Not late yet ... of New Year Resolution.

I am one of those people when that when it comes to a new year think harder about what I should do better in the next coming year, I make a long list of should we say New Year Resolutions!

NO. 1 – it is a must! Go on a diet! BUT now thinking about getting rid some of unnecessary friend of mine FAT, it is not easy after all. Chocolate is the biggest challenge. I Love it some much as does my whole family.

Just my non sense ' it is possible going diet but keep milk chocolate almond as my best friend? ' hey, wake up!

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Spending my Christmas time with my beloved friend in New Jersey, Hilda. I had a lovely and fun time together with her, her hubby and the boys. At the same time I was meeting other two families which I was longing to meet. They are Claudia and Martha's family.

New York City is the famous city in the world perhaps. It was my first time visit. Tall buildings are everywhere and not much of space in between. This city is never sleep, always crowded and busy during the day and night.

At night, lights and Christmas decoration were struck me in awe even more. Street vendor were busy selling snacks such as pretzel, nuts and candy. Every stores either small and big they have their own holiday decorations. Surely, it was eye catching!

Fifth avenue what I have heard is the place where starts live. I was kinda looking forward to see Patrick Demsey my favorite movie start. Who know it will becoming my Christmas present. Ah ha... Love this guy so much. Not only handsome guy, but his personality according to my view that he is down to earth and devoted husband and father.

Those are my little stories of hope in the new year and our enjoyable vacation time.

Merry Christmas from us to you.

SELAMAT NATAL (Merry Christmas) to our beloved family:

Mbah Kung and Mbah Put
Pakde and bude Wibosono and three cute little girls Gaby, Villy and Abel
Om and Tante Alexander with little Emma.
The Porters family in Canada and USA.
Love you all.
We wish you were here close to us.

And

My fellow bloggers.

Wishing you all have a blessed and fantastic Christmas!

Happy Holiday!


Love,
Dwiana, Colin and Nathaniel.


Updated:
The picture above is for my Click entry, hosted by Jugalbandi.

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Nastar (Pineapples) Cookies

Is there any sign of life in Erie? The sun doesn't show her beauty. It is very cold and cloudy most the time. The snow is showing more of its anger! Yes, when the snow decides to fall, we have to work hard to clean up our drive way. Another bonus this month is the freezing rain which caused the road to be slippery. Not only that, this weather also kills my hobby of taking pictures, no sun means no pictures. There, ME, as a grumpy weather channel reported to you LOL

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My first entry for Christmas Cookies hosted by Susan from Food Blogga

During our preparation for Christmas, I want to do other stuffs besides baking. But lately I have been busy baking cookies to be send to families and friends. In Indonesian, it is very popular to bake cookies to celebrate any festive season. . My family back in Indonesia always make NASTAR or PINEAPPLES COOKIES for Christmas. I got this traditional cookies recipe from Eliza 'Notes from my food diary'.

It was dark cloudy and cold the day I baked nastar cookies. Nathaniel looked so bored playing game and watching TV all day. So I decided to played with him by making craft project while the cookies were in the oven.

We glued together every tiny colorful pieces. We made a clown! Nathaniel looked so happy and showed off his project to his dad as soon as he came home.

He called it 'SANTA CLOWN'

I would love to hear your story too about your holiday time, it can be Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year. I believe the holiday gives a hectic time but try to enjoy the moment and to love this time of year.

Nasi Kucing ( Cat Rice)

HOLIDAY MADNESS! I must admit that I am one of those crazy people who like shopping on 'Black Friday'. Not so much of looking a good bargain though, but I don't know I just enjoy those crazy people falling on shopping until the last breath! Mostly I only get 2 or 3 items during that madness day. Then spend the rest of morning just relaxing on the food court with a cup or coffee and a donut. Then watching people come and go eagerly to find a crazy deal. Being PATIENT is a must on black Friday, well sometimes we don't get what we want to with patient right. I guess it is depends on how people would like to spend their 'black friday'. I never go to WALLMART though, that place is totally insane!

Now, I am sitting here full of crazy ideas on what to make for the holidays. I want to bake cakes and cookies, sew hat and gloves, and not forget about cook fancy food. Reading from one magazine after magazine and hoping they will give me an easy idea about baking, sewing and cooking. BUT, instead I am stuck!! My tummy rumble, oh dear I haven't eaten since this morning. Just a cup of coffee is totally not enough. Spent the whole morning to noon trying to get brilliantly inspirited and the next thing I know I'm eating NASI KUCING (cat rice).

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What is Nasi Kucing (cat rice)? It is well known among student in Java island, Indonesia. Mostly student eat Nasi Kucing because their money is tight and they don't have time at all to cook. Nasi Kucing is quite inexpensive. The size of it, its about a cup of rice with little bit of side dish. Wrapped in bananas leaf. Other than plain rice, I fried anchovy and nuts then cook them together with thai pepper and onions. It is very spicy for sure. When you eat nasi kucing simply do not expect any good nutrition*wink*. A very simple lunch for myself today:)

Also want to be thankful to the host and judges for giving me the honor of taking third place on DMBLGIT November 2008 hosted by Sugaya.

Thank you as well to Sefa from Food is Love who gave me an “inspiring award” - thank you for thinking of me.

Apple Crumb Pie

TIME TO GIVE THANKS! One of the biggest holidays in united states is Thanksgiving day. TURKEY is mostly served as the main holiday meal. It takes a few good years for me to actually like turkey and enjoy this holiday. Many people have different reason to celebrate thanksgiving but for me, It is a celebration of being thankful. I am thankful in a way that my family in Indonesia, Canada and United States are healthy and are safe. And being thankful of having a wonderful husband and adorable son.

Also in this holiday I remember of the terrorist attack in Mumbai, India. My prayer goes to family who lost their loved ones. Hoping the situation will be under control soon and please GOD help them.

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Ok, now about what dessert is mostly served during thanksgiving day? Apple pie and pumpkin pie. I made crumb apple pie and brought it to my mother in law and her kids. We had a quiet and happy thanksgiving dinner. Mom cooked turkey, mash potatos, gravy, fruit salad, cranberry sauce and stuffing.

APPLE CRUMB PIE
Adopted from all recipes

Ingredients
1 (9 inch) pie shell
6 cups thinly sliced apples
1 tablespoon lemon sugar
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ cups raisins (optional)
½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)

Place sliced apples in a large bowl. Sprinkle with lemon juice if desired. In a small bowl, mix together white sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Springkle mixture over apples. Toss until apples are evenly coated. Stir in raisins and walnuts if desired. Spoon mixture into pastry shell.

In a small bowl mix together ½ cup flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter or margarine until mizture is crumbly. Sprinkle mixture over apple filling. Cover top loosely with aluminum foil.

Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 25 to 30 minutes, until top is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Marble Cake

It wasn't a pleasant week for Erie as the weather channel kept telling us about approaching snow storms. This weekend it seemed like everyone was out cleaning the snow from their walkways and driveways, this of course included myself!. Bummer!! my snow blower was broken. I had to shovel by hand. It took me almost 3 hours to finish all my drive way. Of course I didn't shovel for 3 hours straight though. If I did, I would probably be in the hospital with a bad back. Wondering where was my hubby? Poor thing he had to work. OH, probably he was lucky then as he didn't have to shovel snow.

My lovely son was being so helpful. While I was shoveling the snow he helped brushing snow of my car. Tried to build a snowman too but didn't work as the snow was way to wet.

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As we came inside the house, the marble chiffon cake was waiting for us. I made myself a tea and a hot coco for Nathaniel. Then spend the rest of the day being lazy by watching tv, playing game. Just want to be inside keep us warm. Then my son felt sleep, yippy...! being outside it was totally wiped him out! THEN, finally mommy has time for her self alone.

I have been making this marble chiffon cake for many times but I lost interest to post it with many different reasons. One of them as I took food photo it doesn't come up well enough, you know very hard to find good natural light in this time of year.

Marble Chiffon Cake
recipe is adopted from Rumah Manis by Fitri.

1/3 coco powder
1/4 cup hot water
1 1/2 cups + 3 tbs granulated sugar
1/2 cup + 2 tbs vegetable oil
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tbs baking powder
1 tsp salt
7 eggs (separate between white and yellow)
3/4 cup water
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp grated zest of a lemon

Direction
In the bowl mix together coco powder, hot water, 3 tbs granulated sugar, 2 tbs vegetable oil. And put a side.

In the other bowl mix together flour, salt, baking powder, granulated sugar. Put a side.
Whisk well egg yolks, water and vegetable oil. Pour into flour mixture and mix them together with electronic mixer. And put it aside.

Using electronic mixture blend together white egg and cream of tartar until white fluffy (soft peak). Then pour this batter into egg yolk mixture. Stir them well with hand whisk.
Take 2 cups of batter and pour it into coco powder mixture. Whisk them well.

Add 2 tsp grated zest of a lemon into remaining white egg batter. Mix them well.

I use regular cake baking pan by brushing margarine then sprinkle flour after. First, pour about 1 cup of white egg batter into a cake pan. Then add about 1 cup of chocolate batter on the top. Do repeatedly.

Then with a fork, gently draw swirls through the batter to marbleize it. Don't over mix or you will not have that wonderful marble effect.
I did over mix little bit so you know how the result comes up. Quite disappointed.

Bake to 325F for about 70 -75 minute of until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Also thank you for wishing me happy birthday dear friends.

and

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Home Food Photography “Concept”

Snowing in October is absolutely no no no! This year not like last year, where the snow fall couple days before Christmas. Everyday in the weeks it seems like no change to see that cold weather and snow will stop, so I was wondering what the weather would be like on Halloween day. Miserable cold won't be fun for the kids doing treat or trick.

It was turning out a beautiful day! I took my time to enjoy a beautiful day by playing outside with my son. He was so proud with his Halloween custom. Running from one corner to the other pretend like he was a superman. While watching him in a action I sat on the grass and enjoyed picking up some Halloween cookies with a cup of tea. It was more like a picnic in my own backyard. My son was playing with some decorative pumpkins and falling leaves.
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I submit this picture for the Home Food Photography event. This months theme is concept. Hosted by Dita.

The gorgeous day was over too soon. Dark occupied about 6 o'clock at night. I didn't go out for “treat or trick” instead I stopped by my friend's house who lives couples of block from here. Nathaniel had a wonderful time there with her family and enjoyed his Halloween moment without have to go crazy knocking door to door.