On Food

Firstly, Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I hope you are with family if possible, enjoying the bounty we still enjoy despite the financial crisis, and that you're busy giving thanks for all your many blessings, opportunities, friends, senses, strengths, and dreams.

Now, onto the topic of the day:

I love food. I love the food here. Let me tell you a little bit about what I've been loving recently.

Each morning I get up and peel a cucumber and one or two tomatoes, and I chop them coarsely onto a plate. I sprinkle some salt, add a splash of olive oil, and squeeze some lemon juice on top, and mix well. Onto another plate I set out some slices of a soft, white cheese and a healthy bunch of olives. I sprinkle some lemon onto the olives, too, and sometimes olive oil. Oh, and in the meantime I've put on the electric kettle and the water has boiled. I make two cups of Earl Grey with some honey. Hopefully there's still some fresh bread from last night. That's my and Oğuz's breakfast! It's so amazingly delicious, I have for it the sort of reverence most people reserve for religious martyrs and political heroes. ::shrug:: I'm funny like that. But until you've soaked up a finely balanced mixture of fresh tomato juice, olive oil, and lemon with the crust of a stone-fired loaf, don't laugh!

I have also developed a deep passion for one particular type of olive. It's a style called çizik, made from a green olive with a brownish-purple blush, with a slit cut down one side. They are usually my favorites because they tend to be less bitter and overwhelming than other olives. However, we acquired such a stunning batch recently at our local Makromarket that I can't eat enough of them! They make me groan with joy whilst eating them! We are considering going back and buying two kilos! Their taste is not the least bitter, but pungent and rich like a good red wine, and there are even sweet notes of chocolate when I am rolling one about to extract the pit. It's a little slice of olive heaven!

Another thing I've become thoroughly entranced with lately is finishing off breakfast with a slice or two of bread with butter and honey. Here's the recipe: Delicious fresh bread + delicious fresh butter + delicious fresh honey (be generous, now) = YES! My tongue is so happy, it does a little dance and then I drink a little tea and my day is immeasurably improved. ;)
(Note: The recipe also works well as an afternoon snack or dessert after dinner.)

Our thanksgiving plans had to be put on hold this year, for two reasons: We have yet to buy an oven, and we have yet to figure out where to buy turkey parts. These are easy to solve problems, but since I've come down with a nasty cold we decided to take an easier route. I'll make various side-dishes here at home which do not require an oven, and we will purchase a rotisserie chicken from a local shop. We will figure out the logistics more thoroughly and have a better game plan by Christmas. ::grin::

I am sick, and tired. I'm going to take a nap before I need to start cooking. Again, happy turkey day to you all!