KoolAid Playdoh

My kids love playdoh BUT they love (I think only Zahra because Emir is still small) the process of making playdoh MORE, where they get to help and play with the pots and pans. So I've been experimenting with homemade playdoh couple of time using different recipes like these entries:

http://aandes.blogspot.com/2013/05/perfect-homemade-playdoh.html
http://aandes.blogspot.com/2011/11/homemade-playdough.html

As I've mentioned on previous entry, I love the latest recipe (the one that I made in 2013) the most. Basically it's called for the same ingredient, the only different is the composition of the ingredient.

So, for this time I wanted to try something new, with some kind of twist, like KoolAid.

I used to think KoolAid is some kind of medicine, maybe because of the Aid word and I don't think KoolAid is a common stuff in Malaysia. Well, maybe it is, but I'm not exposed to it. And one day I decided to google, then only I know it's actually a consumable flavored drink! Haha. Anyway, I found these babies at Jaya Grocer about RM1 per packet. 

Zahra all excited

So basically this is the recipe

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 packet of koolaid
1 tbsp oil
1 cup water 

mix all, cook it under very low fire and keep stirring it until it become doughy. then off the fire and knead.

Emir busy arranging the dough

I love it so much!!! The color is not vivid but the smell is soooooo nice! The yellow one is lemonade and the pink one is watermelon.

Watermelon gives you a nice faint pink and the lemonade sadly is very faint, so I add on a little bit of yellow food coloring. Well, it's a good thing that KoolAid don't have strong color else, it will be scary to think that you are consuming that much coloring for each drink, right?

We wanted to do all other colors (about 4 more colors to go) but didn't because we ran out of flour which is Alhamdulillah because after a while, I decided to not like this playdoh.

I keep it in the ziplock to prolong the shelf storage and it's still fine until now (made this in July, so almost hit the 3rd month) but....the dough become mushy (not that elastic) to the point of sticky to the finger.

I'm not sure what causing it but after studying the 3 recipes that I've used, I made a conclusion it's because of the salt in the playdoh. I think Malaysia is too hot and humid (the average is 34 celcius during the day!) and causing the salt to excrete extra water.

The second recipe wins so far! It lasts forever..can't remember how long because my kids used it all, but it last for months..not days, without keeping it in the fridge.

The only different is, it used only 1/4 cup of salt instead of 1/2 cup of salt.

So! I'm thinking to try again, with KoolAid (because I love the smell! Yum!) but with 1/4 cup of salt. Will update the finding!

Last but not least, homemade playdoh is not only safe. It's cheap and fun, fun, fun! You have to try it! =)

Kid's friendly rambutans

I'm not a big fan of rambutan just because of the hard shells at the outer of the seed. What do we call it eh? It's something flaky and scratchy to the throat. Anyway my kids love it so much! But I rarely let them enjoy rambutan because I don't feel fancy peeling up the flaky thing *lazy mom alert*. 

You can eat the flaky thing all together if you want, but it can cause cold and make you cough. I don't know how true is that because the words are taken from the oldies but somehow it happens to me if I had rambutans. So I decided to believe in it and painstakingly peel the flaky thing from the flesh if I ever give rambutan to my children.

Hence, that explains why I rarely give them rambutan.

Anyway...things kinda changed after I saw my sister-in-law feed her daughter rambutan. There IS a short cut, and very kids friendly!

Maybe you already knew about this, but this is something new to me, like, after 5 years being a mom? haha...so I gotta share it with you guys!

The trigger - they've been hauling rambutans like crazy, so I gotta reward them somehow right? 

So here it is step by step. Well, it is so simple that I can summary it within few sentence...but I'm feeling fancy now, updating my blog with pictures. So bear with me =D

Halves the hairy skin. I used to use my only mouth and teeth to open it. How....nice, and poise. Well, it's easier that way, as you can immediately pop it into your mouth haha!

Halves as much as you can. Because once you do it this way, the rambutans will be gone in jiffy!

Like so! It will have some hairs naturally because you are using your hands of course!

So wash it

And rinse it

Then slice it side by side and try not to slice very close to the seed, to avoid slicing the flaky thing altogether. Sorry no slicing picture because nobody bothers to take my picture slicing them *roll eyes*

It's ok if the flaky thing accidentally sliced. Well, nothing is perfect in this world.

And enjoy!

I told you it will be gone in jiffy! I haven't finish slicing all and the kids attacked them like a piranha!

Rambutan never taste sweeter and juicier than ever. Because it is so easy to eat this way! Best to keep it in the fridge overnight and you'll have instant cold dessert. But it's hard to keep it safe that long!

Oh ya..you will get some rambutans juice when you slicing it...don't throw it away! Just drink it..like normal juice. Well..that's what I do! Hehe.

Thomas, I heart you!

Emir loves Thomas the Tank very much. I don't know what starts it, or how it's started as we never introduce him to Thomas, or train. But somehow he picks it, and stuck with it. Compared to Zahra, she basically loves everything princessy and girlish, but nothing very specific.

Since Emir still in baby talk phase, we don't really know what he wants or what he loves. But one day, MrComot's aunt gave him Belle (from Thomas train collection) and he loving it so much and keep on playing it. So starting from there we adding trains to his collection time to time.

And from zero knowledge about Thomas and the gang, now we know like almost everything. Like each train have their own name and function, like Gordon, Murdoch, Whiff, Henry and some even look the same except they carry different tank number. Thomas is No 1 of course. The funny thing is, I hardly can differentiate the trains (to my defense, most of them have similar face features and colors!) but Emir can distinguish them well! He didn't say the name out loud since he's not talking yet, but when I call out the name of each train, he will point out the right one. Each time! Wow..don't under estimate your toddler even though he can't talk yet and seems to be in his own world most of the time (well, another entry about that later).

Ok, so apparently his fascination with trains has taken up to another level.

One evening when I picked up the kids, the teacher told an interesting story:

Aunty M: Today we do assessment "who is your bestfriend" so we asked Emir who is his bestfriend, and he points to his bag Thomas (naturally I bought Thomas the tank backpack for him after I found out his love towards Thomas)

Me: Really? He understands what bestfriend is? Ke dia tak faham?

Aunty M: Dia faham. We asked few times and he still points to Thomas

Me: Are you sureeee dia faham? (hahaha still can't believe Emir understands such question)

Aunty M: Yes he is. Since he couldn't talk yet, he just point it

Me: How about other kids?

Aunty M: Other kids named their berstfriend hehe

Oh myyyyy..ok there are 2 issues here.

First, I never expect Emir to understand such question. I mean, who is your bestfriend is pretty deep question right? Obviously I still see him as a baby, while, he's not anymore. Such a clever boy!

Second, kesiannya my sayangggggggg...he feels that Thomas his bestfriend *sobs*

Well...Emir is on the antisocial bit because of his inability to talk I guess.. Antisocial or not, deep down I'm kinda happy that he actually responsive to that question. And also, I find it funny. Thomas is his bestfriend ok, awwwwwwwwwww.....

Come to think, it does make sense because he spent loads of time with the trains and brought them to most places we went, like:

At this kedai makan

At the airport. The moment we secure our seats, he open up his bag and take out all the train

Another kedai makan where he brought ALL of his trains together

Even if he's doing something else, ie watching youtube on the iPad, the trains have to be in order and accompany him

When I brought my kids to my office, Emir take out all the trains and put on the floor, then sit next to it.

All dressed up in Thomas theme. Ah beng habis haha

His Thomas shoe box that he treasures

To keep his most fav trains

At his most fav spot in Toys r Us

Even though he loves Thomas so much, we don't really spoil him, like buying him all the models (even though I'm tempted too! They are soooo cute! especially Henry the snow cleaning edition *insert roll eyes here*. And furthermore I don't want to teach him, "you can get anything you want". Woaa...that's bad man! Don't be spoilt rotten!

So we buy once in a blue moon, like when we go out and they are behaving well, or when there is a sale and I'll wrap it in gift wrapper and went "surpriseeee" haha..

Anyway, up to-date he only has Thomas, Belle, Murdoch, Whiff, Henry (diecast), James (diecast), Hiro (diecast), Hank (diecast) and basic trail. I think we need to add more trail recently I caught him being innovative with the trail where he put something underneath of the trail to make it like a ramp and do accident scenes (boys!!).

I found few interesting second hand trail in Mudah.my but all of them sold out in jiffy! Gahhh! I should've been faster!

Anyway Emir, mommy hope you'll find your real bestfriend soon! Because Thomas can never be real. Mwahhhhhh!!!

Fun under the Sun

Oh my...I miss writing so much (well, that what I always say after long hiatus isn't it :P) But yes, it's true! I miss writing but just couldn't fit the right time to pour what I feel. Or maybe when the time comes, I don't have the mood and heart already to blog about it. Sigh. Anyway, I still randomly post something on my IG (@aanandes), so check it out there. In fact, these entries also already posted in the IG but of course it isn't this details. Nothing beats good old blog right? ;)

I know Syawal is sooooo yesterday! But better late than never... because we had soooo much fun during last raya! So I have to pen down this! :D

Ok according to the plan, we will go back on the Saturday (Raya falls on Monday) which means we will celebrate the eve of raya in Terengganu. But somethings come up (work of course! It's always about work) that MrComot has to stayback in KL for the first and second day of raya. Of course I was a smitten and just can;t believe it, siap plan nak balik asing with the kids via flight ok, such a drama.

MrComot said that it's not like we don't go back at all, it just we go back later on the 3rd raya.

Of course it's a big deal, first day never the same with third day ok? If it's the same, might as well we go back the next 20 days, or even the next year! Haha..seee..sentap giler ok.

Anyway, after I calmed down, I was thinking, heck, why I need to spoil the festive season and sulk over small matter. It doesn't matter really because at least I can celebrate the first Eid with my in laws. Thank God they are in KL, else it will be super suck!

Talking about raya, both of us were very busy during fasting month and we don't even care about the baju raya and whatnot. Only on Saturday it hits us, alamak..tak best la takde baju matching2 this year. So on Sunday right before raya, gigih pegi cari baju ok. We only bought for MrComot and Zahra as Emir and Mommy already has baju melayu and kurung in Purple. We decided to go purple this year because two of use already have it, so don't have to buy new one for all four of us.

But the irony is, gigih beli baju before raya, but have none picture the four of us in it. Gahhhhhh!!

Ok talk about balik kampung, so since MrComot has to standby until 2nd day of Eid, we decided to go back the night of the 3rd Eid itself. This is our first time driving long journey at odd hours and oh mann....the road is super smooth BUT scary!! Because not many cars hitting it and there is no roadside lamp so it was pitch black.

Thank God we didn't hit anything random crossing the road that night, and we didn't see anything weird either *goosebump all over*.

So! These what we've been up to during the holiday in Besut. We had so so much fun and how I wish the place is just few hours drive away.

Scary dark. Thank God the kids were sleeping so we can have peaceful drive. I tried to stay up throughout the journey to accompany MrComot but terlelap jugak few times *sorry baby!*.

Plucking pucuk kemidi / paku-pakis / midin / fern shoots for bubur lambuk  my mom's style. Best dish ever. Just a simple porridge with lotsa ferns, fish meat, coconut milk, blackpepper. My comfort food. 

Scooping up sands at Pantai Air Tawar, Besut. 

Fresh mangosteen plucked from my dad's orchard.

Cooking a big batch of ayam masak merah with green view. There were couples of spring chicken freely roaming around and such a treat to my eyes.

Tapai (fermented rice) made in daun pisang (banana leaves) and original daun getah (rubber tree leaves). Yummy!

random find - mosses color died bug

Went to morning market and see all the villagers selling local stuff, from food to clothes. But you have to be very early here, before 8AM or it's hard to find parking.

Etak-etak, local snack. It's some-kind of shellfish, boiled with salt and you just eat it as it is.

Random fish monger in kain batik. So laidback! Nothing pretentious here.

Having boiled corn

while watching the chickens

handsome boy had to hold two of the corn...because it might finish faster than he can munch.

My mom with my grandma, at the original wooden house.

Went to hypermarket where basically nothing much there because festive season, all sold out I guess.

Had sup urat keting which is extremely delicious but heart clogging. MrComot pass this, not his kind of food (he is that "bandar" ok hahaha)

My dad making lempuk (durian flesh with sugar). You have to stir it for hourssssssss until it turns to a good goey dessert. Yum!

Went to buy keropok kering (fish cracker) from the maker and get wholesale price. Just for fun.

Went to Rantau Panjang (at the Thailand's border) and eat at random local shop. This is our first time eating randomly like this (with kids I mean! I am totally fine with this kind of shop) and they've been chasing flies and ants. Kids!

Totally flat after some shopping.

Raya is not complete with firecrackers isn't it

Freestyle

Making choc cupcakes with abundance of sprinkles of course

Harvesting rambutan. The tree is just right in front of the house.

And it is so low that the kids can pluck by themselves.

Being nice to the brother :D

So, that's it! The kids had a really good time and Zahra keep on asking when we can have long holiday and balik kampung again.

Sadly, no raya picture. We brought the raya clothes back thinking that we will wear it again and snap a picture together. But we are too lazy to do that, booo!