What dessert is this?

Yes, they are pine nuts, you are eating a kind of 'helva ' -

We call it ' Irmik helvasi' in Turkish

It is made of semolina

Description

It is prepared in all regions of Anatolia. In some regions milk or a water - milk mixture is used instead of water. It is generally prepared for religious feasts or days and also at the home of the deceased after a funeral, where it is served to those coming for condolesence and is also distributed to the neighbors. It is also prepared when the cook took a vow, had a wish, and it got realized. It is also costumary to make it for the soul of a loved one in memorandum at the anniversary of the death. People also make it to show gratitude. For example, you haven't been hearing from your son, and he was traveling somewhere, and you feel anxious. Then he comes safe and sound. You go and cook semolina halva.

You don't have to have reasons to cook it. It is loved in Turkey. People cook it all the time.

Ingredients

* margarine or butter - ¾ cups (150 gr)

* pine nuts - 2 tablespoons (20 gr)

* semolina - 2 cups (300 gr)

* water - 2 ½ cups (500 gr)

* Sugar - 1 1/3 cups (240 gr)

Directions

Melt the margarine, add the nuts and the semolina and brown them for about 15 minutes until the ingredients change color slightly, stirring all the time. Boil the water or water-milk mix in a separate saucepan, add and melt the Sugar. Add the syrup to the semolina, stir and simmer for 10 minutes. Cover with a napkin and let rest for 20 minutes. Toss before serving. You can sprinkle some cinnamon on for better taste.

It is very traditional.

Afiyet olsun ( In Turkish, this means, may you a good appetite and may it be good for your health)

EDIT

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P.S.

I'm pretty sure i t's semolina halva. I don't know where you live. If she has trouble finding it, maybe she uses couscous instead. They are both made of wheat. But I looked at the picture you 've posted, it looks like semolina. We have fine semolina in Turkey and also coarse semolina with bits that are the size of couscous. We cook the thin one with milk, and then put it in a mold, and we use the coarse one with water, and let it loose on the plate. The one in the picture you sent sems to be made with semi-water, semi -milk.

Sometimes people add some roasted almonds in it or put some pistachios on it for it to be fancier.

Take a look at its pictures

http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&client=...

Do you want to read more about halva?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halva

basically its a rice dish with nuts