Sour Tuna's fish (Eungkot Asam Keumamah from Aceh)

Eungkot Asam Keumamah/ Sour Tuna's fish from Aceh (Sumatra's island in indonesia) *South East Asia's Culinary

Date: Saturday, 15th September 2012 for my family's lunch time

This cuisine is really difficult to make it since you need two main materials.

First one: The Tuna's fish. it unusual tuna's fish. it really hard as wood (we usually called it wooden fish). how to make it? remove the barb fish and fish entrails completely, pouring some salt and let it dry in the sun until a few weeks. your tuna's fish will be became brown/darker color and it automatically became wooden fish

Second one: Asam Sunti. You make it from Blimbi/Cucumber tree that have been dried in the sun for almost a week. the color of Asam sunti will be dark brown. it really special seasoning from Aceh's island

The Ingredient : 

- 500 gram wooden tuna's fish, make it into a small pieces by scissors

- 1 pcs of Lemon

- 3 pc of Blimbi/cucumber tree

- 5 tablespoon vegetable oil (for stir frying the seasoning)

- 5 pc of shallots, cut it very thin

- 8 pc of curry leaves

- 10 pc of Asam Sunti

- 1 teaspoon turmeric seasoning

Mashed Seasoning such as:

- 6 pc of shallots

- 3 pc of garlic

- 15 pcs of small red/green chilis

- 5 pc of big chilis (it's depend on you, if you wanna the taste more sour put more blimbi and Asam sunti, of you wanna the tast more spicy put more chilis)

How to make it:

1. coat the woodden tuna's fish with a little bit salt and lemon into one. just keep it for 15 minutes

2. pour the mashed seasoning, blimbi, asam sunti, and turmeric into one and coat it into the wooden tuna's fish

3. Stir-frying the shallot and curry's leaves until it changed become the yellow/brown-ish

4. Put the wooden's tuna;s fish and stir-frying it into well done

5. serve it when it's hot

Voila! the sour tuna's fish is ready to eat! if you have any question about this recipe, just ask me directly. i know it kinda difficult to make this one. i hope it can be useful for all you! good luck! 

P.S you can buy the two main material such as tuna's wooden fish and asam sunti in Pasar Minggu, Jakarta if you doesn't want make it by yourself. thanks! 

I got my Sewing Machine!

I remembered a few month ago my dad said to me that he have bought me a sewing machine! i totally speechless since i never think before he will buy me one. He already see my passion through craft and cross stitching and decide for me learn more about sewing. so someday he hope i can make my own clothes. 

The big day is coming! i remembered clearly on wednesday, 5th September 2012 the sewing machine is arrived at my house! yayy! 

Singer Stylist Model 7258

I amazed with this sewing machine. since i always saw the old traditional sewing machine which using desk and foot to running the machine. this electronic sewing machine also have 100 stitch patterns that includes 6 types of buttonholes, construction and stretch stitches. stylist features include 13 needle positions, needle threader, top drop-in bobbin, programmable needle up/down and decorative stitch lock

In the fact, i'm still not good for how to operate that super stylist and high-technology sewing machine. However, i really happy when i got this one. it motivates me to taking sewing's course soon. maybe i will take beginner-intermediate class for it! *cross finger *wink 

My New Blog for Cross Stitch

Hello everyone! in the last recent days, i try to continue my work in process cross stitch. Since i realize cross stitching is became my new hobby. so i decide to make the newborn blog for it. Voila!

www. StitchingRendezvous.Blogspot.com

If you want to see my cross stitch progress, my future project list you can go check that link. i want that blog focusing for cross stitch and embroidery only. this blog will be focus on my thought, insight, cooking recipe and maybe some random things. Thank you! :))

67th Indonesia's independence day!

17th August 1945 - 17th August 2012 (67 years) Happy independence day my country Indonesia!

Thanks God we already survived from the colonialization from such 67 years ago!
Now in my head hanging two big questions such as:

1. Are we really trully independence country?
i can say maybe my country actually written as independence country but in the reality it's still NOT. globalization and intervening from other countries still really stick in my country. we are still depends on what the developed country wants and doesn't want to stand out with our own will. How come on 21st July 1986 we were got special gold medal from FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) as one of the biggest country who produces rice and survived by itself. Our first president, Ir. Soekarno even break the record on 7th January 1965 we are the only one country who brave to resigned from United Nation's (UN) members. Now, we even barely can say no to developed country who make investment to our country and let's them to do exploration and excavation in our natural resources without thinking about the long run environment sustainability?

2. What can we do as youth to our country?
ACTION! i don't want to be passive one citizen. we need to stand up again and be survive! Be agent of change to giving positive impact to our society. we really need open our mindset and watch carefully from the good case practice from other countries and reducing our bad case practice. seriously, i doesn't want my country recognized in the world as the most corruption countries or heard some fact the most corruption ministry is religion ministry? what the hell is that? i'm feel ashamed when heard our bad reputation.. we need to show what the beautiful and the good reputation from our countries it is?

I decide to join some organization that can make me participate to giving impact in my society in my last semester in university. are we as youth really care with global issues that happening in our country? for example Entrepreneur and Environment issues? are we already try our best to educate and delivery the key message how important to make such job opportunity in our countries? are we really care to delivery the message about global warming? how come in East Indonesia which always raining and dry season along the year now snow is falling there?? there are so many things that we need to deliver and educate our citizen not just to be accept the way it is but we must fight to get what we want to! Even John. F Kennedy, Last former US President said "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country" .

it seriously a big homework for me as one of indonesian's citizen. we need to wake up soon from this terrible dream and adjust our ryhtm like our neighbour country!

Indonesia tanah airku
Tanah tumpah darahku
Disanalah aku berdiri
Jadi pandu ibuku

Indonesia kebangsaanku
Bangsa dan Tanah Airku
Marilah kita berseru
Indonesia bersatu

Hiduplah tanahku
Hiduplah negriku
Bangsaku Rakyatku semuanya
Bangunlah jiwanya
Bangunlah badannya
Untuk Indonesia Raya

- Indonesia Raya  by W.R Supratman - (Indonesia National Anthem)

My Cross Stitch Showcase!

haha since iam working on to finish my cross stitch here are some my finished and waiting list project. wanna see them? check it out :)

1) Projects 1 : The Lady in Red
- i know it will became woodpecker bird. since it's my first project and iam wrong choose the pattern. the result is not too good, iam confused with too many red color and only different 1 code number only. *it's okay, its my trial and error project :))

"The Lady in Red"

Size : 23 x 23 cm (on Fabric)

Number of Thread : 23 thread color

2) Projects 2 : The Lovers in The Garret

- after i failed to finish completely my lady in red, i continue to challenge my skill in this projects from soda stitch. it quite difficult because it need so much back stitch

"The Lovers in The Garret"

Size: 104 w x 104 h

3) Projects 3 : Pink Rose *sst this is my current project now

- now it's time for me to make big size cross stitch. i promise to my dad it will be hang on our living room's wall

"Pink Rose"

Size : 48 x 42 cm (on Fabric)

number of thread : 43 thread color

4) Projects 4 : Spring Comes (Waiting list)

*it will be arrive to my house in May 2012. i can't wait it. it will be most challenging. i never do the scenery project before 

Picture taken from : cherithcollections.com

"Spring Comes"

Size : 70 cm x 50 cm (On Fabric)

5) Projects 5 : Tea Time pattern (Waiting list)

Picture taken from : tokokristik.com

"Tea Time"

Size : 38 x 45 cm

6) Project 6 : Good Morning, honey pattern (Waiting List)

Picture taken from : tokokristik.com

"Good Morning, Honey"

NB : For fourth of my projects above i already have bought complete package, that means i buy full set and contains of needles, thread, pattern and also Aida Fabric. but for the two last of my waiting list project i'm only buy the pattern. woww.. i will have 3 more projects that needed to be more accomplished. now let's focus to finish my current project :3

tips and trick cross stitch

Since February 2012, beside i cooked for my family, i also do some cross stitch when i spend my leaisure time and everyday looks like holiday for me. in this post i will sharing tips trick to do cross stitch.

what is cross stitch?

Cross-stitch is a popular form of counted-thread embroidery in which X-shaped stitches in a tiled, raster-like pattern are used to form a picture. Cross-stitch is often executed on easily countable evenweave fabric called aida cloth (based on : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-stitch)

what kinds of materials that we need to make cross stitch?

1) prepare some aida cloth fabric.
 it usually have many size variation. starting from 9 CT, 11 CT, and 14 CT and 18 CT. the bigger one CT Size it means the fabric cloth's size will be smaller because much density. CT means the total of density for square/hole per inch. *tips : start to do cross stitch in the center of the fabric. it will easier your work :)

picture taken from : http://jurnalkristik.blogspot.com/

2) Buy the pattern that you want. many shop such as hobby craft and online shop only sell the pattern. it depends on you what kind of pattern do you want to make. is it scenery? flower? cartoon? 

my suggestion if you are still newbie and first time try these tips that useful :

- buy the simple pattern with no back stitch and have same thread. 

- it will be help you if you buy pattern with colorful picture. trust me it will be work for your first project :)

picture taken from : http://indokristik.blogspot.com/2009/06/alphabet-pattern-pola-kristik-huruf.html

3. Buy the thread for the pattern needed. 

there are many types of thread that you can be use such as :

- DMC thread. it is the common thread. you can found in every craft shop. 

- Blue moon

- Anchor

- China's thread. 

tips : if you still newbie, buy some pattern that doesn't need many thread. at least 10-20 thread will be enough. don't dare to try cross stitch pattern which needs 40-50 thread. it will need more your focus and concentration

picture taken from: http://richcraft.indonetwork.co.id/2334870/benang-kristik-crossstitch-dmc-art-117.htm

4. Scissors

you will need it to cut down the thread when you do the project

- there are 6 kinds of cross stitch that you usually found in your pattern :

A. Back stitch 

B. Full cross stitch

C. 1/2 Cross Stitch

D. 1/4 Cross Stitch

E. 3/4 Cross Stitch

F. French Knot

Voila! here we are, you can start to make the cross stitch! wish you good luck then! :D :D

NB:

Another link that useful for making the cross stitch :

- http://www.cross-stitching.com

- http://anekakristik.com/Informasi.php

- http://crossstitch.about.com/od/learnhowtocrossstitch/tp/fivebasic.htm

- http://mochimochiland.com/2011/03/how-to-cross-stitch-basics/ *recommended

scholarships decision

my days full of thought about the master degree's scholarships. nervous and excited mixed into one. still i want to be focus for getting scholarships in UK. it uneasy thing for me. i need working extra hard for achieve it.

yes, i choose to focus on apply scholarships to continue my master degree and give up for looking job vacancy right now. why i choose this decision?

1) i need to go abroad and see the worldwide. i don't want to be trapped only in my country. looking other country means i will be more open-minded person

2) i want to become more independent and mature woman. that's the main reason why i learn how to cooking. at least, i can cooking for myself and not depend on fast food

3) meeting with new people especially foreign people can broaden my knowledge and perspective. i love to learn new things. it will challenge for me 

that's 3 reason it's enough for me to apply master degree's scholarships. yes, we live in the world who have diversity. my country is really my comfort zone. there's no time for hesitating stepping out from comfort zone.

Lesson from crayons: some are sharp, some are beautiful, all are different colors but they are living in the same box. |•via @tumblr 

NB : if you want to looking for the scholarships too please go to these website :
- http://beasiswabelajar.com/
- http://www.infobeasiswa.net/
- http://beasiswaindo.com/
- http://rumahbeasiswa.com/

good luck then!

cheers,

Marina :*