Thursday, 30th July 2009
How important are regular family meals?
Day before yesterday when I had lunch together with my colleagues we had a discussion about a newspaper article which I read some days ago. Subject was a study about the eating culture of the families. The result of this study was that children taking meal regularly together with their family members (at least 5 times a week) are living much healthier than others. And the social affiliation of these kids is much higher than that of the other children who eat irregular and alone. One effect that was found out, too, was, that these children meet their parents more often after they left their homes for good. Another effect is, that a chat during the common meal is very important for the psychological well-being of the kids as there can be discussed problems and how to solve them. This can lead to help to avoid or at least reduce eating disorder or drug problems. I investigated in the internet (like "teen health" and "indianexpress") and found different articles about that subject.
But these days it is for everybody very difficult to live a real collective family life due to the enormous challenge to survive in this hectic world.
I try to keep the old rituals alive but it does not work always.
To find out how it is practised somewhere else I have organised a public opinion poll and I am looking forward to the result.
I would love if you could participate.
Talking about common meals I was asked to contribute something in respect of food for the closing ceremony of the school year. I decided to cook “Fillet of Pork with Herbs on Lamb's Lettuce with Mustard-Honey Dressing” and for the dessert I created a “Strawberry-Banana-Curd Cheese”.
Ingredients and directions:
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Fillet of pork: |
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Wash… |
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600 |
g |
Fillet of pork |
and pat it dry. Then add... |
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some |
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Salt, pepper, garlic and noble sweet paprika. |
Put fillet in a pan after adding… |
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some |
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olive oil |
Sauté the fillet. Then wash… |
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3 |
sprigs of |
rosmary |
and chop it. Now wash… |
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2 |
sprigs of |
thyme |
and chop it, too. And now grind… |
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2-3 |
tsps |
szechuan pepper |
with a mortar and a pestle. Then mix all spices and herbs and cover fillet with it. Pour... |
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2-3 |
tbsps |
olive oil |
into a casserole dish and add fillet. Preheat oven to 120 °C, then put casserole dish for 1-1,5 hours into the oven. The fillet must be pink inside and it must have a core temperature of 50°C. Then wrap aluminium foil round fillet and let it rest. Afterwards cut it into slices (0,5 cm). |
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Salad: |
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Clean… |
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3 |
fistful |
lamb’s lettuce |
and arrange on a plate. Then cut… |
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4-5 |
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cherry tomatoes |
Into halves and arrange them on the plate, too. Now chop... |
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5 |
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walnuts |
and add them to the salad. Now mix.... |
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3 |
tsps |
medium-hot mustard |
and… |
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3 |
tsps |
flüssigen Honig |
In a bowl. Then add… |
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2 |
tsps |
lemon juice |
and add… |
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3-4 |
tbsps |
olive oil |
and stir again. Add dressing to the salad and arrange pieces of the fillet. |
*****
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Strawberry-Banana-Curd Cheese:
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Pour… |
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1 |
kg |
low fat curd cheese |
into a bowl. Now wash |
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200 |
g |
strawberries |
and puree them. Then peel |
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3 |
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bananas |
And puree them, too. Add them to the curd cheese. Add |
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3 |
tbsps |
vanilla sugar |
and mix it. Add… |
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3 |
tbsps |
sugar |
and mix it again. Pour cream into bowls and decorate it with strawberries. |
Message awaits moderator approval
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