Tag

should

Browsing

Would you like to fire up the grill again? Whether it’s delicious sauces, side dishes, meat, fish, desserts, or vegetarian dishes, we’ve put together the best grilling recipes for you. We wish you a good appetite!

Barbecue marinade

Do you like having a choice? With these four grill marinades, you can add variety to your grilled dishes. How about a garden herb marinade, a smoked paprika marinade, or a honey mustard marinade? The fruity lemongrass and ginger marinade makes the barbecue perfect.

Marinated king prawns with garlic dip

Do you like to enjoy grilled fish or seafood, but don’t want to make too much effort? Then conjure up the delicious marinated king prawns with garlic dip!

Grilled focaccia

Haven’t you tried grilled focaccia yet? Then you should make up for it quickly: Because this crispy flatbread with rosemary tastes wonderfully aromatic and is the ideal accompaniment to grilling.

Mexican corn on the cob

Corn on the cob is one of the classic barbecue side dishes – and rightly so: Because the yellow vegetable not only tastes great with meat and fish but is also easy to prepare. Here the Mexican corn cobs are refined with coriander, chili, and lime.

Herb butter with fresh herbs

This classic among grilled dishes simply cannot be missed. Because it is not only prepared in no time at all but also makes a barbecue evening perfect. Whipped cream, dill, parsley, basil, lemon peel, salt, pepper, and garlic – that’s all you need for this herb butter with fresh herbs!

Grilled melon with cheese

Of course, a real barbecue evening also includes a delicious grilled dessert. How about this sweet grilled watermelon with cheese? It couldn’t be more spring-like!

Marinated veal skewers

The marinade with onion, garlic, ginger, yogurt, honey, lime juice, curry powder, cayenne pepper, and salt makes these tender, marinated veal skewers a very special treat. Tip: Try a fruity Indian mango chutney with it.

Grilled potato and bacon skewers

Potatoes and bacon are particularly flavorful thanks to onions and spring onions, and lemon juice gives the potato and bacon skewers from the grill a pleasantly fresh aroma. Salt and pepper are enough for a spicy finish.

Grilled romaine lettuce with mint dressing

These grilled romaine lettuce hearts with mint dressing are not only a real treat for vegetarians, everyone else is guaranteed to love the aromatic leafy greens too! Best of all, the delicious vegetable dish is wonderfully easy to prepare.

Grilled halloumi and zucchini with berry salsa

Grilled halloumi and zucchini with berry salsa are a real highlight at barbecues. Our variant tastes particularly fruity thanks to the salsa with fresh blueberries, blackberries, and currants. If you want, you can also use the green version instead of the yellow zucchini.

Spicy tomato ketchup

Everyone knows the red sauce from the bottle, but have you ever made spicy tomato ketchup yourself? If not, you should definitely make up for it: This way you can not only save a lot of sugar but also gain flavor.

Grilled fruit skewers with sauce

“Simple, but delicious!” – that’s probably the motto of these grilled fruit skewers with sauce. Sweet pineapple slices, strawberries, papaya, and mango are grilled and refined with honey, lemon juice, passion fruit, mint, yogurt, and coconut cream, done!

Have fun grilling and bon appetit!

Moldy spots on food not only look unappetizing, but they can also be dangerous: the toxins they contain can damage the liver and kidneys and even be carcinogenic. However, mold does not mean that you have to throw away every food item. For some, it is sufficient to generously remove the spoiled area. EAT SMARTER presents the most important foods.

Jam

The fruity spread sweetens the morning on bread or waffles. Even mold on the jam can’t spoil a good start to the day – if the ratio of fruit and sugar is 50:50. Only then can the mold be generously removed and the spread continued to be eaten without hesitation.

The situation is different with jams, which contain more fruit than sugar: These are no longer edible, even after generous removal of the mold, as the mold spores may have spread throughout the entire product – even if they are not visible to the naked eye. In this case, the food should be thrown away.

Bread

“Until now, we have advised to cut out the mold over a large area from a whole loaf, as an infestation with mycotoxins outside the visible area on bread has not yet been detected,” explains certified ecotrophologist Antje Gahl from the DGE. In case of doubt, however, it is better to throw away the moldy bread than to remove it. In the case of individual slices of bread that contain mold, this applies anyway and they must be disposed of immediately.

Cheese

Sliced ​​cheese is a food that should be discarded if it has mold on it. If, on the other hand, a whole piece of cheese is infected, the corresponding area can be generously removed and the cheese can then be eaten anyway.

Fruit Vegetable

If moldy spots are discovered on fruit or vegetables, these foods are unfortunately only for the bin. Due to their high water content, the mold spores spread particularly well and quickly, which is why spoiled fruit and vegetables should never be eaten or processed.

With potatoes, it should also be noted that the green spots that appear must be cut out generously in any case. They contain the natural toxin solanine. This can lead to health problems such as headaches, diarrhea, or vomiting. For this reason, the already boiled potato cooking water should also be discarded and not processed further.

A veritable religious war is raging over child nutrition: What should we give the little ones to eat so that they develop well? And can a chubby be healthy too?

Anja Boerner is a self-employed ecotrophologist and works with the Center for Nutritional Advice at HAW Hamburg, among others. Her hobbies are the instructions for changing behavior or the self-reflection of overweight clients and the healthy nutrition of children.

Anja Boerner answers the most important questions about healthy nutrition for children for EAT SMARTER.

How important is a balanced diet for children?

A balanced diet is of course important for healthy growth. Much more important than perfect nutrition is the feeling of security. That means relaxed eating white bread and having a nice family conversation is healthier than a drama about the brown bread. The dining table should not become a stress table!

Mothers in particular often stress themselves out with the need to put healthy food on the table. If the mother no longer has time for her child because she is shopping, cooking, or growing her own crops, this is more damaging to the overall development than a compromise meal, after which there is still time for a game of “Don’t worry”.

How many family meals a day should there be?

As many as possible, always depending on what everyday family life allows. Some families can eat together once a week, others three times a day. A relaxed atmosphere at the dining table is almost more important than the number of meals together: Instead of discussing the child’s poor school grades or relationship problems, you should try to make things as nice as possible together.

“The dining table should not become a stress table”

What is important when it comes to family meals?

First and foremost is the atmosphere: it is desirable to be as friendly as possible. A family meal should offer choice and freedom of choice. Of course, it is best if all family members eat together because this is the only way small children learn to eat independently. It takes a lot of effort at first to feed them porridge with one hand and eat with the other, but it gets easier as the kids get older. Children can only learn “adult” eating behavior if they eat with others.

Do children have to eat their plates clean?

no, It has been proven that the compulsion to eat up can lead to eating disorders in children. Nowadays the motto is: parents offer and the children decide what and how much they eat from this offer.

Can I use food as a reward, for example: “Dessert is only available if you eat the vegetables”?

No! As a result, children learn to reward themselves with food and, in the worst case, develop an eating disorder. If dessert is planned, then the child should get it too, regardless of whether they ate the main meal or not. Pressure and power do not belong at the dinner table. We adults all eat differently, sometimes have an appetite for one thing, sometimes for the other. Why should it be any different with children?

Help, my child doesn’t like fruit and vegetables! What can I do?

Rarely does a child categorically reject all fruits and vegetables. When a child is very picky, it is usually just a phase.

It is important how long this phase lasts: If the child does not eat any vegetables for a day or a week, it is not dramatic. If the phase lasts for several months, parents have to ask themselves whether there is more to it than that, for example, power games that are played out through eating habits. Parents should always offer the scorned fruit and vegetables and, most importantly, eat them with joy and enjoyment.

I recommend involving children in shopping and cooking, even if they don’t eat the vegetables themselves. Sooner or later they will want to try it. Sometimes the dosage form already helps, for example, if you put cucumber slices next to a flower. You eat with your eyes, even with children.

“Children can easily be vegetarian.”

What to do if my child doesn’t want to eat meat?

My three-year-old son suddenly wanted to be a vegetarian. I then explained to him that iron in meat is important for his growth and that what little meat we eat comes from happy animals (he’s now over 6’2 and I’m a vegetarian myself). More and more children and young people are giving up meat. I would take this need seriously as a parent and ask why.

Children can easily live vegetarian. Only the adequate supply of iron must be checked regularly.

What’s the best drink for kids?

The best drink for children is water. Unlike juice, it does not contain sugar, which can lead to obesity and tooth decay. Children can drink tap water, but you should first find out about its quality from the local waterworks. In some areas of Germany, the nitrate load in drinking water is quite high. Even those who have a well at home should have the quality of the water checked before offering it to their children to drink.

What is it about special children’s juices and teas?

Children’s juices and teas attract with colorful packaging tailored to children’s tastes and promises of health. In reality, they are not only more expensive than normal juices and teas, they often contain an extra portion of sugar. They are definitely not healthier for children.

What should I take my child to school with lunch?

A veritable religious war is currently unfolding in German schools around this question. In the meantime, it is even decided at parents’ evenings what parents should and shouldn’t pack in the lunch box. However, the ban on milk slices, white flour, or fruit spritzers does not do anyone justice. For some parents, the regulation does not go far enough, some feel too regulated.

While we eat apples all year round, autumn time is clearly also pear time. The fruit is now in season and tastes great either on its own or as an ingredient in savory or sweet dishes. We give you 6 reasons why you should definitely eat pears now.

1. Pears are high in fiber

Pears are among the most fiber-rich fruits. A medium-sized fruit contains about 6 grams of fiber. We should consume around 25 to 30 grams of fiber every day. Eating a pear every day, therefore, makes an important contribution to achieving this goal. Dietary fiber is important for digestion and also keeps you full for longer.

2. Pears are rich in vitamins

Pears contain a lot of vitamins that you can use in the autumn and winter time. It is not uncommon for people to catch a cold or the flu during this time. Not only vitamins A and C and various B vitamins are contained in pears, but the fruit also scores with minerals such as sulfur, copper, zinc, iodine, magnesium, and phosphorus.

3. Pears are easy to digest

Pears contain only about one to three grams of fruit acid per liter, so they taste sweeter than apples and are therefore among the most easily digestible types of fruit. Due to their stomach-friendliness, they are particularly suitable for children and babies, but also for sick or elderly people.

4. Pears are low in fat

Although there are lower-calorie types of fruit, pears are very low in fat. The fruits bring it to just half a gram of fat per 100 grams.

5. Pears contain Potassium & Calcium

Apples are often compared to pears. When it comes to the calorie balance, apples perform better, because a medium-sized apple has about 68 calories, while a pear has about 73 calories, but the autumn fruit scores points in terms of minerals. In addition to the minerals mentioned above, pears also have plenty of potassium and calcium. They therefore particularly stimulate the metabolism and have a purifying and draining effect.

6. Pears are rich in boron

Pears also contain the important and mostly neglected mineral boron. This is relevant for the body to store calcium. Calcium is particularly important for bone formation.

With a newly published civil protection concept, the federal government has triggered a discussion about the sense and nonsense of buying hamsters. Everyone has to decide for themselves how useful they think the government’s checklist is. EAT SMARTER has put together a smart shopping list for you, with which you are always well prepared, at least for culinary emergencies.

Who doesn’t know this – it’s 9:30 p.m. on Saturday evening and the supermarket around the corner is closed. Or we are sick, have no strength to get out of bed, but have nothing left to eat in the house. So we order the pizza service. That’s not smart. But a well-stocked pantry can prevent cravings and frustration orders.

With a sensible selection of supplies, we are well prepared for culinary emergencies and can conjure up our favorite dish at any time.

Grain

A certain selection of different dried grain products should not be missing in any pantry. The products do have a best-before date, but according to Stiftung Warentest, this can be exceeded generously. As long as the food tastes impeccable, it is edible. Store grain products in airtight screw-top jars or plastic containers to prevent pests from attacking them.

These grain products belong in the pantry:

  • flour
  • pasta
  • rice
  • polenta
  • couscous
  • millet
  • quinoa
  • crispbread
  • oatmeal

Legumes

Legumes are super healthy because they provide plenty of fiber, protein, and minerals such as iron and potassium. They also provide variety in the kitchen. Dried lentils, chickpeas, and co. can be kept for over a year. Ensure optimal storage conditions by storing the food in an airtight container in a dark, cool, and dry place. If you are in a hurry, you can also buy canned cooked legumes and use them in stews, curries, or sauces.

These legumes belong in the pantry:

  • Chickpeas
  • lenses
  • different types of beans (e.g. kidney beans, white beans, or azuki beans)

Canned goods and jars

Of course, fresh food is always the better choice. Still, it makes sense to stock up on a selection of jars and jars that you can use to cook dishes when you need them. Tomato cans are essential. They often even contain more phytochemicals than fresh tomatoes. But dishes can also be easily spiced up with pesto, olives, and the like.

These preserves and jars should not be missing in the pantry:

  • chopped/peeled tomatoes
  • Pesto
  • olives
  • Sun-dried tomatoes
  • artichokes
  • capers
  • Corn
  • Peas
  • pickled cucumbers
  • Beetroot
  • tuna
  • vegetarian spreads
  • nut butter

Nuts and dried fruits

Whole, unshelled nuts and dried fruits can be kept for several months if stored correctly. As with grains and legumes, nuts and dried fruit should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place.

These nuts and dried fruits are perfect for storage:

  • unshelled walnuts
  • unshelled hazelnuts
  • unshelled peanuts
  • Apple crisps
  • dried apricots, prunes, or dates to taste
  • raisins

Spices

Without spices, the food would taste pretty monotonous. We, therefore, recommend that you always have a supply of different spices at home. Dried herbs and spice mixtures have a long shelf life and give even the simplest dishes that certain something.

These spices should not be missing in a well-stocked pantry:

  • Salt
  • pepper
  • dried vegetable broth
  • dried herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil
  • garlic powder
  • curry powder
  • coriander powder
  • nutmeg
  • paprika powder
  • Cinnamon

6. Vinegar and Oil

Cold-pressed oils can be kept unopened for up to twelve months. Refined oils can even be stored and sealed for a year or two. Sniff the oil to see if it’s still good. It is relatively easy to tell whether oil is rancid by smell. You can also try a small drop of the oil to make sure your nose was right. If it tastes bitter, throw it away and stop eating. Vinegar is sealed, stored in a dark and cool place, and can be stored almost indefinitely.

  • rapeseed oil
  • olive oil
  • sunflower oil
  • dark balsamic
  • light balsamic
  • Apple Cider Vinegar

A study has now determined why you should never eat raw dough and how dangerous it can be.

Raw dough causes nausea and stomach ache? – The flour may be the culprit

The risk of salmonella infection is well known, but this is not the case with E. coli from raw dough. According to an American study, flour can trigger a life-threatening intestinal infection. E. coli can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps. These bacteria get into grain, for example, via fertilizer or animal excrement.
The so-called E. coli bacteria (Escherichia coli)
According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), if floury dough and other dishes are baked at these high temperatures for at least two minutes, consumption is already safe.

With these tips, you can snack on dough without hesitation

Our tips:
If you bake with children, you cannot prevent one or two snacks. Therefore, it is best to bake a dough
If you use nut flour
Make sure your ingredients are organic
However, if you are pregnant or generally have a sensitive stomach, you should stick to the baked cookies.
If you want to snack on the dough without hesitation, then the “Cookie Dough” food trend is also suitable. This dough is without eggs and often also without flour. In addition, it does not contain any leavening agents. This cookie dough is deliberately intended for raw consumption and tastes just as good.

After enjoying the ice cream, what remains is the empty packaging. Margarine containers and the like are also still popular to store, freeze or reheat leftovers from food. But why shouldn’t you continue to use such containers?

Ice cream and margarine containers: why can continued use be harmful to health?

But what exactly makes such containers harmful to health if they are reused? Many of these packages are made of thermoplastics. This is especially true for ice cream packaging. These are designed for cold, frozen food and are completely harmless for this single use. However, if you put warm food in it, the container heats up and the plastics come loose. This allows them to transfer directly to the food. In the long run, you absorb various residues from the packaging through the food. Repeated rinsing and prolonged use can also cause chemical transfer as the containers are not designed for such a purpose.

But not only margarine packaging or ice cream containers have been designed for single use. Other retail packaging should not be misused either. These include: cream cheese jars, yoghurt pots and containers for ready-made salads.

Conclusion: If you want to continue using the containers, you should use them to store pens, screws or other small parts. However, if you want to store food, freeze it or heat it up in the microwave, use products that have been specially made for this purpose*. Glass containers and stainless steel jars are the better and healthier choice for storage jars.

Beer should not be missing in your household. Whether for a snack, after work or at parties, people like to have a beer. But you can also use it in the household.

Everything shines: beer as a furniture polish

Maybe you see it now as a pure waste. But beer is not only suitable as a thirst quencher after work, it also works well as a furniture polish.

Do you perhaps have a beautiful old piece of wooden furniture in your apartment? An old wooden table? A chest of drawers? Then just polish it every now and then with some beer.

To do this, put just a small sip on a soft cotton lamp and gently rub it over the furniture. The good piece is already shining again. We can all make mistakes when cleaning and, for example, damage the surfaces of furniture rather than clean them carefully.

Coffee stains: The stain is quickly gone with beer

You can use beer to clean surfaces very well – coffee stains in particular can be removed very well with the help of beer.

After a few minutes, gently wipe over it with a sponge. For stubborn stains, repeat the process several times until the stain is gone. To neutralize the smell of beer, finally wipe with a little clear water – done.

Microfiber cloths are often used for cleaning. However, there are surfaces that you should not clean with a microfiber cloth.

Which surfaces are taboo for microfibre?

Due to the structure of the surface, microfiber cloths can scratch sensitive surfaces. These include, above all, spectacle lenses made of plastic. There are only slight scratches, which can become larger and larger over time and with frequent cleaning with microfibre and ultimately lead to damage and thus to blurred vision. Furthermore, microfiber cloths should be avoided for the following objects or surfaces:
high gloss finishes
Surfaces covered with clear varnish
oiled wooden surfaces
precious metal surfaces
In general, all soft plastic surfaces are also affected. In general, the abrasive effect of microfiber cloths will destroy the surface over time, resulting in ugly scratches. With oiled wooden surfaces, the protective layer of the wood is destroyed over time, which ultimately means that the surface no longer looks nice and the wood underneath can also be damaged by penetrating moisture. Surfaces made of precious metals such as silver or copper and mirrors are also not suitable for cleaning with microfibre cloths.

Are there alternatives to microfiber towels?

But what alternatives are there? Often the only thing that helps here is a look at the instructions for use or asking, for example, an optician or specialist retailer. There you will receive cleaning tips and will also be advised on the cleaning options.

There are special cloths that have been specially developed for cleaning glasses. Here you should also follow the instructions for use. You should not use it to remove stubborn dirt such as grease.

Glasses manufacturers recommend running lukewarm water and some washing-up liquid. As beautiful as microfiber towels are, there are a few things to consider in order not to end up doing more harm than good.

Is it easy to freeze meat? In principle yes, but you should follow a few rules so that the meat stays fresh and no germs develop.

Freezing meat: the most important steps

Step 1: Pat the meat dry with some paper towels.
Step 2: Take a suitable freezer bag* and make sure that the pieces of meat are as separate as possible and at the same time as flat and dense as possible. The flatter it is, the faster it can be thawed again later.
Step 3: Then pack your meat as airtight as possible to prevent germs and freezer burns. The easiest way to do this is with a vacuum sealer*
Step 4: The meat should be frozen as soon as possible. If you have it, you can use your freezer’s “super frost” function.
Attention: There is something special about minced meat. It is considered to be particularly susceptible to germs. Therefore, the cold chain must be maintained and the meat should be frozen promptly. Also, it should be packed flat and tightly in small portions.
How long the meat can stay frozen depends on the variety

Defrost meat: how to do it!

There are also a few aspects to consider when defrosting, because bacteria and germs can spoil the meat. Also, slow thawing means less liquid is lost, which helps preserve flavor.
Step 1: Plan your next meal ahead of time as it is advisable to leave the meat in the fridge overnight
But if it has to be done quickly, the packaged meat can be placed in cold water. Alternatively, it can be defrosted in the microwave.
Step 2: Drain off the defrosting liquid and pat the meat dry with paper towels.
Step 2: Process the thawed meat promptly.
It is important: Do not refreeze the thawed, raw meat, otherwise the meat loses quality and you risk the development of harmful germs.
Tip: In addition to raw meat, you can also freeze many other foods such as cheese, rice, pasta or butter!