THE HISTORY OF RECIPES

I was looking around for corn cake recipes when I came across this interesting piece of information:

Recipes as an idea can be traced back into antiquity, certainly as far into history as ancient Egypt, and maybe even further. Having said that, generally, these early recipes were just very simple pictorial, hieroglyphic or cunieform recipes for food preparation.

Fascinatingly, the oldest recipe found, according to academics are some clay tablets in ancient Sumerian which show the making of bread which is then used to make a drink, quite possibly a form of beer as it is recorded as having made people feel blissful and exhilarated.

Progressing into The time of the romans 25BC a man called Apicius created a collection of scripts describing recipes enjoyed by wealthy roman citizens. In his publication, Apicius describes how the roman meals were divided into hors d`oeuvres, main meal and desserts, something we still use today. Aspicius also recounts how the cooks of Roman times made use of many different spices, including a few you will know such as thyme, mint and dill.

As our culinary historical trip moves to more modern times we have two interesting books from the fourteenth century : a cookery book titled `Forme of Cury`, and another entitled `Curye on Inglish`. Surprisingly, these books are unconnected to the indian curry that is familiar to us all today, but rather recipes for the types of meals served to the rich and wealthy people of that time.

In the 15th century, knights returning from the crusades brought us many foods, spices and herbs from the Middle-East, including spices like parsley, basil and rosemary. These new herbs and spices created an eruption in books on cookery, most of which still exist in private collections.

By the arrival of the twentieth century, cooking publications are in high demand, due to increased literacy, people having increased free time and having more disposable income.

The introduction of television brought us cooking programs and the spin-off recipe books.

Which brings us neatly to the present day and the internet revolution, allowing everybody to search through thousands of recipes like those on this recipe site .

PPSMI LAGI

Pada tahun 60an dan 70an, di kampong saya ada 3 aliran sekolah rendah dan 2 aliran sekolah menegah: SRJK(Cina), SRJK(Inggeris), SRK, SMK dan SMJK (Inggeris). Ramai ibu-bapa memilih untuk menghantar anak-anak mereka belajar di SMJK(I), termasuk yang tinggal di kampong-kampong yang agak jauh dari sekolah. Mereka terpaksa menyewa bilik di rumah-rumah yang berhampiran sekolah. Begitulah kesukaran yang dilalui oleh anak-anak kampong pada masa itu demi untuk menuntut ilmu, mempelajari Maths dan Science dalam bahasa Inggeris.

Pada masa itu komputer belum ujud lagi. Buku rujukan tak mampu nak beli. Guru-guru yang mengajar adalah bukan Melayu yang tinggal di bandar-bandar. Mereka hanya hadir di sekolah semasa waktu persekolahan sahaja. Tiada bimbingan tambahan dari mereka untuk anak-anak kampong ini. Nak pergi kelas tuisyen pun tak mampu.

Mereka semua berjaya menguasai Maths and Science dalam Bahasa Inggeris atas usaha mereka sendiri.

Pada masa ini, berbagai kemudahan disediakan. Komputer, buku rujukan, lembaran kerja yang disediakan oleh guru dan yang penting sekali guru-guru yang mengajar sebilangan besarnya Melayu yang boleh memberi bimbingan tambahan terhadap anak-anak didik mereka. Jadi apa masaalahnya? Kenapa mesti dipertikaikan lagi dasar pendidikan yang diilhamkan oleh seorang pemimpin yang berpandangan jauh ke depan, untuk kebaikan Bangsa dan Negara kita?

Usahlah membuang masa dan menimbulkan keadaan huru-hara. Semua patut bekerjasama bagi memastikan anak bangsa berjaya sebagaimana yang kita semua harapkan.

PPSMI...WHY ALL THE FUSS?

I truly don't understand what the fuss is all about. Does teaching Maths and Science in English really deprives those in the rural areas from mastering the two subjects? Has any studies been done to back this claim?

To make such claim based on students performance in central examinations alone is not sufficient. Students performance in examinations are determined by many other factors. Those who are against PPSMI shouldn't be making such simplistic assumptions.

I very much agree to what Jebat Must Die has to say on the matter.

I am a Malay who learned Maths and Science in English. My late father was a clerk at the local council. He's fluent in English, but I don't recall ever getting any coaching from him.

My late mother was a housewife. Her education was only from a "Sekolah Rakyat" at primary level. She could read and write. She liked to read the newspaper and was versed on current issues. She didn't really like to write. I used to do that for her.

What I'm trying to put forward here is that family background does not determine ones ability to gain knowledge.

I received my primary and secondary education in a rural school. My siblings and I were not eligible for 'SPBT'. We were not eligible for the federal scholarship either. We never go for tuition classes since we couldn't afford it.

Anyway, I achieved excellence in Maths and Science because I wanted to excel and I worked very hard for it, and not because my parents were English teachers (which they were not), or my family speaks in English (which we did not).

I received my tertiary education in England. I am very much a Malay now as I have always been. I teach English Language at school, but I still lead the life of a Malay.

Being competent in a second language is undoubtedly very beneficial. It does not mean that I have undermined the Malay language. I do believe that Malaysians should master both languages for reasons given by Royal Professor Ungku Aziz.

EASY vs DIFFICULT

EASY to occupy a place in the telephone directory.
DIFFICULT to occupy the heart of somebody.

EASY to judge errors of others.
DIFFICULT to recognize our own errors.

EASY to hurt those whom we love.
DIFFICULT to heal those wounds.

EASY to forgive others.
DIFFICULT to ask for forgiveness.

EASY to exhibit victory.
DIFFICULT to assume defeat with dignity.

EASY to dream every night.
DIFFICULT to fight for a dream.

EASY to pray every night.
DIFFICULT to find a God in the smallest of things.

EASY to say we love.
DIFFICULT to demonstrate it every day.

EASY to criticize everybody.
DIFFICULT to better/perfect ourselves.

EASY to think of improving.
DIFFICULT to stop thinking & really do it.

EASY to receive.
DIFFICULT to give.

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