TGIF

   Yes my dear fiends, it's Friday again, two days before the Halloween. I love most holidays in fall, but Halloween is definitely my favorite. I guess all those decorations, the costumes, and the colors of the fall, and the spirit of it. Since I did not grow up here, in the US, I really don't have the childhood Halloween memories, but after I came to this country it became one of my favorite times of all. The hues of oranges, different shades of yellows, and reds and greens, such a festival of colors. I love the smell of the cinnamon, cloves, apples and pumpkins. I love the joy of going for a pumpkin picking, makes me feel like a kid again...



Arrowroot





Eggs, wheat flour, arrowroot, nutmeg, salt and pepper



   So last few days I was actually reinventing my culinary skills. I am not a baker, I just love cooking different dishes, and trying all new adventures in cooking...  Yesterday first time ever I wanted to make a quiché, and actually it came out pretty good. The only thing, you shouldn't try to eat it while it still is hot, because when the cheese is still hot, the melting process is not complete yet. So you have to wait till it's cool and set, then cut it.   The basic ingredients are usually eggs, flour and/or starch, cheese, salt-pepper, and depending on your taste, you can add the veggies, and ham. I used "arrow-root" instead of a corn starch, (arrowroot is a great substitute for a starch, it thickens the sauces, gravies and yo can definitely use as a starch, it's all natural), whole wheat flour and grated nutmeg, soaked dried mushrooms, spinach, onions and cherry tomatoes, and the sharp cheddar cheese. I didn't use the shallow bakeware, so mine was like between a soufflé and a quiché, but it still came out pretty good. Well we enjoyed it... :)

Gorgeous veggies...

quiché-  soufflé

Have a wonderful Halloween... :)

Happy Tuesday...

   Hi there my dear friends, I woke up quite late this morning, I guess that's normal if you stay up late, trying to watch all Monday shows back to back. Anyways, I got really nice comments from my friends and some followers via Facebook and Twitter. Thanks so much, it really means lot to me. I even had some requests for the dishes that I made, say 10 years ago? That was awesome...



mixing all sunshine and goodies





a li'l nutmeg

 

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eat me eat me... :)





  I am also going to be posting the pictures of the omelettes that I made last Sunday, I thought they were ( I made two individual omelettes... ) pretty as pictures... :) I usually make the french omelette, the one that you usually put the ingredients after the eggs set well and browned underneath... 

Monday

   Hi there again, well, Saturday was a great success, I had to prepare dinner for four, we had company over for a dinner. I already wrote it before what I was going to be making. The manti was fantastic, it really was the star of the night, I got so many compliments for that. It really worth the time and the work that I put in.



Manti with browned butter and the "trio"



   I posted some pictures of the dessert that I was preparing, " candied butternut squash with Kahlua whipped cream". So I decided to make also the brittle to give a little more fun to that dessert. "Brittle" is basically caramelized sugar with some nuts or some seeds, in my case I used some pumpkin seeds, "pepitas". Well guess what? My brittle did not caramelized and came out some kind of softer version of it... :) I was devastated, but I still managed to use that sweet treat as the part of the dessert, I poured it over the squash pieces and covered it with the Kahlua whipped cream. It looked and tasted amazing. So what I am going to say is "be brave and creative, it works..."

  Anyways, after the Saturday dinner, Sunday was totally a relaxing, and a laid back day. I guess after all that "vino" that we consumed that was the expected consequence of it. :)



   Now it's another Monday, another workday... Have a wonderful week my dear friends...

   Talk to you soon... :)

Manti with browned butter

p.s. : if any of you wants any of these recipes, please feel free to ask me...



Stirring in the pumpkin seeds







Almost ready for the pumpkin seeds... :)

Sugar, water, and sea salt getting friendly in the pot for the brittle... :)

Butternut squash pieces with brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves and honey marinating for the golden goodness... :)

Golden goodness in the pot, waiting to be candied for tonight... :)

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Dinner Party



The Magical Trio



So, I just came from the gym, and I found out that I am gonna be having a casual dinner for four tomorrow. My partner's favorite dish is "manti" and he wants me to make that for the dinner tomorrow. "Manti" is basically very small dumplings filled with ground beef, grated onions and parsley, cooked in a boiling water like a regular pasta, then served with garlic yogurt, and browned butter with cayenne pepper. Actually he's sitting right behind me and reminding me the "magical trio" that you are supposed finish the dish with these toppings, mint, sumak, and crushed red pepper flakes... It actually is pretty much a one deal dish, you might need a salad or an appetizer before that but basically it. So I am gonna make the eggplant salad and as a dessert candied squash with ginger and kahlua infused whipped cream. Oh by the way "Sumak" is also an herb that you might be able to find in specialty stores. It has a nice, tangy flavor to it, it goes great with most kebap dishes.

   I certainly will post the pictures of the dishes and I'll tell you how the dinner went tomorrow. Talk to you soon... :)

Sumak

Hello Foodies...

I am creating this blog for the food lovers, I am sure there might be millions of food blogger on the net. My blog is going to be possibly similar to those that are already exist, but I am trying to create a little different approach to the Mediterranean fusion cuisine. A little more organic and healthier version of Turkish, Greek, Israeli and Balkan kitchens to the fast pace, working NYC urbanites. I am so hoping that we will be great friends, and this great friendship will lead us to work together one day.
Beyond Bosphorus