Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Happy Birthday Ekin!

Good thing that my good friends are born around the same time, I don't have to change the banner for a while. Today it is Ekin's B-day. I wish I was in Paris and got a box of Pierre Herme macaroons for her (and for me too)...sigh****

Pierre Herme's Window: "La tartine gourmande has added a photo to the pool: Paris on rue Bonaparte at Pierre Herme for some macaroonsStory on my blogLa tartine gourmande"

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

women love coffee; coffee loves women

I knew it already:)

women love coffee; coffee loves women: "'a 15-year study published in the american journal of clinical nutrition shows fewer deaths from heart disease or other noncancerous inflammatory diseases for postmenopausal women who reported drinking at least one to three daily cups of coffee."

Monday, May 29, 2006

Happy Birthday Guliz!


Happy Birthday Guliz!
Originally uploaded by Baking Fairy.
I love you! Cupcake from Teacake Bakeshop, lemon with cream cheese frosting...YUM!

"Never look back darling, it distracts from NOW:)

Your sister-and guest!"

Friday, May 26, 2006

American Food Contest

I'm not winning this one. I am Turkish:)

American Food Contest: "It's time for another contest! This time, courtesy of Knopf, Cooking with Amy will be awarding three copies of David Burke's New American Classics. You can read my review of the book here. Only one entry per person, so choose carefully! Remember, you MUST include your email to win and your mailing address must be in the United States (unless you want to pay for shipping). Just choose your answers and post them in the comments section.

The first three people to correctly answer all the questions will win a copy of the book. Good luck!

Gum Mastic Pudding

Finally!!! I've been dying to get this recipe...I can't wait to try it myself...

Gum Mastic Pudding: "After long days of torture, Mr. Who Knows Everything came to his senses and gave me his mother’s glorious gum mastic pudding recipe. I must confess that it did not turn out as good as his mother’s original. I should have listened to him and get a hands on demonstration. But being the impatient food blogger [...]"

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Happiness

One who, while himself seeking happiness,
does not oppress with violence other beings
who also desire happiness,
will find happiness hereafter.

Dhammapada 132

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Prayers and Thoughts

If prayer is an intention that we announce to the universe in order to
create a desired outcome, then our every thought is a prayer. This
includes thoughts of worry as well as of hope. All thoughts are subtle
creative energy. Some thoughts are more focused or repeated more
often, gathering strength. Some are written down or spoken, giving
them even greater power.

Every thought we have is part of a process whereby we cocreate our
experience and our reality with the universe. When we use our creative
energy unconsciously, we create what is commonly known as
self-fulfilling prophecy. In essence, when we worry, we are repeatedly
praying and lending our energy to the creation of something we don't
want.

from Daily OM...

Monday, May 22, 2006

Cupcake for Cupcake!


Graduation cupcake!
Originally uploaded by snappea.

Cupcake LC got her diploma and I got to bake cupcakes with a diploma! It is a chocolate cherry cupcake with cream cheese frosting from Chockylit.

It was really good!

San Francisco


Golden Gate at dusk
Originally uploaded by canbalci.
why I love Istanbul

Friday, May 19, 2006

Istanbul


IMG_1819
Originally uploaded by devletsah.
Why I love San Francisco....

Sink Or Swim


Sink Or Swim
Originally uploaded by aqui-ali.
Beautiful!

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Unbelievable...

Lawyer shoots judges in Turkish court: "ANKARA, Turkey -- At least five judges were wounded when an attorney opened fire in Turkey's top administrative court, according to the state-run Anatolia news agency."

And mom emails me today and tells me our neighbor in Istanbul threw a chair on my dad and kicked him over an argument (they pretty much left us without water with no notice or permission)... Dad ended up in the hospital and he is fine now, but this is ridiculous... Bad bad bad karma....he is coming back as someone's pet if he is lucky next time...this is huge dukka and I wonder how many lives it will take this man to be a real man.... No baking this week....

Monday, May 15, 2006

Cim Bom Bom

We are the champs!!! Galatasaray, my favorite team as well as my entire family got the championship yesterday!

The entire Fenerbahce community (they are the second best team) is in shock; as it was a very close call and most of my friends don't even answer their phones, because they are so upset...

I made my usual vegan chocolate mint cake for Okan a while back and since he is a hard core fan, I am featuring it here one more time...

Cim Bom Bom!!!

Pictures are already on Flickr!

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Happy Mother's Day

My sister made muffins for mom! So cute!

Friday, May 12, 2006

Mother's Day is coming...



I will be baking on Mother's Day. Check out our updated website and online ordering...

Mom gets to enjoy my sister's treats and photos of my stuff. It is damn too far to ship stuff to Turkey. I will be happy to fund any teleportation research with batches and batches of cookies and cakes...

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Raisins, Currants and Sultanas

Know your raisins:) I am going to look for Sultanas for my next batch of Oatmeal cookies!

Raisins, Currants and Sultanas: "If one is to talk about grapes, then the conversation should at least cover those of the dried varieties. Dried grapes have most likely been around for thousands of years, as finding a one on the vine was quite likely. They were also quite popular in ancient Greece and Rome and even in Southern Spain. It was the crusades that brought the dried treats to Northern Europe where they became the staple that we associate them with today. It was the Spaniards who brought the processing of drying grapes to what it now present day California, through their vinyards that came with the missions that dotted the area in the 18th century. As histories go, it's not all that exciting, and it certainly doesn't compare with, say, the history of Salt or wine. But a story is a story, right? We Americans tend to think of raisins as any dried grape, which ia kinda-sorta correct. There are dried grapes which stand outside of the 'raisin' nomenclature, specifically currants and sultanas. But even these names can be misleading in their own pecul"

Blueberry Muffins with Coconut Topping

Best muffins I've ever made so far...I used the recipe from the famous Mendocino Mornings Cookbook. The only addition was the coconut on the top for a little bit of crunch. They were a hit and super easy to make.

I finally got around the trick to make real muffins with tops. It is as simple as filling the pans full, not 3/4. Thanks Lane:)

Here is the link to the recipe. Ask me questions. Hope you are getting ready for the Strawberry event...We have less than a month for the round-up:)

http://www.joshgrin.com/cookbook/blueberry_muffins.htm

My Heart Bleeds


My Heart Bleeds
Originally uploaded by bokchoyboy.
So pretty!

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Happy Tuesday...

: "! * Krystians PHOTOSynthesis * ! has added a photo to the pool: ...what kan I say? I´m full of Love for all this...*To Answer your Questions:except the little Piece of the Peak I´ve framed with the Note, this Kloud was there like that! Therefore I like and upload it - it was real (It is possible to shop Something like that, yet I guess it wouldn´t feel so lively like the Lightpainting above. And it would bore myself, kause you kan do Everything in PS, but not Everybody kan see the Wonders while they happening... I have no Problem with PS Piktures, yet my Play and Challenge is to find the little Wonders and make a Photo. It is also better kause you don´t spent to much Time shopping - and there is more Time to make Piktures mainly... ;O)I´m happy you like it as much as I do, for me it is unbelieveable funny Koincidence!pARt of Moon, Sun & Elements_________________________________©1999-2006 all Rights reserved, Krystian"

Guest Post: Fernando: Greengages

I haven't had any greengages since I moved to San Francisco. I miss it so much...ughghghgh!

Greengages: "For me, summer starts when I start seeing greengages in grocery stores. When I moved to San Francisco, I couldn’t understand why this delicious fruit was not available in grocery stores (and as far as know not so popular in Europe either). Up until 5 minutes ago, I didn’t even know they were called greengages. [...]"

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Jihva for Strawberries-A food blog event (#2)


berries on wood
Originally uploaded by MatthewA.
After the amazing Mango event from Mahanandi, I am excited to announce next months Jihva! Drumrolls please***** It is strawberries... They are so in season right now in San Francisco and Istanbul. So much to do with them, I can't wait to receive your entries...Mom your strawberry jam recipe please!!!

Here are the rules...
1. Prepare a recipe featuring strawberries (dried would do too).
2. Post the recipe on your blog on June 1st.
3. Send me via email (bakingfairy@gmail.com) - the link to your post and a photo of the entry in 75X75pixel size, within a day or two after publishing your post.
4. Please include the title of post and your blog name.
5. I'll post an entry along with you on June 1st and also will do the roundup of all the entries that I received by that week's end.
6. History, nostalgic tales, paintings, and drawings, anything related to strawberries is welcome from all...you don't have to have a blog, just email me...

Photo credit: Matt. If you haven't seen his blog yet, you are missing out...

Cileksever Turk arkadaslarim, siz de yaptiginiz cilekli tarifleri fotograflariyla bana emailleyin, ben de yayinlayayim...

What is Jihvā ?
Jihvā, the Sanskrit word means taste, desire and deep longing. This powerful word also represents tongue and taste buds.

Monday, May 01, 2006

I think my parents ate the entire food supply of Turkey...


mom 029
Originally uploaded by Mochi83.
I had to post this...This is how much my family loves food...I couldn't count the number of dishes and you shouldn't even try, -unless you are a math geek, then you are encourged to count:)

Check out all the pictures...

Sapirt! When you start drooling over food, we say sapirt in Turkish:) Copyright Osman!