DOMATES & SOĞAN SOSLU KARIŞIK SEBZE KIZARTMASI

MIXED VEGETABLE FRIES WITH TOMATO & ONION SAUCE

Ingredients:
2 golden potatoes ( cubed )
1 eggplant ( cubed )
3 green fresh pepper (cubed )
olive oil to fry

Sauce:
1 small size of onion
1 cloves of garlic
2 tomatoes
2 tbsp of olive oil
a pinch of ground black pepper
salt

Fry potatoes, eggplant and peppers separately. Lay them on a serving dish.
Chop onion and saute it with 2 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat. Finely chop garlic and add it the onion. Peel and grate the tomatoes and add it in the skillet. Add a pinch of black pepper and salt. Spoon the sauce over fries and serve

DOMATES SOSLU SUCUK

SAUSAGE WITH TOMATO SAUCE
Ingredients:

• 1/2 of medium onion
• 1 green chili pepper
• 1/3 lb of sausage
• 2 large tomato
• 1/2 tsp of tomato paste
• 2 tbsp of vegetable oil
• salt

Heat a medium skillet over medium heat, add vegetable oil in it. Cut the sausage lenghtwise and cut them into half moons. Chop onion and pepper and add them into the skillet with sausage. Cook them until onion is just golden. Peel and chop tomatoes and add them to the skillet, stirring occasionally, cook it until the juice of tomatoes comes up, approx. 10 minutes over medium heat. Add salt.

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.

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.


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.

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.

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.

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.

ISPANAKLI BÖREK

SPINACH BOREK

Ingredients:

• 4 Turkish pastry sheets

Filling:

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

Sauce:

• 1 egg+1 egg white
• 1 cup of milk
• 1/2 cup of vegetable oil

Glaze:

• 1 egg yolk
• sesame seeds and nigella seeds

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 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 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 sheet, spoon 1/3 of the sauce over entire surface. Layer the second sheet and spoon 1/3 of sauce over and spread the filling all over covering the whole surface. Layer the third sheet on top of the filling and spoon the remaining sauce all over and layer the last sheet.
Whisk egg yolk for the glaze and brush the last sheet with egg yolk. Sprinkle some sesame and nigella seeds.
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.

KURU İNCİR REÇELİ

DRIED FIG JAM

Ingredients:

• 12 dried figs
• 3/4 cup of granulated sugar
• 3 cups of water
• 1 tbsp of lemon juice

Wash the figs. Soak them in cold water over night.Take them with the juice   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 25 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.  

PATATESLİ & ZEYTİNLİ BÖREK

BOREK WITH POTATO & BLACK OLIVE FILLING

Ingredients:

• 4 Turkish pastry sheets
• 1 small size onion (chopped )
  
• 2 tbsp of tomato paste
• 3 large size of potatoes
• 1 cup of pitted black olive
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 tsp of ground black pepper
• salt

Sauce:

• 1 egg+1 egg white
• 1 cup of milk
  
• 1/2 cup of vegetable oil

Topping:

• 1 egg yolk
• sesame and baraka seeds

Take washed potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Boil it until soft over medium heat. Peel and mash potatoes. Saute chopped onion with 3 tbsp of vegetable oil over medium heat. Add tomato paste and stir for 5 minutes. Add mashed potatoes, black pepper, and salt and stir. Turn the heat down to low and continue to cook for ten minutes. Turn the heat off and add black olive. Let it cool.

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 sheet, spoon 1/3 of the sauce over entire surface. Layer the second sheet and spoon 1/3 of sauce over and spread the filling all over covering the whole surface. Layer the third sheet on top of the filling and spoon the remaining sauce all over and layer the last sheet.
Whisk egg yolk for the glaze and brush the last sheet with egg yolk. Sprinkle some sesame and baraka seeds.
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.

KURU KAYISI REÇELİ

DRIED APRICOT JAM

Ingredients:

• 30 dried apricots
• 1+1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 stick of cinnamon
• 3 cloves
• 1 tbs of fresh lemon juice
• 3 cups of cold water

Wash the apricots. Soak them in a large pot over night. Next day move the pot over high heat and add sugar, cinnamon and cloves on top and stir. Bring it to the boil. Turn the heat down to medium. Stirring occasionally, cook it for 25 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.

YUMUŞAK POĞAÇA

SOFT POGOCAS

Makes 16 pogacas.

Ingredients:

• 2+3/4 cups of all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup of warm milk
• 1/4 cup of vegetable oil
• 1 egg white
• 3 tbsp of granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp of salt
• 1 tsp of yeast

Filling:

• 1/2 cup of feta cheese

Topping:

• 1 egg yolk
• nigella and sesame seeds

 Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add milk, vegetable oil and egg white. Knead them all together with your hands until becoming dough. The dough should be sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest until the dough rises to double its size. It takes one to two hours.

In a small bowl, put some vegetable oil. Damp your hands with this vegetable oil before touching the dough. That way, the dough will not stick to your hands. It also give them a nice taste too. 
Take the bowl and knead the dough again until it is bubble free. Take a small piece of dough ( about the size of an egg) and make it flat with your hands.Place 1 tbs of feta cheese in the middle of the dough and close it up.  Place them on a baking tray and let them rise for half an hour.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Brush all of the pogacas with egg yolk and sprinkle nigella and sesame seeds on top. Bake them until the color of egg yolk turns to brown.

ZEYTİNLİ MİLFÖY BÖREK

PUFFED PASTRY BOREK WITH BLACK OLIVE FILLING

Ingredients:

• 2 sheets of puffed pastry 
• 1 cup of pitted black olive

Topping:

• 1 egg yolk
• nigella ans sesame seeds 

Preheat the oven 400F. 
Cut each pastry sheet into 9 squares. Put 1 tsp of pitted black olive on the center of the square and close it up. Press gently to seal.Repeat this step for all the squares. Take them on a cookie sheet. Brush with egg yolk and sprinkle some nigella and sesame seeds on top. Bake it for 15 minutes or the egg yolk turns golden brown in color.

ŞEFTALİ MARMELATI

PEACH MARMALADE

It is a perfect season to make jam, jelly or marmalade out of peaches. The smell and color of marmalade was just perfect.

Ingredients:

• 8 peaches
• 1+1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp of lemon juice

Wash and peel the peaches. 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.

SUCUKLU PİZZA

SAUSAGE PIZZA

Ingredients:

For the dough:

• 1 cup of all purpose flour ( approx )
  
• 1/4 cup of warm water
• 2 tbsp of milk
• 1 tbsp of olive oil
• 1/2 tsp of sugar
• 1/2 tsp of salt
• 1/2 tsp of yeast

For the topping:

• 1/2 lb of sausage ( thinly sliced )
• 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese

For the sauce:

• 1/2 cup of water
• 2 tbsp of tomato paste
• 1 tsp of ground basil
• 1/3 tsp of ground thyme
• 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
• a pinch of black pepper
• salt

In a large mixing bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients for the dough. Add olive oil, milk and warm water into this mixture and knead. The dough should be soft. Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and keep it in a warm place for rising. Let the dough rises to double its size. Take the bowl and knead the dough again until it is bubble free. Give the dough a shape of ball. 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 dusted surface and roll the dough as thin as you want it to be with a roller pin. Keep dusting the dough with flour while you are rolling. Place a parchment paper on a baking sheet and put the pizza base on the baking sheet. Pierce the dough with a fork. Let it rise for half an hour.
Take  all the ingredients for the sauce in a large bowl and whisk it well.
Preheat the oven 400F and place the dough in the oven and bake it for ten minutes and take it out.
First spread the sauce on the pizza base then place the sausage slices all over the sauce. Last, spread the cheese on top. Bake it until the cheese takes golden brown color.

TAM BUĞDAY UNLU & LORLU PİZZA

WHOLE WHEAT PIZZA WITH HERB &RICOTTA CHEESE

Ingredients:

Dough:

• 1 cup of whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup of warm water 
• 1/3 tbsp of salt
• 1/3 tbsp of granulated sugar
• 1/3 tsp of yeast

Topping:

• 3/4 cup of ricotta cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 bunch of parsley ( chopped )
• 1/3 cup of chopped fresh mint
• 10 green onions ( chopped )
• 1 small size of onion ( chopped )
• 1/3 cup of olive oil
• 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes
• salt

 In a large mixing bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients. Add olive oil and warm water into this mixture and knead. The dough should be soft. Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and keep it in a warm place for rising. Let the dough rises to double its size. Take the bowl and knead the dough again until it is bubble free. Give the dough a shape of ball. 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 dusted surface and roll the dough as thin as you want it to be with a roller pin. Keep dusting the dough with flour while you are rolling. Place a parchment paper on a baking sheet and put the pizza base on the baking sheet. Pierce the dough with a fork. Let it rise for half an hour.
Place a large skillet on the stove top. Take olive oil and chopped onion into the skillet. Turn the heat on medium and cover the lid. Saute it for 5 minutes. Add green onion to the skillet and stir it. Turn the heat off after 5 minutes. Add ricotta cheese, parsley,mint,  red pepper flakes, and salt and stir it until well combined. Set a side.
Preheat the oven 350F and place the dough in the oven and bake it for ten minutes and take it out.
When the topping cools completly, crack two eggs in it and stir.
Spread the topping on the pizza base. Bake it until the it takes golden brown color. 

TAM BUĞDAY UNLU EKMEK

WHOLE WHEAT BREAD

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of whole wheat flour
• 1+1/2 cup of warm water
• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 tbsp of salt 
• 1 tbsp of granulated sugar
• 1 tsp of yeast

In a large mixing bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients. Add olive oil and warm water into this mixture and knead. The dough should be soft. Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and keep it in a warm place for rising. Let the dough rises to double its size. Take the bowl and knead the dough again until it is bubble free. Place a parchment paper on a 13" 10.5" baking tray. Give the dough a round shape. Then take a sharp knife and give the dough the shapes you desire. Sprinkle some flour on top. Preheat the oven to 450 F.
Let rise the dough for half an hour. Bake it for 30 minutes or the color of bread turns brown. Take the bread out of the oven let it cool for 20 minutes and fold it with a clean kitchen towel to keep it soft.