TAHIN VE PEKMEZLI KEK

Bugun misafirlere ne yapayim diye dusunurken dolapta tahin ve pekmez gozume carpti. Kuru uzumde ekleyerek bu keki yaptim ve sonucda guzel oldu. Ben 37 x 37 cm capinda buyuk tepside pisirdim ama malzemeri yarilayarak daha kucuk bir kek yapabilirsiniz.

MALZEME

• 4 su bardagi tepeleme un
• 2 paket kabartma tozu
• 1 paket vanilya
• 2 yemek kasigi tarcin
• 1 bardak cekirdeksiz kuru uzum
• 3 yumurta
• 1 bardak pekmez
• 1 bardak seker
• 1 bardak tahin
• 1 bardak sivi yag
• 1 bardak sut
• Uzeri icin hindistan cevizi ve seker tarcin karisimi.

1) Tarcin, vanilya ve kabartma tozunu unla karistirip eleyin. Uzumu de unla karistirin.

2) Mixerde veya elde yumurtalari cirpin. Pekmez, seker, tahin, yag ve sutu ilave ederek biraz daha cirpin.

3) Bu karisimi unlu karisima yavas yavas ilave edin ve kekin hamuru olunca yaglanmis tepsiye aktarin.

4) Uzerine hindistan cevizi, sonra tarcin ve seker karisimi serpip, onceden isitilmis firinda 175C derecede 25-30 dakika pisirin.

5) Pisip soguduktan sonra kesip servis yapin. Afiyet olsun.

KIWI AND BANANA BREAKFAST MUFFINS

This morning I made these muffins for breakfast which was a lovely change from usual breakfast. These will be great as a snack at any time of the day or as a tea time treat. I added no sugar for this recipe because of natural sugars from honey and banana but if you prefer them really sweet, add 2 tbsp brown sugar to the mixture. It was sweet enough for me especially with spread of honey on top before serving. It is my own creation and enjoyed making them. Hope you enjoy too.

Below makes 12 muffins.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups of whole meal flour
• 1 and half  cups of oats
• 2tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 5 tsp of poppy seeds
• 2 large or 3 small bananas, mashed
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 5 tbsp oil
• 5 tbsp clear honey or pekmez
• 2 tbsp tahini paste ( optional )
• 2 kiwis, diced
• extra jam or honey for glazing.
• sprinkle of poppy seeds.

Preheat the oven to 200C, 180 Fan setting.

Prepare the muffin tin with paper cups or lightly grease the bun tins with oil.

1) Sieve the flour with baking powder and salt. Stir in the oats, spice, poppy seeds in a bowl.

2) In a separate bowl, mix beaten eggs, milk, oil, honey, tahini and mashed bananas. Add this mixture into the bowl with dry ingredients.

3) Mix lightly until all the ingredients are combined, then stir in the chopped kiwi fruit.

4) Divide the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 20- 25 minutes. Leave muffins to cool in the tins. Transfer them on to a wire rack to cool completely.

5) Warm jam or honey and spread over muffins. Sprinkle with poppy seeds just before serving.

SIMIT (TURKISH SESAME BAGELS )

SIMITS ( Bagels ) are a very popular snack in Turkey which is lovely to eat at any time of the day and especially for breakfast. Street vendors tour round the housing estates to sell  warm simits first thing in the morning,  straight from the local bakers. Simit sellers even keep slices of cheese and boiled egg along with the simits for those who didn't have time for breakfast before leaving home. You are sure to have a good breakfast on the go with fresh simit, cheese and egg.

This is the first time I made simit and very pleased that they turned out nice. My family's comments were: "they taste just like the ones  we buy in Turkey", which is a great compliment. 

Below makes 10 simits.

INGREDIENTS

• 450 g strong bread flour
• 2 level tsp salt
• 7 g easy bake yeast 
• 250 ml warm water
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp pekmez or molasses
• 1 cup  hot water
• 200 g sesame seeds

METHOD

1) Sift the flour with salt. Add yeast  and mix well. 

2) Mix honey, oil and water in a jug. 

3) Make a well in the centre of the flour and pour the liquid in gradually to make a firm dough. Start kneading and stretching for about 10 minutes. Add more flour if it is too sticky.

4) Shape the dough into a ball and place it into a greased  bowl. Cover with cling film and place it on a warm corner in your kitchen for 2 hours, until the dough doubled in size.

5) After 2 hours, punch down and knead the dough briefly.

6) Divide the dough into 10 equal chunks  then divide each chunk into 2 small balls. Roll each ball into  25-30 cm long log. Then twist two logs together into a plat. Squeeze and seal the ends together with a splash of water. As you make one simit, keep the other chunks of dough covered with a clean tea towel. Repeat with rest of the dough to make 10 simits. Place the simits into the baking tray, cover with tea towel and allow to stand for 1 hour. 

7) When the dough is nearly ready, mix molasses or pekmez with hot water and mix well.

8) Then dip each simit, first in the pekmez and water mixture and then roll the simits all over in the sesame seeds, in a large tray.

9) Place the simits back  in the baking tray lined with grease proof paper. Let the simits rest further 30 minutes before baking.

10) Place 2 cups of water in an oven proof dish and place it at the base of the oven.

11) Cook simits in preheated oven 220 C, 200 Fan setting for 15- 20 minutes.

12) Cool them on wire rack before serving.

MICROWAVE CHRISTMAS PUDDING

Hi all, firstly I must mention that my camera is a big miss since I dropped and broke it and hoping to get a new one of SANTA LOL!!! In the mean time we will make do and get those festive recipes going.

This Christmas pudding is so easy and quick to make in the microwave and it is  as good as conventional pudding. This pudding was cooked  and tested on full power at 650 Watt Microwave.

YOU NEED

• 2 dessert apples, grated
• 150 g bread crumbs
• 100 g raisins
• 100 g sultanas
• 100 g prunes, chopped
• 100 g vegetable suet
• 50 g almonds, chopped
• 50 g candied peel
• 50 g soft brown sugar
• 2 tbsp black treacle or pekmez
• 3 eggs
• 125 ml Guinness
• 1tsp grated nutmeg
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 1/2 tsp gravy browning

Place all pudding ingredients into a bowl and mix. Spoon the mixture into a lightly greased, base-lined 1.25 litre basin. Level the top with a spoon. Cover with cling film and pierce. Cook for 8 minutes on full power in a 650 watt microwave. ( Or adjust your time for lower or higher watt. ) After 8 minutes, leave to cool and remove the cling film. Cover with fresh cling film and foil before storing.

Serve with Brandy Sauce.

BANANA AND BLUEBERRY MUFFINS( SUGARLESS ). SEKERSIZ MUFFIN.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 eggs, whisked
• 175 ml milk
• 50 ml oil
• 75 ml honey
• 75 ml maple syrup or pekmez
• 2 small or 1 large  banana, mashed
• 5- 6 tbsp blueberries
• handful of nuts, chopped ( walnuts or hazelnuts )
• 460 g plain flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• cinnamon and sugar for sprinkling

Beat the eggs, add oil, milk, honey, maple syrup, mashed banana, blue berries and nuts. Sift flour with baking powder and baking soda. Stir into the batter mixture. Mix to bind it. Preheat the oven. Place the batter into 12 muffing cases. Sprinkle the top with cinnamon and sugar mixture and bake in the muffin tins for 15- 20 minutes at the middle shelf at 180 fan, 350F. 

NOTE: If you haven't got maple syrup, you can use honey to replace it.