December, December!

Tired of white mushrooms and looking for  another type of mushroom to replace it with? Try oyster mushrooms and make a difference for your holiday dinner. 

Sautéed oyster mushrooms with garlic, lemon, green peppers and herbs is a delicious and easy recipe. 

200 gr/ ~7 ounces oyster mushrooms (sliced)

2 green pepper (cut in pieces) 

2 tbsp olive oil, 

1 clove garlic (crushed),

2 tsp lemon juice

Rosemary, thyme,

A touch of black pepper, red pepper flakes, 

Salt.

Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large skillet, add mushrooms and sauté until they begin to release their juices and soften. Add green pepper cuts and the crushed garlic, sauté for 2 more minutes. (Low temperature) Add lemon juice, salt, black pepper, red pepper, thyme, rosemary mix and cook for 2 minutes more. Remove from the stove and serve.

Happy Holidays!

            Stay Healthy and Happy 💝

Let’s slow down time

No. I still can’t stop time, haven’t solved it yet haha 😂 

but let’s slow it down a bit, ok??

It’s me 😊 

Spending a little time in my little garden makes me feel positive 🙏

Helpful tip if you lose your balance while doing this pose,

keep your eyes focused on a dot ahead of you, to stay balanced.

Our sense of time speeds up as we age.

It’s all about perception. Let’s not be stuck in our routines. Go to new places, meet new people, try a new colored t-shirt or a sweater you’ve never used before. Try to be spontaneous.

Those are the ways of enhancing our sensitivity to the passage of time. 

Let’s not allow time to turn into the Flash.

Hope this new year brings enjoyable "new’s" to our lives.

Let’s slow down time in 2022. Promise??😊😀

A few shots from my kitchen. You might want try something you haven’t before.

Change is good!

“I feel good 🎶🎶 I knew that I would, now. So good, so good. “😁

This song always motivates me 👍

Come on in!

I’m in the kitchen 🥂

Another December to say goodbye to.

Where did this year go??

I listen to this fascinating song every new year!

Happy New Year!

An Amazing Healing Food; Garlic!

We all talk about benefits of garlic most of the time..An amazing vegetable (it grows as a vegetable and  I think it is classed as a vegetable like an onion) used widely as a flavoring in cooking,

It has also been used as a medicine throughout ancient and modern history to prevent and treat a wide range of conditions and diseases like treat hypertension,bronchitis, liver disorders, tuberculosis,  dysentery, flatulence, colic, rheumatism, intestinal worms,, diabetes, and fevers.

I use garlic a lot for cooking..also since I have high blood pressure, I swallow sometimes a clove..Searching never ends and I love discovering new things and replacing to old knowledge by new knowledge especially for cooking to get more benefits of food God gives us.

Cooking with benefitful garlic;

-Many of garlic's health benefits (including its anti-cancer properties) are preserved if the whole cloves are crushed and allowed to sit for 10 minutes prior to cooking.

-Use garlic raw chopped or pressed in your dishes to take advantage of the benefits.
In the absence of chopping or crushing, research has shown that just 60 seconds of immediate microwaving will cause garlic to lose some of its cancer-protective properties.

What if you cannot tolerate raw garlic?? You can add chopped garlic to foods while they are cooking and the best to add it towards the end of the cooking process for the maximum amount of flavor and nutrition.

Another one;
Microwaving or boiling garlic in uncrushed, whole clove form will deactivate its enzymes, research has shown.

To freeze peeled garlic; It reduces its flavor profile and changes its texture.

Not to do;
If you would like to combine garlic with oil, just avoid high-temperature heating of this oil-garlic mixture.

And garlic!! Against Stress and toxins for a Better Mood!!
It also protects your heart and liver from the damaging effects of alcohol.

An easy way to get benefits of garlic;

Medeterranean Dressing

3 tbs extra virgin olive oil

1 tbs fresh lemon juice

1 clove garlic, minced

sea salt

 pepper to taste

Don't worry, be healthy!

First days of 2014!

First days of a pretty new year! Hope you all had a wonderful time New Year's Eve. I was away from mom for years and this year I enjoyed being together with her, just like last year.
God bless her!
I think we ate too much that night :) A couple of sodas helped to feel better next day.

Best wishes to y'all for 2014!

My son is getting very good at catching beauty of nature! Another fantastic shot taken in November from Aria's Instagram collection :) Ohh..we appreciate new followers :) 
Thank you ladies!!

It has been a while since I made it. This recipe is for eggplant lovers!. Easy and tasty!

A quick and easy eggplant recipe!

Eggplant with Lemon

2 eggplants (I peel them in stripes that's how I learned from my mom and I love it:)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 onion(crushed)
1 cup hot water
2 cloves garlic(minced)
2 tbsp crushed tomatoes 

  salt and pepper   

  fresh lemon juice

 I like taking food pictures as much as cooking!

Sometimes eggplant is bitter and should be soaked in salted water before cooking.
Let drain about 30 minutes.
 

Cut eggplants into slices as you want. Put olive oil, chopped onion into a deep saucepan and stir 2-3 minutes. Add chopped garlic and keep stiring 1-2 minutes more. Put eggplant slices and a few minutes later add crushed tomatoes. Cook stiring 3-4 minutes and add hot water, salt, pepper. Cover the lid, keep it on low heat till eggplant is very tender.
Sprinkle with lemon juice. Serve warm and enjoy taste of eggplant !
 

Also it is delicious with turkish famous garlic-yogurt sauce with mint :)

                  Life is delicious :)

A shot of a tangerine tree I took last week.(In front of my neighbour's house )
                
                 There are so many beauties in life!

Stuffed Mussels/Recipe

20 mussels (steamed)

• 1/2 cup rice
• boiling water
• 3 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp tomato pure
• 2 teaspoons thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
• 1  onion, finely diced
• 1 garlic glove(crushed)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Pepper to taste
• (You also might add pinenuts-optional)

Saute the pinenuts(if you have some)onion, garlic over medium-low heat for  10 minutes in a sauce pan. Stir in the rice, tomato puree and cook for 2 minutes. Season with salt.  Add the lemon rind. Pour over enough boiling water to just cover the rice. Stir, then cook until the liquid has been absorbed. Add the thyme and set aside to cool slightly.

Ingredients for steamed mussels;

1 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup water

2 cloves garlic(minced)

20 mussels (scrubbed, beards removed)

Place the olive oil, lemon juice, water and garlic in a pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Add the mussels  and cook(covered), shake the pot occasionally, until all the mussels open, (4-5 minutes) While remove all the mussels, let any liquid in the shells drip back into the pot.

Time to stuff our mussels!!! Woohoo! It is fun:D

Spoon a generous amount of the rice mixture into each mussel and squeeze the shells shut. Then wipe away any excess. 

Where is the pan? Oh, here it is!

Add the mussels to the pan, and  cover it! Bring to the boil then lower the heat. Simmer for about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let them cool in the pan. Refrigerate for 1 hour before to serve and serve  mussels chilled or at room temperature. 

Garnish with the parsley, lemon cuts. Mmmm..I will serve them with toasted bread and green salad.

Are you a slow eater?

 If you're looking to lose weight, eating slowly should be a part of your new life style. It's hard to enjoy your food if it goes by too quikly.

Sometimes you just gotta eat different! Powerful!

Have a delicious weekend everyone!

Recipes!!!

Let's have  some fun in the kitchen! Ready???
You choose any of these recipes and I'll help you!
Chat me, email me, message me, text me, call me..anything :D

 

 

Everybody loves zucchini except Aria!

 

Zucchini with mint and tomato sauce

A good recipe for zucchini with simple on-hand ingredients.

 

5 zucchini (cut into half moon)

1 onion, chopped

4 gloves garlic, minced

4 tbs olive oil

1 tsp dry mint,

 like more mint?..me too!! Let's add one more :D

salt , pepper

1 cup chicken broth

2 tomatoes

or 

 1/3 cup crushed tomato/canned

or

if you have homemade tomato sauce I gave

the recipe earlier you might want to use it now.

I'd like to get more zucchini taste instead tomato,

so, I didn't use more sauce or tomato though.

But if you like it in more tomato, just scoop more sauce, less chicken broth in it!

 

 

Saute onion and garlic.
Add tomatoes (if you use raw tomatoes,

 cook for a few minutes stiring)

Add half moon sliced zucchinis to the pot..
..salt n pepper and finally dry mint!

 

Zucchini and Bulgur Pilaf

Some leftover zuccini and bulgur was my last night dinner.

 

 

I tried bulgur pilaf with sauteed egglant, served with spicy chicken wings

and arugula salad.

Hmm...We liked it!

 Eggplant Bulgur Pilaf

1 big onion(crushed)
2 eggplants(cubed)
(OK..I have to note this..if you would use Italian eggplant
 which is equals to 2 eggplants in Turkey, So,
only one would be good enough.(cubed)
1 cup bulgur(washed in cold water)
2 tomatoes(peeled and diced)
1/2 tbs paste(add to the tomatoes)
2 green peppers(sliced)
1 glove minced garlic
3 tbs oil
2 cups hot water,salt, pepper

How to make Eggplant Bulgur Pilaf ?

Saute onion, green pepper a few minutes in olive oil and
add eggplant cubes, garlic.
Cook the eggplant in oil, stirring occasionally,
 untill the eggplant is fork-tender,
about four-five minutes.
You combined the diced tomateos and the tomato paste, right?
Cook a few minutes more..until tomatoes soft.

Ok, well it's time to add bulgur and boiled water.
Don't forget to salt n pepper!!
That's all! You made a yummy pilaf :)
Cook until the water is absorbed.
 Remove from heat and let stand, covered,
 until bulgur is softened, about 25 minutes

Chicken Wings!
 

Sprinkled with spicy chicken mix and grilled!
 We started to like wings, lately. :)

 

Hmm...yummy Arugula Salad with grated tomato sauce.
I use cherry tomatoes for this salad but i tried a different way
 to add tomato taste to the salad
and added grated tomato to the sauce. 

Taste was good!
 

Arugula Salad
 1 tomato
 2 garlic cloves pressed
 1 tbs vinegar
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil, salt

It has been a while I haven't made Dolma;
(Ground beef stuffed cubanelle pepper)

Served with spaghetti and famous Turkish Yogurt Cucumber Salad,
CACIK!

Especially ideal for summer time!
 

 

CACIK

Ingredients
3 cups plain yoğurt
1/4 cup water
2 gloves garlic(minced)
3 cucumbers(diced)
1tbs olive oil
1 tsp vinegar
salt and dry mint

Beat yoğurt; mix with garlic, salt and water.
Pour the yoğurt mixture over cucumbers.
You might prefer peel cucumbers but I don't..
I like more color in salad :)
Drizlle vinegar and olive oil.
Garnish with mint.
Serve cold in bowls!

And final recipe for this week;
Dolma!


Dolma/ recipe

Dolma means to stuff,..We all love it. Many versions of Dolmas...
from stuffed vine leaves, zucchini, eggplant and more more....
Stuffed wine leaves are very common.

Ground beef/rice stuffed cubanelle.
Pictured just after placed into pot before cook it!
 Colorful bell peppers are also pereferable.
Mmmm..beautiful color combinition on the plate!!!

Stuffing İngredients

11 adet cubanelles(I have small ones.
So, you might need to use less pepers for this stuffing)
1 pound ground beef;
2 chopped onion
 1/4 cup uncooked white rice
 2 gloves minced garlic
One handful of parsley, chopped
1 tsp tomato paste
1/4 cup crushed tomato
salt n pepper
---
rest of the ingredients
1/2 cup crushed tomatoes,
1 teaspoon butter
2 tbsp olive oil
hot water, salt

Cut of the tops off the peppers and
clean out the seeds inside. Now, the peppers are ready!

Mix all the ingredients and stuff the peppers with a teaspoon.
 The rice will need some room to expand during cooking.
So, don't over do it.

Place the pepers into pot..I have already have hot water in the kettle:)
Fill the pot half way up with hot water.
Pour the hot water and rest of the ingredients all over the peppers
and cook them until rice is soft.

Smells like heaven!!!
 

 Have a tasteful weekend !

Another kitchen adventure of mine;)

It's one of my favorite Turkish traditional foods. When you take a look at the ingredients to cook this dessert, maybe looks like a little complicated but I will share you an easy way, give you my own recipe which really is fun.

What makes this dessert very special is;

Patriarch Noah saves himself, his family, and a remnant of all the world's animals with that food. When Noah and his animals were about to run out of food on the arc, he found a way to cook for everyone and feed them. He mixed all ingredients were left and cooked. That tasty food he created was good enough to feed his family, his voyagers and animals to survive.The resulting dish was a pudding and it turned into a traditional food in Turkey and called, asure.  It is vegan, and one of the very well-known and the most popular vegan desserts in Turkish cuisine.
It brings the history into our kitchens every year in this season.
Every year people cook this tasty/ healthy pudding as a tradition and share with friends, neighbors, classmates and co-workers as an offering of peace and love. 
Do you wanna try? I'll take you guys on another kitchen adventure today to yonca's kitchen, ready?

The smartest idea to feed so many people mixing whatever ingredients were left and cooked them together and serving the same food to everyone.

Here is the resulting dish recipe of Noah's Pudding!  The most cherished Turkish dessert, original name is Asure ( pronounced 'a shoe ray').

                                                      My sister Nigar took this picture :)

İngredients;

10 cups water
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup barley
Orange zest(finely grated of one orange)
1 cup chickpeas (can), washed/drained
1 cup white kidney beans (can), washed/drained
8 dry apricots (soaked in water overnight/ cut in pieces)
8 dry figs (cut in pieces)
1/2 cup raisins


Garnish:
Pomogranate seeds, walnuts(crushed), cinnamon
Orange or tangerine peel

You will need a large pot for this recipe. Put the barley and 4 cups of water in the pot and bring the barley and water to the boil on high heat. Then turn it down to medium-low heat and cook for about half an hour. Add the beans, chickpeas, orange zest, apricots, raisins, figs, sugar and 6 cups of hot water. Cook for about 45 minutes on medium-low heat. Stir occasionally. Pour into a large service bowl and let cool then keep it in the refrigerator. When serving, garnish with pomegranate seeds and gently crushed walnuts.

Enjoy!

Potato, Egg, Bacon Casserole

(for 3)

4 potatoes
4 boiled eggs
4 rashers turkey bacon
1 cup milk
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour

This easy recipe is totally a winner!
Your family or guests will love it!

Layer the sliced potatoes, sliced boiled eggs, and then the turkey bacon or regular bacon in a casserole dish. Prepare a white sauce with the rest of the ingredients and pour over dish. Cook in oven for about 25 min, until bacon is done.

YUM...YUM...YUM...:)))))

life is good!

Brussel sprouts taste so different now!

If you don't like the flavor of brussel sprouts;

Mix olive oil, garlic salt and a drizzle of vinegar together in a small bowl.
Brush trimmed brussel sprouts with this mixture and grill them until soften...
It gives brussel sprouts a whole new flavor!

A slice of whole wheat bread and...

watermelon!!!

yum!;))))

Cuisinart - WAF-100 - 4-Slice Belgian Waffle Maker/CSN STORES Review

CSN always impresses me by their fastest shipping. I ordered this waffle maker for review on Wednesday and I got my package next day! Unbelievable!!!

My retired waffle maker is round. Cuisinart WAF 100 4 Slice Belgian Waffle Maker is large, square, has 4 deep pockets give you 4 waffles at a time.

I prefer easy recipes in weekdays. But on weekends, I like to surprise my hubby and my son with a little different taste especially for Sunday brunch. I always make waffles with baking powder and even though I love baking and kitchen sometimes I buy frozen waffles..Oh yes, I do.. But today, to celebrate my new waffle maker I prepared real Belgian waffle batter (with yeast instead baking powder) and tested my recipe with the new waffle maker, before Sunday:) Result?

I'm so OK with the result... lighter(because of the yeast),

thicker, bigger- and not dry(because of Cusinart WAF 100 4-Slice Belgian Waffle Maker),
and more crispier(because of the egg whites).

Well, hello weekend!

recipe
For the best result, prepare the batter the night before or at least 3-4 hours before.

W a f f l e d o u g h
(makes 6 waffles)

-ingredients-
3/4 cup milk
3.5 g dry yeast
1/2 tsp sugar

Warm 3/4 cup of milk(lukewarm),
mix in yeast and add 1/2 tsp of sugar and set aside (don't refrigerate)

2 large egg+ 2 egg whites
3/4 a stick of butter
2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
L e t ' s a d d m o r e f l a v o r :))
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp lemon zest
a pinch of salt
Separate egg whites and yolks. Mix whites with a mixer until fluffy, put aside. Mix dry ingredients(flour,sugar and salt) in a deep bowl. Add yolks, yeast mixture,vanilla, cinnamon, lemon zest and butter(melted) and mix by hand or using dough hook. Gently add the beaten egg whites into the the dough
No more mixing:))
T h a t 's i t !
Leave the dough to rest in room temperature until it gets double
(at least) or triple!
Simply pour batter onto the deep pockets on a preheated( hot) and greased waffle maker.


Top with syrup, fruit
(I love blackberry and strawberry mix with whipped cream),
butter, or your favorite toppings and,

e n j o y !

Mmmm...heavenly!!!

Crispy exterior with moist interior(just what my son loves)

Bakes four 4 1/2 inch square waffles; Non-stick coating for easy to clean.

Try not to overfill! The lid might get stuck closed.

If you don't have large storage place in your kitchen, it can be stored on its back edge, lid locked. It has 5 setting browning control( from light to very dark) and audible ready signal.

What is new with CSN Stores???

Have you heard about Joss&Main?

It is an exclusive private sale CSN Stores recently launched. You can join filling up registration form only with your name, last name and email address. It costs nothing to join.

This site offers top brands and designers for the home at up to 70% off retail. Sales only last 72 hours, but new ones are launched daily. All are backed by the high levels of costumer service.

I received the product mentioned above for free for review purposes from CSN Stores.
The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Almost done!

Popcorn shrimp(Aria was asking for it since yesterday), black beans with bell pepper(which I haven't made it all winter) and rice for dinner today!
Who is coming over for dinner tonight??? I can happily add another plate to the table for you:)



recipe


Since we have been having a tough/cold winter, NBA Mini Jammer Basketball Hoop kept Aria active while he was stuck inside all winter.

review

Yesterday was 40 degrees, today is 30-35, but very windy right now..It seems it's gonna be under 30 degrees again over the next couple of days..

A pic from last year-First bloom of spring, 2010



Warmer weather coming this weekend, h o o r a y !

Winter Soup: A delicious bowl of health benefits!

Still snowing here! I stopped watching snow since we got enough snow and storm in New York this year:(

I know a way lighten up my day ..

..busy, busy in the kitchen making my winter soup to warm up all of us today!

2 potatoes
1 big carrot
I clove garlic(minced)
1 onion
2 celery stalks
1 leek
1 parsnip
1 turnip
lemon zest
1 tbsp whipped butter
1 tbsp flour
1/2 cup milk
a handful of parsley-dill mix(chopped finely)
salt, pepper,
chicken broth

Chop or dice all the veggies and prepare to boil. Combine the potatoes, carrot, celery, leek, parsnip, turnip, onion, parsley, dill and lemon zest in a pot. Cover them with half water, half chicken stock and boil until soft.
Pour into a food processor/blender and pulse-chop so that the vegetables are chopped finely. Return the mixture to the pot and to heat through. Add salt, pepper and garlic.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan. Blend in flour and gradually add the milk, stirring constantly and add the sauce to the soup. Thin the soup with some stock if you wish. Bring to a boil.

This easy to make recipe brings a delicious bowl of health benefits to your table and makes an excellent start to a winter dinner.

Hamilton Beach Indoor Grill 25325 H/ CSN Stores/Review

I chose an indoor grill for review from CSN Stores this time. Hamilton Beach Indoor Grill 25325 H and I'm very happy with my choice:) I'm always impressed by their fast shipping. It arrived earlier than I expected. It's just perfect size for my counter and I'm loving it!

What is so good about Hamilton Beach Indoor Grill 25325 H?

• Offers a clean and healthy way to grill. The grid system lets fats away from foods and the grids are removable& dish washer safe. No mess!

• You can make most meals in 10 min and it has auto shutoff timer.
• Double grill! For a large meal, you have more space. Opens flat for 185 sq. inches of grilling space. 12 hamburgers were ready at once, in 10 min.

Since I'm a summer person, I'm missing pretty much everything about summer. I have a long list. After I had Hamilton Beach Indoor Grill 25325 H, I dropped 'grilled meat and veggies' off the list:)

The food remains hot inside for quite a long time and you easily notice the difference to microwave heat.

I must say that homemade beef hamburgers were a hit ;

• 1lb lean ground beef
• 1 small onion(grated)
  
• 3-4 pinches coriander and paprika
  
• 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• 1 clove garlic(minced), salt and pepper to taste.

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and using your hands, shape into patties. Cook them until no longer pink in center. I served them on whole grain buns with lettuce, onion slices, tomato slices, pickle dill and I had mine with just a little bit hot sauce this time:) What is your favorite condiment btw?

Mushrooms, colorful bell peppers, chicken breast, steaks, fish, shrimps..It seems I'll be using it almost every day.

This grill does a good job with grilled sandwiches too. Tested just 5 minutes ago;)

Grilled steaks and asparagus are coming next for dinner. Will just dust the steaks with a combination of garlic and onion powder, paprika and dried thyme and cook as usual. Hamilton Beach Indoor Grill 25325 does a really nice job of keeping the meat juicy.

For asparagus; Lightly coat the asparagus spears with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste and grill for a few minutes. Easy and fast!

Buttom line;
I've been using this grill the last few days, very easy to use as well as easy to clean up! The non stick, cooks quick and keeps food juicy. It works better on thicker pieces. After I noticed, really enjoyed the thicker cuts. All in all it is a very impressive appliance.

CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find anything you need whether it be small kitchen appliances, modern dining furnuture, fitness equipment, or even a cute cookware!Thanks to CSN Stores for sponsoring this review.

I received the product mentioned above for free for review purposes from CSN Stores.
The opinions I have expressed are my own.