Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Makeup Kit Birthday Cakes (Giveaway)

The idea came from Debbie Browns' Book "50 Easy Party Cakes", which I find a very good source for birthday cake ideas.  The design was slightly different than mine.
I used Gumpaste for all the makeup accessories and the eye shadows were made with sugar and edible powder.



 This is a second version of the same cake idea.
If you would like to participate in my Giveaway please visit the post: Student Ideal Organic Energy Bars!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Chicken with Veggies and Sesame Seeds (Giveaway)

Another guilt free recipe... This chicken dish is very easy to make and is super delicious! I just used the vegetables I had in the fridge and a tiny imagination.
You can use the veggies of your choice. I am sure it will be equally tasty!
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Chicken with Veggies and Sesame Seeds
Serves 4

Ingredients
2 tbls Greek olive oil
10 medium mushrooms
2 spring onions
1 large carrot
1 small zucchini
1 yellow pepper
150gr sweet corn
400gr skinless and boneless chicken
1 tsp ground coriander
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp sweet paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp of dark soy sauce
2 tbsp of sesame seeds

1) Cut all vegetables into thin strips; using 1 tbls of olive oil sauté vegetables in the order those are given to the ingredients. Do not overcook.
2) Cut the chicken into strips and season with the spices; cook it by using one tbsp of olive oil.
3) Combine chicken with vegetables; Add soya sauce and sesame seeds.
4) Serve hot. 

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If you would like to participate in my Giveaway please visit the post: Student Ideal Organic Energy Bars!

Monday, February 13, 2012

“Love Bites” for my Valentine, a Giveaway and an Award





These small heart bites were created for my Valentine...!!!
Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!!
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“Love Bites” for my Valentine
Makes 48 small hearts

Ingredients
½ cup vegetable oil
¾ cup caster sugar
1 medium egg
¼ cup full fat yogurt (Greek type)
¼ cup evaporated milk
¾ cup all purpose flour
1 vanilla sachet
¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
¼ tsp baking powder
A pinch of salt

Preparation Method
1) With a hand whisk combine oil and sugar; add the egg, yogurt and evaporated milk.
2) Sift flour, vanilla, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and salt.
3) Combine the wet mixture with the rest of the ingredients.
4) Fill the silicone heart pan and bake at 170ºC (338ºF) for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 160ºC (320ºF) and continue baking for another 5 minutes.
5) Allow cakes to cool completely before any decoration.
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On the 9th of February 2012 I was awarded the "Liebster Blog Award" from Sudha from Wit, Wok and Wisdom.  A wonderful blog with delicious recipes.
"Leibster" means dearest in German and as with any award, there is bit of a ceremony involved.These are the rules if you accept the award:
  • Copy and paste the award on your blog.Link back to the blogger who gave you the award.
  • Pick your five favorite blogs with less than 200 followers who deserve to be noticed and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have received the award.
  • Hope that the five blogs chosen will keep spreading the love and pass it on to five more blogs.
Please do visit their interesting blogs and the mouth-watering recipes! In no particular order they are: 

Please do accept the award and spare some time to send it out to your favorite bloggers and help this yarn of affection weave a lovely circle of friends in blogland!
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In order to participate in my Giveaway please visit the following link and act accordingly...

Monday, February 6, 2012

Student Ideal Organic Energy Bars (and a Giveaway)!

This post is dedicated to the students of BMCC: Borough of Manhattan Community College.

I remember when I was a student, especially during the mid terms when I was pilled up with exams, I was craving for sugar and the easiest snack I could find back then, was a chocolate or ready made cookies.  Nowadays I crave for a sweet bite regularly, most of the times because I feel tired or stressed, but I try to control it with healthier choices.  An article that was written by my dietitian, Ioannis Kerimis, “Stress and Emotional Eating”, made me realize that most of the times the reason I end up eating sweets is mostly because of what I feel.

I tried to create a snack that can give the receiver a sweet taste, without the guilt that usually accompanies similar snacks, and at the same time to offer energy and nutrition, something that it is essential for students.  In this way we can satisfy our need for a sweet bite and control our weight too. Another article that gave me useful information about my eating mistakes is “Factors that negatively affect weight loss”.

These bars are made with organic ingredients and they contain approximately 125-130 calories per bar. They are very easy to make and they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two months.

As a Thank you gesture I wanted to make a Giveaway of a purely Mediterranean Cookbook.

My dearest friend Ivy from Kopiaste.org was kind enough to offer us the 1st Volume of her excellent e-Book “MINT, CINNAMON &BLOSSOM WATER”.
Volume 1 includes all Savory dishes, mezedes, side dishes and salads.

In Volume 2, you will find Breads, bread products, Pites (pies), snacks, almyra (savory pastries), traditional and modern Desserts, Glyka tou koutaliou (fruit preserves), marmelades (jams), drinks, etc.

The winner of the Giveaway will be announced at the 29th of February 2012 after a random draw. (Random.org will be used).


Due to a blog problem leaving a comment might take 3-4 minutes, but finally it works. 


In order to participate in this Giveaway please do either or both of the following:
- Share the post in Facebook and/or Twitter and Copy/Paste the link to my blog letting me know that you've done so.
- Leave a 2nd comment on this post stating your thoughts about emotional eating.
- You can leave up to two comments. 

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Student Ideal Organic Energy Bars
Makes 20

Ingredients (all Organic)
1 cup oats
½ cup Oatbran (Mornflake)
½ cup raw unsalted sunflower seeds
¼ cup whole-wheat flour
½ cup powdered nonfat dry milk (Regilait 0%)
½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
¼ teaspoon mixed spices
12 dried apricots
10 raw pecan nuts or 40 raw almonds (60gr)
8 pitted dried dates
½ cup raisins
1 pealed and shredded apple
¼ cup mountain bee honey (80gr)
2 egg-whites (medium eggs)

Preparation Method
1) Place all ingredients except egg-whites, honey and apple in a food processor and pulse until the mixture is finely chopped.
2) Add the egg-whites, honey and apple and pulse until the mixture is well combined.
3) On the bottom of a square pan (25cm x 25cm)  place a non stick baking paper, and spread mixture evenly in the pan.
4) Bake in a pre-heated oven at 170ºC (350ºF), for approximately 20 minutes.
5) Allow to cool and cut into 20 bars.
6) Wrap with clean film and store in the fridge.



Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Bitter Double Chocolate Tart (low in calories)

Another delicious, guilt free dessert!  It was made with simple ingredients that give maximum taste... 

You can keep it in the fridge for up to one week! 
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Bitter Double Chocolate Tart (low in calories)
Serves 12

Crust Ingredients
13 Digestive Biscuits (light)
1/3 cup organic oatmeal
1/3 cup organic oats
2 tbsp vegetable butter (melted)
2 tbsp warm water

Filling Ingredients
2¼ cups light milk (1.5% fat)
1 cup water
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/3 cup mountain honey
1 tsp pure vanilla essence
10gr gelatin (1 sachet)
1/3 cup cold water
1/3 cup hot water
60gr dark chocolate (74% cocoa)
½ tsp ground cinnamon

Crust Preparation Method
1) Process biscuits until fine. Add oatmeal, oats, melted butter and water. Process until combined.
2) Press mixture over base of a 26cm round tart pan, and bake for 15’ minutes at 170ºC. Allow to cool.

Filling Preparation Method

1) Sprinkle gelatin over the cold water and allow to stand for 10 minutes. Then add the hot water and allow gelatin to fully dissolve. 
2) In a deep saucepan mix the milk, water, cocoa powder, cornstarch and honey. Turn the heat on to medium and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil, about 10 minutes.  Stir in the dissolved gelatin.

3) Remove from the heat. Add the chocolate and stir until melted. Stir in the vanilla and ground cinnamon. Pour the mixture into the tart crust and let set overnight in the refrigerator.



Saturday, January 28, 2012

Bushmills Whiskey Birthday Cake

Bushmills Whiskey Cake made with fondant, for my cousin Marios who celebrated his birthday on the 31st of December 2011!! 

The base was a chocolate fudge cake, covered with bitter double chocolate cream.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

How To Make Chocolate Lollipops


The chocolate lollipop idea came from Ina's show Barefoot Contessa.  Ina used white chocolate, dry fruits and raw nuts to make her lollipops, but since the ones you see in the photo were made for kids I used milk chocolate and smarties.
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Makes approximately 25 Chocolate Lollipops.
Melt 800gr of milk chocolate in the microwave. Stir every 30 seconds until chocolate has melted completely. With the help of a deep spoon poor chocolate in rounds on a non stick sheet. Instead of a non stick sheet I used a silicone sheet, something that I do not recommend since I broke a few lollipops when I tried to remove them. 

Before the chocolate has set, place the lollipop sticks in the middle of each chocolate round, giving the stick a little twist. In this way the stick will be covered with chocolate.

Sprinkle the tops of the lollipops evenly with the smarties. Set aside to harden, overnight.  Remove from the sheet and store in a dry place.

Kids will be thrilled with the idea of a chocolate lollipop. 
Take my word for it :-)!!




Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Why do diets fail?


- Why do the biggest percentage of people who are on diets fail to reach their target weight?
- Why do people who reach their target weight, put it all back on again?
- Why do overweight people visit so many dietitians and read so many diet books, but are still overweight?

People intending to embark on a diet should get answers to all the above questions before they enter any dietary programs.

After many diet attempts, and with the assistance of several dietitians, and many hours of reading, I have concluded that our efforts for losing weight is only 15% of the whole process. The other 85% is to educate ones self in the art of cooking, observing and handling food. Losing weight is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT and very time consuming, not to mention dedication, will power and total commitment. Imagine how difficult the rest must be…

Perhaps dietitians should spend more time explaining the importance of how to handle food and less on weight loss. Losing weight heals the cause but not the problem.

In the long run, diets that include only simple foods, with dull flavors, drive people to binge eating and in cases that the patient/client has a lot of weight to lose, this tactic will result in only half the weight loss target.

When one has reached their target weight, it is thought this is the final achievement, but it is not, it’s only the beginning. Most people I know who have been on diets tend to regain all the weight they have lost over a short period of time. I, myself have experienced this over the past 30 years.

What we actually need is a dietary program that includes smart, thoughtful cooking recipes which will offer us the pleasure, without the guilt of the extra calories. Eating raw, boiled or grilled food regularly with a salad as a side dish, is frustrating!! I discovered that there are recipes, low in calories, which offer satisfaction in preparing them and more importantly in eating them. I discovered that the reason I failed with my diets all these years was the fact that I was feeling guilty to eat foods which were delicious in taste. Now, I now that I can have delicious dishes with fewer calories, and still lose weight. Now I know that I can succeed. 

Feeling so stressed about my continual failures, in August 2011, I decided to put my new strategy to the test … I am now almost mid-way through achieving my goal and things are getting seriously difficult. The difference is that now things look more promising,  because this dietitian is more open to new suggestions.

Success for me is not only to lose the excess weight but to educate myself in how to handle food; how to cook it, and how to eat it – guilt free.
If I manage to think healthily I will stay healthy, and I have found this to be a fact!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Knights' Castle Birthday Cake

This birthday Cake was made for a 6 year old boy called Andreas. 
Happy Birthday Andrea!!
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The idea came from Debbie Browns' Book "50 Easy Party Cakes", which I find a very good source for birthday cake ideas.  The design was a bit different than mine. For a birthday cake in this size I think my version looks better...! The main castle had a diameter of 21cm x 21cm and the height was about 16cm.
My kids were very excited with this birthday cake, so I think I will make something similar for my boys when they will have their birthday party.
The cake was made with butter, cacao, powder sugar, eggs, biscuits, vanilla essence and brandy.  The castle towers were made with round cardboard covered with fondant.
The flag was made with gumpaste.
This is a rear view of the cake.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Strawberry Shortcake Cartoon Hat Cake

This Birthday Cake was made for a special girl called Olia.  She celebrated her 5th birthday on the 7th of January 2012.  Great party Olia!!  Happy Birthday!!

The bottom cake was a triple chocolate fudge cake. The hat was a cookie cake. Both were covered with fondant.
 The strawberries were painted with edible Wilton colours.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Vegetable Tart

My dietitian is very fond of simple food, something which I find extremely boring. I love creating recipes and I adore  color in my plate, so  I am trying to find a way to please us both. Every time I tell him that I will cook something my way, his face changes. The  look I see in him  is a mixture of horror and disappointment, but  immediately I balance the situation  by saying something  funny… :-).

I have to admit that if I followed exactly his instructions  I would have  lost much more weight than I did up to now, but at least I lost  weight my way as well :-).

What is my way? Well nowadays, the answer is: creating colorful but lower in calories dishes and desserts. Kitchen is my play  ground and I  think I will never grow up :-)!!!

The reason I created the following recipe was my need of creating something which would look like a tart or a pizza.

I cheated by adding cheese (not on my diet menu for this meal), but I truly believe that the amount I used was fine for a serving (20gr per serving).
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Vegetable Tart
Serves 6

Base Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup organic oats
1 tbsp Greek extra virgin olive oil
¼ tsp salt
1 cup of warm water

Filling Ingredients
3 medium zucchini
2 medium eggplants
6 medium mushrooms
2 medium tomatoes
120gr light cheddar cheese (shredded)
2 tbsp Greek extra virgin olive oil
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp sweet paprika
⅛ tsp coriander powder
½ tsp dried thyme
2 tbsp fresh cilantro (finely cut)

Base Preparation Method
1) Mix flour, oats and salt. Incorporate olive oil and finally add the water.
2) Form an elastic dough and roll it out into ½ cm thick.
3) Place the dough in a 26cm round tart pan and cook in a preheated oven, for 15 minutes at 200ºC.

Filling Preparation Method
1) Cut all vegetables in thin slices.
2) Mix olive oil with salt, pepper, paprika and coriander powder. Brush sliced zucchini, mushrooms and eggplants with this mixture and cook in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes at 200ºC.

When both base and filling are ready assemble tart. Use cheese in between each layer and make sure there is tomato in the middle and on top of the tart.

Sprinkle the dried thyme on top of the tart and cook for another 10 minutes at 200ºC.

Add fresh cilantro before you serve.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Winter Cake Selection

This is my Winter Cake Selection.  I love snowmen and bears, so as you can see I decorated a lot of cakes with these two elements. 

 Most of them were fruit cakes with an addition of almonds, walnuts and raisins.

I used marzipan and rolled fondant to cover all cakes.



Coconut flakes and a touch of icing sugar were added to create the snow effect.




This one was a brownie mixture with walnuts.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2012!!!
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For those who are wondering where is the recipe, this was a common orange cake with a coin in it. The person who finds the coin is considered to be the lucky person of the year!!!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Coconut Christmas Tree


This Christmas Tree is dedicated to all of my readers, family and friends.
May they all have a Merry Christmas!!
Thank you for all your love and support!
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Coconut Christmas Tree
Serves 16 small portions

Ingredients
130gr egg white (4 egg whites)
15gr light brown sugar (1 tbsp)
5gr vanilla sugar (1 sachet)
60gr shredded coconut
100gr chocolate (any type you wish)
¼ tsp orange essence


Preparation Method
1) With an electric mixer beat the egg whites with the sugar and the vanilla to form a stiff meringue.
2) Gently mix in the shredded coconut and form 16 small balls (ping pong size balls).
3) Bake in a preheated oven for 5 minutes at 180ºC and then continue baking for another 6 minutes at 150ºC. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
4) Melt the chocolate; mix in the orange essence.
5) On a flat surface form the 1st layer of the tree. Cover with chocolate and continue the process until you form the Christmas Tree. Decorate with candies of your choice.
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