Damla Blog

Ispanakli Pogca - Turkish Pastry with Spinach - Yum! :)

2011-12-08T11:10:00.001-05:00

Ispanakli Pogca is an awesome thing. Here's how to make it: For the filling: 1 onion 1 package of frozen spinach or about 2 pounds of fresh one salt, black pepper, red pepper 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil Cook the onion down, add the spinach, when it wilts down your filling's ready. You can also use other fillings like feta cheese and cilantro (no cooking needed), potatoes instead

Turkish Tabouleh (Kisir) - Secret Recipe

2011-12-08T09:20:00.001-05:00

This is my mom's secret recipe. It is the best tabouleh ever. Try it and love it. Here's what you need: For the cooked portion: 2 cups of very thin bulgur 1 small can of tomato paste (if you have it) 1 tablespoon of red pepper paste, this adds an amazing flavor 1 small onion 3-4 cloves of garlic 4 cups of boiled water 1 small green pepper salt, red pepper, black pepper, sumak (a lemony Turkish

Update

2011-11-22T03:29:00.001-05:00

I feel like a mythological creature. Big round belly, changed heartbeat, changed breath, everything is different. The way I move, the way I feel inside. I see the world differently, like I am the mom of everyone and I am connected to every mom ever lived. I feel like I've done this before, a million times. I have been in this body before with a baby in it. I have already given birth, I have felt

Mung Bean Salad

2011-11-15T15:20:00.001-05:00

This super simple salad is delish. Here's what you need: 2 cups of mung beans (mas fasulyesi in Turkish), keep them in water overnight, boil in lots of water and drain Juice of 1 lemon 1 cup of marinated artichoke hearts (or use un marinated) 1 cup of pitted black olives 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil Salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper to taste Mix it all up and enjoy as a tasty

Lentil Salad

2011-10-27T12:30:00.000-04:00

Yum-yum, you should definitely try this! Inspired by a favorite salad from Sticky Fingers bakery in DC. You need: 2 cups of lentils cooked (or 2 cans of cooked lentils) 2 cloves of garlic, mashed the juice of one lemon 1 can of pitted black olives salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes 1 cup of cilantro leaves (or use parsley but the scent of cilantro adds an awesome flavor) 2-3 table spoons of

Aseriyorum...

2011-10-21T11:30:00.000-04:00

Istanbul'a gidisimiz yaklastikca icimde bir heyecan. Herkesi gormenin heyecanina bir de hayallerimi susleyen yemekler eklendi. Hamileyken yemek sevgimin bu kadar artacagini dusunmemistim. Dun aksam mumuyla oturup bir liste bile yaptik neler yiyecegimizle ilgili agzimiz sulanarak. Iste hayallerimizin yemekleri: Ilk sirayi evde yenecek anne, annane ve teyze yemekleri aliyor. Onlarin yerini

Sesame Veggie Pasta

2011-10-18T13:00:00.000-04:00

Super simple and delicious. You need: 1 packet of pasta (I used gluten free quinoa pasta but any kind would do) 3-4 carrots 3-4 celeries 1 onion 2 jalapenos (optional if you don't like heat) 2-3 cloves of garlic 2 tablespoons of olive oil 2 tablespoons of soy sauce 2 tablespoons of sesame oil (toasted is better) 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds black pepper, red pepper Cook and drain your pasta.

Katie's Soup

2011-10-13T12:38:00.000-04:00

This is a soup that I learned from my yogini friend Katie. She cooked it to us at a yoga bookclub gathering and ever since it is my favorite fall/winter go to soup. It's super simple. You need: 1 leek 3-4 carrots 5-6 potatoes 1 cup of green lentils 1 cup of red lentils salt, black pepper 2-3 spoons of olive oil enough water to fill your pot (you can also use a stock that you like) Cut all the

What's Happening

2011-10-11T11:25:00.000-04:00

An update on what's happening with me: I'm getting more pregnant, less nauseated (not always), a bit less tired, and hopefully a bit more wise. Here's what I'm up to: I am finding that the best pregnancy advice comes from my girl friends and trusted women. My lovely yogini friend and two-times baby veteran Laura tells me to listen to my gut and instinct when it comes to advice from

I am Pregnant / Hamileyim :)

2011-09-26T17:28:00.001-04:00

8 weeks and counting. Excited, tired and nauseated. Mostly excited :) Catching myself with my hands on my uterus, smiling. I fall asleep smiling :) I get tired every two minutes but I welcome all sensations, all feelings, they are all welcome because they'll bring us 'The Little One' as mumu calls her/him. We also call her/him Minnosh Aktekin, a temporary name we invented to cover these

Italian Morning Toasts

2011-09-04T14:28:00.005-04:00

Here's a recipe from this morning. You can use those farm tomatoes that you picked up :) This is a recipe that I learned way back when from an Italian friend. It turns out Tevfik also learned it from his grandmother who lived in Florence and Napoli for a number of years. So without further history or research on its origins, this is enough proof for me to credit the magnificent Italian

Farm Tomato Caprese Salad

2011-09-03T22:27:00.000-04:00

This salad should be the biggest reason for visiting the farmer's markets close to you. You never know what beauties you'll find. This was our dinner tonight (together with yesterday's quinoa salad). I can't even begin to describe the sweetness of the small round yellow tomatoes, nor the beautiful tartness of the green ones. And don't get me started on the red ones :) My advice: find yourself

Quinoa Salad

2011-09-02T20:32:00.001-04:00

Best side salad ever. For those of you new to quinoa: it looks and tastes a bit like bulgur but it's actually a legume like lentils with less sugar than bulgur or rice and tons of protein in it. Here's what you need for the salad: 1 cup quinoa (cooked in 2 cups of water, cooled down) 1 cup of cilantro leaves (use parsley if you don't like cilantro) 2 jalapenos 1 large green pepper half a cup

Pretty in Pink Beet Salad

2011-08-01T12:44:00.001-04:00

Love the colors of this salad. Here's how to make it: First you need to pickle your beets, you'll need: 1 medium size jar4 peeled beets sliced as you pleaseAbout 1.5 cups of organic apple vinegar3 cloves of garlic1 teaspoon of salt Place the sliced, salted beets in the jar. Slice or mince your garlic (if you want to take it out later slice them big) and add it in. Fill the jar halfway with the

Hissediyorum

2011-07-13T22:08:00.005-04:00

Mumuyla New York havaalanindan donuyoruz, annemi, babami ve teyzemi yolcu ettik. Yolda kendimize guzel bir durak bulduk, okyanusa karsi oturmus nefes aliyoruz. Basim agirlasmis, agridi agriyacak. Dogru duzgun aglayamamisim henuz. Oturup nefes aliyorum. Birkac damla suzuluyor yanagimdan. Elimdeki kitapta Thich Nhat Hanh, duygularinizla konusun, onlarla nefes alin, onlari guzelce agirlayin diyor. '

Zeytinyagli Dolma (Stuffed Green Peppers)

2011-06-13T16:45:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite Turkish recipes :) 2 cups of brown rice 1 can of tomato sauce 1 onion salt, black pepper, red pepper, dried mint 1.5 cups of boiled water 2 table spoons of olive oil 8 smallish green peppers (or 5-6 large ones) 1 tomato cut to small pieces to garnish Cook everything except the green peppers and tomatoes in a pot. The rice will not cook 100%, it will still have a bite to it

Rutabaga Soup

2011-05-31T13:56:00.002-04:00

I picked up this root vegetable to try it out. It has a very unique taste, like a slightly sweetened radish but without the bitterness. I really like it. I thought it would be good to try it in a soup. Here's what I cooked up: 1 rutabaga, peel and cut to small pieces 1 onion, cut to medium pieces 3 pieces of garlic, just drop them in whole 1 cup of green split peas, for color :) extra virgin

Pretty Colors Salad

2011-05-31T13:52:00.003-04:00

Mix everything, cool in the fridge and enjoy! :) 1 quarter of red cabbage 1 jar of roasted red peppers, cut to small pieces 1 can of black olives 1/2 cup of green olives 1 can of quartered artichoke balsamic vinegar extra virgin olive oil lots of dried oregano Here's another idea, keep this in your fridge, add a few spoonfuls to a green mixture (add a can of tuna if you like). With a few drops

Bazen

2011-05-30T11:37:00.001-04:00

Bazen uykuyla uyaniklik arasi caddeden sesler duyuyorum, ne dedikleri anlasilmiyor ama Ingilizce oldugunu biliyorum. Iste bazen uykuyla uyaniklik arasi 'Turkce olsaydi keske o sesler' diyorum. Daha tanidik, daha bildigim birsey olsalar. Ne dediklerini anlamasam da tonlamalarindaki anlami tanisam. Anlamsiz gurultulerin ic kaynagini bilsem. Yasamak cok garip birsey, anlamak hayati. Bazen kucuk

Maple Syrup Cookies

2011-05-19T15:51:00.004-04:00

Yumminess! :) 2.5 cups of whole wheat flour190 g of butter (softened to room temperature, choose one made from no growth hormone milk) 1 cup of maple syrup pinch of sea salt 1 tablespoon of baking powder 2 teaspoons of orange zest 1/2 cup of slivered almonds Mix all in a big bowl, roll them in small bite size pieces on an oiled tray. Add small amount of flour at a time if it still sticks to your

Krispy Kale :)

2011-05-16T17:52:00.000-04:00

1 bunch of kale (kara lahana in Turkish) salt black pepper 2-3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil Take the cores away and tear kale into large pieces. Lay them on a tray, adding salt, pepper and oil on top. Mix it well. Goes into 350 oven for 15 minutes. Yum-yum-yum! Also very yummy with tons of minced garlic on top :) Enjoy! Damla

Wholesome Pot of Veggies

2011-05-16T17:45:00.001-04:00

Here's what you need for pure wholesomeness :) 5-6 medium potatoes (choose organic for better taste!) 1 large red onion 5-6 large carrots (or a cup of cut small carrots) 5-6 leaves of kale (separate from the core and cut in large pieces) 1 can of diced tomatoes (or use fresh) 7-8 leaves of mint salt, black pepper, red pepper 2 tablespoons of olive oil 1 cup of water 1 cup of snow peas 2 cups of

Chickpea Heaven

2011-05-16T17:38:00.001-04:00

This is pure awesomeness! Here's what you need: 2 cans of cooked chickpeas, drain 3-4 large kale leaves, take the core away and cut in large pieces 1 onion 3 tablespoons of olive oil seasalt, black pepper, Hungarian red pepper, chili powder, curry, cumin, red pepper and any other spices you can think of :) Onion and oil cook in a pan while you mix your spices and chickpeas in a bowl. Add the

Savory Pastry with Leeks and Onion (Pirasa Boregi)

2011-05-16T17:33:00.001-04:00

This is one of my favorite Turkish recipes, borek simply means a savory pastry and it's much easier than you think. Here's what you need: For the filling: 1 onion 3 large leeks, washed and cut into small pieces 2 tablespoons of olive oil salt, black pepper Cook all of the above in low heat until tender and set aside. For the moisture: 2 cups of milk 1 egg 1 tablespoon of olive oil salt, black

Fish in Paper

2011-05-09T18:02:00.002-04:00

Serves four people and is excellent for dinner parties: 2.5 lb of Salmon, Swordfish or any other fish that you like, without the skin 1 large leek, washed and cut to small pieces 5-6 baby bella mushrooms, washed and cut 5-6 white mushrooms washed and cut 6-7 cloves of garlic, meshed salt, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil 4 pieces of parchment paper cut approximately 8 by 9 inches. Prepare