JourneyChic

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Foodie Fridays: Hummus November 14, 2008

Filed under: cook — lavoyageuse @ 3:00 am

photo: dominomag.com

With football season in full swing, there’s always a great spread of food to be found somewhere. I’m not really a buffalo wings girl (I prefer boneless) but I am a cheese lover so you’ll always find me near that part of the table. I know “football food” is often about eating what’s bad for you, but I sure don’t mind alternating with a healthy choice between eating a bunch of cheese. Onesuch food is hummus and what better hummus than a homemade one! Below I’ve included recipes for my two favorite kinds: Roasted Garlic and Sun Dried Tomato.

Roasted Garlic Hummus
• 1 can chickpeas/garbanzo beans (15 oz.)
• 2 tablespoons roasted garlic
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano

Ingredients:

Preparation:
In a food processor, process beans, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice and oregano until desired consistency. If hummus is too thick, simply add olive oil in small increments (i/2 teaspoon) until desired consistency.

Hummus can be prepared in advance up to two days if store in airtight container in the refrigerator. To serve, heat in microwave or on stovetop.
Prep Time: 10 minutes

Sun Dried Tomato Hummus
• 1 can garbanzo beans/chickpeas (15 oz.), drained
• 3 tablespoons sun dried tomatoes in oil
• 2 tablespoons roasted garlic
• 2 teaspoons parsley
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Ingredients:

Preparation:
In a food processor, combine all ingredients and process until smooth and creamy. If too thick, add 1 tablespoon water until desired consistency.
Prep Time: 10 minutes

Recipe via: www.about.com

 

Eating out in Istanbul: Kumkapi November 11, 2008

Filed under: Turkey, eat — journeychic @ 3:00 am
english.istanbul.com

photo: english.istanbul.com

When I travel for business I typically have no more than two nights in each city, which doesn’t leave very much time to explore.  At the airport, at the hotel, and then in meetings all day, I look forward to a good meal at night – preferably in an interesting spot.

My first night of my recent two-week overseas excursion was in Istanbul, one of my favorite cities to visit.  I love Turkish food, and am always grateful when my local colleagues take me to a new place. This time it was Kumkapi, a neighborhood I’d often overlooked while whirring by in the taxi on the way from the airport. It’s a little more than halfway from the airport to Taksim Square, in the Eminonou district. 

Kumkapi, which means “sand gate”, is filled with fish restaurants. You know the main dish must be fresh since the neighborhood is right across the street from the huge fish market that’s on the edge of the Marmara Sea. My colleagues told me that while Kumkapi has become more touristy in the past few years, it’s still far less so than other areas.  The neighborhood, they said, used to be populated mostly by gypsies.  Gypsies still go from restaurant to restaurant playing music for tips.

Our early Sunday dinner was at Capari Arif, a restaurant popular with one of Turkey’s major soccer teams. Unfortunately there weren’t any cute soccer players there that night, just our group (hey – I can still look!). Many plates of meze followed by a huge garden salad that looked like a sculpture of veggies and finally our choice of grilled fish fresh from the sea. I wish I’d been less jet-lagged and had more energy to explore after our meal. Oh well! Another time.

Get there:
Capari Arif
Capariz Sok No 47-49
ph: (0212) 517 22 71

Rating: Fair. Overall everything was tasty, but my fish was a bit dry and service was slooooow even though we were the only group there.