Borek with Tomato Sauce (Domatesli Borek)

I am in need of sunshine, easy meals, quiet nights, and long walks. Yes, I said “sunshine”…not warm weather… It has not been warm at all for the past week, finally going below 50 in this part of the South Carolina and I am loving it. The natives around here do not like it a… Read On

Crustless Leek Bake (Borek) and Some Encounters at the Supermarkets

Right before I came to the U.S., I made a copy of every single page of my mom’s recipe book, made a table of contents and put it in my bag. Although there are many redundant recipes in it (there are only so many cake recipes I can try with similar ratios and ingredients!), I… Read On

A Little Sunshine with Lemon Cake

I have been buying lemons every week with the intention of making this cake. I was in the need of a little something that reminds me of summer days. We make a lot of  lemonade during summer but drinking something cold did not suit my winter idea. So I settled on this lemon cake that… Read On

Workers’ Comp… Creamy Roasted Eggplant with Braised Meat (Hünkar Beğendi)

First, I must apologize for the pictures. I had very high hopes about the pictures that I would present this dish to you with. After all, the name of the dish, which translates as “sultan approved” puts very big expectations on the presentation as well as the taste. Volatility and temper were major personality traits… Read On

When a bribe works … Mastic Pudding (Yalancı Tavukgӧğsü)…

If I had the power to change one thing about my childhood, that would be the education system in Turkey. First thing to go would be the mindset of the whole system which is “memorization style” of learning. Not much stays with you when you are taught like that. For example, the only thing I… Read On

It is always a good thing to remember…

That no matter what kind of a mess or stress I get myself into and feel like there is no way out of it, there is always a solution and good things might be waiting around the corner. And when the time comes, not to be afraid to turn that corner. That most of the… Read On