State of Play (2009)

Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe)

Cal and Rep. Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck)

Dominic Foy (Jason Bateman) and Cal

Cameron Lynne (Helen Mirren), Della Frye (Rachel McAdams) and Cal

Stephen Collins, Anne Collins (Robin Wright Penn) and Cal

Pictures: www.rottentomatoes.com

A team of investigative journalists work with a police detective in trying to solve the murder of a congressman's lead researcher.

Rating: 2.5/5.

Talentime (2009)

Mahesh (Mahesh Jugal Kishor) and Melur (Pamela Chong)

Hafiz (Mohd Syafie Naswip) and Mahesh

Pictures: www.talentimethemovie.com

A music teacher organises an inter–school talentime. Through the days of auditions, rehearsals and preparations, running up to the big day of the contest, the characters get embroiled in a world of heightened emotions – ambition, jealousy, comedy, romance and heartbreak.

Rating: 1.5/5.

The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009)

Jenny Perotti (Jennifer Garner) and Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey)

Wayne Mead (Michael Douglas) and Connor Mead

Connor, Brad (Daniel Sunjata) and Jenny

Pictures: www.rottentomatoes.com

A retread of A Christmas Carol, a bachelor is haunted by the ghosts of his past girlfriends at his younger brother's wedding.

Rating: 1.5/5.

The Other Man (2008)

Ralph (Antonio Banderas) and Peter (Liam Neeson)

Picture: www.rottentomatoes.com

The story of a husband who suspects his wife of adultery and sets out to track down the other man in her life.

Rating: 1/5.

'Eid Sweet Treats

Went to a schoolmate's open house on 3 Syawal. My dear friend packed some food for me as I was fasting. Bless her heart.

Agar–agar kering (dried sugar crystals)

Dodol, a soft toffee–like confection made of brown sugar, coconut milk and rice flour.

Dodol of three different flavours – original, durian and pandan.

Bauhulu madu

Kuih kapit (love letters)

Love rolls. The spots on the rolls are black sesame seeds.

Karas

Kuih tiram

Loyang

Cakar ayam

Kuih bawang

Kerepek ubi pedas (hot tapioca crackers)

Sugee Almond Biscuits

Peanut Biscuits

Putu Kacang

Packed iftar – Mini Chocolate Cupcakes and Cream Puffs

'Eid

AB making a face for the camera

Daun palas (palm leaves) for ketupat pulut (glutinous rice cakes)

Boiled ketupat pulut (glutinous rice cakes) wrapped in daun palas.

Originated in the northern states of Malaysia, ketupat pulut is par–cooked glutinous rice in coconut milk, wrapped with palm leaves in a triangular shape and then boiled. The texture is sticky. Some would add groundnuts for extra bite and flavour or use black glutinous rice.

Ketupat pulut with Northern–style chicken rendang

Ketupat pulut (white and black glutinous rice cakes) with beef and chicken rendang

Ketupat pulut hitam (black glutinous rice cakes)

Rendang ayam cili padi (dry chicken rendang, Negeri Sembilan style)

Nasi himpit ('compressed' or 'compacted' rice cakes)

Kuah kacang (peanut sauce)

Lontong

Lemang (glutinous rice cakes).

Lemang is made of glutinous rice and coconut milk, wrapped in banana leaves and slowly baked over charcoal or wood fire in bamboo trunks/tubes.

Serunding daging (beef floss)

Serunding ikan (fish floss)

Laksa (rice noodles in fish sauce)

Carrot rice

Beef and young bamboo shoot curry

Ayam masak merah (chicken in chilli and tomato sauce)

Tomato rice served with beef kurma, cucumber and pineapple pickles and ayam masak merah (chicken in chilli and tomato sauce)

My grilled Portobello mushrooms, marinated with unsalted butter, olive oil and dried herbs, and topped with mozzarella cheese.

Family and relatives giving themselves a helping at grandma's