Author: Amanda

Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Cilantro Slaw

- Amanda

To say I love my Instant Pot is an understatement. It really does come in so handy for me living here in Istanbul to make anything from a few “cans” worth of beans for easy burritos, chickpeas for hummus, or almost-instant succulent, pull-apartable (that’s a word right?) chicken like this BBQ chicken. Considering I have to pull out a 15 pound converter each time I want to use my Instant Pot that I schlepped from the states with American voltage is a small price to pay for convenience. While this post may be the first Instant Pot one yet, I assure you more are coming as it has been busy at work. It takes a few times to figure out the kinks with each recipe, but so far no unsalvageable disasters. Just keeping my fingers crossed it continues working as well as it has been with the converter!

Now for these Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Cilantro Slaw. They truly made for a perfect almost-end-of-summer dinner. In fact, when my 6-year-old, who happens to have an incredible nose for foods, walked in the door from school after I had just opened the lid to the Instant Pot, his exact words were “what is that smell that smells like something amazing?” And when I told him it was BBQ chicken (the same I’ve made before,) he hugged me and said “Oh thank you, mom!” I can’t make these moment’s up, but I can sure savor every last one of them and document it right here for safe-keeping. You know, those moments when it feels like we’ve actually got something right, the ones that maybe don’t happen all that often some days?

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Late Summer Plum Crisp

- Amanda

Summer’s coming to an end and kids are either back in school or getting ready to start. The heat is still going strong though and that remains true for some of summer’s best produce too. I have been on the lookout for some juicy purple plums like the one’s I’ve had recently on a friend’s boat. And just when I thought they were done for the year here in Istanbul, I spotted some at this week’s organic bazaar. I had already purchased some of the smaller, Black Sea plums with the yellow-ish green flesh but when I saw the bigger ones with the red interior, I grabbed a few and figured I could combine them for this Late Summer Plum Crisp. The result was a beautiful crimson, bubbly concoction of sweet and tart with a crunchy topping.

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Summer Cherry & Pistachio Cake

- Amanda

This week we are celebrating the Ramadan Bayram here in Istanbul, also known as Eid al-Fitr. The holiday marks the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, when practicing Muslims fast from dusk to dawn. At the end of the month there are 3 days of celebration which often turn into longer as most combine it with the weekend before or after or even both. Many people spend the days visiting family and friends and sharing meals together. It is also referred to as the holiday of sweets, Seker Bayrami, as it’s tradition to offer candy and other treats to guests, especially children. The markets have been stocked with giant bins of colorfully wrapped sweets in preparation for this. My husband says this was the most exciting part of the holiday for him growing up and how the anticipation would build up as the holiday neared and he knew everyone would be handing out “seker.”

This is only our second Eid living here in Istanbul and I’m still learning some of the traditions and customs. That includes feeling comfortable enough to cook or bake something to share that my in-laws might actually eat. My “yabanci” (foreign) food can sometimes be a bit too yabanci for their tastes and a lot of of the ingredients I use aren’t so common in the traditional Turkish dishes they are used to. But I managed to make a few things this week that I think were actually a hit. The first I’ll share with you is this Summer Cherry Cake because it’s just too easy and too delicious and I’d feel bad keeping it to myself.

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Banana Zucchini Muffins with Chocolate Chips

- Amanda

It’s been a little while since I last posted, but the Treat Life kitchen has been plenty busy. I’ve had some cake and cookie orders and a couple baking classes I taught. You can check out some of the goodies over on my instagram page. Keeping up with new and creative recipes for my family is a bit of a challenge during busy weeks like the past few, but one thing we have made several times because my kids love them and they are such a cinch to throw together is these Banana Zucchini Muffins with Chocolate Chips.

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Istanbul Tulip Festival (Istanbul Lale Festivali)

- Amanda 2 Comments

Every year during the month of April, Istanbul is decorated with millions of colorful tulips throughout the city’s parks, along sidewalks and most other public spaces where there’s at least a tiny amount of soil. It really is an amazing welcome to Spring. This year is no exception. The city is in full bloom and we’re even starting to have some decent weather to match.

Some may associate the tulip with the Netherlands but it is actually said to have originally grown on the Asian steppes and first commercially cultivated in Turkey during the Ottoman Empire. There is even a time period called Lale Devri or The Tulip Era. The name tulip (Tulipa) comes from the Turkish word tulbent, or turban, because of it’s distinct shape. The flower is so symbolic here you can see it everywhere from tiles, ceramics, fabrics, and even it’s shape landscaped on the hills along the city’s highways.

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