Exploring Turkish coffee culture

Visiting a new country often means embracing its traditions, and food and drink are central to this experience in many cultures worldwide. Turkey’s coffee culture is a major draw for tourists. Though modern conveniences like flavorful coffee pods show how the love of coffee continues to evolve globally, the Turkish experience is uniquely immersive. There are a whole host of traditions that surround the drink itself. Understanding these customs adds a deeper appreciation for this vital aspect of Turkish life.

The origins

Turkish coffee dates back to the 16th century, with its roots in the Ottoman Empire. It’s said that the Turkish Governor of Yemen first introduced it to the country’s elite.

‘Kahvehane’, or coffeehouses, became key social hubs during the Ottoman Empire, though authorities often shut them down during times of unrest to curb gatherings. Fortunately, coffeehouses remain a large part of socialising in everyday life.

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Autumn Cupcake Class with Sweet Designs by Jennie

Amelia and I had such a good time at our last cupcake class with Sweet Designs by Jennie, that she’s been eagerly waiting for the next one! When Sweet Designs by Jennie released her Autumn Cupcake Class, I booked it up instantly. Amelia and I both very much enjoy baking and cooking together, so getting the chance to decorate six beautiful cupcakes each, as an afternoon on our own, just makes sense for our household!

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All American Dinner at Zak’s Yankee Diner

It’s become a bit of a tradition to crash Dann’s Mother’s holiday in Waxham Sands each summer. She has a tradition of caravanning in Waxham Sands Holiday Park, but as we aren’t really a caravan family, Dann, our kids and I normally stay somewhere nearby. This year, that was extremely close to Zak’s Yankee Diner – an American style diner with tons of American classics. I’ve been to a few American Diners in Great Yarmouth, and they haven’t really impressed me, as an American who’s been to diners in America. With that said, I had hopes for Zak’s Yankee Diner, especially as they have three locations and have been going since 1976!

A Bunch of Starters

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How to Choose the Best Knife for Opening Shellfish

Opening shellfish can be a tricky task. Those stubborn shells don’t want to give up the delicious meat inside without a fight. But having the right knife for the job makes the process much easier. However, with so many knife options out there, how do you choose? This guide will walk you through what to look for when picking the best knife for opening shellfish.

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Our Family’s Favorite Soups for Autumn

If you have seen any of our midweek meal inspo posts, you’ll know that we all eat a variety of foods each and every week. As it’s fall time, we have been on a bit of a soup kick. There are so many delicious soups out there and they always feel so fun for autumn. With that in mind, we have tried so many different soups, and have a bunch of favorites that we want to share with you. These soups are kid friendly and great to make ahead and store in the freezer. Most of them could have pasta added too, if you’d like, though some of them are perfect without it.

Tortilla Soup

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