The real world

Hi there lovely friends, how have you been?

I have been in a weird mood these days. I spend quite a lot of time online and I miss being outside in the “real” world. Having an online business doesn’t help either, lol!

I miss strolling through markets with colourful items. Seeing people and going window shopping was a great mood improvement for me. No-shopping shopping therapy I used to call it!

Paris flower market 

Paris flower market 

So I’ve decided to post some of my favourite real market places I’ve visited in the past, just for the fun of it!

Riga's flower market 

Riga's market 

Nothing can compare to the freshness of a fruit and vegetable market! The colors are amazing and the smells are fantastic!

Milan fruit market 

Strawberies near Monastiraki station (photo by my dear friend Elif Ertn)

A pottery shop in Chania's central market 

Do you have a favourite market place? Is it real or an online one? Please share, I love discovering new markets!

Smouts for now

Akamatra

A beautiful wedding (and some giveaway winners)

Hello lovely friends,

it was an amazing weekend this one, one that I'll remember for years and years to come!

My sister got married in a lovely little church near our country house with close friends and family. She was ravishing! She would kill me if I were to post photos of her here and I love living so I will just show you where the ceremony took place.

And what I made for her to wear in her hair.

This was my first attempt to a hair fascinator and it turned out more beautiful than I expected it would! She was gorgeous wearing it!

And this is what I was wearing. Please don't mind the lack of the neck and the head they weren't cooperating so I ruled them out of the photo, ;)

I wore a polka dots dress with my favourite shoes from my own wedding! I made the belt to match the shoes and this time I saw it in my mom's sawing machine (with her helping all the way!). I also made a matching hair bow barrette for my hair.

Anyhow, we had a great time with lot's of laughs and great food! It was a great day!

Love you sis!

Smouts

p.s. Almost forgot. The six winners of the Firmoo giveaway are:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you all, I will contact you with the details of your coupon!

Akamatra

Eating carbs is not a sin – An easy vegan recipe

Hello lovely friends

It’s been almost two months since I quit eating meat and since then I’ve tried to find recipes to compensate. This is a very easy recipe with a great result!

It’s also very nutritious and good for boosting metabolism. Potatoes are rich in Vitamin C, B1, B3, B6 and  of course potassium and magnesium and when they are not fried they are an excellent and healthy source of carbohydrates.

Well, I know this doesn’t sit well with all those carb-haters out there and would certainly cause lots of them to scream “Are you seriously going to eat that?” but being a biochemist I strongly disagree. My opinion is that in order to be healthy one should eat every group of food in the right amount.

Anyhow, if you want to eat potatoes, here’s an easy vegan recipe.

What to get

Potatoes (biological if you can get them)

Oregano

Salt infused with herbs (if you are lucky like I am you'll have an amazing friend from Lesvos that will gift you some amazing spices!!!)

Different kind of peppers (white, red, black)

Rosemary

or any other spice you like

Extra virgin olive oil

How to make it

Peel the potatoes and boil them for 5 minutes in the pressure cooker. They should be soft but not well done.

Put them in a baking pan and cut them in smaller pieces and then sprinkle them with extra virgin olive oil.

Take the spices and combine them in the mortar. The with the beetle try to crash every large peppercorn and rosemary leaf and make an fine powder. If you want your potatoes spicy then add approximately 6-7 peppercorns for 2 portions of potatoes. If you want them hot, add accordingly!

Try not to overdo it with salt though. That precious mineral has to be treated with caution since it can cause or augment various health conditions. Springle the mixture onto the potatoes.

Bake in the oven @150^OC for 15-20 min or until they darken a bit.

Serve immediately and enjoy with good company!

Hope you like the recipe. If you have a vegetarian recipe you'd like to share, I am all ears!

Smouts for now

Akamatra