Monday, August 3, 2015

Chocolate Martini



If the return of the martini and it's recent rediscovered popularity has you feeling left out while you're making a cocktail, then it's time you tried a chocolate martini.  Let's face it, if it wasn't for the vermouth, a martini is really just straight vodka.  For someone who doesn't like straight vodka a martini can taste kind of harsh.  The solution is try one of the many specialty martinis that are packing them in at martini bars.  And one of the tastiest martinis around is the chocolate martini.  There are a few different ways to make chocolate martinis and all of them are delicious.

Chocolate Martinis are made with vodka. Gin and chocolate sounds like a terrible idea to me so thankfully  I haven't seen a recipe like that. Most recipes call for vodka which is mixed with something chocolaty like Godiva Liqueur or Creme De Cacao. This first recipe contains both.



Chocolate Martini Recipe


1 1/2 shots Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
1 1/2 shots Creme De Cacao
1/2 shot Vodka
2 1/2 shots Half And Half
Add all to a cocktail mixer and shake well
Pour into a chilled martini glass dusted with chocolate powder.


The official chocolate martini recipe endorsed by Godiva is as follows:

Godiva Chocolate Martini


1 oz. Godiva Chocolate Cream Liqueur
1 oz. Ciroc Vodka
Shake until blended and pour into a chilled Martini glass.

A Hershey's Kiss is a great garnish for a chocolate martini. I've even seen some bartenders who drizzle chocolate syrup around the rim of the glass.

And if your looking for an easy way to make a chocolate martini why not try one of those pre-made cocktail mixes. You should be able to find a few different mixes at your local liquor store.  All you have to do is add vodka and you're all set.  It doesn't get much easier than that.

No matter what recipe you choose you really can't go wrong. If you think about it, you're mixing vodka and chocolate. It would be difficult to make those ingredients taste bad.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Lavender Heart Cookies


These Lavender Heart Cookies are not only simple to make, using only a few ingredients but lavender contains Vitamin A, Iron and Calcium and is known to relieve stress, anxiety and insomnia. A sweet and fragrant treat to enjoy before bedtime.
Lavender Heart Cookies


Ingredients:

  • 115g/4oz butter
  • 90ml/6 tablespoons caster sugar
  • 175g/6oz plain flour
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lavender florets

Cream together the butter and 60ml/4 tablespoons of the sugar till light and fluffy. Stir in the flour and lavender and work it in, kneading with your hands till it comes together into a soft ball of dough.

Cover with cling film and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.

Roll out on a lightly floured surface. Stamp out the cookies with a heart shaped cutter (alternatively a fluted-edged round cutter). Makes about 18 with a 5cm/2inch cutter. Put carefully onto a lightly greased baking tray and sprinkle the remaining sugar onto the top of each shape.

Bake at 200C/400F for about 10 minutes till golden. Leave the cookies on the tray for 5 minutes, before putting on to a cooling rack.
Location: Seacombe Gardens SA 5047, Australia

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Free Self Hypnosis Track! Attract Love



As someone who struggles with anxiety, depression and insomnia I can vouch for the effectiveness of self hypnosis when it comes to easing the symptoms of these disorders. Self hypnosis may not be a magical cure for a problem but it can certainly help a person calm their mind, focus on the things that they need to and also feel better about themselves. These things are very important when you are trying to overcome a problem.

 This "Attract Love" self hypnosis track wont automatically deliver you the partner of your dreams but it is a beautiful, inspiring, hypnotic track that will make you feel good about yourself and help you realise that you are deserving of love. It can help you open yourself up, stop pushing others away and also get rid of the negative, frightened feelings that many feel when they are falling in love with someone and those negative feelings are sometimes what destroys a perfectly good, blossoming relationship.

 Here is a video of "Attract Love" that can be found on my YouTube channel and if you would like to download the mp3 the link is below. 

While you can listen to this track while doing mindless tasks and still reap the benefits, I strongly advise that you wear headphones, lay back in a quiet place with ambient light, remove distractions and close your eyes. It is incredibly pleasant to listen to.

 Disclaimer: Just like all my shares here on Eat Inspire Love Create I have bought the rights and have permission to sell and distribute "Attract Love" as I please. When you download the "Attract Love" mp3, you are only given personal use rights which means that you can not sell or redistribute the track without permission. If you would like more information on how you can get private label rights to the "Attract Love" self hypnosis track,  please use the contact form at the very bottom of the page to get in touch with me.

 Download "Attract Love" Here 

 *You will be redirected through an Adfly link, if you do not wish to view the ad, just click the "skip ad" button in the top right hand corner and you will be taken to where you can download your track.

Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce


This is a simple pasta sauce that can easily be modified to suit your taste. I personally prefer to substitute canned tomatoes for a mixture of fresh roma and cherry tomatoes. You will need to add more sugar if you are using fresh tomatoes but it gives a chunkier texture that goes great with fettuccine and crumbled fetta cheese.

 Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 
  • 1 large onion, chopped 
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed 
  • 2 (14.5 ounce) cans tomatoes, chopped 
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste 
  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 
  • 2 teaspoons sugar 
  • 3/4 cup basil leaves, torn into pieces 
  • Salt and ground black pepper to taste


 Directions

 Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook the onion and  garlic in the hot oil until tender, about 5 minutes. 

 Stir the tomatoes,  red pepper flakes, vinegar, and sugar into the onion and garlic  mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the flavours blend to your liking, 45 to 60 minutes. 

 Stir the basil into the sauce; season with salt and pepper. 

Cream Cheese Fruit Dip


This is a simple, quick, fresh summer recipe that is great for entertaining friends. Pour a few glasses of sparkling rose' and get your friends to help you out with this dip while you focus on other things.

 Ingredients

  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
  • Assorted fresh fruit
Directions

 In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, brown sugar and vanilla; mix well. 

 Serve with fresh fruit for dipping. 

 Refrigerate  leftovers.

No Bake Peanut Butter Pie



This delicious dessert that would go great with some whipped cream and crushed peanuts on top.


Ingredients
  • 4 ounces cream cheese
  • 1 cup confectioners sugar, sifted (also known as powdered or icing sugar)
  • 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 8 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • 1 deep-dish chocolate flavoured crust


 Directions

 In a large mixer bowl combine cream cheese and confectioners sugar; mix well. Add peanut butter and mix. 

 Slowly add milk and mix well. Fold in whipped topping. Pour into pie shell and cover. Freeze for at least 30 minutes. 

 Drizzle each serving with chocolate syrup. 

Free Gift! Dash Diet Dynamite


This powerful guide will provide you with all the necessary information to easily transition you into living a healthy lifestyle and finally achieve your dream of dropping cholesterol and stopping hypertension in it's tracks.


Click the above link to download Dash Diet Dynamite. Your will be redirected through an Adly link, if you wish to skip the ad, just click "skip ad" in the top right hand corner. You will then be taken to where you can download your gift.

Oven Baked Summer Squash Fries


Fries or chips, are a delicious snack at any time of the year. They don't always have to be made of potatoes though. Deep fried potato fries are certainly yummy but can get a little boring at times, these oven baked, summer squash fries are a much healthier and tastier alternative.

 Summer squash has a similar flavour and texture to zucchini, so zucchini can be used as a substitute to summer squash, just be aware that zucchini can bake a little faster than summer squash, so remember to keep an eye on it.

Ingredients
  • 1 medium summer squash
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 ½ cups breadcrumbs (try panko breadcrumbs for a crunchier texture)
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon mustard power
  • Salt and pepper
  • Olive oil

Directions

 Preheat oven to 400 F. Grease a large baking sheet with olive oil and set aside.

 Cut your summer squash into wedges. Remove the seeds if they are quite large and set wedges aside.

 Whisk the eggs in a dish and set aside. 

 In another dish, combine the bread crumbs, paprika, mustard powder and salt and pepper. 

 Start by dipping the wedges, one by one, into the egg mixture and then the bread crumb mixture. 

 Place each wedge on the greased baking sheet, continue until all wedges are done.

 You can bake the wedges as is for about 30-40 minutes (until they are soft on the inside and golden brown on the outside , but if you want more of a golden colour and crunchy texture, drizzle or spray some olive oil on top of the wedges. Turn over halfway through baking.

 Serve with ranch, sour cream and sweet chilly or another favourite dip. 

Easy Chicken Curry


There is nothing like the feeling of comfort that you get while eating a warm chicken curry on a cold, frosty night. Although the following recipe takes a little over an hour to prepare and cook, the results are worth it and it's put together with very few ingredients, most of them you would have in the pantry or fridge already.
Ingredients

  • 6 skinless, boneless chicken  breast halves - cut into strips 
  • 1/4 cup olive oil 
  • 2 large onions, diced 
  • 1/3 cup curry powder, or to taste


 Directions
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until soft and golden brown. Slowly stir in curry powder. Once ingredients are blended together, add chicken breasts. Cover skillet and simmer over medium low heat for about 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside.
Remove cover from skillet and cook for an additional 15 minutes, until sauce reduces. (Note: Make sure that you stir and that dish does not burn, as curry powder burns very easily!)

Hair-do Holyland. A Free Gift To EILC Readers


To celebrate the launch of Eat Inspire Love Create, I am giving away Hair-do Holyland as a free gift to you.

 The book covers the basics, as well as how to determine your face shape, how to choose a style that suits your face and lists certain styles that typically go with certain face shapes. 

You can view and download Hair-do Holyland HERE 
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