Beef Kibbe Kebabs

A few days ago I watched one programme on BBC Entertainment channel about Turkish cuisine. And of course there were kebabs with hand chopped lamb, lots of meze and fresh vegetables. Mouth-watering at its least! So today it's kebab day at home, however, more Middle-Eastern than Turkish . Kibbe means meatball in Arabic and they are traditionally made with lamb, bulgur and fresh herbs. I decided to use beef as that was the only meat at home. But feel free to try lamb, turkey or even chicken.

What we need:

400gr of ground beef
150ml of fine bulgur
1 teaspoon of paprika
a good pinch of cumin
a good pinch of all spice
2 tbsp of olive oil
1 tbsp of flour
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
some parsley

lavash and simple onion/ parsley salad with lemon for serving

What we have to do:

1. Peel the onion and garlic and grate them with a fine grater. Finely chop the parsley.
2. Put the beef into a bowl, add the spices, olive oil, bulgur, grated onion, garlic, parsley and flour. Mix it well together.
3. Put the meat on metal or wooden skewers. Let it rest in a fridge for 15 minutes.
4. Heat the grill, then brush the kebabs witth olive oil again and put them on the grill for 5-6 minutes. Turn them once.
5. Serve with lavash, simple salad. A spoonful of yogurt would go well as well. Enjoy!

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Receptas Lietuviskai - Jautienos Kibbe Kebabai

Kibbe- reiskia 'kotletai' Arabu kalboje. Tradiciskai sis kebabas gaminamas is smulkiai pjaustytos avienos, bulguro ( apvirtu ir dziovintu kvietiniu kruopu) ir zoleliu. Si karta as gaminau is maltos jautienos. Jei nera galimybiu gauti bulguro, naudokite Lietuvoje lengvai randamas perlines ar kvietines kruopas, kurias as pries dedant apvirciau. Smulkaus bulguro virti nereikia. Beja, visgi dar ir kuskuso kruopos cia puikiai tiktu!

Reikia:
400gr maltos ar kapotos
jautienos
150ml smulkaus bulguro
1 a.s. maltos paprikos
ziupsnelis
kumino ir kvepianciuju pipiru
druskos ir juoduju pipiru
2 v.s. alyvuogiu
aliejaus
1 v.s. miltu
1 tarkuotas svogunas
2 skilteles tarkuoto
cesnako
petrazoliu

Kaip gaminame:

1. Nulupti ir sutarkuoti
smulkia tarka nedideli svoguna ir cesnako skilteles.
2. I dubeni sudeti
jautiena, suberti prieskonius, druska, tarkuotus cesnakus ir svoguna, alieju,
miltus, smulkintas petrazoles. Gerai viska ismaisyti.
3. Suformuoti kebabus,
aplipinant mesa ant mediniu ar metliniu iesmeliu.
4. Aptepti aliejumi ir deti ant ikaitinto griliaus. Kepti 5-6 minutes, viena karta apverciant.
5.Pateikti su lavasu, bei paprastomis svogunu, petrazoliu salotomis su citrinu
sultimis. Valgyti reiketu ant lavaso dedant kebaba, atsargiai istraukiant
iesmeli, tada deti keleta sauktu salotu, apslakstyti citrinos sultimis,
suvinioti i lavasa ir skanauti! Saukstelis naturalaus jogurto cia taip pat nepamaisys! Skanaus!

Almond and oat cookies with chocolate chips

This is the type of cookie you can feel a bit better while eating. It has oats, wholeweat flour, olive oil, nuts and sinful chocolate chips. So grab a glass of milk or tea and enjoy it with me!

What we need:

200gr butter
1/2 glass of white sugar
1 glass of brown sugar
a pinch of salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla sugar
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 1/2 glasses of ground almonds
2 tbsp of olive oil
1 glass of toasted oats ( put some butter into a non-stick pan and toast until light brown)
1 glass of wholeweat flour
2 glasses of white flour
4 tbsp of chocolate chips
some almond flakes ( optional)

What we have to do:

1. Preheat the oven 175C and put some baking paper on a baking tray.
2. Mix butter and sugar until fluffy and then add the eggs. Mix it well.
3. Mix ground almonds with olive oil and put into the butter mixture. Mix it well again.
4. Mix flours, baking powder, vanilla and start adding into the butter mixture.
5. Toast the oats and at the end mix in them together with chocolate chips.
6. Use a tablespoon or ice-cream scoop to shape the cookies sprinkle with some more almond flakes. Then bake for 12 minutes.
7. Let it cool a bit before eating. Enjoy!!!

Receptas lietuviskai - Migdolu ir aviziniu dribsniu sausainiai su sokolado gabaliukais

Tai tokie sausainiai, kuriuos valgant galima gana gerai jaustis ir netgi galvoti, kad maitinates sveikai. O kas pasakys, kad migdolai, nesijoti miltai, aviziniai dribsniai yra nesveika? Tiesiog kepam, o jau tada pilame pieno ar arbatos i stikline ir megaujames!

Ko mums reikia:

200gr sviesto
1 / 2 stiklinės baltojo cukraus
1 stiklinės rudojo cukraus
žiupsnelio druskos
2 kiaušiniai
1 arbatinis šaukštelis vanilinio cukraus
1 arbatinis šaukštelis kepimo miltelių
1 1 / 2 stiklinės maltu migdolu
2 šaukštai alyvuogių aliejaus
1 stiklinės kepintu avižiniu dribsniu (įdėti šiek tiek sviesto į keptuve ir sudejus avizas pakepinti iki šviesiai rudos spalvos)
1 stiklinės nesijotu miltu
2 stiklinės baltųjų miltų
4 šaukštu šokolado traškučiai arba sulauzyto sokolado
dar siek tiek migdolu ploksciu ( nebutina)

Ką darome:

1. Įkaitinkite orkaitę 175C ir i kepimo skarda itiesiame kepimo popieriaus.
2. Sumaišykite sviestą ir cukrų, kol taps purus ir tada sudėti kiaušinis. Gerai išmaišyti.
3. Sumaišykite smulkintus migdolus, alyvuogių alieju ir sudėti į sviesto mišinį. Vel viska gerai ismaisyti.
4. Sumaišykite miltus, kepimo miltelius, vanile ir po truğuti sudeti į sviesto mišinį.
5. Skrudintus avižų dribsnius ir šokolado gabaliukus sudeti pacioje pabaigoje.
6. Naudokite šaukštą formuojant sausainius ir jei norite, apabarstykite migdolų plokstelem. Kepti 12 minučių.
7. Leiskite šiek tiek atvėsti prieš valgant. Skanaus!

Cake roll with apple marmalade

If you are looking for an easy way to enjoy apples so this recipe is for you! It will be even easier if you already have a jar of apples in your cupboard.

What we need:

500ml of apple marmalade

4 eggs

1 glass of sugar

1/2 glass of flour

1/2 glass of starch

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of vanilla sugar

What we have to do:

1. Preheat the oven ( 180C) and put some baking paper on a baking tray.

2. Beat the eggs with sugar for 5 minutes.

3. Mix flour, starch, vanilla and baking powder and add it into the eggs. Mix it well and pour the mixture into the baking tray. Put the tray into the oven for 10 minutes.

4. Put another sheet of baking paper of the table and put baked cake upside down and remove the baking paper from the bottom. Spread the marmalade onto the cake and roll it. Let it cool and then slice and serve. Enjoy!

Receptas lietuviskai:
Ko reikia:
500ml obuolių marmelado4 kiaušinių
1 stiklinės cukraus1 / 2 stiklinės miltų1 / 2 stiklinės krakmolo1 šaukštelio kepimo miltelių1 šaukštelio vanilinio cukraus
Ką reikia daryti:1. Įkaitinkite orkaitę (180C) ir i kepimo skardą itieskite kepimo popieriaus.2. Kiaušinius ir cukru isplakite dubenelyje, apie 5 minutes.3. Sumaišykite miltus, krakmolą, vanile ir kepimo miltelius ir sudėti į kiaušinių palkini. Gerai ismaisykite ir supiltike tesla i kepimo skarda. Dėkite skarda į orkaite10 minučių .4. Kita laksta kepimo popieriaus patieskite ant stalo ir apverskite iskepta biskvito lakta, tada nuimkite kepimo popieriu nuo virsaus. Biskvita aptepkite obuoliu marmaledu, susukite i vyniotini ir leiskite atvesti. Tada jau pjaustykite ir skanaukite! Skanaus!

Asian style leek and chicken stew

It's definitely autumn in here as supermarkets are getting loaded with leeks, cauliflowers, and pumpkins. So it's time to cook seasonal.

What we need:

400gr of chicken breast
400gr of leek
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
5 mushrooms
5 tbsp of soy sauce
2 glasses of water
salt and pepper
lemon and parsley to serve
oil

What we have to do:

1. Cut the meat into small chunks. Preheat a pot or a skillet and add some oil, then put the meat with chopped onion and garlic, and let it fry for 2 minutes. Stir it.
2. Wash and slice mushrooms and leek. Add them into the pot with chicken. Then cut peppers into slices and add into the stew. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Add soy sauce, water and simmer for 10 more minutes.
4. Serve with some asian noodles, a squeeze of lemon juice and some parsley or cilantro. Enjoy!

Tuna fish balls with capers

Recently I've discovered that capers and some type of fish is a perfect combination and that's why when I was making these fish balls, I poured a generous amount of capers! So be adventurous and enjoy great flavours! Lovely!

What we need:

400gr of fresh tuna
1 egg
1 red onion
a small bunch of fresh parsley
4 tbsp of capers
salt and pepper
1 tbsp of breadcrumbs
olive oil
lemon

What we have to do:

1. Remove all the possible bones from the fillet and cut the fish into small pieces. Put the tuna into a bowl.
2. Chop the onion, parsley and put into the bowl with fish.
3. Add the capers, salt and pepper, egg, breadcrumbs and mix it all together.
4. Shape the balls and fry or grill with some olive oil.
5. Serve with your favourite salad or any side dish with a slice of lemon.

Cinnamon rolls for a cool day

When I woke up this morning and looked over the window, a cloudy sky and wind greeted me, that is why I decided to do some warming up with the kitchen oven. It would be such a waste if the oven was open without anything in it! So quickly I made a survey in my facebook and most of my readers voted for cinnamon rolls, cheesecake was close as well!
The rolls turned out really delicious with sticky soft bottom and crunchy top and they are just perfect with late breakfast coffee or afternoon tea... These rolls are definitely to share...

What we need ( made two cake trays - about 20 rolls):

330ml of milk
90ml of canola oil ( or any other without any smell)
90ml sugar
10gr of dry yeast
2teaspoons of vanilla extract
4 1/2 glasses of flour ( 1 glass = 250ml)
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt

for the filling:

100g unsalted butter
1 glass of white sugar
1 glass of brown sugar
4 tbsp of cinnamon

What we have to do:

1. Warm up the milk and when it's lukewarm put the salt, sugar, and yeast. Mix it well and let it stay for 15 minutes.
2. Put oil, baking powder and flour ( 1 glass at a time) into the milk mixture and mix, when you finish adding the flour, the dough should be quite soft but not sticky. Knead it for 5 minutes and thn put in a bowl and let it raise for 1 hour in a warm place.
3. Divide the dough into two pieces and roll each piece into long rectangle.
4. Mix the sugar and cinnamon. Melt the butter.
5. Pour half of the butter on the rolled dough and brush it evenly, then sprinkle generously with cinnamon and sugar mixture.
6. Roll the dough and cut into 3 cm pieces. Brush the cake tin with butter and put the rolls into it, leaving some space between each roll. Let it raise for 15 minutes and bake for 30 minutes in a 190C oven. Let it cool a bit and serve! They are the best when they are still lightly warm! Enjoy!!!

Amazing grilled meatballs

Turkish people love meatballs and any other meal out of ground meat. Personally, I have a little bit of trouble with the meatballs as it's not easy to make them perfect - crispy on the outside and soft and juicy inside. So I'm still looking for a perfect meatball recipe, though my husband says those were the perfect ones but I believe smoke from the grill added a big plus to the flavor. The meatballs turned out very tasty and went so well with some grilled tomatoes, peppers and red cabbage salad and some flat bread. Those were the good days ... and amazing sunsets every evening made every dinner special!

What we need:

250gr ground beef
250gr ground lamb
salt and black pepper
1 teaspoon of paprika
a pinch of red hot pepper
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1 grated onion
3 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon of thyme
1 tbsp of chopped fresh rosemary
2tbsp of olive oil
1 tbsp of bread crumbs

What we have to do:

1. Mix the meat and add the breadcrumbs, olive oil and spices, grate the onion and garlic cloves. Mix well with your hands until everything is combined and shape the meatballs. If you want more Turkish style meatballs make them oval or in a shape of a big date. Put them on a plate and cover with a clingfilm and put them in a fridge for 30 minutes.

2. Preheat the pan or the grill and grill them on each side for 4-5 minutes until they are brown on the outside but still soft and juicy inside.
3. Serve with your favourite salad, rice or noodles or just flat bread and yogurt. I made very simple red cabbage, red onion, sweet corn, cucumber, parsley salad with red wine vinegar and olive oil.

Enjoy!!!

Where not to eat in Bodrum

How come we managed to choose the worst place to have a fish dish in Bodrum, a town with hundreds great sea food restaurants!!!It's all about my eating routine. If you go to a fresh food restaurant, you'll be served appetizers ( adorable!) fish and of course then you'll want some raki or wine and it will take hours to have a small lunch. My hubby was driving, so no raki or wine for him. So we passed stalls of beautiful fresh seafood and landed in a Nordsee fast food restaurant. It looked quite welcoming and wasn't crowded so we rushed to order a bowl of fish soup, fish bagel for my husband, and salad to share.

What could be said about the food - soup tasted like a kind of lentil soup with some fish flakes, salad looked really nice on the top but lettuce leaves were very sad on the bottom as if taken straight out of a plastic bag ( I'm sure it was store bought mix of Mediterranean lettuce) and had no dressing at all. Waiters didn't even bother to recommend a dressing so we had to find some ourselves - some lemon juice and olive oil. Still we ate only shrimps and tomatoes as they were the freshest ingredients in the bowl.

Bagel was ok as what can you expect from a fast food restaurant...

We agreed never to go to the same place again as many Turkish restaurants, even if they look mush simpler, have much more to offer! On the way to our summer house we stopped to have a lovely cup of coffee in the best ice-cream heaven - MADO!!! ( I didn't eat ice-cream that time...)

For dinner we decided to grill some lovely fresh sea bass in our terrace with some great fresh rocket and a bottle of wine from Selçuk.

Hungry in Yalıkavak

Yes, we went on holiday and we were hungry! I could have closed myself in a nice kitchen of a summer house or go to a restaurant. I did cook but you know what happens during the last days in summer houses - you don't want to load the fridge with food, so you just go out. My hubby and I had a lovely stroll around a small town Yalikavak, about 20km from Bodrum, Turkey and remembered reading an article about Kavaklı Köfteçi ( could be translated as Kavaklı, the meatball maker) a small restaurant in the heart of Yalıkavak. So we couldn't just leave it, so went and had a taste of the famous meatballs. They were tasty and fire roasted tomatoes and peppers were even better accompanied with shepherd's salad. The place is very simple but really worth coming if you are a big fan meatballs. Have a look at some photos.

After having a nice dinner we had a walk in Yalıkavak Art Street and went back home to watch Lithuania/Serbia basketball semi-final and Turkey/ the USA final matches.

Roasted pepper salad

Last week we were having a great holiday in Bodrum area, Turkey, and on the way home bought a bag of really great village grown red peppers. That's why this week I'm really enjoying peppers every way and have even put some into my freezer. This type of salad is really common in many parts of Turkey as an appetizer. And I could eat roasted peppers just like that all day long! Really tasty!

What we need:

5-6 peppers ( colorful peppers would look even more beautiful)
2 tbsp of olive oil
2 cloves of garlic
salt
black pepper
a pinch of oregano
a handful of parsley
1/2 lemon juice
2 tbsp of pomegranate vinegar

What we have to do:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 200C. Add some baking paper on a baking tray and put washed peppers. Drizzle with some olive oil and put into the oven top layer for 30 minutes. Turn them over 15 min later. The peppers' skin will get a bit brownish. Take the tray out of the oven and cover the tray with aluminum foil and leave it to steam for 10 min. Then peel off the skin and remove the seeds.
2. In a bowl whisk lemon juice, grated garlic, salt, pepper, pomegranate vinegar, oregano and chopped parsley. Then break pepper into stripes and add into the bowl. Mix it to cover with the dressing.
3. For serving, put the salad onto the serving plate, drizzle some more olive oil add more parsley and serve! Enjoy!

Greek Walnut Cake - Karythopitta

Karythopitta or Karydopita is a walnut cake drenched in a fragrant spice syrup and is often made without any flour, although semolina flour is usually added. It's best served with a generous dollop of Greek yogurt and some strong tea to counteract the sweetness. While searching for a nice Karythopita recipe I came across different variations. Here's one that I loved as well but it's definitely for a crowd.
This version is for 6 people or 4 very hungry ones.

What wee need:

softened butter, for greasing
5 large eggs
2 tbsp of brandy
grated zest and juice of 1 orange
90gr caster sugar
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves
20gr of flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
35gr day-old white breadcrumbs
175gr walnut pieces

for spice syrup:

125gr caster sugar
150ml water
3 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
juice and thinly pared zest of 1 lemon

What we have to do:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 170C. Butter the cake tin with a removable base.
2. In a large bowl, beat together the egg yolks, brandy, orange zest and juice until smooth and creamy.
3. Put the sugar, cinnamon, cloves, flour, baking powder, breadcrumbs and 150gr of the walnuts into a food processor and blitz to fine crumbs. Tip the mixture into a large mixing bowl
4. In a separate clean bowl whisk the egg whites to firm peaks. Fold the egg yolk mixture into the crumb mixture, then carefully fold in the egg whites, using a large metal spoon, until evenly incorporated.
5. Put the cake mixture into the prepared tin and bake in the oven fro 40 min. To test, insert a skewer into the center - if it comes out clean then the cake is done, if not return to the oven for a few more minutes.
6. Make the spice syrup while the cake is in the oven. Put all the ingredients into a small saucepan and stir over a medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 5 minutes. leave to cool completely before straining through a sieve into a jug. Chop or crush the remaining walnuts into small pieces.
7. Once the cake is ready, remove from the oven and prick all over with a thin skewer. Sprinkle over the remaining walnuts, then spoon the cold syrup over the hot cake. Allow to cool before unmoulding and serving. Enjoy!!!

Back from holiday

Just a day ago we cme back from a 2-week holiday in Bodrum area with a short trip to Isparta and Pamukkale! Before adding some great recipes that I tried out during those weeks, here's a collage of some of the meals we had! What a tasty holiday that was!!! Lost of veggies, grilled chicken, roasted lamb, beef kebabs, traditional meatballs, fish and fantastic olives stuffed with garlic! It was just great!