GUMULDUR-OZDERE

Summer comes to my city

In early summer one of the numerous beaches

Gumuldur 55 km from Izmir and also 35 km from Kusadasi and Ephesus.  It gas a number of hotels for acommodation. Gumuldur has a long beautiful beach.  On the opposite shore island is Samos from Greece.

Gumuldur is land of citrus. Type of Satsuma Mandarin is particularly famaus. We Turks, consume a lot of citrus. For example we use orange juice in even some dishes.
I will write that dishes in someday.

  facebook.com/izmiraskina;Many photos and
 informations, about  Izmir can be found by in this source.

                                                                                 

IMMORTAL TREE

OLIVE TREE (OLEA EUROPEA)

Olive tree  grows in warm climate countries but in fact  homeland of this tree is Mediterranean.  Avarage life of olive trees are 400-500 years, more than 1000 years old olive trees were found.  Olive is fruit of this long-lived tree and when it is a fresh fruit it's colour is green and then turns colour brown and black.

Olive oil  a lot  importand for us. It is source  of health & beauty, and of the flavor of course. Olive oil contains omega-3, so it is indispensable for a healthy diet  and at the same time are believed that has therapeutic effects against various diseases.

TYPES OF OLIVE OIL

Organic Olive Oil

In other words, ecological olive oil that products from olives that grown no used chemical fertilizer and  pesticides . At the same time olive groves areaway from highways and factories. Oleic acid ratio of this oil is 1%.

Naturel Olive Oil

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Olive oil that not exceeding 1% of oleic acid ratio. Has a dense and ripe fruity flavor.  Recommended that to be eaten raw on  salads or boiled vegetables and dip bread

• Virgin Olive Oil

Olive oil that not exceeding 2% of oleic acid ratio. Recommended that to be eaten on  salads or boiled vegetables.    

  Refined olive Oil

The oil which obtained after the refining process has 0% oleic acid ratio. Prepared for those not accustomed to the taste of olive oil.

Rivieara Olive Oil 

The olive oil which obtained by  mix of a certain amount of refined virgin olive oil and natural olive oil. 

Oleic acid ratio of oil is 1%. This oil is used in cooking and frying.  

COOKING TIPS FOR OLIVE OIL RECIPES

Windy and rainy spring in Izmir. 

Izmir is windy and rainy today. Best of all, drink a cup of tea and watch the rain. So i don't want write any recipe today. Instead of write some of cooking tips for olive oil recipes.

The cooking tips for olive oil recipes:

• Extra Virgin Olive oil is not suitable for cooking. This oil loses its fruity flavor when used in cooking. This oil is suitable for salads.
• Cooked the dishes with a little olive oil. Pour a little olive oil on when the dishes are still hot. Thus, smell and taste of olive oil is more obvious
• To improves the flavor of the dishes, add a teaspoon granulated sugar when cooking olive oil dishes.
• Ingestion of olive oil dishes  warm is not recommended

BULGAR PILAV WITH DRIED TOMATOES

*Bulgar is a kind of cracked wheat.  It is used commonly in Turkey and Middle East.

Ingredients

1 onion (chopped)

2 cups bulgur

4 tbs oil

1 cup dried tomatoes 

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon blackpepper

2 cups hot water

Soak the dried tomatoes  one hour in hot water (or to skip this step, use dried tomatoes in oil ). 

The onion gently brown in 4 tbs oil. Chop the tomatoes and add. Add bulgur  and stir for 4-5 minute in medium heat . Then add 2 cups hot water, salt and black pepper. Close the top cover and simmer until water absorbed.
Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes before serving.

DRIED TOMATOES SALAD

My guests loves this salad.

Ingredients

1 cup dried tomatoes
4 tbs extra virgin  olive oil
1 fresh squezed lemon
5 prunes
10 dried apricots
6 walnuts (crumbled)
2 tbs pomegranate sour souce


Soak the dried tomatoes, prunes and apricots 15 minutes in hot water. Then chop to the little pieces all of them. (If the dried tomatoes are in the oil , soak is not necessary  in the hot water ). Pour all the chopped fruits into a service bowl and add the olive oil. Serve with splinked  walnut and pomegranate sour souce.

Dried Tomatoes in Oil

FAVA

 Igredients

1 cup broad beans
1 big onion thick chopped
1/4 cup dills chopped
1 fresh squezed lemon
4 tbs extra virgin olive oil (2 tbs for fava, 2 tbs for dressing)
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Dressing

1/2 lemon juice
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil

Pour broad beans, onion pieces, 2 tbs olive oil,salt, sugar,  and 3 cups water into a little pot. Simmer gently 25-30 minutes over medium heat until the beans soft. Add 1/2 lemon juice, dill.  Stir with a hand blender to get a smooth mix. Pour the mix into a bowl. Serve  with dressing.

PIYAZ

Ingredients

1 cup beans
1 big onion
4 tbs olive oil
2 tbs vivegar or 1/2 fresh lemon juice
 some parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
5-6 olives

Soak the beans overnight in cold water. Rinse and place in a pot with plenty water. Boiled until the beans are soft. Pour the beans large bowl.Add the oil  still hot and stir gently   and close the top cover.

Slice the onion finely as crescent-shaped. Chop the parsley. When the beans get cold add the onions, salt, pepper, vinegar or lemonjuice and  parsley and stir gently.

Serve in a large bowl with olives