Food Trending

Ingredients

  • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
  • 3/4 pound lean ground beef
  • 1/2 cup minced onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
  • 2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 12 lasagna noodles
  • 16 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation

Cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned in an oven. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.

Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

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Food Lifestyle Trending

Indian spices are aromatic and flavorsome. While looking through the authentic Indian cuisine, Masalas (spices) are always included in the recipes. Here is an aromatic Indian Masala Chai recipe!

Ingredients

  • 6 cloves
  • 2 star anise
  • 7.5 cm cinnamon stick
  • 5 cardamom pods
  • 1 tbsp black Assam Tea
  • 400 ml whole milk
  • 3 tbsp sugar or honey for taste

Preparation

Put the spices listed above (excluding sliced ginger) in a mixer grinder. Crush and grind them with a pestle until they break into small pieces and produce a striking aromatic scent. Place the crushed spices, sliced ginger, and tea leaves in a saucepan and warm on a medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir frequently to ensure the mixture does not burn.

Add 650 ml water to the pan and bring to boil on a high heat. Reduce the heat and let the tea simmer, all the while stirring with the spoon. Add the milk and sugar and continue stirring. Simmer for further 2 minutes, allowing all the ingredients to blend. Remove the pan from the heat and strain the tea into a teapot. Pour into mugs or cups from a little height to create foam on the surface. Apart from these ingredients, you can add 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder or chocolate at the end of simmering, right before the tea is strained.

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News

The US military aircraft is set to deliver 200 tons of aid to Venezuela border in Colombia as it increases pressure on embattled President Nicolas Maduro to give up power, according to a State Department email sent to Congress.

The aid will be delivered to Cucuta, Colombia, where other food and medical supplies are being held. The aid comes with the request of Juan Guaido, the Venezuelan opposition leader, to solve the shortage of food and other essentials in economically troubled Venezuela.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said the aid is part of Washington’s political maneuvering to get him out of office, and he has blocked off a bridge needed to bring the supplies into Venezuela.

Lester Toledo, coordinator for international help for Venezuela said, “We came to ask for the solidarity of the governments of the world. We appreciate the diplomatic gestures. We appreciate the letters and the recognition of President Guaidó. But we ask for help, to make the humanitarian aid a reality. That all donations can let us purchase medical supplies that we really need.”

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News

The Bank of Valletta (Malta) has suspended all of its services in light of a hacking attempt. The bank has officially said in a brief statement that all their banking systems including ATM services and online banking had been shut down temporarily, and all BOV (Bank of Valetta) branches had closed early. The bank’s mobile app was back online on Thursday morning.

The bank added that it local and international police are investigating the attempted hack. The bank said that the client’s funds are safe. The fraudulent transactions had been traced and were “being reversed”, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told parliament later on Wednesday. The attack was detected shortly after the start of business on Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told parliament, when it noted reconciliation problems regarding international transfers.

“Bank of Valletta apologises to its clients for any inconvenience caused and will be keeping its customers and the general public informed of developments,” the bank said in a statement reported by the Times of Malta. It added that customers’ funds “are in no way impacted or compromised” by the breach.

Sunaya Paison
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

Crime News

Five people killed and several got injured in the Aurora mass shooting, that happened when a gunman opened fire at an industrial park in Illinois, USA, police say. The authorities confirmed that the shooter, Gary Martin(45), an employee at the company was killed in a shootout with police. Five police officers were shot and wounded. Of the five officers wounded, two were airlifted to nearby trauma centres. Police said that he was reportedly sacked prior to the attack.

Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman said that Martin was acting alone. The incident is said to have taken place at Henry Pratt Company, a firm that makes valves for large water pipes. Ziman said that the first two officers were shot shortly after arriving.

Officers declined to speculate on a motive for the attack, but the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper is reporting that his family say he was made redundant two weeks ago and had been “stressed out”. The names of the people killed has not yet been sent out by the authorities.

Sunaya Paison
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

Food

The thin rounded flat ‘Pancakes’ are always a tempting food. Traditional Swedish variations are exotic. Lets look at the Swedish pancake recipe!

Ingredients:

  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 3/4 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Confectioners’ sugar, maple syrup and fresh fruit, for garnish

Preparation

Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a 10-inch nonstick skillet. Combine the flour, milk, eggs, melted butter, vanilla and salt in a blender; process until smooth.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Warm the same skillet over medium heat until a drop of water bounces and sizzles. Add 1 teaspoon butter; turn to coat the pan with the melted butter.

Pour in a scant 1/3 cup batter and quickly swirl the pan to evenly coat the bottom. Cook until the pancake sets, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, carefully lift the pancake by the edges and flip; cook until lightly golden on the other side, 15 to 30 seconds.

Transfer to a plate; keep warm in the oven while making the others. Repeat with the remaining butter and batter to make about 12 pancakes. If the pancakes seem too thick, thin the batter slightly with warm water. Fold or roll and serve with confectioners’ sugar, syrup and fresh fruit.

Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

Crime News

No further proceedings take place in case of UK-born kid, Cheryl Grimmer who disappeared in New South Wales nearly 50 years ago. The trial of the man accused of murdering the toddler stopped as the evidence submitted were not accepted as valid by the court.

Cheryl Grimmer disappeared from Fairy Meadow Beach on January 12, 1970 and her body was never recovered. A 65-year-old man was arrested in March 2017 and had been charged with the murder of the toddler. His name was not revealed since he was underage at the time the kid was found missing.


The man accused of the murder (left) at Sydney airport in March

The man pleaded he was innocent and a murder trial was due to commence in the NSW Supreme Court on May 27 this year, but Justice Robert Allan Hulme on Friday ruled that an interview the man made on April 29, 1971 – when he was 17 – could not be used in the trial. “The Crown accepts that its case cannot succeed without [the interview],” said Justice Hulme.

Sunaya Paison
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

News Politics

The British Prime Minister Theresa May has suffered yet another embarrassing defeat after MPs voted down her approach to Brexit talks. On Thursday the MPs voted by 303 to 258 – a majority of 45 – against a motion endorsing the government’s negotiating strategy, the BBC reported. The lawmakers remain resistant to May’s EU divorce plan. The reason for this situation is that Teresa May has lost the support of many of the long standing leave campaigners in her own party.

The defeat has no legal force. Downing Street said that it would not change the PM’s approach to talks with the EU. “On a point of order, tonight’s vote shows there is no majority for the Prime Minister’s cause of action in dealing with Brexit. Yet again her government has been defeated. The government keep on ignoring parliament or plaving on towards the 29th of March without a co-hearing plan.” said Jeremy Corbyn.

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Food

Chicken Divan is a chicken casserole usually served with broccoli, almonds, and Mornay sauce. The dish is now commonly prepared with regular Parmesan cheese and remains one of the most classic American casserole dishes today. Lets see how to prepare this delicious recipe!

Ingredients

  • 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
  • 4 cups broccoli florets, or to taste
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon dried parsley
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 3 cups cauliflower florets
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Preparation

Place chicken breasts into a large pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a breast should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove chicken from the water. Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add broccoli, cover, and steam until tender, 3 to 6 minutes. Chop broccoli.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Melt butter in a deep saucepan over low heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until onion is clear and tender, 8 to 12 minutes. Add garlic salt, parsley, salt, and pepper. Pulse cauliflower in a blender or food processor until it resembles rice. Add cauliflower and chicken broth to the onion mixture; cook and stir until broth is nicely absorbed, about 10 minutes. Add heavy cream and lemon juice. Let simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until well combined, about 10 minutes. Stir in mayonnaise and remove from heat. Let sauce cool until thickened.

Pull chicken apart with 2 forks into bite-size pieces. Add 1/2 the pulled chicken to the sauce. Line the bottom of a casserole dish with the rest of the pulled chicken. Lay steamed broccoli on top; pour the cauliflower sauce over the broccoli. Top with Cheddar cheese. Cover with aluminum foil.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake until cheese at the edges is slightly browned, about 10 minutes more. Let casserole cool for 5 to 10 minutes; slice into 6 even portions.

Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

Lifestyle Travel Trending

Barcelona is the capital and largest city of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. Barcelona is the sixth most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, London, Madrid, the Ruhr area and Milan.

It is a colourful city with fanciful architecture. Barcelona is one of the world’s leading tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centres. Lets have a look at some of the tourist spots.

La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia is a large unfinished Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia was the inspiration of a bookseller, Josep Maria Bocabella, founder of Asociacion Espiritual de Devotos de San Jose. This giant Basilica that has been under construction since 1882, and it’s not expected to be completed for some time yet.

Park Guell

The Park Guell is a public park in Barcelona, designed by famous architect Antonio Gaudi. The Park Guell was not originally planned to be a park, but was meant for a modern housing estate but was officially opened as a public park in 1926. This park is now composed of gardens and architectonic elements located on Carmel Hill.

Casa Batllo

Casa Batllo is a building in the center of Barcelona. It was designed by Antoni Gaudi, and is considered one of his masterpieces. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a legend of architecture and design. While looking at its design, it seems that the goal of the designer was to avoid straight lines completely. Much of the facade is decorated with a mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles of mostly golden orange and greenish blue colours.

The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya

The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (National Art Museum of Catalonia) is situated on Montjuic hill. It has an outstanding collection of romanesque church paintings, and for Catalan art and design from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including modernisme and noucentisme. The major attractions are: Romanesque art, Gothic art collection, Renaissance and Baroque art collection, The Cambo Bequest, Thyssen Bornemisza collection, Modern art collection, The Carmen Thyssen Bornemisza collection and the Cabinet of drawings and prints.

Sunaya Paison
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright