Tasting Turkish Culture

INGREDIENTS 2 cans chickpeas 1/2 lb beef/lamb 1 red pepper, finely diced 1 green pepper, finely diced 1 onion, finely diced 2 T. tomato paste 1 T. red pepper paste  1 t. salt 4 cups. water 1/2 t. black pepper 1/2 t. red pepper 4 T. oil 2 T. flour DIRECTIONS 1-Cook the meat over medium heat. (Continue cooking until the meat reabsorbs its juice and it should be soft. If it is not soft add 1 cup of hot water to cook it.) 2-Add oil, onion, red and green pepper, and sauté until soft. 3-Stir in flour. 4-Add tomato and pepper pastes, and stir together well. 5-Add all spices, salt and water. Stir again, and let simmer for 15-20 minutes. 6- Remove from heat, and let cool for 5-10 minutes. Serve with pilaf (rice). Afiyet Olsun

Rose Borek (G ü l böreği) Ingredients: 1 package #10 phyllo dough (yufka) 1 egg ½ cup of milk or yogurt (or mixture of milk and yogurt) 4 tbsp oil For filling (choose one) - Cheese : 2 cups of feta cheese and chopped parsley. Mix them in a bowl. - Potato: 2-3 medium size potato (boiled and mashed), 1 medium size onion, spices, tomato paste (optional), chopped parsley. With little oil, sauté the chopped onion in a pan. Add mashed potato and spices (black pepper, chili and your choices). Add tomato paste, stir constantly for a couple of minutes. Turn off heat. Add parsley. - Meat: ½ lb ground beef, medium size onion, black pepper. Cook meat on medium heat in a pan without oil. Add little oil and chopped onion. Cook for additional 5 minutes over medium heat. Add black pepper, salt. Directions: 1-Lay out one sheet of phyllo dough on the counter. Keep the remaining phyllo dough covered with a slightly towel to prevent drying out. 2-In a medium-size...

INGREDIENTS 2 quinces, peeled and halved (do not discard seeds) 4 T. sugar 2 c. water 1/4 c. walnuts, chopped Whipped cream DIRECTIONS 1-Peel the quinces and cut them in half. 2-Scoop out the center, but do not throw away the seeds. 3-Pour water into a medium pot. Add the seeds to the water (this will cause the quinces to turn a pretty reddish color). 4-Place the quinces inside, and pour 1 tablespoon of sugar into the scooped-out center of each half. 5- Place the lid on the pot and bring it to a boil. Simmer on low heat for at least one hour. 6-Check it occasionally, and shake the pot a few times instead of stirring. Refrigerate and serve cold. Right before serving, garnish with whipped cream and chopped walnuts. Afiyet olsun

Turkey today marks the beginning of the War of Independence on the day Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk landed in Samsun, a symbolic move that led to the foundation of the Turkish Republic from the ashes of Ottoman Empire. Atatürk Commemoration and Youth and Sports Day in Turkey is expected to be celebrated throughout Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) and all Turkish foreign representative offices. Turkish President Abdullah Gül and other party leaders, who are in Ankara, officials are expected to visit Anıtkabir first, the mausoleum of Atatürk, in capital Ankara. On May 19, 1919, Atatürk, who would become modern Turkey's first president, landed on the main peninsula of Turkey to begin leadership of the liberation effort. In early 1920, Atatürk convened the first Turkish Grand National Assembly (Parliament) in Ankara, and by 1922 all of Anatolia was freed from foreign rule. The independent Republic of Turkey was declared a year later. Dur...