Anatolia Cafe in Columbus, Ohio
Nestled in an unassuming corner of Worthington, a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, is a true gem. A family-operated restaurant called Anatolia Cafe serves, bar none, the best Turkish food in town.
Anatolia provides an honest, no-frills dining experience. Opened by Hasmet Aslan in 2002 to replace the notable Istanbul Cafe, the restaurant is one of those rare, delightful holes-in-wall. It's a single room with just enough decoration to create a good atmosphere. Aside from the stellar food, that atmosphere is the best part of Anatolia.
Maybe it's the lively, authentic flavors, maybe it's the close quarters or the friendly staff. In all likelihood, it's a combination of everything that makes the patrons at Anatolia so chatty. In today's world, it's refreshing to have a place where strangers don't mind having a laugh together or recommending a certain dish to one another. And speaking of recommended dishes, here's a four-course meal that'll make you a fan for life of Anatolia Cafe.
The Mixed Appetizers platter is a good enough reason to go with a crowd. It's a generous sampler of all the restaurant's cold appetizers, minus the cucumber yogurt (don't worry, we'll be seeing plenty of yogurt later). It includes Lebni, Babagannush, Hummus, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Eggplant in a garden sauce, Ezme Salad and a particularly zesty Tabouli. Honestly, this combo could be a meal on its own.
After you sample the appetizers, Anatolia's Red Lentil Soup is a must. The color of this dish is deep and natural. All it needs is a squeeze of fresh lemon. The spice is what really makes this lentil soup stand out among all others. It has a kick that doesn't linger. You can also get the Red Lentil Soup as a part of Anatolia's lunch specials.
For the main course, nothing better illustrates the care and wholesomeness of Anatolia Cafe like their Adana Kebab with Yogurt. The lamb is lean and not overcooked, the tomato sauce is rich and simple, only further complemented by the yogurt. The kebab is served on a bed of fresh oregano croutons with a side of pita bread. This is a particularly filling dish, especially after the appetizers and soup. It's very important that you soldier on. Dessert is waiting.
I firmly believe that all Mediterranean restaurants should be judged on the quality of their rice pudding. For being fairly simple, ingredient-wise, rice pudding is a notoriously fickle dessert. Many come out too dry and heavy. Others are too sweet or use inferior rice that clumps or hardens. Thankfully, Anatolia Cafe has a genuinely good rice pudding. It's at least as good as the legendary stuff they used to make in the now-defunct Greek Town neighborhood of Detroit. It's the perfect end to one of the best meals you can get in the city of Columbus. Light, creamy, just sweet enough to feel like a treat. It's even better with a hot glass of ?ay, a gentle Turkish tea.
Anatolia Cafe doesn't serve any spirits, but they allow you to bring your own. Recently, they've branched out to catering and will soon be opening a new location in Cleveland. Whether you're a long-time resident or just visiting, Anatolia Cafe is one of the best all-around dining establishments in Columbus.
Tofu stroganoff recipe from Bastyr University
My love affair with tofu stroganoff began when I worked at The Seattle Times and frequently went to Whole Foods for lunch. Their hot-foods area -- a buffet, essentially -- was a mixed bag, as some dishes were insufficiently seasoned, and it was nearly always cheaper simply to buy groceries and prepare something back at the office. One dish in the buffet, however, consistently won my heart: the tofu stroganoff. It was hearty (no meat, but real sour cream!) and flavorful (thanks to a generous quantity of mushrooms) and always a welcome sight. Luckily, it wasn't featured too often, which made it both a special treat and something I wasn't able to indulge in very often.
I haven't tracked down Whole Foods' recipe, and it may not exist online, but when I Googled "tofu stroganoff," I found a promising, similar-looking recipe from Bastyr University, the famed naturopathic school in Kenmore, Wash., that's well known for its excellent vegetarian cafeteria. I've made this dish several times at home, for myself, guests, housemates, and dinner parties, and it never fails to impress. You can substitute yogurt for the sour cream if you want to make a lower-fat version, but it tastes better with sour cream. It's also worth noting that my carb-conscious housemate likes the stroganoff mixture without noodles, so if you know people who are trying to cut down on carbs, prepare it that way for them.
Cut tofu into 3/4" cubes and sauté in half the oil, making sure all sides are evenly browned. Remove from pan and drain. Place the tofu in a 12" baking pan with the tamari and water and bake for approximately one hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Sauté the onion in the butter until browned. Add flour and sauté one minute; add milk and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool about 10 minutes. Add sour cream and mustard. Reserving one tablespoon of oil, sauté the mushrooms in the remaining oil until brown; add cooked mushrooms to sauce. Add tofu and salt and pepper to taste. Bring three quarts of lightly salted water to a rolling boil, add noodles. Cook until done. Drain and coat lightly with remaining oil. Spoon sauce over noodles and garnish with chopped parsley.
- 2 pounds organic tofu
- 1/4 cup tamari
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons. butter
- 1 large onion, minced
- 2 tablespoons unbleached flour
- 1 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 pound mushrooms, sliced
- 3/4 cup canola oil
- 1 pound egg noodles
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Managing Diabetes and Depression
More than 16 million Americans suffer from both diabetes and depression. Individuals diagnosed with diabetes are twice as likely to develop depression issues. Depression can be dangerous for diabetics as it can lead to poor physical care and negative mental functioning. This means that a person with diabetes mixed with depression could run the risk of being more likely to neglect proper care procedures and routines to manage their diabetes. Managing your depression is possible and essential if you want to get your illness and life back on track.
Depression is defined as a serious medical condition that effects the ability to function in everyday life. It can happen to anyone at any age or stage in life. Those that are diabetic are believed to have more depression issues due to the metabolic effect of diabetes on the brain. Generally episodes of depression are caused by excessive stress, major or difficult life changes or side effects from medications that you are currently taking. All causes of depression can be worked with to help you overcome the intruding blues.
Talk with your doctor if you feel that your depression is starting to take over. If you feel like you don't enjoy things that you once used to or find yourself wanting to be less social it's a good idea to make that call right away. Though antidepressants are a common way to treat depression symptoms it is not the only option for treatment nor should it be used exclusively. Taking antidepressants or not, it is best that you also seek verbal counseling with a professional. An antidepressant that has worked for one person may not work the same for you. Some antidepressant medication will have side effects that include making your current depression state worse. Working close with your therapist and balancing your medications if you so chose to utilize that option is the way to a balanced treatment.
Studies have shown that people diagnosed with diabetes and depression start to benefit full circle as soon as the patient takes the steps to solve one of the diagnosis. If you work on treating your depression you are going to feel better and have a better out look on life in general. With a positive attitude you are going to have the motivation to get out of bed, exercise, eat healthy and keep a routine including the necessary medical procedures to care for your diabetes.
There have been some suggestions that an over the counter herbal supplement called St. Johns wart can aid those with mild depression. While this may be true for some, it can be very dangerous or even deadly for a person with diabetes. Common medications that diabetics are prescribed do not mix well with St. Johns wart. If you are considering an over the counter herbal supplement to help with your depression, contact your doctor or pharmacist to check for any probable complications with your current medications.
It's not easy to live with diabetes and/or depression. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you feel that you are having more down days then up, call your doctor for an appointment to discuss treatment for depression issues to solve the problem before it gets out of hand.
New Boston Based Modeling Agency Wants You!!
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New Sexy Model of Color looking for asssignments
To Whom It May Concern;
Please allow my photos to introduce myself to you. My name is Beverly Johnson. I am 23 yrs old. I am a Hawaii base model. I am available to work anywhere, anytime. I am very enthusiastic about working in the modeling and acting industry. I am 5'4, 120lbs, and my measurements are 34C-24-35. I am experience in Print, TFP, and Conventional. I have graduated from Barbizon Modeling School. My on-line portfolio is available for you and your associates to view at anytime at: http://www.models.net/model/beverlyjhttp://hollywoodauditions.com/talent...
Thank you,
Beverly
Baby Gifts Worth Spending Money On
Baby showers are a great way to help any new mom get off to a good start at welcoming their bundle of joy to the world. Classic baby gifts like onsies, rattles, blankets and stuffed animals are sweet and thoughtful but can leave the soon to be mom unprepared. Instead of the classics that everyone else always seems to show up with, try to think of things that could be needed at the most inconvenient times like in the middle of the night or the wee hours of the morning before even coffee shops are open.
For about $50 you can get mom and baby a bulk supply of diapers and wipes from Costco or bulk stores of the like. While you're there, why not pick them up their own membership so they can also have the ease of the bulk baby products. Having the ability to buy in bulk will reduce the amount of hectic trips to the store on limited sleep for the basics.
Another group of items that soon to be moms are grateful for and most will make a habit to always keep on hand at all times is infant medicines. Infant Tylenol, Baby Motrin, Mylicon Drops and Baby Orajel. Pick up an easy to use infant thermometer to go with the medicine. You can find thermometers that are exactly like pacifiers and are easy to read and use. Colds and teething don't exactly come on a specific schedule and new mom's won't always think ahead for those stressful times.
Treating colic babies can be a challenge. In addition to the Mylicone Drops a warm soothing bath can sometimes calm and relax the newborn. Give the soon to be mom a bath set for baby. Great aroma therapy bubble bath like lavender with oatmeal works wonders for both mom and baby. To go with the baby bath you can add the lavender and oatmeal lotion. A nice massage after a bath will help to finally put baby to sleep. The calming effects of the lavender will also help mom to wind down for some shut eye.
Every baby has to eat. Even if mom is planning on nursing, that doesn't mean that baby will never have or need a bottle. Pick up some bottles with either formula or breast milk in mind. There are some great bottle sets out there that come with sterile inserts. The inserts are made to work with breast pumps so mom has the option of freezing, refrigerating or using immediately.
Bottle sets always come with nipples to use but as all moms know, they can get easily lost or ruined. Throwing in an extra pack or two is always a good idea and will be appreciated. For those that will not be using inserts, a good bottle and nipple brush are great additions too. All you need now for this gift set is a fashionable bottle dry rack. Even if it doesn't look cute, most of them fold down for easy storage when not being used. Anything that is going to be of good use, is easy to keep clean and a snap to put out of sight is a must have for any mom.
Getting gifts or gift bags for the mom to be does not mean that you have to leave all the cute baby outfits and toys behind. That decision solely relies on you and how much you want to spend. Keep in mind that when it comes to clothes, babies grow out of them fast and mom will more likely than not have enough outfits to dress a small orphanage. Baby may not even get the opportunity to wear that outfit you just couldn't resist. Going with the essentials you know that your gift will be appreciated, well used and it wasn't a waste of your money.
Viggo Is a Pussy - Part 2
(This is a continuation of the story of how my cat Viggo got his name.)
My friend and former housemate Val and I are two very different people, and back then we seldom agreed on anything.
For instance, her taste in men runs toward pretty boys – long wavy hair, clean-shaven, smooth chest, slender, sweet, and so on. I like 'em hairy, burly, and manly – but soulful and funny, with an enigmatic, artistic edge.
Her taste in movies includes big action-adventure blockbusters with lots of car chases, like the Lethal Weapon series and the Terminator movies, for example. She also loves fantasy flicks like “The Lord of the Rings,” the Harry Potter movies, and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” I, on the other hand, love indie and foreign films, thrillers, film noir, psychological dramas, gangster movies, classics - that sort of thing.
We do have some common territory, however. We both like feel-good romantic comedies (OK, some might call them chick flicks) like “Phat Girls” and “Maid in Manhattan.” And we are both highly amused by raucous, over-the-top comedies like Tyler Perry’s Madea movies and the Harold and Kumar flicks.
Well, at the time we got the gray and white kitten, “The Lord of the Rings” was really big. And the Danish-American actor Viggo Mortensen was in it, playing some kind of warrior. I haven’t seen any of the movies in the Lord of the Rings trilogy (not my thang), but I just looked on Wiki and found out that the name of the character played by Viggo Mortensen was Aragorn, also known as Strider. Val of course had seen “The Lord of the Rings” numerous times and had seen the other movies in the trilogy as well, and that’s how she became a fan of Viggo Mortensen. He was pretty enough to suit her taste.
He was also manly and soulful enough to meet my standards. I knew Viggo from several movies, but particularly liked him as Gwyneth Paltrow’s soulful artist lover, David Shaw, in “A Perfect Murder.” The character, a painter and photo collage artist, had a rather gothic, high-ceilinged New York art studio in an old abandoned warehouse, and he and Gwyneth’s character would meet there for their paint-spattered trysts. After a while her wealthy but cold husband, played by Michael Douglas, found out his wife was cheating and decided to have her murdered. The rest of the movie entails the wily rich guy playing cat and mouse with his young wife and her lover.
So, in the end Val and I both agreed that Viggo Mortensen was hot, and that Viggo would be the name of our adorably macho new gray and white kitten.
Viggo the cat has turned out to live up to his name quite well. He’s every bit as enigmatic and soulful as Viggo Mortensen was in “A Perfect Murder,” and also every bit as heroic and manly (catly?) as the actor was in “The Lord of the Rings.”
He even catches rats. Outside, of course.
Meeting with Bill Gates
Thursday, December 4th
2:05pm
Dear Diary,
Yesterday I met with Bill Gates. I hate to admit it, but I did feel a little intimidated at the prospect of meeting with one of the richest and most philanthropic men in the world. But he was surprisingly friendly and affable, and we got along very well. He came to discuss a lot of issues, including global health and development, as well as the need to improve resources for secondary education, particularly for community colleges – many of the various aspects that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation focuses on. Bill also told me that he spoke before a crowd at George Washington University where he expressed his hopes that the Obama Administration will follow through on its pledge to double the foreign aid budget to $50 billion.
I was so honored that Bill Gates wanted to speak with me. Of course, as a man with his power and influence, he could have met with Barack, so I felt glad to know that he chose me instead. Perhaps because I too come across as a very philanthropic person. Of course, Barack did work all those years as a Community Organizer, but that’s besides the point. And, this gives me something to dedicate my time to.
I heard that I meet with Steve Jobs, the co-founder, Chairmen and CEO of Apple Inc., which would also be an honor. I’m not sure what we would talk about, and if this would just be for appearances, but I am all for any extra publicity I can get.
Until next time,
Joe the Veep
Inauguration Ball Dress Designs
Thursday, December 4th
1:10pm
Dear Diary,
It’s a wonderful time when you have fashion designers fighting over who’s going to get to design the dress that you’ll wear to the Inauguration Ball. And such amazing designers, like Betsey Johnson, Badgley Mischka, Monique Lhuillier, Isaac Mizrahi, Carolina Herrera, Karl Lagerfeld (for Chanel), Diane Von Furstenberg, Christian Lacroix, and Peter Som! My head is spinning with the possibilities of all these dresses, especially when I imagine myself twirling in all of these dresses. Here’s the website where I get to peruse my future gowns:
http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/dressing-the-first-lady-1875632#/slideshow/article/1875632/1876071
I know I’ve been spending an excessive amount of time there, but it’s so fun to look at all the beautiful gowns! I haven’t decided on a favorite yet, but I’m sure I’ll find something classy. I’m also considering how I’m going to match Sasha and Malia. I’ll have to think more on this tonight…
People are saying that I’m going to raise the profile of American fashion, and I love having this role. After all, if I’m going to be an ambassador of sorts throughout the political and social world, it certainly is an added bonus that I get to be an ambassador throughout the fashion world as well. I did initially find it a little surprising that the media reacted so much to my sense of style. I always knew that I had good and could always make myself look classy and stylish, but this new publicity has been wonderful. Additionally, it will be great for young girls to see me as a fashion icon, so they have an idol who doesn’t look like a pre-pubescent stick.
Yours always,
Michelle
Viggo Is a Pussy - Part 1
Viggo is a pussy.
No, really. He’s a gray and white tuxedo cat (his tux is a fashionable dove gray rather than black) who lives in Seattle, likes to hang out in the carport or roam the neighborhood when he’s not napping on my bed, and yowls when he wants something done ASAP.
This is the story of how he got his name.
I was living in a shared house at the time with three housemates and one elderly cat, Krissy. One housemate had recently moved out with her two large cats, Athena and Achilles (she was into mythology, obviously). Athena and Achilles had been the upstairs cats, and Krissy was the downstairs cat. Anytime one of them cautiously crept down the stairs for a look see, Krissy would chase them right back up in a fury. Even though she was elderly and half their size, she was the queen of the house.
Krissy’s owner was my friend Val, who was one of the housemates at the time. Val had named her Krissy because of her crossed eyes. She was a creamy flame-point Siamese/Persian mix.
When I moved out to Seattle from Colorado, I wasn’t able to bring my white cat Gracie with me. (I left her with my dad, and now he’s very fond of her. My dad is always inheriting cats from his daughters.)
When Achilles and Athena moved out, that left a potential vacancy, since the house had a three-cat maximum and now there was only Krissy. So Val took it upon herself to convince me that I needed a kitten. And in fact she just happened to know of someone who had a litter of kittens that were old enough to be given away.
I told her I didn’t want the financial responsibility at that time, so we compromised. We would be co-owners. We’d share the expenses for cat food, litter, and vet bills.
So we gleefully headed over to the home where the kittens were. There were four of them – three gray and white ones and a tortoiseshell.
The tortie was awfully cute, but it seemed kinda sluggish. One of the gray and white kittens was playing “king of the hill” on the scratching post, which we both found adorable. So we took him home with us. He was six weeks old.
We got him home and carefully presented him to Krissy to see what she’d do. We were hoping they’d be friends, but we were also prepared for the possibility that she’d try to rip his head off instead.
What happened, though, is the one thing we were not prepared for, and it totally took us by surprise.
Instead of being frightened and cowering or trying to run, the kitten stood his ground and didn’t back up an inch, even though Krissy was hissing and advancing toward him. He arched his back, hissed loudly, and raised a tiny paw to strike!
Needless to say, Krissy didn’t know what to make of this miniature hellion. She ran off.
That’s how he became the boss of the house.
See part 2 to learn how he got his name.