In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
It's raining right now, so I'm writing this letter earlier than I usually do, which is right before sunset, while I wait for them to call the sunset prayer. Obviously I can't do any yard work, but I do have a craving for hot rice. I asked Ina if she would be cooking up a new pot of rice and if she did, I would have dinner over there. It doesn't look like she will, so I'm going to roll up more of that chicken in dough then deep fry it. When my Mom makes "rendang" (meat in spicy coconut/lemongrass sauce), she normally uses beef, but this time she used chicken for some reason. So I separated the chicken from the sauce, and that's what I've been using to make deep fried stuffed pies. Sorry Mom, but it just doesn't taste the same with chicken. I have some beef, but I'm thinking of mixing the sauce in with ground beef to make "rendang" sausage. What do you think, Mom?
I'm pleased to report that my mustard green experiment was a success, and now I have mustard greens growing in the yard. A LOT of mustard greens. In pots, peat pots, all over the yard. Praise be to Allah! Mustard greens can grow pretty large, and have a lot of body. I use all of the plant too, stems and everything but the roots. I'll save some for seed, and use the rest for wraps, soups, stir fry, whatever. Next, I'm going to roll out some dough to make pies, and make sausage. You want some? Please eat properly and get sufficient rest, OK? I love you, and I need you.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Letter to Erin 20151105
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Ah, chocolate. I told you before that I couldn't find cocoa butter anywhere around here anywhere. So the only thing available around here, besides the name brand chocolate, is cooking chocolate. Cooking chocolate has that greasy feel and taste about it, so I figured that I could add a layer of water, and the grease would float to the top. I had to "wash" the cooking chocolate 3 times before the greasy flavor disappeared, but the "feel" of it was still wrong. So I added some powdered milk to it which improved the taste, but it still felt wrong: it turned out more cakey than snappy. I don't think I diluted the powdered milk in properly. But I think this is a losing battle: the fundamental nature of cooking chocolate is just plain gross. I think I'll try adding some butter in next. Otherwise, we're going to have to serve you British or Dutch chocolate. The quality stuff, and IS available here.
Dinner was much more successful. I still had that batter from yesterday that I made for the fried calamari, plus I also had that chicken rolled up in dough. So I rolled that around in the batter, then deep fried it. It turned out great! Alhamdulillah. Like a stuffed pie with a crispy shell. I'm sorry but I only had one serving, but if you had been here, I would have split it with you. Because you are my girl, and I love you and need you.
Ah, chocolate. I told you before that I couldn't find cocoa butter anywhere around here anywhere. So the only thing available around here, besides the name brand chocolate, is cooking chocolate. Cooking chocolate has that greasy feel and taste about it, so I figured that I could add a layer of water, and the grease would float to the top. I had to "wash" the cooking chocolate 3 times before the greasy flavor disappeared, but the "feel" of it was still wrong. So I added some powdered milk to it which improved the taste, but it still felt wrong: it turned out more cakey than snappy. I don't think I diluted the powdered milk in properly. But I think this is a losing battle: the fundamental nature of cooking chocolate is just plain gross. I think I'll try adding some butter in next. Otherwise, we're going to have to serve you British or Dutch chocolate. The quality stuff, and IS available here.
Dinner was much more successful. I still had that batter from yesterday that I made for the fried calamari, plus I also had that chicken rolled up in dough. So I rolled that around in the batter, then deep fried it. It turned out great! Alhamdulillah. Like a stuffed pie with a crispy shell. I'm sorry but I only had one serving, but if you had been here, I would have split it with you. Because you are my girl, and I love you and need you.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Letter to Erin 20151104
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Hi Erin! How are you doing today, my love? Mwah! I love you! Oh, it's just another average day for me. What would you want happen? Allah has all the Power. I'm watching the Gong Show right now. The old Gong Show from the 70's. That has to be the best talent show ever, not just because the losers can be more entertaining than the winners, but also because Chuck Barris is the best host ever! My favorite show was when that dog couldn't leave his crotch alone. That's entertainment!
I spent the evening cutting grass by the side of the road. I had rolled up some chicken in dough this morning to be deep fried, so I could have had a quick dinner. But I wanted to change the pace a little, and went for fried calamari instead. And instead of the old squid dipped in egg then flour, I decided to make a crispy batter instead. It was OK, but I like the old way better. The battered squid was much more filling though. Crunchier, too.
Erin, please make sure get plenty of rest and are eating well. Take good, loving care of yourself because I need you, OK?
Hi Erin! How are you doing today, my love? Mwah! I love you! Oh, it's just another average day for me. What would you want happen? Allah has all the Power. I'm watching the Gong Show right now. The old Gong Show from the 70's. That has to be the best talent show ever, not just because the losers can be more entertaining than the winners, but also because Chuck Barris is the best host ever! My favorite show was when that dog couldn't leave his crotch alone. That's entertainment!
I spent the evening cutting grass by the side of the road. I had rolled up some chicken in dough this morning to be deep fried, so I could have had a quick dinner. But I wanted to change the pace a little, and went for fried calamari instead. And instead of the old squid dipped in egg then flour, I decided to make a crispy batter instead. It was OK, but I like the old way better. The battered squid was much more filling though. Crunchier, too.
Erin, please make sure get plenty of rest and are eating well. Take good, loving care of yourself because I need you, OK?
Monday, November 2, 2015
Letter to Erin 20151103
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Art is life, life is art. That's certainly what those reality shows aim for, if it weren't that they are so damn boring. It seems dangerous to be on a different plane of reality, but it's equally as dangerous as sitting on your couch everyday all the time, then dying of diabetes and heart disease, and that we're going to die regardless. And if Allah is pleased with us, perhaps we would live longer than them and have a happy life and afterlife.
Do you know who Andy Kaufman is? He is famous as a comedian, but I find him to be more outrageous than funny. He is very famous for blurring the line between reality and fantasy, and taking others along for the ride. There are 2 perspectives to this kind of work: the first is to create the situation, and the second is to be the situation. By the Will of Allah, we are the situation, and we are trying to be normal and happy. We will need the help of Allah to do so.
Please try to slow down and take it easy, and please maintain your prayers. You are my girl, Erin. I love you and I need you.
Art is life, life is art. That's certainly what those reality shows aim for, if it weren't that they are so damn boring. It seems dangerous to be on a different plane of reality, but it's equally as dangerous as sitting on your couch everyday all the time, then dying of diabetes and heart disease, and that we're going to die regardless. And if Allah is pleased with us, perhaps we would live longer than them and have a happy life and afterlife.
Do you know who Andy Kaufman is? He is famous as a comedian, but I find him to be more outrageous than funny. He is very famous for blurring the line between reality and fantasy, and taking others along for the ride. There are 2 perspectives to this kind of work: the first is to create the situation, and the second is to be the situation. By the Will of Allah, we are the situation, and we are trying to be normal and happy. We will need the help of Allah to do so.
Please try to slow down and take it easy, and please maintain your prayers. You are my girl, Erin. I love you and I need you.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Letter to Erin 20151102
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
The show never ends on Shadowplay TV! Subhanallah! But seriously people, it's just another ordinary day. It's all the same old day, then comes Judgement Day. Erin you are my girl, so keep in mind that the show goes on where you are, too! This is why your bosses love you so much. I love you too, and I need you.
I don't ever want to go through another puppy crisis like that ever again. That hurt my chest, and it still hurts today. So I distract myself with some good eats. I seem to have a lot of filet mignon right now. It's not caviar, but it's the best. I marinade my beef the same way every time: sugar, pepper, and soy sauce. I like to pan fry it in butter until rare, then shut the fire off, cover it up and let it sit. My Mom gave me a loaf of french bread and some store bought fish curry. There was a mackerel in the curry. Say, if I mix the fish in with the steak, then I would have Filet O'Fish Mignon! Ahahahahahaha... nah. I gave the fish to the cats. Then I used the broth to season my potatoes. I also used cilantro, ground cilantro seed, onion, pepper, and a kind of squarish local string bean called a "kelisa", which add a lettuce-like flavor to the potatoes. If you slice it, then the slices look like Tie Fighters. It's an awesome dinner, praise be to Allah, with plenty left over. Some for you! Otherwise, I'll have it for lunch tomorrow with a tortilla.
Oh, I'm supposed to talk about Bob Crane's murder in 1978. Maybe tomorrow.
The show never ends on Shadowplay TV! Subhanallah! But seriously people, it's just another ordinary day. It's all the same old day, then comes Judgement Day. Erin you are my girl, so keep in mind that the show goes on where you are, too! This is why your bosses love you so much. I love you too, and I need you.
I don't ever want to go through another puppy crisis like that ever again. That hurt my chest, and it still hurts today. So I distract myself with some good eats. I seem to have a lot of filet mignon right now. It's not caviar, but it's the best. I marinade my beef the same way every time: sugar, pepper, and soy sauce. I like to pan fry it in butter until rare, then shut the fire off, cover it up and let it sit. My Mom gave me a loaf of french bread and some store bought fish curry. There was a mackerel in the curry. Say, if I mix the fish in with the steak, then I would have Filet O'Fish Mignon! Ahahahahahaha... nah. I gave the fish to the cats. Then I used the broth to season my potatoes. I also used cilantro, ground cilantro seed, onion, pepper, and a kind of squarish local string bean called a "kelisa", which add a lettuce-like flavor to the potatoes. If you slice it, then the slices look like Tie Fighters. It's an awesome dinner, praise be to Allah, with plenty left over. Some for you! Otherwise, I'll have it for lunch tomorrow with a tortilla.
Oh, I'm supposed to talk about Bob Crane's murder in 1978. Maybe tomorrow.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Letter to Erin 20151101
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Hello, sweet Erin. How's it going today? Don't be blue, because I love you and I want to marry you. I need you. I'll have to admit that I miss that little puppy. I can't get the picture of him out of my head when I left him in the jungle, as I sped away on my motorcycle and saw him in my rear view mirror, running as fast as he can to catch me. **sob** But he would have a better chance of survival where there are no humans. No, I didn't want a dog, nor do I want a dog. I just wanted to show the animal some kindness. Besides, I have all my kitties to cry over. We're all going to pass away someday. From Allah is our origin, and to Allah is our return.
Otherwise, there's nothing out of the ordinary happening today. I paid my bills this morning, and bought some flour and butter. Nothing special on the menu, either. I don't want to tell you what I had for dinner, you wouldn't approve. It was tasty, though. Let's just say that my cats like my cooking. I have some encoding to do tonight, but otherwise I'm still a bit bummed out, so I just want to relax and watch TV.
Hello, sweet Erin. How's it going today? Don't be blue, because I love you and I want to marry you. I need you. I'll have to admit that I miss that little puppy. I can't get the picture of him out of my head when I left him in the jungle, as I sped away on my motorcycle and saw him in my rear view mirror, running as fast as he can to catch me. **sob** But he would have a better chance of survival where there are no humans. No, I didn't want a dog, nor do I want a dog. I just wanted to show the animal some kindness. Besides, I have all my kitties to cry over. We're all going to pass away someday. From Allah is our origin, and to Allah is our return.
Otherwise, there's nothing out of the ordinary happening today. I paid my bills this morning, and bought some flour and butter. Nothing special on the menu, either. I don't want to tell you what I had for dinner, you wouldn't approve. It was tasty, though. Let's just say that my cats like my cooking. I have some encoding to do tonight, but otherwise I'm still a bit bummed out, so I just want to relax and watch TV.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Letter to Erin 20151031
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Today when I went to take out the garbage, I found the puppy from the other day by the tree by the dumpster. His brother wasn't there, I assume he got killed. I felt sorry for it, so I took it home and bathed it. It had acquired an eye infection and a runny nose since I saw it last, so I don't think it was a wild dog. So I rubbed ophthalmic lotion into its eye, and gave it some food and warmth. My Mom wouldn't allow me to keep it, and I am not allowed to defy my mother on such an issue, so I took it into the jungle where it would have no human enemies.
However the prohibition of dogs in Islam is a serious issue, because we need to keep ourselves away from people who consider themselves smarter than God and prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), and create unjust and arbitrary new laws to impose on Muslims. The Qur'an has no prohibition on dogs, and the verses of the Qur'an have a divine Guarantee of non-corruption. What's left is the hadith (order of the Prophet, peace be on him), and there still isn't any prohibition on dogs, even as pets. There is some contention about dog saliva on utensils. Then I came across the the statement of this one guy who claimed that he heard the Prophet (peace be on him) order to kill all dogs, but that would make the Prophet (peace be on him) contradict himself. And you know as well as I that God's messenger would not contradict God.
I suspect you have a dog, and I am with you in being its friend. But I have no money, therefore I have no money to acquire land, therefore I have no legal home. Ya Allah, please be so kind to allow me to legally own this land I live on and where your house would be, then I will be with you in raising a dog to be protector of your home if that be your wish. I love you, and I need you.
Today when I went to take out the garbage, I found the puppy from the other day by the tree by the dumpster. His brother wasn't there, I assume he got killed. I felt sorry for it, so I took it home and bathed it. It had acquired an eye infection and a runny nose since I saw it last, so I don't think it was a wild dog. So I rubbed ophthalmic lotion into its eye, and gave it some food and warmth. My Mom wouldn't allow me to keep it, and I am not allowed to defy my mother on such an issue, so I took it into the jungle where it would have no human enemies.
However the prohibition of dogs in Islam is a serious issue, because we need to keep ourselves away from people who consider themselves smarter than God and prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), and create unjust and arbitrary new laws to impose on Muslims. The Qur'an has no prohibition on dogs, and the verses of the Qur'an have a divine Guarantee of non-corruption. What's left is the hadith (order of the Prophet, peace be on him), and there still isn't any prohibition on dogs, even as pets. There is some contention about dog saliva on utensils. Then I came across the the statement of this one guy who claimed that he heard the Prophet (peace be on him) order to kill all dogs, but that would make the Prophet (peace be on him) contradict himself. And you know as well as I that God's messenger would not contradict God.
I suspect you have a dog, and I am with you in being its friend. But I have no money, therefore I have no money to acquire land, therefore I have no legal home. Ya Allah, please be so kind to allow me to legally own this land I live on and where your house would be, then I will be with you in raising a dog to be protector of your home if that be your wish. I love you, and I need you.
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