Thursday 16 April 2015

Wednesday wonders



The farmer's market on Wednesday is proving to be a good source of Instagram photos. Last week, organic vegetable shopping was enhanced by a couple dancing the tango between the stalls, this week two ladies were making karabaş macun,   French Lavender paste.   They picked all the flowers off the stalks (which are saved to make tea), then steeped the flowers in boiling water for a couple of minutes. 


The strained flowers were added to pekmez, molasses and boiled until jam consistency was reached and then ground and toasted sesame and walnuts were stirred in.  Allowed to cool and bottled, this blend is marketed as a cure for just about everything but especially migraines. Recent research suggests that fiercely boiled molasses is not as good for us as we thought so I'd be inclined to mix the strained flowers  into raw honey rather than this traditional recipe. 


Another bonus was a stall selling large bunches of wild tulips. It's been many years since I've seen this many in one place so the odd winter weather which wasn't very conducive to human happiness must have been just right for these gorgeous wild flowers.


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18 comments:

  1. Maryhocam16 April 2015 at 12:37

    Thanks for this Annie. I will put it on my list to visit. What will be next do you think?

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  2. Alan16 April 2015 at 17:18

    The wild flowers are a real sadness - so many bulbous plants are being decimated by this sort of plundering. I know it's traditional practice and a source of important income - doesn't help me love urbanites who are buying them.

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    1. BacktoBodrum20 April 2015 at 20:02

      As long as they leave the bulbs, I'm happy to see the blooms. I'm particularly riled by my neighbours digging up all the orchid bulbs in my garden, 100s of beautiful blooms are now reduced to 2 or 3.

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  3. Kath16 April 2015 at 21:29

    And not a danish pastry in sight - I'd be so bad for your health Annie!!

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    1. BacktoBodrum20 April 2015 at 20:03

      I'm resigned to elasticated waists when you come.

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  4. ArtyZen16 April 2015 at 23:53

    Absolutely glorious photos, Annie. What a great market you have there. Axxx

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  5. Jack Scott17 April 2015 at 00:21

    Gorgeous tulips. My favourite spring flower. Now I know why they do so well here - must be the rain!

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    1. BacktoBodrum20 April 2015 at 20:03

      Vey few cultivated tulips in Bodrum this year. All pansies!

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  6. Senior Dogs Abroad17 April 2015 at 04:53

    B to B, Your post makes me even more excited about today's open market on Burgazada. Open markets are a major source of happiness, aren't they? So glad you're blessed with such a authentic and beautiful one.

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    1. BacktoBodrum20 April 2015 at 20:04

      I'd love to visit some of the Istanbul ones.

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  7. Ozlem's Turkish Table17 April 2015 at 18:48

    Gorgeous pictures BB, how I wished to be near to these markets, enjoy for us too, Ozlem xx

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    1. BacktoBodrum20 April 2015 at 20:04

      I'm sure it will be going when you visit in the summer

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  8. Julia18 April 2015 at 10:30

    Oh, the migraine cure is interesting - Barry gets them in bouts occasionally. Love the wild tulips. Sad this year as we don't have any in Fethiye for the first time in a few years...council politics / lack of money, the usual. We've made the most of the mimosa and almond blossom instead. :)

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  9. Kathy20 April 2015 at 10:42

    The tulips are glorious. I think I would buy them rather than the lavender paste. :)

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    1. BacktoBodrum20 April 2015 at 20:05

      In the end I didn't buy either but it was nice to look

      Delete

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