My Ramadan & Raya: I Got It From My Mama

“How many spoons of sugar do I need?” “How long do I cook it for?” “Is this how you cut it?” Yes, the questions all kitchen rookies depend on to avoid burning the house down. I have to admit something: like a parrot, I asked my mother these questions EVERY single day growing up. You can tell how lost and confused I was in the kitchen. And my mother is the best cook I know. She didn’t go to fancy classes to learn cooking; she’s a natural in the kitchen—with a little help from my grandmother, of course! As Ramadan and Raya are drawing closer, I can’t stop thinking about her cooking lately. And now Mother’s Day is happening about the same time, too? It’s official: I miss her! And now when I think about it, this festive season would always bring back the fondest memories of the time I’ve spent with her in the kitchen. I remember while growing up, I would wake up to the smell of her heavenly delicious cooking and the beautiful sounds of her kitchen utensils banging against pots and pans. Yes, our kitchen was a very noisy place but mind you, I loved every bit of it. The smell and sounds were even more apparent during Ramadan and Raya. Now tell me, how can I possibly not think about her cooking during this time? She would look so cute cooking in her ‘kain’ batik with her curly hair tucked underneath an inner scarf, while singing along to Raya tunes playing on the radio. And she never knew about this but I used to get up really early in the morning during Suhoor just to watch her cook and apparently... sing, too. Shhh, don’t tell her that! For my family, Ramadan and Raya season meant more than just eating good food; that was when a sacred bond was formed between my mother and I. It started when my mother turned her love for cooking into a mission to teach me a thing or two about making magic in the kitchen. Honestly, it really felt like stepping into a battlefield every time I entered the kitchen, and my mother was basically leading the war. Her philosophy: the battlefield is not a game of measurements, but a game of strategy. I know, very dramatic but it’s a fact. She doesn’t measure ingredients, but somehow she always knows how to get the recipes just right. She IS magic! The more I cooked, the more my mother seemed to enjoy it, too—perhaps because she finally had some company in the kitchen. I remember how she would always stand next to me, while I was cooking, trying to make sure I got the ingredients right. Pressure, huh? Well, that’s what you get for learning from the best. And eventually, I got the hang of it and knew all of her recipes by heart after years of observing her (and tasting her food). "That means you’re ready," my mother would say with a smile. The lessons she had passed on to me have had a profound influence on the way I now cook for my own family, especially during Ramadan and Raya season. That’s when my husband and kids would literally turn into hangry monsters. Well, I can’t blame them. They’re obsessed with my Tepung Pelita and Roti Jala, like REALLY obsessed—seriously, you will not find any leftovers on the plates. Thanks to my mother for passing down the recipes to me and my grandmother for passing them down to her! Trust me, you can get these light bites ready on the dining table in no time. One of the most significant ingredients is using ‘santan kelapa’, which is a Malay word best translated as ‘coconut milk’. “My dear, the secret is to choose the right coconut milk. Try M&S Santan Kelapa-lah and then, you’ll know why," my mother would remind me. M&S Santan Kelapa Enhances the Taste & Aroma in Your Cooking From my cooking experience, I realised M&S Santan Kelapa is unique and different from any other coconut milk. Why, you ask? It has the features of freshly squeezed coconut milk and incredibly fresh aroma and fragrance. It’s not as thick as condensed milk and it makes any recipe taste amazing. It has no artificial flavouring, colouring, and preservatives. Don’t you just love that? Plus, it’s a cholesterol-free ingredient—a truly great gift indeed for mothers like me! And wait, there’s more... M&S Santan Kelapa is absolutely convenient and easy to store. For Muslim mothers, worry not as it is hygienic and certified Halal by Jakim. There you go, now you know why I love Ramadan and Raya so much. Yes, including my family of hangry monsters. I could never thank my mother enough; it’s just humanly impossible. If there’s an image that perfectly describes what my mother means to me, it would be the one where you imagine your favourite childhood superhero cooking up your all-time favourite meal, before they fly off to save the world. Nope, I’m not even exaggerating this. Well, hey, I learned to cook from this amazing lady—she’s my real-life hero and that’s why she deserves all the credits. I love you, mama! RM10,000 Worth of Electrical Appliances Up for Grabs! Come and let’s share your very own secret recipes now! Join ‘Masakan Makku Sayang’ contest and stand a chance to WIN electrical appliances worth up to RM10,000! For more information, please visit M&S Santan Kelapa’s Facebook & Instagram. Follow the steps and share your favourite Raya dish that was inherited from your mom or cooked by your mom and the story behind it. The contest will commence from 27th of April until 20th of May 2020. For more cooking inspirations, please follow M&S Santan Kelapa’s YouTube channel as there are tremendous recipes available to spice up your upcoming Ramadan and Raya celebration.

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