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8 Days of Hanukkah: This is How We Eat at the Jewish Festival of Lights

The word Hanukkah comes from the Hebrew and means “to devote oneself”. It marks the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem when the Maccabees rebelled against the Seleucid Empire. In the Jewish faith, Hanukkah is celebrated by reciting the Hallel prayer daily and lighting the Menorah candles to commemorate the miracle of the oil, which was supposed to give light in the temple for just one day but lasted eight days.

Although they are native to different regions (“Ashkenazi” is derived from the Hebrew word for Germany, while “Sephardic” is derived from the Hebrew word for Spain), holiday food plays a central role for both Jewish faith groups. An important part of the celebrations are traditional, often oil-based dishes such as latkes, which are also intended to commemorate the miracle of oil.

To celebrate the start of Hanukkah, we’ve put together 4 signature recipes that are sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit.

Braised brisket

One of the cheapest cuts of beef, but certainly one of the tastiest using our slow-cooking method. Our variant is braised for over 3 hours, making the brisket even tastier and more tender than the most expensive piece of steak. A traditional Jewish dish that has become a popular dish around the world as a result of the emigration of Ashkenazi Jews to the United States.

Coconut macaroons

Traditionally prepared by Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews, macaroons in many different forms have long had their place in Jewish food culture. Originally made from pistachios, almonds and cashews by Sephardic Jews in Egypt, the coconut macaroons are better known and more common, especially in Europe and the USA.

Orange Almond Cake

This cake is a very popular Middle Eastern Jewish recipe that couldn’t be simpler. With just a few ingredients and in a few steps, one of the most delicious cake variations is conjured up on the table, but you should bring some time for the preparation.

Potato Pancakes with Applesauce

When we talk about oily foods, we cannot ignore potato pancakes. Often referred to as “latkes,” the rich fritters are a popular dish during the Hanukkah festival. Whether enjoyed with sour cream and chives or with applesauce – latkes are probably one of the best feel-good dishes and, as a traditional Ashkenazi recipe, can also often be found in Central and Eastern Europe.

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Food

Quark Berry Frost Ice Cream for Hot Days

Refreshing, delicious, and guaranteed without artificial additives. The quark and berry frost is almost like homemade ice cream, the shift change looks pretty and the dessert melts in the mouth of children and adults alike.

Hot weather, no ice cream machine, and the ice cream parlor the other day tasted more like aroma than real ingredients? Then just try this dessert. By the way, it also makes a great end to a nice dinner! The recipe itself is easy, but it will take some time.

Ingredients for 4 persons

  • 500g low-fat quark
  • 6 tbsp lemon juice
  • 80g and 3 tablespoons of sugar
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 250g whipped cream
  • 300g frozen berries (wild fruit mix or raspberries taste best)
  • 75g butter
  • 150g butter biscuits

Preparation

  1. First, let the berries thaw sufficiently so that they can be pureed.
  2. Add 3 tablespoons of lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of sugar to the berries and then puree the berries with a hand blender to a fine pulp.
  3. In another bowl, mix the quark with the remaining lemon juice. Add 80g of sugar and a pinch of salt.
  4. Then whip the cream until stiff and fold it into the quark mixture.
  5. Everything is now piled up in a freezer-safe, preferably square container: Start with 4 tablespoons of quark mixture and smooth it out. Place the container in the freezer for half an hour, then take it out again and pour 2 tablespoons of berry mixture over it, smooth it out, and so on until the quark and berry puree is completely used up.
  6. When everything is layered, crumble the butter biscuits and toast them in the butter. Top the layered dessert with the crumbs and freeze completely.
  7. If you have completely frozen your quark berry ice cream, let it thaw for a few minutes before serving. But it can also be enjoyed semi-frozen.
  8. In any case, it should be firm enough to be able to cut it into 1.5 cm thick slices in the container and then serve them. Delicious!

Useful additional knowledge

You can also always apply a thin layer of liquid couverture after alternating quark and berries and let it freeze before you start with the next layer of quark. It looks lovely when sliced ​​and gives your dessert a vendetta effect. If you enjoy garnishing, you can do that with sprigs of mint or lemon balm.

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health

Fasting For 5 Days: This is What Happens in Your Body When You Don’t Eat

Hunger is not a nice feeling. It is triggered in the hypothalamus of our brain. As soon as the blood sugar level drops, it reacts. But what happens if this state is maintained for several days?

Consciously abstain from eating for five days: That sounds hard at first. You shouldn’t do it just like that and without informing yourself. There is the so-called therapeutic fasting: The withdrawal of food has positive effects on the body. In the meantime, the metabolism has to adapt strongly.

If the body is no longer supplied with food, although it is asking for it, it switches to emergency mode. He fears for his survival. First, the organism draws on its sugar reserves. These are stored as glycogen in the liver. But after 24 hours they are used up too. Next comes the egg white. It is broken down from muscles and also from the organs. The organs also lose size. At five days, however, the loss is still very small. From day four, the body falls back on the fat reserves and you start to smell unpleasant. Acetoacetic acid is produced when fat is burned. This is then transported away via sweat and breathing air.

Eating nothing: There are positive and negative effects

However, there are also side effects due to the lack of food. These include, for example, circulatory problems, headaches, freezing, water retention, sleep changes, muscle cramps, temporary visual disturbances and disturbances in the electrolyte balance.

In addition, the heart beats slower and blood pressure drops. After just a brief abstinence from food, the brain begins to produce more serotonin. Serotonin is also known as the happiness hormone. After a few days of fasting, serotonin stays in the blood for a longer period of time and your mood improves.

Under no circumstances should you just stop eating like that. If you want to cure fasting, you should get as much information as possible beforehand and possibly consult a doctor. Pregnant and breastfeeding women in particular, people with eating disorders or mental illnesses, type 1 diabetes, dementia or liver and kidney dysfunction should not fast.

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health

Tips for Calculating Fertile Days

Calculate the woman’s fertile days. Find out here how to calculate the fertile days and which tools such as apps and online calculators are available to you.

Calculate fertile days – how it works

A look at the pregnancy forums reveals how uncertain many women are when it comes to calculating the fertile days. If you would like to get pregnant faster or if you are interested in the possibilities of natural contraceptive methods, you will find the most important information here.

Reliability of the calculation methods

With all methods used to identify fertile days, it should be noted that none of the methods are very reliable. The female cycle is subject to too many influences to be able to reliably consider calculations as the sole contraceptive method.

Understand the female cycle

You probably already know the basic principles of the female cycle. If you would like to refresh your knowledge in order to be able to better understand the principles of the calculation methods, you can visualize the female cycle here using the video or a short description.

1) First day of the cycle until ovulation

The first day of the period is always calculated as the first day of the cycle. The uterus then prepares for a possible pregnancy by building up a mucous membrane in the inner wall of the uterus. This is where the fertilized egg should nest during pregnancy

2) Ovulation – ovulation

A few days before ovulation, estrogen and luteinizing hormone levels increase, so about 14 days before the menstrual period arrives, one of the two ovaries releases a follicle into the fallopian tubes, where it can be fertilized by sperm before implanting in the uterus.

3) The fertile days of women

Due to the relatively long life span of sperm, 5 days before ovulation and 2 days after it is considered fertile. In view of the large differences in sperm quality and many influencing factors in the female cycle, there can be significant shifts.

Illnesses, a slight fever, mental stress, and hormone fluctuations affect a woman’s menstrual cycle so much that none of the calculation methods are very reliable. However, if you wish to have children, you could certainly accelerate the onset of pregnancy.

4) Fertility (fertilization) phase

First, the hormone progesterone prevents the menstrual period and the mucous membrane from breaking down. If the hormone is missing, the rule starts again after about 14 days. When pregnancy occurs, the pregnancy hormone hCG ensures that the period does not start.

Methods for calculating the fertile days

Unfortunately, there is still no method to reliably identify the exact time of ovulation. In theory, you would have to be constantly under the ultrasound to do this. Even the doctor can only give approximate information. Here is an overview of all the methods and means known to us:

1) Online calculator

The simplest but also the most unreliable method of calculating a woman’s most fertile days is the online calculators, which use the first day of the cycle and the average cycle length to calculate the fertile days. Unfortunately, these widgets are completely unsuitable for prevention.

2) Temperature method (basal body temperature measurement)

A well-known method of recognizing fertile days is the temperature method or the so-called basal body temperature measurement, which should be carried out at the same time every day before getting up. The curve that is drawn shows you when you ovulated. Here is how the temperature method works exactly.

3) contraceptive computer

With the contraceptive computer, you can also use urine samples to calculate fertile days. At first glance, a computer seems to be a more reliable contraceptive method, but even with a computer, an average of 6 out of 100 women become pregnant within a year. Information on reliability from the manufacturer Persona.

4) Fertile days apps

Some apps definitely help to narrow down the fertile days. However, you should also leave data about your cycle here regularly so that your fertile days can be highlighted more precisely. A particularly practical and comprehensive “fertile days app” is the menstrual calendar. Here you can enter detailed information that can also be helpful in the next meeting with the gynecologist. Here is an overview and comparison of menstrual calendar apps.

5) Ovulation Tests

So-called ovulation sticks are available in pharmacies, which work in a similar way to pregnancy tests. The 2 most fertile days of the woman are determined with a urine sample. According to the manufacturer Clearblue, these are more reliable than the basalt temperature measurement.

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Food

Cold Brew – Cold Coffee Enjoyment for Hot Summer Days

One or the other coffee lover has heard the name of the drink before: cold brew coffee. Its fame and popularity has grown over the years. Especially in the warm summer months, the cold coffee drink regularly finds its way into many households. It is not only refreshing but also offers a great advantage: once prepared, the concentrate can be kept for up to 10 days. Another advantage: you don’t need any expensive accessories to enjoy cold coffee, because a Chemex, a hand filter or a coffee maker or French press are completely sufficient. Those who like to experiment with their coffee have plenty of opportunities to adapt the drink to their individual taste.

What is cold brew coffee and where does it come from?

Anyone who now thinks that cold brew coffee is a completely new invention is wrong. Because the cold coffee originally comes from Japan and is also called “Kyoto coffee”. It was introduced there in the 17th century by Dutch traders who had no way of preparing it with hot water during their travels.

In addition, it is well suited for travel due to its durability. Nevertheless, the way of preparing cold coffee only gained attention again a few years ago and triggered a real hype in some countries. Some coffee chains have already included the trendy coffee drink in their coffee range. In addition to the coffee maker or the French press, the Chemex and the hand filter, there are now also special accessories especially for cold coffee preparation.

Can I also prepare cold brew coffee at home with the French press?

The preparation of this aromatic refreshment is extremely simple and can easily be replicated at home. However, you need one thing above all: sufficient time. If you just want to prepare a coffee for your visit, you should use the filter coffee machine. Because the preparation can take up to 12 hours – sometimes even longer.

To make cold brew coffee you need:

A glass or container with a lid – a French press also works
Freshly ground coffee
Cold water (if you want, you can filter it first)
a filter option (fine sieve, coffee filter, Chemex or stamp of the coffee maker or French press)

And then it can start:

For cold brew coffee, you must first grind the coffee coarsely, preferably a little coarser than when preparing it in a coffee maker or French press. About 150 – 200 g of coffee powder are used for 1 liter of water. The amount of coffee depends on the type of coffee and your personal taste.

Put the ground coffee in the jar, pour in the cold water, stir once and then close the lid. Now let the whole thing steep at room temperature for 8 – 12 hours without stirring again.

If you use a French press for the cold brew, you can now press down the press plunger. Even if the coffee powder is now held on the ground, there will still be particles in the coffee. It is therefore advisable to filter the coffee concentrate again with a hand filter, a chemex or otherwise. If you do not use a coffee maker but a glass, you can now also filter the coffee concentrate.

Now you can put one part of the concentrate in a glass and dilute it with one or two parts of water. Try out your personal cold brew recipe and test how strong or mild you would like to enjoy your coffee. You can add ice cubes. You can put the remaining concentrate in the fridge and use it within the next few days.

Special features of cold brew coffee

During the entire process, the coffee is not heated and does not come into contact with heat. The preparation takes place exclusively at room temperature.
The coffee concentrate can be stored in the refrigerator for approx. 14 days. If you would like to enjoy a refreshing cold drink, you can always take small amounts.
Depending on taste, the concentrate can be diluted with water. In addition, ice cubes, ice cream or other ingredients can be added. There are no limits to the fantasies.
No special accessories are required for the preparation. A glass with a lid or a French press and a filter option are sufficient.
The preparation can take up to 24 hours, depending on your own taste.
Compared to conventional coffee, cold brew coffee has less acid and is therefore a stomach-friendly alternative to filter coffee.

Cold Brew Coffee vs. Ice Brew Coffee

Ice brew coffee is normal coffee that, unlike cold brew coffee, is boiled and cooled down with the help of ice cubes during the brewing process. A portafilter machine or a simple filter is best suited for the preparation. Through contact with the ice, the coffee is immediately cooled down again and the bitter substances are also removed from the drink. The Ice Brew coffee tastes wonderfully fruity and summery like a fresh and hot brewed coffee. Ice brew coffee can be refined with vanilla ice cream, especially on hot summer days. Our tip: Because of the melt water, divide the amount of water into 50% liquid and 50% ice when preparing. It tastes perfect!

Conclusion: it is worth trying out the trend

If you have a French press at home, you should definitely try the trend drink cold brew, but you can also do without it. Simply pull a freshly ground coffee from the coffee machine and off you go.

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Food

Emergency Supplies: You Can Get by with These Foods for 10 Days

Quarantine, power outage or worries about the political situation: Many are considering stocking up on emergency food in case of an emergency. The Ministry of Agriculture has created a corresponding shopping list with recommended foods – we have looked at them.

An emergency supply can feed you for a few days if new groceries can’t be delivered or you can’t leave the house.

However, panic and excessive hamster purchases are not appropriate. Since the first lockdown, we have known that the food supply is working well. According to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), however, it is still advisable to stock up on emergencies, regardless of the threat posed by the corona virus.

Apocalyptic scenarios are not understood as emergencies. A widespread power failure lasting several days can mean that supermarkets can no longer be supplied and the water supply is impaired.

But other unforeseen events such as natural disasters or epidemics can also mean that we suddenly no longer have access to fresh food. For these cases, the Federal Ministry has published a supply table with food that could feed a person for around ten days.

Emergency supplies: shopping list for cereals and potatoes

The list only includes products that do not need to be cooled, as it should also be valid in the event of a power failure. Therefore, frozen foods are not recommended. The ministry assumes a daily calorie intake of 2200 kilocalories per person. In addition to the “normal” table, which contains fish and meat, there is also a vegetarian shopping list. A vegan version does not yet exist.

In the cereals and potatoes category, the Ministry recommends the following foods for an emergency supply per person:

710g wholemeal bread
180g rusks
710g crispbread
280g pasta (raw)
180g rice (raw)
540g oats or other cereal flakes
710g potatoes (raw, without skin)

Emergency supplies: fruit and vegetables

With regard to fruit and vegetables, the ministry recommends using canned goods for the most part. Because they have a long sell-by date. Your shopping list should include:

570g green beans
640g peas/carrots
500g red cabbage
500g sauerkraut
290g of asparagus
290g corn
290g mushrooms
290g pickled cucumbers
290g beetroot
400g cherries
180g pears
180g apricots
250g tangerines
250g pineapple

The quantities always refer to the drained weight. Of course, canned food and well-travelled tropical fruits like pineapples are not exactly sustainable. The BMEL is primarily concerned with the list of shelf life and sufficient calorie intake. In order to improve the ecological balance of these foods, you could boil, pickle or ferment the fruit and vegetables yourself and use them to create a crisis supply.

Some dried fruit, nuts and fresh products are also on the BMEL’s emergency stock list. These are:

360g fresh onions
140g raisins
250g prunes
100g hazelnuts
710g fresh fruit (e.g. apples, bananas, pears, oranges)

Milk, eggs, substitutes, and fats on the shopping list

In the standard table, the Ministry recommends, among other things, canned tuna, sardines in oil, herring, corned beef, bockwurst or veal liver sausage. We think: Even in a temporary crisis situation, such food does not have to be. Tuna is heavily overfished, and canned sausage and meat products usually come from industrial factory farming.

The calories that the products are supposed to provide can also be consumed in other ways – without having to accept animal suffering. These products have been replaced by vegetarian alternatives in the vegetarian emergency stock list. The following foods can be found in this category:

200g tofu
150g vegetarian patties
230g vegetarian sausages
250g vegetarian spread
200g vegetarian salami
265g eggs (weight without shell)
Regarding dairy products, fats and oils, these products are on the list:

2l UHT milk (3.5 percent fat)
500g hard cheese
180g fat spread or butter
180g margarine
150ml cooking oil
To further reduce animal products, you can replace the UHT milk with oat milk or another plant-based drink. Make sure that it is a plant-based milk that does not need to be refrigerated, lasts as long as possible and has around 50 to 60 kilocalories per 100 milliliters.

Beverages and other items in emergency stock

For a 10-day emergency supply you need 20 liters of mineral water. This includes both the recommended drinking quantity of 1.5 liters per day and water for cooking pasta, rice and the like at 500 milliliters per day. For people over the age of 65, it is advisable to have even more water available, as they should drink around two liters of water a day.

In addition to mineral water, the following products are on the list in this category:

140ml lemon juice
180g coffee powder or instant coffee
90 grams of black tea
In addition, there is a table with other foods that are listed without a specific quantity. This includes:

sugar
sweetener
honey
jam
chocolate
iodized salt
ready meals
Dried potato products (e.g. mashed potatoes powder)
flour
cocoa powder
hard cookies
Pretzel Sticks

Create your individual emergency supply

The Ministry points out that this shopping list is only an example and must be adapted to individual needs such as allergies, intolerances and diets. Some foods are definitely not necessary for most people, such as artificial sweeteners or canned asparagus.

If you want to create a completely vegan emergency supply, you can rely more on legumes, which are not yet included in the ministry’s list. Lentils, chickpeas, beans and the like also provide you with important nutrients that keep you full for a long time. You can use both dried and canned products.

You can get dry groceries in bulk shops and thus avoid packaging waste. You can also reduce packaging in large containers and often save money at the same time.

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