Turkish Tea (Turk Cayi)

1 tbsp Turkish Tea leaves
3 cups purified water
1 cup purified water (to wash the tea leaves)
A pinch of sugar

Fixing Turkish Tea With Caydanlik
Caydanlik (see picture) consists of two kettles. The small one is the brewer (demlik), to put the tea in and the larger is to boil the water.
First place the Turkish Tea leaves into the brewer and in order to obtain a clear, bright and healthy tea, wash them with purified water and then drain. Otherwise the immediate contact of the tea leaves with boiled water would result in the lost of the Vitamin C and affect the minerals in it. Also boiled water damages the tannin (tanen) material and it causes anaemia(kansizlik). Add a pinch of sugar to adjust the strongness of the tea.
Put the 3 cups of water in the larger kettle and put the brewer on top of it. Then place the caydanlik over medium heat and let the water boil. Pour the half of the boiled water into the brewer over the washed tea leaves. You can add some more water in the bottom kettle and boil it (if the water seems not enough). Let the tea brew for about 5-8 minutes over low heat.
Using a tea strainer, pour the tea to the tea glasses. Fill 1/3 of the glasses with tea and the rest with boiled water. You can adjust the brew amount as you like. You can use a few drops of lemon juice, for a lighter taste. Also you can add some sugar to taste.
To obtain aromatic taste you can add 1 tsp of bergamot to the brewer and 2-3 cloves to the water.

Fixing Turkish Tea With Coffee Machine
If you do not have caydanlik, you can try the coffee machine to make Turkish Tea. It will not be as delicious as the tea made with caydanlik, but it is an option. Just place the Turkish Tea Leaves where you normally put the coffee and use 4 cups of water. And start the machine. Meanwhile boil some water to adjust the lightness of the tea. When it is done you can adjust the tea with adding some boiled water. Pour the tea to the tea glasses or cups
ENJOY!
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TURKCE
1 yemek kasigi Turk Cayi
3 su bardagi icme suyu
1 tutam seker

Demlik ile Turk Cayi Yapmak
Caydanlik iki bolumden olusur. Ustteki kucuk olan, cayi icine koydugumuz demliktir ve alttaki de suyu kaynattigimiz bolumdur.
Oncelikle cayi demlige koyun. Daha berrak, parlak ve saglikli bir cay elde etmek icin cayi yikayip suzun. Cay yapraklarinin kaynamis sui le ani temasi , caydaki C vitaminini yok eder ve icindeki mineral degerlerini azaltir. Ayni zamanda kaynamis su , cayin icindeki tanen maddesini parcalar, yok eder ve bu da kansizliga yol acar. Bunu onlemek icin demlige koydugumuz cayi temiz su ile yikiyoruz ya da 1-2 kasik soguk su ile islatiyoruz. Aciligi onlemek icin bir miktar seker ilave edi Caydanligin alt kismina 3 su bardagi suyu koyup uzerine demligi koyun. Caydanligi orta ateste kaynamaya birakin. Su kaynayinca, yarisini demlige , yikanmis cay yapraklarinin uzerine dokun. Eger su yeterli degilse, caydanligin altina biraz daha su ilave edip kaynatabilirsiniz. Dusuk ateste cayi 5-8 dakika demleyin.
Cay suzgeci kullanarak, cayi cay bardaklarina dokun. Bardagin 1/3 unu dem, geri kalanini sicak sui le doldurun. Cayin demine isteginize gore ayarlayabilirsiniz. Daha hafif bir tad icin bir kac damla limon suyu ilave edebilirsiniz. Isterseniz seker ile tatlandirabilirsiniz.
Aromatik ve kokulu bir cay icin; demlige 1 cay kasigi bergamot, suya 2-3 tane karanfil ilave edebilirsiniz.

Kahve Makinesi ile Turk Cayi Yapmak
Eger caydanliginiz yok ise, kahve makinesi ile cay yapmayi deneyebilirsiniz. Caydanlik ile yapilan cay gibi lezzetli olmayabilir, ama bir alternative olabilir.
Kahveyi koydugunuz bolume Turk Cayi yapraklarini koyun ve su haznesine 4 su bardagi su koyun. Makineyi calistirin. Bu sirada cayin demin ayarlayabilmek icin ayri bir yerde biraz su kaynatin. Cay hazir oldugunda; cayin dem oranini kaynattiginiz suyu istediginiz oranda ilave ederek ayarlayabilirsiniz.
AFIYET OLSUN!

Turkish Rice Pudding (Sutlac)

1/2 cup rice (short or whole grained), washed, drained
1 cup water
2 cups whole milk
8 tbsp sugar
1 egg yolk, whisked
1 tbsp corn starch, heaping
½ tsp vanilla extract
Cinnamon
Pomegranate pieces

In a pot place the water and, washed and drained rice. Put them over high-medium heat. After the bubbles come out, close the lid and turn on low-medium heat. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon. Simmer till small amount of water remains.
Add the milk, whisked egg yolk and sugar and stir. Meanwhile, dissolve the starch in 3 tbsp of milk and add it to the rice pudding. Stir constantly. When you see the bubbles on the surface, add the vanilla extract and cook for 2-3 minutes over low heat.
This recipe makes 4 bowls of Turkish rice pudding. But you can make it 6 servings by using smaller bowls.
With a ladle, pour the Turkish rice pudding into small glass or porcelain bowls. Let them cool in the fridge for 1-2 hours.
Before serving sprinkle some cinnamon or pomegranate pieces on top.
NOTE: Do not sprinkle cinnamon right after you pour the rice pudding to the bowls. This would let the microorganisms grow fast at the contact surface of cinnamon and the hot surface of the rice pudding which may lead to foodborne diseases. Make sure you sprinkle the cinnamon just before serving the cooled rice pudding.
ENJOY!
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TURKCE
1 cay bardagi kirik yada baldo pirinc, yikanip, suzulmus
2 cay bardagi su
2 su bardagi sut
8 yemek kasigi seker
1 yumurta sarisi, cirpilmis
1 yemek kasigi misir nisastasi,tepeleme
1 cay kasigi vanilya esansi
Tarcin
Nar taneleri

Orta boy bir tencereye suyu ve yikanmis suzulmus pirinci koyup yuksek ateste kaynamasini bekleyin. Kaynadiktan sonra kapagini kapatip dusuk atese alalim. Tahta kasik ile ara sira karistirin. Tencerenin dibinde biraz su kalana dek kaynatin.
Sutu, cirpilmis yumurta sarisini ve sekeri ilave edin ve karistirin. Bu arada nisastayi 3 yemek kasigi sut ile cozundurun.Sutlacin icine ilave edin.Surekli karistirin ve yuzeyde baloncuklar olusmaya baslayinca vanilya esansini ilave edin ve kisik ateste 2-3 dakika pisirin.
Bu tariften 4 kase sutlac cikar. Ama daha kucuk kaseler kullanarak 6 porsiyon yapabilirsiniz.
Bir kepce yardimiyla sutlaci kucuk cam veya porselen kaselere bosaltin. Buzdolabinda 1-2 saat sogutun.
Servis yapmadan once sutlaclarin uzerine bir miktar tarcin ya da nar tanesi serpistirebilirsiniz.
NOT: Tarcini sutlaci kaselere doker dokmez koymayin. Cunku bu sayede mikroorganizmalar tarcin ve sicak sutlacin temasiyla; yuzeyde hizla ureyecektir ve bu da gida zehirlenmesine yol acabilir. Tarcini koyarken sutlacin soguduguna ve servisten hemen once olmasina dikkat edin.
AFIYET OLSUN!

Turkish Pancakes (Krep)

1 ½ cup all purpose flour
2 cups milk
2-3 eggs
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp baking soda
1 cup oil (for cooking)

In a bowl mix all the ingredients (except oil) with a mixer until the mixture becomes smooth and even. Leave the mixture in the fridge for 2 hours for a better taste.
Use a large Tefal pan to cook the pancakes. Put the pan on a high-medium heat and let it become hot for 2-3 minutes. Then put approximately 1tsp of oil (shallow fry) and pour the mixture with a ladle. You can adjust the amount as you like (see the picture).
When you see the bubbles on the sides you can turn the pancake upside down. You will see it will change to golden brown color. Then, when you cook both sides, it’s done. Continue adding 1 tsp oil and cooking all the pancakes.
You can use cream cheese, jams or jellies, tomato paste, olive paste, honey or whatever you like to spread on the pancakes. Then roll them up and serve warm (see the picture).
Turkish pancakes are good to go at breakfasts.
P.S: Contains Gluten, Milk

ENJOY

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TURKCE
1 ½ su bardagi un
2 su bardagi sut
2-3 yumurta
1 tatli kasigi tuz
½ cay kasigi yemek sodasi
1 su bardagi sivi yag (pisirmek icin)

Genis bir kasede sivi yag haric butun malzemeleri bir mikser ile putursuz bir kivam elde edene dek karistirin. Daha lezzetli krepler elde etmek icin karisimi 2 saat bozdolabinda bekletin.
Krepleri pisirmek icin genis bir Tefal tava kullanin. Tavayi yuksek ateste 2-3 dakika kizdirin. Az yagda (1 tatli kasigi sivi yag) bir kepce krep karisimini pisirin. Krep hamurunun miktarini isteginize gore ayarlayin (resime bakiniz). Her iki tarafini da kizarana dek pisirdiginiz zaman, krebiniz hazirdir.
Krebin kenarlarinda baloncuklar olusmaya baslayinca, krebin alt ust edebilirsiniz. Kizararak renk degistirdigini goreceksiniz. Tavaya 1 tatli kasigi sivi yag ilave ederek krepleri pisirmeye devam edin.
Kreplerin icine surmek icin; krem peynir, degisik cesitte recel, marmelat, bal, pekmez, zeytin ezmesi, salca veya ne isterseniz kullanabilirsiniz (resime bakiniz). Surdukten sonra dolayip sicak servis yapin.
Krepler kahvaltida cok guzel olur.
AFIYET OLSUN

Tomato Salad (Domates Salatasi)

2 medium red ripe tomatoes or 10 cherry tomatoes, cut in bite sizes
½ medium red or white onion, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp vinegar or 1 tbsp lemon juice
1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
½ tsp basil (optional)

1 small green pepper, diagonally sliced (optional)

¼ bunch of fresh parsley for garnish

½ tsp salt

Place tomatoes, onions and pepper (optional) in a salad plate. In a small bowl mix the olive oil, salt, vinegar/lemon juice and basil (optional). Pour this mixture on the salad and mix. Then add the crumbled feta cheese on top. Garnish with the parsley. You can also chop the parsley and mix with the salad.
Tomato salad is good to go with any dishes.

Tomato is a very good source of lycopene, a very powerful antioxidant.
ENJOY

TURKCE
2 orta boy olgun domates ya da 10 tane minik domates, dogranmis
½ orta boy kirmizi ya da beyaz sogan, dogranmis
1 sivri/yesil biber, yuvarlak dogranmis (istege bagli)
¼ demet maydanoz
2 yemek kasigi zeytinyagi
1 tatli kasigi sirke ya da 1 yemek kasigi limon suyu
1 cay bardagi ufalanmis beyaz peynir
1 cay kasigi feslegen (istege bagli)
1 cay kasigi tuz

Domates, sogan ve biberi salata tabagina alin. Kucuk bir kasede zeytinyagi, tuz, sirke/ limon suyu ve feslegeni (istege bagli) karistirin. Bu karisimi salatanin uzerine dokup karistirin. Sonra ufalanmis beyaz peyniri salatanin uzerine ilave ilave edin. Maydanoz ile susleyin. Ayni zamanda maydanozu dograyip salatanin icine de karistirabilirsiniz.
Domates salatasi her cesit yemek ile iyi gider.
Domates, guclu bir antioksidan olan likopen deposudur.
Afiyet Olsun

Radish Salad (Turp Salatasi)

A bunch of small radish (10-12), cut the stems and wash
2 tbsp olive oil
½ tsp salt
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ tsp sumac (optional)
fresh parsley for garnish

After washing the radishes, slice the radishes in half moon shapes, forming 4-6 slices from a radish. Place them on a plate and sprinkle salt, add the olive oil, lemon juice and mix. Sprinkle sumac on top (optional)
Garnish with the fresh parsley.
ENJOY!
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TURKCE
Bir demet kucuk kirmizi turp (10-12), saplari kesilip yikanmis
2 yemek kasigi zeytinyagi
1 cay kasigi tuz
1 yemek kasigi limon suyu
1 cay kasigi sumac (istege bagli)
1-2 dal taze maydanoz, suslemek icin

Turplari yikadiktan sonra, bir turptan 4-6 dilim elde edecek sekilde yarim ay seklinde dilimleyin. Dogranmis turplari bir tabaga alip uzerine tuz serpin, zeytinyagi ve limon suyunu da ilave edip karistirin. Uzerine sumak serpin (istege bagli)
Maydanoz ile susleyin.
Afiyet olsun!

Italian Omelette (Italyan Omleti)

3 eggs, beaten
1 small onion, thinly chopped
2 tbsp butter
1/3 cup mozzarella/parmesan/cheddar, shredded
¼ tsp salt
A pinch of red pepper
A pinch of black pepper
A pinch of dried basil

In a Tefal pan place the butter and let it melt, then add the chopped onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes over low-medium heat.
Meanwhile beat the eggs with ¼ tsp salt and add to the pan. Sprinkle the red pepper, black pepper and basil on top. Finally spread the shredded mozzarella/cheddar/parmesan evenly on the surface.
With a wooden spatula, lift from the sides and turn upside down when it is golden brown. Let the other side cook for 1-2 minutes.
Serve it warm to enjoy the melted mozzarella/cheddar/parmesan inside!
ENJOY!
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TURKCE
3 yumurta, cirpilmis
1 kucuk sogan, ince dogranmis
2 yemek kasigi tereyagi
2/3 cay bardagi kasar peyniri, rendelenmis
½ cay kasigi tuz
Bir tutam kirmizi toz biber
Bir tutam karabiber
Bir tutam kuru feslegen

Bir Tefal tavaya tereyagini koyup dusuk ateste eritin. Ince dogranmis soganlari ilave edip, 2-3 dakika kavurun.
Bu arada yumurtalari ½ cay kasigi tuz ile cirpin ve tavaya ilave edin. Yuzeyine kirmizi biber, siyah biber ve kuru feslegeni serpin. Son olarak rendelenmis kasar peynirini omletin uzerine esit olarak yayin.
Tahta bir spatula ile omletin kenarlarindan kaldirarak , kizarinca alt ust edin. Diger tarafini da 1-2 dakika pisirin.
Erimis kasarin tadini cikarmak icin sicak servis yapin!
AFIYET OLSUN!