Picnic at my High School 🧺 Chickpea Vegan Wrap, Special Lemonade, Wisteria Syrup and Memories! 😍

Today I am taking you to my high school to show you where everything has started, how I became to be me, how it affected my cooking and to have a small picnic with a lot of stories. Also want to share a great lemonade recipe with a tasty, vegan chickpea wrap and a wisteria syrup which is my way to lock the smell and feeling of my youth in a jar!
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Chickpea Wrap
Servings: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 7 minutes
Cooking time: -
200 g boiled or canned chickpeas, (1 + 1/3 cup)
½ teaspoon salt
2 cloves of garlic
6 tablespoons tahini, you can make your own tahini ( • How to Make Tahini At ... ) or buy the one we are using (etsy.me/3zM4ksu)
4 tablespoons lemon juice
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 Lavaş or Tortilla bread
2 pickled gherkins, cut into thick strips
2 good pinches of cayenne pepper
2 good pinches of ground sumac, use lemon juice if you don’t have
15 sprigs of parsley
• Spare a handful of chickpeas for the wrap and place the rest in a mortar. Add in the garlic and salt. Beat and mash with pestle until creamy. You can use a plastic bag and a bottle to beat as well.
• Pour in the tahini, lemon juice, olive oil and water. Mix to blend.
• Spread the hummus to lavaş breads.
• Place the pickled gherkins and chickpeas that you have spared.
• Season with cayenne pepper and sumac.
• Rip apart the parsley roughly, discard the woody stems and place them on to lavaş as well.
• Wrap them and delicious chickpea wraps are ready!
Refika’s Lemonade
Servings: 4-6
Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 5 minutes + waiting overnight (optional)
Cooking time: -
5 lemons, zest and juice
3 tablespoons sugar, use 4-5 tablespoons if making for children or use honey
1 L cold water, (4 cups)
Fresh mint or melissa (lemon balm) leaves
• Zest the lemons with a fine zester and be careful to not to peel white parts. White parts will make your lemonade bitter.
• Mix the sugar with lemon zest by mashing with the back of your spoon to dissolve the sugar. If using honey instead of sugar, first mash the zest then add honey and some water to mix. You can adjust the amount of honey to your taste. Let it sit at least a couple of hours or overnight for the ultimate taste.
• Rub the lemons against the countertop to maximize the juice. Then squeeze them into the sugar and zest mixture. Sieve if there are any seeds.
• Add the water and give it a last mix to dissolve all sugar.
• Sieve to discard the lemon zest and transfer to a pitcher. Squeeze what is left in the sieve because that is the most delicious part!
• Add some ice and fresh mint or lemon balm leaves and take a sip to freshen up.
Wisteria Syrup
WARNING: Wisteria is considered to be toxic, mostly when the seeds and seed pods are ingested. We should add that seeds and seed pods are not ingested in this recipe and we want to share this traditional Refika gem with you. Also, this is a syrup/ şerbet making technique that you can use for other flowers like elder flower, rose, acacia…
30 bunch of wisteria
Granulated sugar
Drinking water
• Fill a large bowl with water and dip the wisterias in it for 5-10 seconds to wash.
• Then strip the flowers into a large bowl. Fill the bowl with drinking water up to the level of the flowers and let it sit for three days. Flowers will give all their flavour to water by doing that.
• Three days later, drain the flowers and add sugar to the water with a 1:1 ratio. If you have eight cups of water, add eight cups of granulated sugar.
• Whisk until all sugar is dissolved.
• Pour the syrup into jars and close the lids. To can and keep the flavours for the whole year, place the jars into gentle boiling water and boil for 15 minutes. Your wisteria syrup is ready to enjoy but this is a concentrated syrup so dilute with water or sparkling water (or gin or vodka) and serve with wisteria ice.
• To make the wisteria ice, fill an ice tray with wisterias and fill with water. Place in the freezer. Keep them in a plastic bag after freezing.
• If you want a simpler way of making syrup, clean the wisterias and place into a jar with layers of wisteria, sugar and lemon drizzle.
• Put it in a place where direct sun light hits. Let it sit for two days and shake it time to time.
• Drain after two days and it’s ready! You may can them or keep in the refrigerator up to 1,5 months.

[@lucyvanpelt7797]

My father was an English teacher at Robert College from 1965 - 1979, first on the Bebek campus, then in Arnavutkoy, so I grew up on that campus! As a matter of fact, you walked right past my old house (Barton Hall) and out to my favorite place in the world -- the Plateau it was called back then. I could still see some of the trees we used to climb when we were kids. I'm so happy to see that the wysteria on Gould Hall is still healthy and thriving. I live in the US now, but I always miss Istanbul. Thank you for the visit!

[@theoriginalquinnpiper]

What a nice surprise this video must have been for you!!

[@mutluturkkan2393]

Today, I walk in classes, corridors and halls which your father walked on long time ago. I can feel all the past teacher's and professor's experiences and souls in that places. Especially my own faculty, Anderson Hall. Please accept my sincere salutes and good wishes from Bebek Campus. 🙌

[@lucyvanpelt7797]

@@mutluturkkan2393 I remember watching track and field competitions from the steps in front of Anderson Hall. My dad's office was in Washburn Hall, and there used to be a canteen on the bottom floor where we would sometimes join him for lunch. What great memories, and I'm so happy to hear that the campus is still a vibrant place of learning!!

[@mutluturkkan2393]

@@lucyvanpelt7797 I guess, the view of the campus has changed a lot from those times. Lots of buildings structured around the campus . But the school is the most peaceful and coolest area in the city. Nowadays, Anderson Hall is used as Faculty of Arts , and Washburn Hall is used as Political and Management Department. In the Albert Long Hall, lots of cultural activities and concerts are performed every day. I hope you have a chance to visit us and experience the magnificent aura of the campus one more time :)

[@denizyardmc8616]

I hope you feel comforted by the fact that it is still called “the Plateau”! -a Robert College Alumna

[@laurieashley4306]

My grandmother had a beautiful wisteria at her house. After she died the person who bought the house tore it down. Fortunately my mother took some clippings and now I have it in my front yard. Love your videos

[@anniemcmaster9672]

You are such a beautiful lady, thank you so much for telling the story of your life in high school , and stories of your beautiful country . 😘😘💐your videos are amazing

[@gideonpaulalcaide]

Such a breath of fresh air. I was smiling the whole time I was watching this

[@elunK]

Same here

[@Refika]

I am so glad to hear that! 💖

[@Getpojke]

What a lovely fresh episode. One of my favourite things in season is to make elderflower fritters. Pick some of the umbrella shaped blossoms. Make a light batter & put a ban of oil on to heat to 180°c. DON'T wash the flowers or they will loose their scent, but shake them out to get rid of any insects, then dip into the batter & fry for 30 seconds to 1 minute so they are just golden. Drain on a paper towel then serve with either a dusting of icing sugar or a light drizzle of honey. Another good one to try is meadowsweet if it grows near you, we have lots of it here and it flowers from June through to September so you have more chance to use it. Great video thank you.

[@DeliciousTurkishFood]

What a view😍 I miss Istanbul 🧿🇹🇷

[@canadianjaneoriginal]

this video is just so WOW. When will you adopt me? LOL. Your high school is gorgeous! The wisteria so beautiful. I have wisteria but its destructive to property. You need to have it away from foundations and structures. Mine is getting into roof and I need to cut it.. That wrap omg... I never added whole chic peas but I have done this before. Wisteria syrup... I know the pods are poison. Mine is Blue Moon not sure I can do this. I only get a few flowers a year not a lot. Do you use rose water? I am so hungry everytime I watch u. You are the most kickass woman on youtube. Chef Jean Pierre is the best kickass guy lol

[@brucedownunda7054]

It's you again..... ... Keep it coming. ;-)

[@stevenej9894]

Wisteria grows like a weed where I live (SE USA). So lovely to walk by it on a warm spring evening. I will definitely try making this syrup next spring.

[@HeartofNC]

Me too. It is also the reason I may or ma not carry pruning clippers in my car 🤭

[@JingLiSH]

we call it 紫藤 (violet vine)^^. it's seasonal and flowers first before the leaves each spring.

[@michellemeyer1214]

Scents, music, food will always evoke memories. That wisteria looks gorgeous!!!!!!

[@abdulmalik3437]

Rafika, the taste of hummus roll with lemonade is splendid. Fantastic, superb and mind blowing. I am saying this because when I made according to your instructions, everyone specially children love it. Thanks for sharing. Love from Karachi ( Pakistan )

[@elunK]

Literally it's healing time.. with your lovely talking ✨💓

[@b.a.erlebacher1139]

If you would like to grow a wisteria vine, it is easy from seeds. Also from root cuttings - I moved a plant and the pieces of root left behind grew new plants. I'm in Toronto, Canada, so for such a tropical looking plant, wisteria can survive a lot of cold!

[@dmbthegurl]

Scents bring out the memories we might not remember without them, food is a memory of all the love and good times in your life shared with people you care about! I love that you shared all this as I love that you always share food made for sharing. Food is love. Sharing is love. Reason why I love your channel ❤️ The history of your school is awesome, thanks for sharing all of it! PS I didn’t mean to say sharing so much 😂

[@sophiahamila4791]

I just love the way talk describe explain always cheerful funny adorable always smiling with a sense of humor I have hooked in your recipes I am a mother grandmother and great grandmother my family are enjoying your recipes every Saturday when we all meet for lunch Keep your smile and good spirit I wish you wonderful happy successful life Best wishes from Tunisia 🇹🇳

[@destiney47]

I enjoyed this episode very much. I loved your storytelling segment and the historical background. Please incorporated more of these contents in future videos. And of course, I loved the sandwich. Thank you 😊

[@Refika]

Thank you! Will do! ❤️❤️😘

[@anvpro83]

I love Turkey! I've visited 4 times now, and wish I could live there for one year to learn how to cook Turkish food! I am so glad this channel exist, and takes me back to my wonderful times and tastes there.

[@NamasteLuna]

Thank you very much for the love and attention to detail you put into your work. This video was lovely, the storytelling the recipes, the photos...everything!!! Your channel brings so much joy to my heart❤️ thank you thank you from Spain ❤️

[@AhmarFarman]

Wow best school ive ever seen

[@samuelwong1596]

A trip down memory lane! A wholesome video.. ❣❤🙆🏻‍♂️❤❣ Wisteria is a very beautiful plant! One of the many that Wisteria symbolizes is.. LOVE!!! 😉

[@A-la-Weiss]

I love that school

[@adrianab.garibay2581]

OoohhLala...Wisteria or elder flower ice cubes w that awesome lemonade 😊Yum! Or maybe add a little adult juice (vodka) 😉 to your lemonade.

[@nassnass8545]

Hey Refika! Thanks a lot for your receipes!You always make it easy!❤. Hello from Canada 🇨🇦🇩🇿 çok merci!

[@cassieoz1702]

I make elderflower syrup every November (late spring in Australia) and it is everyone's favourite

[@acijami]

I would truly adore being able to go to Istanbul someday like my grandmother did❤️

[@jyll.7132]

Istanbul has one of the most beautiful and visually interesting skylines I've ever seen. The food is great and the people are nice too. It's more modern than I expected. This show makes me want to visit again.

[@acijami]

@@jyll.7132 Somewhere I have a few pictures of Istanbul in the early 1980s but more important to me honestly is the prayer rug and the brass lanterns that she brought home for me... They've always been more representative to me of the people there and the preservation of the old along with the use of the new. And this show and all the people in it are so amazing to me.

[@pepper24able]

My wisteria is about wake up from winter here in New Zealand. I adore it’s beauty and its smell as it cascades over my front porch. I am definitely going to try making this syrup.

[@deborahneumann9162]

What a FABULOUS picnic! Just perfect food. As usual... THANK YOU! (: MUCH Love... (:

[@shaibunt4109]

Every one have such a nostalgic memories, you made it glorious

[@victornasiralivlogs3801]

MashaaAllah. So gorgeous looking my dear dream of love Refika

[@warmsteamingpile]

I can't believe I never thought of putting lemon in my hummus. Love this channel.

[@ramikhirfan7851]

Amazing how plant and flowers scents bring back memories and this video has proven how Rafika talent has transferred the childhood memories into great form of drinking flavours depending on the season. So delighted to have watched it again and again.

[@mayellencompton9345]

BEAUTIFUL! I want to visit there. Refika, i love your spirit. When I was growing up we had a large lemon tree. My mother made lemonade every day in the summer. Being American, we had too much sugar. Your lemonade looks better.

[@walterjoshuapannbacker1571]

And today you make videos in English - how nicely everything has turned out!

[@Armymum13]

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!!!! ❤ 💖 ❣ 💕 💙 💜 💗

[@ellawalsh9571]

My ❤️sings as I watch this... thank you!

[@yaelrstudio]

Thank you Refika, for this vegan picnic. You are an inspiration. Hope to visit Turkey, as the Sufi tradition is very dear to my heart, and Rumi, brings Light to my path. God bless you and all of yours. 🙏⚘🙌

[@nozee77]

That was such a wholesome video! Your school is gorgeous! All the wisteria in full bloom! Of course the recipes are amazing, and it is always so wonderful to see everyone in your team smile wholeheartedly. 💚🌸🌞 I need to visit Istanbul one day, it looks like such an amazing place to be!

[@julibeswick-valentine3690]

What a beautiful building your school and the grounds and view, I am in love. Such a lovely picnic too. On the subject of Wisteria, it is very poisonous with the exception of the petals which are beneficial to us when you ferment them in your second method. As with the Elder flowers, the Wisteria flowers carry natural yeasts and your syrup mixed with water is a probiotic.

[@jeminaification]

This is awesome!

[@dawnesmith-sliming7004]

As our weather turns to Fall it was great to see your spring episode. Very enjoyable, and I’m going to make that wrap. The only part that made me frown was when you said had stupidity. I simply don’t agree and I love how you use your gifts to help so many. And congrats to Burak on his new home :)

[@sophiahamila4791]

Yesterday i wrote to you I don’t know whether you read my comments I must congratulate you for the lemonade drink it is out of this world have never tasted a drink so refreshing in my life As i told you my family comes for lunch every Saturday we have tried so many of your dishes Kebabi meatball kofta pride pepper paste lama chin kofta kebab shush kebab,chicken kebab, and the most popular my family go crazy for is lava has with thin slices of beef with pepper corn Rosemarie covered with thin slices of cheese we make lavash small ones and each person makes it a sandwich but we add fries to go with it they adore that I congratulate you again keep us always with your beautiful recipes thank tashakurat shukran in Arabic GOD bless you

[@Refika]

I am sooo glad to hear that you have tried this many recipes and enjoyed them 🙏❤️ Thank you!

[@quirkywendy]

You are my favourite youtuber. I love your recipes, but I also love your personality. You are a ray of sunshine in my life whenever I watch your videos. It's fun when Bahar makes an appearance and the production on your videos is excellent so props to Burak too! I am also a huge fan of how you add visuals and history about Turkey to your videos. It gives me a real appreciation for the country.

[@Refika]

Wow, thank you! ❤️❤️ I am so happy to know 😘

[@pacaluvr7963]

Loved the tour of your school….beautiful campus. And a picnic with a friend…perfect day!

[@rubygray7749]

Such an exquisite episode!! Thank you for showing us your beautiful school and explaining your story. It is almost springtime here in Tasmania, so very soon the wisteria will be blooming along the looooong fence that is the border between my parents' house and the school I attended for 6 years. Perfumes are so evocative of great memories. I will certainly be making this delicate syrup! Also lemonade with lemons from mum's prolific tree. And who knew hummus could be so easy! I have been without electricity for some time so have had to buy hummus. Now I will be beating my home pressure-canned chickpeas to a puree in a plastic bag!! So simple, no mess. Refika and Bahar, such a brilliant and lovable team. Don't ever stop sharing your lives and passions and delicious foods with us. All in the stunningly beautiful country of Turkey which many of us could never know about except for your channel.

[@effatbahrami9509]

Thank you foe sharing dear Refika .You are the best .

[@donatacoombsfarrell3624]

I fully enjoyed seeing where you went to school it was so cool

[@catalinapopa4490]

Woooow!! What a great building your college! Thank you for sharing! And the recepies!… 😋😋😋 Big hugs to you and all the team! Love you, guys! ❤️✨🌈

[@SusanNachman]

I love these field trips! Please film more! ❤️

[@shanmugapriya1496]

That was amazing to start with some of your memories and also some history!! ❤️❤️ Good one!!

[@sonialegault8673]

What a great idea, loved this and you guys.your an inspiration ❤

[@hianksiety]

This was a nice video Refika and Bahar. Very timely as well since it is Labor Day weekend here with picnics everywhere. You have the BEST recipes. I will make your Humus wrap as I LOVE your pickle recipe!!! Congratulations Burak on your new house! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼❤️

[@janetruh7476]

One suggestion for your Tahini: Is it possible to make an organic one, for those of us who are elderly and can only eat organic food? That would be wonderful!

[@rubygray7749]

+Janet Ruh Refika has already posted a great video showing how to make your own tahini! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3XZpnV9nch8kJo

[@zohrajabeen4312]

Fabulous and tempting recipe as usual

[@831Miranda]

Another wonderful video, a very special treat was to see your beautiful school and the landscape around it! ❤

[@adinamedrea5303]

Refika, you should make more videos showing us Istanbul. It's so beautiful....You people are so lucky to live there!! Now I'm envious of you!

[@zohrajabeen4312]

Beautiful school

[@teresapavoldi3535]

I loved this video! Thank you.

[@MariaGSL]

Oh the memories.... what a beautiful place, and the stories so interesting and full on details. I❤all your recipes!!

[@quelizabeth2]

I love you and Turkey 🇹🇷 can’t wait to go back. Hopefully 🙏🏻 once this dreadful pandemic 😷 ends 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@angeliquepettit717]

Refika, please do a video on how to make rose jam and rose syrup. Lütfen.

[@ruthw4881]

Beautiful school 😍

[@nurulahyamohdrazali7845]

♥️😁 oh wow.. amazing content 😎🍋🌯🍹..chill mode in istanbul, happens now in my dream..😂

[@nomansvan827]

Love your videos, such fun. Fantastic video. Thank you.

[@laurarosas5899]

Thank you for sharing a part of your life! Who was your first kiss? Lol!

[@jyll.7132]

I have seeds for wisteria that I've been saving. I should plant them.

[@I_saw_that.]

Fyi some subspecies of this plant can be poisonous/toxic to consume. Make sure your ones are that not harmfull. Also they are invasive species that can cover all your garden.

[@mariaraynor]

No words just 🥰

[@etherdog]

We really enjoyed the history lesson, Refika!

[@puglover4280]

I had just soaked chickpeas and boiled them to have them ready when I need this week. Will definitely try your chickpea wrap. All your recipes that I have tried have definitely become favorites. Thank you.

[@loopylou5841]

Lovely video. Made me smile just great to see you all X

[@DrBrunoRecipes]

Absolutely amazing 😍 Greetings from Scotland 😊 Have a wonderful day everyone 🌻

[@enrilemoine]

My dearest Refika, I love getting to know about you, the sunshine in my kitchen! Love those wisterias and I swear when I go to the beautiful Istambul, I'll go and visit Robert College!

[@officiallife28]

Awesome 😭😋😋😋

[@elneenz]

Aaah Refika aaakh! I’m a carnivore I need my meat but I swear even your vegetarian/vegan dishes look absolutely divine!🤤 And thank you for sharing about your life, I love it when you give us short story time and sneak peaks of your childhood. Much love!♥️

[@knbKaren]

Thank you for this. I loved the picnic food, but really enjoyed the history. I think in the West we perhaps focus on the politics of the day and forget the origins of great cultures around the world. How I wish more of them had prevailed to be constant today, but it is wonderful that the stories are passed down and their importance isn't forgotten. Thank you for reminding us.

[@portiasmaid]

it appears that the most toxic parts of the wisteria are the pods and the seeds. The flowers seem to be safe in moderation. i love the scent of wisteria and would love to try the syrup sometime. Elderflowers and linden trees were plentiful when I lived in Switzerland. We did make a punch with the elderflowers and sparkling wine. It was delicious.

[@silviaholerga]

Thank you for the wonderful history lesson! I really enjoyed it. Such a pity that sometimes humanity seems to be going backwards.. non the less.. enjoyed your wrap recommandation. Love that you shared smth vegan ! Thanks!

[@MsAure]

Loving it.I subbed to the other channel too. Thanks for the English captions whoot!!

[@elunK]

your university is awesome i hope i can visit soon with my sister 💕💕

[@Refika]

It is my high school actually ❤️ glad you enjoyed 😍

[@elunK]

oh really i thought it's univ i think it's great and huge school ✨🌸

[@moniquea2497]

thank you for sharing high school memories with us

[@amandalouise1604]

Lovely Refika, you never fail to amaze me, sharing all your knowledge about the places, and history. Not to mention the delicious recipes that make my mouth water. 🤤😀

[@Refika]

My pleasure, dear Amanda! ❤️😍

[@georgeb8637]

3:40 - Great Turkish entrepreneurs 15:03 - hummus without food processor ❤️ 16:15 - ingredients for a great wrap

[@elunK]

اهلا اهلا 💕💕

[@esrakahraman820]

We need some recipes for our childrens lunch box:)))

[@peybak]

I went to IICS in the early 90’s, which is in the same neighborhood. I had to do the same kinds of test Rafika mentioned. I had to study hard to pass their English test in the span of 2 months or so. I remember touring Robert College and it being very nice compared to ours :). It was a tough time for me but I miss those days. Istanbul is such an amazing city.

[@siimplyvegetariian]

Wonderful place, hassle free - easy to prepare recipes! Thanks for sharing! Loved all!

[@anahidkassabian4471]

Gorgeous video! I made the wraps for dinner tonight, and everyone was very, very happy, so thank you :)

[@ninochandra8490]

Omg the school is really beautiful!!

[@HowToCuisine]

Everything looks so good 🥰🥰🥰🤤🤤🤤

[@Refika]

❤️❤️😘

[@purecitrine5321]

I love your work soooooo much!!! Please create more vegan recipes...please?

[@angela14962002]

Wow, that is a beautiful school!

[@fng303]

I love this picnic.

[@gracedraper1981]

take us everywhere in your place, its so interesting

[@annafernando6816]

Love the video, Refika. Thank you for sharing part of your life with us. You and Bahar are so funny!

[@kellyrivenburgh4090]

So beautiful,thank you for sharing you with us !

[@longestpossiblename]

Hi Refika, thank you for sharing some of your own history and also the history of your country. It's so interesting and I love learning about you and Turkey. I'm excited by your quick hummus recipe as I dont have a food processor so never managed to make your original recipe. I have a mortar and pestle so I can definitely do this one hurray! I still hope some day to make the original but for how this one will do. And thank you for the other fabulous recipes. So many exciting things to learn! Sending much love to you and all your team

[@1965tammie]

Love the simple yummy wrap.! Thank you

[@maryoberschlake1988]

Love your teaching

[@janet.3439]

Aways love watching your videos, I love that you not only share your recipes and cooking tips but you also share your knowledge about other things that are not necessarily all about food. I aways learn something new when I watch your videos. Thank you for sharing your talent and knowledge for free. All the blessings to you and your love ones. Keep safe

[@khosrofakhreddini7824]

Ne harika bir okul! Almanya'da yaşıyorum ve sen buradada böyle bir okul bile bulamıyorsun.

[@franzmuller3396]

The air thing with the nose goes with everything