Pre-Raya Bliss

Hi,

Just another 'countdown to Raya' day, and my fingers are itching to type something up! So, here I am, at my in-laws' place for a couple of days, getting into the festive spirit. And you know what that means? Ironing! Yep, ironing. I know, I know, it sounds like a boring chore, but honestly, it's kinda my 'zen' time. Plus, seeing their baju raya all crisp and ready? Totally worth it. I'm basically the family's official 'Ironing Fairy'. 🧚‍♀️

And then, there's the whole 'ketupat nasi' situation. See, being a Northerner, I'm used to ketupat palas. But down here in the South, it's all about the nasi version. Which means, every year, I have to re-learn how to weave those little rice pouches. It's like my brain does a factory reset every 365 days. Seriously, I get it down, feel like a pro, and then...poof! Gone. Next year, it's like I'm trying to solve a Rubik's Cube blindfolded. 'Okay, loop this, tuck that, and...wait, where did that end go?' It's a yearly puzzle, but hey, at least it keeps me entertained. 😊

Pretty ketupat, kan? 😁

And let me tell you, 'bring on the Raya' means 'prepare for a culinary marathon' at my in-laws' place. I was absolutely floored the first time I spent Eid here. They don't just 'cook a bit' – they orchestrate a full-blown feast. We're talking seven, maybe eight, different Raya dishes. It's like a food festival exploded in the kitchen. Sambal daging, ungkep ayam, sup ayam kampung, goreng hati & pedal (yes, that's a thing!), sambal kacang, and a few other culinary masterpieces that my brain, still reeling from the ketupat weaving, can't quite recall.

And the best part? It's a team effort. Everyone picks a dish to tackle. Which, of course, means I'm strategically choosing the 'least likely to result in kitchen disaster' option. I'm all about efficiency, you know? Why wrestle with a complicated rendang when you can master the art of...well, something simple and delicious? Let's just say I'm playing to my strengths. And my strengths lie in 'easy but impressive.' Hey, someone's gotta do it!

So, between the ironing, the ketupat wrestling, and the impending food coma, it's shaping up to be a pretty epic Raya. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I hear the sambal calling my name... Bye!