Semolina Halva/ Irmik helvasi

Bowl tells it all, I love semolina halva!

Definitely one of the most famous desserts in Turkish Cuisine is Halva
The one with flour is more common but semolina version, especially when served hot with icecream is among the favorites...
Easy to make too..

Ingredients
2 cups of Turkish semolina (other types of semolinas have different texture so your dessert mayfail)
12 tb spoons of unsalted butter (1.5 sticks)
1 tb spoon pinenuts

1.5 cups milk
2 cups water
1.2 cups sugar


How to make Semolina Halva
Melt the butter in a pan, add the pine nuts and semolina.
Stir conitnously until it turns light brown. Be craful, dont overcook!
Meanwhile mix water,milk, sugar and warm till sugar melts.
After smelona is ready add mil mixture, mix and cover, and turn the heat off.
 Let it simmer for 10 minutes.
You an enjoy immediately, or serve later.

Picture and recipe from Selva, a well known semolina brand

Notes:

I did not have pine nuts so used coconut.

Cinnamon can be used as topping.

You can try other nuts ,too but pine nuts go best with semolina halva.
Afiyet olsun!

Home-made chocolate pudding (from scratch)

Home-made chocolate pudding (from scratch) 

Easy to make and so delicious, trust me! No need to buy those instant mixes that are full of additives, artifial ingredients and (to me) artifical tastes.

Ingredients

Takes 10 minutes to cook, serves 4-6

1/2 half corn starch

1 cup sugar

4 cups of milk

2 table spoons of dark cocoa ( I use special dark Hershey's cocoa)

How to prepare the chocolate pudding:

Put the dry ingredients in  saucepan over medium heat,

add milk slowly, stirring continuously.

After it comes to full boil, lower the hear, let it simmer for 2 minutes. Yes, still keep stirring!

I like toppping with coconut flakes or nuts, so top with your favorite as fruit, strawberry, banana, toffe bites.

Afiyet olsun!

Yogurt dessert (Yogurt cake with syrup)

Yoghurt Cake with Syrup/ Yoghurt Dessert 

3 eggs

1 cup yoghurt

2 cups confectioner’s sugar

3 table spoons melted butter

2 cups flour

1 table spoon baking powder

Lemon zest (optional )

Syrup

3 cups sugar

3 cups water

1 table spoon lemon juice

How to prepare:

First prepare the syrup and set aside.The cake should be hot, syrup should be cold fro best results.

Beat the yoghurt and confectioner's sugar. 

Add eggs, butter and 

Sift flour and baking powder, add to the mixture.

bake at 360F until the top is golden.

Cut into slices, diamond or square or heath shaped :), add syrup let is absorb all. Covering with a tray would be helpful.

Let it cool in the refrigerator before serving.

Top with coconut flakes or  nuts as desired.

Enjoy! Afiyet olsun!

This picture was taken at the competition

Notes:

I made this dessert for the International Potluck Competition at Pitt last year. It was the winner of dessert category! Everyone enjoyed the taste as well as the hearty , beautiful look ;)

Ramadan is just a week away! This dessert is ideal for iftar dinners, for the family or for the guests!

vegan cake

upon request of Rachel, here is  a really easy recipe for a healthy cake.


no eggs, no dairy, totally vegan AND no mixing as in normal cakes!


you can add cinnamon, nuts ,cconut etc for different flavors and bake as cupcakes or even use for a vegan birthday cake as well,
enjoy!


ingredients:
1 + 1 / 2 cups flour
Slightly more than 1 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda 
1 pinch of salt
1 cup cold water
1 / 4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 tsp vanilla 

how to make the vegan cake???
Mix sifted flour, sugar, cocoa, soda, salt and vanilla and stir in by a wide bowl.
Add the cold water, put the vegetable oil and vinegar in the middle of the flour mixture, Mix with a wooden spoon or wire whisk until blended totally.
Pour mixture into the cake pan ,bake in a preheated 350F oven until  toothpick test tells you it is ready to go!

Homemade Turkish baklava (from filo-dough)

 The easiest baklava ever!

Takes 10 minutes to prepare, no kidding!

Recipe , coming soon!

1 packet of (1 lb ) filo dough

1.5 sticks of butter, unsalted, melted

1.5 cups of shredded walnuts (pistachios or hazelnuts)

Syrup

1.5 cups sugar

1.5 cups of water

1/2 lemon juice

Cheesepudding

Cheesepudding
(a taste similar to cheesecake but prepared on stove, no baking so good for summer. Do overheating your kitchen! )


Ingredients
1 cup of sugar
4 cups of milk( I use whole milk)
4 spoons of flour 
1 package of cream cheese
Caramel topping


2 pie crusts or
9*13 inch homemade cheesecake crust
(can use recipe here )


How to prepare:

• Put sugar, flour in a saucepan and add milk slowly on medium heat.
• Stir occasionally to prevent sticking at the bottom.
• Heat 5 minutes more after it comes to boil. Turn heat off.
• Add cream cheese and beat (with hand whisker or electrical mixer, preferentially)
• Fill the pie crusts with milky pudding and after it cools down chill in the fridge overnight or 3-4 hours at leat.
• Caramel topping is the best but you can use your favorite topping as well.

Afiyet olsun!


Homemade cheesecake / pie crust
Ingredients:

1/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg, beaten

Directions:

 Combine all ingredients. Spread evenly on the bottom and sides of the pan. Prick all over with a fork, then bake 15 minutes at 400F. Allow to cool.