Friday Favourites

This has been such a great week for me. I'm coming up to the weekend not feeling exhausted, or fed up. I feel normal, not like I have a little baby and a three year old, but like I have a family that has been working together for years.

This has been a week of warmer weather, playing in the park after school and lots of chatting with friends, long walks and delicious (healthy) food, a happy baby and a happy three year old, new yoga poses and stress free living. I hope that this feeling continues for a long time.

Here are some great things that I've been reading this week:

Making toast in a gluten-gluten free home at Jenn Cuisine

When I was in Turkey I'd make bagels, but never as good looking as these.

Yum, blueberry muffins from Joy the Baker's new book on
Shutterbean.

Loving the look of this living room.

Some great ideas for when Ela can eat solid food.

A beautiful (free) desktop calendar to download for March.

What do you think about mixing patterns? Have a look here and weigh in.

I'm totally making these...

I've been craving ice cream, this didn't help!

Raising creative kids- here are some suggestions...


That's it for this week! Hope you have a great weekend!

Friday Favourites- Downton Abbey

Isn't ITV's period series Downton Abbey all the rage right now? It shows in Britain in the autumn and then in North America in the winter, making its buzz last for so long, and does it deserve it? In short, yes!

There are so many levels that this series hits the mark on...

Each of the characters is developed so well. No one character gets all the attention, whether it is a member of the family, or the staff, each one has a story, a story that is developed and linked to the other characters. The people of this house are all fundamentally joined together, their character development is based on each others.




Who is my favourite character? I don't know, from 'upstairs,' Sybil. She is a modern lady. She has grown into a woman who knows her own mind, and does what she thinks is right. I love the development of the relationship between her and Branson, how many times was I just screaming at the television for them to just kiss each other! I'm so happy with her decision to 'give it all up' for the man she loves.

My favourite character downstairs must be Daisy. How that girl has grown! She has become so much smarter and confident throughout the two seasons. I respect how she felt about William's death, and cried when she realized how much his father and her needed each other, and how they made a family.

The historical events that are used to map out the time line of the plot are so interesting. Starting with the sinking of the Titanic, moving through the war, to the 1918 influenza, each of these historic events touches Downton Abbey, shaping the story of the residents lives.




The costumes are also fabulous, I love a good hat! And boy does this programme have a lot of great hats! I also like the way the clothes change as the years (on the show) pass. Such beautiful examples of the fashion of the time.

The plot of the programme movies along so beautiful, there is never a dull moment, I am forever suggesting to friends that they should watch this series, in fact, I am often giving them all of the episodes to watch, many of them watch them all at once because they can't stop. I think I've watched the two seasons, and the Christmas special at least four times now...

Have you watched Downton Abbey? What did you think?

If you too are a fan of period films, check out this site, it's no longer being kept up regularly, but it is a great resource.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Friday Favourites- Birds without Wings

As this is my last week in Turkey, I thought I would have my Friday favourite be about one of my favourite books, which happens to be set in Turkey. Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernieres, is truly one of the best books that I have ever read. I recommend it to everyone, and they all seem to love it.

This book is set in a small village, with different groups of people (Turks, Greeks, Armenians, Kurdish, women, men, children, Muslim, Christian, Jewish etc.) at the end of the Ottoman Empire. It tells the story of the last days of the Ottomans and the beginning of the Turkish Republic.

The story is told through a variety of characters' different points of view. It explains to the reader how this time in history was seen through the eyes of the different groups who were experiencing it.

I think that the reason I loved the book was because it was such a clear, honest look into village life in Turkey. It never tried on group better or worse than another, it gave a very balanced account of the times, of people who had once lived together harmoniously, sharing everything, to people who did not feel that way anymore.

This book is a wonderful story about a time in Ottoman history that is often portrayed very harshly. It brings respect and honor to all those involved. I recommend this book to anyone looking to laugh and to cry, to feel and to learn.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Friday Favourites- Top Chef

I will admit, I love reality television, Survivor, Amazing Race, I also love cooking shows, Anna Olson, Jamie Oliver... It only makes sense that I would love Top Chef.

I have been watching it for a number of years now, and I think that the show keeps getting better and better. I love the contestants, the hosts, the challenges and the way that you learn new things about cooking without following something step by step.

The first part of the show is the 'quick fire' challenge. A short, limited challenge that sees the contestants running around and thinking very quick. The second part of the show is the main challenge, and it can involve so many different challenges, ranging from team, to pair, to solo and also different budget ranges.

I also think that I like the show because they cook the way I like to cook, (not super fast), but with what is given. I love looking in the cupboard and making something off the top of my head.

The new season of Top Chef has started, and it is amazing! I love the new group of chefs and the challenges! The last episodes had the chefs making pie!

Top Chef is on Wednesday nights on Bravo, I hope you'll give it a watch, if you don already.

Friday Favourites- Julie and Julia

Now, I have read, My Life in France by Julia Child, and Julie/Julia by Julie Powell, and I thought that the way that these two books were combined into the film was really well done. I loved the way that the plot followed these years in these two women's lives.

I really enjoyed reading My Life in France. As a women who has moved to another country, and lived and accepted the new place as home, I really respected the way that Childs loved and embraced France. It is not easy to come to a new country, learn the language and live there without being negative or constantly comparing it to home, but I felt that she never did this, she seemed very positive of her years in France.

I must confess, the reason I loved this movie, has more to do with the Julia Childs scenes, rather than the Julie Powell. I love cooking, I love Paris (at least I think I'll love Paris) and I love watching people learn to speak French!!

I know I could comment on what a great actress Meryl Streep was in this role, and she was, but the truth is, it was the food and the settings that really drew me to this movie. I loved all of the cooking scenes, basically any of the scenes that had food in it made me happy.

I'm sure that most people of seen this movie, but I would also recommend reading Julia Childs' My Life in France. Bon appetit!

Friday Favourites- Joni Mitchell's Blue Album

I'm not really 'cool' when it comes to music. I don't really follow what's new, and if I happen to know about 'cool' music it is to make my students think that I am cool. However, I do know what I like, and I love Joni Mitchell, especially the album Blue.

Blue is Joni Mitchell's forth album, released in 1971, and said to be a "turning points and pinnacles in 20th-century popular music", by the New York Times. It is also the highest ranking album of a female artist on Rolling Stone Magazines 500 greatest albums of all time.

It is a beautiful group of songs, beautifully written, beautifully sung and artfully simple. I love how open and raw Joni Mitchell sings and writes about what has happened in her life.

These songs are about the daughter she gave up, some of her loves (including another favourite, Leonard Cohen), her travels in Europe, her homes, Canada and California, the fates of loves and the losses in ones life.

Blue is my chill out music, it's my I miss Canada music, it's my I just want to listen to something beautiful music.

Friday Favourites- Philippa Gregory

I have always had a fasination with the British history, specifically the reigns of certain kings and queens. I love reading books about this period, and there is an author, Philippa Gregory, who writes historical fiction set in my favourite period- during the reign of the Tudors.

Gregory wrote six books set during the Tudor Period (The Other Boleyn Girl, The Other Queen, The Virgin's Lover, The Constant Princess, The Boleyn Inheritance and The Other Queen). Each of these books looks at the women in this time period, and shows what happened historically, but through the eyes of these women.

I love reading these books. Gregory gives glimpses into the period without boring the story with too many details. However, there is such a richness to her descriptions that when I am reading the books, I feel like I am being transported back in time, I even have dreams about the characters and the settings.

According to her website, she has started writing a new series, of which I have read the first book. The series, The Cousins' War is about the Plantagenet reign, before the Tudors.

The first book of the series, The White Queen, was very good, and I am lookind forward to her next book in the series.

Have you ever read any of her books?

the Sporkful

I have a favourite podcast that I listen to every week and follow on facebook. It is called, the sporkful.

It is a podcast all about food, but food approached in a different way. It's food lovers talking about food in a way that is both interesting and informative. It is also very funny.

Some of the best podcast have been- sandwich science (the science of how to put a sandwich together), coffee, french fry dips and grilled cheese sandwiches. I've listened to them all and learned and laughed through all of them.

This weeks episode was about baked potatoes- and if you've read my previous post, you know how much I love a Turkish style baked potato. So, when the sporkful asked a question about baked potato toppings on facebook, I felt the need to explain a Turkish kumpir.

Well, they listened, and they mentioned me on the podcast this week! ME! Lori in Turkey! I'm pretty sure I'm the only Lori in Turkey writing about baked potatoes in blogs or on facebook. (If you know of another one, let me know! I'd love to meet her!)

So if you'd like to listen to the baked potato podcast (they mention me near the end), or any of the other Sporkful podcast- here is the link!

I hope that all of you listen to this podcast!

Something I love about Turkey- Kumpir

There is nothing better than a baked potato with the works! and in Turkey, when you ask for the works, you get the WORKS!

A kumpir is a big baked potato that has been mixed with cheese and butter and then topped with a variety of different things. The standard kumpir has got corn, olives, pickles, potato salad ketchup and mayonaise on it.

But who wants the standard? You can do mexican kumpir (with kidney beans, jalopeno peppers, corn, salsa), vegetarian (with assorted veggies), meat (with different salamis and meats) or any combination that you can think up.

I love kumpirs. They are cheap and so yummy. You can get them everywhere in Ankara, they are one kind of Turkish 'fast food.'

When my mom comes to Turkey, she always wants to go and have a kumpir at least once during her visit, she thinks that they are different then a normal baked potato. A kumpir is a meal, and baked potato is a side.

By they way, this isn't my picture, I got it here.

Friday Favourites- To kill a Mockingbird

In honor of its fiftith anniversary, this week I am going to write about one of my favourites, the Puliter Prize classic, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. This book also went on to be the fantastic, Oscar winning movie starring Gregory Peck.

The story centres around the Finch family, Atticus, Jem and Scout, and the people in their small southern town during the Depression. More specifically during a race trail in which the father, Atticus, is defending a black man.

I first read the book when I was in high school, and loved it. I think that it is a story about children learning what the world around them is really like. About stepping out of the world of imagination and into the world of reality. The role that each of the character plays, shows how truly intertwined everyone within a community is.

So, on its fiftith anniversary I am suggesting that you read, or re-read To Kill a Mockingbird.

Friday Favourites- Parenthood

I thought that I would have one day of the week where I would write about something that is a longstanding or current favourite. These favourites will cover anything from books to movies to television programmes, to whatever I decide on that particular Friday. So let's begin, shall we?

Today I thought I would talk about one of my current favourite television programmes- Parenthood.

A few months ago, my sister sent me an email asking me if I had been watching a new show called Parenthood. I hadn't. I live in Turkey. When a show first comes out anywhere else, we don't get it right away, sometimes it takes a few weeks, sometimes it takes months, sometimes they just to seem to make their way across the big ocean. Luckıly, I am now able to watch it. And my sister, who has brilliant taste in just about everything, was right again, Parenthood is a great show!

Parenthood follows the very different lives of the Braverman family's parents, grown children, and their families. It is a complete ensemble cast, and let me tell you, there are no week links in this cast. I know that sometimes when I watch and ensemble cast, there are some story lines that I just don't want to follow, but not here, each one of the story lines is interesting and I love the way they all cross over one another.

I know what you must be thinking, 'sounds like 'Brothers and Sisters.'' And you're right, it does. Now, I have been watching Brothers and Sisters since it started how many years ago, but I prefer Parenthood. I found the story lines much more realistic, and down to earth.

The story lines in Parenthood deal with all kinds of common, modern day issues, such as- problems since the economic crisis, Asperger's Syndrome, growing up, interracial dating, getting older etc. I love how each of the characters has their own issues, but as a family they come together to help work through them all.

It is also the family that make up this show that I am crazy about. Each of the siblings is so different and interesting in their own way that you wonder how they all could have come from the same parents. The children of these siblings are also all very different, and the way they interact with each other has cousins and siblings shows a lot about the family dynamic.

What else can I say? I love this show and look forward to watching it every week (it is on Tuesday nights) and I look forward to talking about it with my sister too! I also love that since it started later in the year, now that everything is winding down, Parenthood is just getting better!



Let me know what you think about Parenthood! I'd love to know if anyone else out there is watching it, or if it is just me and my sister...