I Love Manti! A Delightful Turkish Dumpling Dish!

 Manti!

A wonderful Turkish ravioli or you can say dumpling dish that I’ve fallen ABSOLUTELY in love with… If you love spice, yogurt and pasta….then this is it!  Made for me by one of my dearest friends;  Anna at her home for dinner!  What a treat!  I was so enamoured about how it is made and it’s a lot of work but so good!

If I attempted to do this, I would be in the kitchen for days..DAYS!!!!  I definitely would need help!    Anna’s had a lot of flair to it; I felt so special …it was wonderful!

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a video by Famous Cuisines Channel and their recipe explaining the detail and the artwork.

Ingredients

• 150 g unsalted butter
• 100 g sucuk, diced (see Note)
• 100 g pickled baby onions, peeled and left whole
• 100 g raw peas
• 2 tbsp. biber salçasi (Turkish red capsicum paste)
• 10 mint leaves, torn
Manti dough

• 250 g ‘00’ flour
• 125 ml (½ cup) water
• 1 egg
• pinch of salt
Filling
• 100 g minced Wagyu
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• pinch of red pul biber (Aleppo pepper)

Garlic yoghurt
• 200 g natural yoghurt
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• pinch of salt

Anna minced mint in her yogurt.

Cook’s notes
Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.
Instructions

Resting time 30 minutes
To make the manti dough, place all the ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with dough hook. Knead on low speed for 3-6 minutes or until a smooth dough is formed. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, to make the filling, combine all the ingredients and refrigerate until required.

To make the garlic yoghurt, combine all the ingredients and refrigerate until required.

To assemble the manti, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until 2 mm-thick, then cut into 1.5 cm squares. Place a tiny amount of filling in the middle of each square, bring up all 4 edges to make a diamond shape, then pinch the edges to seal them shut. Place on a lightly floured tray. (These can be frozen ahead of time if you want to prep them earlier – just place on a baking paper lined tray in a single layer and freeze, then transfer to zip lock bags and freeze for up to 3 months.

Drop the manti, in batches, into a large saucepan of lightly salted boiling water. Cook for 2-4 minutes or until they float to the surface.

While the manti are cooking, melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat until foamy and just starting to turn a nutty brown. Add the pul biber and sucuk and cook until golden, then add the peas and baby pickled cocktail onions.

Combine the biber salçasi in a separate bowl with 2 tablespoons of the cooking water. Add the mixture back into the pan with the simmering manti to help infuse the flavor into the dumpling. As soon as the manti are ready, remove with a slotted spoon, add to the frying pan with 1 cup of the cooking liquid and simmer over high heat for 2 minutes or until the liquid has reduced slightly.

To serve, spoon the manti into shallow bowls, top with torn mint leaves and a dollop of garlic yoghurt and serve immediately.

Note
• Sucuk, pronounced sujuk, is a cured, heavily spiced Turkish beef sausage. Available from Middle Eastern food shops and select butchers.

Enjoy—afiyet olsun … (Bon A petit).  Yes, I’m going to try it!

Letia!

 

A Wonderful Book by Miko Branch with Tiki Branch, Miss Jessie’s * * * Creating A Successful Business from Scratch – Naturally

Always there is a story that compels you and captivates you to know and want to know more.   During a mini-break from it all; I have been indulging in reading again.  The joy of having a hard book in my hand, having my favorite cup of tea and taking the time to engage in each and every word outlined for me to divulge myself and take part of the story being told.

Here I was on a Thursday morning, reading Miss Jessie’s – Creating a Successful Business from Scratch – Naturally by Miko Branch with her late sister Tiki Branch.  Those who are familiar with Miko Branch, co-founder and CEO of Miss Jessie’s; would believe it’s all about the business with her sister, Tiki Branch. No that is not all true; however it is so much more.

It is about finding relatable instances in a story and being open to the story the author is conveying to the reader in mind.  It also can be very therapeutic to the author, finally giving answers to the questions asked of throughout the years.  This book is a beautiful family memoir and dedication to her sister, Tiki Branch.

Miss Jessie’s – Creating a Successful Business from Scratch – Naturally is such a wonderful opportunity for those who are searching for encouragement from a woman who is raising a child, a entrepreneur guidance tool, a how did you do that experiences and also sharing uncomfortable personal experiences with such thought; it is very hard to put this book down of the candid and delightful stories being told.

For myself, I found so many similarities – for I also grew up in New York City where the sisters also did – the borough of Queens; in the area called Hollis.

Miko’s childhood depiction of that time period in the 70’s and 80’s were made very vivid to me! I often found myself laughing out loud while reading in pure enjoyment.

Then you will find the humble and loving experiences with their inspirational grandmother, Miss Jessie making me also understand the importance of it all.  Agreeing that those childhood times and experiences definitely shape your decisions in future.

Those decisions lead to the tenacity and drive of a mere idea for two sisters to establish a successful business in the hair care industry.  The thing that I loved about this book; is the honesty.

Miko Branch writes about the good times and not so good times.  Being vulnerable at times and then getting strength to overcome some pretty tough obstacles in the path to having a successful business.  Even if you are not trying to start up a business, there are so many life lessons shared in the book it can encourage those to get pushing in everyday life.

“But here’s the thing about success – you can never assume it’s going to continue.  An entrepreneur’s life is complex and full of moving parts that include bot the personal and the professional, especially when family is involved.  Just when things seem to be going well; other pieces can fall out of sync.  Working hard every day to expand the bottom line can lead to neglecting your happiness and a healthy life balance.  It can lead to bad decision making.  Ultimately it can be resolved….”

Miss Jessie’s – Creating a Successful Business from Scratch – Naturally is also a guide to become familiar with their products, various terminologies used and helpful key definitions in the business world.

If you looking for a great summer read to get back to taking up reading again, I recommend this book; it’s a page turner.  You won’t be disappointed!  Available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.

 Thank  you  Ms. Miko for sharing, 

Letia

Miss Jessie’s – Creating a Successful Business from Scratch – Naturally is published by Amistad, an Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.  During the week of April 23, 2015, the book made number #10 under the U.S. Best Seller’s List under Non-Fiction.

Miss Jessie’s curly hair products are well-known throughout the hair care industry and are considered the leader in kinks, curly hair and waves. They have been featured in numerous popular publications including O, The Oprah Magazine, Allure, Essence, Lucky, Marie Claire, WWD and Elle, in addition to appearing on NBC’s The Today Show.  www.missjessies.com 

 Photos and book excerpt by Miss Jessie’s, © 2013 Miss Jessie’s, LLC. All Right Reserved.   Photo of book with tea cup; by Letia Mitchell LifeStyle and Design®

Moms Moguls Breakfast – Helping Kelly Rutherford Get Her Children Back!

Being supportive is a very important thing! So let’s take a common denominator, being a mother!  Mothers will help in PTA meetings, making cupcakes to raise money for a charity, learn ice skating although terrified because their little one shows interest.  Mothers multi-task and often than not say no to the many things that our children may need and somehow figure out a way to give them the absolute best.  And while all that is going, still find the opportunity to think about doing things to keep her identity as a woman –  to feel normal.  With all that; support is needed!

l. – r. Lyss Stern, Aliza Licht, Kelly Rutherford, Keri Glassman, Genevieve Gorder, Rachel Blumenthal, Sasha Charnin Morrison and Veronica Webb Del Gatto

So to get just that and to be rejuvenated; I attend yearly the DivaMom’s Moms Mogul Breakfast.  This year’s breakfast was hosted by  DivaMom’s founder; Lyss Stern and Veronica Webb Del Gatto; held at URBO NYC restaurant.  The breakfast is where women gather to get:

• Encouragement
• Support
• Be inspired
• Speak with exceptional and professional women that give advice on everything to find out if you are a AM or PM person to the crazy idea that you can really and truly find time to start your own business.

In it’s 3^rd year; this Moms Mogul Breakfast was very different! All present were asked to give one of the panelists some support this time! There is power in numbers and more so when you can connect!

Kelly Rutherford ©www.heidigreen.com

Let’s say the support needed is to help sign a petition to the Obama Administration under We The People @whitehouse.gov to return Kelly Rutherford’s children back to the United States!   Please do not think this is oh just some Hollywood news, this is not!!!

It has to do with the legal system that has failed her!  It’s about how you as a mother can have your US born children taken from you during a divorce; where the immigration laws set are being twisted and taken out of context.

Then on top of that, your ex-husband is also attempting to foster internationally undermining ways to have you as a mother to have no parental rights….stripped!  This occurs more often than you think.  It has happened also to fathers where a non-US citizen mother has also taken children out of the USA in a custody battle too!  Unfortunately we don’t hear about it, it doesn’t make the news as in this case.

Kelly Rutherford has been enduring her battle for the last six years and it’s so emotional! She is seeking a federal order to allow her young children, who were ordered by a judge to live in France with her ex-husband, to move back to the U.S..

“The children’s appointed counsel said they should remain in the U.S., but the judge sent the children to France solely because the father claimed he could not return to the U.S., even though NO evidence has been produced from any American official stating that the father was EVER denied entry into the U.S.,” the petition states.

During the #MomMogulsBreakfast, I too made a commitment to Kelly.  Keeping a promise to help in any way that I could to help her bring her beautiful children back.  If it’s a trip to Washington D.C.; then it’s a trip to Washington D.C..  However, for now in order to have the Obama Administration to review this case, a petition has been started.  You don’t have to be a mother or father, but just someone who understands that being part of a solution is to protect our children and parental rights.  Bringing attention to it is key – the petition requires a total of 100,000 virtual signatures by May 28th to help Kelly.  Click here to sign.*    Wonderful Update: 05/26/2015 – Kelly Rutherford Custody Battle WIN!

* Please do perform the email verification to make sure your virtual signature is verified (it is very important).

For more information please watch the ET’s interview held during the Moms Moguls Breakfast by ET entertainment correspondent; Nischelle Turner.

 

Nearing the end of day, please know Kelly you have been in my thoughts and prayers throughout this Mother’s Day.  ❤

 

‪#‎Motherhood ‪#‎Community

 Letia

Kelly Rutherford Deane, better known as Kelly Rutherford, is an American actress.  She is known for her television roles as Stephanie “Sam” Whitmore on the NBC daytime soap opera Generations, as Megan Lewis on the Fox primetime soap opera Melrose Place, and as Lily van der Woodsen on The CW series Gossip Girl.