Be Thankful

There was a man who loved his wife very much. The couple had 3 children. He would give her everything he could but the woman never appreciated. Though the man was not rich, but he would share all he had with her.

He would buy  clothes for her and the only thing his wife would say was that the husband was fulfilling his duty as a Man.  The man would buy a dress but in reply, the woman would mock at him, because the dress was of low quality.  The man would smile at his wife and tell her, "one day, I will be rich and I will buy for you all the expensive things you need."
The woman would never make any phone call unless she was requesting anything from her husband and once her request was not granted, all she could do was to quarrel for days, sometimes fight.

One evening, the man was coming home from work. He bought a kilogram of meat.  Happily,  the poor man was expecting to surprise his wife. He reached home and showed her the package.  Then she shouted: "Eh! You call yourself a man? Which husband, apart from you, do you think comes home with just one kilograme, but no cooking oil, no any other ingredients? You better leave it, you are a good-for-nothing husband."

Then she threw the meat to the bush.  The husband felt low but he never let down his love for her.

One day, the husband felt pain in his left foot. He found a tumor appeared on the foot, it was  growing big and  painful.  He went to the hospital after several months of pain and was told he had cancer. He was poor to have a better medical treatment.  Though he was sick, he tried as much as he could to provide for his family.

Two years later, the condition worsened and he was admitted to the hospital and his foot was removed.  Unfortunately,  most part of his body was already affected.

At last he called his wife and told her, "LOOK AFTER MY CHILDREN, I feel I can't live any longer though I'll always be with you in spirit, may God be with you"

He then breathed his last and died.
The woman and three children cried days.
Two months later, the wife was bowing down on her husbands grave as she said these words:
"My love, you did all the best for me, you treated me well and gave me all you could, but all I could pay you, was endless quarrels and fights.  I never realised your importance and your love until  you are gone.

I remember  I threw your one kilogram of meat, but now I have nowhere to get even half a kilo.

'THE GOOD DIE YOUNG'.  That's why you died when you were still young.  A husband whom I could mock at, but you only smiled at me. The husband who could care and had unending love.
I know you are listening to me and I ask you to forgive me for not appreciating all you did for me when you were alived.

We are all missing your presence as your youngest daughter Diana is always crying and asking when you'll be back.
But you will never leave our hearts
until we join you.  May you Rest in Eternal Peace."

Moral of the story:
* Always appreciate what you are given, whether small or big.
* Love is not all about how much we have,
but it's all about how we share the little we have.

Dried Kelp (Seaweed) Chicken Soup

Kelps are large seaweeds (algae) belonging to the brown algae (Phaeophyceae) in the order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera.

Kelps grow in underwater "forests" (kelp forests) in shallow oceans, and is thought to have appeared in Miocene, 23 to 5 million years ago. The organisms require nutrient-rich water with temperatures between 6 and 14 °C (43 and 57 °F). They are known for their high growth rate — the genera Macrocystis and Nereocystis can grow as fast as half a metre a day, ultimately reaching 30 to 80 metres (100 to 260 ft).

Through the 19th century, the word "kelp" was closely associated with seaweeds that could be burned to obtain soda ash (primarily sodium carbonate). The seaweeds used included species from both the orders Laminariales and Fucales. The word "kelp" was also used directly to refer to these processed ashes.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelp
What Are The Nutrients in Seaweed?

Vitamins A, D, E, C, K and B complex
Calcium
Iodine
Protein
Fiber
Iron
Magnesium
Selenium
Manganese
Sodium
Potassium
Omega Fatty Acids
Carbohydrates
What Are The Health Benefits of Seaweed?
Seaweed contains high amounts of iodine, which is needed by the thyroid to help keep it working properly. However, too much iodine can also be a bad thing for the thyroid depending on your thyroid condition. Those with diseases that weaken the immune system can benefit from eating a few pieces of dried seaweed each day because seaweed contains minerals and vitamin in it that help strengthen and protect the immune system naturally. If you are looking for a way to protect yourself from colon, prostate or breast cancer, snacking on seaweed can help you do just that. Seaweed contains many antioxidants in it that help fight off the free radical cells that can cause cancer and even aging in the body. Those of you suffering from inflammatory diseases like arthritis and gout should add seaweed to your diet because it contains anti-inflammatory properties in it that can relieve inflammation and body pains naturally. Everyone can benefit from adding seaweed to their daily diet to help prevent colds, the flu and other viral and bacterial infections. Seaweed can even help everyone stay energized better than a cup of coffee can because seaweed contains B vitamins and minerals in it that help energize the body naturally. Seaweed is even good to eat daily to keep our bones and teeth healthy and strong naturally. Unbelievably, seaweed has more calcium in it than cow's milk. See, everyone can benefit from adding seaweed to his or her diets.

Source : http://voices.yahoo.com/the-heath-benefits-seaweed-10671741.html

WARNING : Kelp has a high iodine content. The iodine content varies greatly from one sample to the next. Excessive iodine can aggravate thyroid problems.

Whenever I go back to my hometown in Ayer Tawar (Sitiawan), Perak, I would get some dried kelp from the market there. I would usually have kelp in soup, braise or stew it. Kelp soup is very easy to prepare and here I have kelp in chicken soup.

Dried kelps need to be soaked in water to become soft. It will expand. Normally, I would soak more than I needed as the cleaned soft kelp can be kept in the freezer.

Dried kelp

Dried kelp soaking in the water. Once soft, it will expand. Clean and rinse several times to get rid of any dirt.

Ingredients :(no exact measurement)

- 5 pcs of cleaned and soft kelp (cut into palmsized)

- 1/2 kampung chicken (free range chicken)- blanched

- 3 carrots (washed and cut)
- Ginger and garlic (washed and crushed)
- Water (enough for the soup)
- Salt (to taste)

Method:
1) Fill medium sized pot with water enough for the soup.

2) Add kelp, carrot, garlic and ginger.

3) Bring to boil.

4) Then, add the chicken. Bring to boil again.

5) Simmer for about 1 hour.

6) Add salt and serve hot.

The soup itself is very refreshing.

This soup tastes better with extra ginger.

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Stir Fried Tempeh with Onions (Tempeh Masak Bawang) - Meatless Recipe

 
What is Tempeh? 
Tempeh is a traditional soy product originated from Indonesia. It is made by a natural culturing and controlled fermentation process that binds soybeans into a cake form, similar to a very firm vegetarian burger patty.

It is a staple source of protein especially for vegetarians. Like tofu, tempeh is made from soybeans, but it is a whole soybean product with different nutritional characteristics and textural qualities. Tempeh's fermentation process and its retention of the whole bean give it a higher content of protein, dietary fiber, and vitamins. It has a firm texture and an earthy flavor which becomes more pronounced as it ages. Because of its nutritional value, tempeh is used worldwide in vegetarian cuisine; some consider it to be a meat analogue.

In the kitchen, tempeh is often prepared by cutting it into pieces, soaking in brine or salty sauce, and then frying. Cooked tempeh can be eaten alone, or used in chili, stir frys, soups, salads, sandwiches, and stews. Tempeh's complex flavor has been described as nutty, meaty, and mushroom-like. It freezes well, and is now commonly available in many western supermarkets, as well as in ethnic markets and health food stores. When thin-sliced and deep-fried in oil, tempeh obtains a crisp golden crust while maintaining a soft interior—its sponge-like consistency makes it suitable for marinating. Dried tempeh (whether cooked or raw) provides an excellent stew base for backpackers.

To know more about tempeh, please click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempeh

My family members like tempeh and I usually cook it in different ways. Since this is my first post on tempeh, I am posting a simple stir fried tempeh with onions. I will post different recipes on tempeh from time to time.... so do stay tuned...

Ingredients :

- 2 packets of tempeh (sliced)
- 2 big onions (sliced thinly)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tbsp of sweet soya bean sauce (kicap manis pekat)
- salt (to taste)
- sugar (to taste)
- cooking oil

Method :

1) Heat oil in a wok and fry tempeh until slightly brown. Set aside.

2) Heat some oil in the wok again and saute garlic until aromatic.

3)  Add fried tempeh and onion.  Stir fry until fragrant.

4)  Add salt, soya bean sauce and sugar.  Stir and mix well.  If too dry, add some water.

5)  Serve hot.

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