Out of Istanbul

We spent the week holiday of Bayram in Ankara and Konya. Most of Kenan's family (grandparents, Aunties, Uncles and counsins) still live in the village his mother was born, Sarayönü.

Village life is great. Fresh everything straight from the garden including eggs and chickens, mulberries, mint, granny smith apples, fresh ripe juicy tomatoes, massive pumpkins, long skinny eggplants, parsley, leek, cucumbers, deep purple shining plums, long green string beans, huge bright green quince, apricots and more. Inside the house there was more treats. Dried eggplants and peppers ready to be softened and stuffed (for dolma), sun dried tomatoes, bulgar, rice and lentils and dried beans from the fields, home dried mint for cooking, handmade makarna (macaroni), homemade salça (tomato paste) and pickled cucumbers, peppers and cherry tomatoes and apricot jam.

My cupboards are now neatly stocked with much of the dry ingredients and the fridge with loads of apples, salça, homemade butter, jam and a farm yard turkey.

Life in the village is much more slower than city life. But, the air is clean and so is the food and it's a nice escape from the real world hussle and bussle of Istanbul. It was nice to see the smiles on everyones faces when we arrived and the enjoyment we all shared together for those few days.