ISPARTA USULU EKMEK

Merhabalar, Turkiye'de butun ekmekler guzel ve her yorenin kendine gore yemekleri oldugu gibi ekmekleri de meshurdur bilirsiniz. Bugun ben yavas metoddan bu ekmegi yaptim ve ayni Isparta ekmegimiz gibi oldu. Bu ekmegin ozelligi, yugurmadan, sadace karistirip, uzun sure bekletiyorsunuz. Ekmege tadi verende uzun surede mayalanmasi.

Ingiltere su an hala serin, onun icin ben 18 saat mayaladim. Turkiye buraya gore sicak tabii ve mayalama 9- 10 veya 12 saat olabilir. Deneyin ve serin bir yerde mayalayin. Gordugunuz gibi kopurur gibi gorunurse olmus demektir. Sizlere hem fincan hemde tarti olculerini veriyorum ama tarti ve olcu kullanmanizi tavsiye ederim mumkunse, cunku fincanla olcu biraz kararlama oluyor ve hamurun sonucunu etkiliyor. Umarim begenirsiniz.

MALZEME

• 3 1/2 cay fincani beyaz ekmek unu ( 1 fincan un = 125 gr )
• 1/2 fincan cavdar unu ( 65 gr )
• 1/2 Turk cay kasigi kuru aktif maya
• 2 veya 3 Turk cay kasigi tuz
• 500 ml ( 2 fincan ) ilik su
• Uzeri icin bugday kepegi.

YAPILISI

1) BIR GUN ONCE, AKSAM :Unlar derin bir tasa olculur ve yarim cay kasigi kuru maya ve tuz ilave ederek karistirilir. Cok ilik su yavas yavas ilave edilir ve hamur karistirilir. ( Baya civik bir hamur olacak )

2) Simdi uzerini ya sitrecle, ya foil le kapatip, mutfaginizin bir kosesinde mayalanmaya birakin. ( Kisin 18-20 saat, yazin kaldiginiz yerin sicakligina gore bir saat ayarlayin, sabah kontrol edin ve kopuklu ise, hamurunuz hazir demektir.

3) Mayalandiktan sonra,hamuru karisitip havasini alin ve unlanmis bir zemine hamuru plastik bir kasikla aktarin. Unlu ellerle hamuru biraz yayin ve 4 defa katlayin. Sepet turu bir tasi hafif yaglayin ve kepegi her tarafina yayin. Hamuru 2 saat daha dinlenmeye birakin. ( Yazin 1 saat ). Hamurun uzerine kepek serpip temiz bir bezle kapatin.

4) Bu arada hamurun hazir olmasina yarim saat kala firina kapakli ve firina dayanikli kabinizi koyun ve 240 C derecede yarim saat hem firini hemde kapakli tencerenizi isitin. ( Tencerenin baya sicak olmasi lazim )

5) Yarim saat sonra hamuru sicak tencereye aktarin ve tencerenin kapagini kapatip ekmegi 35 dakika pisirin. Sonra kapagini alin firinin derecesini 220 C dereceye dusurun. Ekmegi bu sefer kapaksiz 15- 20 dakika daha pisirin ve firndan alin.

6) Iki saat sogumaya birakin. ( Beklemek cok zor oluyor ama, ekmek bu iki saat icinde hala pisiyor onun icin sabirli oluyoruz. )

Afiyet olsun.

NOT : Bulundugunuz yer cok sicaksa buzdolabinda saklayin sonra mayalamaya devam edin.

CHERRY AND FIG SCONES

These scones were colorful and tasty using figs and candied cherries. It was great tea time treat with home made jam and clotted cream.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup self raising flour ( 110 g )
• 1 cup wholemeal self raising flour
• pinch of salt
• 1 heaped tbsp light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup butter ( 75 g )
• 5  dried figs, chopped ( 50 g )
• 30 g candied ( glace ) cherries, chopped
• 1 egg, beaten
• 4 tbsp milk
• extra milk for glazing the scones.

Pre heat the oven and lightly grease a baking tray.

1) Mix flour , sugar and salt. Sieve all three in mixing bowl. Cut the butter into small cubes and rub with your fingertips until you achieve fine bread crumbs. 

2) Stir in the chopped figs and cherries. Mix the egg in. Add milk and mix together to form a soft dough. 

3) Roll the dough on a floured surface, about 2 cm thick. Cut into 8- 10 scones using a 6 cm cutter. Place the scones on the baking tray and brush them with milk.

5) Cook the scones on preheated oven at 220 C, 200 Fan setting for 10 -12 minutes until they are golden brown.

6) Cool them on wire rack. Split and serve them with jam and clotted cream.

ZUCCHINI ( COURGETTE ) FRITTERS WITH CHEESE ( PEYNIRLI MUCVER )

INGREDIENTS

• 2 medium zucchinis (courgettes ) about 250 g
• half a tsp of salt
• 2 heaped tbsp plain flour
• 1 small onion or half a red onion, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp grated Edam cheese or any medium fat cheese(50g)
• 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh dill
• pinch of chili pepper ( optional )
• 1 egg
• Oil for frying.

1) Wash and grate the zucchinis coarsely. Mix with salt and let it stand for 12-15 minutes. Then squeeze out excess liquid. ( I used colander to get rid of all the liquid )

2) Add flour to the zucchini and mix. Add red onion, grated cheese dill, chili powder and egg to the zucchini mixture and mix well until all combined.

3) heat the oil in a non stick frying pan and drop tablespoons of zucchini mixture and flatten slightly. Cook on medium heat until browned lightly on both sides and cooked through.

Makes 10-12 fritters.

Serve with garlic, mint yogurt.

SUGAR FREE CARROT AND BANANA CAKE ( Sekersiz havuc ve muz keki )

 Using the carrots and banana in this recipe, make the texture beautifully moist, at the same time adding natural sweetness.

FOR THE CAKE

• 170 g self raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 level tsp mixed spice
• 200 g carrots, peeled and grated
• 100 g sultanas
• 50 g walnuts or hazelnuts, chopped roughly
• 1 large banana, mashed
• Juice of 1 whole orange
• 120 ml sunflower or olive oil
• 2 eggs beaten

First sift the flour with baking powder and mixed spice. Add the grated carrots, mashed banana, sultanas, walnuts and mix. Add the beaten eggs, oil and orange juice and mix it until well blended. Spoon this mixture into a greased and lined 20 cm cake tin.

Bake at pre-heated oven 180C, 160Fan, 350F for 60 minutes or until the skewer inserted comes out cleanly. Turn the cake out onto a wire rack and let it cool. Rewove the lining paper.

TOPPING

• 2 bananas
• 165 g soft cheese
• 1 tbsp lemon 

Mash one of the bananas and beat in the soft cheese. Spread this mixture on top of the cake. Slice the other banana and toss in the lemon juice to prevent discolouring. Arrange the banana slices round the edge of the cake just before serving.

COOK'S NOTE

I have adopted this cake to microwave and it was good but it is best cooked in conventional oven. I cooked this cake in microwave on full power for 7 minutes and further 2 minutes at 650 Watt.

BRANDY SAUCE

This sauce s so good with Christmas pudding and mince pies.

• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tbsp cornflour
• 2 tbsp caster sugar
• 250 ml milk
• 3 tbsp brandy

Mix cornflour with egg yolks and sugar  in a bowl until smooth. Add the milk gradually and transfer this mixture into a non stick sauce pan. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly. Then add the brandy. Take it off the heat and stir it well. Serve it  straight away or warm with Xmas pudding and  sweet mince pies.