Life 'n' Such

The prep time for this recipe is just few minutes. Ulfet showed me how to make this. You need the turkey bag(the kind in which you can bake a whole turkey in the oven).

Ingredients:
Chicken pieces (preferably with skin),
salt as per taste,
red pepper as per taste,
black pepper few pinches,(optional)
oregano enough to sprinkle over the chicken pieces
turkey bag(available in most grocery stores)

Wash the chicken pieces, drain out the water completely. Cut couple slits in the chicken pieces. Rub the spices over the pieces. Flour the bag from the inside. Put the chicken pieces in it, arrange into one layer. Tie the bag tightly with the twist and tie included with the turkey bag( or you can use the ones used for tying the trash bags). Lay the bag on a metal tray. Poke some holes in the bag on the top surface(this is IMPORTANT).

Bake at 400 deg F for about 1 1/2 hour.

Eat with pilaf and salad or just by itself.

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This recipe is delicious and also good for you. There is carrot and walnuts in it. This cake was made by Hacer (pronounced ‘Hajer’) who is, at all times, well dressed, and so are her daughters Zehra, and Nilufer. She loves to shop and is a pro at finding the best deals!

Ingredients:
1 cup grated carrot,
1 cup chopped walnuts,
2 cup flour,
1 spoon baking powder,
4 eggs,
1 1/2 cup sugar,
2 tbsp yoghurt

Mix all the above ingredients, grease and flour the insides of the baking tray, and pour the mixture into it. Bake at 350 deg F till cooked (check with toothpick in the center, should come out clean if done), When it is cooled, flip the tray gently, to slip the cake out. Then slice the cake through the middle, keep aside.

For pudding:
6 cups milk,
4 tbsp cornstarch,
3 tbsp flour,
1 cup sugar,
1 stick butter

Mix the above ingredients in a non stick pot and boil. After it starts to thicken(Taste it, it should lose the flour taste), add the butter to it and stirring fast. To smoothen out any lumps, use a hand-blender.

To make the layers, the cake must be cool, and pudding warm. Put one layer of cake back in the tray, Spread half of the pudding over it, then lay the second layer of cake gently on it. Then spread the remaining pudding on the cake. Let it set in the refrigerator for few hours.

Have this cake with tea, Enjoy!

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The first time, I saw this cake at my friend Asuman’s(she is from Turkey too and has a very pretty daughter, her name is Zeynep), me and another very good friend ate about 3 big pieces, after a whole meal, and then, we just had to lie on the floor! You just cant stop at one piece, it is that good!!!
It is called crying cake(aalayan pasta) in turkish, because the pudding that goes over the top, just flows down the sides of the pieces, and looks like it is crying.

Ingredients:
See below for pudding and cake. Also needed, is one container of whipped cream.

First make the pudding. Let it cool completely.

For pudding:
24 oz milk,
1 cup sugar,
2 spoons flour,
3 spoons cocoa powder (use turkish cocoa preferably, because it is dark and rich)
Boil all the above ingredients in a thick bottom pot or non stick pot, stirring constantly. After its done, blend it well with a handmixer.

For cake:
4 eggs,
3 turkish/arabic coffee cup flour,
3 turkish/arabic coffee cup sugar,
3 turkish/arabic coffee cup milk,
1 spoon baking powder,
1 tsp vanilla,
2 spoons cocoa powder(use turkish cocoa preferably, because it is dark and rich)
Mix all the above except the baking powder, it should be added at the end. Bake at 350 deg F. Check if the cake is done by inserting a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean, it is done.

When the cake is warm, add 2-3 cups of cold milk. Let this cool down completely. Then spread the whipped cream on this, and then pour the pudding on the top.

The three layers of cake, whipped cream and pudding look beautiful. The recipe looks long, but it actually is very easy and fast. So try it, cos its pure Chocolate Heaven!

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