Towards Transformation

Merdeka day Jelly - red, white, blue, yellow = Jalur Gemilang

When we were kids, it was a thrill to wake up early on 31st August day to watch the parade on TV. To oohhh and ahhhh along with the crowd in the comfort of our own living room. We'd all be sprawled infront of the TV in our PJs till it was all over. Of course the highlight will be when the Malaysian Airlines team march by - we'll be ecstatic, as Dad was in service with them for almost 28 years.

I do not think I've instilled enough patriotism in Noel (or rather, I don't think the kids these days are very much patriotic!). Or is it because Noel goed to a Chinese school and they don't really sing patriotic songs? I don't know. But for whatever reason, I think there's more to be done to instill the independence spirit in them.

With this in mind, last weekend, I told Noel that for Merdeka, we are going to make Merdeka Jelly - i.e. colour of the National Flag (Jalur Gemilang). He woke up early yesterday and dragged me along with him (it should be the other way round eh? hehe). After a few minutes infront of the TV, we proceeded with our "big" project. Layer by painstaking layer... red, white, blue and yellow. Then came the moment of truth... Cutting it up... Noel asked me - mummy, the flag for green meh? Haha!!! Blue + Yellow = green!! Should have put coconut milk in the yellow layer!! Though that didn't turn out too well, it was still a cool refreshing desert on a super hot day :) It also kindda hit the spot to say that though we Malaysians are of different races and religion, we are assimilated with each other, well enough that we take on each other's colour. That is the beauty of our country isn't it not?

Being all Malaysian at heart, we decided to make Nasi Lemak for dinner. Well, it was supposed to be for breakfast, then postponed to lunch and finally for dinner. And it was a battle between Laksa Sarawak and Nasi Lemak. A tough battle, but considering that not everyone was at home, nasi lemak won (don't ask me why - to me, both needs so much effort!)

Again, one by one of the accompaniments were painstakingly prepared. Roasted peanut (which got a tad burnt! haha), sambal, hard boiled egg, cucumber slices, salted fish and chicken curry, fried chicken along with the rice. Took most of our afternoon away. We were just on time for Dad's breaking of fast.

Our Nasi Lemak spread - Rice in Coconut milk, Roasted (burnt) peanut, cucumber slices, hard boiled egg, fried egg (Noel likes his egg this way), soup (NOT one of nasi lemak list but with 2 kids eating, soup is essential for our family! haha), fried chicken, chicken curry and the star of the show - the sambal.

I will not say this is an easy feat. It was HARD work! Phew! But then, it was a satisfying effort too. I must say after eating so much food with coconut milk, I felt really guilty to my body (and my heart) that I decided that the next meal with coconut milk will have to wait for Sept 16th. But then, who can resist packing some along for lunch when there's still left overs? Like what Noel will say - it's not good to waste food you know :) (which explains our sideways expansion).

Note: 1Malaysia, Towards Transformation is 2010 Malaysia Day Theme