Archive for 2013

Wrote by Nora

Dah lama tersimpan dalam folder draft benda ni...

Dulu aku pun pernah ada "cancer scare". Aku pernah punya ketumbuhan "cyst" di bahagian buah dada kiri. Kali pertama dikesan cuma ada satu, saiz anggaran 1mm. Aku tak ambil pusing sangat...fast forward beberapa tahun, ketumbuhan makin besar..saiz sudah menjadi 2cm. Baru rasa nak terlompat, nak terpitam nak menyesal...menyesal sebab tak pergi buat rawatan lanjut. Akhirnya aku beranikan diri berjumpa Pakar Bedah dan Pakar Kanser Buah Dada...Alhamdullilah...selepas dibedah dan dibuat pemeriksaan lanjut hasilnya negatif. Kalau lah hasilnya positif, mesti aku merana sebab lambat dapat rawatan.

Please bear in mind, Breast Cancer has a very high potential to cure if detected early...do your own breast examination every month after your menses.Be responsible to yourself and your loved ones!

Aku sangat boleh memahami kenapa Angelina Jolie buat keputusan seperti ini....

My Medical Choice

By ANGELINA JOLIE

MY MOTHER fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 56. She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms. But my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was.

We often speak of “Mommy’s mommy,” and I find myself trying to explain the illness that took her away from us. They have asked if the same could happen to me. I have always told them not to worry, but the truth is I carry a “faulty” gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman.

Only a fraction of breast cancers result from an inherited gene mutation. Those with a defect in BRCA1 have a 65 percent risk of getting it, on average.

Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy. I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex.

On April 27, I finished the three months of medical procedures that the mastectomies involved. During that time I have been able to keep this private and to carry on with my work.

But I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience. Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action.

My own process began on Feb. 2 with a procedure known as a “nipple delay,” which rules out disease in the breast ducts behind the nipple and draws extra blood flow to the area. This causes some pain and a lot of bruising, but it increases the chance of saving the nipple.

Two weeks later I had the major surgery, where the breast tissue is removed and temporary fillers are put in place. The operation can take eight hours. You wake up with drain tubes and expanders in your breasts. It does feel like a scene out of a science-fiction film. But days after surgery you can be back to a normal life.

Nine weeks later, the final surgery is completed with the reconstruction of the breasts with an implant. There have been many advances in this procedure in the last few years, and the results can be beautiful.

I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one I am very happy that I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent. I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.

It is reassuring that they see nothing that makes them uncomfortable. They can see my small scars and that’s it. Everything else is just Mommy, the same as she always was. And they know that I love them and will do anything to be with them as long as I can. On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.

I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive. So to anyone who has a wife or girlfriend going through this, know that you are a very important part of the transition. Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries. We managed to find moments to laugh together. We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has.

For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options. I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices.

I acknowledge that there are many wonderful holistic doctors working on alternatives to surgery. My own regimen will be posted in due course on the Web site of the Pink Lotus Breast Center. I hope that this will be helpful to other women.

Breast cancer alone kills some 458,000 people each year, according to the World Health Organization, mainly in low- and middle-income countries. It has got to be a priority to ensure that more women can access gene testing and lifesaving preventive treatment, whatever their means and background, wherever they live. The cost of testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2, at more than $3,000 in the United States, remains an obstacle for many women.

I choose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know that they have strong options.

Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.

Angelina Jolie is an actress and director.

Wrote by Nora

Masa new year baru-baru ni aku ada buat makan-makan sikit...tak ada la banyak mana pun orang yg datang, cuma in laws jer..hehe. Nothing special, saja jer nak makan-makan sambil tgk bunga api .

So fikir punya fikir...apa aku nak masak ni?kalau masak nasik macam dah lewat sangat, kalau masak mee segala bagai tu, aku tak berapa pandai....last2 decided untuk masak western food. Ala-ala Nigella Lawson..haha..

So here goes menu pertama,

ROSEMARY GRILLED CHICKEN

Bahan-bahannya sangat mudah:

Ayam (ikut la berapa ekor nak, saiz pun terpulang. Kalau tak nak sekor2, yang potong2 pun boleh)
Fresh Rosemary (kat Tesco ada)kalau tak ada, yang kering pun boleh
Capsicum (beli warna Traffic light supaya hidangan nampak lawa)
Tomato
Bawang Holland
Butter
Garam
Lada Hitam

Caranya:
Ayam dibersihkan.
Rosemary tadi dirautkan kemudian massage atas ayam. Letak garam dan lada hitam sekali masa ni.
Susun sayur-sayur yang dh dipotong tadi kat dalam bekas nak bakar, letak la bawah ayam, tepi ayam, atas ayam....like so..

Tadaaaaa suda siap!siap perap jer...tak boleh makan lagi...kalau nak sedap, perap ayam sehari sebelum dan letak dalam bekas bertutup. Sayur-sayur semua jangan letak lagi...nak bakar baru la campak segalanya. Sebelum bakar, potong butter jadi kiub-kiub kecik, butter tu dalam suku bata jer...pastu sumbat/selit celah-celah kulit ayam. Ini supaya kulit ayam menjadi garing dan rasa lemak berbutter...fuyooo!!

Next panaskan oven, aku set kat 220 darjah selsius...bakar dalam 1 1/2 jam...tgk besar mana la ayam, kalau ko sumbat turkey dalam oven tu...lagi lama la kena bakar.

Ok..cemana nak tau ayam tu dah masak? ada beberapa cara...

1. boleh pakai termometer memasak, bukan termometer doktor tu okayyy...cucuk kat area daging yg paling tebal dan tengok kalau temperature dia dah sampai 170 farenheit/76 celcius camtu..dah masak la tu

2. ko wiggle2kan peha ayam tu...kalau ala cam dh boleh nak tercabut or dh lembut..tu pun dah masak la tu

kalau ko xpuas ati gak, ko cucuk ngan pisau sampai nampak tulang...hehehhe. yang pasti jangan makan ayam mentah.

Setelah agak sekian lama memasak..tadaaaaaaaa!!!!
suda siap...yum..yum...serius sedap!

Sayur tu walo hitam, tp sedappppp....

Ayam ni tak makan kosong tau...makan dgn baked mashed potato(sori gambar xambik rupanya), brown sauce, garden salad dannnn dessertnya ialah brownies. Premix brownies jer...tak reti nak bancuh dari mula.

Badam tu sendiri tabur la...

Gravy untuk ayam dan mashed potato

Gravy ni pun buat sendiri, caranya pun senang. Bahan-bahannya:

Tepung gandum

Stock ayam

Butter

Lada Hitam

Caranya:

Cairkan butter, jgn sampai perang. Masukkan tepung gandum, kacau cepat2 sampai jadi mcm lebih kurang doh. Pastu masukkan stok ayam dan kacau sampai konsistensi yang diingini. Kalau dah pakai salted butter tak perlu tambah garam.

Memang senang dan menyelerakan....cuba la kalau rajin!

Wrote by Nora

Aku pegi Subak Restaurant ni dah lama sebenarnya, many many moon ago. Puas memujuk Helmi nak makan kat sana.pujukan akhirnya berjaya!hehe....Cemana aku boleh tau pasal Subak ni?sebelum aku pergi ni, aku pernah plan nak buat birthday parti Keisya kat sini. Siap dah mintak quotation semua. Tapi last-last tak jadik, sebab akak aku suruh join sekali dengan birthday party anak dia. So aku buat research sikit, ada la orang yang pernah buat jamuan semua kat sini...nampak cam menarik, maka harusla dicuba. Sebab tak dapat nak buat jamuan, aku tetap nak datang nak rasa makanan kat sini.

Walaupun dah lama aku tetap nak share demi nak berkongsi ilmu dan pengetahuan. First of all mari kita tengok lokasinya dimana.. .

Subak Restaurant

Jalan Penchala Indah, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

03-7729 9030 ‎

Kalau mengikut peta, Subak terletak kawasan yang bertanda A itu. Kalau ko ikut LDP, sila masuk ikut signboard Flora Damansara. Kalau dari jalan lain-lain, sila google sendiri map, sebab kalau aku yang bagi direction bukan ke Subak ko sudahnya, mau ko sebak dalam keta sesat sebab tak jumpa...Subak ni agak tersorok lokasinya, bagi amatur jalan raya mungkin agak mencabar la nak cari tempat ni.

Ok...disebabkan aku pergi dengan en. Helmi yang pakar mencari jalan, maka sampai la aku 3 beranak disana dengan jayanya.

Yeayy dah sampai!ini lah Subak...dari luar ko akan nampak ni

pastu kene memanjat ni...keta kena parking bawah. Semput jugak la dengan stamina tahap zero aku ni.

TAPI jangan risau, ko daki setakat tangga tu jer..bukan tangga depan ni, tangga belakang sana dekat pokok nun. Situ entrance dia...

Tengah-tengah restoran ni ada mcm kolam, pokok berjurai penuh la kat situ...

Dari tempat aku duduk, sebelah kiri viewnya ialah ini...sungai ke longkang aku pun tak pasti...tapi yang pasti memang tak menarik..dengan sampah lagi bertaburan disitu..haishhh!

Pusing belakang, ni lah viewnya. Lereng bukit ke panggil ni?..biasa...tapi hijau mata memandang.

Bila dah banyak pokok, pastu ada lak air bertakung...sudahnya nyamuk bermaharajalela...fuhhhh!!memang mencabar makan kat sini, satu tangan suap, satu tangan tampar nyamuk. Ubat nyamuk yang staff Subak ni bakar memang tak memberi kesan.

Tabah tul laki aku pangku anak yang tak mau bangun dari tido

Ubah Keisya masuk dalam stroller, tido tetap tido tapi tangan tak boleh lepas tu...gayat kot!haha..

So dah settle down lebih kurang...kita org punbelek-belek la menu. Sori la aku tak ambik gambar menu, sebab keterujaan lebih nak makan. Harga makanan kat sini boleh dikategorikan mahal juga. Average dalam 30-40 satu dish ok. So dengan harga yang macam tu aku mengharapkan sesuatu yang 'mahal' jugak la...

TETAPI

KECEWA!!!!

Spagheti Aglio Olio yang aku order memang tak sedap langsung...Spaghetinya hancur2, seafood hanyir.

Aduhhhhhhh!!!bengang gila, dah la mahal...baik aku makan spagheti kat Pizza Hut camni.

Memang kecewa sangat la, sebab aku baca review macam ok, pastu dah la harga mahal...produk tak setaraf harga. huh!

Rupa saja yang lawa.....

Helmi order Nasi Goreng Kampung. Gambar takde, tapi aku dah rasa...seriously sedap lagi dekat kedai tom yam area rumah aku. Presentation memang terbaik.

Air yang aku dan Helmi order

Ice Lemon Tea

dan Air kelapak...

Bising sangat mamanya dok komplen sana sini...terus bangun anak aku haa..

Pendek kata, memang ini lah kali pertama dan terakhir aku datang sini. Sayang betul...mungkin masa aku pegi tu, chef tu bad mood, tu yang tak sedap. Seriously, memang tak berbaloi duit yang aku spend disini. Total bill adalah nak dekat RM100 jugak. So kalau pada sesiapa yang nak try Subak, silakan...manatau nasib korang baik. Walau hati kecewa, sempat jugak aku posing sedas dua. BTW, inila entrance Subak. Ada banyak lagi gambar entrance ni yang aku ambik, tapi dah hilang bersama BB aku yag hilang itew..uhukuhuk!