So, I have the habit of describing kadayif dough as a sort of "shredded filo dough." Totally and absolutely wrong. Historically speaking, the root word for kadayif is arabic for a sort of crepe. Turks …
Fava, The Ancient Magical Bean
Rumor has it that it was the fava bean that Jack used to grow his giant beanstalk in the favorite fairy tales. Not surprising since the fava bean stalk can grow over 6 feet tall! This ancient bean …
Lifting spirits and spreading sweetness
Over the past week, we have gone from meeting friends out for coffee and lunch to home, turning to Zoom to feel connected even though there are miles between us. Not only did I feel the need …
Simit, A Ring of Flour
One of the things I love about Turkish food is that you can see history in so many dishes, unchanged for hundreds of years. I had no idea that the simple Simit, Turkish Sesame Bagel, has remained …
Linden Tea & our family’s “Witch’s brew” recipe
Cold season in my house growing up meant pots of linden tea simmering most of the time. In Turkey, linden tea is the go to flu fighting tea to drink when you get that first tickle of feeling …
Just a simple breakfast
Meals in Turkey and the Middle East are about gathering together. There is no micro wave pop tarts or instant oatmeal. It's about starting your day with a ritual of putting on your pot of tea, letting …