NUTELLA BRAIDED TEAR AND SHARE BREAD

Found this video for  NUTELLA BRAIDED TEAR AND SHARE BREAD:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwvYmBo_bN4&feature=youtu.be

We have tried and tested this recipe and its delicious in every way.

Here are our before and afters:

Breakfast Treat: French Toast with Honey & Cinnamon

This week end was full of Breakfast Treats.

Saturday morning started with French Toast with Honey & Cinnamon; simple and easy but nevertheless delicious.

French Toast with Honey & Cinnamon

Ingredience:
6x slices of bread (of your choice)
4x large eggs
1x tablespoon of milk
sprinkle of cinammon
Table spoon of butter or cooking vegetable oil
honey as much as needed
1x non stick pan

Method:
1. In a bowl beat the 4 eggs with the milk. Add the cinnamon and beat until mixture becomes smooth.
2. Add the butter to your non stick pan and allow to melt/ vegetable oil to warm up.
3. Soak both sides of  2 slices of bread in to the egg mixture and then place in pan. Allow to cook for about 3 minutes on each side or until they look golden. 
4. Once golden squeeze some honey on the top of each slice while still hot so the honey will melt in to the french toast.
5. Repeat this for the rest of the bread slices until mixture if finished.

There you have it... easy and simple breakfast treat!!!

12 Best Tips for Saving

Here are a few tips that will help keep some cash in your pocket:
 
1. Saving your change! Gather all your loose change in one place (not in your purse or pocket where you will end up spending it). This could be kept at home and over the course of one year, you will surely have a good gathering of an emergency fund.

2. Keep Track! It is important to know what you spend and were you spend it. Keeping track of all small purchases will help you evaluate your expenses and also allow you to make better choices in the future. Example: I bought bread and milk from the local bakery and spent €3.25. On a different day i bought bread and milk from the local supermarket and spent €3.10. Not a big difference? Well a little goes a long way... Take note of where you can purchase your essentials cheaper and keep track of how much you have spent over the course of one month.

3. Think Before you Spend! You saw that beautiful dress in the store window and you just got to have it? Or do you? Don't buy it on impulse, take a day to think about it. Is it an evening dress; will you ware it more than once; will you get good use out of it if you do purchase it? If you give your self a little time to think it over, you will have less regrets about impose spending.

4.Create a Budget! Start from the first day of the month and keep all your receipts of all purchases (big and small). By the end of one month, you will be able to know what are your major monthly expenses and what are your & your family's needs and expenses. You will be able to then create a realistic budget for all these expenses and always keep keep within that budget.

5. Spend what you have! Yes, it might be the easy way out to use your overdraft option when paying with credit or debit cards. Unfortunately this will leave you in dept and could effect how you sleep at night. So spend what you have and no more. Make this a Golden Rule!

6. Prevent! Do you avoid certain things until they just have to be done? Do you neglect the cervice of your car until it finally breaks down, leaving you with a repair bill that is be double the amount of your regular service? Make a plan and add these chores to your monthly budget. If its accounted for there will be less change of you avoiding what has to be done before any disasters.

7. Sales/Discounts! Take advantage of the months were all the stores go on Sale. This would be the best time to purchase birthday/Christmas gifts in advance. Its the perfect opportunity to buy that something special at 50% off.

8. Tangible Goals: If you plan on putting €200.00 or more toward your savings; chances are you will not meant your goal. But saving €20.00 a week is a more possible scenario.  Keep your goals simple enough to be able to keep them! 

10. Shop On-Line! Are you planing on having a party? Are you expecting a new baby? If you have a heads up on upcoming events, it is not a bad idea to purchase items online and in advance. Also try to purchase things in bulk so shipping fees are reduced.

11. Plan ahead: Are you spending quite a bit of money on ordering food for lunch? Planing ahead by making little extra food from the night before so  you can take to work the next day; will have a large affect on you savings. 

12. List It! Before heading out to the market make sure you have your grocery list in hand.  Make sure you keep to the list and do not end up purchasing the unnecessary items just because they happen to be on promotion.

 

Giant Cookie

Time for something sweet!!!

Do you love cookies and just can't stop at one? Well now you can with this Giant Cookie recipe...

Ingredients:
100g  Kerrygold butter
259g All purpose flour
100g Sugar
4-5 Table spoons Nutella
1 Large egg
1 teaspoon of milk

Method:
1. In a bowl mix the softened butter with the sugar and flour using your hands.
2. Break the egg and add it to your mixture. Fold it in again with your hands.
3. Add the teaspoon of milk and work the dough with your hands until it becomes one.
4. If the dough is to soft or is sticking to your hands, add a little more flour until it no longer sticks.
5. Create one ball with the dough and then cut it in to 4 quarters.
6. Start pressing the first quarter dough on to non stick baking paper to form a circle (the side of a dessert plate). To make sure it does not stick you can sprinkle some flour on the surface of your paper.
7. On top of the circle spread about one full tablespoon of Nutella.
8. Start pressing the second layer above the Nutella layer and repeat this layering of dough and Nutella for all 4 balls of dough. 4 layers of dough and 3 layers of Nutella last layer must be dough.
9. As you press the dough some of the Nutella will be visible and not compleatly cover. This is ok! we don't need it to look perfect!

10. Bake in oven of 200°C for 15 min or until top turns golden.

Serve with Milk :)
Yummy!!!

Feta Spinach pie - Greek style

Hi there!
So i have been in the kitchen yesterday and made my Feta-Spinach pie (Greek Style).
I must say that it came out quite good and it was not difficult to make at all.

Ingredients:
 1 table spoon Olive Oil
1 finely chopped Onion
10 cubes or 1/2 pack of frozen baby Spinach Leaves
250g Feta Cheese 
Black Pepper (to taste)

1 pack of basic phyllo dough (sfoliata)

1 egg
Some butter or baking spray (for non stick purposes) 

Method for Filling:

1. In a large pan add the Olive Oil and finely chopped Onion. Allow to cook until onion  is translucent. 

2. Add the 10 cubes or frozen baby Spinach Leaves to the pan with the onion and cover with lid for about 3-4min. (this will defrost the spinach)

3.Once Spinach is defrosted uncover and add some black pepper. Allow to cook for a couple of minutes so that any excess liquids from the spinach is cooked away. 

4. Now add the Feta Cheese to the pan with the spinach. Stir to become one with the spinach as the cheese melts. 

Method for Phyllo Dough: 

1. In a baking tray use some butter to cover the surface of the tray or spray some non stick baking spray.

2. Davide the phyllo in to two stacks (one for bottom and one for top)

3. Add the one stack to the bottom of the buttered baking tray covering sides of the tray as-well. Between layers of the phyllo dough add some beaten egg to help hold the phyllo together (does not have to be evenly distributed)

4. Pour the Feta & Spinach filling on top of the bottom layer and cover with the stack for top layer. Once more add some of the beaten egg between layers to hold and help stick the sided of the top layer with the bottom layer of dough.

5. Use the rest of the beaten egg to brush the surface of the top of the pie for a golden shiny look.

6. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes at 175°C.

7. Once you remove the pie from the oven. Cover for 10 minutes with some foil paper. This will soften the phyllo.

  

Savings From Scratch

Officially down to my last penny.

June has been a financially overwhelming month and there are still 7 days to go.

My salary and savings where tackled by a  series of events such as bills, payments, Doctors appointments and tests, tuition, expenses of a christening and the little bits and peaces that pop up unexpectedly.

Where does that leave me? Saving from Scratch!
How do i feel about it? Stressed... Very stressed!
Secondary feelings? I feel up for the challenge!  Determined to take it one step at a time by saving and gathering whatever i can.

Goals? By the end of July 2015 to at least double the little that i have left in my bank account today witch is €70.00. (better to have small and steady goals than unachievable ones)

How do i plan on starting my savings?

• By only spending on what i need.
• Using my creative side to lower my expenses (DIY projects). 
• Making shopping lists and not drifting from the list when out shopping.
• Use what ever is in my fridge creatively before hitting the market.
• Making a list of expenses; so all major deductions are accounted for and expected from the beginning of the month.
• Create a petty cash book; so i can keep track of all the monthly expenses.
• Gaining the support and understanding of those living in the same household.