SELAMAT HARI RAYA 2 @ 20th Augustus '12

{part of the clan}

Today is the second day of Hari Raya. My sis Dr. S and I decided that we will do a get together notwithstanding that she is leaving for Kuala Terengganu in the afternoon. So she made four simple menus, to her of course! The main course is her famed Yemeni Rice with chicken cooked in thick tomato puree. Our second main course is fried macaroni with generous minced chicken and button mushroom with a dash of Dr.S’ secret herbs. Then we, read as Dr. S decided that we serve some fried chicken marinated with her secret herbs and coated with local cameronian honey. And for dessert, my niece NN cooked up her signature favorite dessert, pudding fruit cocktail and fresh orange and apple juice and bottles of mineral water.

The kids, NN, FA, MF and MS helped setting the table and made the necessary arrangement as to spread the food and drinks for want of proper buffet table. Drinks were prepared by brother in law MN and placed them on the spiral stairs while ice bucket was placed below it. The scrabble table doubled as coffee table instead where Raya cookies and our moist chocolate cake were placed. As usual, the kitchen bar is the main buffet table! It starts with Yemeni rice followed by our ala Mediterranean chicken, mixed vegetables with fresh tiger prawns and macaroni. Ending the buffet line is of course our mandatory Raya delicacies, some home made ketupat, stall bought lemang (glutinous rice in bamboo grilled by open fire) and  chicken floss.

As usual, our first guest is my nephew AW with his wife SHjr, three broods, sister SH and niece AN, followed by sister KH family, i.e. brother in law MM, nephews IQ, JA, JE and JK, My aunt, uncle and cousin NF. The ambience, atmosphere and the company were simply great. In fact the weather was a perfect sunny and windy day like we were at a holiday resort. Yes, a resort style Hari Raya celebration for one last time in my condo.  Hence it calls for many photo shoots as a remembrance of the venue and as what I call bukti kehadiran (Proof of attendance)!

The story telling session was non stop. It was just us, strictly family, either by blood or marriage sans outsider. We, the four siblings especially have lots to talk about. We are trying our best to strengthen and improved our family ties lest we slip away with our own rat race life, like what my little sis, Dr. S texted message me few years ago, “that we have to nourish our sisterly relations and keep family ties intact.” Everything is a perfect 10 on Acepaizah’s scale. SELAMAT HARI RAYA TO MY DEAREST SISTERS and my beloved readers.

{the buffet bar}

~salams and raya kisses~

~Acepaizah~