Help... It's time for change!!!

Lizling

Horace wrote: »

When buying in the markets - ask for half a kilo, don't be afraid to ask (learn a bit of basic Spanish too as that may help - what language do they speak in Cyprus? I do know that some do understand English because there is an RAF base on the island and has been for many years).

Sorry to be so blunt, but Spanish would be utterly useless there. Practically no one there speaks Spanish. I don't think it's usually even taught in schools. Turkish first, then English second and possibly French as a distant third.

To answer your question, they mainly speak Cypriot Greek in Cyprus, but this is Northern Cyprus we're talking about, which is different. You may have heard that the 2 parts haven't always had the best of relations...;)

Badrick

Oooh, I'd love to be able to do something similar.
When we used to frequent Turkey on a regular basis, I found a basic Turkish language course online which worked by associating English images with the Turkish word,
ie: imagine a harbour with lemons floating in it = liman.
This covered basics, such as restaurants, shopping, hotels and simple medical emergencies and cost about £5.
I found this a lot easier going ( and a lot cheaper ) than the Rosetta Stone type courses.
If memory serves me right, Cypriot Turkish is slightly different, but I think for the most part, language is same.

nannygladys

Hi there, my friends sister & bil live in N Cyprus and don't have any problems with the language as in most places they can talk a little English. There is also a good expat community living over there and when we were over there a few years ago we met quite a few expats in the local bars and restaurants, not as many as in the south though where my dd lives (she has learnt Greek and the locals really appreciate it, but I believe it's Turkish in the North)
Nannyg

JIL

Mint1955 wrote: »

Does anyone have an easy but ingredient simple biscuit or tray bake recipe that I can use but that can be frozen so I have something quick to defrost if people come for coffee. It really does need micro easy instructions lol

I have made these and they are very good.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/anytimecookies_92185

Lizling

Showing an interest in the language and asking the words for things is a brilliant ice-breaker and in my opinion is always worth the effort even where people do speak English well. In fact, ex-pat community or not, that'd be my top tip for living abroad.

Basic Turkish doesn't seem to be too difficult. I've got no particular skill with languages but I came back from a week in Turkey last month able to ask for things at the market, read a menu and order food and drinks, say hi, how are you, please, thank you and all that kind of thing, no problem.

Mostly forgotten already, of course!

For the cooking and baking, I think the only way to learn is by doing. Perhaps you could find a recipe that doesn't look too difficult and follow it. Then do the same with another recipe and another until you've got a decent repertoire. By that stage, you'll probably have acquired a bit more confidence and will feel free to experiment with them a bit.

I remember when I was a student and used packet stuff because I didn't know how to cook. For example, I remember making mushroom strogonoff where you had to add the packet mix to mushrooms and onions and cream. Then I started adding bits of garlic and various herbs to improve the flavour, until 1 day I realised that even if I didn't put the packet mix in, it was still a stroganoff and the packet had become completely unnecessary :rotfl:

Mint1955

Yes it's Mainly Turkish spoken here. We have been visiting as holiday makers for a few years but now we are living we need to up our game.

Thank you all for the replies I must just give things a go lol

The locals all want to help to which is lovely. The Turkish way is if you give them anything they have to give you something back however random! So it's quite often a case of pass it on lol

Maybe I am just lazy which is ok and easy in the uk just pop into any supermarket and pick up treats fairly cheaply so it's not worth the effort and it's the effort which is what stops me!

Cooking and baking seem to take an inappropriate amount of time to results when it doesn't come naturally but with very little easy food here I am having to change my ways which after 40 odd years of cooking and cleaning will be a challenge but I will find my inner domestic goddess or invent an alternative one ;-)

Gigervamp

Shortbread is easy and just uses 3 ingredients. Butter, sugar and flour.

If you also learn how to make a basic sponge (for each medium egg, you need 2oz each of SR flour, butter and sugar) you can jazz it up with different ingredients such as chocolate chips, dried fruit, spices etc. A chocolate sponge can be made by replacing a tablespoon of flour with a tablespoon of cocoa powder.

dronid

Firstly, you'll have a lot of fresh ingredients out there. Anything you can just chop up and serve - particularly on a hot day is always good and simple. Since you're heading toward winter there though, is there anything you always enjoyed over there or over here that you'd like to continue. Sometimes it's a good idea for you to say what you do like and we can source the way of cooking.

Just as an aside. Chicken breasts/thighs baked with fried onions, some oregano, Salt, pepper, chopped tomatoes and grated cheese on are yummy and that simple. Just put them on in that order and bake until browned and bubbling (check to make sure the chicken is cooked but about 30/40 mins at 190C should be good)

Mint1955

Braved it and asked four neighbours (English) in for dinner tonight. I thought I can do this if I keep it simple so I will just put out fresh olives and nuts for arrival and when we are having drinks I will also bring out some hot grilled haloumi cubes. That will do for starters, then I have made proper cheese sauce and without a jar of ragu two lasagnes so that I am not short I would rather have overs and then will freeze some. Garlic bread (that I did find in a freezer) home made coleslaw and a salad of lettuce pepper tomatoes and cucumber. For dessert I have fresh pineapple and defrosted some raspberries which will go with ice cream or cream and I have halva and mince pies to go with coffee.

Had to bulk out the meat a little so I finely chopped mushroom, peppers, onions, and I grated a lump of squash. Tastes and smells fine and I will let you all know how it went later. Knackered now with all that thinking lol

Goldiegirl

How exciting to be moving abroad !


I think the trick with any sort of lifestyle changes is to be slow and steady.


In the last two months I've gone on to my low sodium diet, and I've been keeping it very simple to start with, things like fish and chicken baked with onions/tomatoes/herbs/spices. Then I've been gradually bringing in various recipes, both old ones revamped for low sodium, and brand new ones that I've found on the web. If the recipe doesn't feel quite right, I tweak it a bit, to get it right before adding a new recipe to the repertoire.


So I'm slowly building up, and it doesn't feel like too much too soon.


Good luck with your move - do let us know how you get on