Life 'n' Such

We all have had this experience, oil stains on your best linen, such a drab!

When my mom was visiting me, many of the saris, got stained by oil, from Indian pickles, we thought, the saris are wasted!!

But Ulfet suggested a fantastic tip! She said we should wash them with Dishwashing detergent!!

And guess what friends, it worked!!!!!!!! We could save most of the saris. The whole theory behind it being that since dishwashing detergents are meant to cut oil and grime, it will do the same whether it is dishes or fabric or your beautiful table cloth or your carpet.

And sooner you do this to a stain, the more chances of it working! So give it a try!

No Comments | In: Food, Interesting stuff | | #

Incase you havent already explored the Google translator, then please take a look, it is so awesome! Someone from Italy translated my Lifensuch blog into Italian. Isnt that cool!!!

To try the tool, visit http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en or click here

It is still work in progress, since it does not translate in all the international languages, but its a start!

2 Comments | In: Food, Indian, Interesting stuff, Turkish | | #

In India, we would say “garma-garam chai” that means hot-hot tea , hence the title!
Its snowing, I love snow. I know everyones going to hate me, but doesnt it just sound lovely to sit wrapped in blankets, and sipping a good cup of tea!

Well, today I am going to let you all in on Ulfet’s little trick to make Portable – Turkish – Tea. I know, I know you all are wondering what that is, well it is tea made in a Thermos, that you can carry around , be it picnis, to your work, to your University, on a roadtrip, to just about anywhere. Hence I named it Portable
So what do we need for this:

Ingredients:
1 tbspTurkish Tea (found in Turkish/Arabic stores),
4 cups boiling hot water,
sugar (optional),
and a well insulated small size Thermos

Method:
So boil the water, till its super bubbly
I mean to say boiling. In the thermos put the tea leaves, and pour the hot water. Tightly screw its cap. Let it sit for atleast 20 minutes, and voila!!! You are ready to roll!

Just dont forget a cup , and ofcourse sugar, if you need a little sweetness!

i would suggest having this tea with couple of turkish delights

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

I think the title should be Eggs in potatoes, cos there are so many potatoes, and so little eggs Well as Shakespeare says: “Whats in a name?”, As long as the food is great tasting, do we care what the name should be?

This was made one of the mornings at breakfast at Gulay’s house.

It is really easy!!!!!!! Yasir and me tried it one morning, and it took only few minutes to make this.

Ingredients:

Potatoes, (about 3 potatoes for 2 people) chopped in cubes
Eggs, we used 2 eggs that time

salt, black pepper for seasoning and parsley or red pepper for garnishing.

I am guessing exact quantity of potatoes or eggs doesnt matter in this recipe, if you like little bit of egg and more potatoes, just use 1 egg and so on.

Method:

Slice the potato in 3 pieces (vertically), now cut first so that you get long french fries shape. Then chop it up so that you get cubes.

Heat oil on high in a shallow frying pan. Add the potatoes to this. Mix once, and cover it with a lid. After a few minutes, take the lid off, and mix again. Take the potatoes out when they are golden in color and fully cooked. Put them in a different cooking pan.

Now crack the egg(s) over this and cook on high till the eggs are well done.

Thats it, add some seasoning and garnish before you serve! To be eaten hot!

1 Comment | In: Appetizer/Snack, Food, Recipes, Turkish | | #

Are you expecting guests in less than half an hour, do you have cocoa biscuits and whipped cream in your pantry/refrigerator. Well then dont worry, relax, you can make a dessert with the two simple ingredients in matter of minutes.

Look at the pictures if you dont believe me!

Ingredients:

Cocoa biscuits (Ulker brand, found in turkish stores or I am guessing any cocoa flavored crackers will do)
Whipped cream (also called kreme shanti in turkish)

Method:

Now arrange the biscuits, and a dollop of whipped cream as shown in the picture.

Let it freeze for atleast half an hour.

Cut diagonally as shown in the picture.

And now serve! Thats it!! Didnt I say its quick and easy.

Did I mention, I learnt this dessert from Gulay?

1 Comment | In: Dessert, Food, Recipes, Turkish | | #

Isnt it interesting that mushrooms are either loved or hated by people. I think its because, it doesnt really have any taste to it, or maybe is it the texture. Anyway, I love mushrooms, but only when they are prepared correctly!!

This is a very simple recipe for making mushrooms. I saw this at Gulay’s, but my other turkish friends also make it.

Ingredients:
Mushrooms, as many as you like
Mozzarella cheese, as much as you like
salt, black pepper for seasoning

Method:

Clean and chop the mushrooms. Put them in a frying pan, with a little oil, and water, cover and let it cook till all the water evaporates (They will need to be sautéed a few times, while they are cooking). Add a little dash or salt and black pepper and mix.

Now sprinkle generous amount of mozzarella cheese over the mushrooms in a serving platter. You can microwave for 30 seconds for the mozzarella to melt. And the mushrooms are ready to be eaten!!

No Comments | In: Appetizer/Snack, Food, Recipes, Turkish | | #

Now drool over the pictures I took from Ulfet’s and my camera at Gulay’s house for breakfast. Now I have to wait for pictures from Gulay’s camera too. Also, I have to get lots of recipes from her, so come back here, if you want them.

Here are some of the pictures taken, most of the pictures are missing, because I got impatient, and started to eat all the delicious food, before taking the other pictures

But, as you can see, there are enough picture to make you hungry.

I think this picture was from the last morning of our trip. There was tortilla borek, mushrooms with mozarella cheese, french fries, olives, goat cheese (cheese is called peynir in turkish), cow cheese (my favorite), different kinds of jams prepared by Gulay’s mother in law (I think, there was strawberry, cherry, apricot), olives and ofcourse how can you start the day without tea??? I love turkish tea, have you tried it? Its fantastic!

Picture of tortilla borek:

Potatoes in eggs or is it Eggs in potato? hmmm

Topped with fresh chopped parsley.

Eggplant in tomato sauce

Mozarella mushrooms

Talash borek (I have posted the recipe for this earlier)

Fresh from the oven; turkish bread, from turkish bakery. (I think this picture was taken at dinner and not at the time of breakfast, you can see the salad and soup in the picture)

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

Ulfet’s sister in NJ, Gulay, taught me and Ulfet how to make this. (Hi Gulay, Miss you all so much)
This is a short-cut recipe to make Talash borek, we need Fillo Dough # 10, and potato filling. Thats it, then put them both together, and voila, you will have a delicious borek. I am going to make it, my fingers are crossed, hope I dont mess it up.

Ingredients:

Fillo Dough # 10 (Horiatiko country style)
5 potatoes boiled and mashed,
1 onion chopped,
1 tbsp tomato paste,
1/2 stick butter,
1/2 turkish teacup oil,
1 turkish teacup water
salt, red pepper, black pepper for seasoning.

Method:

Step 1: Make the potato filling, for that fry the onions, then put the tomato paste, saute again for a minute, then add the mashed potatoes, and the seasoning.

Step 2: Thaw the fillo dough sheets as per instruction on the box. Then look at the pictures for the assembly. First open the roll of the sheets, cut through the middle with a pizza cutter, to get half sized sheets.

Step 3: Now boil the butter, add the oil and water to it. When warm, spread 2 tbsp of it on first one side of the sheet.

Step 4: Then put the half sheet from the left side, on top of this buttered sheet. Then again spread 2 tbsp of it on the second sheet.

Step 4: Now put about 3-4 tbsp of the potato filling in the middle of the 2 sheets. Fold the sides first, then start rolling from the bottom-up.

Step 5: Roll till you reach the end, then arrange it on a baking tray.

Step 6: Refrigerate the prepared rolls for 2 hours. Then brush the tops with egg yolk (yellow). Then bake at 350 -375 deg F (depending on how hot your oven gets) for 25-30 mins. (You will see that while baking, the rolls get bigger and fluffier)

Step 7: Your talash borek is now ready!!! Serve hot!

Update: I made it all by myself two days ago, and my friends were pretty impressed! So give it a try, you will be amazed at how easy it really is.

5 Comments | In: Appetizer/Snack, Food, Recipes, Turkish | | #

Excellent market for buying fresh and economically priced vegetables, fruits, bread and most importantly cheese!!! I just had to take a picture of the cheese center It is very interesting. Take a look. You can visit their website for store location etc at http://www.corradosmarket.com.

1 Comment | In: Food, Shopping, deals n such | | #

DELICIOUS Turkish FOOD!! A must-do if you are in New Jersey, it is located on Main street in Paterson City.

Our host family took us there for dinner one night. They had so much on their menu, so our host ordered the best of everything, so we could taste all the best things. There was doner kebabs (I think its called shawarma in middle eastern countries), adana kebabs, sheesh kebabs, hot ezme (a tomato chutney kindof salad, to be eaten with bread), hot from the oven, fresh bread, yummy mozarella pide bread, and to go with this food, we had ayran – a drink made with yoghurt and cold water and salt.

So if you are in NJ, and want to eat delicious food, clean ambience, excellent service, then you know where to go now!!!

No Comments | In: Food, Interesting stuff, Turkish | | #