collection, food, health, wellness

A life treat from Naxos

Organic Islands herbal tea and more

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Naxos is the largest island of Cyclades and it is well known for the goods they produce, such as cheece, potatoes and more. It is a blessed place, with creative people and fertile land. That is why we are not at all suprised with the uniqueness of the Organic Island Herbs and Plants. They are a selection of exceptional quality, aromatic herbs, which are organically grown.

As soon as you open the first well designed box (you can also use it to decorate your house and fill it with amazing senses), the scent that comes out is unique. The collection includes Kraft and Silver Series single herbs such as oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, hyssop, pennyroyal, lavendar and lemon balm;

Cube Series includes great blends of herbal teas such as Euphoria (Lemon Balm, Thyme, Lemon zest), Fantasia (Sage, rosemary, orange zest) Nostalgia (lavender and thyme) and more;

Bronze Series Food Herbal Blends such as Epic (oregano, thyme, lemon balm) and more; and a uniquely Greek sweet called Loukoumi, an Organic Herbal Delight with rosemary, sage, pennyroyal, and lavender.

See more http://organicislands.gr/index.php/en/

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food, wellness

2 vegeterian brunch recipes

Roasted red pepper pizza and Cinammon oatmeal pancakes

roasted red pepper pizza

 

Ingredients
Homemade Pizza Dough

2 cups flour
1 pkg (2¼ tsp) active dry yeast
1 tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup warm water
Extra flour for kneading

Toppings

2 tsp olive oil
4 cups kale leaves, stemmed and roughly chopped
¼ cup tomato sauce
2 small red peppers, roasted, peeled and thinly sliced
3oz feta cheese, crumbled
1(5oz) mozzarella ball, thinly sliced
Olive oil, to drizzle
Kosher salt, to sprinkle

See more http://www.bitememore.com/feedme/307/kale-and-roasted-red-pepper-pizza

cinnamonj oatmeal pancakes

ingredients:

1 cup white whole wheat flour
1 cup Quaker old fashioned oats
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

2. In a medium bowl, combine buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk until combined.

3. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and stir until combined. Let pancake mixture sit for at least 20 minutes. You can cover and put the mixture in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours before making the pancakes.

4. When ready to cook, heat a griddle or pan to medium low heat. Coat with cooking spray. Drop about a 1/4 cup of batter onto heated skillet. Cook until surface of pancakes have some bubbles and a few have burst, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip carefully with a spatula, and cook until browned on the underside, 1 to 2 minutes more. Continue making pancakes until the batter is gone.

5. Serve pancakes with fruit and maple syrup, if desired.

Note-these pancakes freeze well. Let them cool completely and then wrap in plastic wrap and put in a freezer bag. When ready to eat, remove from freezer and reheat in microwave or the toaster.

See more http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/cinnamon-oatmeal-pancakes/

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food, trends

Insanely amazing milkshake

Add it in your gotta do list

The hot nutella milkshakes that come with a doughnut on the top…you can’t resist them. If I had to list three of my favorite things off the top of my head in no specific order, Nutella, doughnuts, and milkshakes would all probably make the cut. My need became true in an Australian cafe (greek owners) that managed to combine all of those needs at once. Now you have a reason to visit Australia, and the reason is Tella Balla shake.

 Join the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Foodcraftespressoandbakery
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food, taste, trends

Grilled corn on the cob

Summer BBQ idea

grilled corn on the cob

You’ll need:

Corn on the cob
Butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Step one: Soak the corn in a pot of cold water for 15 minutes

Step two: Preheat your grill on the medium setting.

Step three: Peel back corn husks, pull the silks off around the corn. Season the corn with butter, salt, and pepper, or your favorite seasonings.

Step four: Wrap corn rightly in tin foil to keep the steam in and speed up the cooking time.

Step five: Grill for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender, turning occasionally. Then, peel back the husks and remove the corn. Serve!

Read more on http://stylecaster.com/bbq-ideas/#ixzz3heeWwDPM

 

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Beauty, fashion, food, Jewlery, style, taste, trends

Vogue supports Greece

Top greek products according to Vogue 

greece vogue

The american edition of the “Fashion bible”, Vogue, supports Greece and chooses the finest Greek exports that find a special place from our wardrobe to our table. Greece is an inspiration and an unstoppable cradle of creativity.

Find more on the original post on  http://www.vogue.com/13278463/greek-exports-we-love/

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food, wellness

Easy ways to drink water

Inetresting ways that remind you how important water is 

 

Check more http://www.buzzfeed.com/melissaharrison/how-to-drink-more-water?bfpi&crlt.pid=camp.bWjV7zxFhHFQ#.wwMMGxVmy

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food

Summer recipe

Grilled Watermelon & Feta Salad with Mint, Arugula & Balsamic Glaze

grilled watermellon with feta

Ingredients

Watermelon

Feta cheese (or other salty cheese like Cotija)

Mint – chopped

Arugula (optional)

Balsamic glaze (which is just reduced balsamic vinegar)

S&P

Olive oil (if grilling the watermelon)

 

Directions

Bring some balsamic vinegar to a boil & then reduce to a simmer.  In 20 minutes – my 1/4 cup of balsamic reduced to only one or two teaspoons of glaze – so boil down an appropriate quantity.  My quantity of glaze was sufficient for three little watermelon & feta towers.

grill them

 

If grilling the watermelon – cut it into large chunks.  You can cut them the size of a deck of cards or, as I did, use a large cookie cutter & create deep disks.  If you are not grilling – you can cut any way you like – including bite-sized cubes.

Heat your grill very hot.  Place the watermelon on a little olive oil & grill on that side – the oil side – for no longer than 2 minutes.  Do not overcook the watermelon or it will get mushy.

Foodstyling

Place some arugula on each plate (optional) & top with the grilled watermelon, crumbled cheese, chopped mint, a drizzle of the glaze & some S&P.  Serve those bad boys up!

If not grilling the watermelon – you can just leave that step out or you can toss all the ingredients in a bowl – rather than creating individual servings.

grilled watermellon  dish

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food

Summer sin

Check out the amazing maltesers cake 

maltesers cake

 

I know it is Summer time and we can’t even drean to taste it, but why not? For those who know how to leave and appreciate a good chocolate cake, check this recipe.

You will need:
– 3 eggs, lightly whisked;
– 1 tbs milk, extra/;
– 50g (1/2 cup) cocoa powder;
– 75g (1/2 cup) plain flour;
– 95g (3/4 cup) malted milk powder;
– 115g (3/4 cup) self-raising flour;
– 125g butter, chopped;
– 185ml (3/4 cup) milk;
– 185g butter, extra, at room temperature;
– 200g (1 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar;
– 345g (2 1/4 cups) icing sugar mixture;
– 465g Maltesers.
For the Ganache:
– 300g dark cooking chocolate, finely chopped;
– 125ml (1/2 cup) thickened cream;
– 30g butter.

Directions: Take a round cake pan and grease it with butter, then take the baking paper and line it’s base and side. Preheat the oven at 160 C. Place together in a bowl the brown sugar, butter and milk, and melt all stirring continuously until the mixture is smooth. Put in the cocoa powder and the flower and whisk everything in, add the egg and whisk again. Pour mixture into the round pan and bake for about 55 minutes. To check if it is done, insert a skewer into the middle of it, if it comes out clean then it is done. Take the pan outside the oven and leet it to cool completely. Moving to the ganache, take the cream, butter and chocolate and melt them stirring continuously until the mixture becomes smooth. Take the extra butter and beat it with an electric beater until creamy and pale, put in the malted milk powder, the icing sugar and extra milk and continue beating until fluffy. Finally, add 1 ½ tbs ganache and beat. Set aside the rest of the ganache until it gets thick, spreadable and glossy. Cut the cake in four layers horizontally using a serrated knife, set the base of the cake on a platter and spread over it ⅓ of the icing. Continue with the next layer of cake and the icing two more times and stop with the last layer of cake. Now put the cake in the fridge for cooling for about 1 and a half hours. Take the cake out and spread the ganache over it and decorate with Maltesers, or any other chocolate candies you like.

Check more http://alldaychic.com/amazing-maltesers-cake-recipe/

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food, tips

My sweet and skinny life

Marisa Churchill is the ambassador of  guilt- free desserts

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Who would ever imagine that our sinful desire of chocolate and sweets in general, would some day become a healthy choice that could be in our every day meals. Marisa Churchill is a greek american that began to cook as soon as she reached the stove, as she quoted. Her passion and talent became her career in 1999. Back in the States, her name is the same thing as guilt free pleasure. She is an acknowledged pastry chef that loves to mix and match ingredients that have as a result tastefull and low fat dishes.

Thankfully Alpha Tv introduced Melissa to us and now we enjoy watching her every Saturday (13:00), where she is sharing her recipes and her “secrets” with us. We love her good energy and the way that she explains everything in a simple way. She loves Greece and she speaks fluently greek and that is a plus since she presents her recipes using both languages..!

Take a look and a taste…on  http://marisachurchill.com/

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culture, food, Lifestyle, trends

Dinner in the air

Fly me to the moon Mr Valentine

This year on Valentine’s Day 22 Greeks will have the chance to enjoy an amazing  romantic dinner on a restaurant that literally floats in the Athens sky. The restaurant offers 4 dishes, wine and dessert while the staff members are making sure that the dinner will be on time. “Dinner in the sky” will be located at Technopolis Athens at 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm. Each dinner will last for about one and a half hour.

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design, food

“Sweet” art

JAR by sweet mates

Tailor-made cakes, handmade with the finest ingredients. Mania Delou and Georgina Ellina create stylish cakes, sweets in jars, delicious sandwitches, salads, cookies and other sweets. We have to highlight that the 5% of the price goes to “ELPIDA”, a greek foundation for kids with cancer.

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cake, food

Sweet gift in a jar

Homemade-Brownie-Mix-is-makes-a-great-gift-in-a-jar.-Its-perfect-for-your-pantry-too

Homemade Fudgy Brownie Mix

  • 1 c. + 2 T. flour
  • 2/3 c. packed brown sugar
  • 2/3 c. sugar
  • 3/4 t. salt
  • 1 t. baking powder
  • 1/3 c. cocoa
  • 1/2 c. chocolate chips
  • 1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

Instructions for Using Homemade Brownie Mix

Mix contents of jar with:

  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 c. water
  • 2/3 c. oil
  • 1 t. vanilla

Pour into a greased 9″ square pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean.  Cool and enjoy!

brownie

 

special thanks to http://www.sixfiguresunder.com/homemade-fudgy-brownie-mix/

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food, tips, trends

Ice cream cone Cupcakes in-trending 6

 ice-cream
Cupcakes in a cone!
The new massive sweet trend.  It has the look and the taste…can you imagine something better?  A great choice for events (birthdays, holidays, special occasions). Just do it!

1 box cake mix (I chose chocolate), plus ingredients on back of box
24 cake cones
Vanilla Buttercream (recipe & ingredients follow)
Hot fudge sundae syrup
Sprinkles
Patted-dry maraschino cherries

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Put one cake cone in the bottom of each muffin cavity. Set aside.
2. Prepare your cake batter according to package directions. I stirred mini chocolate chips in mine for a fun addition. Portion your batter into each cake cone, about 2/3 full or just toward the middle of the cone. Don’t fill too much higher or it may overflow. Very carefully put the pans into the oven and bake for approx. 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool completely.

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Easy Vanilla Bean Buttercream *the addition of vanilla bean paste as opposed to vanilla extract lends a richer, ice-cream-like flavor to this frosting, but in a pinch, use vanilla extract

2/3 cup butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla bean paste
About 3-4 Tbsp milk
About 4 cups powdered sugar

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter and vanilla bean paste until creamy, about 2 mins. Gradually begin adding powdered sugar, about one cup at a time, using a Tbsp of milk every so often to thin out the frosting and make it creamy. Frosting should be light and fluffy and not too soft.
2. Heat the hot fudge sauce for about 10 seconds. You want it to be on the verge of becoming liquidy but not quite there yet (too liquidy and it’ll melt the frosting, but not heated up at all will result in an ugly  glob). Spoon a small spoonful of hot fudge sauce onto the tops of your frosted cupcakes. Top with sprinkles and a cherry. Serve immediately.

Ice cream cone

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food, style, taste

Two food trends for 2014 in-trending 4

Mind blowing food
100% bacon
A burger that utilizes an excess of bacon in every single aspect from the pure bacon patties to the

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Waffle tacos
This treat doesn’t have a time..but during breakfast it’s a top choice.Filled with breakfast goodies, you can literally eat a well-balance breakfast while driving. Not that I’d condone eating and driving…le taco with ice cream..it’s supreme!

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food, taste

Oreo Madness in-trending 6

Fast, easy, yummy

Attention, baking is not included. You wake up one day and you have a “want to eat chocolate need”, story of your life, i know! So if you want to make something yummy for you and your favorite people, you have to play it safe and choose oreo cookies as the main ingredient of your recipe.

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Let’s do it

We need

1 Pack of Oreos

1 cup of milk

Cool whip, light, or fat free will also work if you are looking to cut a few extra calories off.

Let’s cut to the chase

Dip the cookies in the milk, for a second or two, and then let them rest. Spread whip cream on the top and then put one more layer of oreo cookies, and then again whip cream. On the top, if you have a few extra cookies, crumble them, and spread them. It’s ready to amuse your senses.

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