Tofu is simply amazing!

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Firstly,

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!! GONG XI FA CAI!!! =)

I'm back from taking short break from writing. I was morally down due to my post on tofu had somehow deleted due to unknown reason. But today, tofu had once again burning up my desire to share. Tofu is simply amazing! I was simply motivated by few cubes of fried tofu. While preparing lunch in the kitchen, I realized that there are a bowl of fried tofu. Yummy...I just can't stop my hand from taking some. Eating with anything that I wished to. Eating it plainly. with soy sauce, and I even tried with mayonaise. Hehe. Let's back to business...

Tofu, also known as 'tauhu' in Bahasa Malaysia is one of my long lasting cravings. And tofu is the craves that make me go up to the extend that I need to try to make my own tofu. My journey with tofu had started two to three years back. Before that, my family and I had stop to buy and eat tofu for quite sometimes. When it comes to tofu, less critical on the religious aspect of Halal issue. But more to the hygiene and cleanliness part of the process since tofu are made from plant and minerals. There are a lot of stories which will make us refuse to buy and consume tofu at that time. Due to the whole family cravings, my aunt had proposed at me, why not trying to produce our own tofu and supply to our family members. Lightbulb! Since I like to eat tofu and the whole family also loves tofu, why not trying?

Then, I started to search on the process and the materials that I needed to complete the process. I had never imagined myself learning to make tofu, but seriously...it was fun and interesting. The easiest information that I can get is from watching youtube videos on how to make tofu and searching through the internet on articles how to make homemade tofu. I remembered at that time the information was very limited. There's no where and no one that I can ask personally. Then I start to summarize the information and trying to gain my material before I get started.

In tofu making, there are few important aspects that we need to look at:
1. Tofu mold
2. Type of coagulant
3. Temperature control for coagulation
4. Tofu press
5. Tofu shelf-life

Before I share on my personal experience on each of the aspects, let's have an overview of tofu making:

Tofu is a do-able experiment which is worth the sweat and time. Enjoying the final outcome is the best experience. I will be continuing on the important aspects of tofu and the process of tofu making in my future post. Insya-Allah (God's willing)...

One of my earliest successful batch of tofu...(^^,)

This is all for now...

Wallahualam

Hot! Stem Cell Technology products

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

In these two days, I was asked to read on an issue which I didn't really pay attention before. It is an issue regarding the authenticity and availability of Halal certification on one of stem cell based product in Malaysia. After being asked to read, then I start to wonder what is actually happening. The issue seems to be more critical. It became an issue when the company actually put one of unauthorized Halal logo on the packaging of its products. As what I have discussed in my previous post (Halal logo), there is only one Halal logo which is accepted and to be trusted in Malaysia, which is Malaysia Halal logo. However, I was not about to comment on the argument from the member of the company since the prove and explanation given by the authority is clear enough for us to understand. Which one does the consumer choose to do: either to continue consuming or changing to other products that we are confident with. 

Rather than focusing on the Halal logo issue, I am more curious whether it is important to choose Halal certified stem-cell based product or not. Before that, let us briefly go through about stem cell. We may have heard the name before or some may use stem cell product before but doesn't really know what they are.

Stem cell refers to young cells which are capable of self-renewal and it have potential to differentiate into different specific cells. (specific cells are such as muscle cell, skin cell or any other kind of cells on human body, plant or animal). Due to this property, stem cell can be like a repair system that replaced the died or lost cell with the cell newly divided. Stem cell technology is now a rapid developing technology which also used to cure malignant or non-malignant diseases. And now people had gone further into developing product which can be consume by any people as health supplement that can improve our health and used for gaining beauty.

(Example of culture: Not a stem cell culture...only a leaf culture...)

There are two things involved in stem cell technology: Ethical and Halal issue. Both issues relates with the origin of the stem cells. There are two aspects that we should look into which are, in light of medical purposes and in light of product creation.

In medical practices:

• There are two types of stem cell; adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells.
• Adult stem cells can be obtain from adult tissues with little harmful effect on the individual taken from.
• On the other hand, embryonic stem cells are obtained from multi-cellular embryos which being cultured in the laboratory.
• Ethical issue and Halal issue involves in usage of human embryo until some stages of the embryo. In Islamic perspective, it is permissible to use embryonic stem cell technology to cure human disease as long as the embryo that taken has not reach stage of blastocyst. This is because at the stage of blastocyst is when the embryo had attached to the mother's womb and still has no sensory. (Source from e-fatwa, Malaysia)

Stem cell as product:

• When we are referring to products, it may be edible or it may only needed to be applied without penetrating to our body.
• Stem cell product, as far as what I have read, it is sold in forms of sachet that needed to be eaten by the user. 
• Thus, it is must that we need to consider to check on the availability of Halal logo or not. 
• What are the things that need to be consider?
• Origin of the stem cell : plant / human / animal
• Type of media that used (stem cell need to be cultured (grow) in order to expand the volume): there are type of chemicals and additives that may come from non-Halal source.
• For products, it is easy for us to scan through whether it is based on which origin. However, we wouldn't know what type of media that they are using to culture the stem cell.

Hoping that other can gain benefit from this post...=) 

and hoping that 'the issue' will solve in proper manner...

Dearest consumer, let's play our role!

That's all for now

Wallahualam

Currently reading

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

One of the way to gain and expand our knowledge is through reading. Keeping youself sufficient with ideas and vocabulary. Maybe we won't realize the effect of our reading directly. But when we start to speak, write and share with others, then you will realize that it is worth the time you have spent.

Halal, Malaysia is one of world's country which ia well-known with its Halal industries. Moving towards becoming world Halal hub,  Malaysian people had the increment of awareness towards understanding Halal principle. But, personally I think that Malaysia are still lacking in providing people with structured knowledge in terms of books, articles and other pertaining on Halal matters.

However, there is one book which I am starting to love reading it. By reading this book, my first opinion on lacking of material had been twisted a bit. Coming to my mind is that, we have a lot of good material. But how much the materials can be use by normal people. The book is known as "Halal: All that you need to know volume 1". It's actually a compilation of papers regarding on Halal matters in Malaysia.

(Published by Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia: Article by: INHART,IIUM)

Regardless of the appearance of the book, by only reading first few chapters makes me feel anxious on waiting for the second volume. Hehe

That's all for now...

Wallahualam

yummy...attractive...long shelf life food?

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Food...a very broad topic and a lot to discuss on...focus..focus...focus...that is all what I need to do in order to decide on what topic should I discuss and revise. Let us ask ourselves, what is the criteria that we will consider when we want to choose any food product that we want? Is it because of the attractiveness of the packaging? The taste of the food? The long shelf life of the food? Well, there is actually pros and cons on what we are considering. Why? because the all this criteria leads to one term name food additives. =)

In food industry, food additives may presence in different terms depending on the role that it takes. Let us look into the definition given by Malaysia Food Act and Regulation (1983). =) This is what I understand: 

Food additives are referring to any substance that is safe to be consume that is intentionally included inside or onto food in small quantity that can give effect on its storage quality, texture, consistency, appearance, smell, taste, basic or acidic of the food. The by-product of the food additives become part of the food or become the agent that changes the food properties. 

As I was saying, food additives may exist in few terms such as:

preservatives, colourant, flavor enhancer, anti-oxidant

History of food additives had started way before my birth or even my parent or grandparents. For instance, usage of spices, natural colorant such as tumeric and sugar as sweetener which contribute to the sweet taste of the food. Maybe I should dig a bit more about history of food additives and share. Insya-Allah (With God's willing)... As for now, here are some examples of food additives:

Types of food additives	Example
Preservative	Honey Salt Sodium benzoate Propyl gallate
Colorant	Tumeric Cochineal Amaranth Sunset Yellow
Flavor enhancer	Sugar Spices Monosodium glutamate Vinegar
Anti-oxidant	Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) Tetrabutylated Hydroxyquinone (TBHQ)

Discussion on food additives relates to food safety issues as well as Halal issue. 

Food safety aspect:

•  Food additives can be divided into two which are natural food additives and synthetic food additives.  
• Natural food additives can be obtained naturally such as spices for flavor enhancer, papaya leaves which can be use as meat tenderizer and stevia leaves as sweetener. 
• On the other hand, synthetic food additives are originated from chemical based such as Butylated Hydroxy-Anisole (BHA) as anti-oxidant, saccharin as artificial sweetener and Ponceau 4-R as red colorant. 
• Food safety issue usually deals with synthetic food additives, since chemical based materials may give unexpected side-effect to our health if consumed in excessive amount and in long run.
• Food with large quantity of food additives are against food law as well as can become harmful to our health. 
• However, consumers are more aware and currently issuing food safety concern regarding on food additives. As for that, industries player are also trying their best to capture the eyes of consumer by taking care of the amount of food additive such as what we can see in the picture below:

(Good job!)

Halal aspect:

Halal aspect of food additives focused on the source of the food additives. Halal status of the whole product is affected even with trace amount of food additives which are originated from non-Halal source. Example of non-Halal source in Islam is such as porcine or any of its derivatives. Food additives that may originated from non-Halal source is such as gelatin. Another example of doubtful food additives are Monosodium glutamate (MSG) which is a very popular flavor enhancer. There will Halal issue if it is originated from bacterial fermentation. MSG produced from bacterial fermentation which are using culture media that contains non-Halal material such as blood or any substance originated from porcine becomes non-Halal. 

Let have some knowledge on what is inside our food. That's all for now...=)

Wallahualam

Halal logo?

 In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Some might be wondering what is Halal logo as what I have stated in my previous posting on baozi...

Halal logo is a symbol which given to manufacturers that applied for Halal certification and have been ensure its compliance by the authorities. In Malaysia, Halal logo is can only be issued by Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) with only one single design of logo. It can exist in any colors that the manufacturer wish to have as long as they use the same design as attached below.

But be careful dearest consumer especially Malaysian... there are a lot of fake Halal logo which can be misunderstood as the real one. Below are few examples that are commonly found in the market even nowadays...

Now, let's learn how to identify the real Malaysia Halal logo...=D

But take note that Halal logo is not only can be from Malaysian Government. Other countries also have their own Halal logo. Products which originated from other country can maintain their own Halal logo. These countries can be acceptable since there are certified by JAKIM. Below are few examples of common Halal logo from other countries. Other Halal logo that are certified in Malaysia can be review from JAKIM's Certified Body list.

 

(CHINA)

(INDONESIA)

(SINGAPORE)

(THAILAND)

That's all for now...

Wallahualam

Baozi

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Craving can happen when we are in hungry state like what I am feeling right now. >_<" I will start to have the intention to try this and that..eating this and that. But for now, its only stop at craving state and not yet going further than that. One of my craving these days is steam bun or also known as bao or some called it as pau. 

(Credit to spcnet.tv..will have my own pics when I try them myself soon)

Personally I have never tried to make them before this. After searching, these are the ingredients that I need to have:

1. Active dried yeast

2. White sugar

3. All-purpose flour

4. water

5. Warm water

6. Salt

7. Vegetable oil

8. Baking powder

Luckily, all familiar ingredients...lets get to business...Ingredients checking..As a Muslim, I need to check first the ingredients whether I am allowed to consume or not. It is to ensure that I only consume Halal product. what should we do when we want to purchase these ingredients at the store? 

1. Nowadays it is easier to determine Halal product in the market by looking at the Halal logo. 

2. No Halal logo detected? If there is no choice, try to identify if there is any doubtful ingredients listed.  

3. Don't forget to check on the expiry date! 

Among all ingredients listed in steam bun recipe, yeast is the only critical ingredients which I will certainly look for those who are certified Halal. As for other ingredients, trying my best to get the Halal certified, but can be more lenient as all are from plant or chemical-based ingredients. Time for me to jot down the recipe and go shopping~ Till we meet again...

Wallahualam

SWASA

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Welcome to my valley of knowledge (Wadee Ilmi) where i want to share as much as possible...Sharing is one of the best way that we could have in order to keep on learning. I really love learning, and really envious when people pursue with their studies. But I am sure that learning is not just by walking into lecture rooms, getting master or PHD degree..but its all about yourself, how you handle and going on with the desire to learn. 

Learning from books will always be theoretical and experience learning is worth the challenge. As for me, I have the desire to pursue like others. But the path that I see didn't actually brings me there. I didn't regret for not joining that path because now I value more the experience learning that I have come to meet until now. The desire to learn is burning and always be. However, realizing that I may stop to read, I decided to find my pace of writing and sharing. Hoping that this would be a valley where I can ponder on...keeping up myself what I have learned so far...revising and renewing my memories.

Lastly, there is a saying: "Convey (message) even with one sentence"...as translated in Malay Language: "Sampaikan Walau Sepatah Ayat" (SWaSA)..

(Knowledge is like a source of light that brighten our mind and heart =D) 

Wallahualam