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Iran and India might dominate the world market of saffron, but in Germany, there is a small region with centuries of history of growing and cooking with this precious spice. We asked some locals for cooking advice. Altenburg, Germany (dpa) – "Never let it cook." That is the golden rule of saffron, according to Andrea Wagner. She and her husband are the founders of a saffron brand from Germany – yes, not from Iran nor India. Saffron has a surprisingly long history in central Germany's Thuringia region dating back to the late Middle Ages. First mentioned in 1437, cultivation and trade flourished in the historic city of Altenburg until saffron disappeared in the 17th century due to the Thirty Years' War. Revived again today, local producers there now offer saffron beer and saffron liqueurs, chocolate and pralines with saffron, even saffron soap and saffron perfume. Saffron is too expensive to waste, Wagner says. In Germany, 500 threads make up one gram of Altenburg saffron, and one gram costs €50 (about $59). That means one thread costs ten cents. "It's an essential oil that evaporates," Wagner says, explaining why it should never be cooked. "Then you have the aroma in the kitchen, not in the pot." What makes saffron so expensive? Saffron is one of the most costly spices there are. This is due to the cumbersome harvest. The threads need to be manually plucked from the opened flower and dried. Up to 200,000 blossoms have to be harvested for one kilogram of saffron. When imported as powder or in fine threads the spice costs less, up to around €18 (or $20) per gram, depending on the quality. High-quality saffron consists of whole stigmas with a strong reddish-brown hue that feel slightly greasy. Stored in a dark, cool place in a sealed container, it can be kept for one to two years. Wagner says she likes to enhance courgette or pumpkin soup with saffron. She prepares a saffron extract by grinding ten to fifteen threads by hand into a powder for one litre of soup. She stirs this with a splash of lukewarm water in a small bowl and lets it swell for at least two hours or overnight. Saffron is considered a medicinal plant, said to lift the mood, be good for the eyes and regulate blood pressure. Wagner also explains how we eat with our eyes: "After cooking I take the soup off the heat and add the extract. But I stir only once, then I have a red spiral." Real threads rather than powder, and how to use them Whether for sweet or savoury dishes, chef Thomas Büchner swears by saffron. The 43-year-old from the Altenburg region knows how to tell good saffron from bad. "Good saffron has long threads where I can clearly see the tip and the root. Short threads with only the tip reveal poorer quality." The expert concedes that fake saffron, sometimes diluted with turmeric, won't be easy for the average person to spot. That's why he generally advises people to avoid buying saffron in powder form. "You can cheat a lot with that." For recipes to try at home, Büchner is an inexhaustible source of ideas. "Saffron likes creamy things," he says, recommending a quick bread spread: 250 g soft goat’s cheese, 250 g soured cream, five to ten saffron threads, salt and pepper. He mixes everything together with a stand mixer or hand mixer and puts the mixture in the fridge overnight. "Then you can eat it right away in the morning. Here the saffron steps into the background and pushes the main ingredients to the fore." The visual effect is also lovely, he says—yellow streaks in the white. Another idea from Büchner is a fruit salad: soak 10 to 20 saffron threads in 0.2 litres of fresh orange juice, add 100 g of sugar and the fillets of six to ten oranges, then put them into the fridge. The next day serve this special dessert with vanilla ice cream or a warm sweet potato dumpling. The ice-cube trick Büchner’s quick method goes like this: simply crush ice cubes and saffron together with a mortar. His rule of thumb is about five threads per cube. "When the ice cubes melt, they bind oils and colour. I pour this flavourful stock over vegetable rice or a fish stew," he says. "I can also work it into a dessert." And which drinks go with dishes featuring saffron? Büchner: "An acidic white wine, like a Riesling," he suggests. A malty and not-too-bitter beer will also pair nicely. Local chef Martin Schlösser has a hot tip (literally) for tasting saffron in its pure, simple form: tea. To do this, he carefully fishes three dried threads out of a jar with tweezers. The 53-year-old chef, who runs a cooking school in Altenburg, puts the threads in a cup of hot water. Now he lets everything steep. Slowly, the saffron colours the water yellow. After five minutes, the colour and aroma are strong enough to satisfy even the most discerning palates: "There's no bitterness, no pungency. I just think it tastes good. It's relaxing." The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn ouv yyzz a3 bzl cwg lue

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

Iran and India might dominate the world market of saffron, but in Germany, there is a small region with centuries of history of growing and cooking with this precious spice. We asked some locals for cooking advice. Altenburg, Germany (dpa) – "Never let it cook." That is the golden rule of saffron, according to Andrea Wagner. She and her husband are the founders of a saffron brand from Germany – yes, not from Iran nor India. Saffron has a surprisingly long history in central Germany's Thuringia region dating back to the late Middle Ages. First mentioned in 1437, cultivation and trade flourished in the historic city of Altenburg until saffron disappeared in the 17th century due to the Thirty Years' War. Revived again today, local producers there now offer saffron beer and saffron liqueurs, chocolate and pralines with saffron, even saffron soap and saffron perfume. Saffron is too expensive to waste, Wagner says. In Germany, 500 threads make up one gram of Altenburg saffron, and one gram costs €50 (about $59). That means one thread costs ten cents. "It's an essential oil that evaporates," Wagner says, explaining why it should never be cooked. "Then you have the aroma in the kitchen, not in the pot." What makes saffron so expensive? Saffron is one of the most costly spices there are. This is due to the cumbersome harvest. The threads need to be manually plucked from the opened flower and dried. Up to 200,000 blossoms have to be harvested for one kilogram of saffron. When imported as powder or in fine threads the spice costs less, up to around €18 (or $20) per gram, depending on the quality. High-quality saffron consists of whole stigmas with a strong reddish-brown hue that feel slightly greasy. Stored in a dark, cool place in a sealed container, it can be kept for one to two years. Wagner says she likes to enhance courgette or pumpkin soup with saffron. She prepares a saffron extract by grinding ten to fifteen threads by hand into a powder for one litre of soup. She stirs this with a splash of lukewarm water in a small bowl and lets it swell for at least two hours or overnight. Saffron is considered a medicinal plant, said to lift the mood, be good for the eyes and regulate blood pressure. Wagner also explains how we eat with our eyes: "After cooking I take the soup off the heat and add the extract. But I stir only once, then I have a red spiral." Real threads rather than powder, and how to use them Whether for sweet or savoury dishes, chef Thomas Büchner swears by saffron. The 43-year-old from the Altenburg region knows how to tell good saffron from bad. "Good saffron has long threads where I can clearly see the tip and the root. Short threads with only the tip reveal poorer quality." The expert concedes that fake saffron, sometimes diluted with turmeric, won't be easy for the average person to spot. That's why he generally advises people to avoid buying saffron in powder form. "You can cheat a lot with that." For recipes to try at home, Büchner is an inexhaustible source of ideas. "Saffron likes creamy things," he says, recommending a quick bread spread: 250 g soft goat’s cheese, 250 g soured cream, five to ten saffron threads, salt and pepper. He mixes everything together with a stand mixer or hand mixer and puts the mixture in the fridge overnight. "Then you can eat it right away in the morning. Here the saffron steps into the background and pushes the main ingredients to the fore." The visual effect is also lovely, he says—yellow streaks in the white. Another idea from Büchner is a fruit salad: soak 10 to 20 saffron threads in 0.2 litres of fresh orange juice, add 100 g of sugar and the fillets of six to ten oranges, then put them into the fridge. The next day serve this special dessert with vanilla ice cream or a warm sweet potato dumpling. The ice-cube trick Büchner’s quick method goes like this: simply crush ice cubes and saffron together with a mortar. His rule of thumb is about five threads per cube. "When the ice cubes melt, they bind oils and colour. I pour this flavourful stock over vegetable rice or a fish stew," he says. "I can also work it into a dessert." And which drinks go with dishes featuring saffron? Büchner: "An acidic white wine, like a Riesling," he suggests. A malty and not-too-bitter beer will also pair nicely. Local chef Martin Schlösser has a hot tip (literally) for tasting saffron in its pure, simple form: tea. To do this, he carefully fishes three dried threads out of a jar with tweezers. The 53-year-old chef, who runs a cooking school in Altenburg, puts the threads in a cup of hot water. Now he lets everything steep. Slowly, the saffron colours the water yellow. After five minutes, the colour and aroma are strong enough to satisfy even the most discerning palates: "There's no bitterness, no pungency. I just think it tastes good. It's relaxing." The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn ouv yyzz a3 bzl cwg lue

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

London (PA Media/dpa) – K-pop superstars BTS will launch their comeback with a live reunion concert on Netflix, as well as a documentary. Band members RM, Jin, Suga, J-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook will reunite on stage on March 21 for a show at historic Gwanghwamun, the main gate of the Gyeongbokgung palace in Seoul. The event, which will be streamed on Netflix around the world, comes on the heels of the announcement of BTS’s fifth studio album and a world tour. The album, "Arirang," has been described as a “deeply reflective body of work that explores their identity and roots”. After the release, the band will embark on a world tour across Asia, North and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and beyond. A film about the making of the comeback album, called "BTS: The Return," will arrive on Netflix on March 27. The film, directed by Bao Nguyen, will follow the group as they make music together after completing South Korea’s mandatory military service. It will take fans “through moments of doubt, laughter and rediscovery” as the band “create new music that reflects who they are now”, Netflix said, adding: “Intimate, emotional and often joyful, "BTS: The Return" is a story only BTS can tell: a portrait of resilience, brotherhood and reinvention.” BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or Beyond The Scene, launched in 2013 and were the first K-pop group to become global megastars. They are best known for the hits including "Dynamite" – their first English-language single, which earned them their first Grammy nomination and propelled them to be named Time’s Entertainer of the Year 2020 – and "Butter." On June 14 2022, the group announced a pause in group activities to enable the members to complete 18 months of mandatory military service. The members began enlisting in staggered phases, and all had completed their service by June 2025. "BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang" will be streamed live on Netflix on March 21. "BTS: The Return" will be launched on March 27. The following information is not intended for publication dpa pa arw

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London (PA Media/dpa) – K-pop superstars BTS will launch their comeback with a live reunion concert on Netflix, as well as a documentary. Band members RM, Jin, Suga, J-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook will reunite on stage on March 21 for a show at historic Gwanghwamun, the main gate of the Gyeongbokgung palace in Seoul. The event, which will be streamed on Netflix around the world, comes on the heels of the announcement of BTS’s fifth studio album and a world tour. The album, "Arirang," has been described as a “deeply reflective body of work that explores their identity and roots”. After the release, the band will embark on a world tour across Asia, North and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and beyond. A film about the making of the comeback album, called "BTS: The Return," will arrive on Netflix on March 27. The film, directed by Bao Nguyen, will follow the group as they make music together after completing South Korea’s mandatory military service. It will take fans “through moments of doubt, laughter and rediscovery” as the band “create new music that reflects who they are now”, Netflix said, adding: “Intimate, emotional and often joyful, "BTS: The Return" is a story only BTS can tell: a portrait of resilience, brotherhood and reinvention.” BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or Beyond The Scene, launched in 2013 and were the first K-pop group to become global megastars. They are best known for the hits including "Dynamite" – their first English-language single, which earned them their first Grammy nomination and propelled them to be named Time’s Entertainer of the Year 2020 – and "Butter." On June 14 2022, the group announced a pause in group activities to enable the members to complete 18 months of mandatory military service. The members began enlisting in staggered phases, and all had completed their service by June 2025. "BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang" will be streamed live on Netflix on March 21. "BTS: The Return" will be launched on March 27. The following information is not intended for publication dpa pa arw

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From Way Bandy’s pioneering artistry to RuPaul’s era-defining drag revolution, LGBTQ+ creatives have shaped beauty into a space for bold, unapologetic self-expression. How much of the industry’s evolution would have been possible without their influence? London (PA Media/dpa) – From the first modern make-up artists to today’s digital trailblazers, LGBTQ+ creatives have been at the heart of beauty’s evolution. They’ve redefined glamour, challenged gender norms and proved that make-up is not about hiding who you are, but expressing it. These icons remind us that the beauty industry would not look the way it does today without queer brilliance. 1. Way Bandy Often described as one of the world’s first make-up artists, Way Bandy helped create the profession as we know it today. In 1966, he studied at the Christine Valmy Beauty School – the first aesthetician school in the US – where he was asked to teach make-up application, something entirely new in New York at the time. Bandy became known for his flawless, precise technique and went on to paint the faces of Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, Farrah Fawcett and First Lady Nancy Reagan. His work helped elevate make-up from backstage craft to creative art form. When he died in 1986, the AIDS crisis was devastating the LGBTQ+ community. In a climate of secrecy and stigma, Bandy made a powerful decision. He instructed his lawyer to list his death as AIDS-related in his obituary. It was an act of defiance and courage at the time, aimed at replacing fear and shame with honesty and understanding. His legacy lives on through the generations of artists he inspired, including Kevyn Aucoin, Troy Surratt and Bobbi Brown, in the very idea of what it means to be a modern-day make-up artist. 2. Nikkie de Jager (NikkieTutorials) Nikkie de Jager has been reshaping beauty since uploading her first YouTube video in 2008. Her 2015 viral hit, The Power of Make-up, racked up over 40 million views and challenged the idea that make-up is about insecurity rather than creativity. In 2019, she was appointed Marc Jacobs Beauty’s Global Artistry Advisor, cementing her place in the industry. In 2020, de Jager shared that she is a transgender woman. Though she was forced into coming out after being blackmailed, she transformed a moment of threat into one of empowerment. By living openly, she became a global role model, showing millions what confidence, authenticity and joy can look like. Today, de Jager stands not just as a make-up icon, but as a trailblazer for trans visibility in mainstream beauty. 3. Kevyn Aucoin Kevyn Aucoin redefined glamour in the Nineties and remains one of the most influential make-up artists of all time. Working with icons like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Cher, he brought a fresh, luminous approach to beauty that celebrated individuality over perfection. He went on to write a series of influential books that shared professional make-up techniques including contouring – a method that was largely unknown in mainstream culture at the time, despite having long been used in drag and stage performance. Aucoin believed make-up was transformative art. His books, Making Faces and Face Forward, taught a generation that beauty was about storytelling, not symmetry. He championed diversity long before it became an industry buzzword, featuring drag queens, trans women and people of all genders in his work. After passing away in 2002 at the age of 40 due to kidney and liver failure, his legacy lives on through Kevyn Aucoin Beauty and in every artist who sees make-up as a form of self-expression rather than correction. 4. Mario Dedivanovic Best known as the architect of Kim Kardashian’s signature look, Mario Dedivanovic has changed how the world applies make-up. His sculpted and flawless style popularised the “soft-glam” aesthetic, characterised by warm contouring, fluffy lashes and bronzed eyes, which helped usher in the era of social-media-make-up. After starting off as the Kardashian’s go-to make-up artist, Dedivanovic then launched his own luxury beauty line, Makeup By Mario. What sets Dedivanovic apart is his commitment to education. Through his MasterClass tutorials and online content, he’s shared professional techniques with millions, opening up an industry that once felt closed-off and exclusive. As an openly gay artist at the top of his field, Dedivanovic represents a generation of LGBTQ+ creatives who built global influence through skill, community and digital connection. 5. RuPaul There is no denying RuPaul’s impact on beauty, drag and culture. In 1994, RuPaul became the first drag queen to front a major cosmetics campaign when he starred in MAC’s Viva Glam, raising funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS. But RuPaul’s most powerful legacy is RuPaul’s Drag Race. Since 2009, the show has given drag artists a global platform, celebrating make-up as performance, identity and art. It has introduced millions to the idea that beauty has no gender, no rules and no single look. Hundreds of gay, bisexual, non-binary and trans performers have competed, and the show continues to evolve – welcoming its first trans man drag queen, Gottmik, in 2021. Through RuPaul, beauty became louder, bolder and freer, and an entire generation learned that glamour belongs to everyone. The following information is not intended for publication pa dpa coh

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Whether you’re stuck in traffic, grounded by winter weather or tackling chores at home, this year’s must-listen audiobooks offer epic adventures, sharp humor and moving memoirs. Los Angeles (tca/dpa) – Stuck in ski traffic. On board a five-hour flight (with a layover) to a sunny destination. During a road trip to see family for the holidays. Heck, just toodling around the house doing laundry or washing dishes. Those are just some of the many opportunities that life presents to listen to audiobooks, especially if you still have some weeks stuck indoors before warmer weather returns. Here are our favorites, starting with a Top 10 must-listen list, gathered from staff and readers alike. No. 1: ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’ Author: George Saunders Narrated by: The author, Nick Offerman , David Sedaris , Carrie Brownstein , Don Cheadle , Lena Dunham , Bill Hader , Keegan-Michael Key , Julianne Moore , Megan Mullally , Susan Sarandon , Ben Stiller and 155(!) others Running time: 7 hours and 25 minutes Plot: With the Civil War raging, Abraham Lincoln mourns his dead 11-year-old son, Willie, in a Georgetown cemetery, returning to the crypt to hold the boy’s body. With Willie’s spirit in a purgatory — a bardo, in Tibetan tradition — ghosts interact and quarrel while commenting on the grief-stricken scene and more. Why you should love it: This groundbreaking novel is unlike anything else you’ve ever read. (Don’t worry if you find yourself getting a little lost at the beginning; there’s a lot going on and a multitude of characters.Stick with it, trust us!)And just look at that lineup of narrators! —Recommended by Barbara Ellis and LeAnna Efird ; Audio Publishers Association 2018 audiobook of the year No. 2: ‘Project Hail Mary’ Author: Andy Weir Narrated by: Ray Porter Running time: 16 hours and 10 minutes Plot: Science teacher and biologist Ryland Grace is the unlikely hero who must save Earth from a sun-killing substance. Why you should love it: “Project Hail Mary” is on alotof online lists of best audiobooks. And the fact that it’s been made into a movie starring Ryan Gosling (scheduled for March 2026 release) should be enough to pique your interest. By the author of “The Martian.” —Recommended by LeAnna Efird , Andrea Walden-Morden and reddit.com reviewers; winner of the 2022 Audie Awards Audiobook of the Year No. 3: The Harry Potter boxed set (seven books) Author: J.K. Rowling Narrated by: Jim Dale (American version) and Stephen Fry (British version) Running time: Varies, between 8 hours, 18 minutes (“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”) and 27 hours, 2 minutes (“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”). Totals: nearly 117 hours of listening for the American version and 124 hours for the British. (Heck, you could easily finish all seven by spring.) Plots: Harry Potter , Hogwarts, flying cars, dastardly demons. Good vs. evil. Love conquers all. Oh, come on. Do we really have to tell you more? For shame. Why you should love them: Harry Potter is a literary phenom, and even if you’ve already read the books and/or watched the films, you owe it to yourself to get the full experience. You can’t go wrong with either version: Jim Dale’s theatrics are a treat, while British actor Stephen Fry brings us into the wizarding world as Rowling intended. Full cast editions — featuring actors like Kiera Knightly as Dolores Umbridge and Kit Harington as Professor Lockhart — are now available for preorder. (But we find it difficult to believe they’ll be any better than the Fry/Dale versions.) —Recommended by Barbara Ellis , goodreads.com and libbylife.com reviewers No. 4: The Murderbot Diaries (seven books) Author: Martha Wells Narrated by: Kevin R. Free , plus a dramatized version Running time: Varies, from 3 hours, 17 minutes (“All Systems Red”) to 4 hours, 24 minutes (“Fugitive Telemetry”) Plot: In a future time, a “killer” security android takes out his governing module and goes rogue, watching space operas and weighing in on the vagaries of the human species while protecting — and actually getting to like — them. And they kinda like him, too. Why you should love it: Timely, certainly, since it dwells on sentient robotics and artificial intelligence. But listen to it because you will quickly fall for the quirky robot who is on a journey of self-discovery. (Choose the Kevin R. Free versions over the dramatized readings.) —Recommended by Jonathan Shikes , Barbara Ellis , reddit.com reviewers No. 5: ‘My Friends’ Author: Fredrik Backman Narrated by: Marin Ireland Running time: 13 hours, 22 minutes Plot: Four teens grow up in poverty, violence and neglect, forging a bond that lasts their lifetimes. Twenty-five years into the future, an 18-year-old girl will be saved by two of them. Why you should love it: The writing, the character development, the flow, the pathos. It pulls you in quickly and never lets go. Everything you want out of a novel. This is Fredrik Backman (author of “A Man Called Ove” and “My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry”) at his best. —Recommended by Barbara Ellis and audible.com No. 6: ‘Bossy Pants’ Author: Tina Fey Narrated by: the author Running time: 5 hours, 32 minutes Plot: Autobiographical essays by the actress (“30 Rock”), writer (“Mean Girls”) and comedian (“SNL”). Why you should love it: Well, she’s quick-witted, sarcastic, smart and funny as hell. That ought to do for starters. ( New York Times bestseller, Audiobook of the Year at the 2012 Ausie Awards) —Recommended by Beth Rankin No. 7: ‘Everything is Tuberculosis’ Author: John Green Narrated by: the author Running time: 5 hours, 35 minutes Plot: Green tells the story of Henry Reider , a young tuberculosis patient at Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone , and through him advocates for global health care reform. Why you should love it: In its review, The Associated Press wrote: “The real magic of Green’s writing is the deeply considerate, human touch that goes into every word.” Well said. A New York Times and Washington Post bestseller. —Recommended by Katie Langford No. 8: ‘The Correspondent’ Author: Virginia Evans Narrated by: Maggi-Meg Reed , Jane Oppenheimer and others Running time: 8 hours, 36 minutes Plot: Sybil Van Antwerp uses letters (correspondence) to make sense of the world, and always has. She writes to family members, friends, authors, universities and others, trying to make sense of things, complain of injustices, express remorse. Why you should love it: This one will catch you by surprise. It starts out slow, and the format takes a little getting used to, but you soon settle in for the lovely ride. It’s a quiet treasure. —Recommended by LeAnna Efird and Barbara Ellis ; a New York Times bestseller No. 9: ‘The Stand’ Author: Stephen King Narrated by: Grover Gardner Running time: 47 hours, 47 minutes (the uncut version) Plot: A post-apocalyptic fantasy about the struggle between good and evil. On one side, a satanic figure named Randall Flagg who gathers his forces of badness to Las Vegas ; on the other, the good guys, led by 108-year-old Mother Abigail in, of all places, Boulder. Why you should love it: Sure, King has plenty of novels that would be great to listen to, but none more timely than this, even though it was first published in 1978. Yay, good guys! Yay, Boulder! —Recommended by Barbara Ellis , audible.com and reddit.com reviews No. 10: ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Author: Jane Austen Narrated by: Marisa Abela , Harris Dickinson , Glenn Close and 12 others Running time: 4 hours, 34 minutes Plot: Elizabeth Bennett , Mr. Darcy , heaving bosoms, unrequited love in the 1800s. Happy ending. Why you should love it: Well, it’s a classic, for starters. You think you know the story, but you owe it to yourself to listen to this fantastic production and performances. —Recommended by Kristen Kidd , libbylife.com And more to consi…

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Cologne (dpa) – If you have some boiled potatoes left over from a meal, then try this tasty recipe for your leftovers. Mash them and brush them with melted butter. Season the butter well with salt, fresh garlic and paprika powder. Then sprinkle a little finely grated Parmesan cheese over the potatoes and pop them in the oven. Bake them until they are crispy and brown. If you serve these baked potatoes without other side dishes, try adding a sour cream dip, with some fresh or frozen herbs. It is ready in no time. Ingredients for 4 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp olive oil 1 clove of garlic 1 tsp paprika powder Salt Pepper 800 g potatoes (cooked) 35 g Parmesan 300 g sour cream 1 tbsp chives (frozen) 1 tbsp parsley (frozen) 1/2 tbsp dill (frozen) 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 tsp lemon juice 10 g parsley (optional) Method Melt the butter and mix with the olive oil. Peel the garlic and press it into the fat using a garlic press. Season with paprika powder, plenty of salt and pepper. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (fan). Lightly brush the baking tray with the seasoned fat. Place the potatoes (cut in half depending on their size) on the baking tray, press them down lightly with a cup (or similar) and brush them with the seasoned fat. Finely grate the Parmesan and sprinkle about three quarters of it over the potatoes. Bake for about 35 minutes until the potatoes and cheese are crispy and brown. Use the time in between to make your dip. Mix the sour cream with the frozen herbs and season with mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Wash the parsley, shake it dry and sprinkle the leaves over the potatoes before serving. These are more for visual appeal than taste. Serve your crispy potatoes with the dip. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn ueh xlt cwg tsn xxde arw

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Hamburg (dpa) – Repeated skin rashes, inflamed ears or itchy paws can quickly worry any dog or cat owner. What's wrong with my pet? The answer may lie in the food bowl. According to animal welfare experts, dogs and cats can also develop food allergies over time. When this happens, the immune system mistakenly treats harmless protein components in food as a threat. The body responds by releasing inflammatory messengers that trigger unpleasant symptoms. Common allergy triggers According to animal welfare organization Four Paws, food allergies are often caused by the following ingredients: In dogs:Beef and lamb, poultry, cereals, dairy products In cats:Beef, chicken, fish Typical symptoms of food allergies In addition to itching, rashes, recurring inflammation and loss of fur, these symptoms are typical of food allergies: Dogs:vomiting, diarrhoea and flatulence Cats:excessive grooming, frequent scratching/licking and sometimes open skin wounds If you notice that your pet is suffering from symptoms like these, you should have this checked out by a vet – also to rule out other illnesses. Identifying the culprit with an elimination diet To determine which ingredient is causing the reaction, vets often recommend what's known as an elimination diet. This should always be carried out under veterinary supervision. Initially, only a single source of animal protein is included in your pet's diet. Horse meat, for example, is a good choice as it is considered hypoallergenic. Cereals and dairy products should be avoided in an elimination diet as they can also be potential allergy triggers. "You may be able to choose food that also contains added carbohydrates such as sweet potato or parsnip," advises vet Sabrina Karl from Four Paws. Dogs and cats should be fed for at least six to eight weeks following the elimination diet. During this time, the allergy symptoms should subside. The most important rule to ensure that this plan works: "Snacking on other treats is absolutely a no-go during this time," says Karl. Reintroducing foods step by step Once the period is over, pet owners can add a second protein source and feed it for a few weeks. Do the symptoms return? If so, you are on the trail of the trigger. If, on the other hand, the animal is doing well, owners can gradually add more protein sources until abnormalities reappear. Once the problem ingredient has been identified, it should be permanently eliminated from the pet's diet. The Four Paws experts advise owners to seek advice from their vet or animal nutrition specialists to ensure that, despite dietary restrictions, the pet continues to receive balanced and healthy nutrition. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn rid xxde mls coh

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New gardeners can make a head start on their windowsills. London (PA Media/dpa) – Budding gardeners who can’t face the elements of winter could be considering starting off with some seeds indoors. You don’t need a huge amount of space to begin – just a windowsill will do – and you could be growing vegetables, flowers and herbs in late winter and spring which will be ready to plant outside once the weather warms up. But what’s the advantage of sowing seed? “You get so much more variety and choice if you grow from seed,” says YouTuber, best-selling author and horticulturist Huw Richards, whose new book How To Grow Food, co-written with chef Sam Cooper, is out on March 12. “If you buy a plant, you might not know what compost they have started the seeds off in or any added chemicals. “Here’s a simple analogy. It’s like going to a fast-food restaurant, getting a product that you consume, but you don’t really know what’s gone into it. But if you get all the primary ingredients and make that same meal yourself, you’ve got that transparency.” What you’ll need Seed trays (either with cells or without), good quality multi-purpose peat-free compost and, most importantly, seeds. If you are sowing early you will ideally need a heated propagator or heat mats to help the seeds indoors germinate. Lids with ventilation for your seed trays are also useful. Other sundries include a fine mist sprayer to keep the compost moist, plant labels and a permanent waterproof marker pen (widely available from garden centres). Water, heat and light “The three main things you need to think about are water, heat and light,” says Richards, Gardena brand ambassador. “The biggest mistake that people make when sowing seeds is overwatering because there’s too much water in the compost. It just causes the seeds to rot. Make sure that it’s damp, like if you’ve just wrung out a sponge.” Edibles that people would start sowing first, like chillies and tomatoes, need some baked heat to help them with germination, or they are likely to fail, he continues. “Some people put their trays in an airing cupboard that’s warm and on the first sign of germination, move them to a sunny windowsill otherwise the seedlings will turn leggy,” he says. “You can get heated propagators, or fancy ones that have built-in LED grow lights, but if you want to keep things simple, any situation that has ambient warmth really helps as well.” Seeds will germinate without light, Richards explains, because then they will emerge to try to find the light. “Basically, the germination is more about soil contact, water and (high) enough temperature.” Tips for windowsill growing If you only have room to grow seeds on a windowsill while the weather is still cool, invest in a heated propagator or heat mats, which can be rolled up and are easy to store, he recommends. The earliest crops for sowing might be chillis and aubergines, bell peppers, which could be started off in late February. “The end of February is a good time to sow tomatoes, because the issue is that they grow quite quickly. If you start them off too early, they’re going to get too big for their modules, cells or pots. “They’ll need potting on and you’re going to be trying to grow them indoors for another two months before you can plant them in a polytunnel (or other sheltered spot such as a greenhouse), which won’t be until the beginning of May,” he explains. Flowers to sow Sow flower seeds such as calendula, cosmos, nigella, larkspur and ammi majus from February onwards, but if you are sowing that early you’ll benefit from heat mats or a heated propagator, he points out. “These are heat-loving crops from a different part of the world, they’re not used to our low temperatures. Even an ambient temperature on a sunny windowsill is still pretty cool. You can plant them without any bottom heat, but you might only get the odd one pop up, but most will likely fail.” If you don’t want to invest in heated accessories, leave your sowing until mid-spring, when temperatures are warmer. Sowing tips Use good quality, multi-purpose, peat-free compost – RHS or Soil Association-endorsed is a good marker, Richards says. Dampen your compost before you put it into your seed tray or cells, making sure it is moist but not soaking. Then sow your seeds as per the seed packet instructions. Growing in individual cells or just regular seed trays is a matter of preference, but with larger seeds, such as broad beans and runner beans, you may be better off starting them off in small pots or bigger cells because they will need extra depth for the roots to develop. Once seedlings appear, if they are on a south facing windowsill, rotate the trays daily, he recommends. When the compost starts to dry out water it with a fine spray. You can transplant them to slightly bigger cells or pots once three to four true leaves have appeared, he suggests. True leaves are those which follow the first two leaves after germination. If you’re going to pot on into individual cells, there’s no need to thin, because you’re thinning through the process of pricking out and planting out, he says. Plants like radish and beetroot are planted out in a clump – with four to five seedlings per planting. Then you pick the biggest root first and allow the smaller ones to continue growing. “If you’re after individuals, say, if you’ve two tomatoes per cell and two seedlings appear, you’ll then remove the weakest or the smallest one, and cut it out, don’t pull it out, because they’re really small seedlings and the act of pulling might damage the roots of the other seedling.” Be patient “People need to stop rushing. I know they’re eager, and that’s great, but plants catch up as well. My biggest sowing month is actually May, so you’ve got loads of time, you can still sow tomatoes in early April and get a crop,” he says. The following information is not intended for publication pa dpa coh

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Los Angeles (dpa) – US rock legend Bruce Springsteen has dedicated a protest song to the citizens of Minneapolis, condemning the hard-line actions of the US immigration authority ICE on the orders of US President Donald Trump. In the song "Streets of Minneapolis" Springsteen rails against "King Trump’s private army" whose soldiers "trample on our rights" and sings of a city beneath "an occupier's boots" and fighting "fire and ice." "I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis," Springsteen posted on social media. "It's dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbours," he wrote, also dedicating the song to the two US citizens shot and killed by ICE agents in January, Alex Pretti and Renée Good. ICE and other cooperating authorities have faced criticism for their violent implementation of Trump’s deportation policy with chaotic militaristic raids. Protests grew louder after Renée Good was shot dead by an ICE officer in early January. Last Saturday nurse Alex Pretti was then shot dead during an operation by federal officers, prompting nationwide protests against Trump, his deportation policy and the actions of the agencies loyal to him. Springsteen has long been known as a critic of the US president, slamming Trump during his tour last year and criticising deportation raids and the government’s handling of demonstrations in Los Angeles. The song title "Streets of Minneapolis" recalls the famous Springsteen track "Streets of Philadelphia", which he wrote for the 1993 film drama "Philadelphia" about the AIDS crisis. The musician won several prizes for it, including the Oscar for best original song. The following information is not intended for publication dpa mub xxde coh

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