Tasting Turkish Culture

Ingredients; 2 cups of wheat 1 cup of canned chickpea 2 cups of yoghurt 1 tsp dried mint 1 tsp red pepper 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp salt1 tbsp butter 2 tbsp oil Direction 1-Boil two cups of wheat until they are cooked well. 2-After it cools down, put cooked wheat into a large bowl and add chickpea, yoghurt and salt. 3-Meanwhile in small pan, fry spices for a few minutes in oil and butter. 4-Then add the hot butter sauce on the mixture with yoghurt. Serve with meatball,chicken or meat... Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients; 1 package puff pastry sheets 2 cup finely chopped walnut 1tbsp lemon juice 2 and half cups of water 2 cups of sugar Directions; 1-we should start with the syrup so it will cool down in time. 2-Pour 2 cups of sugar and 2 and 1/2 cups of water into a pot.Stir well. Boiled it in a medium hot.After 4-6 minutes boiling, add lemon juice. As a couple of minutes pass, let it cool down. 3- Cut the puff pastry sheets into big squares, then make triangles out of the squares. 3-Put some chopped walnuts in and shape them. 4-Bake in the 350 F preheated oven until they are light brown.When baklava is baked, slowly pour cold syrup on hot baklava.When the syrup is soaked, you can serve it with some whipped cream on top or ice-cream or Turkish tea or Turkish coffee. It is not like real baklava,but it is similar. I am sure you will enjoy it. Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients 1 cup flour 5 cupmilk 1 T. butter 1 and 1/2 cup sugar 1 package vanilla 2 cup coconut, shredded 1 cup walnut, crushed Direction 1-In a bowl, thoroughly combine flour, sugar and milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring continually until it boils. 2-Remove from heat, add butter and blend with a mixer for 3-4 minutes. 3-In a large, 1-inch-deep tray or dish, sprinkle the coconut. 4- Pour the blended mixture over it. (Use more than one tray if needed, because the mixture should not be thick.) 5- Refrigerate for one hour. Cut into small squares. Roll each piece in the crushed walnuts and place on a different plate. Keep in refrigerator until time to serve. Afiyet olsun...

Ingredients 1 cup lentil 1 carrot 1 potato 1/2 cup rice 1 onion 1tsp dried mint 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp red pepper 1/2 tsp black pepper 2 tbsp oil 4 cups of water Directions; 1-Diced potato and carrot into small pieces.. 2- Mix all ingredients in a pot and cook for 30 minutes on medium heat. 3-After it is cooked, blend the soup using a hand blender. To get the desired texture, you can add more hot water while blending it. 4-You can serve it with lemon juice. Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients 1 lb. steak or lamb 1 cup frozen green beans 1 cup eggplant, cubed 1 cup zucchini, diced 1 cup potato, diced ¼ cup green pepper, finely diced 1 large onion, finely diced 1 tomato, diced 1 clove garlic 1 tbsp red pepper paste 1 tbsp tomato paste 2 tbsp canola oil 1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp salt 1 tsp red pepper 1 tsp black pepper Direction  1-Sauté the steak or lamb beforehand. 2-In a large, deep pan, spread just enough canola oil to cover the bottom, and add the ingredients to the mixture in the following order: meat, potatoes, eggplant, pepper, green beans, zucchini. 3-In a separate bowl, mix finely diced onion, garlic, tomato, tomato and pepper pastes, and the spices. Add this mixture to the pan. 4-Then add the oil and butter on top. Simmer over low heat for 2 hours. Let sit 10-15 minutes before serving. Serve it warm. Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients: 6-8 peppers (green, red, yellow), suitable size for stuffing 1 large tomato, sliced (optional) 1 cup warm water For filling: 1 cup of rice 1 medium size onion (finely chopped) 2 tbsp oil ½ lb ground beef (optional) salt black pepper paprika mint flakes allspice (optional) 1 tsp sugar Directions: 1-Take the top of the peppers off and remove the seeds. Keep the pepper tops aside. 2-Wash them thoroughly. 3-Mix ground beef, rice, oil, salt, paprika, allspice and black pepper in a bowl. 4-Stuff loosely the peppers with the mixture. 5-Put the tomato slices or the pepper tops on top of the mixture. 6-Place the peppers in a pot; put a small serving plate onto peppers, pour warm water. 7-Put the lid on, cook on medium heat. When the water boils, reduce the heat to low medium and continue cooking until the rice is done, approximately for 20 minutes. Serve hot if you have meat in the mixture. Otherwise you may serve hot or a

Ingredients 2 large onions 1 T. lemon juice 1 t. salt 1 t. sumac 1 t. red pepper 1 T. oil Tomato and lemon for garnish Direction  1-Slice the onions in half moons. 2-Add the spices and oil, and mix thoroughly. 3-Garnish with tomato and lemon. Serve with chicken, fish or beef. Afıyet Olsun!

Ingredients  2cup canned beans 2 scallion 1 green pepper or red pepper 1/2 bunch parsley 1 small size onion 1tsp lemon juice 1/2 tsp red pepper 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 tsp salt olive Preparation, 1-In a large bowl,mix chopped scallion,spices,cut pepper,onion,salt parsley with beans. 2-Then, add oil and lemon juice. 3-After you mix well,pour the dish in a serving plate. 4-Lastly decorate the top with olives and parsley. Afiyet Olsun.

Baked stuffed potato; 3 baked (or boiled) potatoes 1 cup of canned corn 1 cup of canned sweet pea 1 cup of canned carrot 1 cup of shredded carrot 1 cup of shredded red cabbage 2 cups mayonnaise 1 cup sliced black olive 1/4 cup sliced jalapeno 1/4 cup sliced pickle 1 stick butter 2 cup shredded mozzarella 2 tbsp salt Direction 1- Mix sweet pea,carrot and mayonnaise in a bowl. 2-Meanwhile, in another bowl mush potatoes,butter and mozzarella cheese. 3-Pour mushed mixture in a tray and smooth evenly its surface. 4-Respectively, lay the mixture with the mayo, red cabbage,shredded carrot,corn,olives and pickles. 5-Decorate the top with ketchup and with more mayo.

Veiled Rice 1 cup rice 2 cups water Phyllo dough sheets 1 cup canned carrot and pea mixture 1 egg 1 tsp butter 2 tbsp oil 1 tbsp salt Direction 1-Add well-washed rice in a pot with melted butter and oil.Stir the rice for 2 minutes. 2Then add canned peas and carrot and sprinkle some salt on the rice. 3-Pour the water in the pot.Let it boil until rice absorbs all the water. 4-Lay the folded phyllo dough sheet in a medium size bowl. 5-In the middle of the sheet,put some rice and fold in the edges of the sheet. 6-Then lay the sheet, folded edges down on a oven tray.Spread some egg on it and bake until it turns golden brown in 350 F oven. Serve it warm with meat,chicken or vegetables. Afiyet Olsun.

CILBIR 4 Servings 1/2 tsp spoon red pepper 2 glasses of yoghurt 2 soup spoons butter 6eggs ,parsley (optional ) Mix the crushed garlic and the yoghurt. Spoon the mixture into the guests' plates. Melt the butter with the red pepper in a small frying pan. Put aside.. Boil the eggs.Peel the flakes. 2 in each plate of yoghurt, and over them pour a fine stream of the melted butter and pepper. Serve at once. Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients 4-5 cup shredded carrot 1- 1/2 cup sugar 2 tbsp crushed walnut 1 cup crushed Turkish Petitbeurre  Biscuit 2 cups dried cocunut Direction 1- In a pan, add sugar and carrots.Cook them in a medium heat until carrot gets soft. 2-Then add walnuts and 2tbsp coconut and biscuit. 3-Stir them gently 2-3 min. 4-Put aside to cool it down. Then make small balls and roll them into the coconut. Serve with tea or coffee. Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients 1/2 lb beef, cut into small cubes 2 medium potatoes, diced 1 cup baby carrots 1 medium onion, diced 1 tbsp oil 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp red pepper salt to taste lemon juice ( to serve ) Directions, 1- Cut the carrots into big pieces. Then put all of the ingredients into a pressure cooker.Carefully close pressure cooker and cook stew on medium heat until cooker whistles. 2- then turn it off and cook it 30 minutes more over low heat. Then wait 10-15 minutes to open the cooker. 3- Place stew in serving dish and squeeze lemon juice ( 1 tsp ) over the top. 4-If you don't have a pressure cooker, cook the meat for 30 minutes over medium heat, and then add the other ingredients and cook 30 more minutes more. Serve it warm. Afiyet Olsun

From Sanliufra From Sanliurfa ( Sacred Lake )  A Holy site in Urfa where the father of monotheistic religions, Abraham, is said to have been thrown into a lake of fire. By Allah's  ( God ) grace, the fire was turned into water and woods into fish.  Bosphorus  ( From Istanbul )

Come and  join us as we offer fun, exciting and hands- on new cooking and tasting classes! Istanbul Cultural Center - Women's Division is offering a new session of cooking classes with new rich and delicious recipes! The classes will be once a month on Saturdays between 11:am to  1:00 pm  at Istanbul Cultural Center. Don't miss out on our next cooking class,  October 12, 2013  where we will join in and learn how to prepare Hunkar Begendi (Sultan’s Pleasure). For RSVP; http://www.atccenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117:cooking-class-september-2013&catid=9&Itemid=435

Ingredients 4 medium tomatoes 4 kirby cucumbers or 1 large cucumber 2 green belly peppers half bunch of parsley 5-6 green onions 1 small onion 2 tbsp lemon juice 3 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses ( recommended ) 1 tbsp mint flakes 1/2 cup diced pickles 1 cup of coarse cracked walnut salt to taste Directions 1- Chop the onion and rub it with salt ( on the board or in a bowl.) 2- Cut the tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and pickles into the small cubes. Put them in a bowl. 3-Chop green onions and parsley and add them to the bowl. 4-Pour olive oil, lemon juice and pomegranate molasses. Mix all ingredients well. 5-Sprinkle mint flakes and walnut on top ( you may mix these as well if you like .) Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients 2 cups lentil (rinsed) 1/2 lb chicken thigh or breast 2 cup orzo 3 medium bell peppers ( orange and red ) 2 scallions, chopped 1 bunch of parsley, chopped 2 tsp red pepper 2 tsp black pepper salt to taste 6 tbsp corn oil 9 cups hot water Directions; 1-In a pot, boil 2 cups of lentil with 5 cups of water. 2- In a different pot, add 3 tsp oil and orzo. Saute until orzo is lightly browned.Then add 4 cups hot water. Wait until all water is absorbed. Let it cool down. 3- Then cut the chicken into small pieces and cook over medium heat. 4-Cut the peppers into small pieces. 5-In a big bowl, add the cooked and cooled lentils, orzo, chicken, vegetables, spices, 3 tbsp oil, and salt. Then mix gently Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients 1 box of labne ( mild cream cheese ) 1/4 cup greek yogurt ( optional ) 3-4 gloves garlic ( minced ) 1/2 cup crushed walnut 1 bunch of dill 1 tsp salt Direction;  In a bowl, mix the all ingredients and keep it refrigerated over night. Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients 1 c. rice 2 c. water 1/2 c. chickpeas, canned and drained 1/2 bunch fresh dill, chopped 1 t. salt 2 T. butter 1 T. oil Directions 1-Heat oil and butter over medium heat. 2- When the butter has melted, add rice and chickpeas, and stir for 3-4 minutes. 3- Then add water and salt. When the rice has absorbed the water, remove from heat and add dill.  4-Mix gently and cover with a lid. 5- Let stand about 15 minutes.  Serve hot or warm with main dish or vegetables. Afiyet olsun!

Ingredients 1 cup of jasmine rice 1- 1/2 cups of hot water 1/4 shredded carrots 1/4 chopped onion 1 tsp salt 1 tsp cumin 2 tbsp olive oil Preparation 1-Put oil in a pan, add onion and carrots. Saute them 2-3 minutes. 2- Then add rice, salt and cumin. Stir well. 3- Add water and close lid. Cook until water is gone. Let rest 20 min. Afiyet Olsun.

Ingredients  1 cup jasmine rice 1 and 1/2 cup hot water 1 cube chicken broth ( optional ) 1 can carrot and peas Salt to taste 4 tbsp olive oil Preparation 1-In a medium pot add olive oil and rice. Stir and roast it until rice gets dry. 2- Add drained can peas and carrots mixture in rice. 3- Then mix the chicken broth with hot water. Pour into the rice. 4-Cover and cook until soak all water.Turn off the heat and let rest for 20 min. Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients 1/2 pound ground beef 1 cup cracked wheat ( bulgur) 1 egg 1 medium crashed onion 1 tbsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp red pepper 1 tsp cumin For Sauce 2 tbsp tomato paste 1 tbsp pepper paste 2 tbsp flour 3 tbsp canola oil 1/2 cup flour for tray 8 cup water Garnish 1/2 cup chopped parsley Preparation 1- In a bowl, add the ground beef, spices, egg, cracked wheat, salt, and onion. Knead all ingredients. Make bit size meatballs. 2- Spread the flour on a tray and place meatballs on tray. 3- In a medium size pot, add oil, tomato paste, pepper paste, and 3 tbsp flour. Saute all of them in a medium heat. Then add 6 cups water. Wait until it boils. Then all the little meatballs, drop into the pot and stir slowly. 4- Cook for about 15-20 min. in a medium heat. 5- Before serve the meatballs, sprinkle some chopped parsley on top. Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients: 1 lb green beans (fresh, frozen or canned) 3 tablespoons of oil / olive oil 1 medium size onion, finely chopped 1 medium size tomato / 3-4 tablespoons of tomato sauce 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup warm water (optional) Directions: 1-Remove the ends of the beans and the string and slice them in half lengthwise (it is ready if you buy frozen one) 2-Peel the tomatoes and chop them into small pieces or use ready tomato source 3-Heat the oil in a medium-size pot over medium heat and cook the onion until golden brown 4-Add the tomato paste 5-Add the green beans, tomatoes / tomato sauce and salt 6-Water can be added at this point. Without water it is going to be tastier, but you need to add a little water later if the beans’ juice is all gone because the beans may burn 7-Close the lid and set the heat to medium 8-Cook the beans until they change in color to dark green and get soft (approximately for 30 minutes) 9-This di

Ingredients 4 large potatoes, peeled and sliced 1 large onion, cut into half-moons 4 T. butter 1 t. dried mint or basil 1 t. black pepper 1 t. red pepper 1 T. salt 1 c. water Directions 1-In a large pot, place the sliced potatoes and half-moon onions. 2-Add salt and combine well. 3-Add water, butter and spices. 4-Cook over medium heat until potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes. Serve it warm. Afiyet olsun!

Ingredients, 1 lb leek 4 big carrot 1 cup of rice ( washed) 1 tbsp tomato paste 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp red pepper 1/2 salt 3 tbsp olive oil 8 cups water Direction, 1-Wash all the vegetables well and peel carrots. 2-Then, chop carrots and leeks into circle. Boil them in eight cups of water and filter in a bowl. 3- Take another pot and put the oil bottom and add leek, corrots, rice, spices, and salt in order. 4- Cook until rice get soft, which is approximately 15 minutes.  Serve as warm, with yogurt, or lemon juice . 

Ingredients 1/4 lb. ground beef 2 large zucchinis, peeled and diced 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced 1/2 cup rice, rinsed 1 medium onion, diced 2 tbsp tomato paste 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp red pepper 1/2 tsp black pepper 3 tbsp corn, vegetable or olive oil 3 cup water Directions; 1- In a pot, cook ground beef over medium heat. 2- As it is browning, add the diced onion, oil and tomato paste, and saute. 3-Stir in zucchini, carrots, and rice. Finally, add spices, salt and water, simmer over medium heat for about 20 minutes, until rice is cooked. Serve with yogurt. Afiyet Olsun.

Ingredients 5 medium zucchini, finely diced 1 big onion, finely chopped 1 red bell pepper,diced 2 tomatoes, peeled and diced Bunch of parsley, diced 4 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp tomato paste 1 tbsp pepper paste (optional) Salt to taste Black pepper to taste Preparation 1- In a pot, saute chopped onion in olive oil until lightly brown. 2- Add diced red pepper and saute 3-4 min. more. Add tomato and pepper paste, diced zucchini and tomatoes one by one. 3- Put a lid on it and let it simmer until zucchini is done. 4-Add salt, pepper, and chopped parsley and stir to combine. Turn the heat off. Serve warm with yogurt and pilaf. Afiyet Olsun

Ingredients  1cup jasmine rice 4 tbsp butter 3 tbsp pine nut 3 tbsp currant 1/4 pound beef cut in small cubes 1 and 1/2 cup hot water 1 onion, chopped 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground clove Salt to taste Preaparation 1- In a medium pot, saute the beef in a medium heat.  2- Then add 4tbsp butter and chopped onion.Saute them until onions get soft. 3-Then add rice and other ingredients and saute them 2-3 min. 4- Finally add water and wait until absorb all water.  5- Rest 20 min, before serve. Afiyet Olsun.

Ingredients 4-5 big potatoes 1/2 cup water 1/2 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp red pepper 1 tsp cummin 1 tsp thyme 1 tbsp salt 1/2 stick butter Direction 1- Wash the potatoes very well. Then cut them into the four pieces. Mix with all spices, salt. 2- Then lay into the pyrex. Cut the butter small pieces and put on the potatoes. Then pour the water. 3- Bake 375 F 20- 25 min. Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients  1 lb. baby spinach leaves 1/2 cup rice 1 medium onion, chopped finely 2 tbsp tomato paste 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp red pepper 1 tbsp salt 2 tbsp oil ( corn, vegetable,or olive) 3 cup water Direction 1-Chop the onion into the very small pieces and saute with oil over medium heat. 2- Cut the baby spinach leaves into small pieces, and add to the sauteing onions. Stir well. Wait  until there is liquid in the pan, then stir in tomato paste and spices, and continue to cook for 2-3 min. 3-Finally, add rice and water. Cook until rice gets soft ( about 10 minutes ). Serve warm with yogurt. Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients: 1 package of unbaked kadayif (shredded phyllo dough)  1 package #10 phyllo dough 4 sticks of unsalted butter 2 - 2 ½ cups of cracked walnut For syrup: 3 cups of sugar 3 cups of water 1 tsp lemon juice Directions: Mix the water and sugar in a pot. Boil the mixture up. Continue to boil it approx. 6 more minutes (after the mixture starts boiling). Add lemon juice and keep boiling the mixture approx. 2 more minutes. Set the syrup aside and let it cool down. Melt the butter in a small pan. Lay one sheet of the phyllo dough on the counter and spread some kadayif on it. Sprinkle some cracked walnut on the kadayif and pour some melted butter on it. Then, roll the dough and cut it into 1 inch slices. Place the pieces vertically on the greased baking sheet (with kadayif sides facing up.) Brush the pieces with melted butter. (Don’t use the white part of the butter for brushing because it burns and gives unpleasant appearance.) Bake them

Ingredients For Pudding; 4cups milk 1/4cup flour 2 tbsp corn starch 6 cups sugar 2 tbsp unsalted butter For Jelly; 2 cups water 3 tbsp corn starch 1 cup fresh raspberries 1 cup sugar Preparation; 1-In a big pot, add all the pudding ingredients and cook over medium heat, stirring continually, until mixture boils. Then turn off heat and add butter and stir until it melts. 2-In a different pot, mix all the jelly ingredients and cook over medium heat until mixture boils. Then pour half of the jelly into any type of mould. Then refrigerate for 5 minutes. 3- Then pour the pudding over the jelly and finally pour the remaining jelly over the top of the pudding, creating layers. Then refrigerate for 2-3 hours. After that, carefully turn upside down onto a serving plate. Slice individually. Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients 4 cups of flour 2,5 cups of water 2 tbsp yeast 2 tbsp sugar 1 tbsp salt 1/4 cup vegetable oil Preparation 1-In a bowl, mix all ingredients and wait 12 hours  with covering. 2-Then, brush oil muffin cake mould. Take small pieces and put each one. 3- Bake 350 F pre-heated oven 30 minutes. 4- Cool it down. You will have sloppy dough... Keep in refrigerator.. Looks good, easy to eat and serve... Afiyet Olsun..

Ingredients  6 cups flour ( all purpose) 1/2 cup wheat flour 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast 2.5 tsp salt 1 tbsp sugar 3 tbsp melted butter 1 cup warm milk 2.5 cup water Preparation 1-Mix the ingredients in a large bowl and stir to mix and knead well. 2- Then wait 12 hours. 3- Shape the dough with wheat flour. Take a big circle tray, circle cake mould or circle pyrex.( If you have medium use two trays ) 4-Turn on the oven at 500 F and make a warm circle materials. 5- Then take them and lay the dough on the tray. 6- Cover with aluminium foil and bake 20 min. Remove the foil bake 5 more min. You are going to have crispy bread. When it gets cold slice the bread thin and keep in refrigerator. Afiyet Olsun.

Ingredients For Pastry 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup oil 1 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 egg 1 tsp yeast Walnuts Cornstarch Flour ( as needed ) For Syrup  3 cups sugar 3 cups water For Top 1 stick melted butter Preparation; 1- Prepare the syrup in advance and allow it cool. 2-For the pastry ( phyllo dough ) mix oil, sugar, yeast, salt, and egg in a bowl. Mix well by hand and then add flour to make a dough that is well-mixed and non-sticky. I start by mixing the dough by hand, but then complete the kneading process using a bread machine. After kneading, allow dough to rest for 20 minutes. 3- Divide the dough into six equal portions. Using the cornstarch, spread out each portion to the size of a plate. Then place the six layers of phyllo dough on top of one another. So that they won't be too thin, roll them out together. Create a tightly formed roll and cut into 1 inch pieces. 4- Further spread out these small circles of dough using a rolling pin. ( You can also do this by

Ingredients  3 eggs 3 zucchini, shredded 1 cup crumbled feta cheese 1/2 cup yogurt 2cup flour 1/2 bunch of dill, choped 1/2 bunch of scallion, diced 1/2 bunch of parsley, chopped salt, black pepper, red pepper  to taste  oil Directions; 1-Put shredded zucchini, parsley,dill and scallion into a large bowl. 2- Add eggs, flour,feta cheese, salt, peppers. 3-Mix all the ingredients. 4-Put some oil into a pan. ( not too much ) 5- Put 1 table spoonful of dough into pan and fry them. Serve it with yogurt or/and salad. Afiyet Olsun.

Ingredients 6 potatoes, skinned and smashed 1/2 bunch dill, chopped 1/2 bunch parsley, chopped 1/3 cup yogurt 1 clove garlic, minced ( optional ) 1 tbsp mayo 2 cup grated carrots salt to taste 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp lemon juice For Garnish, paprika, dried mint Preparation 1- In a bowl, add potatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, dill, and parsley. Knead the mixture. 2- Take a piece as large as walnut and make a ball.Open space in the middle and put grated carrots. 3-In a mixing bowl, pour mayo and yogurt and mix well. Then add on top of the nest. 4- Garnish with pepper and/ or mint. Afiyet Olsun..

Ingredients 1cup chickpeas,can, washed and drained 1cup boiled wheat 3 cup water 1 garlic glove ( minced ) Salt to taste Red pepper to taste (spice ) Sauce; 1 cup yogurt 1 egg 2 tbsp flour Garnish 2 tbsp butter 1 tbsp dry mint 1 mid.onion ( chopped ) Direction 1- Cook the boiled wheat with water in a medium pot for about 5 min. 2-Whisk th sauce ingredients in a small bowl. ( yogurt, egg, flour ) 3-Then slowly pour the mixture into the pot while stirring very slowly. 4-Add the chickpeas in mixture 5- Cook for 15 min. over medium low heat. Add the garlic, salt and pepper, then stir and turn the heat off. 6-Place the butter in a frying pan. When it begins spitting, add chopped onion and saute them and stir in the mint and pour into your soup.

This month's cook was Nermin. She is from Bursa, Turkey. She showed us how to makee delicious sesame cookies. Sesame cookies are popular in the special nights to share with friends and family. Here is the recipe; Ingredients For dough 1 stick margarine or butter ( soft ) 1 egg yolk ( yolk is for dough, white is for top of the cookies ) 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp vinegar 1/2 tbsp sugar 1 pinch salt 1/4 cup oil 1 tsp mahlep ( optional ) Flour approx. 2 cup ( dough should be ear lobe consistency ) For Top Egg white and sesame Direction 1-Mix all the ingredients beside flour. Make a smooth mixture with the ingredients. And add the flour little by little. Then knead all of them. 2- Take a small piece (like golf ball ) Give  roll shape in 1 inch diameter. 3- Cut the roll in 2 finger width ( or give any shape you want) 4- Take one piece and dip it in egg white then sesame. 5-Bake it on 350 F until they become golden brown. (approx. 20 min.) Afiyet Olsun! An