Who designs the pattern of the biscuits? 😊 It's not a riddle, but a kind of wondering about things, what you see a thousand times. 

Here in Turkey, there are a lot of different kinds of biscuits in the shops and each one has a different pattern and I was thinking (or rather wondering) if there is such a thing as a "biscuit designer"? 😊 I guess there is. Anyway, not only are there lots of different kinds of biscuits but they're pretty cheap too. There's a great selection. There are filled and unfilled biscuits. They are really excellent on their own or with coffee or tea. These are the so-called "bisküvi"-s in turkish. The word is a bit like the English word 'biscuit', so it's not hard to remember.

These biscuits or bisküv-s are great because they are packaged in small packs and can fit even in your pocket when you go out. That way, if you get hungry you don't have to eat out somewhere, you can just take your little biscuit out of your little pocket and eat just a little bit 💥 and you don't feel hungry anymore. It's great, isn't it? Yes, it is! 😊

The world has changed so much and not in a long time. I'm surprised every time that " Simit'-s are slowly becoming "unaffordable". I was talking to a Turkish friend of mine who is studying abroad and he said (and I agree) that in Turkey it's not the prices are high, it's the salaries are low. So 'simit', for example, is becoming a nostalgia product, which means you buy one or two because it's tasty, but just rarely, but ( as I mentioned earlier) it was a "staple food" a few years ago.

What I really enjoy here, that you can find a wide variety of biscuits in bakeries, pastry shops and shops. Some of them are quite easy to make at home. They called "kurabiye" in Turkish. For example, I make apple biscuit at home, which we love and is really very easy to make. Here I am sharing with you the video from what I learned to make this cake:

I really love it, because it doesn't need many ingredients and it's relatively quick to prepare and you can eat it for days because it doesn't harden over time, it softens like a good gingerbread😊 and it's so delicious. I haven't had the chance to test exactly how many days this biscuit  keeps well because it's going to be gone very quickly at home. 

                                                                   (these are made by me 😊)

 TALKING TO YOURSELF 

Some people like to talk out loud to themselves, or sing (even if they have a terrible voice 😊) or hum or whistle when they are alone. They discuss things with themselves or with "others" (they imagine😊 ) Sometimes I do the same. I can honestly say that I have a lot of fun when I do this. First of all I'm fucking funny. Unfortunately.

Now don't take that as immodesty, because I'm not saying that other people think I'm funny, I'm saying that I laugh at myself when I'm performing myself😊 Now that's getting insane 😊)) I do stand ups and laugh myself to death. You won't believe it, but really! 

If you haven't tried this talking out loud to yourself, try it! 

By the way, my husband read somewhere that people who talk to themselves are very intelligent people. Well, I don't know. I'm not very intelligent, but I talk to myself often. And another very very very very dear friend of mine once said that it's normal and that everyone does it (maybe not everyone out loud 😊) 

And if you like reading, there's a very interesting article about it here, where they write positive things about the qualities of people who talk to themselves out loud:

https://artfulparent.com/k-psychology-says-people-who-talk-to-themselves-out-loud-usually-display-these-8-unique-traits/

Coming back to the humour, I'll just tell you that there's a so, so good film series about a British female standup. 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'

 This woman is phenomenal! I love everything about her. The way she dresses, the way she talks, the way she lives...I don't think she's a family woman. But check her out! And who is even more phenomenal than her in the film is her manager Susie Mayerson. She is really funny and I can only repeat myself that this series is very very very very good. Unfortunately there will be no more seasons I think. Otherwise all the characters are very good. The whole movie is very nice, the costumes, the makeup, the venues, everything, everything... So you can't be disappointed! I didn't make it 😊If you don't watch the series (then know that you're missing out a lot 😊) but here's a little summary of what the story is:

"It's the late 1950s and Miriam "Midge" Maisel has everything she has ever wanted -- the perfect husband, two kids and an elegant apartment on New York's Upper West Side. Her seemingly idyllic life takes a surprising turn when she discovers a hidden talent she didn't previously know she had -- stand-up comedy. This revelation changes her life forever as she begins a journey that takes her from her comfortable life on the Upper West Side through the cafes and nightclubs of Greenwich Village as she makes her way through the city's comedy industry on a path that could ultimately lead her to a spot on the "Tonight Show" couch. „ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_marvelous_mrs_maisel

THYME

I would like to write about this interesting plant, which is particularly popular here.

Thyme is not only beautiful, but a very useful little plant. 

In Turkey you can certainly find it in every kitchen. It is used to flavour a wide variety of dishes. The taste reminds me most of oregano. I also use it at home to make a cream(from tomataoe paste with garlic and olive oil) for breakfast which can then be used as a pizza cream too. But we use it to flavour salads, meats and I'm sure many other Turkish dishes that I've never made 😊 But I once ate at a salad in a special restaurant where they cooked according to Hatay cuisine, which was just thyme. Thyme salad 😊 At first I was a bit nervous about it because I thought it would have a very strong taste , but it was surprisingly pleasant.

                            https://www.saklilezzetler.com/2011/10/05/kekik-zahter-salatasi/

Anyway, it is said to be an excellent appetite stimulant, stomachic, antispasmodic and cough suppressant. In bath waters it is fragrant and refreshing.

It also has expectorant and expectorant effects, but its main value is thymol (40%) and carvacrol (15%), which has strong antiseptic and antimicrobial properties (Wikipedia).

"In Turkey, several plant species are identified as "thyme". In particular, those species whose essential oils contains the carvacrol and thymol ."(https://www.hattena.com.tr/zahter-mi-kekik-mi)

The flower is used to make honey.

The stems and leaves are used to make spices, tea and oil.

"A rather strong, bitter-smelling plant. It should not be overused, as it can spoil the flavour of food or the beneficial effects can be intensified and cause illness or sickness. So just like anything else, it should be used in moderation.

It also contains a number of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, selenium, manganese, potassium, magnesium, folic acid, benzoyl peroxide and beta-carotene, as well as vitamins B6, A and C. It contains an essential oil called thymol, which is the main reason for the antibacterial and antiseptic properties of the plant. One of its most important properties is its anti-inflammatory action. This makes it effective in treating colds, for example. It soothes the chest, and strengthens the immune system. " (https://www.hattena.com.tr/zahter-mi-kekik-mi)

I think it's a herb commonly used in Mediterranean countries, but we don't use it as much at home in Hungary, as, for example, paprika, which is used less often here in Turkey. 

In Hungary the most common spices in the kitchens are the paprika and the pepper, while in Turkey among others are the kekik and the mint.