Bir yil once Turkiyededaydim

I have this thing for Turkish food. I LOVE IT. I lived in Turkey for 1 year in my 20s, and really discovered the world of good food there. Ever since, I have been hunting for great Turkish recipes. A couple years ago, I was working with some Turkish Americans, and I learned some new recipes from them. My love for Turkish food has never waivered! The food is so fresh and real--it was a major departure from the canned Campbell's Soup I grew up on. (And who knew you could eat the parsley that was put on your plate as a garnish?!) It really opened my eyes, and started a lifetime passion for food.

Since then, I have learned to cook some Philipino recipes, Mexican recipes, Italian, Greek, and Indian foods. Each time I make these recipes, they remind me of the special ethnic friends who taught me to cook them. What a joy it is to recreate these gastronomic memories over and over again.

Here is a yummy Turkish recipe I learned to make from my good friend Ilkay, who has since moved back to her country:

Turkish Potato Salad

new potatoes (red)
Sumak
lemons
onions
salt
green onions
parsley

Wash and quarter new potatoes, put in pan to cover with boiling water, and cont to cook for about 20 mins. They should be soft but not falling apart. Drain and rinse with cold water.

Mash onions hard with a lot of salt, and let them sit while the taters are cooking or cooling. When there is a lot of liquid in the onions, rinse them well (multiple times), and drain.

Add onions, green onions, potatoes and olive oil to cover. Squeeze on juice of lemon (I used 2 lemons for 5 lb of potatoes.) Sprinkle heavily with Sumak--this is a middle-eastern spice found in ethnic grocery stores, has a slightly tangy flavor it adds. Then sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley. Chill and serve cold.

I made some of this for yesterday's cookout, it looks like photo above, although I used dried parsley so the green color is missing. This is very light fare, perfect for hot weather.

Simple and elegant, and deliciously different than traditional American potato salads. I love the use of lemon in recipes, can't get enough of that. One day I'll grow my own lemon tree!

Have you seen the Lemon Cupcakes with Strawberry Centers at Coconut & Lime's website? Does that ever look good. I really want to make those. (I was fantasizing about these while on a clear liquid diet due to stomach flu!!! Pure torture!) Those are on my to-do list.

Okay, now some yarny content:
Here's my ripple cotton blanket so far! Loving the weight of the cotton:



How lovely this is becoming! Yay.