Sometimes I like to talk. Alot. I have to hold myself back from yapping the other person to death. Of course, there are other times where I love to embrace the silence. A nice book, an evening walk, or maybe even a weekend brunch filled with brown sugar and cinnamon- in the form of these [...]

Mediterranean cultures are full of stuffed foods. Whether it be tomatoes, eggplants, bread, or grape leaves! With the abundance of grapevines in the warm climate, fresh grape leaves are way easier to find than in the U.S. However, pickled grape leaves can be easily found in major supermarkets and Middle Eastern markets. Turkish cuisine has [...]

I miss Istanbul. I miss the crazy bus drivers, the open bazaars, and the amazing street food. I miss the sweets- Turkish delight, and authentic baklava. Then again, sometimes you have to improvise. Turkish baklava is traditionally made with pistachios. That can get expensive, so a mix of almonds, cashews or walnuts are also delicious. [...]

Happy update. I will be in Istanbul for the next 2 weeks, be prepared for oodles of yummy food travel pics! Or maybe I might be too busy sampling all the Turkish delight, baklava and olives! Yum. Until then, here’s a photo of my Pompom to hold you over

Cornbread is means something different to everyone. Southern and Northern parts of the U.S. have their own versions, as well as other variations including savory, hot, and almost muffin-like. To me, the best cornbread should be sweet but not cloyingly so, have a sticky top layer, and be moist, but not gummy. This recipe is [...]

Honey is amazing, especially if you find the good stuff. Personally, I get tired of the honey bear tube of sugar syrup that they sell at the grocery store. But not so long ago, we had the good fortune to meet a honey grower right here in Orange County. Their honey is the real stuff. [...]

Weekends mean brunch. A good Turkish brunch always involves bread. And also cheese, sometimes three kinds. This bread combines a rich yeast bread with melty mozzarella topping. Now that I think about it, these would be stellar with a nice stew for dinner. Turkish Yeast Bread 2 cups milk 250 g margarine 1 tsp sugar [...]

My first pound cake was from the freezer aisle. Seriously. Yay for Sara Lee. However, I quickly was barred from having frozen prepared foods from my preservatives-conscious mother, and since she didn’t bake, I was not to have pound cake until years later when I attempted to bake them at home. Which was, of course, [...]

I’m a very literal person. When I first heard “coffeecake”, I thought a cup of joe was poured into the cake batter. How silly of me. But since this cake is so delicious, I forgot the surprise quickly. But, a good coffeecake recipe is hard to find. A perfect cake must have a delicious streusel, [...]

As much as Asian countries’ cuisine is based on rice products, food culture in Turkey is largely based on bread. So much so that without bread, according to my dear hubby, a family meal cannot commence. Rather than eat bread-less, a member of the family will be sent immediately to procure some. In fact, most [...]