Grrrrrrrrr....

The Lamborghini Murciélago LP640. Need I say more....

A Taste Of Turkey

Hasanpaşa Köftesi

Ingredients (measurements are approximate: serves 2 - 3)

1 egg;
3 tablespoons of butter;
1 large white onion, peeled and grated, or very finely chopped;
450gm low fat mince meat;
6 - 7 medium sized potatoes (peeled)
2 slices of bread;
3 teaspoons of Cumin;
Dry chilli to taste;
3 teaspoons of Black pepper;
1 teaspoon of salt (or to your taste);
Grated cheese suitable for oven baking.

Method

Boil the potatoes until soft, drain water, add butter and puree. Add dry chilli if you so desire;

Put the mince meat into a large bowl. De-crust the bread, tear the inner section into small pieces and put into the bowl containing the meat. Put the bread crusts into a separate bowl of water to soak for 4 – 5 minutes, or until soft. When the crusts are soft, using your hands, squeeze the water out and tear them into small pieces and place into the bowl containing the meat. Add onion, egg, cumin, salt and black pepper. Using your hands, thoroughly mix the ingredients.

Grease a foil covered oven tray. Using your hands, roll a medium sized handful of meat mixture in your hands, then mould into small cups. Place each meat cup on the oven tray, fill with potato puree mixture and then cover the top with cheese.

Place tray in oven and cook on 250 deg. for approx. 20 minutes, or until tops are golden brown. Serve with rice.

Rome Wasn't Built In A Day...

...but Sultan Mehmet II built Rumeli Hisarı (The Rumeli Fortress) on the shore of the Bosphorus Sea in just 4 months, between April and August in 1452. Covering an area of 30000 square meters, Rumeli Hisarı was built on the narrowest part of the Bosphorus Sea to protect the Ottoman Empire from unwelcome visitors.

Arnavutköy, between Ortaköy and Rumeli Hisarı.

Rumeli Hisarı from outside

Looking from Rumeli Hisarı across the Bosphrous Sea
Looking from Rumeli Hisarı across the Bosphrous Sea to Anatolian Turkey

Rumeli Hisarı - The fortress walls

The Princes' Islands

For Easter Sunday ( Paskalya) we went for a day trip to the Princes' Islands, specifically, Büyük Ada (The Big Island) which is situated about 20km southeast of the city, a two hour ferry ride from the European side of Istanbul where we live.

Büyük Ada is one of 9 islands in the Princes' Island Group, 5 of which are populated. Apart from essential services vehicles, the only forms of transport on the island are horse & cart or bicycle. Thankfully we were blessed with perfect weather to make the day even more enjoyable for our round-island cycling trip.

Kınalı Ada (on the way to Büyük Ada)

Architecture (Büyük Ada)

Architecture (Büyük Ada)
Riding rental bikes (Büyük Ada)

Riding rental bikes (Büyük Ada)

Taking In the scenery (Büyük Ada)

Transport on Büyük Ada

Dinner & Show

Last night we had a friend drop in for dinner unexpectedly. After dinner, I thought World War III was breaking out but quickly realized that we were being treated to a fireworks show.