Spice Bazaar and Saffron Orzo

This summer, I was fortunate to spend two glorious days in Istanbul. To say I loved Istanbul would be an understatement. I especially enjoyed Istanbul's Spice Bazaar, a marketplace built in the 1660s and named so because spices were the main goods sold there. Today, you will find much more than spices. You'll find everything from nuts to lokum (Turkish delight) to trinkets. While there, we purchased saffron, which I put to use in this recipe from Giada de Laurentiis' book, Everyday Pasta. This easy recipe turned out wonderful and each bite reminded me a little of Istanbul.

Other Istanbul sights that should not be missed: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar amd Topkapi Palace.