Cruising

today we woke up early
and cruised the Bosphorous

with a simit in one hand

and çay in the other

it was perfect

i love seeing Istanbul
from another angle

Tasty Dinners

On Saturday night I was craving something different. After watching endless cooking shows of late, I thought I would try and be a bit 'Jamie Oliver' and whip up one of his fab perfect roast chicken recipes.

It was so easy and so simple and tasted absolutely yummy. For an easy tasty dinner, give this one a go.




For dessert I was craving one of my sisters amazing pavs that she just seems to whip up on a whim. They too are so delish and the combination of pav, fresh berries and cream is to die for.

It was my first attempt at creating meringue and it wasn't too bad. My sister shared a pav secret afterwards and told me that once you have cooked the meringue you should leave it in the oven until stone cold or even better, over night. I pulled mine out too early, so the middle was a little soft and undercooked. But we managed to pick at the outside on Sunday morning until it was all but finished.

I again used the great book that my friend Katie gave me for the pav, Country Classics.

Here is the recipe.

4 egg whites

pinch of salt

1.5 cups castor sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

2 teaspoons cornflour

1 teaspoon vinegar

whipped cream and fruit or chocolate to decorate

Preheat the oven to 150 degrees. Cover the baking tray with baking paper or foil that has been slightly greased and dusted with cornflour. Beat egg whites and salt until very stiff. Slowly add sugar and keep beating for a minute or two. Fold vanilla essence, cornflour and vinegar. Heap mixture onto the baking tray in a circle about 5-cm high. Bake for 1.5 hours. Take out of the oven, remove paper and place cake on pavlova plate. Decorate with whipped cream and your choice of fruits or grated chocolate peppermint bar.

I had to jig some of the ingredients like vinegar, as there was no white vinegar here that I could fine, I opted for the üzüm sirkesi (grape) type that I had in the pantry. It did the job and didn't flavour the pav badly. I also had run out of vanilla essence so I bought vanilla sugar instead as there is no liquid essence type at the supermarket.

Spring has sprung

I felt like a change of photo this month as Spring continues to show itself more and more each day. It's taking a while to warm up but I can feel it in the air. I can smell it too, especially when I get home in the evening and wonder through the courtyard to our flat. The smell of fresh leaves and grass. My mood improves and I feel happier that the days are getting longer.


The photo above was taken in Nisyros in summer in 2007 when I ventured over there with my sister for a friends very big Greek wedding. It feels like yesterday we were there. The picture brings back happy memories of the summer and being able to spend time with my sister amongst our Greek friends eating delicious meals of spit roasted lamb, copious amounts of fresh yogurt and honey and the most delicious fresh seafood and drinking endless frappes, retsina and Mythos.


This summer I'm not sure where I will go or what I will do. Last August I went home to Melbourne and was shocked by the cold weather and felt I suffered by not getting a much needed vitamin D hit. I think I need to see the sun this year in order to warm my bones, heal my skin and recharge my internal batteries.


Where are you all going this summer?

Two Years

As I come upon my 100th blog post, so too draws closer the 2nd anniversary of my move to Istanbul and my first wedding anniversary which just passed on the 5th of April.

How time flies.

So much has happened in those two years. Lots of laughs, tears, fun, challenges, frustrations, joy, excitement and anxiety. It has also been a time of learning, understanding, acceptance and assimilation. Two weddings, trips to Australia, Greece, France and Singapore. A new job. A new home. A new car. New friends. New family. New language. New ways of life.

This week though I faced the most difficult challenge since being away from home. I suffered a loss. For me, it was huge. It has tested me in ways that I never knew possible. It has made me ask questions of myself. It has made me look at things from a different perspective. It has made me look at my life and my future in a way I never thought I would have to, ever. But most of all it has changed me.

I am so very lucky to have a loving and supportive husband and best friend who has been here next to me hold my hand and wipe my tears and to tell me everything will be ok.

I have a lot to be thankful for.