KOLAY SU BÖREĞİ

EASY WATER BOREK

Water borek is so delicious but it is not so easy to make . I don't have the original recipe for Water Borek on my blog. I guess I am not that brave to try it yet :) In order to make the original one; you should make your own dough, roll up the fillos and boil them. It is not that easy, isn't it?

After tasting this "Easy Water Borek" at my friend Esra's house, I got the recipe and tried it. I am so glad that I have the recipe now. I don't need to do all the hard work to bake this wonderful borek.

Thanks Esra...

• 6 Turkish fillo pastry
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups of milk
• 2 cups of water
• 1 cup of sunflower oil

Filling:

• 1 chicken breasts
• 1 carrots ( shredded )
• 1 onion ( chopped )
• 2 tbsp of sunflower oil
• 1/3 tsp of black pepper
• salt

Wash and drain chicken breast. Take it in a pressure cooker and add 3 cups of cold water. Bring it to the boil. You will see some foam on the surface when it starts to boil. Take them all with a spoon and discard. Close the lid of pressure cooker and turn the heat down to low. Cook the chicken for 5 minutes at low heat. Take the pressure cooker and let it cool. Open the lid when it is cool enough and take the chicken out. ( You could use the broth for soup or rice) Cut them into small pieces.

In a large pot, take  sunflower oil add chopped onion and carrot. Stir and cook until onion is tender. Add chicken and stir. Add black pepper and salt. Turn the heat off.

For the sauce; take eggs, milk, water and sunflower oil in large mixing bowl and whisk.

Brush bottom and sides of a 13 by 17-inch baking tray with sunflower oil. Layer the first sheet. Cut the edges of this first sheet if it is hanging over the tray and use them for the next step. Roll the second and third sheet and cut them into 3 inch pieces. Dip these pieces into sauce and lay them side by side until they cover all over the surface. Spoon 1/2 of the sauce over entire surface. Spread the filling all over covering the whole surface.Rool the forth and fifth sheets and do the same thing as the second and third sheets. Cover it with the last sheet. Make some holes on this last sheet and spoon the remaining sauce all over.
Preheat the oven 350F and bake it until golden brown.

HİNDİSTAN CEVİZİ TATLISI

COCONUT DESSERT
This dessert is for coconut lovers. Before taking a bite from it, you can get the smell of coconut first:)

Ingredients:
•2 eggs
•1 cup of granulated sugar
•1/2 cup of vegetable oil
•1 cup of thick plain yogurt
•1+1/2 cups of extra shredded coconut
•1 cups of all purpose flour
•zest of 1 lemon
•1/2 tsp of vanilla sugar
•1/2 tsp of baking powder


Syrup:
•2+1/2 cups of granulated sugar
•3 cups of water
•juice of 1/2 lemon


For the syrup; take 2  + 1/2cups of sugar, and 3 cups of water in a medium pot. Bring it to the boil over medium heat. Boil for ten minutes. Add juice of 1/2 lemon into the pot and boil for another 3 minutes. Turn the heat off. Set a side.
Preheat the oven 350 F.
Sift flour, vanilla sugar, and baking soda together in a bowl.
Whisk eggs and sugar in another large mixing bowl until it gets creamy. Gradually add yogurt, vegetable oil,and lemon zest, coconut whisking consistently.
Add sifted flour, vanilla sugar, and baking soda to the bowl and mix thoroughly.
Pour into 13 17-inch rectangular pyrex and bake until it is golden brown, approximately 50 minutes.
Take the cake from oven. Let it cool for 5 minutes and spoon cold syrup over the cake.
Decorate it with coconut. Serve it when it is cool.

PORSİYONLUK EKMEKLER

SMALL BREADS

Ingredients:

•4 cups of all purpose flour
•1/2 cups of warm like water
•1 cup of warm like whole milk
•1tbsp of granulate sugar
•1 tbsp of salt
•1 tsp of yeast

Take water and milk in the pan of bread machine. Add all purpose flour, salt, sugar and yeast. Set the machine on dough cycle. Take the dough out of the machine. Knead it until it is bubble free. Cut it into 20 pieces. Round them out. Place it on a baking tray leaving some rooms between them. Cut the tops cross and sprinkle some flour on them. Let them rise. Preheat the oven 400F and bake until breads are golden brown.

SOSLU PATATES KIZARTMASI

FRENCH FRIES WITH GARLIC SAUCE

My mom used to prepare french fries this way for our breakfasts. I personally prefer this one over regular french fries.

Ingredients:

• 2 medium size of potatoes
• 1 tsp of red pepper paste
• 1/2 tsp of ground cumin
• 1 clove of garlic (mushed )
• salt
• sunflower oil ( for frying )

Wash and peel potatoes. Cut them into bite size cubes. Take sunflower oil in a frying pan over high heat. Add potato cubes and fry, stirring occasionally. Take them in a mixing bowl.

Take 3 tbsp of sun flower oil from frying pan and add garlic, cumin, pepper paste, salt. Mix it well. Add this mixture into the french fries and stir. Take it in a serving dish.

PİYAZ

WHITE BEAN SALAD


Very simple and healthy dish. I have just had it for lunch. It was very yummy:)

  Ingredients:

• 2 cups of cooked white beans
• 1/2 medium size of red onion  ( sliced )
• 1/2 bunch of parsley ( chopped )
• 1 tsp of sumac
• 1 tsp of red pepper flakes
• juice of half lemon
• 1 tbsp of vinegar
• 3 tbsp of olive oil
• salt
• 1 boiled egg ( sliced )
• 1 tomato ( sliced )
• 6-8 black olives

In a large mixing bowl, take bean, parsley, onion and stir. Add sumac ,red pepper flakes, lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil and salt. Stir and take it in a serving dish. Decorate it with olives, tomato and egg slices.

GÖZLEME

GOZLEME

Makes 2.

Ingredients:

• 1 Turkish pastry sheet
• 4 tbsp of feta cheese
• 2 tbsp of chopped parsley
• 2 tbsp of melted butter

Mix cheese and chopped parsley with a fork.Cut the pastry sheet into 2 equal parts.Take the first half. Fold 1/4 of it in. Place the 1/2 of filling on this folded part.Fold the long sides in. At last, fold the bottom part and give it a square shape.
Take 1 tbsp of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Place the square pastry in it and cover the lid. Turn it over and cook the other side too. You could spread some more butter for better taste if you desire. Follow these steps for the other half.


MAHLEPLİ EKMEK

MAHALAB BREAD

This bread might look like an ordinary bread. However 1 tbsp of mahalab changed everything. My son's comment for the bread is " It smells like honey!" He loves honey so much :)

Ingredients:

• 1cup of whole wheat flour
• 3 cups of all purpose flour
• 1+1/2 cups of warmlike water
• 1/2 cup of warmlike whole milk
• 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
• 1tbsp of granulate sugar
• 1 tbsp of salt
• 1 tbsp of mahalab
• 1 tsp of yeast

Take water, milk and olive oil in the pan of bread  machine. Add whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, salt, sugar and yeast.  Run the machine.





ANTEP FISTIKLI KURABİYE

PISTACHIO COOKIES

Makes 19 cookies.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 stick of butter
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 cup of all purpose of flour
• 1/3 cup of chopped pistachio
• 1 tbsp of plain yogurt
• 1/2 tsp of baking powder

Melt butter. Stir in brown sugar and granulated sugar. Add yogurt and stir. Add sifted flour and baking  powder. Mix it with a spatula.Take one tablespoon of cookie dough and place it on a greased baking tray. Leave some room between the cookies. Preheat the oven 350 F. Bake the cookies for 10 to 15 minutes.

DEREOTLU PANCAR SALATASI

BEET ROOT SALAD WITH DILL

My mom used to boil beet roots during the winters when I was a child. Each time I refused to eat it when my parents insisted and explained how healthy it is. I had a very good reason for that attitude; it was plain, just boiled and sliced beet roots! I chanced my mind after I tasted this salad at Nigar's house. Now I can say that I like it. Thank you Nigar.

Ingredients:

• 3 beet roots
• 1/2 bunch of fresh dill
• 1/3 bunch of Italian parsley
• 1/2 cup of chopped walnut
• 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp of fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp of vinegar
• salt

Boil the roots until soft. Set aside until cold. Peel and cut into cubes. Take beet in a large mixing bowl. Add chopped parsley, chopped dill walnut, vinegar, lemon juice, vinegar and salt. Stir and serve.

NOHUTLU BÖREK

CHICKPEAS BOREK

Makes 28 boreks.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of cooked chickpeas
• Turkish triangular fillo
• 1 medium size of chopped onion
• 1/2 bunch of chopped parsley
• 2 tbsp of tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp of ground black pepper
• 3 tbsp of sunflower oil
• salt

Topping:

• 3/4 cup of milk
• 3/4 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of sunflower oil
• 1 egg+1 egg white
• 1/2 tsp of salt

Glaze:

• 1 egg yolk
• sesame seeds

Take cooked chickpeas in a bowl of food processor and process it well.Saute chopped onion with 3 tbsp of  sunflower oil over medium heat. Add tomato paste and stir for 5 minutes. Add chickpeas, black pepper, and salt and stir. Turn the heat down off. Add chopped parsley and stir.
Take one of the triangular fillo sheets place two tbsp of filling on top, fold the edges and roll.Place all the rolls in a baking dish side by side ( no place between them ).
Take eggs, 3/4 cup of milk, 3/4 cup of water and 1/2 cup of sun flower oil and whisk it well.Pour this liquid on top rolls and let it rest in the refrigerator until rolls absorb the liquid completely.
Place parchment paper on a baking sheet. Take the rolls out and place them on the baking sheet. Brush with egg yolk and sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Preheat the oven 35OF. Bake for 30 minutes or boreks are just golden brown.

DEREOTLU TAZE BAKLA

FRESH FAVA WITH DILL

Ingredients:

• 2 lb of fava
• 1 medium size of chopped onion
• 1/2 bunch of chopped fresh dill ( chopped )
• 3 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 tbsp of tomato paste
• 1/2 cup of boiling water
• salt

Wash favas and cut the ends off. Cut them into 2-inch sizes. Take olive oil, chopped onion in a large pot. Saute onion over medium heat until tender. Add boiling water, tomato paste, favas into the pot and stir. Bring it to the boil and turn the heat down to low. Stir occasionally and add more boiling water if it is necessary. Simmer 30 minutes or until favas are tender. Turn the heat off . Add chopped dill and salt.
Serve it with yogurt on top.

DAMLA SAKIZLI & KADAYIFLI MUHALLEBİ

MASTIC GUM & KATAIFI PUDDING

This is my latest favorite. Mustic gum adds to the pudding a very special flavor.

Ingredients:

• 5 cups of whole milk
• 3/4 cup of heavy whipping cream
• 1+1/2 cups of flour
• 1+1/4 cups of granulated sugar
• 3 large piece of mastic gum

Kataifi layers:

• 1/2 lb of kataifi
• 1 cup of coarsely chopped walnut
• 3 tbsp of granulated sugar
• 3 tbsp of salted butter

In a large sauce pan, take flour, sugar, milk and mastic gum for the pudding and whisk. Add 5 cups of milk and turn the heat on high. Stir constantly until it starts to bubble. Turn the heat off and set aside until it is in room temperature.

Meanwhile, melt butter in a large pot over high heat. Stir constantly until it starts to change its color to the pink. Add walnut and continue to stir until it is light brown. Add sugar and stir until it is brown.Turn the heat off and take the kataifi in a cookie sheet and cool it down.

Add heavy whipping cream into pudding and mix it with a mixer for 5 minutes.

In a rectangular pyrex, layer the first half of kataifi covering the bottom all over. Spoon the pudding over.Layer the second half of kataifi covering the pudding all over.Cover with plastic wrap and take it in the refrigerator until it is cold. 



İÇ KATMASI

 

BULGUR DIP

Ingredients:

• 1+1/2 cups of fine bulgur
• 1 cup of boiling water
• 1 onion ( chopped )
• 1/3 cup of olive oil
• 2 tbsp of tomato paste
• 2 tbsp of red pepper paste
• juice of 2 lemons
• 1 tbsp of pomegranate molasses
• 1 cup of cold water
• salt

Topping:

• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 tsp of chili pepper

In a large mixing bowl take bulgur. Add boiling water on it. Mix it and cover. Let bulgur absorb water for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, take olive oil and chopped onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir onion occasionally until it gets tender. Add tomato paste and red pepper paste. Stir and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the heat off. Add this sauce  on top of bulgur and stir. Let it cool for 5 minutes. Take this mixture in a bowl of food processor. Process it for 10 minutes. Take it into the mixing bowl again. Add lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, salt and stir. Add cold water gradually and stir. Apportion it into 4 bowls.

In a small skillet take 2 tbsp of olive oil and chili pepper over medium heat. Stir for 2 minutes and drizzle it on top of each bowl.

TAVUKLU BÖREK

FILLO BOREK WITH CHICKEN FILLING

Ingredients:

•1 lb fillo dough

Filling:

•1 large medium size of onion( chopped )
•1/2 chicken breast
•1 medium size sweet red pepper
•1/2 tsp of ground black pepper
•3 tbsp of olive oil
•salt

Sauce:

•2 eggs white
•1 cup of milk
•1/2 cup of vegetable oil

• sesame seeds

Wash and drain chicken breast. Take it in a pressure cooker and add 3 cups of cold water. Bring it to the boil. You will see some foam on the surface when it starts to boil. Take them all with a spoon and discard. Close the lid of pressure cooker and turn the heat down to low. Cook the chicken for 5 minutes at low heat. Take the pressure cooker and let it cool. Open the lid when it is cool enough and take the chicken out. ( You could use the broth for soup or rice) Cut them into small pieces.


In a large pot, take vegetable oil add chopped onion and chopped sweet red pepper. Stir and cook until onion is tender. Add chichen and stir. Add black pepper and salt. Turn the heat off.
For the sauce; take eggs, milk and vegetable oil in large mixing bowl and whisk.

Brush bottom and sides of a 13 by 17-inch baking tray with vegetable oil. Layer the first half of fillo. Place the filling all over covering the whole surface.



Layer the  second half of fillo on top of the filling and cut the whole thing into squares.








 Pour the sauce evenly. Sprinkle sesame seeds. Take the tray in the refrigeretar for two hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Bake for about 45 minutes or until nicely brown.

DAMLA ÇİKOLATALI & FINDIKLI KEK

CHOCOLATE CHIPS & HAZELNUT CAKE

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup of chopped hazelnut
• 1 cup of chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup of plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup of vegetable oil
• zest of 1 orange 
• 1+1/2  cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup of brown sugar
• 1 tsp of baking powder

Preheat the oven to 350F.
Sift flour, baking powder together in a bowl.
Whisk eggs, granulated sugar and brown sugar in another large mixing bowl until it gets creamy. Gradually add yogurt, vegetable oil whisking consistently.
Add sifted flour,baking powder to the bowl and whisk  thoroughly. Add hazelnut, orange zest and chocolate chips to the bowl and stir.

Pour this mixture to a bundt cake pan and bake approximately 60 minutes. Check the cake by inserting  a toothpick into the center. The toothpick will come out clean when the cake is done.

BUĞDAY SALATASI

WHOLE WHEAT SALAD

If you visit this blog regularly, you have already noticed that I had several "Portakal Agaci" recipes. This one is one of them. I love how healthy this salad is.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of cooked wheat
• 1 cup of frozen corn kernel
• 3 small size of tomatoes ( diced )
• 1 large sweet red pepper ( diced )
• 1 small size of potato
• 1/2 bunch of chopped parsley
• 1/2 bunch of chopped fresh dill
• 4 green onions ( chopped )
• juice of a lemon
• Olive oil
• salt

Wash and peel potato. Cut them into small cubes and fry. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, take wheat, corn tomato, red pepper,parsley, dill, green onion. Add lemon juice and salt.  Stir all the ingredients well. Add fried potato cubes and stir.

ISPANAKLI BAYAT EKMEK BÖREĞİ

SPINACH BOREK WITH BREAD

Ingredients:


Filling:

• 1 large size of onion(chopped)
• 1 lb of spinach
• 1 tbsp of tomato paste
• 1 tbsp of red pepper paste
• 1/3 lb of ground beef
• 3 tbsp of olive oil
• 1/2 tsp of ground black pepper
• salt

Sauce:

• 12 slice of bread
• 1 cup of plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup of vegetable oil
• 2 eggs

Soak spinach in cold water and add 2 tbsp of vinegar. Leave spinach in the water for 20 minutes. Wash and drain it one more time.
In a large pot, take vegetable oil add beef . Stir and cook until it is cooked. Add chopped onion. Stir and cook until onion is tender. Add tomato paste and red pepper paste stir for 2-3 minutes.
Chop spinach and add it to the pot. Stir until it loses its volume. Add ground black pepper and salt. Turn the heat off when the spinach absorbs all of its juice and let it cool.
For the sauce; take bread in a bowl of food processor and process it until nicely chopped. Take bread in a bowl. Put 2 eggs, 1 cup of yogurt and 1/2 cup of vegetable oil in the bowl of food processor and process it until finely mix.

Stir this liquid in chopped bread.
Brush bottom and sides of a 13 by 17-inch baking tray with vegetable oil. Pour the first half of sauce into baking tray.Spread the filling on top and cover the filling with the second half of sauce
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Bake for about 45 minutes or until nicely brown.
When it completely cools down, cut the borek into squares.

DEREOTLU & ÇEDARLI TUZLU KURABİYE

SAVORY DILL & CHEDDAR CHEESE COOKIES

Ingredients:

• 3/4 stick melted butter
• 1/2 cup of plain yogurt
• 2 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 tbsp of vinegar
• 1/2 tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of dried dill
• 2 tbsp of shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 tsp of baking powder
• 1 egg white

Glaze:

• 1 egg yolk
• nigella & sesame seeds

Take butter, yogurt, egg yolk, vinegar, cheddar cheese and dill in a large mixing bowl and whisk it well. Add baking powder, salt. Add flour slowly (to make very soft dough ) and start to knead.
Stop adding flour when you reach soft consistency.Make the dough one big ball, cover with plastic wrap. Place it in the refrigerator and let it rest for two hours.
Take some all purpose flour in a bowl and dip the dough ball into the flour. Dust a large, flat surface with the flour (dusting will keep the dough from sticking). Place the dough onto flat surface and roll the dough until it reaches 1/5" thickness with a roller pin. Keep dusting the dough with flour while you are rolling.
Preheat the oven 350F. Place a parchment paper on a baking sheet. Cut off the dough with a round cookie cutter.
Take the egg yolk and nigella-sesame seeds in a separate bowls.
Brush them first with egg yolk  and then sprinkle sesame and nigella seeds on top.
Place them on the baking sheet.
Bake them golden brown.

YEŞİL MERCİMEK ÇORBASI

GREEN LENTIL SOUP
This is one of my son's favorite soups. I must tell you that he is a very picky eater. I am happy when he eats the whole bowl of it so I can make sure that he gets something very nutritional.
  Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb of ground beef
• 1/3 cup of uncooked orzo pasta
• 2 cups of cooked green lentil
• 1 small size of onion
• 2 tbsp of vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp of tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp of ground black pepper
• 5 cups of boiling water
• salt

Take vegetable oil and beef in a medium pot and turn the heat on medium. Cook it until the beef absorbs all of its juice, stirring occasionally. Add chopped onion. Stir and cook for 10 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally. Add tomato paste. Stir and cook for 5 minutes. Add boiling water and orzo in to the pot and bring it to the boil. Turn the heat down to low. Cover the lid and simmer it for 15 minutes. Add green lentil. Stir and cover the lid. Let it cook 10 more minutes.Turn the heat down.

BAHARATLI PİKAN

SPICED PECANS

This is another Sophie's recipe. I have been baking these very often after I tasted them in Sophie's house.
Thanks again Sophie...

Ingredients:

• 1 lb pecan halves
• 1tsp of ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp of granulated sugar
• 1 tsp of salt
• a pinch of ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Soak pecan halves in boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain and take them in a mixing bowl. Mix it with the spices. Take them in a cookie tray. Bake for 15 minutes.

EV YAPIMI MİLFÖY & KATMER POĞAÇA

HOMEMADE PUFFED PASTRY & PUFFED PASTRY POGACA
Makes 20 pogacas.

Ingredients:

• 3+1/2 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 cup of milk
• 1/2 cup of sunflower oil
• 1 egg white
• 2 tbsp of  sugar
• 1 tbsp of salt
• 1 tsp of yeast
• 1/2 stick melted butter

Filling:

• feta cheese

Glaze:

• egg yolk

In a large mixing bowl; mix flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add milk and vegetable oil and knead. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise for one hour.

Take the dough and knead it until it is bubble free. Divide the dough into 10 equal parts and give them the shape of small ball. Take some all purpose flour in a bowl and dip one of the dough balls into the flour. Dust a large, flat surface with the flour (dusting will keep the dough from sticking). Place the dough onto flat surface and roll the dough as large as a plate with a long roller pin. Brush it with a generous amount of butter. Set this aside. Roll the second ball as large as the first one and and place it on top of the first one. Brush this one with melted butter too.Follow these steps for the remaining balls.

Dust the surface with flour again. This time take the 10 of them together and gently roll. Start to roll from center to the edges. Continue rolling until you rich 1/3" thickness. Cut this round pastry sheet into 20 equal triangles.
Take one of the triangular and place one tsp of feta cheese on top, fold the edges and roll.

Place parchment paper on a baking sheet. Put them on the baking sheet leaving enough room to rise. Brush with egg yolk and let them rise for 30 minutes.Heat the oven 35OF. Bake for 30 minutes or pogacas are golden brown.

ISPANAK SALATASI

BABY SPINACH SALAD

It is a very simple and satisfying dish that can be served as salad or dip.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb of baby spinach
• 3 tbsp condensed yogurt
• 1 clove of garlic
• 2 tsp of extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp of Turkish red pepper flake
• salt

Take baby spinach and olive oil in pot over low heat.Stir occasionally until spinach absorb its own juice. Turn the heat off and let it cool.Take spinach, yogurt,garlic,red pepper flakes and salt in a mixing bowl and stir. Take it in a serving dish.
  

TAVUK KÖFTESİ

CHICKEN PATTIES

Ingredients:

• 1lb ground chicken breast
• 2 tbsp of bread crumbs
• 1 tsp of  ground Turkish red pepper
• 1/2 tsp of ground black pepper
• 1 tsp of onion powder
• 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
• 1/3 tsp of ground cumin
• 2 tbsp of vegetable oil
• 1/2 tsp of baking soda
• salt

Preheat the oven 400F.
Take all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Knead until well combined. Let it sit in the refrigerator for two hours.At the end of resting time, take the mixture out and knead it one more time. Divide the mixture into 18 equal parts and make small balls and flat them with your palms.
Take them on baking tray and bake until golden  brown.

PATATESLİ KÖFTE

POTATO & BULGUR BALLS

Ingredients:

• 3 potatoes
• 1 cup of extra fine bulgur
• 1 small size of onion (finely chopped )
• 3 cloves of garlic (finely chopped )
• 1/3 bunch of parsley (finely chopped )
• 10 green onion (finely chopped )
• 1/3 cup of olive oil
• 1 tsp of black pepper
• 2 tbsp of hot red pepper paste
• 2 tbsp of tomato paste
• 3  tbsp of ground red pepper
• salt

Wash potatoes. Take them in a medium pot and cover them with just enough cool water to cook. Turn the heat on high and bring it to the boil then turn the heat down to low. Turn the heat off when potatoes are soft.  Peel potatoes while they are still hot. Take them in a large mixing bowl and mush them.  Add bulgur to the same mixing bowl and stir. Cover the lid and let it sit for 20 minutes.

Take the potato-bulgur mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add chopped onion, chopped garlic, tomato paste, red pepper paste, black pepper, ground red pepper and salt to the bowl and knead it until well combined ( about 15 minutes). Add olive oil and knead again.Then add chopped green onion, chopped parsley, and knead again.
Place some lettuce leaves on a serving dish. Take a small piece of mixture ( about the size of a walnut ) and give it a shape of football with your palm and put it on the lettuce leaves.
Serve it with ayran and pickles.

BALLI KURABİYE

HONEY COOKIES

Makes 26 cookies.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of honey
• 1 stick of butter ( melted )
• 1 cup of finely chopped walnut
• 3 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 tsp of vanilla sugar
• 1/2 tsp of baking soda

 Take melted butter in a large mixing bowl. Add honey and stir. Add walnut, baking soda and vanilla sugar and stir. Start to knead by adding flour slowly and stop adding flour until the dough reaches a soft consistency. Take small parts ( about the size of whole walnut ) from the dough and give them the shape of small balls. Place them on a greased baking tray. Preheat the oven 350 F. Bake the cookies for 15 to 20 minutes.

TAM BUĞDAY UNLU POĞAÇA

WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR POGACA

Makes 21 pogacas.

Ingredients:

• 1+1/3 cups of whole wheat flour
• 1 egg white
• 2 tbsp of butter (softened )
• 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup of plain yogurt
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of vinegar
• 1 tsp of baking powder

 Filling:

• cream cheese

Glaze:

• 1 egg yolk 
• sesame seeds

In a big mixing bowl, take egg white and whisk. Add olive oil ,butter, yogurt, baking powder, vinegar,salt, and mix. Add flour slowly and knead. Continue adding flour until the dough reaches soft consistency.
Take a small piece of dough ( about the size of whole walnut ) and make it flat with your palms. Place 1 black olive in the middle of the dough and close and round it up. Place a parchment paper on a baking tray an put the pogacas on the tray. Brush all of the pogacas with egg yolk and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
Preheat the oven 350F and bake until pogacas are light brown.

ÇİLEK MARMELATI

 STRAWBERRY MARMALADE

Ingredients:

• 1 pound frozen strawberry
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp of lemon juice
 

Thaw the strawberries out of the freezer. Take them in a bowl of food processor and process it until it is smooth. Transfer it in a large pot and add sugar on top and stir. Turn the heat on to high and bring it to the boil. Turn the heat down to medium. Stirring occasionally, cook it for 15 minutes. Add lemon juice and stir. Boil for another 5 minutes over medium heat. Turn the heat off and let it cool for ten minutes. Keep it in the refrigerator.

ZEYTİNLİ KEK

BLACK OLIVE AND HERB BREAD

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup of plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 1+1/2 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 cup of pitted Turkish black olive
• 1/3 cup of sesame seeds
• 1/2 bunch of parsley ( chopped )
• 1 tbsp of fresh thyme
• 1 tsp of chili pepper
• 1 tsp of mahalab
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of baking powder

Topping

• sesame seeds and nigella seeds

Preheat the oven to 350F.
Sift flour, salt, mahalab, chili pepper, and baking powder together in a bowl.
Whisk eggs and yogurt in another large mixing bowl until it gets creamy. Gradually add milk and olive oil whisking consistently.
Add sifted flour, salt, mahalab, chili pepper, and baking powder to the bowl and mix thoroughly. Add parsley, black olive, sesame seeds and thyme and stir.
Pour into 12 41/2 by 3-inch loaf pan. Sprinkle sesame seeds and nigella seeds on top. Bake approximately 50 minutes . Check the cake by inserting a toothpick into the center. The toothpick will come out clean when the cake is done.

BULGURLU ISPANAK

SPINACH WITH BULGUR

Ingredients:

• 2 lb of spinach
• 1/3 cup of uncooked course bulgur
• 1 medium size of onion ( chopped )
• 10 cloves of garlic ( chopped )
• 1 tbsp of tomato paste
• 1 tbsp of red pepper paste
• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• 3/4 cup of boiling water
• a pinch of black pepper
• salt

Soak spinach in cold water and add 2 tbsp of vinegar. Leave spinach in the water for 20 minutes. Wash and drain it.
In a large pot, take olive oli, chopped onion, and chopped garlic. Stir and cook until onion is tender. Add tomato paste and red pepper paste, stir for 2-3 minutes.
Chop spinach and add it to the pot. Stir until it loses its volume. Add 3/4 cup of boiling water, bulgur and black pepper to the pot and stir. Turn the heat down to low. Cover the lid. Simmer until the bulgur is cooked. Add salt.
Serve it warm with plain yogurt.

HAVUÇ SALATASI

CARROT SALAD

Ingredients:

• 8 carrots
• 3 tbsp of olive oil
• 1+1/2 cup of thick plain yogurt
• 3 large cloves of garlic
• salt

 Wash and peel the carrots. Grate and  take them in a medium pot with olive oil over medium heat. Cook them until it absorbs its own juice, stirring occasionally. Set a side until it is completely cool.
Peel and mince the garlic cloves and take them in a large mixing bowl. Add yogurt and salt to the bowl and whisk until smooth.Add carrot the the bowl. Stir and take it in a salad bowl.

ÇİKOLATA DOLGULU KURABİYE

CHOCOLATE FILLED COOKIES

Makes 35 cookies.

Ingredients:

• 2 stick of butter
• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• 2 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 tsp of vanilla sugar
• 1 tsp of baking powder

Filling:

• 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips 
• 3 tbsp of milk

Take melted butter and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl an stir. Gradually add flour, vanilla sugar and baking powder. Knead it until the dough reaches a soft consistency. Take small parts ( about the size of whole pecan ) from the dough and give them the shape of small balls. Press an indentation into each ball with your finger. Place them on a greased baking tray. Preheat the oven 350 F. Bake the cookies for 15 to 20 minutes. 
Meanwhile, take chocolate chips and milk in a sauce pan  over medium heat. Stir until it is smooth.
When the cookies are done, fill the indentations with chocolate sauce.

TAVUKLU FİRİK PİLAVI

FIRIK(GRILLED WHEAT) & CHICKEN PILAF

Firik is grilled wheat. We use it just like bulgur to make this special pilaf in my hometown. Wheat is harvested and burnt just before it is completely mature so it leaves a smoky flavor. You can easily get it from Middle Eastern store.

Ingredients:

• 3 pieceses of chicken leg quarter
• 4 cups of water
• 1 cup of coarse bulgur
• 1 cup of firik
• 1/2 cup of uncooked chickpeas
• 1/3 tsp of ground black pepper
• salt

Soak chickpeas with two cups of water overnight. Next day,wash and drain chicken and chickpeas. Take it in a pressure cooker and add 4 cups of cold water. Bring it to the boil. You will see some foam on the surface when it starts to boil. Take them all with a spoon and discard.Add black pepper. Close the lid of pressure cooker and turn the heat down to low. Cook the chicken for 15 minutes at low heat. Take the pressure cooker and let it cool. Open the lid when it is cool enough and take the chicken and chickpeas out in a plate leaving meat broth in the pressure cooker. Take the bones of chicken and cut them into coarse pieces. 
Take chicken broth in a large pot and bring it to the boil. Add firik, bulgur, chicken pieces, chickpeas and salt in it and stir. Turn the heat down th low. Cover the lid. Simmer for 30 minutes. Turn the heat off. Let it rest for 30 minute before serve.