April 26: Walnut Cookie (Cevizli Kurabiye)

Prep. Time: 15 min 
Cook Time: 30 min.
Total Time: 45 min.
20-25 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter
• 1 cup powder sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 4 cups flour
• 1 cup walnuts (finely chopped)
• Vanilla powder

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, powder sugar, and baking powder. Add the egg, vanilla, and butter; mix until dough forms. Stir in the chopped walnuts. 
3. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges are golden brown. 
5. Sprinkle 3 tbsp powder sugar over them.
6. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

April 26: Celery Root with Orange

Prep. Time: 20 min 
Cook Time: -
Total Time: 20 min.
8-10 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs plain yogurt
• 2 lbs garlic (finely crushed)
• 1/2 cup walnuts (coarsely crushed)
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 celery root (peeled and shredded)
• Salt & black pepper
• 8-10 orange skin 

1. Mix all ingredients in a large service bowl.
2. Cut the oranges in half. Scoop the inside of the oranges and fill them with the mixture.
3. Serve cold, enjoy.

April 26: Vegetarian Bulgur Pilav

Prep. Time: 15 min 
Cook Time: 25 min.
Total Time: 40 min.
8 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup medium coarse bulgur
• 4  medium tomatoes 
• 5-6 mini bell peppers
• 1 medium onion
• 1 garlic clove
• 4 green onions (chopped in 1 inch long)
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 1 cup boiled water
• Salt

1. Saute onions with vegetable oil a few minutes in a deep skillet.
2. In the mean time place tomatoes, mini bell paper and garlic in a food processor and finely chopped.
3. Pour chopped vegetables in skillet, cook until tomatoes fully cooked.
4. Add bulgur, butter, salt and boiled oil, cook until bulgur is tender.
5. Add chopped green onions, cover the skillet, et it stay 5 min and enjoy!

April 26: Basic Turkish Stew

Prep. Time: 15 min 
Cook Time: 3 to 4 hr.
Total Time: 3 hr.
10-12 servings

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs. beef chunk cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 lbs. frozen baby peas or green peas
• 1 lbs. potatoes (chopped into no larger than 1 inch cubes)
• 1 lbs.carrot (chopped into no larger than 1 inch cubes)
• 1 medium size onion (chopped)
• 2-3 garlic cloves (crushed)
• 1 lbs. tomatoes (chopped)
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 tbsp. red pepper paste (optional)
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1/2 tsp black peppercorns
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 1/2 tsp various steak seasoning
• Salt

1. Place meat in a large heavy pot, add oil, peppercorns and garlic. In a small bowl mix together the salt, pepper, cumin and steak seasoning; pour over meat, and stir to coat meat with spice mixture and oil. 
2. Cover, and cook on low heat for about 2-3 hours until meat is tender and you can split a meat cube with a fork.
3. Add chopped onions on top of already cooked meat, stir occasionally and sauté  until onions are tender.
4. Add tomato and pepper paste, sauté all together. Add vegetables and cook 20 more minutes. Bon appetite!