NOAH'S ARK DESSERT (ASURE)

This dish is believed to be originated on Noah's ark.  They say that the last few days of the flood, most of the food was gone.  They had a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  They threw everything in a pot and made Asure which lasted them until they were able to get on dry land.  This day is declared to be a special day that is later followed by birth of Jesus on the same day.  In Turkey, Asure is made and shared with family, friends and neighbours during Asure month.  It is a celebration of God's generosity and blessings.

1/2 kg cracked wheat
1 cup dry chick peas
1 cup dry haricot beans
1/2 cup white rice
100 gr dry apricots
100 gr. dry figs
150 gr. raisins
1 kg. sugar
2 orange peels
Optional: 1/4 cup rosewater
Optional: Cooked and peeled chestnuts (for bottom of the individual cups)
For decorations: coconuts, cinnamon, pomegranate seeds, walnut pieces

• This is not a difficult recipe to follow but you need to start the process overnight (8-9 hours before) for soak time.
• Put the cracked wheat in a big pot.  Add water.  Water must top the wheat by about 15 cm (put 4 your fingers together as a measurement by sight).  Bring it to boil once.  Set aside for overnight "soaking"
• Put beans ad chick peas together and add water.  Bring to boil once and set aside overnight for "soaking"
• Next morning, drain beans and chick peas.  Add more water and bring to boil.  Reduce heat to medium and continue boiling until they are soft.  Approx. 2.5 - 3 hours.  Add more water if required.
• In a separate pot, bring wheat to boil, reduce heat to medium and continue to boil until very soft (almost mash).  This too takes approx. 2.5 to 3 hours.  Make sure it is not covered to avoid from boiling over.  Add water as required.
• 20 minutes before wheat is finished, add rice.
• Add wheat, beans and chick peas together.  Continue to boil for another 10-15 minutes at low heat.
• Cut up apricots, and figs.  Wash 2 oranges and grade skin.
• Add  sugar, apricots, figs, orange peels, raisins, and rosewater.  Boil once and take off the heat
• As Asure waits, it thickens.  You can add boiled water to bring to desired consistency.
• You can serve Asure in a big pot and so it can be spooned out to smaller cups or you can make individual cups.  Optionally, you can put cooked and peeled chestnuts at the bottom of individual servings.  I personally do not like chestnuts or the pomegranate seeds in this dish
• You can decorate with any combination of pomegranate seeds, coconut, walnut pieces and Cinnamon. 
• You can eat it at room temperature or cold right out of the fridge in warm summer nights.  Believe it or not, some people like to eat this for breakfast.