Ayam Arak

I was suggested to have this soup for my speedy recovery. A whole chicken cooked with lots of chinese cooking wine and ginseng. Actually I just need the broth where all the goodies and nutritions are. It turned out so delicious, I had a bowl of the broth and couple pieces of the meat and Steve ate the rest of the chicken. No kidding, I was surprised myself, we ate like barbarians. We dipped the meat in the mix of soy sauce and sesame oil and ate with steam rice and chillie sauce. After all that I forgot about complaining to Steve coz he bought that organic whole chicken for $13. Whats so crazy about organic anyway?

Ingredients:

- 1 whole chicken

- 1 package of chinese herbs

- 2 cups of cooking wine

- 5 cloves of garlic

- salt/pepper

- 1 glass of water

Put everything in a pot, clay pot would be the best. Simmer with low heat for 2 hours.

Walking with God

I called this is my journey with God. I hope nobody is like me, wait for long to make decision. Starting with pain in my abdomen in a specific area, I went to see a gynecologist, found out that I had what it called uterine fibroid http://www.myuterinefibroids.com/do.php?gclid=CKXajc7Qs4kCFRZXFQodP3uSUA , and I should have it removed. What? surgery? Nightmare. No way! I don’t like needle. I have tried everything to avoid surgery such as no meat diet and all kind of traditional medicines.

Nothing worked, and I began losing my hope. In that point I have to find a way to be healed. I didn’t know how. So I start watching Praise the Lord on www.tbn.org . I found lots of hope from the songs and worship which Jesus is the Greatest Healer. So I prayed and accepted Jesus to be my Lord and savior. I made a commitment with God that on New Year 2006 I want to make a further step; I want to go to this church http://www.ibcchurch.cc .

Every single day is a new day with God, He changed me so much, and He wants to restore every part in me.

My life has changed, I love people more than before. I am blessed with many things in my life, lots of love from friends and family, specially my husband, Steve who has never a single time complained about my health condition and did not leave me because of this sickness I was unable to have a baby. And I know that is only the Love from God can do that. My faith began to grow and with His power I surrender all to Him and I went to the doctor and accepted to have a healing process. My fear of needle and surgery did not go away, I walked to the doctor office like walking in a death row. But I have to make the step, I want to be healed, and with all prayers and scriptures, I did that first step. The rest, here I am, back in home and ALIVE!

God gave me a miracle. Yes, the miracle to be walking with Him, which everything is possible in Him, and I can do all things through Him who strengthen me. The surgery is a miracle for me, I was afraid of it so much, and I passed the test. It’s so over. I have to always remember that I never face any problem by myself, the Holy Spirit is with me, I am surrounded by many angels, and God the Father are always wacthing me from Heaven. Thank you Jesus, you made me new.

Many thanks to:

• Steve, you are always a sweetheart to me, thanks for all your loves, all you do and being with me in this situation. Just look at the bright side, you can get to play nurse with me *wink wink*. You are my sunshine, I love you very much.

• All my family in Indonesia and US, specially my mother who went thru the same problem like me in the past. Bapak, Mas Tegar, mbak Vivien, mas Unggun, and Entong. Kay (my mom) for everything, Denny, Diane, all the Doyles for your loves.

• Mbak Anna family for praying for me everyday

• All my friends from Bethany Washington DC church who have been praying and supporting me the whole time. With you, I feel I have extended new family, and that is true. Thanks for visiting me in the hospital.

• Yuyun and Ike for your the special prayer and spending time with me a day before the surgery.

• Also thanks for Lucy, Lee, Liza, Larry for taking your time to visit me.

• Jeng Endang Power www.johnendang.multiply.com for everything. I have learnt so much from you, because you have gone through this before me. You told me that surgery is not as bad as we thought, and that comforted me. I love you, sayang.

• All my friends from www.indousacouples.com who prayed for me. Thanks for being my friends.

• Dr. Marvin Rosenblatt, all paramedics, and nurses. You all are my angels from God.

I know words cannot express the way I really thank you for everything you have done for me but I can pray that God will bless your kindness with multiple blessing in your life

Lunch box

This is one of my choice to eat only when I'm really..really...really hungry. Maxim supermarket at Rockville. The food is OK, but the quantity..oh boy, you can feed 3 football players with this. It's a lunch box for $4.50, you'll get lots of rice plus 3 kind of dishes, and all in large quantity. I always got this combination, rice, beef in brown sauce, spicy tofu and green mustard.

beef pot roast

For the first time I wanted to try this very traditional american dish. It turned out good and Steve loves it.

Beef Pot Roast

2 lb brisket or chuck roast
2 tsp salt
2 tsp black pepper

1 onion
3 tbs olive oil or butter
1 tbs brown sugar

1 cup red wine

500 ml beef broth
2 big yukon gold potatoes
5 carrots

Brown meat both sides hot oil. Add garlics and onion, and then add brown sugar and red wine. Cook for about 5 minutes, add the beef broth. Cover tightly and bake 300F for 4 hours, until tender. About 30 minutes before done, add potatoes and carrots.

all you can eat

Today, I got a really a nice treat from Ike, she bought me lunch at Fortune Star, a buffet restaurant. She took me there to treat me for my birthday gift ( I know..I know.. enough story about my birthday, I won't mention any birthday no more...). So there we were, two hungry little girl like us eating at a buffet restaurant like there's no tomorrow. Thanks Ike for the lunch and a special card you made for me. These pictures showing my plates only.

can't buy me with flowers, my dear...

Sorry that I have to post something related to my birthday, but I feel that I want to share this. Steve forgot my birthday....... fine.... and I didn't want to make a big deal so eventhough I felt blue on the day of my birthday I tried to chill out. I kept saying to myself, its okay..its okay..cos I've got my birthday present early this week. And he noticed that, and asked me more than once why I was so quiet, he thought I was sick. I just dont want to tell him "TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY" like announcement, you know. And then finally he found it out when I gave him my b-day cake, and he asked me, your birthday is tomorrow, right? .... I was asking to myself, ok, do I tell him or just let it be history of my life.....but I couldn't resist so... here it goooo...I said, yes it is today (tried to be flat without emotions)..... boom!! he was shocked and almost cried that he could swear he thought was the next day. Then I knew that he really forgot the date, cos he planned to have special dinner with me. But I had to comfort him since he kept blaming on himself and I told him that I was fine and I wasn't mad at all. So last night, we got in home after dinner with my mother in law at Jaleo, he bought me flowers and a beatiful winter hat, scarf and gloves, all in REDDDD. I really love the color, sweetie.....and thanks for the lovely note, next year, keep forgeting my birthday again, it'll cost you an arm and a leg.

my birthday is today

Yes, it is today, my special day, the BIG DAY! I got in the office today, and there was a big breakfast served on my desk. Two over easy eggs, bacon, potato hashbrown, toasts, and a bagel with cream cheese on the side! Who else did that if not Larry, the carrot dude. I walked to his office and gave him a pumpkin pie I made last night, but he was on the phone (as always to pretend that he's doing something). Back to my room and ate all the energy I'd need for today, then Larry came by and ....OMG...another surprise! A birthday cake, everyone! And is not Larry if he doesn't do silly things. Eventhough he want to be nice and do a special thing for me, he always pull out a joke. He made the baker wrote Happy "40th" crossed out!!! wow..I'm not there yet, ladies and gentlemen, chill out....
It took me a while to decide whether I want to cut it or not since I just ate those humungus breakfast. Then, ok, I want to blow the candles and have a piece, and yes, I want to have a real birthday. So here is the proof that today is my special day, MY BIRTHDAY.

wonton soup

marble cake

Spinach stuffed beef

chicken quesadila

fried frog legs

eggplant lasagna

squid kangkung belacan

sweet potato pie

Buttered scallop over rice

Bihun bakso

beef tongue steak

squid

Ayam panggang bumbu padang

Mie jawa

lamb leg soup

Curried beef over rice

Black Forest

Jadi inget waktu ulang tahun, makan cake ini enak banget, rhumnya berasa banget deh. Black forest yang modelnya laen dari yg biasa (nggak bulet). Dari La Baguette de Paris bakery.