Türk Yemeği: Kahvalti

I have mentioned the food here in just about every blog I have written, so I though I would dedicate a few blogs solely to Türk Yemeği(Turkish food.) The food here is so wonderful that I can't seem to ever get enough, I swear my stomach has expanded. I am starting with my favorite meal and the first one of my day, breakfast.

My favorite part about the weekend is that I get to sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast which is always wonderful! Every breakfast varies, depending on the season, region, and just what is in your house. Though there are a few things that are almost always included;

Ekmek(break)is the main staple without which would nullify any Turkish meal. Though I don't eat it at every meal, it is always present, school meals included. I love it at breakfast though, and eat it with everything. There is a wide range of breads but they are always fresh and never come in plastic. I love simit, which is a doughnut shaped bread crunchy on the outside and soft and doughy on the inside and all covered in sesame seeds. I love bread.

Zeytin(Olives) are almost always present, and usually there is a variety. Green olives, black olives, brown olives, etc. My favorite olives are these green little ones that are always soaking in olive oil and red pepper spices.

Peynir(cheese) is another main staple of breakfast, and there is also always at least a few different kinds. At grocery stores the delis always have a huge selection of cheeses so I am always surprised and delighted by new ones. Last Sunday we went to a fruits and veggies market and I picked my favorite cheese. It looks like a braid and is reminds me of string cheese though it is salty and delicious. Also on the table is feta and a couple other kinds.

Yoğurt(yogurt) is present in many Turkish meals and in a variety of different forms; Soup, drinks, pasta sauce and the list goes on and on. For breakfast we eat what is called süzme yoğurt and it is sort of a thick unsweetened yogurt. At my house we put it on top of bread and other things though I am not sure how common it is, some of my friends don't.

Salata(salad)is probably the healthiest thing on the table. My host mom usually includes (depending on what is in season) cucumbers, sweet peppers, tomatoes and is dressed in olive oil and spices. Delicious.

Yumurta(eggs) cooked omelets style and flipped to perfection. They are also usually cooked with olive oil, spices and possibly some sort of veggie or sausage.

Patates(potatos) are not often cooked at my house but I always look forward to them when they are. Same sort of thing, spices and olive oil and though I am not sure exactly how my host mother does it but they are SO good.

Reçel(jam) is often present. My host mom's family makes it with the fruit from the village the lived in, and it is really yummy. I love the cherry jam which is not something I ate a lot of in the states but I see a ton here.

Kaymak ve Bal(kaymak and honey) arguably my favorite thing ever, and for sure on the breakfast table. I remember the first morning I tried this and I couldn't stop eating it. My friend Sahalie and her host family was over, so together we declared that every piece was going to be our last. We may have finally gained enough control to stop eating but more likely is that we ran out of bread. Kaymak is (and this is what I understood in translation) the cream that you get off the top when milk is boiled. It is super thick with the most brilliant creamy taste, though alone alright when you add honey on top it is amazing. When my host mom asks if she should buy it I always hesitate, do I really want to be around that?

Nutella or the Turkish version Çokella is common as another sweet thing to spread on breads.

Fındık Ezmesi (hazelnut butter)is not something we eat in our house but I have had it at friend's houses and it is so good. Just as it's names describes it is like peanut butter but more crunchy and less refined. We get peanut butter as well here but it is not the same as in the states, my mom brought it to me from Rome and Dilşad agreed, she has made me promise to send it when I get home.

As I said there could be a wide array of other things but here is enough to wet your taste buds, and mine as well. Fortunately we have kaymak and bal at this very moment! I will continue writing about the food, as I move on to other meals.