Nick cleaning the pool this morning
The weather this week has been pretty crap, unusually crap, with mainly cloudy days and some torrential downpours. You can’t help feeling sorry for your guests when it rains and when the guests we had at the early part of the week returned from a day out a Pammukale drenched and freezing you’ll do anything to cheer them up which is how I found myself looking up fillipino recipes at short notice.
April can be a bit iffy weather wise but this year it is particularly rotten right across the Med and even Spain had the Semana Santa celebrations rained off. Hopefully it will warm up quickly now as my beloved daughter arrives next week for a visit and if it rains I will be held personally responsible!
On the markets the first new potatoes have appeared and as small veg is scorned by the frugal Turkish housewife the tiny sweet waxy new potatoes are a bargain compared to their more well grown brothers. Nick picked up three kilos yesterday and they have all been used already, they taste amazing. It was however the only thing he bought at the market as he went to Kusadasi Friday market as he was in town early and horrified by the prices, which were twice that of Selcuk, he returned grumpy and said he would go to Selcuk today as he wasn’t paying 2.5tl for garlic and 35tl a kilo for minced beef! The savings at Selcuk will more than make up for the extra petrol.
Trees loaded with blossom
Nick’s allegedly blue rose has produced a bud and is being scrutinised daily to see if it will indeed be blue, the jury is still out on that one and Nick is hedging his bets by insisting that he now can’t remember which one is supposed to be blue.
Today the sun is back, the sky is a rich royal blue and the rain is gone. The trees throughout the valley are weighed down with blossom, the poppies are blooming with abandon in the hedgerows, the guests are sleeping late, breakfast is ready and it looks like finally summer is on its way to Kirazli. Let the sun shine on, please God let the sun shine next on.
Oh, what a week for you, Karen 🙁 Sympathy for the sore eye. It really is uncomfortable. The weather has been unseasonable in so many places – very hot and dry in the UK and northern Europe, cold and wet around the Med, while North America is still getting snow in places and those dreadful storms. All very topsy-turvey. Fingers crossed for good weather for your daughter.
Hope your eye problem disappears soon. As always, loved reading your blog.
Poor you! I once rubbed my eye after slicing a chillie. I thought I would die in agony. It wasn’t my London life friend, Philip’s KFC recipe by any chance? He published it on his website http://whatsforteatonightdear.wordpress.com/ recently and Liam cooked it last week. It was delish! The weather forecast isn’t bad so fingers crossed. See you in very soon. Be afraid!
Who made you prepare food???? You’re just not made for things like that. Liam appears to be turning into quite the Roux, we’ll share the kitchen when you come and stay. K xxxx
Oh I hope the eye gets better soon Karen. I heard the weather has continued to be crappy. It’s most unusual for me to visit England and have better weather than at home!
Weather is really iffy at the moment, most unusual, more showers again yesterday and tomorrow looks like more rain, I’ve just got my fingers crossed for the rest of the week. The eye is better, thankfully, it just dribbled fitfully for a few days and stings a bit. Hope you’re having lots of cuddles with new grandson. K xxxx
Ouch ! I sure hope your eye is feeling better. I’ve just recently stumbled onto your blog. Love it !
If you decide to give the fried chicken another whirl, try this….
Soak your chicken parts (or chicken breasts cut into large-ish chunks) in ayran for a few hours or overnight. It will plump them up just like buttermilk would. Skipping the egg, let excess ayran drip off and toss directly in your flour-spice mixture (a few at a time to avoid clumping).
The chunks are nice because they take less time in the oil. Fry in batches in sufficient oil for them to float a bit for a few minutes. Cut through one to test for near “done-ness”. Set aside to drain while frying the rest of the lot.
Once you’re through, put them all back in the oil just a bit to finish them off. Don’t worry if they look a bit pale in the oil, they’ll darken up a bit when you take them out.
Bon Appetit !
Best wishes from Ankara, Joseph
The eye is a lot better thanks. That’s a really cool idea with the ayran, I forget about ayran because I don’t drink it but I could use it a lot instead of buttermilk which I haven’t been able to make because even when I add lemon juice to milk it doesn’t work properly so thanks for the tip and thanks for reading 🙂 K xxx