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Berlin (dpa) – Paneer is the perfect cheese for frying as it does not melt when heated, but retains its shape. With its delicate flavour, it is ideal for refining with spices and herbs. In a recipe from their guidebook to making cheese, Sibylle Roth-Marwedel and Anja Schnellbeck combine yoghurt and lemon juice to acidify the milk. It is quick and easy to make. "You make it today and it's ready to fry tomorrow," says Roth-Marwedel. It will keep in the fridge for four days. Even though paneer tastes best when fresh, you can freeze it too, preferably in slices. Ingredients for 350 to 400 g of cheese: 3 litres of cow's milk (raw or pasteurised, or UHT milk also work) Juice of 2 large or 3 small lemons 500 g yoghurt 10 g salt (adjust according to taste) Spices and herbs as you like Equipment: Measuring jug Lemon squeezer Whisk 2 pots Skimmer Fine sieve Colander Cotton cloth Spoon Small plate 1-litre container (or stone) Storage container with lid Preparation Have the yoghurt, lemon juice, colander and cloth ready. Soak the cloth in cold water. Heat the milk in the pot until it is just about to boil. Then turn off the heat. Stir the yoghurt in the cup until smooth and whisk it into the milk with the lemon juice. Stir only briefly to avoid breaking up the flakes that quickly form. Leave uncovered for 10 minutes. The white cheese flakes will separate from the yellowish-green, clear whey. Line a colander with a damp cloth and place it in a second pot that is large enough to hold the whey. Carefully scoop up the cheese flakes with a slotted spoon and place them in the cloth. Stir as little as possible. Then pour the remaining whey from the first pot through a fine sieve and add the collected flakes to the cloth. Sprinkle the salt over the cheese. Stir in with a spoon, kneading the cheese mixture a little. Add spices or herbs if desired. Twist the cloth and press the cheese in the cloth by hand. Cover the cloth with a small, upside-down plate and place a container with approx. 1 litre of water on top as a press weight. Press for 1-3 hours – the longer you press, the firmer the cheese will be. After pressing, cook the cheese in a pan with fresh seasoning. It will keep for four days in the fridge in a sealed box with the cloth. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn bac xxde arw

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Dusseldorf (dpa) – As Halloween approaches, you may want to check out the kind of face paints you are buying for youngsters. After all, applying make-up like grown-ups do has a magical appeal for many young children. Manufacturers, well aware of this, make children's make-up sets, make-up cases and nail varnishes – but not all are suitable for kids. To ensure that younger children in particular do not eat lipsticks that smell good or smear nail polish in their eyes, parents should not let their children play with cosmetics unsupervised – regardless of whether they are children's toys or products for adults, says Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Centre. Parents should also take a closer look when shopping. After all, objects can quickly end up in kids' mouths, especially with small children, it is particularly important that the ingredients in nail varnish or make-up are harmless, says Kerstin Effers, chemist and expert in environmental and health protection at the centre. Tips to bear in mind: Prohibited substances and inadequate labelling Test results show cause for concern regarding the ingredients in make-up sets and nail varnishes for children, the centre says. Last year, preservatives and colourants were found that are prohibited in European cosmetics because they can be harmful to health. The labelling of many products also leaves much to be desired – not all ingredients contained in the products were listed. Take children's nail varnish, for example: among other things, the Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office (CVUA) in Karlsruhe found the following in 75 products tested last year: Seven prohibited, allergy-triggering preservatives,Eight unauthorized colourants,Five solvents classified as harmful to reproduction,Two children's nail varnishes containing nitrosamines far above the technically unavoidable level, a substance suspected of being carcinogenic. A total of 33 nail polishes were found to be unacceptable, says the CVUA. Around half of the children's make-up tested by the Cantonal Laboratory of Basel-Stadt in 2023 also failed, say consumer protection advocates. Retailer's location crucial If parents want to buy make-up or nail polish for their children, they should pay attention to where the products come from. Consumer protection agencies advise against buying children's make-up and nail polish directly from retailers based in Asia, if you want to ensure that make-up and nail polish only contain ingredients compliant with European legal requirements for cosmetics. If you order children's make-up online, you can find the retailer's location by clicking through to the imprint or retailer address. Play it safe To ensure that children can enjoy playing with make-up without concern, consumer protection agencies advise parents to use natural cosmetic products designed for adults. Ideally look for certified products which are recognisable by seals such as Nature or Cosmos. The requirements for these certifications go far beyond the legal requirements, say consumer protection agencies. When it comes to lipsticks, even those of natural cosmetic quality, make sure they do not contain the white pigment titanium dioxide. The white pigment, which is already banned in food, is often listed as CI 77891. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn mod xxde arw

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

If you are buying online, check your truffle seller is providing you with fresh product. What you should be looking for, how much to prepare per person plus a straightforward dish to enjoy right away. Berlin (dpa) – More and more people are acquiring a taste for truffles. But how should they be used and how much do you need? "If you're using real truffles, allow about 10 grams per person," says Nikolai Wojtko from the Ahrtrüffel association, a truffle group based in western Germany. He says they are usually sold already cleaned and ready to use. But if you still want to peel your truffles, don't throw away the skins. "You can soak them in olive oil for a few days to make aromatic truffle oil," he says. Keep meals using truffles as simple as possible to avoid losing the flavour. Wojtko likes to eat his truffles on toast with butter. But ask Ralf Bos, chef and owner of a delicatessen delivery service, and he opts for risotto with white truffles. "A truffle slicer is useful for this – the thinner your slices, the more taste buds are stimulated on the tongue." Plus he has another tip for risotto: "Leave out the white wine and use cream instead" – this brings out the flavour even better. The two crucial questions to ask your truffle dealer If you can only order your truffles online, one question you may be asking yourself is how do you know if a dealer is selling you good quality truffles? "Call them! When you talk to a dealer, you can quickly tell whether they know what they're talking about and love the product," says Bos, who recommends asking two simple questions, firstly, when does fresh produce arrive and secondly, how does the dealer determine that the produce is good? What should you hope to hear? "A specific answer, such as 'fresh truffles arrive on Tuesdays and Fridays,' is not only correct but also helpful," says Bos. For the second question, it is important that the answer mentions criteria such as checking the goods for soft spots, mould or damage. What you do not want to hear is, "We only order when we receive an order." This means that the retailer sends out everything they receive. "That's not good at all," says Bos. Because then you always have to factor in two times two days for safety. Ultimately, you always end up with old goods, he says. If you want to make a dish using truffles, food blogger Julia Uehren suggests you simply grate a truffle very finely over tagliatelle. Ingredients for 4 servings of tagliatelle with truffles 1 onion 1 tbsp butter 250 g whipping cream Salt Pepper 750 g tagliatelle (fresh) 40 g white truffles Parmesan cheese (as desired) Preparation Peel and finely dice the onion. Melt about 1 tbsp butter in a large pan over a low heat and sauté the diced onion until soft. Stir in the cream and season the sauce with salt and pepper. Cook the fresh tagliatelle al dente according to the instructions on the packet. Drain the pasta and then stir into the cream sauce. Arrange the tagliatelle on plates and shave the truffle fresh and wafer-thin over the pasta. Grate a little Parmesan over the dish to taste. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn ueh xxde arw

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Before Day of the Dead, more and more people are honouring departed dogs and cats in a new tradition. Families welcome the spirits of their deceased pets with altar candles, offerings of favorite treats and cherished mementos such as old toys and worn collars. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (tca/dpa) – The spirits of the pets come first, treading home on soft, shadowy paws, making their way by the light of altar candles and guided by the eternal tie of love. They’re welcomed with offerings of favorite treats and fresh water, and by the careful placement of old toys and worn collars that have become cherished mementos. It’s a new tradition connected to the Day of the Dead, the ancient Mexican holiday where people honor and celebrate the lives of family members at a time when the wall between worlds melts. Now, in Philadelphia and elsewhere, people have begun to recognize not just human relatives but those with wings and whiskers, the departed dogs, cats, birds, and other animals that enriched their lives. And who, like family, continue to be mourned and missed. The souls of pets are said to return on Oct. 27 , a few days before the Dia de Muertos on Nov. 1 and 2. “The day,” said Gerardo Coronado Benitez , manager of the Association of Mexican Business Owners of Philadelphia , “is not about death, but about celebrating and remembering people, keeping memories alive. Of course many people want to keep alive the memories of their pets.” He’s helping organize a big Day of the Dead eventat the Italian Market on Nov. 2 , where people will be able to place photos of relatives and pets on a community ofrenda ― a decorated altar ― at 9th Street and Washington Avenue . Others haveset up altars in their homes . These ofrendas may be adorned with traditional marigolds, with candy skulls, paper skeletons, and photographs. But they may also feature a snatch of fur or a whisker left behind. Genesis Pimentel-Howard created an ofrenda for her cat, Mobi, on a bedroom shelf of the West Philadelphia home she shares with her husband, Yaphet Howard . It’s hard for her to talk about Mobi, who died suddenly in May at only 4 years old. He was, she said, an adorable menace. Mobi loved to poke at and play with the couple’s other cat, Sannin, though Sannin didn’t always appreciate the attention. Mobi sometimes stole food from the trash. And he managed to push over and break Pimentel-Howard’s flat-screen TV. Still, she said, he followed her everywhere, even into the bathroom. She couldn’t use the bathroom without him trailing her inside. “A sweet momma’s boy,” she said. “Always next to me.” On the ofrenda, Pimentel-Howard placed her grandmother’s pearls. And photos of her family dogs, Ella and Red, and her hamster, Shia LaBeouf . She added a shadow box that holds Mobi’s collar and an impression of his paw. “I’ll stay up as late as a can to welcome him,” she said. “I like to think he’ll be around.” The roots of the Day of the Dead go back 3,000 years, to Aztec and Mayan traditions. It’s celebrated not only in Mexico but also in wider Latin America andin communities across the United States . Dogs have always played an important role. The ancients considered them sacred, guides that led souls through the afterlife. They revered the Mexican Hairless Dog, the Xoloitzcuintle, or Xolo for short. It’sa Xolo dog, Dante, that guides Miguel to meet his ancestors inCoco, the popular animated Disney movie. And it’s a song from the movie,Remember Me , that’s become the soundtrack for countless social-media posts about departed pets. In Philadelphia , theItalian Market festival welcomes all who wish to take part to South 9th Street between Federal and Christian Streets from 11 am to 5 pm. The Fleisher Art Memorial in South Philadelphia alsowill hold a big Day of the Dead celebration . Everyone is invited to help with final preparations for the ofrenda from 2 pm to 9 pm on October 31 , and to come to the Day of the Dead event the next day. “The animals, that’s family too,” said María De Los Angeles Hernández Del Prado, the artist who led the creation of the Fleisher’s large, three-part ofrenda, which includes a section devoted to pets. “They’re the same as us, they just don’t talk the same language.” Pimentel-Howard knew after Mobi died that she would find a way to honor him, along with the other animals she has loved. “You don’t know what it’s like to lose an animal,” she said, “until you’ve lost one.” The following information is not intended for publication dpa tca arw

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Before Day of the Dead, more and more people are honouring departed dogs and cats in a new tradition. Families welcome the spirits of their deceased pets with altar candles, offerings of favorite treats and cherished mementos such as old toys and worn collars. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (tca/dpa) – The spirits of the pets come first, treading home on soft, shadowy paws, making their way by the light of altar candles and guided by the eternal tie of love. They’re welcomed with offerings of favorite treats and fresh water, and by the careful placement of old toys and worn collars that have become cherished mementos. It’s a new tradition connected to the Day of the Dead, the ancient Mexican holiday where people honor and celebrate the lives of family members at a time when the wall between worlds melts. Now, in Philadelphia and elsewhere, people have begun to recognize not just human relatives but those with wings and whiskers, the departed dogs, cats, birds, and other animals that enriched their lives. And who, like family, continue to be mourned and missed. The souls of pets are said to return on Oct. 27 , a few days before the Dia de Muertos on Nov. 1 and 2. “The day,” said Gerardo Coronado Benitez , manager of the Association of Mexican Business Owners of Philadelphia , “is not about death, but about celebrating and remembering people, keeping memories alive. Of course many people want to keep alive the memories of their pets.” He’s helping organize a big Day of the Dead eventat the Italian Market on Nov. 2 , where people will be able to place photos of relatives and pets on a community ofrenda ― a decorated altar ― at 9th Street and Washington Avenue . Others haveset up altars in their homes . These ofrendas may be adorned with traditional marigolds, with candy skulls, paper skeletons, and photographs. But they may also feature a snatch of fur or a whisker left behind. Genesis Pimentel-Howard created an ofrenda for her cat, Mobi, on a bedroom shelf of the West Philadelphia home she shares with her husband, Yaphet Howard . It’s hard for her to talk about Mobi, who died suddenly in May at only 4 years old. He was, she said, an adorable menace. Mobi loved to poke at and play with the couple’s other cat, Sannin, though Sannin didn’t always appreciate the attention. Mobi sometimes stole food from the trash. And he managed to push over and break Pimentel-Howard’s flat-screen TV. Still, she said, he followed her everywhere, even into the bathroom. She couldn’t use the bathroom without him trailing her inside. “A sweet momma’s boy,” she said. “Always next to me.” On the ofrenda, Pimentel-Howard placed her grandmother’s pearls. And photos of her family dogs, Ella and Red, and her hamster, Shia LaBeouf . She added a shadow box that holds Mobi’s collar and an impression of his paw. “I’ll stay up as late as a can to welcome him,” she said. “I like to think he’ll be around.” The roots of the Day of the Dead go back 3,000 years, to Aztec and Mayan traditions. It’s celebrated not only in Mexico but also in wider Latin America andin communities across the United States . Dogs have always played an important role. The ancients considered them sacred, guides that led souls through the afterlife. They revered the Mexican Hairless Dog, the Xoloitzcuintle, or Xolo for short. It’sa Xolo dog, Dante, that guides Miguel to meet his ancestors inCoco, the popular animated Disney movie. And it’s a song from the movie,Remember Me , that’s become the soundtrack for countless social-media posts about departed pets. In Philadelphia , theItalian Market festival welcomes all who wish to take part to South 9th Street between Federal and Christian Streets from 11 am to 5 pm. The Fleisher Art Memorial in South Philadelphia alsowill hold a big Day of the Dead celebration . Everyone is invited to help with final preparations for the ofrenda from 2 pm to 9 pm on October 31 , and to come to the Day of the Dead event the next day. “The animals, that’s family too,” said María De Los Angeles Hernández Del Prado, the artist who led the creation of the Fleisher’s large, three-part ofrenda, which includes a section devoted to pets. “They’re the same as us, they just don’t talk the same language.” Pimentel-Howard knew after Mobi died that she would find a way to honor him, along with the other animals she has loved. “You don’t know what it’s like to lose an animal,” she said, “until you’ve lost one.” The following information is not intended for publication dpa tca arw

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)