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!

Click +/- below to read more....

+/-

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.

+/-

HERE IS WHERE YOU PLACE THE HIDDEN TEXT.

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

Click +/- below to read more.....
+/-

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).

Click +/- to read more...
+/-

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.

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.
+/-

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.

KAASTENGEL “Cheese Stick Cookies”

Apologize for hiding this blog as it was under construction for awhile. Then I am back now with love and warm story about celebrating Eid Mubarak at my friend's house. Before, I want to say Thank You Very Much to Sheila from Let's mess-up the kitchen for her time teaching and helping me with a new template. I am so happy with the result.

+/-

It was a lovely and beautiful Sunday afternoon. As we are welcoming winter pretty soon the weather that day wasn't bad at all. There are two families here where I live celebrate Eid Mubarak. The party was taken place at Mia's house. She provided food that normally could be found during Eid Mubarak celebration such as chicken curry (opor ayam), Beef spicy curry (rendang), Pineapple cookies (nastar), stir fried spicy chicken liver (sambel goreng ati ayam) etc.

The rest of the family were invited e to the party bring their own delicious food, cake, cookies and fruits. Ah ha... I love “pot luck party” specially when we are Indonesian get together, there always gonna be a lot of “comfort food”!

I made Nuts cookies and Kaastengel “cheese stick cookies”. In the making of kaastengel cookies instead of cutting it straight I formed it with heart shape. Just want to do something different then usual. Now, let me share little bit about this recipe – does this recipe is my favorite so far? I am not sure. I found this recipe from my old friend and it wasn't bad at all. And until now I am still searching for the “excellent” recipe. I may will find it from your blog someday.

KAASTENGEL

Cheese Stick Cookies

250 gram flour

125 gram butter

125 gram shredded cheese

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoon water

1 tablespoon sugar

Eggs yolk for garnish

Mix all the ingredient except eggs yolk together with hand. On a lightly floured surface, using a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough. With heart-shaped cutter, cut out as many hearts as possible. Bake cookies at 400F for about 15 minutes.

For Nuts cookies recipe is available HERE.

Some of foods during Eid Mubarak party.

Chicken curry (opor ayam), Beef spicy curry (rendang), Pineapple cookies (nastar), stir fried spicy chicken liver (sambel goreng ati ayam), Beef fried noodle, Salad, Vegetables curry (sayur nangka), Rice cake (lontong), Pudding.

Kids were really enjoying play together and surely they BRING THE HOUSE DOWN!!

To Sulaiman and Chriswindardo family we wish you 'Happy Eid Mubarak ” from all of us a small Indonesian community in Erie PA. And also I would like to take this opportunity to greet anyone the visitor and blogger who celebrate Eid Mubarak, I wish you “Happy Eid Mubarak”.

Happy Mother's Day

lavender dreams
fill the true heart
living the love
life makes a start

i love you, today
and you love me, too
let's spin a new dream
we, from me and you

Source HERE

Happy Mother's day for all mother around the world

May the aroma of lilac will bring your special day even brighter.

I didn't lose this time, DMBLGIT April 08

I believe this is my forth time entering for DMBLGIT since I create this food blogger. Learning food photography is become my everyday learning. And I am trying to submit a few pictures for different kinds of events. BUT NEVER WIN!!!!! LOL, Some how it brings a good laugh for me and I know I have to learn more than I thought but sometimes I am feeling a looser.

Today, my feeling changed "at least I am no a looser"It makes me so proud that I finally won award of DMBLGIT April '08. More of DMBLGIT information is HERE.

This was a picture I submitted "EGG ROLLS" Recipe here

Thank you so much to all my fellow bloggers for your support and advice.
It means a lot to me.

Miss home!

I should be happy right now as the weather has been very nice lately. Prediction of ‘NO SNOW’ is sure for the next couple of weeks. The fact is, it has been quite sunny for a week.

Hey hey hey… I am not trying to talk too much about the weather because I am not a weather girl.

The sound of rain drops awaked me this morning. As soon as I opened my eyes I thought, it was still four in the morning, but it was almost seven. Time to get up and get busy.

Today’s weather is dark and wet. This weather reminded me of ‘HOME’. It brought me back the memory of many years ago at home. During this kind of weather, gloomy and rainy, my family and I like to just hang out together by sitting down in the terrace. We just talked and shared things in our life. At that moment, all the craziness of life stopped for two hours. We did enjoy not just talking but also watching the rain. Sometimes, food vendor passed by our home to sell their food that made our lazy day more prefects. We stopped them and bought their food!

Oh dear, there is no enough words to tell, “HOW MUCH I AM LONGING BEING HOME!” Being with the people that I love so much. Now as the raining is still pouring outside, I send my prayer for the health and happiness to those people I love AT HOME.

Those photographs were taken during our vacation in Indonesia last year. Borobudur tample is located at central Java. Finding more information about Borobudur you may visit HERE.

“Lapis Surabaya”, Our wedding anniversary cake!

It is called “LAYER CAKE” in English. I have wanted to make this cake for so long but something always comes up therefore I am not able to spare time to bake this cake.

In order to celebrate our 7^th anniversary, I decided to make this layer cake, a small and a simple cake just for three of us. I decorated it with melted chocolate and chocolate wafers along the side. I put three flowers made from fondant on top and touch it up with sprinkles.

This recipe is taken from FITRI, her blog name is RUMAH MANIS. Many great Indonesian and Iran recipes are available there.

For this recipe, you need:

Ingredients:

15 large eggs (you only need 3 white eggs)
125 gram of all-purpose flour
1 tbsp of chocolate powder
185 gram of granulated sugar
150 gram of melted butter
1 tsp of vanilla essence
½ tsp of salt
Strawberry jam for gluing between the cakes

Directions:

Wisk eggs, sugar and salt until white and fluffy. Pour in flour, stir with wooden spoon to mix the flour to the eggs mixture. Add in melted butter, keep mixing. Divide the mixture into 3 parts (2 parts stay as white part and 1 part; you mix it with chocolate powder). Pour the mixture to the Lapis Surabaya pan that has been grease with butter and flour.

Bake in the oven at 350 F or 180 C for 30 minutes.

There will be 3 parts of cakes (2 white parts and 1 chocolate part). You can bake the cakes separately, beginning with the white parts, then chocolate part.

Wait until the three cakes have cooled, pile the cakes together, start with the white, then glue it with the jam then pile it again with the chocolate and do the same with the rest of the cake. Serve !

Valentine!

Would like to wish you all Happy Valentine!

Animal Coffee with cinnamon stick

When I woke up today and I felt like having a cup of coffee, although it is not my regular routine. Cold weather is just perfectly for this fantastic coffee and accompanied by couples of doughnuts – mmm it brightens my day already!

NOW, lets we talk about “Animal Coffee”. This coffee is called “Coffee Luwak”. This comes from this animal. Don’t get a heart attack ok? LOL It is very interesting story behind this coffee and so far I know by searching on the internet Coffee Luwak is the most expensive coffee in the world.. Selling at least $120 per pound in US according to WIKIPEDIA. More curious about this coffee? You may visit this website too ANIMAL COFFEE/COFFEE LUWAK.

Wondering about how does it taste? Extremely good!! My husband loves it so much. The fact is we bought this coffee in Indonesia during our visit. So guess, I don’t spend about $120 per pound.

Set back and relax enjoying my coffee which I mix it up with cinnamon stick. It will bring the aroma even fantastic!

Also this picture is submitted for CLICK hosted by Jugalbadi.




Camera used: Canon 40D
Lens used: USM 100 macro

Photo of Luwak animal was taken from Animal Coffee

CHEERS and AWARD

TIME IS SO FAST! Lately I've been feeling that when you have a child then it is much easier to notice how the time is flying. All I know my son is 2 years and 2 months and I have just recently been able to write again. It gaves me an apportunity to say thank you for the award that one of my bloggers gave me. Lydia from my Kitchen. Love her blog and her style of displaying food. Thanks for the award. She gave me an award last month but I wasn't able to read or reply about the award. It may be too late now - but I am writing about it anyway.

I just wanted to thank all of you who took the time to to stop by and read my blog, also for all of your polite comments.

Hope January will bring you happiness, in good health, prosperity.

CHEERS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008

Hiya... I am trying to be online and do posting. Hectic! too many things are going on. But I am not trying to be rush doing things here and there though for this holiday. I just don't want to miss the meaning of Christmas. One thing and the most important is my baby, my baby is my laptop and it stops working! totally crushed! I am hoping I don't lost pictures of food that I took which I am willing to share with you as soon as I have time. My hubby is working on it and try so hard to save all pictures. You know me... I have a strong faith on my laptop until I care less about having external backup hard drive. Now?? I should learn huh... technology is sometimes complicated.

Anyway - thank you for you who already visit my blog. I promise though I will keep posting and visit you as soon as possible. And with this new design I am not used too yet and I still learning. But I am so happy for the design. Ria is a designer. She did a good job!

Also I would like to take this opportunity to wish you Merry Christmas. May peace and joyful be with you. Spending time with your loves ones is the greatest things and you should enjoy it. For those who don't celebrate Christmas, I wish you Happy Holiday and Happy New Year 2008. May all your wishes and hopes come true. Many blessings for the upcoming new year and above all I pray for the peace and love in this earth.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008

God bless you all!
The Porters

The Joy between The two of them!

This photograph was taken couples of weeks ago when the weather in Erie was so beautiful. Three of us went to the bay just for playing and waiting for the sunset. While I was taking pictures I looked at my hubby and my son, they were playing and giggling. I just love the way they play together. So I captured a beautiful moment between the two of them.

I just want to tell to both of you that I am glad to be your loving wife and a loving mother. I am a lucky woman!

He is TWO

Two years ago November 10, 2005 I had him. That was the greatest thing happened in my life. He is growing up so fast and now I realize he is not a baby anymore. He is two!

His smile brings us joy and encourages us to survive the trials in this live. Every moment in our life, we pray that he will grow up strong, healthy and is obedient to God.


Having you every day is a blessing for us. We are proud and love you very much.

May God bless you Nathaniel!

I am a COW, want milk?

Don't ask me why we celebrate Halloween. It is not about celebrate it or not, for me is just having fun for kids. This year is going to be my son second halloween. I don't think he understand or enjoy it, Mommy the one that enjoy dressing him up LOL.

I don't think this is a year of cow either, but wait a minute, is there any such a year of cow? LOL Anyway I dress my son Nathaniel as a cow. He is learning to speak both language Inglish and Bahasa. I said to him you are a cow, then he said Mooooooo! then I said you are "sapi" (cow in english) he gives me a big smile. There he is I capture his smile as a cow!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

Tumpeng

I tell a little bit story of what is "TUMPENG". Tumpeng is yellow rice formed in shape of cone. There are many shapes of tumpeng now day but the cone shape is an old fashion way and popular. Most Indonesian specially people who come from Java island like to celebrate life with tumpeng. It could be a celebration of happiness such as birthday, anniversary and wedding.

Generally tumpeng is served along with some of Indonesian food and add some of food craving as a decoration. Side dishes come along with this tumpeng is;

1. curly fried eggs
2. spicy taste of anchovy, peanut and shredded potatoes

3. perkedel (Indonesian) is like mash potatoes mix with ground beef and some spices. Formed them around shape and fry

4. fried chicken

5. urap is like salad with coconut flakes

6. serundeng is mix of coconut flakes with Tempe and some spices

7. stir fry green beans and shrimp

8. fried tofu

9. kerupuk is indonesian crackers

This is a FRIENDSHIP CELEBRATION. Our friend Sinar and her son Christopher came from Washington and stay for a couples of day. So I though this will be a good day to celebrate our friendship that has been tied in for over some years.

Only few of Indonesian people live in this township. They are all came and bring some comfort food then we decorate those food on the side of tumpeng.

Not forget to give thank to Roossy, Sinar, Mia, Eri and Fonny.

Thank you very much for participating to make this tumpeng.

OFF from cooking

COOKING? Not today! that is for sure. I really don't feel like cooking. No energy left on me as I don't feel good at all. Get very common cold. This sinus and soar throat are really bother me. Terrible migraine. I wish I could just sleeping!

Here I am laying on the sofa and watching my son. He is very active boy, will be 2 years old in November. He loves to climb and run. I have to keep my eyes on him all the time or he will be gone very easily.

I though when I am relaxing, I am thinking about making a sketch of his face. I wish I could drawing. I tried one time and OH NO... that is not a good idea at all. So I took one of his picture that I like and start painting using photoshop.

Looking at his picture I realize how much he has grown so fast. And each day I am thankful about him come in my life. Now my boy, do you think you can calm down little bit and not too much running and climbing here and there as I need to lay my head so my migraine will go away.
Somehow he understands - Yep He is my good boy!

Happy Independence Day Indonesia

This is Nathaniel (myson) and Amanda (Roossy's daughter)

17 August 1945, it is 62 years now since Indonesia declared his independence. Now what?? Many things have come up in my brain right now and I feel like I want to write more about Indonesia, my beloved country. Most of the subjects that are going through my mind are about politics and the government system.
BUT, I am tired!!! Doesn’t matter how many paragraphs that I am going to write, will they listen??? And get off their butt to make this country even better OR they just busy about how to make them selves richer and don’t care about their people.

But one thing I know, no matter where I live right now, INDONESIA is my home sweet home and my thought and prayer will be with you. Hope someday there will be one president who is really caring about you and willing to make you even better.

Happy Independence Day my home town and God bless you!