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Baked Fresh Figs with Honey and Clotted Cream;Kaymakli Incir Tatlisi

By Ozlem Warren on September 12, 2011 in Cakes and Desserts 11

Fresh, luscious fresh figs, they are a treat

I love figs; my grandmother used to have a huge fig tree in her garden and we grandchildren used to love “helping” picking them up. Turkey produces some of the finest figs; they are sweet, juicy and darker than the average fig, especially the Bursa variety.

Figs are packed with fiber; they are not only delicious but very healthy too. It is so wonderful to eat just plain; what a treat to have them by the salad for lunch or for a special treat. But if you’d like to turn them into an easy, healthy, delicious dessert, here is the recipe, an adaptation from Ghillie Basan’s version:

Serves 2-4
Preparation time: 5-10 minutes Baking time: 5-8 minutes

4 ripe (preferably) Turkish figs
15ml-30ml/1-2 tablespoons clear honey
30ml-45ml/2-3 tablespoons clotted cream (or kaymak, Turkish clotted cream or crème fraiche or plain yoghurt)
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Preheat oven to 180F/350C

Using a sharp knife, cut a deep cross from the top of each fig to the bottom, keeping the skin at the bottom intact. Place the figs upright in a baking dish.

Drizzle the honey and the lemon juice over the figs and bake in the oven for about 5-8 minutes. Take out the baking tray from the oven. Spoon a dollop of clotted cream or yoghurt into the middle of each fig, or serve them in bowls and let everyone help themselves with yoghurt or cream.

Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

Happy (Past) Sugar/Ramadan Feast – Gecmis Mutlu Bayramlar!

By Ozlem Warren on September 12, 2011 in Fascinating Turkey, Uncategorised 1

This post has been intended two weeks ago, but my laptop had other plans and got broken. Now that it’s fixed and back to life – joy to the world!- I am back! Apologies for not being in touch for a while.

Early September, we celebrated the end of Ramadan, so Happy Belated Ramadan Feast -or as we call it “Sugar Bayram”. We celebrate the end of a month of fasting with arrays of delicious sweets and desserts. We visit friends and family and enjoy these treats, and Turkish Delight is amongst them. When I was in Istanbul in August, I discovered a new Turkish Delights shop in Ortakoy, their name is Yeni Ugurlu Helvacisi – www.yeniugurluhelvacisi.com. I was delighted with this discovery, they have a vast array of Turkish Delights – plain ones, with rose water, with pistachios, with chocolate(!), with coated shredded coconut, all amazing. If you ever stop by in Ortakoy while in Istanbul, do check them out.

And while in Ortakoy, one cannot resist going through the market – it is especially very lovely on Sundays. Here is a little colorful snapshot to brighten the day!:)

Strolling Through Istanbul; Bosphorus, Cay&Simit (Turkish tea and sesame coated pastry) and Iftar at the Armada

By Ozlem Warren on August 23, 2011 in Uncategorised 12

Merhaba!(Greetings),

I have just been back to England, and am still full of memories and photos to share from my homeland, Turkey. I think one is the happiest when surrounded by favorite sights to touch the soul and loved ones – Istanbul sums it up all for me. This is Ask Cafe by the Bosphorus with Aegean colours and great views.

Is there anything more Turkish than a glass of cay (Turkish tea) served at the tulip shaped glass and Simit – savory, sesame coated round pastries that is sold on street stalls all around Istanbul- Add some white cheese and sliced tomatoes by the side, it is the ultimate breakfast for me:) How about the view? Right by the Bosphorus – water strait that divides the city into two continents-, overlooking turquoise water and boats passing by, I can spend the whole day drinking cay there!:)

This is the end of Bosphorus, start of the Sea of Marmara – I love this spot in Karakoy, at the European side, with spectacular view of the Topkapi Palace. Traditional ferries zig zag between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul- a great way to travel within the city.

A group of fishermen fishing at the Sea of Marmara.

Now we are in Old Istanbul; Sultanahmet in Old Istanbul hosts amazing sights like Hagia Sophia – the Church of the Divine Wisdom, completed in 537. Now museum, Hagia Sophia was the largest church in the world prior to St Peter’s in Rome – what a sight.

Right across the Hagia Sophia is the spectacular Blue Mosque with six minarets and beautiful blue Iznik tiles inside. This is the entrance of the Blue Mosque – since it is the holly month of Ramadan at the moment, Blue Mosque is packed with locals as well as tourists.

Some lovely tiles and painting at the interior court at the Blue Mosque.

Hotel Armada at Sultanahmet is my favorite location to stay in Old Istanbul, I have been going back there over 10 years, and each time is like coming home. The friendly staff is there since I knew them, and this charming hotel has spectacular views of Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque at one side, the Sea of Marmara on the other.

The breakfast buffet at the Armada Hotel is to die for, makes me dream about the olives,figs,dried apricot, homemade jam a night before, always:)For more information, please check out www.armadahotel.com.tr

This is the terrace of Armada, overlooking the Blue Mosque. We were there for an Iftar meal as a family. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for a month. Breaking the fast meal is called Iftar meal, and I love the fact that families and friends gather to give thanks and enjoy the meal together. Huge pots of tea is placed at every table, as Turks love tea, cay, and is consumed during as well as after the Iftar meal.

At traditional Iftar meal, sesame coated flat breads, olives, dates, Turkish sausage and pastrami (dried cured stripes of beef, coated with spices), cheese, vegetables cooked in olive oil (like stuffed cabbage leaves) is served. This is followed by soup and meat based dishes. And ends with desserts like baklava or sutlac (flaky pastry sheets soaked in a milky sauce, served with pomegranates)or fruit – quite a feast!

I hope you get to go to the places that touches your soul and reach out to the loved ones. Gorusmek uzere – See you next week for more photos and recipes!