Turkish Cooking Class: December 2009

Last session of Turkish Cooking classes was last Saturday, December 5th. We had a very exciting "Sarma Competition". All participants were very good at making sarma's, however, who could make as many and as beautiful rolls in 5 minutes was the winner.

Janie, the winner of the Sarma Competition with her special gift.

Melanie received "Chef's Special Gift" upon attending all classes this semester.

Fine Bulgur Salad

Cooking Class Completion Certificate Ceremony. Melanie and Tawa President Ipek Isikli.

Janie and Mrs. Isikli

Turkish Pastry

It was a great time, thank you all very much, especially our chef, Nevin and everybody in the cooking class team. We are so grateful for these fantastic classes and recipes. Not to mention the students, it would not have been any good without your presence :)
We will have a semester break and our classes for the Spring semester will start in January.

Hope to see you all in our classes!
Gamze

BOREK (Turkish pastry)
Ingredients
1 package Turkish style triangle phyllo dough
1 cup feta cheese
1 cup finely chopped parsley
½ tablespoon flour
oil

Mash feta cheese and mix with parsley and flour. Put down one teaspoon of feta cheese on the large side of the triangle shaped phyllo dough, fold the two edges inside and roll towards the pointing edge. Deep fry in oil.

KISIR (Fine bulgur salad)
Ingredients
2 cups fine bulgur
2 cups hot water
5 green onions
½ bunch of parsley
1 onion
2 tomatoes
1 cucumber
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon red pepper paste
5 pickled cucumbers
Olive oil
1 lemon
Black pepper, red pepper, salt
Romaine lettuce

Add hot water on the bulgur in a pot, close the lid and let the bulgur absorb the water.
In a separate pot, sauté the onion with olive oil add tomato and red pepper paste. Let the onion cool and add into the bulgur. Add the spices and lemon juice, mix very well. Chop green onion, parsley and add to the mixture. Serve with pickled cucumber and tomatoes.

REVANI (Semolina dessert)
Ingredients
4 eggs
1,5 cups sugar
1 cup yogurt
1 package vanilla
1 package baking powder
1 cup flour
1,5 cup semolina
Syrup
5 cups sugar
5 cups water
few drops of lemon juice

Whisk eggs with sugar and vanilla, add yogurt and continue to whisk. Add flour, semolina and baking powder, mix well and pour onto an oil sprayed tray. Bake at 350F.
Prepare the syrup by boiling water and sugar, add the lemon juice after it reaches the boil and continue to boil for 7-10 minutes. Pour hot syrup on to cooled cake.
Serve with dried coconut flakes.

About TAWA

Turkish American Women Association (TAWA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and stimulating an interest in the colorful and diverse culture of the Turkish community in America. Encouraged by the extreme diversity present in the United States, TAWA was founded in 2003 to represent Turkish culture and to foster cultural interaction between the Turkish and American communities. Utilizing the positive role and effect of women in society and drawing on the feminine values of compassion and understanding, we believe that we can serve as a bridge between the Turkish and American communities. We provide a wide variety of programs and activities ranging from cooking class, Turkish class, picnics, charitable events and community events.