Name:

Mahmure

Surname:

Yilmaz

Country:

Turkey

Region:

Istanbul

Biography:


Mahmure Yılmaz, 78 years old, originated from Giresun, a city in the Black Sea region in Turkey. She has lived in Istanbul since 1954. She used to cook raisin bread in an open air heart in the garden at the back of their house. On top of 2 bricks on either side of the fire she placed a circular and thick stone, called pileki stone, and put wood underneath. After the pileki stone became quite hot she used to put the bread on top of it and covered it with a metal plate. On top of the metal plate she used to place embers collected from burnt wood. Thus, the bread and other pastries would bake very well. She learned how to bake raisin bread from her grandmother. In the past she baked it when they had guests and for special occasion. Nowadays she bakes it especially for her daughters and her grandchildren because they love it.