a2o2's kitchen

Tofu & Mushroom Stir Fry on Orzo Pilaf

2007-07-11T11:29:00.001-04:00

Yumurtali Kabakli DilimlerOpen faced Sandwich with Zucchini, Eggs, and Herbs

2007-04-16T11:23:00.000-04:00

Ekmek arasi Köfte Kofta and Bread

2007-04-16T11:20:00.000-04:00

Pirinçli Ispanak ve Yogurt Spinach with rice and Yogurt

2007-04-16T11:17:00.000-04:00

Bahar Pilavi Spring Pilaf

2007-04-16T11:16:00.000-04:00

Thanks to my sister Ozlem for this recipe.

Firinda Tavuk ve Haslama Patates

2007-04-16T11:13:00.000-04:00

Yalanci Çiğbörek ve Ayran

2007-03-18T14:48:00.000-04:00

Thanks to my friend PINAR for this recipe...

For Cigborek:
4 Boghosian Valley Bread lavash*
1 lb ground beef
1 big onion
3 tbsp butter
Salt & Pepper

* any kind of lavash bread works but if you can find, use Boghosian Valley Bread for the best result.

First chop the onion and sauté it with 1.5 tbsp butter over medium low heat, half way, until it gets a little soft and watery. Then add the ground beef, again sauté it half way, until it’s just a little soft and watery, yet thoroughly cooked. The point is to keep the filling moist. Add some salt and pepper and stir it after you remove it from the heat.

Then place your lavash on heated and buttered pan (divide the rest of the butter into 4). Fill one side of it with the sautéed ground beef and fold it in half. With a wooden tool, try to stick the edges together by pushing. Cook both sides until it’s golden. Then you are ready to serve…

Afiyet Olsun

For Ayran:

Plain yogurt
Cold water
salt

I do not use any measurement for ayran. Just mix as much yogurt as you like (let’s say 2-3 cups) in a blender with some salt. Then add some water slowly until it gets to the consistency you like. It is the best if you make it with very cold water.

Bulgur Pilavi uzeri Nohutlu Karnibahar Cauliflower with Chickpeas & Bulgur Pilav

2007-03-17T21:30:00.000-04:00

#1 Iskender - #2 Yogurtlu Doner Kind of Turkish Gyros

2007-02-28T22:27:00.000-05:00

*These amounts are for two serving.

This is a pretty easy meal, but timing is very important. So read everything first and make sure you have everything ready before you start.

1 lbs thin sliced roast beef
6 pita bread
1 lbs plain yogurt
2 cup Beef Broth
1 stick butter
2-3 cloves garlic
3/4 cup tomato paste
salt & pepper
some paprika

Tools needed:
2 small sauce pan
1 big frying pan
400 F pre-heated oven

In a big frying pan melt 3tbsp butter then carefully place your sliced roast beef piece by piece. If your pan is not big enough I know you cannot fry them all at the same time so just wait until they start to shrink, then you can add more. Just make sure all of them are well cooked, nice and crisp.

Meanwhile in a sauce pan, simmer beef broth with 1 tbsp butter and tomato paste (make sure the paste is well dissolved, and cooked—nothing worse than the taste of uncooked tomato paste in your meals)

Just before the meat is almost done, place the pita bread pieces in pre-heated oven until they are warm. Then lay your bread at the bottom of a serving plate. Now place the roast beef on top and drizzle the tomato sauce over it.

Finally melt the remaining butter in a pan, drizzle all over the plate while it’s really hot—you need to hear the sizzle!

Serve with some plan yogurt on the side.

Enjoy

Turkey Meetloaf & Roasted Potato

2007-01-13T22:43:00.000-05:00

Got this recipe is form my friend. Thanks Pinar!

Stuffed Shells With Spinach and Ricotta Cheese

2007-01-12T08:17:00.000-05:00

1box Jumbo Shells
2 lbs ricotta cheese
2 package (20 oz) frozen chopped spinach
1 lbs can diced tomato|
1 tbsp salt
4 tbsp olive oil
freshly ground black pepper
1tsp basil

* Cook shells according to package directions; rinse under cold water and drain. Cover; set aside.
* Preheat the oven to 400ºF
* Mix ricotta cheese, spinach, half tbsp salt, 2tbsp olive oil, in medium bowl.
* Mix drained dice tomatoes, 1/2 cup pasta water, 2tbsp olive oil, basil, half tbsp salt and freshly ground black pepper in a blender
* Stuff each shell with one heap tablespoon of filling;
* Pour one cup tomato sauce into 9x13-inch baking dish.
* Place the shells in the dish.
* Pour remaining sauce over shells, cover with foil;
* Bake it for 30-40 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
* Let it stand 5 minutes before serving.

Afiyet Olsun!

Simit

2007-01-08T08:32:00.000-05:00

A simit (Turkish) or koulouri (Greek: κουλούρι) is a circular bread with sesame seeds, very common in Turkey and Greece. The exact size, crunchiness/chewiness, etc. tend to vary by region.

Simit is generally eaten plain, or for breakfast with jelly, jam, or cheese.

Simit and koulouri are often sold by street vendors who either have a simit trolley or carry the simit on their head with a tray. _ wikipedia.org

Etli Biber Dolmasi (bir, iki de patlican) Stuffed Pepper (and a few eggplants)

2006-11-04T08:43:00.000-05:00

Rachael Ray's Tenderloin Steaks With Manhattan Sauce

2006-10-30T08:36:00.000-05:00

Etli Patates Yemegi Beef Stew

2006-10-30T08:26:00.000-05:00

Pilav Uzeri Kiymali Bezelye, Pilaf Topped with Peas with Ground Beef

2006-10-30T08:21:00.000-05:00

Cinnamon Rolls

2006-10-30T08:14:00.000-05:00

Bamya - Okra

2006-10-19T09:03:00.000-04:00

Adapazarı Islama Köftesi

2006-10-06T08:27:00.000-04:00

Irmik Helvasi ve Turk Cayi Semolina Helva and Turkish Tea

2006-09-01T08:23:00.000-04:00

Open-faced Sandwiches

2006-09-01T08:19:00.000-04:00

Sebze Kofteli SpagettiSpaghetti Veggie Meatball

2006-09-01T08:16:00.000-04:00

Patlican Oturtma Eggplant casserole

2006-09-01T08:12:00.000-04:00

the recipe is coming up soon

Pastane Pogcasi (some kind of savory patisserie)

2006-09-01T08:07:00.000-04:00

the recipe is coming up soon

Arpa Pilavi Uzeri Sebzeli Tavuk

2006-06-13T14:28:00.000-04:00

Kacamak Polenta

2006-06-12T17:17:00.000-04:00

5 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cornmeal
3 tbsp butter

4-5 mozzarella string cheese
a few eggs for the topping

In a medium pot over high heat bring the water and salt to a boil. Add the cornmeal gradually, whisking constantly. When the mixture thickens, adjust the heat to maintain a bare simmer. Cook, stirring often, until thick, smooth, and creamy, about 15-20 minutes. Add the butter and stir. Keep the polenta warm over low heat, stirring occasionally. If the polenta gets dry as it sits, stir in about 1/4 cup of warm water.

Remove it in to a serving plate and here and there, stick half inch thick cut cheeses in. Leave some space in the middle for scrambled egg. If desired drizzle some extra butter on it before serve.

Enjoy

Ev Yapimi PizzaHome Made Pizza

2006-06-12T17:16:00.000-04:00

Tavuklu Hünkarbeğendi ve Pilav Hünkar Liked It with Chicken, Rice

2006-06-03T18:41:00.000-04:00

Dondurmali Ananas SoteVanilla Ice cream on Sauteed Pineapples

2006-06-03T18:30:00.000-04:00

Memorial Weekend at Bailey Island ME

2006-05-30T16:13:00.000-04:00

Our friends Meganne and Alfonso and their daughter Maxine were generous enough to share their parent’s summer house with us for the long weekend. The place was unbelievably nice, and so was the dinner that Meganne prepared for us. We had Lobster Rolls, salad, and corn, along with some nice bottle of wine. For dessert we had strawberry short cake. Everything was yummy. Thanks Fabregas!

p.s. I did not eat any lobster, but they did. I had chicken.

Karalahana * Kale Meal

2006-05-24T14:18:00.000-04:00

2 bunches kale
1 can Beans
1 can Corn
2tbsp butter
4 tbsp corn meal

Ispanakli Börek Spinach Pie

2006-05-18T14:21:00.000-04:00

Kıymalı BörekGround Beef Pie

2006-05-14T18:02:00.000-04:00

Zeytinyagli Taze Fasulye Turkish Style Green Beans

2006-05-14T10:29:00.000-04:00

Kiymali MakarnaPasta with Ground Beef Sauce

2006-05-13T18:56:00.000-04:00

Bezelyeli, Havuclu, Misirli Sosis Beef Frank with Peas, Carrot and Corn

2006-05-13T18:49:00.000-04:00

Fettuccine Alfredo ve Sarimsakli EkmekFettuccine Alfredo & Garlic Bread

2006-05-09T08:01:00.000-04:00

Kizartilmis Et ve PurePan Fried Meat and Mashed Potato

2006-05-04T09:08:00.000-04:00

Salcali Yumurta Egg with Tomato Paste

2006-05-03T08:06:00.000-04:00

Yogurtlu Ispanakli EkmekOpen-Faced Spinach Sandwich

2006-05-01T21:52:00.000-04:00

Patatesli Yumurta ve SalataPotato Omelet and Salad

2006-04-28T09:49:00.000-04:00

Patatesli, Misirli, Sarmisakli Kabak YemegiZucchini Dish with Potato, Corn, Garlic

2006-04-27T08:18:00.000-04:00

Peynirli Pogca - Feta Pie

2006-04-26T19:39:00.000-04:00

Hi Alicia I finally made peynirli pogca. Sorry it took so long. I also have a recipe that makes the dough with yeast. I will try that one too and if it turns out well I will let you know.

-Aysen

Dough
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1.5 tsp salt
3 - 4 cups flour

Filling
1-1/2 cup crumbled feta
1/2 cup chopped parsley

These ingredients make about 12 pies. Mix all the dough ingredients together except the flour. Then start adding your flour one cup at a time until you got the right consistency. In Turkey we say it should be as soft as your ear lobe. Then make balls that are two and a half inches in diameter. Press them in your palm into flat buns. Put about a tbsp filling in the middle and fold. Tighten the edges with your fingers and place on baking sheet. With a brush spread some yogurt on them and sprinkle with some sesame seeds. I sometimes use black cumin seeds instead or mix sesame seeds and black cumin seeds.

Soyasoslu Tavuk Sote, Pilav Soy Sauce Chicken Saute, LongGrain & WildRice(NearEast)

2006-04-26T08:18:00.000-04:00

Izgara kabak, Yaprak Dolma (hazir), Kasarli Tost Grilled Zucchini, Stuffed Grape Leaves(Cedar's ), Grilled cheese

2006-04-25T11:08:00.000-04:00

Firin Sutlac - Rice Pudding

2006-04-24T13:57:00.000-04:00

Nohutlu Karnibahar - Cauliflower with Chickpeas

2006-04-23T19:30:00.000-04:00

Domates Corbasi - Tomato Soup

2006-04-20T17:15:00.000-04:00

Zeytinyagli Taze Fasulye

2006-04-17T08:08:00.000-04:00

Enginarli MakarnaPasta with Artichoke Hearts Sauce

2006-04-13T17:03:00.000-04:00

Salamli, Peynirli, Sandö3Cheese and Hard Salami Sandwich

2006-04-11T13:36:00.000-04:00

Do we need the recipe ? ;)
-aao

Mangalda Kılıç balığı , Deniztarağı ve Domatesli Maydanoz SalatasiGrilled Swordfish, Scallop & Parsley Salad with Tomatoes

2006-04-10T08:02:00.000-04:00

Mantarli Tavuk Sote, Havuclu Pilav, CacikChicken and Mushroom Saute, Pilaf with Carrots

2006-04-09T16:01:00.000-04:00

Havuclu pilav - Pilaf with Carrots
1 cup rice
1 medium carrot grated carrot
¼ cup pinenuts
¼ cup currants
1 tbsp butter
1 and 1 ½ cups water
1 tsp salt

I usually treat the rinse with boiling water and some salt about 20- 30 min. in a bowl and rice it well just before I cook it.
In a 3 Qt nonstick or stainless steel sauté pan, add the butter and water and the rice and the salt. Until it starts boiling, high, then low medium heat. Sauté the pinenuts in an other pan with some butter till they are golden, then add the currants and the grated carrots, sauté them little bit more all together an d turn the heat down. When your pilaf cooked, add them on the top of your rice. Just spread them around, do not toss, just leave it as is for about 5 minutes then gently toss it and let it rest about 5 min before serve.

Mantarli, Soganli, Yesil Biberli Durum Wrap with Mushrooms, Onions, Green Peppers

2006-04-06T08:47:00.000-04:00

Sarimsakli Yogurtlu Haslama SebzeSteamed Veggies With Garlic Yogurt

2006-04-03T16:54:00.000-04:00

Taskebabi, Pure, Pilav Potkebap, Mash potato, Rice Pilaf

2006-04-03T16:51:00.000-04:00

2 lbs stew beef
2 medium onions
3-4 garlic cloves
2 cubed tomatoes (or Del Monte Petite Cut Diced Tomatoes 28 oz)
1 tbsp tomato baste
Salt and pepper

First cut the stew meet in to small pieces. Chopped the onions the way you like, diced or half rings. In to the pot put the onions and the meet, and the cubed tomatoes, (if you are going to use the can drain it well), the tomato paste, and the garlic cloves. Turn the heat on and don’t go any where wait there until you hear some cooking sound and turned the heat low. Now you can for get it about 4 hours or so. Just come maybe every hour or so to toss and look how it’s going. Usually it is done about 4 ours but sometimes it takes a little longer. When its done add the salt and peeper as much as you like.

Enjoy your meal!

Tavada Ton, Marul ve Kereviz salatasiPan-broiled Tuna Romaine & Celery Salad

2006-04-03T16:48:00.000-04:00

Domates Soslu Makarna Pasta with Tomato Sauce

2006-03-30T07:47:00.000-05:00

Salata ve Ton Sandviç Salad & Tuna Sandwich

2006-03-29T08:11:00.000-05:00

Salad
1 Romaine hearts
8-10 cherry tomatoes
½ cup can corn
1cup chopped celery
Marie’s lite Chunky Blue Cheese dressing

You know the drill… :)

Tuna Sandwich
2 cans tuna
1 tbsp mayonnaise
½ cup dried or chopped grape
½ cup walnuts
1 cup chopped celery or gartered celery root

Toss them all and by using your favorite bread make your sandwich.

Barbunya ve PilavPinto Beans with Potato Carrot and Garlic and Pilaf

2006-03-27T11:55:00.000-05:00

Barbunya - Pinto Beans with Potato Carrot and Garlic
4 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion chopped
1 medium carrots cubed or sliced
1 medium potato cubed
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 cans GOYA pinto beans
6-7 cloves garlic
2 tsp sugar
½ tbsp salt
2 or 3 cups of boiling water
some fresh parsley for decoration

The chopped onions. the potato cubes, the carrots cubes… Sauté these with the olive oil over medium low heat when they are golden. Add the tomato paste and sauté it little bit more. Then add the rinsed and drained pinto beans, the garlic cloves, sugar, salt, and the boiling water in to the pan stir. Simmer it about half an hour or so on low heat. When it is done place it to a serving plate, decorate it with the parsley. You can have this meal either warm or cold.

Enjoy! :)

Pilav - Pilaf
1 cup rice
1 tbsp butter
1 and 1 ½ cups water
1 tsp salt

I usually treat the rinse with boiling water and some salt about 20- 30 min. in a bowl and rinse it well just before I cook it.

In a 3 Qt nonstick or stainless steel sauté pan, add the butter, the water and the rice and the salt and stir them. Use high heat until it starts boiling, and then reduce to medium low. Cook until the rice absorbs all the water. Turn off the heat, gently toss it and let it rest about 5-10 min before serving.

2006-03-27T08:38:00.000-05:00

Just chopped up the fruits;
Apple, Plum, Pineapple, Grapes, Blueberries, Black berries, Banana...

Corn Bread
1-1/2 cup Queaker Yellow Corn Meal
¾ cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
½ cup milk
½ cup water
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1-1/2 cup Del Monte Whole Kernel Corn

Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl (accept the corn) and mix them all at the same time well. Now add the corn and mix one more time. Grease your pan and pour the mixture in it. Bake 20-25 minutes.

Patlicanli Havuclu Bulgur Pilavi Bulgur Pilaf with Eggplant and Carrot

2006-03-24T09:38:00.000-05:00

3 tbsp olive oil
¼ cup dried onion flakes
1 carrot
2 small eggplants (Italian ones – otherwise one medium regular one)
2 cups cracked wheat (bulgur)

Sauté the onions, grated carrots, and the stripe pealed diced eggplants in a sauté pan for about 10 to 15 min. then add the bulgur and toss. Add two cups of boiling water and let it simmer on medium low heat. If necessary add some more boiling water through the end. Cook it until the bulgur absorbs all the water. Turn the heat off, gently toss and let it rest for about 5-10 min before serve.

Because I am lazy, I am using dried onions a lot these days. It works well though. For this meal I recommend you to buy “DURU Cracked Wheat for Pilaf - 1kg”, their bulgur is just perfect.

This meal goes so well with CACIK, plain yogurt, or ayran… CACIK is our favorite but this time we had it with plain yogurt.

CACIK
2 cups plain yogurt
3 baby cucumbers or ½ of a European cucumber, peeled and diced very small
2 cloves garlic, crashe
2 tablespoons dried or fresh mint or dill
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt

Place the yogurt in a large bowl. Add all other ingredients, except salt and water, and mix thoroughly. Add water until prefered consistency is achieved (we like a little creamy, like a ranch dressing, some people prefer runny) Stir in some salt, taste and add more if required. Chill in refrigerator for about two hours or add some ice cubes instead of water before serving.

I will post a photo of it soon.

Yumurtali Kabak Zucchini With Eggs

2006-03-21T21:19:00.000-05:00

3-4 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup dried onion flakes
2-3 grated zucchinis
5 eggs
Salt and pepper
dry or fresh dill

In a sauté pan, sauté the onions for 2-3 min. Add the grated zucchinis continue to sauté for about 10 minutes. Crack your eggs directly into it and wait a few minute and toss, continue doing this until the eggs are cooked and mixed with the grated zucchinis. You can have this meal either cold or hot

Türlü - Vegetable Stew

2006-03-17T08:03:00.000-05:00

Tonight we cooked vegetable stew (Türlü). We enjoyed it with some bread and plain yogurt.

Preparation+ cooking, it took only 30 minutes.

3 tbsp olive oil
1 big onion
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 eggplant
4 small potato
3 squash
green beans

Broccoli Parmesan Pasta

2006-03-16T08:19:00.000-05:00

PIRASA - Leek With Carrots and Rice

2006-03-15T08:37:00.000-05:00

The Pirasa was delicious but we felt some grains of sand left inside the layers while we were eating :( I washed it so well a few times but… Well, sometimes it happens. We enjoyed it any way. Next time I will wash the slices as well )
Here is the recipe. It is very easy to cook, accept washing part.

A bunch of leek (4-5)
2 carrots
1/3 cup rice
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt

Wash the leeks well ;) Cut them one inches long (2.5 cm) but them in a large bowl and fill it with water and let them float for a while then rinse. You may repeat this process for a few times to get rid of the sand grains in it for good. Cut the carrots the way you like. In a pan add the olive oil, leeks, carrots, on the top the rice, sugar and salt. Drizzle a little bit more olive oil on top and about 1 inch water. Cook it in low until the rice cooked. Do not toss it until it is cooked.

I like to serve it with some lemon juice on it. Don’t forget some fresh bread ;)

Pilav ustu Kuru

2006-03-12T17:18:00.000-05:00

Kuru fasulye
1 medium onion
2 tbsp butter
One can of GOYA Great Northern Beans (rinse well)
¼ pound of small cubed beef stew meat
2 tbsp tomato paste

Chop the onions and sauté them with butter over medium heat. When they are golden add the tomato paste, the meat and toss well then turned the heat down to low. When the meat is cooked add the beans, add boiling water till the ingredients are covered. Let it simmer for about half an out or so, then you are ready to serve.

Pilav - Pilaf
1 cup rice
1 tbsp butter
1 and 1 ½ cups water
1 tsp salt

I usually treat the rice with boiling water and some salt about 20- 30 min. in a bowl and rinse it well just before I cook it.

In a 3 Qt nonstick or stainless steel sauté pan, add the butter, the water and the rice and the salt and stir them. Use high heat until it starts boiling, and then reduce to medium low. Cook until the rice absorbs all the water. Turn off the heat, gently toss it and let it rest about 5-10 min before serving.

Karalahana ve Misir EkmegiKale and Corn Bread

2006-03-09T07:40:00.000-05:00

This time I twisted my own twist :)

2 bunches kale
1 can Goya Pinto Beans
1 can Del Monte Whole Kernel Corn
2tbsp butter
4 tbsp corn meal

In a large pan, boil 5-6 cups of water, add washed and chopped kale. Turn the heat to medium and cook the kale until it gets soft. When kale is ready add beans, corn, and 2tbsp butter, toss well. Let it cook about 5 minutes or so then (make sure there is enough water before you add corn meal) add the corn meal, one tbsp at a time.

Corn Bread

1-1/2 cup Queaker Yellow Corn Meal
¾ cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
½ cup milk
½ cup water
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1-1/2 cup Del Monte Whole Kernel Corn

Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl (accept the corn) and mix them all at the same time well. Now add the corn and mix one more time. Grease your pan and pour the mixture in it. Bake 20-25 minutes.

Tonlu Bezelyeli Havuclu Makarna Tuna Peas Carrot Pasta

2006-03-08T12:51:00.000-05:00

Hotdog & Smiley Potatos

2006-03-07T15:22:00.000-05:00

Hamburger

2006-03-07T15:19:00.000-05:00

Kiymali BörekGround Beef Pie

2006-03-02T09:18:00.000-05:00

Yumurtali Patates Oturtmasi ve Marul Salatasi Mashed Potatoes with Eggs and Cesar Salad

2006-03-01T10:58:00.000-05:00

Firinda, yumurtali, peynirli, zeytinli ekmek Grilled feta with eggs, olives, and herbs

2006-02-27T21:02:00.000-05:00

Mercimek ve Pilav Lentil and Rice

2006-02-26T22:22:00.000-05:00

Izgara Kofte ve dun aksamdan kalma Nohutlu PilavPan Grilled Meat Balls and left over Rice

2006-02-22T20:35:00.000-05:00

Nohutlu Pilav ve Komposto Rice with Chick Peas and Compote

2006-02-21T19:59:00.000-05:00

1 cup rice
1 can chickpeas
1 tbsp butter
1 and 1 ½ cups water
1 tsp salt

I usually treat the rice with boiling water and some salt about 20- 30 min. in a bowl and rice it well just before I cook it.

In a 3 Qt nonstick or stainless steel sauté pan, add the butter and water and the rice and the salt. Until it starts boiling, high, then low medium heat. Rinse your chickpeas well, half the way add then top of your rice. Just spread them around, do not toss just leave it as is. Cook it until the rice absorbs all the water. Turn the heat off gently toss it and let it rest about 5-10 min before serve.

bread & butter, cheese, potato, olives and tea

2006-02-17T10:38:00.000-05:00

Scallion Pancake and Chicken with Pea Pods

2006-02-15T14:52:00.000-05:00

Chinese from,
Kim Lai Chinese Restaurant II
14 Manchester Square
Portmouth, NH 03801
(608) 436- 6088

Corn Chowder

2006-02-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

We cooked corn chowder for the first time. It turned out ok. Here is the recipe we used:

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons butter
4 scallions, white bulbs and green tops chopped and reserved separately
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 pound boiling potatoes (about 3), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
4 cups fresh corn kernels (cut from about 8 ears)
1 bay leaf
1 quart canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups milk
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
Sour cream, for serving (optional)

RECIPE METHOD

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over moderately low heat. Add the scallion bulbs, bell pepper, and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 10 minutes. Stir in the potatoes, 2 cups of the corn, the bay leaf, broth, and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.

In a blender or food processor, puree the remaining 2 cups corn with the milk. Stir the puree into the soup along with the black pepper. Simmer until the soup thickens slightly, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the scallion greens. Top each serving with a dollop of sour cream, if using.

VARIATIONS: If you want to use frozen corn, puree two cups of it with the milk as directed above, and add the remaining two cups to the soup along with the puree. Since the corn is already cooked, it might toughen if it goes in earlier. You could add a pinch of sugar, too.

Recipe reprinted by permission of Food and Wine. All rights reserved.

Pizza ve Salata - Pizza ve Salad

2006-02-11T19:50:00.000-05:00

For the pizza dough:

I am just kidding, it's a frozen one :)

About the salad; it's basically lettuce, cucumber, tomato, and dill. For dressing, as usual, olive oil, lemon juice, and some salt.

Prinçli Ispanak ve Yogurt Spinach with Rice and Yogurt

2006-02-10T13:22:00.000-05:00

This is one of my favorite meals since my childhood. Like every child :) I did not like veggies at that time no matter how hard my mom tried to make them look attractive for us. But I always loved spinach. Maybe the “magic green spinach juice” that my mom used to make was the resason I love spinach that much :)

I miss those days a lot…

4 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion
1 tbsp tomato paste
18 oz spinach
½ cup rice
plain yogurt

Sauté the onion (half-rings) and the tomato paste with some olive oil, medium heat. When they are golden, add the spinach on top and do not touch until it gets soft.
Cook the rice (1 cup rice to 2 cup water - and I always rinse the rice well).
When the spinach is soft and the rice is done, toss them all in the spinach pan and continue to sauté on medium-low heat a little more. I always over cook it, almost burn what's in the bottom in of pan. This is the way we like it.

Serve it some yogurt on top and some French baguette slices.

Onur made the pie so he may write something about it later ;)

Afiyet Olsun!

Yalanci Manti - Fake Manti

2006-02-09T09:23:00.000-05:00

Real MANTI is basically small squares of dough stuffed with ground beef filling and served with garlic yogurt and melted butter. It requires great talent (which I do not have :) to make it good. So I fake it this way;

a box of pasta - farfalle or rottini
half a pound ground beef
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp butter
some oregano (dry or fresh)
2 cups of plain yogurt
1 tsp smashed garlic (or garlic powder)
salt & pepper

Cook the pasta the way you like it (farfalle is the best one for fake manti but sometime I use rottini as well like last night) After it is done drain it and add 1 tbsp butter and toss.

While your pasta is cooking; melt the butter in a pan, add tomato paste and ground beef, season it with salt and pepper. Sauté it until the beef is thouroughly cooked. Turn the heat off, add the oregano and toss. In a bowl, mix the yogurt and garlic.

In a serving plate or individual plates; first goes pasta, then yogurt sauce, finally the ground beef. Season with dry mint and red pepper flakes if you like.

Decorate it the way you like or don't. It is delicious anyway :)

Afiyet olsun!

A salad for me, A sandwich for Onur..

2006-02-08T12:14:00.000-05:00

Onur called yesterday evening around 5:00 pm and said "I am going to be late, don't wait for me to eat"

Although I do not like eating alone, I was hungry so I didn’t wait. I made myself a salad, and two slices of toasted "When Pigs Fly", and of course a big cup of tea. Mix greens, chopped parlsey, feta cheese (from Turkish grocery) sliced tomatoes, a few olives, (also from TG) olive oil, and some sprinkled dill.

Onur came home around 8:30pm. I made him a sandwich. Fresh bread, feta, sliced tomatoes, a few olives, olive oil, and some dill. He enjoyed it with a big mug of tea.

Bulgur, Et, Sogan ve Salata Bulgur, Meat, Onion, and Salad

2006-02-07T13:37:00.000-05:00

Three days' summary... Fettucine Alfredo, Salad Miso Soup

2006-02-05T16:44:00.000-05:00

I missed my posts for Friday and Saturday. So here is a quick summary:

Friday night we did not feel like cooking or preparing anything. We were looking for a really simple dinner to eat. Could not get any simpler; we stuffed some cheese and sucuk ( type of sausage) in a few When Pigs Fly’s dinner rolls and ate them with a cup of tea.

Saturday we were in Boston. After we walked around downtown all day long, again, we did not feel like eating so I made us a salad, Onur prepared some instant miso soup. We enjoyed it with a piece of bread.

Sunday night, we cooked fettucine alfredo (no no, not from scratch, Buitoni fettucine and alfredo :) & I made a salad.

The salad was the same on both days; mixed green, chopped celery, chopped parsley, grated carrot, sprinkled dill, olive oil, and a pinch of salt.

Beef Lo Mein & Chinese Scallion Pancakes

2006-02-03T11:35:00.000-05:00

The best way (for us) to have lo mein & Chinese scallion pancakes; Find your best local Chinese take out place. :)

Thanks to our friends Meganne and Alfonso for informing us about the best one in town.

Karalahana ve Misir Ekmegi - Kale and Corn Bread

2006-01-31T19:43:00.000-05:00

The other day when I was talking with my mom on the web cam, it was lunch time for them. They were having kale. By the way my mom is a great cook; I wish Scotty could beam me up there.

I asked her whether or not she made the kale with my grandmother’s way. She said “almost but a little twist” and that is what I did too :)

2 bunches kale
1 can Goya Pinto Beans
1 can Del Monte Whole Kernel Corn
3 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion
6 tbsp corn meal

In a large pan, boil 5-6 cups of water, add washed and chopped kale. Turn the heat to medium and cook the kale until it is soft enough to eat. At the same time saute the chopped onions with olive oil. When kale is ready add beans, corn, and onions and toss well. Let it cook about 5 minutes or so then (make sure there is enough water before you add corn meal) mix the corn meal, one tbsp at a time

Onur said corn bread would go perfect with this meal. So he hopped in the kitchen to make it. But he realized that we were out of eggs. I encouraged him to do it with out it, which he did, and it turned out pretty good. It is my favorite now, corn bread without eggs :)

I decorated the plate with red radishes and a piece of corn bread…

Corn Bread

1-1/2 cup Queaker Yellow Corn Meal
¾ cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
½ cup milk
½ cup water
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1-1/2 cup Del Monte Whole Kernel Corn

Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl (accept the corn) and mix them all at the same time well. Now add the corn and mix one more time. Grease your pan and pour the mixture in it. Bake 20-25 minutes.

Kizarmis Tavuk ve Patates Puresi Fried Chicken & Mashed Potato

2006-01-31T08:08:00.000-05:00

My poetry meeting took a little longer last night therefore I was late to get home. I called Onur when I was leaving the place to ask if he wants anything from me to bring for dinner. He said "no, just come home". :)

I was home at 7:30 and dinner was already prepared. We were both really hungry but Onur was patient enough to wait for me to take the picture.

Fried chicken form the local grocery, instant mashed potatoes, roasted red peppers, and sliced tomatoes.

Thanks Onur'cum, I enjoyed it very much :)

Kek, Burrito, Sandwich - Sunday fun :)

2006-01-30T08:46:00.000-05:00

Onur and I did not feel eating the same things last night. So I made a burrito for Onur, and a tomato cheese sandwich for myself. Decorated his plate with sliced tomatoes and my plate with black olives and sprinkled dill.

After that, tea and a slice of cake. The cake did not turn out the way I wanted. It was still ok though....

Cheers

Pan-broiled Rib Eye Steak & Steamed Veggies Tavada Kizarmis Antrikot ve Sebze Haslama

2006-01-29T10:14:00.000-05:00

Last night we had this meal with a bottle of nice wine.
It is good to have a piece of meat ones in a while.

Yalanci Börek -Veggie Pie

2006-01-28T10:00:00.000-05:00

I made a veggie pie using Pillsbury Pie Crusts. I had no recipe to follow so I improvised it a little.

One large potato, one zucchini, both grated, a cup of chopped parsley, half a cup chopped dill, four chopped scallions, a cup of grated feta cheese, two eggs, salt & pepper, three tbsp olive oil. I tossed them well and filled the crust with the mixture. I baked it until the crust is golden.

We enjoyed it with a beer from Maine; Long Trail's Double Bag Ale.

Nohutlu Karnibahar - Cauliflower with Chickpeas

2006-01-26T22:00:00.000-05:00

One of my friends visited me today; we had a very nice day. Late afternoon when she was getting ready to leave I asked (actually insisted) her to stay for dinner and she did :). I did not know what we were going to have for dinner till my husband got home. We all went in to the kitchen and here's what we came up with.

We had two medium cauliflowers, carrots, beets, kale, etc. in the fridge. I decided to cook the cauliflowers and my husband decided to make a salad with carrots and beets.

I sautéed a medium size chopped onion then added a tbsp tomato paste. Then added the cauliflowers, a can of chickpeas, and about 1/4 a cup boiled water on it let it simmer medium low. I also heated the left over pasta from lunch.

My husband grated the carrots and the beets then drizzled olive oil and lemon juice on it and seasoned it with salt.

Toasted bread and some plain yogurt completed the meal.

It is always great to share good food with good friends...

Thanks for staying Marie :)

Türlü - Vegetable Stew

2006-01-24T20:19:00.000-05:00

Tonight we cooked vegetable stew (Türlü). It turned out very nice. It tasted good and the color was just right. We enjoyed it with some bread and plain yogurt.

Preparation+ cooking, it took only 30 minutes.

3 tbsp olive oil
1 big onion
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 eggplant
2 carrot
4 small potato
3 squash
green beans
chicken stock

Kahvalti - Turkish Breakfast

2006-01-24T09:32:00.000-05:00

Last night we had a Turkish breakfast; feta cheese (we call it white cheese), black olives treated with olive oil and some herbs, fresh bread, honey, sucuk ( type of sausage), hard boiled eggs, butter, sliced tomatoes, and Turkish tea. I was preparing the tomatoes while the photo was being taken.

Cut it in half and seasoned with salt and pepper (sometimes with drizzled olive oil or a hint of butter). This is the way we eat hard boiled eggs.

We got our sucuk, olives, feta, honey, and tea form a Turkish grocery.

Kabak Kalyesi - Zucchini and Squash with Rice

2006-01-22T23:00:00.000-05:00

3 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion
2 zucchini
2 Summer Squash
1/4 cup rice
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
1-1/2 tsp salt

Sauté the onion half-rings with olive oil. At the same time; steam the zucchinis and squashes ( I use a bamboo steamer), cook the rice (1 cup rice to 2 cup water - and I always rinse the rice well before I cook it). When they are done, toss them all in the pan and continue to sauté a few more minutes. After you turn the heat off add the parsley and let it rest for a few minutes. Then it's ready to serve.

Enjoy!

Not: I love this meal with plain yogurt.