Welcome! I'm glad you're here. AJDE, let’s eat!
Beyond burek - there is a way of life in the home kitchen that can be surprisingly easy and simply delicious. Whether your childhood memories are perfumed with the aroma of paprika in melting butter or Balkan food is a new experience... everyone appreciates a hearty meal made with love.
In my quest to recreate food experiences from my childhood, I started asking for recipes and was often baffled by handfuls, coffee cups, and ladle measurements noted by the well-seasoned cooks I admired. Often, processes required extra steps or large space (think drying homemade egg noodles - 100 eggs worth - or stirring ayvar in a giant pot larger than my entire stove top). That simply wouldn't work in my compact kitchen. So, my quest led me to standard measurements that proved consistent results and shortcuts using convenient kitchen appliances my dear grandmother never had the chance to use when cooking for her family of eleven.
Balkan food is unique and diverse. Layers of influence from Mediterranean coastal cities, lively lakeside provinces and rustic mountain villages are distinctly interwoven with traditions of ancient civilizations. Staple ingredients are simple but the methods elevate each meal to crave-worthy status.
Let's share warmth and comfort in our homes one dish at a time. You'll find fresh inspiration that is practical for the modern home cook.
-Fatimah