Lets turn back the clock to 4 decades ago...

... when my parents my dad uttered these words "Jom, pi berkelah esok" translated to English ~ 'Lets go for a picnic tomorrow', I'd be so excited, that most of the times, I'd spoil my own day out by not having a good night sleep. All night thinking and planning of how to have maximum fun. The brains was on "imagination" overdrive, kept me awake every hour or so.... the excitement was killing me.

Our definition of 'berkelah' / picnic ~ was going out to a place where there will be water, be it waterfall or by the beach, and to have a "swim" (to have a dip basically, as neither of us can swim!!).Usually its the later.
All 5 of us, cramped into the back seat of a rented/borrowed car (didn't have the luxury of owning an automobile with dad's meagre income) and sometimes, we took bus to our 'picnic' destination, Pantai Merdeka in Kedah.

We didn't mind the long journey over long winding road. I cant remember how long the journey took us from my hometown in Alor Setar to the nice white sandy beaches of Pantai Merdeka  (I googled, and it was 60km approximate distance between the two...) 

So it was far....60 km! this day and age, would take less than an hour drive... but  those days without highways... hmmm... perhaps 2 hours? I don't know...



Morning was still covered with the blanket of darkness, lying down in bed, I could hear mom tinkering in the kitchen. She started to cook... not preparing finger food, but cooking ... hot food to take along with us on the journey.

By the first sun ray hit the ground, all ready and packed : Nasi Lemak (Coconut Rice) in 'thermos' like big pot to keep the rice hot, sambal anchovies in plastic containers with some hard boiled eggs. Sardine sandwiches, roasted peanuts (Cap Tangan... yum yum), hot beverage, drinking water, picnic mat, plastic plates and cups. Towels and change of clothes.

As soon as the sun slipped towards the horizon, packed up our stuff and ready to trot our way home, but not before having a treat of ice-creams.

.... and that was then... the olden days, the golden years




Things has definitely changed...
Now that I am a parent, a mom... our picnic packing is simplified, either sandwiches or burgers or finger food with some fruits. No waking up early morning to prepare hot food, laden with carbs... because I am not as hard working as my mom was... in other words... I am LAZY.

Through out my kids' growing up years, and when it's "still cool to hang out" with parents, we took them out for a picnic either by the Bell Rapids or by Swan River along Reid Highway...(some things can never change, carved deep into my head that picnic equates to water existence...)
... and for dessert, we would drive out to have scrumptious ice-creams and handful (many for some...) of free chocolate tastings at the Margaret River Chocolate factory nearby.

Back to food story...

It is difficult to get my hands on halal chorizos in the Northern suburbs. The distributor/ butcher that I frequent, has stop making/ selling chorizo, perhaps there is no demand, but one can still hope...

So here it is...

Beef Chorizo Burger with Jalapeno-Mayo Sauce

Makes 8

Click to Print Recipe

Beef Pattie