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Easter is just a few days away and you want to put something different on the table and plate this year than a home-baked Easter lamb or a carrot cake? We found great fun food ideas for you on Pinterest – the platform for virtual pinboards.

1. This is how breakfast becomes a highlight

Pancakes are quick to make in the morning and taste good for young and old alike. Instead of a normal stack, the pancakes can also be arranged into such a cute Easter bunny. A bit of whipped cream for the flower and banana and chocolate chips or blueberries complete the runs.

2. Slightly different pieces of cake

You don’t just want to serve your guests’ normal pieces of cake? Then simply make these great carrot pieces out of your sheet cake. Bake the carrot cake, as usual, let it cool down and then spread the frosting on top. Now – as shown in the picture – cut the cake into triangles. Then decorate them with orange-colored sugar mass and make the carrot greens from the green mass. Allow to harden on a baking sheet and use to complete the cake slices.

3. Easter cupcakes

Cupcakes could also use a real update at Easter. This cute version is very easy to make. Bake the cupcakes any way you like (any filling, etc.). Of course, the obligatory frosting should not be missing. Now sprinkle the frosting with cocoa nibs. Shape the bunny pieces out of fondant and place them on the cupcake.

4. For the health-conscious

If you also want to eat healthy at Easter, you can simply put together cute bunny faces or chicks from fruit or vegetables. For example, for the bunny you need kohlrabi or cheese, the ears are made of carrots, and the whiskers are made of cucumber. The little eyes form dried apricots or raisins cut into small pieces. Simple and awesome, right?

For the sweet chick, just carefully cut open an egg, here too the eyes are made with finely chopped dried fruit. The beak is conjured up by a carrot. How cute!

5. Easter scrambled eggs

With two strips of bacon, two blueberries, and a raspberry, a bunny can be conjured up on the scrambled eggs in no time at all. For the mustache hair, simply cut cheese into thin strips. Cream cheese is great for the whites of the eyes and nose.

6. It also works with fried eggs

Do you prefer fried eggs? No problem, this can also be trimmed for Easter in just a few simple steps. Two strips of bacon, two blueberries, and a few strips of cheese – that’s all it takes. It’s easy, isn’t it?

7. Slightly different cake shape

Who says cakes always have to be round or square? If you just bake two cakes, you can easily make a bunny head out of them with the typical long spoons. Simply bake the cakes as usual and let them cool. Now cut as in the picture above and then reassemble. Decorate with buttercream or fondant.

8. Fruity Egg

Bake a fluffy sponge cake and let it cool completely. Then cut it in the shape of an egg and spread it with custard or cream cheese. Now arrange the different fruits on the cake. There are no limits to fantasy.

9. Cinnamon rolls different

Thanks to the yeast dough, cinnamon rolls are light and taste good to almost everyone. At Easter, you can vary the shape a bit and make little bunnies out of it. The image above shows you exactly how to do it.

10. Vegan Easter Lamb

Fortunately, no lamb has to lose its life with this cake. Simply bake a lamb cake according to your personal taste and decorate it with a bow, for example. The vegan Easter lamb is fluffy and beautifully yellow!

Top tips on how to throw the perfect dinner party. From the invitation to the food to staying cool with minor faux pas, we have collected the best tips for a successful evening for you.

Who doesn’t know them, the classic dinner parties from the American films? A smartly dressed hostess makes the organizational feat look as effortless as serving ready-made pizza. She also entertains the guests, smiles charmingly, and always looks freshly peeled.

Still, anyone who has ever organized a dinner for several people knows how difficult the dinner party can actually be. We have collected the best tips and tricks for a successful evening for you so that your guests feel comfortable and you don’t get stressed during the party.

Tip 1: The right guests

Before you decide to throw a dinner party, you should think about who you want to invite. That one neighbor who always finds fault with everything might not be the best choice if you want to make your party a success. You should invite close friends and family members, especially at your first dinner party, who will overlook one or the other faux pas – or who do not even notice it. In addition, you should consider whether the planned guests are good entertainers.

Tip 2: Successful invitation cards

In addition, the right flair for a successful dinner party begins with the invitations. Think of something that will delight your guests and get them interested in your party. A little insider tip: With high-quality invitation cards that you can design yourself, you can impress your guests with your individuality and ingenuity. But digital invitation cards can also have a great effect, enriched with a suitable GIF or image. Also, note the most important tips for party planning.

Tip 3: What will my guests eat?

A good hostess will ask guests about their preferences and allergies before the dinner party. This point is very important because nothing is more unpleasant than realizing that a guest suffers from a peanut allergy while eating duck in peanut coating. If you love a challenge, feel free to invite guests who eat vegetarian or vegan food – this increases the level of difficulty when cooking. Not everyone likes fresh fish. Therefore, before you plan the menu, you should know who is not eating what. Check out our housewife-approved recipes for inspiration.

Tip 4: What should be on the table?

In general, several things should be on the table: the food, but also the right dishes, and the right decorations. You can find out how to set the table correctly in the useful rules of conduct from Etiquette. You can match the decoration to the season (e.g. beautiful Easter decorations or festive Christmas decorations), but you can also decorate in a very classic way with just beautiful candles. The choice of tablecloth and napkins is just as important as the decoration. If you don’t consider yourself a professional decorator, it’s best to go for plain colors without big patterns.

Tip 5: keep calm!

Back to the dinner party goddess from the American film: There is a very simple trick to appear confident and to charmingly cover up any mishaps. Just pretend it’s meant to be! The dessert is slightly burnt? That’s how it should be, you learned in the French cooking class that light smoke aromas perfectly underline the taste. Good luck with the (almost) perfect dinner party!

Tips for eating raclette and great fondue ideas for the whole family. Because these classics offer a wide variety of options so that everyone gets their money’s worth. Therefore, they are perfect for any dinner with family and friends. The New Year’s Eve dinner can also be a success.

Eat delicious fondue and raclette

Admittedly, these two classics are not eaten very often, as they involve some effort. But especially when a lot of visitors are announced, eating fondue and raclette offers many advantages. Because both offer many possibilities for the preparation of different foods. This allows you as a host: to satisfy all of your guests’ food preferences. Consequently, we clarify what exactly raclettes and fondues are and give you suggestions on the ingredients that can be used. So you can plan the perfect dinner party.

What is raclette?

We have the Swiss to thank for the delicious raclette. Various ingredients are fried with the classic raclette cheese. As a result, you can refine a wide variety of foods such as vegetables, potatoes, ham, or seafood with cheese. Thus, each of the guests will find their preferred food and will be full. For the preparation, you use a raclette device, which has a hot plate for frying and various pan inserts. Then food is prepared upstairs for the general public. And in the pans, everyone can create their own individual dish. It is advantageous if the raclette device is designed for at least 6 – 8 people.

Eat raclette – perfect for cold days

Eating raclette not only offers many variations and satisfies guests. It’s also a nice way to prepare food as you ‘cook’ together with your guests. There are many raclette ideas. Therefore, find out beforehand what your guests like to eat. With the relaxed company, everyone could bring something to relieve you. Then a raclette only needs a little preparation. Because you should cut vegetables and pre-cook potatoes. You can also provide suitable homemade dips or delicious salads. The only disadvantage of raclette is often the lack of space. So that it doesn’t get too cramped, you need a generous table. There may be a lot of food leftover. But you can eat it again for the next few days. The following table helps to calculate the quantities.

Eating fondue in good company

Not only the raclette or a delicious grill menu is suitable for the sociable large group. Eating fondue is also a social affair. That is why it is well suited for New Year’s Eve dinner or other social occasions. Fondue means melting and there are three different types of fondue:

  • Cheese fondue
  • Meat fondue
  • chocolate fondue

Depending on which type you choose, you need a good fondue set. This usually consists of a fondue pot and fondue forks. Ideally, your set should have a splash guard, as the hot fat can splash, especially when preparing meat. A temperature controller can also be helpful. The following model offers all this and is designed for 8 people.

A traditional Christmas dinner is part of Christmas for many families. This is where the family comes together and celebrates. In order for the celebration to be a success, you should prepare the Christmas dinner well. You can plan traditional dishes as well as use modern dishes. Get inspired by our Christmas dinner ideas.

What is the Christmas feast all about?

The tradition of the classic Christmas roast originally goes back to Lent. For a long time, roast goose and the like were only served on December 25, because that day marked the end of Lent. For a long time, feasts were served with a decoration of twelve apples. Because these apples symbolized the apostles and pursued the task of driving out evil spirits. The spices for roasting were also carefully selected. For example, the original meal of roast pork should be refined with three times three spices. This constellation should remind us of the trinity, which, in interaction with apples, should usher in a new year without sickness and hunger. However, the roasts were only served to rich people. Poorer families would eat sausages at Christmas time.

Ideas for a successful Christmas dinner

Christmas dinner is traditional and sacred in many families. Because on these evenings the family gets together. And that’s particularly nice because you usually have little contact with most family members throughout the year in hectic everyday life. Therefore, the Christmas days should be celebrated without stress in a cozy get-together. To ensure that everything goes well, you should plan and prepare the Christmas dinner well, if it is taking place at your place. Because a good Christmas meal lifts the spirits and calms the mind. With the following planning tips, the traditional Christmas dinner can come:

Plan the traditional Christmas dinner correctly

When you’re the one who has relatives visiting for Christmas. Then you should give some thought to the planning and implementation of the perfect dinner in advance. Because that way you can be sure that the preparation of the traditional Christmas dinner will be stress-free for you too. So you should ask yourself the following questions:

  • How many people are coming?
  • Are guests aware of any food intolerances?
  • Which food preferences should be considered (vegetarian, vegan, without pork)?
  • Is there enough crockery and cutlery?
  • Is there enough seating?
  • How should it be decorated?
  • What can be prepared well and early?
  • Preparing tips for Christmas dinner

If you don’t want to spend Christmas in the kitchen with enthusiasm, plan the Christmas menu so that a lot is prepared in the days before Christmas. Yeast dough can be frozen well, bread dough too, and even vegetables can be cleaned, cut, and frozen. It can also help if you choose cooking methods that don’t tie you to the stove. Even bratwurst can be prepared well in the oven. Another advantage of cooking in the oven is that the kitchen stays clean. In addition, it is a nice and stress-free solution for everyone if everyone contributes something homemade to eat. Then one makes the salad, the other the dessert and the hosts take care of the roast.

The traditional dishes at Christmas

At Christmas time there are many different specialties around the world that are otherwise rarely served. It’s mostly the same traditional dishes for Christmas throughout Germany, even if each region brings its own touch. Most German food on Christmas Eve is traditionally something more modest, while the days that follow are a feast.

Modern Christmas dinner

Since there are many different forms of nutrition these days, it is not easy to make everyone happy. Still, it’s not impossible. If there are vegetarians or vegans among your guests, you can fall back on numerous vegan minced meat alternatives here. There are also plenty of vegetarian dishes that the whole family will enjoy. However, so that all the work doesn’t get stuck on you, here’s a reminder of the idea that everyone can contribute something to the food. So everyone conjures up the dish that he can do best. Then everyone will like it.

Leftover menus for the following days

There is usually a lot of leftover food at Christmas. So the hard work was worth it twice over: you had a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones and you still have plenty to eat for the next few days. So you can relax and reduce the stress of the past few days.

Leftovers from Christmas dinner are definitely too good to throw in the bin. We’ll tell you how you can use them instead to make them delicious.

For most who celebrate Christmas, extensive feasting is part of it. Especially with guests, it is not always easy to estimate how extensive the Christmas menu must be. There is often leftover food that you don’t have to throw away. Use these tips to use up leftovers from Christmas dinner.

Processing dumplings: this is how it works

Dumplings are a real winter classic and the leftovers are easy to use up after Christmas dinner. The easiest way to do this is to fry them. Cut them into slices and fry them on both sides in a little hot oil. Fried potato dumplings taste both savory with salt and pepper and sweet with sugar and cinnamon. The savory variant goes well with various types of salad, for example. But the fried dumplings also taste great with cranberries.

Alternatively, you can also cut the dumplings into slices and fry them together with onions and vegetables. With spices such as paprika powder and herbs such as parsley or chives, you get a delicious dumpling pan.

By the way: When you prepare the dumplings, you can use some older bread to fill them.

Use leftovers from Christmas dinner: kale

Kale is also often on the Christmas menu. You can process the leftovers of the winter vegetables into stuffed puff pastry or kale baguette, among other things.

You can also freeze processed kale without any problems. It is best to freeze the vegetables in portions. You can defrost it as needed and eat it with pasta or potatoes, for example.

For filled puff pastry you need:

1 clove of garlic
Kale
seasoning yeast flakes
Salt
pepper
Puff pastry (tip: make your own puff pastry)
And this is how easy it works:

Peel the garlic clove and cut it into cubes.
Toss the kale with the garlic, seasoning yeast flakes, salt and pepper.
Roll out the puff pastry and spread the kale evenly over it.
Now roll it all up. Prepare the baking tray by lining it with baking paper or a substitute for baking paper.
Place the puff pastry on the baking sheet. If you bake the whole roll, you will have a kale strudel later. If you cut the roll into one to two centimeter thick slices before baking, you will get individual kale snails. Before baking, make sure that the snails are lying individually on the baking sheet.
Set the oven to 180 degrees Celsius top/bottom heat. The puff pastry is ready as soon as it smells fragrant and turns brown.
Tip: You can vary the kale filling with different spices and other ingredients, for example with paprika powder, nuts, olive oil or fried onions.

Kale baguettes made from leftover Christmas dinner

You can also use up the leftovers from your Christmas dinner with baguette. For these kale baguettes you will need:

1 onion
smoked tofu
vegetable oil
Kale
Mustard
Baguette (tip: bake a baguette)
optional: salt and pepper
How to prepare the baguette:

Peel the onion. Dice the onion and the smoked tofu.
Heat some oil in a pan and sauté the onions and smoked tofu for a few minutes.
Add the kale and mustard to the pan and mix together. If necessary, you can season the kale with salt and pepper.
Allow to simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, slice the baguette.
Spread the kale evenly over the baguette slices.
Finally, put the whole thing in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for about ten minutes.
The baguettes are good as a starter or snack.

Leftovers from Christmas dinner: red cabbage

You can also easily freeze ready-made red cabbage. Put the red cabbage in portions in screw-top jars and store them in the freezer. You can defrost and heat the red cabbage at any time as an accompaniment to mashed potatoes or gnocchi, for example.

You can also use red cabbage to make strudel or puff pastry pockets:

Mix the herb with any other ingredients you have around the house.
For example, fried onions, chili, walnuts, garlic and curry powder or raisins are suitable.
Then fill the puff pastry with the red cabbage mixture and bake until it has a nice golden brown colour.

Another way to use up red cabbage leftovers from Christmas dinner is in a red cabbage pan. For this you need:

1 onion
Potatoes (pre-cooked, alternatively: leftover dumplings)
mushrooms
vegetable oil
Red cabbage
Caraway seeds
paprika powder
Salt
pepper
How to prepare:

Peel the onion and cut it into cubes.
Cut the potatoes or dumplings into cubes.
Clean the mushrooms and cut them into slices.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan.
Sauté the onions in the hot oil for 2-3 minutes.
Add the diced potatoes and mushrooms and sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring regularly.
Now add the red cabbage. Mix the ingredients together and season with the spices, salt and pepper. After another three to five minutes you can serve the red cabbage pan.

Use leftovers from Christmas dinner: More tips

If you had meat for Christmas, you can cut the leftovers into strips and fry them together with vegetables or fried potatoes. The same goes for vegan alternatives, of course.
If you have an excessive amount of leftover fruit, toss it in the blender and make a breakfast smoothie out of it.
Melt down leftover chocolate from Christmas dinner and use it as a frosting for cakes or cookies. With hot milk or a plant drink of your choice, it becomes hot chocolate.
Slightly older speculoos are good for making speculoos tiramisu.
Refill the leftover food as soon as possible and put it in the fridge. So you have a higher chance that nothing spoils.
If you still have sealed groceries that you no longer need, give them away. Apps like UXA can help you with this.

Apparently, dinner canceling is supposed to help you age more slowly and stay fit longer. But there are also less radical methods than evening fasting.

There should be about 14 hours between the last meal and breakfast.
So you have your last meal of the day around four or five o’clock in the afternoon.
Instead, drink plenty of herbal tea or mineral water in the evening. The drinks also help you get over hunger, but contain no calories.
Dinner canceling proponents promise it keeps you young and fit. The fact that you may also lose weight is more of a side effect, but not the primary goal.

So dinner canceling is a nutritional method and not a diet in the traditional sense, where certain foods are on the ban list or you have to count calories. You can eat whatever you like between breakfast and late afternoon – only dinner is cancelled.

Dinner canceling is said to activate anti-aging hormones

Dinner canceling is intended to promote the body’s own mechanisms to regenerate overnight.

At night, the body returns many functions to a resting state.
When it is dark, the body releases more of the hormone melatonin. It controls the sleep-wake cycle.
In addition, the body produces more of the growth hormone somatropin at night. The hormone empties fat stores and builds muscle mass. Among other things, it supports the immune system and ensures firm skin.
Researchers see a connection to the aging process in the hormones somatropin and melatonin: the body produces fewer and fewer of these hormones with increasing age. On the other hand, if the body receives fewer nutrients at night, it responds by producing more somatropin. Dinner canceling is intended to stimulate the body to release more somatropin – which is supposed to have a “rejuvenating” effect.

Stiftung Warentest reports that so far there have only been tests in the test laboratory. In some of the animals examined, such as fruit flies, the researchers found a 50 percent longer life expectancy. It is not yet clear whether this can also be the case in humans.

Dinner canceling “light”

However, skipping dinner can also have some negative side effects. The body goes into hypoglycaemia and the body temperature drops. The metabolism can react very differently to this short-term fasting:

You could get circulatory problems or headaches (tip: fight headaches naturally).
You may not be able to sleep due to cravings.
Proponents of dinner canceling often advise compromises:

Only skip dinner once or twice a week.
Instead of around 4 p.m. in the afternoon, you can have your last meal of the day around 6 p.m.
This version of dinner canceling might make doing without something easier.

Light dinner instead of dinner canceling

Whether you try dinner canceling or not – you should definitely be aware of what else you usually nibble on the couch in the evening. You should generally avoid carbohydrates, such as in white flour and sugar, in the evening. The stomach takes longer to digest these foods.

Sausage or meat are also heavier in the stomach, especially if they contain a lot of fat. By the way: fruit also contains sugar that the stomach needs longer to digest: i.e. fruit sugar, i.e. fructose. You should also avoid eating raw vegetables and salads in the evening, as they put a strain on the stomach. A light, healthy dinner that is easy for you to digest is better.

Important Warning: Dinner Canceling is not suitable if you have an eating disorder, are pregnant or have an advanced chronic disease. In this case, seek medical advice.