Glutton Cat

Stuffed Savory Pastry (Pogaca)

2008-02-15T05:00:11Z

I adapted the dough recipe from one of the Turkish savory bun recipes I found in the internet.

The pastry is soft, and rich in flavor.

]]> Ingredients:

5 cups of flour
1 cup of warm milk
2 tbsp active dry yeast
2 tbsp sugar
1 cup of cooking oil
1 cup of warm water
1 tbsp salt
2 tbsp butter (at room temperature)
1 egg (separated)
2 tbsp sesame seeds

Filling
1/2 lb feta cheese
1 cup chopped fresh parsley (or 3 tbsp dry parsley)
Herbs and spices (optional)

1. Dissolve the yeast and the sugar in warm milk. Put it aside for 15 minutes.

2. Sift the flour in a large bowl, and make a pool in the center of the flour, and add cooking oil, warm water, egg white, salt and frothed milk mixture.

3. Make a soft non-sticky dough.

4. Cover the dough with a moist dough towel (I use paper towel) and let it rise until the dough doubles it's original size.

5. In another bowl, mix feta cheese and chopped parsley, make a curd. Add any spice or herb you like.

6. When the dough is ready, make orange size balls.

7. Open one of the dough balls with a roller pin until the thickness is about 1/4" (approximately 0.5cm).

8. Using a circular pastry cutter (or a water glass) make small full moon shapes.

9. Brush top of the small moons with butter.

10. Place the filling on one side of the dough -about a teaspoon full of filling for a moon shape dough with a 1.5" (approximately 3cm) diameter-.

11. Cover the filled side of the dough with the other side and make a half moon. Press the open sides together, so there will be no opening.

12. Place the dough on a baking sheet having approximately 1.5" (approximately 3cm) distance between the doughs.

13. Let the pastry rise for another 1.5 hour.

14. Preheat the oven to 350F/175C. Fill an oven safe dish with water, and put it into the oven.

15. Beat the egg yolk in a small dish.

16. Brush the surface of the pastry with egg yolk. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

17. Bake the pastry for 25 minutes or the surface become golden brown.

Turkish Bagel

2008-01-13T08:23:29Z

I was craving for a Turkish bagel for quite some time.

Finally I found a recipe and most importantly found courage to try it.

]]> If you are familiar with baking and making doughs, it should be really easy for you.

Ingredients:

2 lb (7 cups) of flour
1.5 tsp active dry yeast
1 tbsp salt
2 cups of warm water
1/2 tsp sugar

1 tbsp molasses
1/2 cups of water

1 lb of sesame (white)

1 tbsp yogurt
1 tbsp water

1. Place sesame in a shallow skillet and roast them at medium heat with constantly stir them until their color turn into light brown.

2. In a large bowl dissolve molases in water. In another bowl mix the yogurt and water. Make sure that there is no lump.

3. Dissolve the yeast ant the sugar in warm water, and let them sit aside for 5 minutes.

4. Mix the flour and the salt, make a pond in the center of the mixture and add the yeast.

5. Make a soft, non-sticky dough, if necessary add more flour or water, a little at a time.

6. Let the dough set aside for 15-20 minutes.

7. Transfer the dough on a slightly floured surface, divide into 7-8 pieces, and make balls.

8. Prepare a roll larger and thinner than regular bagel. There are several ways to prepare the roll, the one I prefer to use is this. The thickness should be 1.5-2 inches.

9. Place the roll aside, on a dough cloth, untill you finish all of the rolls.

10. Completely soak the roll in the molasses mixture, and remove immidiately. Make the dough a little thinner, and remove the extra water.

11. In a shallow dish put some sesame, place the wet dough onto it, and sprinkle more sesame. Make sure that sesame covers all over the roll.

12. Place the sesame covered roll on a baking sheet or a dry surface, and let them rise for at least 30 minutes. If your bagels get thicker, pull aside from the center to make them thinner.

13. Heat the oven to 550F/275C.

14. Fill an oven safe dish with water and place it to the bottom rack.

15. Slightly brush the top of the bagels with yogurt-water mixture.

16. Once the oven is heated, place the first baking sheet filled with Turkish bagels on the top rack.

17. Bake it about 15-20 minutes or until the bagels become golden brown. Don't open the oven at the first 12-14 minutes.

18. Moist a dough cloth and cover the bagels with the cloth as soon as you take them out of the oven.

Tip: If you have a pizza stone, it tastes even better, and may take less time to cook.

A Family Sunday

2007-12-24T03:54:20Z

Once upon a time, days were starting with breakfast. A light and balanced meal that prepare us the day ahead of us.

Nowadays due to our busy schedules, we barely have time for our breakfasts before breezing out of our homes.

We should have a fine breakfast with our family at least once a week, if not everyday.

Here are some suggestions.

Muhammara

Garlic Bread

Olive Oil Dip

Yogurt Dip

Recipies will be here soon.

Tomato Soup

2007-12-23T05:17:35Z

This soup will keep you warm during the cold winter days.

This is one of the two most prepared soup in my kitchen. I found the recipe long long time ago on the web. I use the soup base for many other soup variations.

]]> Ingredients:

8 oz tomato sauce or 3 oz tomato paste
2 tbsp olive oil
6 tbsp flour
1.5 cups of hot water
1 cup of warm milk
1 tbsp oregano
2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp chili pepper
2 tsp salt

1. Sautee tomato sauce and oil in a soup pan.

2. Reduce the heat of the stove and spinkle the flour while you are stirring the sauce. Cook the mixture for 4-5 minutes or until the flour smell disappear.

3. Add hot water to the mixture. Make sure that you add the water very slowly while stirring the mixture. Otherwise there will be some flour lumps.

4. Let the soup boil for couple of minutes, than add milk, spices and salt.

5. Simmer the soup for 4-5 minutes more.

You can serve the soupe with shredded mozzerella cheese or croutons.

Mushroom Marinara Sauce

2007-12-16T18:56:04Z

An easy, homemade marinara sauce.

You can also use it as a dip sauce for your gatherings.

]]> Ingredients:

4-5 mushroom (sliced)
2 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 cups water
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp curry and cummin
1 tsp reb pepper, black pepper, and garlic powder (you can replace garlic powder with 2 garlic cloves-meshed)
1/2 tbsp oregano
1/2 tbsp thyme
salt

1. Simmer mushrooms.

2. Dissolve tomato paste in water. Add the tomato paste and the oil to the mushrooms.

3. When the mixture starts bubbling add rest of the ingredients. Keep the sauce on the stove for couple of more minutes, stirring.

Serve hot.

Baklava-2

2007-11-26T03:56:34Z

Just another shape for the traditional dessert.

You can use the same ingredients given here.

Serves: 6 large or 10 small baklava triangles.

]]> 1. Take 3 phyllo doughs for larger, 2 phyllo doughs for smaller size.

2. For larger shape spread approximately 1 tbsp of oil mixture. Fold lengthwise once and place about 1/2 tbsp walnut. Start triangular folding from the walnut side as if folding a flag. Brush some oil to the ending corner. Place to the baking dish.

3. For smaller shape spread approximately 1/2 tbsp of oil mixture. Fold lengthwise once and spread other 1/2 tbsp of oil mixture. Fold lengthwise again and place about 1/2 tbsp walnut. Start triangular folding from the walnut side as if folding a flag. Brush some oil to the ending corner. Place to the baking dish.

4. Spread the leftover oil mixture on top of the baklava triangles.

5. Bake it at 400F-200C oven until the surface become golden brown.

7. Pour the cold syrup on hot baklava and let it cool without covering it.

You can prepare the baklava up to one week prior to pouring the syrup. Store the baked dough at a dry place and use hot syrup this time.

Pad Thai

2007-11-19T04:36:06Z

This one is from my brother.

It will be here as soon as he sends the recipe...

Ashura

2007-11-16T06:08:51Z

In our household, we like ashura a lot and try to cook it frequently. Couple of days ago I realized that I haven't cooked it for a while.

Preparation: Approximately 3 hours (cooking) + 2 hours (cooling) serves 12

]]> Ingredients:

1 cups of white beans
1 cups of chickpeas
1/4 cups of rice
1/4 cups of wheat
cinnamon stick
1 tbsp orange zest
1.5 cups of sugar
2 tbsp almond, walnut, hazelnut, sesame (optional)
3 tbsp pomegranate (optional)
1/4 cups of diced figs, dates, raisins, dried pineapple (optional)
1/2 cups diced apple, pear, quince (optional)
2 tbsp molasses

1. Wash and soak beans and chickpeas in a cup and rice and wheat in another cup overnight.

2. Next day, cook the beans and chickpeas until they are tender and drain the cooking water.

3. Add rice, wheat, orange zest, cinnamon and some water to the beans and keep cooking until all the ingredients become tender.

4. Add sugar. Mix well and add the rest of the ingredients. Keep cooking for 5 more minutes and close the lid and turn of the stove.

5. During the cooling process (approximately 2 hours), do not mix, and in evert 5-10 minutes open the lid, wipe the condensed water and close the lid back.

Turkish Tabbouleh

2007-11-11T01:43:32Z

Another easy recipe with bulgur. Turkish Tabbouleh (or kisir in Turkish) is very common as a salad for gatherings. Usually served with lettuce leaves.

The recipe makes for 4 servings and takes about 20 minutes to prepare.

]]> Ingredients:

2.5 cups of fine bulgur (#1 or #2)
1 medium onion (finely chopped)
3 tbsp of olive oil
3 tbsp of tomato paste
1/2 tbsp salt
1/2 cups of water
1 medium tomato (finely chopped)
5 scallion (finely chopped)
1/2 cups chopped cucumber
1/4 cups chopped parsley (or 1 tbsp dry parsley flakes)
2 tbsp lemon juice
spices and herbs (black pepper a must)
lettuce (optional)
hot sauce (optional)

1. Wash and drain the bulgur.

2. Saute the onion with olive oil and salt.

3. When the onions become golden (may add 1/2 tsp of sugar for more caramel color) add tomato paste and water and bring to boil while stirring.

4. Pour the hot onion sauce onto washed bulgur and cover it for 10 minutes.

5. Mix all of the ingredients.

Serve with the lettuce.

Update on My Garden

2007-08-02T01:22:39Z

My garden is not one of those gorgeous ones, but it is hanging. I already had couple of tomatoes.

]]>

US cat 'predicts patient deaths'

2007-07-27T00:23:23Z

Now, this is an interesting story from BBC.

Oscar, a two years old cat from US can sense the final hours of the patients.

There is also a video.

Little People

2007-07-11T16:40:54Z

Little people.

(via Boing Boing)

Water Pastry (or Turkish Lasagna)

2007-06-03T02:51:51Z

This is one of the recipes that requires some expertise in the kitchen. Even though, there are some alternatives, like using lasagna sheets, which make life a lot easier, it is more delicious if you prepare your own dough.

This time, my mother helped me to prepare the phyllo.

]]> Ingredients (for 6 people):
3 eggs
1/2 cups of yogurt
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cups warm water
1/2 tbsp salt
1 tsp active dry yeast
Approximately 4 cups of flour
2 regular phyllo dough

Filling:
1/2 lbs of feta cheese
2 tbsp of chopped parsley
1 cup of cooking oil

or
1/2 lbs of ground beef
2 tbsp of chopped parsley
1 tbsp of cooking oil
1 tbsp of tomato paste
spices

1. Dissolve the yeast in warm water.

2. Mix all the ingredients and make a dough. The dough should be soft but should not stick to any surfaces.

3. Cover the dough and rest it for half an hour.

4. Divide the dough to 12 pieces, and make a phyllo using a roller pin. The thickness should be between 1/16 to 1/8 in. Place the phyllo over a table cloth and rest until the sides start to curve.

5. In the mean time fill a cooking pot with water, add some salt and bring it to boil. Also place another cooking pot with cold water in it, next to the boiling water, and mix feta and parsley in another bowl. (If you are preparing non-vegetarian filling, saute the ground beef, mix rest of the ingredients for filling and cook everthing)

6. Spray oil to a baking dish. (14 inch, round baking dish, with at least 2 inch thickness. If you have a smaller baking dish, the depth of the dish should be higher.) Place one of the regular phyllo dough to the dish.

7. Place the first phyllo dough you prepare into the boiling water, and cook approximately 30 seconds, or until the dough starts floating.

8. Transfer the dough to the cold water, and let it cool down. Drain the excess water.

9. Place the dough on top of the regular dough in the baking dish you prepared, and spread some cooking oil (about 1.5 to 2 tbsp) on top of the dough.

10. Repeat steps 7 to 9 until you finish half of the dough. On top of the 6th phyllo dough, spread the filling instead of the oil.

11. Repeat steps 7 to 9 until you finish the dough.

12. Place the last regular phyllo dough on top, and spread some oil on top.

13. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F.

14. Cook the pastry until both of the surfaces become golden brown.

15. Let it cool down, and slice it afterwards.

Ingredient Substitutions

2007-06-02T08:23:59Z

What do you do when you realize that you do not have one of the ingredients in the recipe you just started cooking? Do you make a quick visit to your local shop, or do you just abort the cooking?

Allice Henneman, an Extension Educator of University of Nebraska, Lincoln, prepared a list of substitute ingredients you can use if you realize you are short of one of the ingredients.

Here is the link (pdf, html).

Frigo (Ice-cream)

2007-04-16T01:54:54Z

Here is an easy to prepare, a delicious ice-cream.

This ice-cream was very popular in Turkey around 60s and 70s. At least it was very popular in the movies from those years.

Preparation takes about 20 minutes, and freezing time varies. You can also serve it while it is still warm, as a pudding.

]]> When I took the picture, I prepared the ice-cream according to the recipe, how ever, the texture was oily, so I believe you do not need to add any butter. It gives a shiny looks though.

Ingredients: For 10 medium cupcake molds.
3 cups of milk
10 1/2 tbsp of sugar
4 1/2 tbsp of flour
1 tbsp of cocoa
2 eggs
1/8 cups (2 tbsp) of butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Beat the eggs with sugar.

2. Mix rest of the ingredients (for vanilla ice-cream, hold the cocoa), and cook it on the stove with continuous stirring.

3. When it starts boiling take it from the stove and add the butter.

4. Pour the mixture to molds and freeze it. If you want, you can place a stick when it starts freezing, and make popsicles.

This ice-cream is not good when you keep it for a long time.