[Click-Citrus] Fresh Orange Juice

End of August & it is still monsoon here in Mumbai. Sometimes the downpour seems never stop & windy. Sometimes there is no more water in the clouds & the sun shines for a few hours. This is the chance we get to spend our time outside. Jogging, swimming or "adventuring" in the traditional market, that's what I do.

I feel amazed that the monsoon does not restrict the Mumbaikars to do their activities. After the hectic Dahi Handi celebration just last week, today Mumbai is even more exciting in preparation of the Ganesh Festival, scheduled to begin by this coming Wednesday which will take 10- days to complete.

Last week, I visited a place called Lalbaug Market, somewhere to the south of Mumbai. Actually it is a traditional market, but what makes it unordinary is a Hindu temple located in the market area which is dedicated for the Lord Ganesh. Because of this Ganesh temple, Lalbaug Market has been the center of the Ganesh Festival in Mumbai. However, this festival preparation does not stop the activities in the market. Fresh fruits & vegetables are still found a lot, though I couldn't find the fresh tumeric, I have been looking for.

During the monsoon, there are not too many fruits that we normally find in the summer or winter. But don't worry, oranges are still found in large, at least it enables me to participate the August Click Photo Event. The theme is "Citrus".
Ooopps, I did it again, this is my other last minutes entry.

I bought some oranges this week for two reasons. One: as my photography object for the Click. Two: oranges are good 'medicine' for my husband who has been having flu for the last two days. Preparing the oranges & shooting lots of pictures took quite sometime. Fortunately my husband was patient waiting until the photo session was over. As a reward, he got a cup of fresh orange juice.

*If you wonder, why I want go to Lalbaug Market before the Ganesh Festival - why not during the Festival, the answer is because it's gonna be too crowded at that time. But let's see if I feel comfortable to attend the festival... I'll share the pictures :). It will be very big, colourful and interesting festival.

Bolu Kukus (gagal)

Ini proyek gagal minggu yang lalu.
Rencananya mau memberdayakan putih telur pemberian Vera :), thanks Ver! Buka2 buku kumpulan resep putih telur yg sempet sy beli di Jkt bulan lalu, dan dipilihlah resep bolu kukus putih telur. Wahh keliatan menarik banget.
Ternyataaaa, gak ngembang! Eh, bukan salah resepnya, cuma keliatannya sy terlalu banyak ngasi topping chocolate, sehingga adonan jadi 'agak berat'. Susah ngembangnya.

Rada sebel jg sih, soalnya effort untuk bikin kueh kayag ginian lumayan gede.
Kalo kita sudah terbiasa buah resep dengan takaran cup-cupan... nah lho, kerasa banget kalo urusan timbang menimbang itu lumayan merepotkan. Belum lagi keinginan u/ pake kertas roti sebagai papercups, dengan niat biar lebih terlihat keoriginalan-nya (lebih ngampung gitu).

Ya udah, resepnya bakal diposting kalo sy udah sukses ama resep ini.

Simple Red & White Menu

Patriotic August: Indonesia, Why I Love Her
Indonesia, you ask me why I love her ? Well, give me time & I’ll explain…
Have you seen a Lombok beach sunset or a Pangrango rain ?
Have you drifted on a bayou down Mahakam way ?
Have you watched the cold fog drifting over Bromo highland ?
Have you heard an Orang Utan calling in the Kutai Hulu pines ?
Or heard the bellow of a diesel in the Sawah Lunto coal mines ?
Does the call of Sigura-gura waterfall thrill you when you hear her waters roar ?
Do you look awe & wonder at a Tanah Lot shore ?
Where men who braved a hard new world, first stepped on Sorowako rock ?
And do you think of them when you stroll along a Sunda Kelapa dock ?
Have you seen a snowflake drifting in the Jaya Wijaya mountain…way up high ?
Have you seen the sun come blazing down from a bright Kelimutu sky ?
Do you hail to the Membramo as she rushes to the sea…
Or bow your head at Pegangsaan street…in our struggle to be free ?
Have you seen the mighty teton of Bukit Barisan ?
Have you been to Ambon bay & watched an eagle soar ?
Have you seen the Bengawan Solo roll along Gresik’s shore ?
Have you felt a chill at Samosir island, when on a rainy day,
Her waters rage along the shore in a thunderous display ?
Does the word “Kitorang basodara” make you warm ?
Do you stare in disbelief when you see the surf come roaring in at Bunaken reef ?
From Sabang island to Merauke town…from Sebatik to Roti island…
My heart cries out… my pulse runs fast at the might of her domain.
You ask me why I love her?… I’ve a million reasons why.
My beautiful Indonesia… beneath Gods’ wide, wide sky.
Adapted by DS
August 1, 2008

Here come again .... the month of August!
This is a special month for all Indonesians. The month when we celebrate our independence day. This year will be our 63rd of anniversary.

Two weeks ago, we received an invitation from the Indonesian Consult General in Mumbai, to attend the flag raising ceremony. Yes, together with the Indonesian communities here, we will come and attend the sacred ceremony. Our children will come, too. It will be their very first experience to attend this kind of ceremony (... oh, we still have to teach them to sing the Indonesia Raya, our beloved national anthem though). They're very excited for that, more because there will be lots of children games after the ceremony with good prizes :)

Later, I have to prepare my Kebaya and Sarung Batik, our national dresses that I'll wear for the ceremony. Not only for me, but also for my daughter. For the gentlemen and boys, they will wear the Batik shirt. For me, this ceremony will be very interesting since it was 17 years ago the last time I attended the independence day ceremony back in my university campus in Bandung, Indonesia.

Usually we don't have to cook special food during the celebration, instead will be busy playing lots of games and enjoying lots of events. But this time... for my entry to participate 'Red and White Foodie Photography Contest' I choose to cook a simple Indonesian food. Food with the ingredients that always remind us to our beloved country. Stir fry touge (~bean sprout) with cabe merah (~red chilli), ikan asin (~salty fish) and fried tahu/tofu (~bean curd). The dish will be served with steam rice, telur balado (~boiled eggs in chilli sauce) and krupuk cimpring (tapioca cracker). This is a simple menu that is common to be found on many Indonesian Family dining table. For dessert, we choose the 'Pink Lady' apples.

Do you want to join us... Come the table is ready!

Happy Independence Day! Merdeka !

Chocolate Muffins

Sssttt,... jangan ngomong, "Muffin lagi.... muffin lagi...". Rugi kalo gak tau resep ini.
Ngacung yg udah pernah nyobain resep Oatmeal Muffin itu? Enak kan.
Naaaah yang satu ini dijamin, gak kalah deh. Untuk anak gw, Patricia, inilah favorite-nya -setelah dia mengklaim dirinya sebagain 'chocolate lover'...
Resep muffin ini sendiri ngingetin gw saat baru pindah ke India, akhir December 2007 yang lalu. Di salah satu koper dari 3 koper gede yg kita bawa, gw selipin buku resep Muffin Mania (andalan gw), 2 muffin pan (masing2 muat u/ 6 biji muffin, jadi total 1 lusin), baking powder dan baking soda. Plus, paper cup!
Buat apa? ya buat baking dong. Selama masa adaptasi awal, di saat kita belum familiar ama makanan di tempat baru, dan kemungkinan anak2 butuh dibikinin bekel sekolah... gw pikir cuma muffin yg akan praktis bgt dibuat. Gak perlu mixer! itu salah satu alasan utamanya.
Ternyata bener, lebih dari 1 bulan sejak kita tiba... barulah kita bisa pindah ke apartement kita ini. Dan selama di 'guest house apartment', terutama setelah anak2 udah mulai sekolah... resep2 muffin ini menolong banget.

Chocolate Muffin ini praktis banget buatnya.
Seperti yg udah pernah gw ceritain, bikin muffin itu intinya cuma mencampur bahan2 kering dan bahan2 basah. Disamping itu, aduknya secukupnya aja, gak perlu terlalu heboh. Kalo terlalu lama diaduk, dijamin muffinnya jadi keras deh.
~kalo dah sering bikin muffin yg sukses, gak perlu baca tip2 di bawah ini :)
Pertama campurin semua bahan2 kering (terigu, gula, bp, garem, cocoa powder), aduk sampai rata. Kalo mau pake chocolate chips, kismis, kacang... masukin bersama bahan2 kering tadi. Nah sekarang ini saat yg tepat masukin bahan tambahan tsb.
Sisihkan. (Pake bowl yg agak besar, jadi muat buat ntar nyampur2 dan ngaduk2)
Kedua, di bowl yg berbeda campurin bahan2 basah (telur, susu, minyak ataupun butter/margarine). Telur, sebaiknya suhu ruangan (jadi sebelum mulai nyampur2, si telur udah dikeluarin dari kulkas). Susu jg gitu, gw saranin udah di suhu ruangan.
Ketiga, sebelum nyampur ke 2 belah pihak diatas, panasin oven. Biasanya sy pasang 200 C, u/ membuat oven cukup panas. Siapin loyang muffin, dan taruh papercupnya.
Dah siap semua, baru deh cemplungin bahan2 basah di dalam bowl bahan2 kering tadi. Aduk2 secukupnya... gw biasanya pake spatula, aduk nyusurin bagian sisi bowl ke arah tengah.
Terakhir, tuang si adonan ke dalam muffin pan. Kalau mau gampang, pake ice cream scoope (sendok es krim). Biasanya sebelum dimasukin ke oven, gw taburin 'sesuatu' biar lebih 'tempting'. Entah chocolate chips, kismis, kacang atau parutan keju.
Nah, saat masukin loyang muffin tsb, turunin suhu oven sesuai resep. (gw selalu pake 180 C).
Selamat mencoba, kalo gagal .. silahkan tinggalin comment di postingan ini.
Jangan heran ngeliat resep di bawah, emang cuma gitu doang.

Chocolate Muffins
Source: Muffin Mania by Cathy Prange & Joan Pauli.
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 beaten egg
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup cooking oil

In large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt
Make a well in center of dry ingredients. Combine egg, milk and oil. Add all at once to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. (Batter should be lumpy).
Spoon into greased muffin cups .
Bake 375 F for 20 minutes.