Lunch for policemen and firemen from veggies and proteins (Rucak za policajce i vatrogasce od povrca i proteina)

A sauteed and fragrant vegetable dish that combines baby potatoes, fennel, asparagus, carrots, peas, cherry tomatoes and radicchio with aromatic cream cheese and walnut pesto. The vegetables are prepared briefly at a high temperature to keep them juicy, crunchy and full of flavor, while the pesto connects all the ingredients into a harmonious whole.

The recipe is easily adapted to different diets: the vegan version remains completely plant-based with addition of chickpeas, the vegetarian version is enriched with goat cheese, and for meat lovers, chicken meat and crispy fried bacon is added.

Tags: for police officers, for firefighters, vegan recipes, vegetarian recipes, main dishes.

Portion: 3.

Ingredients:

For vegans:

• 1 kg of baby potatoes

• 1 head of fennel

• 1 bunch of asparagus

• 2 carrots 

• 10 cherry tomatoes

• 200 g of peas

• 1 radicchio 

• 2 tablespoons of wild garlic  and walnut pesto sauce 

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil

• Salt

• Pepper

• 200 ml of water

• Plus 130 g of raw chickpeas (for 3 servings)

For vegetarians:

• 150 g of goat cheese (for 3 portions)

For meat lovers:

• 700 g of fresh chicken meat (for 3 portions)

• 8 slices of bacon

Note:

If you make all three types of lunch, add 100 g of cooked chickpeas, 50 g of goat cheese and ~150 g of cooked chicken meat (for 1 portion).

Preparation:

1. Wash all the vegetables.

2. If necessary, cut some baby potatoes in half so that they cook evenly.

Buttermilk biscuits (Americke jogurt pogacice)

American biscuits with buttermilk have a soft, airy interior and a slightly crispy, golden brown crust. They are made from cold butter and buttermilk, with a characteristic folding of the dough that gives them a leafy structure. They are quick to prepare and go well with butter, jam, honey or savory spreads. They are ideal for breakfast, as a side dish with soups and stews.

Tags: scones & fritters, vegetarian recipes, pescatarian recipes, flexitarian recipes, for kids, lunch box, bring to work.

Preparation time: 35-50 minutes

Time in the refrigerator: 0-30 minutes.

Baking time: 12-15 minutes.

Cooling time: 10 minutes.

Total preparation time: 57 minutes - 1 hour 45 minutes.

Ingredients:

• 300 g of all-purpose flour (plain flour)

• 15 g of baking powder

• 5 g of sugar

• 5 g of salt

• 115 g unsalted butter (cold)

• 180 ml buttermilk (cold)

For serving* (see suggestions at the end of the recipe):

• Butter

Flour by countries US, UK, FR, IT, DE 

Preparation:

1. The night before making, cut the butter into cubes. Put it in the fridge.

2. Heat the oven to 220°C (428 °F). 

Quick tip #11: What does an unripe avocado look like? (Brzi savet #11: Kako izgleda nezreo avokado?)

An unripe avocado usually looks like this:

• The skin is firm, smooth and tight.

• The color of the peel is most often light green or bright green, although it depends on the variety.

• It is hard to the touch and does not yield when you gently press it with your fingers.

• The petiole is firmly attached and difficult to separate (if it has one).

• When you cut it, the flesh is light green, firm and hard to mash. On the edges is green.

• The taste is mild, but it can be a bit bitter or grassy.

Orange tea (Caj od pomorandze)

Fragrant, warm and refreshing orange tea with the aroma of pumpkin pie spice mix. The combination of citrus notes, warm spices and mild natural sweetness makes it a pleasant drink for cold winter days and holiday gatherings. Serve it freshly prepared, as a warm alternative to regular coffee or black tea.

Tags: coffee and tea, Christmas recipes, vegan recipes, vegetarian recipes, gluten free, paleo recipes, pescatarian recipes, flexitarian recipes, for type 2 diabetics and IR*, anti-inflammatory.

Preparation time: 20 minutes.

You get: 2 cups.

Ingredients:

• 500 ml of water

• 1 orange

• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice mix

• 1-2 teaspoons of honey or agave syrup or maple syrup (optional)

Preparation:

1. Wash the orange well. Cut the peel into several larger pieces. Squeeze the juice.

2. Pour water into a saucepan, add orange peel and pumpkin pie spice mix.

How to clean and prepare radicchio? (Kako ocistiti i pripremiti radic?)

Radish is a leafy vegetable with a characteristic bitter taste. It can be eaten raw or thermally processed.

Washing radicchio 

1. Remove the outer leaves if they are wilted, damaged or soiled.

2. Wash the radish well under cold running water, especially between the leaves where soil can be retained.

Radicchio cutting

3. Cut off the lower, harder part of the root. If you use a whole head, you can cut it in half or cut it into quarters. For the salad, you can leave the leaves whole or roughly chop them.

Pumpkin pie spice mix (Pita od bundeve zacinski miks)

Pumpkin pie spice mix is ​​a traditional American mixture of warm, aromatic spices that is most often used to prepare pumpkin pie, as well as other autumn and winter delicacies. The combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice gives a rich, warm and slightly sweet smell and taste. This homemade spice mix is ​​easy to prepare, and you can also use it for plain cakes, muffins, biscuits, pumpkin bread, puddings and various desserts.

Tags: herbs and spices.

You get: 2 tablespoons of pumpkin pie spice mix.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

• 1 tablespoon of ground ginger

• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• ¼ - ¾ of a teaspoon of ground cloves

• ¼ teaspoon ground allspice or substitute for allspice

• Mini pinch of ground black pepper (optional)

Preparation: 

1. Before you start making pumpkin pie spice mix, check the expiration date of all the spices. Also, spices lose their strength and flavor over time, so keep in mind the date when you bought the spices, if you are making a large amount of spice mix.

2. Put a sieve in the bowl.

How to clean and prepare asparagus? (Kako ocistiti i pripremiti spargle?)

 How to quickly prepare asparagus?

Choosing asparagus

1. Choose fresh asparagus. They should be firm and bright green. The ends should be tightly gathered.

2. Asparagus can be thick or thin. Thicker asparagus takes a little longer to cook, but both types are equally tasty and nutritious.

3. Regardless of which one you choose, the asparagus should be about the same size.

Cleaning asparagus

4. Clean the asparagus by rinsing well under cold running water, gently rubbing the tips to remove any dirt, sand or impurities.

Quick tip #10: High fiber swaps (Brzi saveti #10: Zamene bogate vlaknima)

Small changes in your daily nutrition can contribute to higher fiber intake, better satiety and a more varied menu. These are easy replacements for popular foods and snacks. Instead of foods with less fiber, choose their alternatives that provide more fiber and additional nutrients. You don't have to give up your favorite food, it's enough to make a smarter choice from time to time.

1. Mayonnaise = avocado.

2. Pretzels = edamame.

3. Chips = popcorn.

4. Candies = dates.

5. Apples = pears.

Popcorn from the pot (Kokice iz serpe)

Homemade popcorn from the pot is a simple and quick salty snack for movie night, socializing or relaxing at home. Prepared with sunflower oil, they have a light and crunchy texture, and you can adjust the amount of salt to your taste. You only need a few ingredients and a few minutes to prepare.

Tags: for kids, vegan recipes, vegetarian recipes, gluten free, pescatarian recipes, flexitarian recipes.

Preparation time: 10-15 minutes.

Servings: 2-3.

Ingredients:

• 100 g of popcorn corn

• 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil

• Salt 

Preparation:

1. Pour the oil into a larger pot with a thicker bottom. Heat on medium heat (5 of 6).

2. Add two to three grains of corn and cover the pot. When the kernels pop, add the rest of the corn and gently shake the pot to distribute it on the bottom. Cover the pot, but leave a small opening for the steam to escape.

Christmas stuffed trees + free printables (Bozicne punjene jelkice + besplatno sabloni)

New Year's (Christmas) trees made of puff pastry, filled with cream cheese, gouda and fresh dill are a simple savory snack for the festive table. Crispy and golden brown on the outside, and soft, creamy on the inside. Easy to prepare, decorative and delicious, these small stuffed Christmas trees will bring holiday spirit to any table.

Tags: dough, quick and easy, for kids, lunch box, appetizers, breakfast, snack, dinner, bring to work, vegetarian recipes, pescatarian recipes, flexitarian recipes.

Preparation time: 1 h 15 - 1 h 35 minutes.

Ingredients:

• 500 g of puff pastry

• 150 g of cream cheese

• 150 g of Gouda cheese (shredded, or easy-to-melt yellow cheese)

• 10 g of fresh dill (finely chopped)

For coating:

• 1 egg

Preparation:

1. Mix cream cheese and dill.

2. Beat the egg separately.

Star of the month November: Sweet potato - 5 combinations for preparation (Zvezda meseca novembra: Batat - 5 kombinacija za pripremu)

November is the month in which you can more often find foods in the store that are ideal for preparing warm, filling meals. Among them is sweet potato, a vegetable that can be prepared in many ways, from baked and cooked dishes to creamy side dishes and sweet treats.

For November’s star of the month, I chose sweet potatoes, also known as batata.

Although it looks like a regular potato, the sweet potato has a different taste and texture, it is sweeter than ordinary potatoes. It can be the basis for a very simple dish, but also an interesting addition to combinations with meat, vegetables, grains, fruit and different herbs.

Let’s look at a few combinations in which sweet potatoes can show their versatility.

 SAVOURY COMBINATIONS 

1. Sweet potato + pumpkin + thyme = cream chowder, puree, warm side dish, savory pie.

2. Sweet potato + chicken + spinach = lunch or baked dish, filling for tortillas, savory pie.

Protein pita bread (Proteinski pita hleb)

Soft, homemade pita bread with high-protein Greek yogurt and spelt flour. It is easy to prepare, does not require yeast or a long wait for the dough to rise. It is ideal for sandwiches, filling with vegetables, cheese or meat, as well as for serving with your favorite spreads and sauces.

Tags: bread and rolls, protein recipes, vegetarian recipes, pescatarian recipes.

Preparation time: 50 minutes.

Ingredients:

• 150 g of Greek yogurt (high protein)

• 120 g of spelt flour

• 10 g of baking powder

• A pinch of salt

Preparation:

1. Mix spelt flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.

2. Add Greek yogurt and mix everything well with a spoon.

100 g of protein per day #2: Turkey, Greek yogurt, edamame, chocolate chia pudding (100 g proteina na dan #2: Curetina, grcki jogurt, edamame, cokoladni cia puding)

Menu for one day.

Total protein for the whole day: ~143 g.

BREAKFAST

Queso fresco cheese with integral bread and cucumber

• 150 g of queso fresco cheese

• 2 slices of integral bread with brewer’s yeast (70 g)

• 100 g of cucumber

Total: ~25g protein.

SNACK 1

Greek yogurt with walnuts

• 200 g of Greek yogurt

• 15 g of ground walnuts

Total: ~21g protein.

Baked zucchini in the oven in 3 ways (Pecene tikvice u rerni na 3 nacina)

Baked zucchini in the oven in three ways is a simple and tasty side dish that easily fits into the daily menu. Zucchini can be prepared in the form of rings, long flats or halves, with olive oil and aromatic spices. When baked, they become soft inside, with slightly browned edges. Serve them with meat, grains, legumes, favorite sauces or as part of a warm salad meal.

Tags: side dish, gluten free, vegan recipes, vegetarian recipes, keto recipes, paleo recipes, pescatarian recipes, for the heart, for the brain, anti-cellulite menu, PCOS-PMOS, anti-inflammatory, Mediterranean nutrition, for diabetics and IR, Hashimoto recipes.

Preparation time: 50 minutes - 1 hour 5 minutes.

Portion: 2-3 (as a side dish).

Ingredients:

• 2 medium zucchini

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil

• ½ teaspoon of salt

• ½ teaspoon of dry thyme

• ½ teaspoon sweet ground paprika 

• A pinch of ground black pepper

Preparation:

1. Heat the oven to 200°C (392 °F).

2. Wash and dry the zucchini. If using baby zucchini, you don't need to peel them. If not baby zucchini, peel them.