys, and a mini picnic basket set.

My first customer was actually a young boy who really likes Adventure Time. I didn't have any WI-fi to look up the image of the Title, so we worked together to sketch something that looked remotely similar. All my customers, al-hamdulilah, are so nice, patient and most of easy going. They always compliment my work and I we always have a good chat.

You know, I don't think I would mind doing this for a living. I've always wanted a job where I interact with people and not necessarily an office job where you pretty much do the same thing everyday.

Pandan Pancakes

If you're a Malaysian or know a Malaysian, than you'll know what pandan is. Pandan is a natural flavour from a green plant that grows in tropical areas, such as... Malaysia. Well, it's like a tradition to make pandan CAKE for Eid or MAC (Multicultural Awareness Club) night at our place, but this morning before school I decided to make some yummy, green pandan pancakes with pandan icing. You can't go wrong with icing. So here's my super easy life hack on how to make them. First, you'll need pancake mix that demands one cup of dairy milk and one egg. Instead, I used coconut milk and two eggs because a typical pandan cake recipe requires coconut milk and a large number of eggs to make it more dense. You'll also need pandan flavouring, coconut shredded, sugar, icing sugar and dairy milk.

First step: separate eggs. Mix yolks, one cup of coconut milk, a quarter teaspoon of pandan flavouring, an eighth of a cup of sugar, and one and a quarter cup of pancake mix.

Second step: whisk eggs whites. It doesn't have to be super foamy or forming peaks or anything fancy. As long as it's combined and a little bubbly but the longer the better.

Third step: fold in egg whites into mix with a whisk.

Fourth step: stir in coconut shreded. Cook pancakes.

Fith step: in a separate bowl, mix one cup of icing sugar with a quarter cup of milk and a quarter teaspoon of pandan flavouring.

Step six: drizzle and serve!

In case you're wondering, it taste better than you might think. I personally love it, but I know suspicious green pancakes aren't for everyone. Lol!

Nur's Henna Tattoos Part 2

Today I did henna for my mom and I, plus I  got my nails did. We're going to an all girls party tomorrow, insha'allah. I haven't been to one in a while, so I'm excited. Also, I didn't get a chance before but, I wanted to show off my business cards. I don't have my building or anything but, insha'allah, that's my goal. It would be SO cool to run my business and be in charge of EVERYTHING! The only part that sucks is paying taxes which school has not taught me. But instead I am obliged by the provincial government who established such a ridiculous curriculum to take grade 11 Functions which will never serve me in the future and guaranteed to be forgotten over the summer. I could be learning how to do my taxes instead! I don't think my school even offers a course like that because we have just above 50 students. Well, assalamu alaikum.