Happy New Year!!!

James Morisson in the background, a glass of red wine, xmas lights (yes, i admit i haven't taken off the xmas decorations yet..lol) and ready for some blogging..;)
It's been a while since my last blog post..Meanwhile, 2012 is starting its journey.. I wish u all a very very happy new year!! Filled with health, love, courage, happiness, understanding, new experiences, creative moments, but above all persons who love u and care for u to share all these with.
I've closed a big chapter of my life and going on for the next one. My 5+ yrs old relationship ended in late November. I can't say i wasn't upset and sad.. It just comes a point to your life where u;ve got to make a step, especially when u're with a person for such a long time. After 5 whole years u know the good and the bad and u can decide whether u can spend the rest of your life with that person or not.
I couldn't.. I needed someone who will be there for me always. Someone who will hold my hand no matter what. Someone who will say "Don't be afraid! I'm here for you". Someone who won't be able to even imagine his life without me. Someone who will need to see me each and every day. Someone who will treat me as equal. Someone who would love me JUST the way i am..
Now, i feel good!!! I feel calm and relaxed...
So, along with the coming of this new year - our last for many :p (according to many prophecies the end of the world is near)- I'm drawing a line. I start anew!! I put ME in front of all. Cause if I can give to myself, then i can give to others as well.
My New Year's resolutions are these:
1) Get in better shape! Be stronger and healthier. I'm starting on Saturday and i'll let u know how that goes! :)
2) During the last couple of yrs i've developed an even bigger fear of being in closed spaces like the subway, or even worse an airplane. That stands in my way of flying to places. So, this year i'll overcome this fear and start making my dream come true. Travel around the world, expand my horizons, meet new places, new cultures and new people.
3) Learn Italian. Yes, I adore Italy. I love Italian ppl (men especially lol), i LOVE italian food, italian music, italian scenery, italian fashion, italian everything.. As for their language it;s just music in my ears. Of course, u're gonna tell me..are u nuts?? Why learn a language that is spoken only in one country in the world? Learn Spanish for example..Well, be patient ppl. Time will come for another language as well..;) So, I'll write small phrases or words of italian i learn every once in a while.
4) STOP and i mean STOP being so stressed 24/7, 365 days a year. I'm probably one of the people that i had anxiety in my mother's wound. I'm stressed about anything. I might have an appointment tomorrow morning and i won't sleep at night. Or might leave for a holiday trip and i still won't sleep at night. I might get caught in traffic and i'll freak out. It's NOT healthy and certainly doesn't help me or the people who surround me at all. So, as of now, i'm starting doing yoga and find new ways to let the steam out and try to enjoy life and its moments more.
5) Finally QUIT smoking. It's just a freaking bad habit and nothing more!! I just fool myself by telling that i've reduced it to 2 cigarettes a day. But, the truth is that on the weekends or when i go out, i do more. So, i just HAVE to quit it once and for all!!!
6) Start writing the book i've wanted since a child. Stop having it in my mind and just put my thoughts on paper.
7) Fall in love with someone who will fall for me too and live the magic!!! That's gonna be a hard one..but it's worth the try..haha!!
8) Cut a little down on sugar. I'm a huuuuuge sweet-addict (i don't know if there's really a word for that), but i just prefer not to eat food and eat sth sweet. Bad bad bad...
9) Tell the people i love that "I love them" at least once a day. U never know when they're gonna stop being there for you...(there's a huge story here, but maybe another time)
10) Hmmm..i would probably say meet Chris Evans in person, since i'm so totally in love with that guy hahaha, but i'm gonna be an adult and say...Just BE happy and don't forget to SMILE!!! :)

I want to say..that i owe a huuuge, enormous thanks to the 1 year 1000 challenges community and of course Jesse Brisendine. If u don't know it yet, pls check on it. I'll give u the links at the end of the post. I guarantee u that u'll be more motivated and more challenged than u've ever been in your entire life. I know i have!! I've met people who are kind and beautiful not just on the outside, but in the inside as well. And i hope that i'll have the honour and the pleasure of meeting them one day in person as well.

So, that's all for now!! Take care and don't forget to smile!! :)
Be back soon!
xoxo
B.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/1Year1000Challenge
http://www.jessebrisendine.com/
http://jessebrisendine.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/JesseBris

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Ho ho ho!!!! Meeerry Xmas!!!

Good morning everyone!!! I wish Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones and I hope you had a wonderful and joyful Christmas day!!! :)
Be back with a stuffed turkey recipe and tiramisu for dessert...Mmm..yiammeee..
Stay tuned..;)

xoxo
B.

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Devil's Food Cake - Chocoholic's heaven!! :)

allyou

Temperature's dropping and i'm in mood for some chocolate!! So..what's better than a devil's food cake?? :)
Recipe from Golden Book of Baking
I know that it might seem too difficult to you, but trust me..it's not and the result is absolutely rewarding!!! ;)
You can make as many layers of cake and frosting as you like!!
Ingredients:
For the cake
3/4 cup(120gr) unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup(125ml) boiling water
2 cups (300gr) all purpose flour
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup (180gr) butter
2 cups (400gr) sugar
2 tsps vanilla extract
1 tbsp chocolate or coffee liqueur
2 large eggs
1 cup (250ml) buttermilk
For the frosting
250 gr chopped dark chocolate
1 1/2 cups (375gr) butter
6 large egg yolks
1 cup (200gr) sugar
12/ cup (125 ml) water
2 tsps vanilla extract
Preparation:
Stir the cocoa and water in a bowl until smooth. In another bowl mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Beat the butter, sugar, vanilla and liquer in the mixer at high speed until creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until well blended. With mixer in low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients alternating with the buttermilk and the cocoa mixture. Spoon the batter into two buttered 23cm round cake pans, lined with buttered parchment paper. Bake for 30-40 mins to preheated oven at 180 C. Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 mins. Turn out onto racks. Carefully remove the paper and let cool completely.
Prepare the frosting. Melt the chocolate in a bain marie. Let cool. Beat the butter until creamy. Beat the egg yolks in another bowl until pale in color. Place the sugar and water in a medium saucepan over low heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup is boiling. Wash down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Cook, without stirring, until the syruo reaches 112 C or the soft-ball stage. Remove from heat. Beat the syrup into the egg yolks in a slow, steady stream until cool. Gradually beat in the butter. Beat in the chocolate and vanilla. Place one cake on a serving plate. Spread with one'-third of the frosting. Top with the remaining cake and spread with the remaining frosting.

Good luck!!
xoxo
B.

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Christmas Tree

Yayyyy!!! I finally decorated my xmas tree! :) I wish Merry Christmas to u all!!!
xoxo
B.

Christmas Tree 2010

Mr.Santa

Golden Fairy

Mrs.Reindeer

Mr.Reindeer

Little Angel

Cute angel with chubby cheeks!!:)

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Christmas sugar cookies

marthastewart

Mmm..let's bake some delicious little xmas sugar cookies!!! :) Hope you enjoy!!
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups (230gr) all purpose flour
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup (113gr) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup (150gr) granulated white sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
For the royal icing:
1 large egg white
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups (165gr) confectioner's sifted sugar
Preparation:
In a bowl whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder and set aside.
In another bowl beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat until well combined. Add the flour mixture and beat until you have a smooth dough.
Divide in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for about an hour until firm enough to roll.
Preheat the oven to 177 C. Line two baking sheets with baking paper.
Remove one half of the dough from the refrigerator and on a lightly floured surface roll out the dough to a thickness of 1 cm. Cut out cookies with lightly floured cookie cutters of whatever shape you like and transfer cookies to the baking sheet. Put the baking sheets with the unbaked cookies in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes to chill the dough which prevents the cookies from spreading and losing their shape.
Bake for about 10 mins or until they begin to brown around the edges.
Let the cookies cool for a few minutes before transfering to a wire rack to cool completely. Frost with royal icing if desired. Be sure to let the royal icing dry before storing.

For the royal icing, beat the egg whites with the lemon juice. Add the sifted sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth. The icing needs to be used immediately or transfered to an airtight container as it hardens when exposed to air. Cover with plastic wrap when not in use.

Good luck!!
xoxo
B.

Source: joyofbaking

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Gingerbread People

MarthaStewart.com

Christmas baking wouldn't be complete without a batch of these cute Gingerbread Men. They are fragrant with ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves; the amount of which can be adjusted to suit your own individual taste. If you like your Gingerbread Men on the soft side, bake them a little less than the recipe states as the longer they bake the harder they will become. There are a few ways to decorate your Gingerbread Men; one is to press raisins into the dough before baking, or you can frost the baked and cooled cookies with confectioners' frosting. You can also use Gingerbread Men as decorations for your Christmas tree or as gift tags. To do this, pierce a hole in the top of each unbaked cookie using a straw or end of a wooden skewer. Bake the cookies and then thread a pretty ribbon through the hole and hang on your tree. 

Ingredients:

3 cups (390 gr) all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoons salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 cup (113 gr) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup (100 gr) granulated white sugar

1 large egg

2/3 cup (160 ml) unsulphured molasses (To prevent molasses from sticking to the measuring cup, first spray the cup with a non stick vegetable spray.)

Confectioners Frosting:

2 cups (230 gr) confectioners sugar (icing or powdered sugar), sifted

1/2 cup (113gr) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 tablespoons milk or light cream

Assorted food colors (if desired)

Preparation:

In a large bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and spices. 

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and molasses and beat until well combined. Gradually add the flour mixture beating until incorporated.

Divide the dough in half, and wrap each half in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight. 

Preheat oven to 177 degrees C and place rack in center of oven. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside while you roll out the dough.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Use a gingerbread cutter to cut out the cookies.  With an offset spatula lift the cut out cookies onto the baking sheet, placing the cookies about 1 inch (2.54 cm) apart. If you are hanging the cookies or using as gift tags, make a hole at the top of the cookies with a straw or end of a wooden skewer.

Bake for about 8 - 12 minutes depending on the size of the cookies. Small ones will take about 8 minutes, larger cookies will take about 12 minutes. They are done when they are firm and the edges are just beginning to brown. 

Remove the cookies from the oven and cool on the baking sheet for about 1 minutes. When they are firm enough to move, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

If desired, you can press raisins, currants, or candies into the dough for eyes and buttons while the cookies are still warm. Otherwise, confectioners frosting can be used to decorate the cookies. You can also use the icing as a glue to attach candies, raisins, and sprinkles.

Confectioners Frosting: In an electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), cream the butter until smooth and well blended.  Add the vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the sugar. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beater. Add the milk and beat on high speed until frosting is light and fluffy (about 3-4 mins). Add a little more milk if too dry.

Place the frosting in a pastry bag fitted with a decorative tip and decorate the gingerbread men as desired. Tint portions of frosting with desired food color.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies depending on the size of cookie cutter used.

Store in an airtight container.

Source: joyofbaking.com

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Christmas Ornaments

I went for some xmas shopping the other day and found some new ornaments that are so funny and cute!! :-)

P.S. I want to decorate my christmas tree nowwwwwwwwww!!!

xoxo

B.

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Mistletoe And Holly

Hello world!!! :-) Tomorrow is the first day of December and can't wait for xmas to come!!
Here is one of my favourite Frank Sinatra songs!! :-)

xoxo
B.

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Greek Christmas Sugar Buns

Another one of Greece’s traditional Christmas dessert is sugar buns!! We call them "kourabiedes".

Ingredients:

600 gr. Milk butter

250 gr. Almonds

½ tsp baking powder

1 pinch of vanilla

220 gr. Confectioner’s sugar

50 gr. Black rum

1.200 gr flour

Confectioner’s sugar for topping

Preparation:

We beat the butter with the sugar in high speed for about 20 mins.(The more we beat them the best the mixture will become).

We roughly chop the almonds after we have baked them at 160 C until they become golden and have spread them on baking paper.

We add the flour, the baking and the vanilla in the beaten butter slowly. We add the almonds and then the rum. We keep beating for another 10 mins. We mould the buns in round shapes of 3mm diameter.

We bake in preheated oven at 170 C for 15-20 mins. We take them out of the oven, let them cool very well and deepen them in the sugar.

We place them in a large plate in a pile and sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar.

Tip: Be careful to use good quality butter!! It makes all the difference!! ;-)

Hope you enjoy them!!

Good luck!!

Xoxo

B.

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Greek Christmas small honey cakes

It's only 30 more days till xmas!!! :-) Yayyy..So it's time we start preparing our recipes for the holidays!!
This dessert is traditional for greece during christmas time. We call them "melomakarona" and they are absolutely delicious!!
Ingredients:
For the cakes
530 gr. sunflower oil
400 gr. orange juice
1.200 gr. flour
30 gr. confectioner's sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp grounded cinammon
1/6 tsp grounded cloves
50 gr. butter melted
zest of one orange
roughly smashed walnuts
For the syrup
500 gr. water
700 gr. sugar
1 orange cut in half
2 cinammon bars
100 gr. honey
Preparation:
We prepare the syrup first. We put the water, the sugar, the orange and the cinammon bars in a pot and let them boil for a minute. We withdraw, add the honey and let the syrup cool.
Then we start making the honey cakes. In a deep bowl we add all the fluids and the butter. We add the sugar, the soda, the cinammon, the cloves and the zest.

We mould and add the flour. We keep moulding lightly from the center towards outside. Be careful not to mould a lot because your mixture is going to tighten. We shape the cakes in little ovals and press one of their sides to a grater.

We put them on baking paper and  bake in preheated oven at 180 C for about 30 mins until they have a golden brown color. As soon as we take them out of the oven and while they are still hot we deepen them in the cold syrup. We turn them for almost 1 minute. We take them out and let them to a rail to drain. In a large plate we put some honey and a few walnuts. We add the cakes in a pile. Among each line we add honey and walnuts. 

Hope you enjoy them!!
Good luck!!

xoxo
B.

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Rum & Coca Cola

Another one of my favourite songs that remind me of Christmas time..:-)

xoxo
B.

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Xmas is getting closer...

It's 18th of November..Christmas is so close!! :-)
So..let's get a little in the mood..;-)

xoxo
B.

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Sia Home Fashion Xmas 2010

Christmas are approaching and we all i think need to bring the festive spirit in our homes..:-)
For another year Sia Home Fashion offers a big variety of beautiful garments for our houses.
Check out the new Xmas Collection!!
Red, gold and white...fur, metal and velvet consist this year's collection!! ;-)
Merry shopping everyone!!

xoxo
B.

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