It can't get more organic than this

April 8th, 2010: Day 2 in Malatya, Turkey

My mother-in-law calls me down to the front yard to come pick out the eggs from a nest. Her hen's nest. Inside the room where I though there was only grass and food for her cow. Did I mention she has a cow? That's coming up soon as well.

It tasted good. But now I feel sorry for the hens every time I eat an egg =(

In the land of Apricots

April 7th, 2010: Day 1 in Malatya

Turn over your favorite box of dried apricots, it probably reads "Product of Malatya, Turkey."

That's where we were headed...unfortunately, a month before the apricots would be ready for picking. That's the story of my life, I'm either too early or too late for everything!

Or so I thought. Who would have known young apricots are just as delicious as ripe ones? Especially when dipped in a lick of salt!

Cherry blossoms in my father-in-law's garden.

Missed a flight, caught Bazaar Fever

Catching up from a long break

Tuesday April 6th, 2010:

This morning we missed our flight to Malatya. On our way back we were all feeling so down that there was only one way to lift our spirits: Shopping.

We took a taxi to the local bazaar and found these beauties...

Artichoke hearts as big as my fist, maybe twice the size of my fist floating in huge tubs, they just took my breath away!

After returning from the bazaar, one of my sisters-in-law had prepared a great dinner for us to celebrate our unexpected dekay (lolz). Iza had another great playdate with the cousin she loves most.

See the trend there?

Beginning a new week

Monday April 5, 2010

I'm missing Mr. Oz more and more. However, my mom is here now and it's fun showing her around. We did some shopping in the nearby bazaar and I got Monster a few tops. Of all the tops she picked out a pink one to wear right away and cried hysterically when I put a denim dress on top of it. We had to take several pictures and call her "pretty!!!" for a long time until she finally decided to tolerate the denim.

Camlica Tepesi, Istanbuk

Sunday April 4, 2010

Istanbul Tulip Festival

This will be my first trip to Turkey during spring. I hope to remember more than just the non-stop allergy attacks, nasal drip and chest congestion.

I sent my hubby to Turkish Army, there are you happy now?

After years of (sometimes useless) trips to the Turkish Consulate in NYC for extending his impending doom service in the Turkish Army, my sweet has joined the army. He is currently on his way to Burdur where he'll be for the next 21 days.

My sister-in-law has given me the tip to keep 21 hazelnuts and eat one hazelnut each day till he comes home. Hopefully I won't pop 21 pimples from those hazelnuts, but I like the concept. Very romantic!