Life 'n' Such

Tehsin recently graduated. Congratulations Tehs!

She didnt have too many things at hand one day, and this is what she came up with!

Ingredients:
4-5 cloves garlic,
1 small onion chopped,
3 chicken breast, chopped into bite sized chunks
1/2 green bell pepper sliced
salt, red pepper, oregano, lemon juice

First fry the garlic in oil for a minute, then add the onions. Fry sometime, till transparent. Add the salt, spices and the lemon juice. Add the chiken. Fry again till chicken almost cooked. Cook open on high. Then add the green pepper and finally cook about 10 more mins.

No Comments | In: Food, Indian, Recipes | | #

There are sweet deals at Kohl’s this weekend (Friday and Saturday). Lots of things, clothes, shoes, home, garden stuff is on sale.

Well, if you are trying to save your money, then I advise that you do not go! There are deals which are simply irresistible!

No Comments | In: Shopping, deals n such | | #

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I just find it amazing, that how a few spices makes all the difference. In India, we use a ton of spices to cook our food. In Turkey, leave most of the spices out from Indian cooking, and you get Turkish food.

The base is almost the same for the two cuisines; similar ingredients, few common spices, little bit of variation in recipes.

For example, kidney beans. It is a big part of Indian cuisine (as ‘Raajma-my husband’s favorite), Turkish cuisine, Mexican etc.

We all just follow different recipes and have different outcomes.

Ulfet made this tonite, and I watched her. Her recipe:

Ingredients:
2 cups dry kidney beans, soaked in water for 5-6 hours, and boiled in water till tender
1 big carrot, chopped in small pieces (not too small, or after cooking, they will become smooshy)
hot pepper paste,
tomato paste,
salt,
hot water and oil for cooking
fresh or dried parsley for garnishing
lemon juice

Fry the chopped carrots in oil for about 5 mins, add the beans to this. Add about 1 tsp hot pepper paste, 2 tbsp tomato paste and salt. Mix. Add hot water to this (about 5-7 cups). Boil with lid slightly open, till the beans are soft and the sauce thickens( you may need to add hot water again, if the sauce reduces but has not thickened)

Serve with fresh chopped parsley (or dried). Eat by itself, cold or warm.

No Comments | In: Food, Recipes, Turkish | | #

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Yes you read it right, Spring roll is chinese and ‘berek’ is turkish for bread. So what is Spring roll berek? Well basically this is a super easy way to make easy turkish bread using spring roll wraps!

Ulfet’s home-experiment has given hope to amateurs like me, for making sophisticated breads (just dont tell anybody your secret recipe….Shush!).

Ingredients:
Spring roll wraps (you will find this in the refrigeratore section in your grocery store/ chinese grocery store/ we buy it at the local arabic store)
8 oz milk
less than 50 ml oil,
1 egg

Filling:
cheese (turkish cheese, bulgarian cheese, feta)
or potatoes/ground meat and onions with spices

Work with one sheet at a time to make a small roll/berek. On one sheet, spoon about 1 tbsp of the milk, oil and egg mix. Put some of your desired filling on one end of the square. Fold in the adjacent sides (the left and right side)towards the middle slightly. Then fold the end with filing and roll till done.

Repeat the above process till all the sheets are done. Arrange them on a baking tray. Brush the surface with egg yolk. Sprinkle black sesame seeds on the top. Bake at 375 deg F till they are reddish brown in color(20-25 mins).

Serve hot or prepare a day earlier, and microwave before eating.

No Comments | In: Food, Recipes, Turkish | | #