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40 tonnes of butter recalled for absurd reason

Costco has recalled nearly 40 tonnes of butter for an absurd reason. America's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent out an initial recall for 36,000kg of Kirkland Signature butter in October because the label failed to mention that the kitchen staple contains milk. Packages for both the salted and unsalted version of the butter listed cream as an ingredient, but did not include an allergy warning for milk. The bizarre recall left many internet users scratching their heads, with many slamming the wasteful move stating the obvious: "It's butter". “Costco butter was just recalled, because the label doesn’t say that it contains milk. It’s butter. News articles are telling people how they can return, or safely dispose of, the butter. It’s butter,” one person deadpanned. “Can y’all please safely dispose of it at my house? I have a lot of holiday baking to do," another joked. “If you need to government to tell you that butter is a dairy product then … well, I can’t help you God I loathe the state," a third added. “To be called ‘Butter’ it must contain milk or milk derivatives. Talk about useless government,” another social media user wrote. “Rather than waste (40,000kg) of butter why don’t they print stickers that say “Contains Milk” and save perfectly good food? So wasteful,” a fifth wrote. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention mentioned in the recall that milk is one of the main foods that “account for most serious allergic reactions in the United States”. The FDA did not say if there has been any illnesses or adverse reactions from the product. Image: The Image Party / Shutterstock.com

Legal

Run out of butter or eggs? Here’s the science behind substitute ingredients

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paulomi-polly-burey-404695">Paulomi (Polly) Burey</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a> It’s an all too common situation – you’re busy cooking or baking to a recipe when you open the cupboard and suddenly realise you are missing an ingredient. Unless you can immediately run to the shops, this can leave you scrambling for a substitute that can perform a similar function. Thankfully, such substitutes can be more successful than you’d expect. There are a few reasons why certain ingredient substitutions work so well. This is usually to do with the chemistry and the physical features having enough similarity to the original ingredient to still do the job appropriately. Let’s delve into some common ingredient substitutions and why they work – or need to be tweaked. <iframe id="IitfH" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/IitfH/1/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> <h2>Oils versus butter</h2> Both butter and oils belong to a chemical class called <a href="https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Map%3A_Fundamentals_of_General_Organic_and_Biological_Chemistry_(McMurry_et_al.)/23%3A_Lipids/23.01%3A_Structure_and_Classification_of_Lipids">lipids</a>. It encompasses solid, semi-solid and liquid fats. In a baked product the “job” of these ingredients is to provide flavour and influence the structure and texture of the finished item. In cake batters, lipids contribute to creating an emulsion structure – this means combining two liquids that wouldn’t usually mix. In the baking process, this helps to create a light, fluffy crumb. One of the primary differences between butter and oil is that butter is only about 80% lipid (the rest being water), while <a href="https://www.nutritionadvance.com/types-of-cooking-fats-and-oils/">oil is almost 100% lipid</a>. Oil creates a softer crumb but is still a great fat to bake with. You can use a wide range of oils from different sources, such as olive oil, rice bran, avocado, peanut, coconut, macadamia and many more. Each of these may impart different flavours. Other “butters”, such as peanut and cashew butter, aren’t strictly butters but pastes. They impart different characteristics and can’t easily replace dairy butter, unless you also add extra oil. <h2>Aquafaba or flaxseed versus eggs</h2> Aquafaba is the liquid you drain from a can of legumes – such as chickpeas or lentils. It contains proteins, kind of how egg white also contains proteins. The proteins in egg white include albumins, and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5912395/">aquafaba also contains albumins</a>. This is why it is possible to make meringue from egg whites, or from aquafaba if you’re after a vegan version. The proteins act as a foam stabiliser – they hold the light, airy texture in the product. The concentration of protein in egg white is a bit higher, so it doesn’t take long to create a stable foam. Aquafaba requires more whipping to create a meringue-like foam, but it will bake in a similar way. Another albumin-containing alternative for eggs is <a href="https://foodstruct.com/compare/seeds-flaxseed-vs-egg">flaxseed</a>. These seeds form a thick gel texture when mixed with a little water. The texture is similar to raw egg and can provide structure and emulsification in baked recipes that call for a small amount of egg white. <h2>Lemon plus dairy versus buttermilk</h2> Buttermilk is the liquid left over after churning butter – it can be made from sweet cream, cultured/sour cream or whey-based cream. Buttermilk mostly <a href="https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(06)72115-4/fulltext">contains proteins and fats</a>. Cultured buttermilk has a somewhat tangy flavour. Slightly soured milk can be a good substitute as it contains similar components and isn’t too different from “real” buttermilk, chemically speaking. One way to achieve slightly soured milk is by adding some lemon juice or cream of tartar to milk. Buttermilk is used in pancakes and baked goods to give extra height or volume. This is because the acidic (sour) components of buttermilk interact with baking soda, producing a light and airy texture. Buttermilk can also influence flavour, imparting a slightly tangy taste to pancakes and baked goods. It can also be used in sauces and dressings if you’re looking for a lightly acidic touch. <h2>Honey versus sugar</h2> Honey is a <a href="https://resources.perkinelmer.com/lab-solutions/resources/docs/APP_Analysis-of-Sugars-in-Honey-012101_01.pdf">complex sugar-based syrup</a> that includes floral or botanical flavours and aromas. Honey can be used in cooking and baking, adding both flavour and texture (viscosity, softness) to a wide range of products. If you add honey instead of regular sugar in baked goods, keep in mind that honey imparts a softer, moister texture. This is because it contains more moisture and is a humectant (that is, it likes to hold on to water). It is also less crystalline than sugar, unless you leave it to crystallise. The intensity of sweetness can also be different – some people find honey is sweeter than its granular counterpart, so you will want to adjust your recipes accordingly. <h2>Gluten-free versus regular flour</h2> Sometimes you need to make substitutions to avoid allergens, such as gluten – the protein found in cereal grains such as wheat, rye, barley and others. Unfortunately, gluten is also the component that gives a nice, stretchy, squishy quality to bread. To build this characteristic in a gluten-free product, it’s necessary to have a mixture of ingredients that work together to mimic this texture. Common ingredients used are corn or rice flour, xanthan gum, which acts as a binder and moisture holder, and tapioca starch, which is a good water absorbent and can aid with binding the dough. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/202036/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paulomi-polly-burey-404695">Paulomi (Polly) Burey</a>, Associate Professor (Food Science), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/run-out-of-butter-or-eggs-heres-the-science-behind-substitute-ingredients-202036">original article</a>.

Food & Wine

Stop your makeup melting in the heat

Party season and soaring temperatures mean one thing – melting makeup! Make sure you don’t end up looking like Alice Cooper this summer with our guide to a face that stays put even when the mercury rises. Blank canvas Exfoliate so that your face is ultra-smooth and products will stay on evenly, rather than migrating to one particularly dry area. After your usual moisturizer, make sure you apply SPF30+ or SPF50+ sunscreen. After all, there’s no point in going to all this trouble if you’re just going to end up looking like a tomato anyway! Then use a primer to take away shine. Another layer might seem counter-productive, but you can imagine what happens to make-up that’s applied to a slippery surface. Dare to bare Too much powder and sweat aren’t a good mix, literally. Powders can clog and looked caked when we start to ‘glow’ on scorching days. Similarly, long-lasting foundations can be too heavy and textured and look too much like make-up. Instead, opt for a light coverage foundation or illuminating tinted moisturiser to keep your look sheer and natural. Cheeks Using a brush, apply a cream blush to the apples of your cheeks. The beauty of a cream blush is that if it starts to budge, you can just blend it back in with your finger. Go easy on the bronzer. Use a shade that’s just one shade darker than your natural skin tone and apply it only where the sun would naturally catch your face. Eye Smokey eyes soon become raccoon eyes in the heat, so keep the natural look going with a creamy, slightly shimmery eye shadow in a coppery shade. Stick-style shadows stay in place very well and are easy to reapply on-the-go. Liquid eyeliner is best avoided in the heat. Use a pencil or at least a waterproof formulation. To avoid your eyebrows melting, go for a light pencil rather than a wax, then finish your eyes with waterproof mascara. Lips Thick gloss can feel a bit gloopy when the temperatures soar, and a heavy lipstick will overwhelm the natural look on your eyes and cheeks. Try a light chubby-stick style lip stain or a tinted lip balm with SPF in it to provide sheer colour and sun protection in one. Staying power It’s really important to ‘set’ your face after you’ve applied it, but it’s a fine line between setting it and adding powder that’s just going to cake. Use a good quality translucent powder just on your T-zone. A little goes a long way so dab it on the back of your hand first, then apply from there. Finally, keep some blotting papers in your handbag. Blotting papers don’t just mattify shine- they actually soak up excess oil and sweat, so they’re perfect for hot days! Image credits: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

Why you should grate your butter

Making your own food can take quite a bit of time, so a time-saving trick is always welcome. Dealing with cold, hard butter out of the refrigerator can be a hassle – it is not easily spreadable, and often needs to be brought to room temperature for most recipes. You can’t exactly leave it out for too long, either – food authorities such as the <a href="http://foodsafety.asn.au/butter/">Food Safety Information Council</a> generally recommend storing butter in the fridge to prevent it from becoming rancid. Luckily, there’s a trick to make your butter soft in little to no time. And it only requires a grater. Meghan Moravcik Walbert from <a href="https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2019/03/grate-your-butter-to-soften-it-quickly/">Lifehacker</a> said grating your butter is an easy way to transform it from brick-hard to soft, fluffy and ready for use. Once grated, the softened butter can be spread over toast, mixed up with dry ingredients in baking or utilised in any way your recipe requires. “I peel the wrapper back as I work to keep my hands clean,” wrote Walbert. “It takes less than 30 seconds to grate around 100g.” Don’t have a grater? You can try other tricks to soften butter, such as cutting them up into small chunks or setting it over a warm water bath. Would you try this trick? Let us know in the comments. Image: Getty

Food & Wine

Queen Elizabeth II in mourning

Queen Elizabeth II is in mourning after her life-long friend passed away. Lady Myra Butter, a descendent of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and poet, novelist and playwright, Alexander Pushkin, died “peacefully” at the age of 97 in London. "Lady Butter was a daughter of Sir Harold and Lady Zia Wernher, and a granddaughter of Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia and Countess de Torby,” managing editor of Majesty Magazine Joe Little wrote. "Myra was a close friend of the Queen and Prince Philip since childhood and from time to time appeared in royal documentaries." Lady Butter created the Pushkin award, which helped celebrate literary work in honour of her ancestor. She was married to Sir David Butter to who she had five kids with - and the Queen was the godmother of their eldest child, Sandra Elizabeth Zia. Lady Butter grew up with the Queen and her sister Princess Margaret, and spent their holidays together. She was also a guest at the Queen’s wedding to Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, in 1947. “The war had been so grey that the royal wedding seemed to signify the world coming to life again,” Lady Butter previously told The Daily Mail. "Everyone was determined to have a new dress for the day and I wore a blue ribbed silk dress by Dior. It was one of the first three-quarter length dresses, and I wore it with a feathered hat. I had new shoes and a bag, too – any excuse. "All the people from the Commonwealth made the ceremony very colourful and the choir superb. "The Princess looked truly glittering. Her dress was beautiful and she was obviously in love. Philip looked very dashing in his naval uniform – and it really did seem like a fairy tale wedding." Images: Getty/ITV

Relationships

Meteorologist mum melts hearts

A meteorologist mum has become a viral sensation after doing her daily on-air weather forecast with her adorable baby daughter in her arms.Rebecca Schuld, 42, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been working from home amid the Covid pandemic.When her 13-week-old daughter, Fiona, awoke from her nap just moments before she was set to go live to deliver the weather forecast on CBS 58, she decided to give her viewers an adorable surprise and bring her baby on air with her. 'She’s prepared. She’s got one of her good thick blankies here for that cold weather that’s coming up tonight,' Rebecca said during the segment, while holding the youngster - who didn't make a peep throughout the entire thing.'I thought she could help me with tonight’s first weather that’s going to be plenty unpleasant, right?'Rebecca - who just returned to work from maternity leave - opened up about the heartwarming moment, explaining that it was actually her producer's idea to bring Fiona on the show.'I was just minutes away from having my next weather broadcast, and my baby had just woken up,' she recalled.'I go over to my green wall. I’m holding her and our producer is like, "Oh, your baby, is she gonna make an appearance?"'I was very confident she was going to behave because she just took a long nap so I knew she'd be happy. I said, "Sure!"'Rebecca admitted that although she felt guilty for having her daughter intertwine with her work at first, she was proud of herself in the end for being real with her viewers.'We're supposed to put on this certain face,' she said. 'For a split second, I felt guilty about it and I don't know why.'When I sat and thought about it, it's like, why am I guilty? This is real life. This is what everyone else is also doing.Now, she hopes that other mothers who are balancing working while also being a parent feel less alone.Rebecca, who films the show out of her basement, said it's an 'absolute privilege' to be able to work from home and spend so much time with her newborn and family.'So to get done with maternity leave, and because of COVID, them wanting to keep some of us home, it gave me an opportunity to ease back into work life.'I’m able to multitask and still care for her and be there in her life. Some countries have maternity leave for a couple of years, so you're really able to bond with the baby and help raise them instead of, you know, putting them into daycare and then missing milestones.'Why not work from home if we can utilise technology? Why do we have to be in the office?'We've got everything here at home. We're doing the same work. And we're able to have a more enriched family life, so to me it’s the best of both worlds.'Rebecca's daughter was a total hit, with thousands of people having now watched the clip.Image: Daily Mail

Family & Pets

Adorable puppy melts hearts of William and Kate

Image: Getty Prince William and Kate Middleton were seen smiling, laughing and joking as they visited Lancashire on Thursday. This was their second joint engagement over the course of a few days. Despite their royal status, it was therapy dog Alfie who stole the show and melted their hearts. The apricot cockapoo was funded through hospital charity ELHT&me using a grant from NHS Charities Together, which the Duke and Duchess are Royal Patrons of. The couple visited Clitheroe Community Hospital, where they met with NHS staff and patients to learn about the challenges faced by rural health providers and to understand how NHS Charities Together is supporting the mental health of the frontline workforce. So far, the charity has helped fund a staff well-being room as well as two therapy dogs — six-year-old Jasper and Alfie, who is brand new to the team. They also visited Church on the Street, a charity run by Pastor Mick Fleming. The organisation was set up in 2019 to help the homeless and people living in poverty in Burnley and the surrounding areas. Speaking to a number of volunteers and staff, the couple heard about their motivations for working with Church on the Street. Charity owner Pastor Mick is now in discussions with local authorities, external support agencies and the NHS with the aim of providing further support for people who are struggling with their mental health.

Family & Pets

Sweet gesture as funeral for "King of the Ice Cream" melts hearts around the world

Image: Twitter A very sweet ice cream man's unique funeral procession has melted hearts all over the internet. The clip, filmed in the London area of Camberwell, shows a procession of ice cream vans following a hearse, all while playing the classic ice cream van jingle to farewell their fellow comrade. As the hearse drove down the road, around seven colourful ice cream vans slowly followed behind while the sweet music blared through the streets. Twitter user Louisa Davies posted the footage online after the sounds of the procession woke her up, admitting the heart-warming gesture left her "sobbing". "Just witnessed an ice cream man's funeral and all the ice cream vans came and followed in solidarity I AM SOBBING," Louisa wrote. The video quickly went viral, with Louisa's clip alone attracting a staggering 11 million views. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> just witnessed an ice cream man’s funeral and all the ice cream vans came and followed in solidarity I AM SOBBING <a href="https://t.co/bJhyJj4JoK">pic.twitter.com/bJhyJj4JoK</a> — Louisa Davies (@LouisaD__) <a href="https://twitter.com/LouisaD__/status/1471779181667225603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2021</a></blockquote> As per the Daily Mail, the funeral was held for 62-year-old Hasan Dervish, a man who was described as the "King of the ice cream" by his brother, Savash. Savash wrote: "Rest in eternal peace my brother. King of the ice cream." Louisa told the publication she didn't know the driver but was moved by the sweet send-off. "I'd never seen anything like this before so was quite shocked at first but then thought it was just the nicest most heart-warming send0-off," she said. "I'd like to send my respects to the family and let them know this procession brought joy to a lot of people today."

Caring

Butter chicken and sweet potato

Looking for something wholesome and fulfilling for dinner? Try out this comforting butter chicken and sweet potato dish as a winter’s warmer. Serves 4 Prep time: 15 mins + 1-hour marinating (optional) Cooking time: 40 mins Ingredients: <ul> <li>2 tbs tandoori curry paste</li> <li>¼ cup Greek yoghurt</li> <li>700g small chicken thigh fillets, trimmed </li> <li>1 tbs ghee or vegetable oil</li> <li>1 brown onion, finely chopped</li> <li>1 long green chilli, seeds removed, finely chopped</li> <li>800g sweet potato, peeled, halved lengthways, cut into 3cm pieces</li> <li>420g jar butter chicken sauce</li> <li>400g can finely chopped tomatoes </li> <li>150ml thickened cream</li> <li>Warm naan, to serve</li> <li>cucumber raita & coriander sprigs (optional), to serve</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Combine curry paste and yoghurt in a bowl. Cut chicken in half crossways (if chicken is large cut into thirds). Stir into tandoori mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour only if you have time.</li> <li>Preheat oven 230°C fan forced. Remove chicken from marinade. Place on a greased tray. Roast 10 minutes in hot oven.</li> <li>Meanwhile, heat ghee or oil in a deep-frying pan or wok. Add onion and chilli. Cook stirring 4 minutes until soft. Add sweet potato, cook 5 minutes. Add butter chicken sauce and tomatoes. Bring to the boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes until sweet potato just tender. Stir in cream. Add the chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes until chicken cooked through.</li> <li>Serve with warm naan, raita and coriander.</li> </ol> Tip: Ghee is clarified butter, its available in the Indian section of the supermarket. Once opened, store in the fridge. It’s great for cooking curries, pancakes, pikelets and cooking over high heat as it won’t burn like regular butter.

Food & Wine

Little Prince Louis, George and Charlotte melt hearts in adorable tribute to healthcare workers

Last week, Queen Elizabeth made a commitment to the UK amid the coronavirus outbreak. “You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part,” she wrote in her first official statement about the global pandemic. And it seems Prince George, Princess Charlotte and little Prince Louis’ “part” involves showing their support to NHS staff members with an adorable video. Kensington Palace took to their social media to share an endearing video of the three children clapping in appreciation for all the medical workers fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. George, Charlotte and Louis are participating in the “Clap for our Carers” campaign, a nationwide initiative to show thanks and appreciation for NHS workers during this unprecedented time. “To all the doctors, nurses, carers, GPs, pharmacists, volunteers and other NHS staff working tirelessly to help those affected by #COVID19: thank you,” reads the caption. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> To all the doctors, nurses, carers, GPs, pharmacists, volunteers and other NHS staff working tirelessly to help those affected by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>: thank you.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClapForOurCarers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClapForOurCarers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClapForNHS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClapForNHS</a> <a href="https://t.co/XnaUPJyDoX">pic.twitter.com/XnaUPJyDoX</a> — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1243266490364813319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote> The display of gratitude comes only a day after Clarence House announced that Prince Charles had tested positive for COVID-19. He is currently self-isolation at his home in Scotland.

Family & Pets

Chocolate pancakes with caramel and peanut butter sauce

These delicious pancakes come packed with flavours and no dairy – perfect for the whole family! Serves 2 Ingredients: Pancake <ul> <li>1 cup wholemeal spelt flour</li> <li>1 cup unsweetened almond milk</li> <li>3 medjool dates, pitted</li> <li>3 tbsp raw cacao powder</li> <li>1 very ripe banana</li> </ul> Sauce <ul> <li>1/3 cup coconut milk</li> <li>2 tbsp <a href="https://mayvers.com.au/product/mayvers-smooth-peanut-butter/">Mayver’s Peanut Butter</a> </li> <li>3 medjool dates</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Blend the dates and the almond milk until they are well combined and there are no chunks.</li> <li>In a mixing bowl, combine the flour with the cacao powder, date/almond milk from the blender and the banana. Mash the banana through the mixture with a fork.</li> <li>In a non-stick frypan over medium heat, cook the pancakes for approximately 2 minutes either side. </li> <li>Blend the sauce ingredients until smooth and creamy. Pour over pancakes when they’re ready.</li> <li>Enjoy! </li> </ol> Recipe by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/young_rebecca/">Rebecca Young</a>.

Food & Wine

World’s first butter bar opens in the US

Butter is a staple of many kitchens and dining tables around the world – but it is mostly seen as a complementary item rather than the main highlight. Bella La Crema is looking to change that view. Located in the Colorado town of Lyons, it is the world’s first butter bar with a menu full of homemade churned-dairy delights. Diners can enjoy savoury options such as the herbs de Provence-infused French Countryside as well as sweet concoctions like the chocolate, coffee and cinnamon-laden Mayan Chocolate Muse. The flights of flavoured butters – which are served with warm baguettes – are made with grass-fed, organic and non-homogenised cream with in-house culturing and churning. The bar also marks each new season or holiday by launching a new butter. Owner and operator Shauna Lee Strecker said she wanted to “make butter beautiful again”. She told <a href="https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/butter-bar-bella-la-crema-colorado">Food&Wine</a>, “Butter had been ruined, in my opinion … People were just using it as a throw-aside condiment, much like ketchup or mustard. Most of the store-bought butter is ridiculous – it’s crap. That’s why I decided to make butter beautiful again.” Looking to eat something heavier? The bistro-bar also offers an assortment of dishes, from salads to burgers and bisques.

International Travel

Enjoy a savoury onion and goat cheese tart

This puff pastry tart is perfect for when you want a savoury treat. Read more: Serves: 4 Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 sheet of defrosted frozen puff pastry</li> <li>4 red onions sliced</li> <li>2 tsp fresh thyme leaves </li> <li>200g crumbly goats cheese </li> <li>1 egg </li> <li>50g butter </li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Add butter to a medium saucepan over low heat. Once melted add sliced onions and cook gently for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally until soft and caramelised and set aside to cool.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a flat baking tray with baking paper and lay puff pastry on top. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">With a knife score a line 2cm inside the edge to create a border around the pastry (do not cut through the pastry). With a fork prick the pastry all over inside the border. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Inside the border, spread caramelised onions and distribute half the goats cheese in chunks.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">In a small bowl beat the egg and brush around the border of the pastry. Bake in the oven for 30 mins or until the pastry is golden brown.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"> Remove from the oven, top with remaining goats cheese and sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves.</li> </ol> Recipe courtesy of Australian Onions.

Food & Wine

A real princess: Duchess Kate’s special tea party for cancer patients melts hearts everywhere

It was a scene many young children have imagined- a princess tea party with a real life princess. Duchess Catherine attended an important tea party set up for her at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital during the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Royal Tour in Pakistan. The mother of three happily obliged to wear a toy tiara when she visited 7-year-old Wafia Rehmani, while Prince William playfully sipped out of a tiny pink cup “brimming” with hot tea. The young patient, from over the border in Afghanistan, is battling a kidney tumour but hopes to be a doctor when she grows up. Wafia showed the Duke and Duchess her own toy medical kit. Princess Diana visited the same hospital over 20 years ago in 1996 and 1997. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3tCIhCFRfS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3tCIhCFRfS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal)</a> on Oct 16, 2019 at 8:07pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Earlier in the day, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Badshahi Mosque inside the Walled City for an interfaith meeting to talk about promoting harmony and community. The royal couple also stopped by the National Cricket Academy in Lahore and both stepped up to the pitch. Prince William even managed to hit the ball for a six. The Duchess of Cambridge also gave her first speech of the tour at SOS Children's Village in Lahore, speaking parts of it in Urdu.

Beauty & Style

Three-way sweet potato melts

There’s something for everyone in this recipe – with versatile sweet potatoes and customisable toppings, this dish will be perfect for dinner parties and potlucks. Try all three styles for variety on your dining table. Sweet potato pesto melts Makes 4 Prep time: 10 mins Cooking time: 32 mins Ingredients: <ul> <li>650g sweet potato, peeled</li> <li>1 tbs olive oil</li> <li>50g butter, softened</li> <li>4 tbs basil pesto</li> <li>4 slices grain bread, toasted</li> <li>200g mozzarella, sliced</li> <li>Small basil leaves, to serve</li> </ul> Method: 1. Preheat oven 200°C fan forced. Slice sweet potato into 1cm-thick rounds. Place into a roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil, season, turn to coat. Roast 30 minutes, turning once until golden and tender. 2. Combine butter and half the pesto, spread over one side of each piece of toast. Top with roasted sweet potato and mozzarella. Place under hot grill until light golden. 3. Drizzle with remaining pesto, sprinkle with basil leaves. Serve. Sweet potato, feta and olive melts Makes 4 Prep: 10 mins Cooking: 32 mins Ingredients: <ul> <li>650g sweet potato, peeled</li> <li>1 tbs olive oil</li> <li>50g butter, softened</li> <li>4 slices grain bread, toasted</li> <li>125g soft marinated feta</li> <li>½ cup pitted green olives, chopped</li> <li>2 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced</li> <li>3/4 cup finely grated parmesan</li> </ul> Method: 1. Preheat oven 200°C fan forced. Slice sweet potato into 1cm-thick rounds. Place into a roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil, season, turn to coat. Roast 30 minutes, turning once until golden and tender. 2. Spread butter over one side of each piece of toast. Top with roasted sweet potato. Sprinkle with feta, olives then top with tomato. Sprinkle over half the parmesan. Place under hot grill until light golden. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan. Serve. Ham cheese and sweet potato melts Makes 4 Prep: 10 mins Cooking time: 32 mins Ingredients: <ul> <li>650g sweet potato, peeled</li> <li>1 tbs olive oil</li> <li>50g butter, softened</li> <li>2 tbs Dijon mustard</li> <li>4 slices grain bread, toasted</li> <li>200g shaved ham</li> <li>4 slices tasty cheese</li> <li>Tomato chutney or small rocket leaves, to serve</li> </ul> Method: 1. Preheat oven 200°C fan forced. Slice sweet potato into 1cm-thick rounds. Place into a roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil, season, turn to coat. Roast 30 minutes, turning once until golden and tender. 2. Combine butter and mustard, spread over one side of each piece of toast. Top with ham, roasted sweet potato and cheese. Place under hot grill until light golden. Serve with tomato chutney and rocket leaves. Recipes by Australian Sweet Potatoes.

Food & Wine

Easy butter chicken with rice and naan

Craving a hearty meal for dinner but don’t know what to make? There’s nothing better than digging into a plate of butter chicken. The aromatic flavours and spices not only prove why this dish is a favourite, but it’s also simple to whip up. Serves 4 Prep 15 mins Cooking time 35 mins Ingredients <ul> <li>1⁄4 cup Greek yoghurt</li> <li>1⁄4 cup butter chicken paste or tandoori paste</li> <li>1 tsp ground cumin</li> <li>1⁄2 tsp ground ginger</li> <li>1kg chicken thigh fillets, trimmed, cut in half crossways</li> <li>1⁄4 cup Ghee or vegetable oil</li> <li>2 brown onions, peeled, halved, thinly sliced</li> <li>2 cups tomato passata sauce</li> <li>300ml thickened cream</li> <li>1 tsp white sugar</li> <li>Steamed rice, toasted naan bread, coriander to serve</li> </ul> Method <ol> <li>Combine yoghurt, paste, cumin, and ginger in a large bowl. Add chicken, stir until well coated.</li> <li>Heat half the ghee/ oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken in batches, turning occasionally, for 3 minutes, or until browned. Remove to a clean plate.</li> <li>Reduce heat to medium, add onions and remaining ghee / oil. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes, or until onion is soft. Return chicken to pan with passata, cream and sugar. Bring to simmer. Simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes, or until sauce is thickens and chicken is cooked through.</li> <li>Serve butter chicken with rice, naan bread and coriander.</li> </ol> Tip: If you can’t find butter chicken paste you can use tandoori paste, it’s a little spicier. Tip: Ghee is clarified butter; you will find it in jars in the international section of the supermarket. Once opened store in the fridge. Use it in place of butter when working with filo pastry or cooking pancakes. Tip: Toast naan bread in a large dry frying pan over a medium-high heat or wrapped in foil in a hot oven. Recipe and image courtesy of <a href="https://www.australianonions.com.au/australian-onion-recipes/butter-chicken-with-rice-and-naan/#t5k5EYIe2pqhvj1R.97">Australian Onions</a>.

Food & Wine

This beef red wine pie will melt in your mouth

These tasty pies are full of flavour and a great winter warmer! Recipe reproduced with permission. © 2015 National Heart Foundation of Australia. For more healthy recipes visit <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/recipes" target="_blank">www.heartfoundation.org.au/recipes</a> or speak to the Heart Foundation’s Health Information Service on 1300 36 27 87. Ingredients 2 tsp peanut oil* 1 large onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1kg beef chuck steak trimmed of all fat and cubed* 2 tbs plain flour 200g Swiss brown mushrooms, quartered 2 tbs fresh thyme chopped 2 tbs fresh parsley chopped 2 sheets canola puff pastry defrosted 1 tbs reduced fat milk* 375ml red wine 375ml reduced salt beef stock 2 carrots thinly sliced 2 tbs reduced salt tomato paste Mashed potato and steamed beans to serve *Products available with the Tick. Remember all fresh fruit and vegetables automatically qualify for the Tick. Method <div id="ctl00_PlaceHolderMain_ctl10__ControlWrapper_RichHtmlField" class="ms-rtestate-field"> 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. You will need 6 x 2 cup capacity ovenproof pie dishes. 2. Heat the oil in a large pot, add the onion and cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes or until golden. Add the garlic and the beef and cook for 5 minutes until the beef is browned. 3. Add the flour and tomato paste and cook for a further 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in the red wine and stock and bring to the boil. Add the carrots, mushrooms and chopped thyme. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 1 hour then remove the lid and cook for a further 45 minutes until the beef is tender and the sauce is reduced and thickened. Stir through the parsley, transfer to a bowl and allow the filling to cool completely. 4. Using the top of a pie dish as a guide, cut 6 circles from the pastry, about 2cm larger than the dish. Spoon the cooled filling into the dishes. Brush the edges of each pastry circle with a little water then cover the dishes (damp side down); pressing the pastry to the side of the dish to seal. Cut a small cross in the top of each pie, insert a sprig of thyme and lightly brush with milk. 5. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and golden and the filling is hot. Serve the pies with mashed potato and steamed beans. Would you try this delicious pie? Let us know in the comments below. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/beef-and-red-wine-pies.aspx">Wyza.com.au</a> </div>

Food & Wine

Cutest ever photos of Prince Harry as a child – they will melt your heart

Before he was the handsome royal who stole the heart of Duchess Meghan, he stole hearts all around the world for his adorable smile and sweet demeanour. With the highly anticipated arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby, pinned as ‘Baby Sussex,’ you can’t help but think of the tiny, smiling red-headed Prince Harry that charmed and won over fans of all ages worldwide from a young age. His first child with Duchess Meghan is expected to make their debut in April, and royal fans could not be any more excited. In honour of the new royal baby who is set to arrive anytime now, here are a few sweet pictures of Prince Harry when he was a young child. Scroll through the gallery to see the Duke of Sussex as a tot with his mother Princess Diana.

Art

The decadent chocolate chip biscuits that melt in your mouth

Use what’s in your pantry to make a delicious snack that will make you want to eat the whole tray. If you’re looking for a mouth-watering treat that the whole family will enjoy, try out this recipe. Ingredients 150g softened butter 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup caster sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 3/4 cups plain flour 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips, plus 1 tablespoon extra 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, plus 1 tablespoon extra Method 1. Preheat oven to 180C or 160C fan-forced. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Using an electric mixer or whisking by hand, beat butter and sugars for 1-2 minutes or until smooth and well combined. 2. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. 3. Stir in flour. Stir in dark and milk choc bits. 4. Roll 2 level tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls and place on prepared trays, 3cm apart. 5. Press down slightly. Decorate with extra choc bits. 6. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until light golden and cooked. 7. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Will you be trying out this recipe? Let us know in the comments below.

Food & Wine

Photo of toddler and passenger at airport goes viral and will melt your heart

It seems like a normal, everyday scenario but a father who has posted a picture of his daughter playing on an iPad has gone viral, garnering over 405,000 reactions and 21,000 comments. Kevin Armentrout was inspired by an experience he and his daughter shared with a kind stranger at an airport – so much so he posted it to Facebook. He wrote: “Last night, while waiting to board our plane, @_carterjean_ was being her usual inquisitive self wanting to meet and say 'hi' to everyone she could, until she walked up on this man. He reached out and asked if she wanted to sit with him.” The father says that from there on, the two strangers bonded over cartoons and snacks. Continuing on Armentrout explained: “He pulled out his tablet and showed her how to draw with it, they watched cartoons together, and she offered him snacks. This wasn’t a short little exchange, this was 45 minutes.” The father took a heartwarming image of the two friends who were both intently staring at the iPad screen. Armentrout then gave an inspiring message, somewhat explaining why he decided to upload the image to social media of his daughter, Carter Jean, and the man who has been identified as Joseph Pat Wright. “Watching them in that moment, I couldn’t help but think, different genders, different races, different generations, and the best of friends. This is the world I want for her,” Armentrout added. “In a country that is continuously fed that it’s so deeply divided by beliefs, I want her life to be filled with moments like this... “Not liberal or conservative republican or democrat, socialist or capitalist, just HUMAN.” Carter Jean’s dad even thanked Wright for his gesture of kindness writing: “Joseph from @samsungus in Oklahoma, if this should happen to find you. Thank you for showing my daughter what kindness and compassion looks like. Continue to shine your light in the world. #HateIsLearned” <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKevinArmentroutOfficial%2Fposts%2F653618321722379%3A0&width=500" width="500" height="709" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> The comments reached up to 21,000 – the post even reaching Wright’s family members who shared their thoughts. Linda Taylor, Wright’s sister-in-law, said she was not surprised by his kindness. “He’s a true blessing and your little girl is an angel herself. She’ll have a friend forever in him.” Users on Facebook even took to Wright’s page to thank him for his friendliness. One user who commented they were from Australia wrote: “I just read about your lovely interaction with the little girl at the airport. You are a wonderful person and exactly what this world needs. Have a great day!” Another commended Mr Wright saying, “The world needs more kind people like you!”

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Three-way sweet potato melts

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Cutest ever photos of Prince Harry as a child – they will melt your heart

The decadent chocolate chip biscuits that melt in your mouth

Photo of toddler and passenger at airport goes viral and will melt your heart