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Is red meat bad for you? And does it make a difference if it’s a processed burger or a lean steak?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katherine-livingstone-324808">Katherine Livingstone</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p>A juicy burger is a staple in many Australians’ diet. Yet research shows regularly eating red meat can increase your risk of developing <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehad336/7188739?searchresult=1">type 2 diabetes, heart disease</a> and <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(15)00444-1/fulltext">certain cancers</a>.</p> <p>But is eating a beef burger worse for your health than eating a lean grass-fed steak? And how much red meat should we really be eating?</p> <h2>Types of red meat</h2> <p>First of all, it’s good to clarify that <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240074828">red meat</a> refers to all mammalian muscle meat. So that includes beef, lamb, pork, veal, mutton and goat.</p> <p>Then we can distinguish red meat types by how the animal has been raised and how the meat is processed. Here are some key terms to know.</p> <p>Conventional meat, also called grain-fed, is meat from animals that are grass-fed for part of their lives and then given a grain-based diet for the remainder. Most red meat available in major supermarkets is grain-fed.</p> <p>Grass-fed meat comes from animals that have grazed on pasture for their entire lives. This means grass-fed meat tends to have higher levels of unsaturated fats than conventional meat, and is why some <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/5/646">research</a> suggests it’s healthier. Grass-fed meat is also likely to cost more.</p> <p>Organic meat is seen as a premium product as it has to meet <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/export/controlled-goods/organic-bio-dynamic/national-standard">government standards</a> for organic produce. For example, meat labelled as organic cannot use synthetic pesticides or use hormones or antibiotics to stimulate growth.</p> <p>Processed meats have been preserved by smoking, curing or salting, or by adding chemical preservatives. Examples include sausages, ham, bacon and hot dogs.</p> <h2>What is the nutritional value of red meat?</h2> <p><a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/five-food-groups/lean-meat-and-poultry-fish-eggs-tofu-nuts-and-seeds-and">Red meat</a> contains many nutrients that are important for health, including protein, vitamin B12, iron and zinc. Red meat is a good source of iron and zinc as they are more easily absorbed by the body from meat than from plant foods.</p> <p>Red meat is often high in saturated fats, but this can <a href="https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/science/monitoringnutrients/ausnut/ausnutdatafiles/Pages/foodnutrient.aspx">range widely</a> from less than 1% to over 25% depending on the cut and whether it’s trimmed of fat or not. Minced meat typically ranges from 2% to 9% saturated fat depending on whether its extra lean or regular.</p> <p>To limit intake of saturated fats, opt for leaner mince and leaner cuts of meat, such as pork tenderloins or beef steak with the fat trimmed off.</p> <p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5243954/">Wagyu beef</a> (which simply translates to Wa = Japanese and Gyu = cow) has been touted as a healthier alternative to conventional red meat, as it tends to be higher in unsaturated fats. But research is limited, and ultimately it still contains saturated fat.</p> <p>Processed meats, such as bacon, salami and sausages, contain beneficial nutrients, but they are also high in saturated fat, sodium and contain preservatives.</p> <h2>Is red meat bad for your health? And does the type matter?</h2> <p>It’s widely reported eating too much red meat is bad for your health, because it can increase your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.</p> <p>But most of the evidence for this comes from observational studies, which cannot determine whether red meat intake actually causes the condition.</p> <p>Most evidence is observational because it’s simply not ethical or feasible to ask someone to eat large amounts of meat every day for many years to see if they develop cancer.</p> <p>So let’s take a look at the evidence:</p> <p><strong>Heart disease and type 2 diabetes</strong></p> <p>In a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01968-z">review</a> of 37 observational studies, the authors found weak evidence of an association between eating unprocessed red meat and heart disease and type 2 diabetes.</p> <p>But for processed meat, a recent <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/44/28/2626/7188739">review</a> showed that for each additional 50g of processed meat consumed per day, the risk of heart disease increased by 26% and the risk of type 2 diabetes increased by 44%, on average.</p> <p><strong>Cancer</strong></p> <p>Leading international organisations have declared there’s strong evidence consumption of red and processed meat <a href="https://www.wcrf.org/diet-activity-and-cancer/cancer-prevention-recommendations/limit-red-and-processed-meat/">increases the risk of colorectal cancer</a>.</p> <p>For example, in a <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/49/1/246/5470096">study</a> of nearly 500,000 people, each additional 50g of red meat consumed per day increased the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%. And each additional 25g of processed meat consumed per day, equivalent to a slice of ham, increased the risk by 19%.</p> <p>While <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34455534/">research</a> has linked consumption of red and processed meat with increased risk of other types of cancer, such as lung, pancreatic and breast, the evidence is not consistent.</p> <p>It also matters how red meat is cooked. For example, cooking a steak over a high heat, especially an open flame, chars the outside. This causes <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/cooked-meats-fact-sheet">chemical compounds</a> to form that have been shown to cause cancer in very high doses in animal models, and some studies in humans have found an <a href="https://aacrjournals.org/cebp/article/16/12/2664/260099/Meat-and-Meat-Mutagen-Intake-and-Pancreatic-Cancer">association</a> with increased cancer rates.</p> <p>When it comes to how the animal was raised or its breed, based on current evidence, it’s unlikely the nutritional differences will have a substantial impact on human health. But research is limited in this area.</p> <h2>How much red meat should you eat?</h2> <p>Our national <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/the_guidelines/n55a_australian_dietary_guidelines_summary_book.pdf">dietary guidelines</a> recommend the average adult eats a maximum of 455g of cooked lean red meat per week (or less than 65g a day, equivalent to one small lamb chop). This is also what’s recommended by the national <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/diet-and-exercise/meat-and-cancer-risk">Cancer Council</a>.</p> <p>For heart health specifically, the national <a href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/getmedia/d5b9c4a2-8ccb-4fe9-87a2-d4a34541c272/Nutrition_Position_Statement_-_MEAT.pdf">Heart Foundation</a> recommends eating less than 350g of cooked, unprocessed red meat per week (or less than 50g a day).</p> <p>Many dietary guidelines around the world now also recommend limiting red meat consumption for environmental reasons. To optimise both human nutrition and planetary health, the <a href="https://eatforum.org/lancet-commission/eatinghealthyandsustainable/">EAT-Lancet commission</a> recommends consuming no more than 98g a week of red meat and very low intakes of processed meat.</p> <h2>So what does all of this mean for your diet?</h2> <p>The bottom line is that red meat can still be enjoyed as part of a <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/five-food-groups/lean-meat-and-poultry-fish-eggs-tofu-nuts-and-seeds-and">healthy diet</a>, if not eaten in excess. Where possible, opt for unprocessed or lean cuts, and try to grill less and roast more. Consider swapping red meat for lean chicken or fish occasionally too.</p> <p>If you are looking for alternatives to meat that are better for your health and the environment, minimally processed plant-based alternatives, such as tofu, beans and lentils, are great options.<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/207927/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katherine-livingstone-324808">Katherine Livingstone</a>, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>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/is-red-meat-bad-for-you-and-does-it-make-a-difference-if-its-a-processed-burger-or-a-lean-steak-207927">original article</a>.</em></p>

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"Am I dreaming?": Prince William serves up burgers from food van

<p>The Prince of Wales has stunned a few unsuspecting customers of a London food truck by serving them burgers. </p> <p>In collaboration with popular YouTube channel<em> Sorted Food</em>, Prince William took part in the stunt to promote The Earthshot Prize, a mission he founded in hopes to repair the planet. </p> <p>They worked together to create a plant-based 'Earthshot burger', which they served to customers, in the clip shared on YouTube. </p> <p>As part of the stunt, Prince William first hid his identity by facing away from the customers, when it was time to serve the food, he turned around with burgers in hand to the shock of the diners. </p> <p>"My brain took three seconds to buffer - am I dreaming?" one said after seeing Prince William serving burgers. </p> <p>"I was lost for words," said another. </p> <p>"I was shell-shocked" said a third. </p> <p>The Prince of Wales also praised last year's Earthshot Prize winners, and explained that the dishes served used three of their innovations, which all represented a solution to help repair the planet. </p> <p>"For those of you who don't know, the Earthshot Prize is there to repair and regenerate the planet. Everything you see here comes from the winners from last year," he said.</p> <p>The ingredients for the burgers were sourced by Indian start-up Kheyti, who support local farmers and help shelter their crops from unpredictable weather events and pests. </p> <p>The burgers were cooked in a cleaner-burning portable stove from Mukuru Clean Stoves, which aims to reduce air pollution, and the food was served on Notpla takeaway containers made from natural and biodegradable materials. </p> <p>This is the verdict from the diners: "the best burger we've ever had."</p> <p>The Prince also joked with diners saying that the global Earthshot Prize started back when he "had hair."</p> <p>"It's designed as an environmental prize tackling the world's greatest environmental problems,"  he said. </p> <p>"We liked the idea that this is a big deal, this is like something we really need to aim for, but it's about saving the planet, not taking us to the moon."</p> <p>He added:  "And there's many people out there who want us to move to the next planet already and I'm like, hang on, let's not give up on this planet yet."</p> <p><em>Images: Kensington Palace/ Sorted Food YouTube</em></p>

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How burgers and chips for lunch can worsen your asthma that afternoon

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/evan-williams-1441945">Evan Williams</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a></em></p> <p>Certain foods or dietary patterns are linked with better control of your asthma. Others may make it worse. Depending on what you’ve eaten, you can see the effects in hours.</p> <p>Food can affect how well your lungs function, how often you have asthma attacks and how well your puffer works.</p> <p>Here’s what we know about which foods to eat more of, and which are best to eat in smaller amounts, if you have asthma.</p> <h2>Asthma and inflammation</h2> <p>About <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/asthma/latest-release">one in ten</a> Australians (2.7 million people) have asthma. This makes it the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/chronic-conditions/chronic-conditions-in-australia">fourth</a> most common chronic (persisting) disease in Australia.</p> <p><a href="https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/understanding-asthma/what-is-asthma">Asthma</a> is an inflammatory disease. When someone is exposed to certain triggers (such as respiratory viruses, dust or exercise), the airways leading to the lungs become inflamed and narrow. This makes it difficult for them to breathe during what’s commonly known as an asthma attack (or exacerbation).</p> <p>Researchers are becoming increasingly aware of how someone’s diet can affect their asthma symptoms, including how often they have one of these attacks.</p> <h2>Thumbs up for fruit and veg</h2> <p>The Mediterranean diet – a diet high in fruit, vegetables and oily fish – is linked with <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30997754/">less wheezing</a> in children, whether or not they have been diagnosed with asthma. Some, but not all, of the studies found this was regardless of the children’s body-mass index (BMI) or socioeconomic status.</p> <p>Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables is also important for adults with asthma. Two studies found adults who were instructed to eat a diet with few fruits and vegetables (two or fewer servings of vegetables, and one serving of fruit daily) had <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18324527/">worse lung function</a> and were twice as likely to have an <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22854412/">asthma attack</a> compared to those eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/534507/original/file-20230628-23-j6h1ll.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/534507/original/file-20230628-23-j6h1ll.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/534507/original/file-20230628-23-j6h1ll.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=514&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534507/original/file-20230628-23-j6h1ll.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=514&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534507/original/file-20230628-23-j6h1ll.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=514&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534507/original/file-20230628-23-j6h1ll.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=646&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534507/original/file-20230628-23-j6h1ll.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=646&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534507/original/file-20230628-23-j6h1ll.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=646&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Mediterranean diet pyramid" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">The Mediterranean diet is rich in antioxidants and soluble fibre.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/illustration-mediterranean-diet-meal-shape-food-1640001031">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>Why might the Mediterranean diet, or one rich in fruit and vegetables, help? Researchers think it’s because people are eating more antioxidants and soluble fibre, both of which have anti-inflammatory action:</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>antioxidants</strong> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5075620/">neutralise free radicals</a>. These are the damaging molecules produced as a result of inflammation, which can ultimately cause more inflammation</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>soluble fibre</strong> is fermented by gut bacteria to produce short-chain fatty acids such as acetate, propionate and butyrate, which <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352385919300246">reduce inflammation</a>.</p> </li> </ul> <p>The Mediterranean diet is also high in omega-3 fatty acids (from oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel and tuna). However a <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/12/3839">review</a> looked at five studies that investigated omega-3 intake (through the diet or with a supplement) in adults with asthma. None of the studies showed any benefit associated with omega-3 for asthma.</p> <p>Of course there is no harm in eating foods high in omega-3 – such as oily fish, flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnuts. This has numerous other benefits, such as <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29350557/">lowering the risk</a> of heart disease.</p> <h2>Thumbs down for saturated fat, sugar, red meat</h2> <p>Saturated fats are found in highly processed foods such as biscuits, sausages, pastries and chocolate, and in fast foods.</p> <p>Diets high in saturated fats, plus sugar and red meat, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4888803/">can worsen</a> someone’s asthma symptoms.</p> <p>For instance, one study found a diet high in these foods increased the number of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18829673/">asthma attacks</a> in adults.</p> <p>Foods high in saturated fat can have an impact in as little as <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21377715/">four hours</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21377715/">One study</a> looked at what happened when adults with asthma ate a meal high in saturated fat (consisting of two hash browns, a sausage and egg muffin, and a sausage muffin) compared with a meal with similar calories but low in saturated fat.</p> <p>People who ate the meal high in saturated fat had reduced lung function within four hours. Within four hours, their puffer was also less effective.</p> <p>These worsening symptoms were likely driven by an increase in inflammation. Around the four hour mark, researchers found an increase in the number of the immune cells known as neutrophils, which play a role in inflammation.</p> <p>It’s still OK to eat a sneaky burger or some hot chips occasionally if you have asthma. But knowing that eating too many of these foods can affect your asthma can help you make choices that might improve your quality of life.</p> <h2>What about dairy?</h2> <p>One food type you don’t have to avoid, though, is <a href="https://theconversation.com/mondays-medical-myth-dairy-products-exacerbate-asthma-10641">dairy products</a>.</p> <p>Although many people with asthma report eating dairy worsens their asthma, evidence shows this to be untrue. In fact, one study in adults with asthma found drinking milk was linked to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33918391/">better</a> lung function.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/206402/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/evan-williams-1441945">Evan Williams</a>, Postdoctoral Researcher in Respiratory and Nutritional Biochemistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>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/how-burgers-and-chips-for-lunch-can-worsen-your-asthma-that-afternoon-206402">original article</a>.</em></p>

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“Sick beyond belief”: Burger chain slammed for Maddy McCann Mother’s Day ad

<p>The Otley Burger Company in the UK has been met with a furious response after posting an ad to social media that made light of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann ahead of Mother’s Day – although the owner of the company has defended the post, claiming it was “just a meme”.</p> <p>Shared to social media by the Leeds-based chain, the ads depict McCann and her mother, along with a small edited image of a masked man escaping with the child, plus a caption: “With burgers this good, you’ll leave your kids at home. What’s the worst that could happen?”.</p> <p>The ad then concludes with the phrase “Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums out there”. </p> <p>Such was the fury the ads were met with that they were quickly banned by Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority, which deemed the posts likely to cause offence and distress after several complaints were made.</p> <p>The ASA stated that the ads made light of the circumstances surrounding McCann’s disappearance.</p> <p>“Any reference to a missing child was likely to be distressing, and that in the context of an ad promoting a burger company, the distress caused was unjustified,” the statement read.</p> <p>The ASA then asked Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to remove the posts and suspend the account pending investigation.</p> <p>Meta said it had reviewed the Instagram post and removed it for violating policies, while Twitter said the post had also been deleted.</p> <p>The burger company’s takeaway service page was quickly flooded with furious comments over the “disgusting” behaviour.</p> <p>“Sick beyond belief, I hope the company goes broke,” one person wrote.</p> <p>“Hang your heads in shame,” wrote another.</p> <p>Owner Joe Scholey, 29, told Metro UK: “I’m not taking the mick out of a missing toddler. I’m basically putting, ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ to all the mums,” he said.</p> <p>“She [Kate McCann] is a mum. Not the world’s greatest mum and not the world’s worst. She’s a mum, there’s one there.”</p> <p><em>Image: Otley Burger Company</em></p>

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Man's horror at what he found inside burger

<p>A Queensland hospital worker was disgusted to find a dead rat inside his burger that he was initially enjoying on his lunch break.</p> <p>The medic found the cooked rat between the buns of his burger from the Wellbean Co Cafe, run by the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation, according to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thechronicle.com.au/" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink"><em>Toowoomba Chronicle</em></a>.</p> <p>He took a photo to show staff, who quickly apologised.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838781/rat-body.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/488e3d2c876344578778af55d86e97f6" /></p> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Darling Downs Health Service released the following statement to media about the incident.</p> <p>“We have taken this incident very seriously, with our highest priority being the health and safety of our community, patients, and staff,” a spokesperson said.</p> <p>“We have been assured that the Wellbean Co cafe operators, the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation, comply with all food and hygiene standards.</p> <p>“The Toowoomba Hospital Foundation has been in contact with the supplier and has reviewed their process for washing and inspecting all products brought in to the cafe.</p> <p>“The foundation has had the Toowoomba Regional Council Food Safety Division and our Public Health Unit inspect the cafe, which has been cleared to continue operating.</p> <p>“The cafe has apologised to the customer and I would like to thank the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation for their immediate and proactive response to this incident.”</p> <p><em>Photo credits: </em><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/queensland-hospital-worker-finds-dead-rat-inside-burger-on-break/news-story/991a93a50e7bdd065bb26ce0c4fb2a24" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink">news.com.au</a></em></p> </div>

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Grandma shows off 24-year-old McDonald’s burger that “never rotted or decayed”

<p>While it may seem like the sensible idea to throw food away after several weeks, months, or even years – one woman has proven just how far she went with her McDonald’s hamburger and French fries.</p> <p>A Tiktok user recently took to social media to share her grandmother’s decades-old possession that she keeps hiding away in a shoe box in her closet.</p> <p>Aly Sherb showed her grandma pulling open the 24-year-old wrapper to reveal a slightly old looking hamburger that she purchased in 1996.</p> <p>She starts off the video by showing the bag’s advertisement for US Nascar races in 1996.</p> <p>She then takes out the fries, which she says look like they could have fallen into a seat “a month or so ago” and says that they “never rotted or decayed.”</p> <blockquote style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="6865455379787173126"><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@aly.sherb" target="_blank" title="@aly.sherb">@aly.sherb</a> <p>Make this go viral, y’all <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/grandparentsoftiktok" target="_blank" title="grandparentsoftiktok">##grandparentsoftiktok</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/mcdonalds" target="_blank" title="mcdonalds">##mcdonalds</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp" target="_blank" title="fyp">##fyp</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/decadechallenge" target="_blank" title="decadechallenge">##decadechallenge</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foryou" target="_blank" title="foryou">##foryou</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/happymeal" target="_blank" title="happymeal">##happymeal</a></p> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6865455385554406150" target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - aly.sherb">♬ original sound - aly.sherb</a></blockquote> <p>The woman then shows the burger that she purchased in its original wrapping, then pulls out the burger.</p> <p>The bun and burger appear to never have rotted or decayed either.</p> <p>The video finishes with her saying, “24-year-old hamburger, not sure what would happen if you ate it though.”</p> <p>Anne Christensen, director of Field Brand Reputation for McDonald’s, told Fox News: “In the right environment, our burgers, like most other foods, could decompose. But, in order to decompose, you need certain conditions — specifically moisture.”</p> <p>“Without sufficient moisture – either in the food itself or the environment – bacteria and mold may not grow and therefore, decomposition is unlikely.</p> <p>“So if food is or becomes dry enough, it is unlikely to grow mold or bacteria or decompose. Food prepared at home that is left to dehydrate could see similar results. Similarly, this particular burger is likely dried out and dehydrated, and by no means the same as the day it was purchased.”</p>

Food & Wine

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Burger King offers Prince Harry a job

<p>Burger King has offered Prince Harry a job.</p> <p>The fast-food chain has kindly put forward a proposition, as they offered the 35-year-old royal and his wife Duchess Meghan a job at one of their franchises after the couple announced they were stepping down as “senior royals” and plan on becoming “financially independent”.</p> <p>Burger King Argentina was the first to reach out to the Duke of Sussex as they tweeted: “We found out that the prince and the duchess decided to give up their roles in the royal family and will work to become financially independent.</p> <p>“So, we have a proposition for you: Do as thousands of people and take your steps in the world of work with us.</p> <p>“You know that the crown will suit you perfectly. Also, after so many years of living as dukes, it is time for you to start eating like kings.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">@ harry, this royal family offers part-time positions</p> — Burger King (@BurgerKing) <a href="https://twitter.com/BurgerKing/status/1216823135359635456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Burger King US later followed suit, by saying: “This royal family offers part-time positions.”</p> <p>Last week, the couple dropped a bombshell after they announced plans to “carve out” new roles.</p> <p>They said: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.</p> <p>"It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity."</p>

Food & Wine

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Boost your veggie intake with a sweet potato chickpea burger

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Up your veggie intake with ease thanks to these sweet potato and chickpea burgers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Makes:</strong> 4</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Prep time:</strong> 20 + 30 mins chill</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Cooking time:</strong> 35 mins</span></p> <p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">600g sweet potato, peeled, halved lengthways</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">400g can chickpeas, rinsed, drained</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">1 small red onion, finely chopped</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">2 garlic cloves, crushed</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">1/2 lemon, juiced</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">2 tbs smokey chipotle spice blend or fajita seasoning</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">1 cup fresh breadcrumbs</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">¼ cup raw couscous</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">olive oil cooking spray</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">hamburger buns </span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wedges iceberg lettuce</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Onion jam &amp; chipotle mayonnaise, to serve</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>Methods</strong></p> <ol> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chop the sweet potato into 3cm chunks. Place onto a microwave-safe plate. Cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave 7-8 minutes or until just tender when tested with a skewer. Drain any excess water.  Smash with a fork then transfer to a bowl. Cool 15 minutes.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Combine chickpeas, onion, garlic, lemon juice and spice in a food processor. Season, process until mixture almost comes together. Add to the sweet potato with the parsley, breadcrumbs and raw couscous. Shape mixture into 4 patties. Place on a lined baking tray, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up if time permits. </span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Place a flat tray into the oven. Preheat oven and tray 220°C fan forced. Spray both sides of the patties with oil. Place onto the hot tray. Cook 15 minutes, turn and cook for a further 10 minutes until light golden.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">To serve, spread onion jam over the base of burger buns. Top with lettuce and sweet potato pattie. Drizzle with chipotle mayonnaise. Serve.</span></li> </ol> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recipe credit of <a href="http://australiansweetpotatoes.com.au/">Australian Sweet Potatoes</a>.</span></em></p>

Food & Wine

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Get healthy with some wild Earth burgers

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These plant-based burgers were served daily in my Healthy Chef Café in Sydney. They are high in fibre, antioxidants and protein to aid muscle repair and help energise the body. Delicious hot or cold, served with smashed avocado and a squeeze of lime.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Makes</strong>: 10</span></p> <p><strong>Benefits</strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">WELLBEING</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">ENERGISING</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">HEALTHY DIGESTION</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></li> </ul> <p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">220 g (7 oz) carrot grated </span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">90 g (3 oz) kale or cavolo nero, finely shredded </span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">500 g (16 oz) cooked short grain brown rice </span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">4 spring onions (shallots), finely sliced</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">1 bunch coriander (cilantro), finely chopped</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">4 nori sheets, shredded</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">125 g (4 oz) organic tempeh, grated</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">2 tablespoons tahini</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">1 tablespoon tamari soy sauce</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">sesame seeds for rolling</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>Method</strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">SAUTÉ carrot and kale with a little olive oil for 5 minutes until soft, then transfer into a mixing bowl.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">ADD the brown rice, spring onion, coriander, nori, tempeh, tahini and tamari then mix through until combined.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">FORM into burgers then roll in sesame seeds.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">REST burgers in the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight to set. </span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">BRUSH burgers with olive oil and bake in the oven 180°C (350°F) fan-forced for 30 minutes until golden. Alternatively, shallow fry with generous amounts of olive oil until crisp and golden.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">SERVE and enjoy. </span></li> </ul> <p><strong>INSPIRATION</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Serve with vegan mayo and leafy greens.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This recipe is from Teresa’s new plant-based cookbook ‘</span><a href="https://j7rr69opun380owk-2321186860.shopifypreview.com/products_preview?preview_key=99280db5e6f397e27a240c3507413de4"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Earth To Table</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">’ for Meat Free Week 2019.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Teresa Cutter, founder of </span><a href="https://thehealthychef.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Healthy Chef</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, is an author, nutritionist and classically trained chef. You can find more of Cutter’s tips and recipes on her </span><a href="http://www.thehealthychef.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">website</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and in her</span><a href="https://thehealthychef.com/pages/cookbooks"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Cookbooks</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1019047858?mt=8"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Healthy Recipes App</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/id1029254909"><span style="font-weight: 400;">eBooks</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/healthychefteresacutter/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/teresacutter_healthychef/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram.</span></a></em></p>

Food & Wine

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Enjoy a healthy burger with egg-free sweet potato and lentil patties

<p>Fantastic for a healthy burger or served on their own, these patties are the perfect light meal for entertaining!</p> <p><strong>Time to prepare:</strong> 25 minutes</p> <p><strong>Cooking time: </strong>30 minutes</p> <p><strong>Serves: </strong>4</p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <p>500g sweet potato, peeled, cubed </p> <div class="article-body"> <p>2 tablespoons olive oil</p> <p>½ cup brown lentils<span> </span></p> <p>1 small onion, finely chopped</p> <p>2 garlic cloves, crushed</p> <p>1 teaspoon ground cumin</p> <p>½ teaspoon ground coriander</p> <p>½ teaspoon turmeric</p> <p>60g baby spinach, roughly chopped</p> <p>⅓ cup plain flour</p> <p>Natural yoghurt and lemon wedges, to serve</p> <p><strong>Directions:</strong></p> <p>1. Preheat oven to 220°C/200°C fan-forced. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Place sweet potato on tray and drizzle with half of the oil.</p> <p>2. Bake for 15-20 minutes until tender. Mash in a bowl and set aside.</p> <p>3. Cook lentils in a pan of boiling water for 15-20 minutes until softened. Drain well. Transfer to a large bowl to cool.</p> <p>4. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large frying pan on medium. Cook onion and garlic for 4-5 minutes until softened. Add spices and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add spinach, stirring until just wilted.</p> <p>5. Transfer to bowl with lentils and sweet potato. Mix well and season to taste. Chill until cold. Form into patties and toss in flour to coat. Place on a baking paper-lined tray.</p> <p>6. Heat oil in frying pan on medium-high. Cook patties for 2-3 minutes each side until golden. Drain on paper towel. Serve patties with yoghurt and lemon wedges.</p> <p><strong>Tips</strong></p> <p>Brown lentils are also labelled as green lentils. They are larger than the French lentils.</p> <p>For a gluten-free option – replace plain flour with gluten-free flour.</p> <p><em>Recipe thanks to <a rel="noopener" href="http://australiansweetpotatoes.com.au/" target="_blank">Australian Sweet Potatoes</a>. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/sweet-potato-and-lentil-patties-(egg-free).aspx">Wyza.com.au</a></em></p> </div>

Food & Wine

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Disgust after customer finds gross instruction on burger receipt

<p>One man has been left feeling sick after discovering a gross instruction on his burger receipt.</p> <p>On June 17, Curtis Mays from New York visited the Bohemian Hall and beer Garden in Astoria, NYC.</p> <p>When the man had finished his chicken burger, he looked over the receipt and found that one ingredient he had not requested was added to his meal.</p> <p>Along with his cheddar cheese, mayo, toasted bread, caramelised onions and a side of onion rings, was a note to "add spit".</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="390" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819262/1_499x390.jpg" alt="1 (156)"/></p> <p>“I ate my burger already, I felt like I was gonna throw up,” Curtis told <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://abc11.com/3615399/" target="_blank">ABC 11</a></strong></span>.</p> <p>“I asked her [the server], ‘Why would you do this?’ And she couldn’t explain it. She said she didn’t do it, so I was like ‘Who prints out the receipt?’ So she said, ‘I take it up there and print it myself.’ I said, ‘So you did it? Why are you lying about it?’ She just walked off,” he added.</p> <p>Curtis then immediately went to the manager to discuss the instruction to “add spit” that was found on his receipt.</p> <p>“He was saying, ‘How can we compensate you?’ I was like, ‘How can you compensate somebody for spitting on your food? I ate this already,’” Curtis said.</p> <p>The waitress was fired on the spot and Curtis received a full refund for his meal.</p> <p>The managed told the ABC that although the incident was “unacceptable”, it is “very unlikely” one of the chefs actually spat in the burger.</p> <p>What is your worst restaurant horror story? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

News

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Food safety: are the sniff test, the 5-second rule & rare burgers safe?

<p><em><strong>Cathy Moir is a food microbiologist and Group Leader with CSIRO Agriculture and Food.</strong></em></p> <p>There are <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://theconversation.com/you-can-thaw-and-refreeze-meat-five-food-safety-myths-busted-51125" target="_blank">many rules in food safety lore</a></strong></span>, some that have a basis in fact, and some that are purely grounded in convenience. But it’s important to look at the evidence to see which category common rules fall under.</p> <p><strong>1. The ‘sniff’ test</strong></p> <p>Often when a food has spoiled, it will smell bad. This leads many to believe “no stench = OK to eat”. But this isn’t always the case. The microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts and moulds) that spoil food by making it smelly, slimy or mouldy might not give you food poisoning.</p> <p>But pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria, such as salmonella, campylobacter, E.coli and listeria, which do make people sick, don’t always cause obvious changes in food when they grow. Sometimes simply being present at low numbers and then consumed is enough to result in illness.</p> <p>Having said that, this isn’t an invitation to consume obviously spoiled food. Spoilage is a good indicator food has been left too long and “bad” microorganisms, including pathogens, may also have grown.</p> <p>In order to steer clear of nasty bugs in food, observe “use by” dates, refrigerate foods that need to be kept cold (this slows down the microbes), cook foods properly (this kills the microbes) and prevent contact and cross contamination between ready-to-eat foods such as salads, with raw food such as meat that still needs to be cooked.</p> <p><strong>2. The ‘five second’ rule</strong></p> <p>Whether it’s one, three, five seconds or some other number, we’ve all heard some version of this call when someone has dropped food on the floor. But is it true harmful bacteria need a few seconds to hitch a ride on your dropped slice of pizza?</p> <p>In one <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://news.rutgers.edu/rutgers-researchers-debunk-%E2%80%98five-second-rule%E2%80%99-eating-food-floor-isn%E2%80%99t-safe/20160908#.WvEGRtVuaX2" target="_blank">peer-reviewed study</a></strong></span>, four food types were tested (watermelon, bread, bread and butter, and gummy sweets) with four different surfaces (stainless steel, ceramic tile, wood and carpet) that were contaminated with bacteria. Contact time, food type and surface all significantly affected the amount of contamination that occurred. The study found:</p> <ul> <li>time is not necessarily of the essence as microorganisms from one surface can instantaneously contaminate another. But it’s true the longer contact time the more contamination can occur</li> <li>higher moisture foods (such as watermelon) allowed transfer of more microorganisms compared to the other foods. The gummy sweets, which are likely to have the driest surface, showed the weakest transfer of bacteria from the contact surface</li> <li>the weakest microbial transfer occurred when food was dropped on to carpet compared to stainless steel, and tile in particular. The authors hypothesised bacteria attaches better to carpet as it’s more absorbent, meaning it’s less likely to transfer to the food.</li> </ul> <p>While it’s true dropped food can become contaminated with microorganisms from the floor or environment, the majority of those microorganisms in a normal home are likely to be harmless to human health.</p> <p><strong>3. Rare meat</strong></p> <p>When cooking and reheating meat, there are some simple rules to follow. Whole pieces of meat muscle such as steak, pork and lamb can be cooked on the outside, say barbequed or pan fried, so they’re still rare on the inside.</p> <p>Historically, under-cooked pork has been feared due to a parasitic worm, but this has never been seen in Australian pigs.</p> <p>Poultry and all minced, rolled, stuffed, tenderised and similar types of meat (including burgers) need to be cooked right through. This difference relates to where microorganisms are found on the meat.</p> <p>We know microorganisms live on the surface of raw meat because animals naturally harbour microorganisms. That’s why just cooking the surface of a whole piece of muscle meat is sufficient (excluding poultry), because that will kill any potentially harmful bacteria.</p> <p>When that meat is minced, rolled, stuffed, mechanically tenderised or turned into patties or sausages, the surface of the meat and what it’s carrying is then mixed through the whole product. It’s also possible for chicken tissue to be colonised by bacteria (which just doesn’t happen with other animal meat types). That’s why these types of meat products need to be cooked through to the centre.</p> <p>The best way to tell if meat is cooked is to use a meat thermometer. These can be purchased from homeware and hardware stores. Poultry and minced, rolled, stuffed, tenderised meats need to be cooked right through and to a temperature of 75°C. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. If you don’t have a thermometer, check the juices run clear and not pink.</p> <p>What are your thoughts?</p> <p><em>Written by Cathy Moir. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.theconversation.com" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Conversation</span></strong></a>.</em><img width="1" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/92661/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation"/> </p>

Body

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6 strange McDonald’s burgers you can’t get in New Zealand

<p>There’s no doubt fast food chain McDonald’s is truly a worldwide phenomenon. Wherever you go in the world you can almost be guaranteed you’ll be able to spot the Golden Arches. Perhaps what has made McDonald’s popular on a global scale is their ability to adapt their menu to the local culture and tastes. The result? Some very interesting burgers options that we’ve never heard of!</p> <p><strong>India: The Chicken Maharaja Mac </strong><em>(pictured above) </em></p> <p>As India is predominantly a Hindu country (cows are sacred in Hinduism), beef is not a viable – and in some cases, legal – option for a Big Mac. Instead of beef patties, Big Macs are made of chicken. There’s no pickles either, instead India’s version has jalapenos and a fiery habanero sauce.</p> <p><strong>Japan: The Teriyaki McBurger</strong></p> <p>Home of teriyaki chicken, it’s no surprise the Japanese version of McDonalds has incorporated teriyaki sauce in their burgers. The burger also forgoes the beef for a pork meat patty.</p> <p><strong>Sweden: The McToast</strong></p> <p><strong><img width="281" height="158" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/37723/1491872547357_281x158.jpg" alt="1491872547357" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></strong></p> <p>Also available in a few other European nations, this breakfast burger is little more than slices of ham and cheese between two burger buns. However, the strangest part is the buns are turned inside out and toast on top.</p> <p><strong>Greece: The Greek Mac</strong></p> <p><strong><img width="309" height="174" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/37725/1491872442005_309x174.jpg" alt="1491872442005" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></strong></p> <p>It’s all the ingredients of a Big Mac without the buns. Instead, the Greek Mac is housed in a half-folded pita bread. And there’s no Big Mac secret special sauce, the sauce of choice is a tzatziki. </p> <p><strong>Turkey: The Kofteburger</strong></p> <p>This twist on the Quarter Pounder uses a kofte-style patty, complete with spiced mincemeat, instead of your standard beef patty. Think kebab-style burger.</p> <p><strong>Portugal: The McBifana</strong></p> <p><img width="336" height="189" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/37726/1491871714566_336x189.jpg" alt="1491871714566" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Thebifana is Portugal's national sandwich, consisting of pork (usually stewed but you can use grilled pork) in bread. McDonald’s has jumped on board with their version called the McBifani. It’s essentially two pork patties inside a semi-crusty roll with a slightly sour sauce.</p> <p>Would you like to see any of these burgers on our menu? </p>

International Travel

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The best burgers at sea

<p>These are the cruise lines that boast the best burgers the industry has to offer.</p> <p><strong>1. Princess Cruises </strong><em>(pictured above) </em></p> <p>Meet the Ernesto, a delicious burger comprising a ground rib-eye and short rib patty, grilled pork belly, gruyere cheese, caramelized kimchi, beer-battered jalapenos, charred onion aioli, salt and pepper on a brioche bun.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Where</span>: Salty Dog Gastropub</p> <p><strong>2. Holland American Line</strong></p> <p>The Pinnacle Burger combines a bacon jam, garlic chipotle aioli, cheddar cheese, red onions and avocado, with a side of crispy fries of course.</p> <p>Where: Pinnacle Grill</p> <p><strong>3. Carnival Cruise Line</strong></p> <p><img width="436" height="290" src="http://images.r.cruisecritic.com/features/2016/04/best-burgers-carnival.jpg" alt="Guy's Burger Joint on Carnival Triumph" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Lounge by the pool deck with a delectable array of five burger choices: the Plain Jane, a basic cheeseburger; the Ringer, a cheeseburger with an onion ring; the Straight Up, which includes special sauce, lettuce and tomato; the Piggy Patty, featuring a beef burger and a second patty made entirely of bacon; and Chillius Maximus, a burger with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and chili.</p> <p>Where: Guy’s Burger Joint</p> <p><strong>4. Viking Ocean Cruises</strong></p> <p><img width="413" height="275" src="http://images.r.cruisecritic.com/features/2016/05/rewrite_best-burgers-viking.jpg" alt="Viking Star's Viking Burger" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Dig in to four great varieties of burger such as the Viking Burger which comes with cheddar cheese, red onion marmalade, bacon and barbecue sauce. The Pancho Villa Burger has rocket, blue cheese, guacamole and spicy habanero mayo; the Pastrami King's burger is dressed with pastrami and double American cheese; and last but not least, the Veggie Burger which comes with cheese, roasted red capsicum, red onion marmalade, guacamole and alfalfa.</p> <p>Where: Pool Grill</p>

Cruising

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Valli Little’s not-your-average burger recipe

<p>Certainly not a common burger, this is a juicy wagyu beef patty with lashings of homemade béarnaise sauce, all topped with fries served inside the bun. It’s definitely a special occasion treat, but well worth it. Of course, if you want to simplify the dish you can always use frozen thin oven chips (but don’t tell anyone).</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves</span>:</strong> 4</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>1/4 cup chopped tarragon</li> <li>1⁄3 cup (80ml) white wine vinegar</li> <li>160g unsalted butter</li> <li>2 egg yolks</li> <li>500g wagyu beef mince</li> <li>2 eschalots or 1 small onion, coarsely grated</li> <li>1 tbsp. chopped thyme leaves</li> <li>2 potatoes, peeled, cut into matchsticks</li> <li>Sunflower oil, to deep-fry, plus extra, to brush</li> <li>4 brioche buns</li> <li>Rocket leaves, to serve</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>Place half the tarragon and the vinegar in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until the liquid reduces to 2 tbsp. Strain and discard the tarragon. Set aside to cool. In a clean saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.</li> <li>Place the egg yolks in a small food processor or blender with the reduced vinegar. Blend for a few seconds to combine. With the motor running, slowly add the butter, starting with a drop at a time then increasing to a thin stream as the sauce thickens. Season and stir in the remaining tarragon. Set aside but don’t refrigerate.</li> <li>Combine the beef, onion and thyme in a bowl. Form into four equal-sized patties. Chill until ready to use.</li> <li>Pat the potatoes dry with paper towel. Half-fill a deep-fryer or large saucepan with sunflower oil and heat to 180°C (a cube of bread will turn golden in 35 seconds when the oil is hot enough). Fry the chips, in batches if necessary, for 2–3 minutes until just starting to turn golden. Drain on paper towel.</li> <li>Preheat oven to 160°C.</li> <li>Preheat a chargrill pan over medium–high heat or a barbecue to medium–high. Brush the patties with a little oil and cook for 2 minutes each side until charred but still juicy inside. Pop in the oven to keep warm. Place the brioche buns cut side down on the grill until warmed and lightly charred.</li> <li>Refry the chips for a further 2–3 minutes while the burgers are cooking until they are golden and crisp. Drain on paper towel.</li> <li>Place the patties on the bun bases, top with rocket, fries and a good drizzle of béarnaise. Top with the bun lids. Serve any extra fries and béarnaise on the side.</li> </ol> <p style="text-align: left;"><img width="155" height="200" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/37636/my-kind-of-food-cover_155x200.jpg" alt="My Kind Of Food Cover (2)" style="float: right;"/></p> <p><em>Recipe courtesy of </em>My Kind of Food<em> by Valli Little, published by ABC Books. </em></p>

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Spinach, sweet potato and quinoa burgers

<p>If you’re still on track with your new year’s resolution to eat healthier, we’ve got the perfect recipe for you. Vegetarian-friendly and packed with nutrients, these burgers will be a hit with the whole family.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Makes:</span></strong> 8 to 10 patties</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>2 cups cooked quinoa, cooked (refer to pack), drained and cooled</li> <li>4 handfuls chopped fresh spinach (100 g if using frozen)</li> <li>1 cup pre-cooked and cooled sweet potato (steamed/boiled is fine)</li> <li>4 eggs</li> <li>3/4 cup rolled (porridge) oats</li> <li>Chopped herbs and spices, to taste, e.g. paprika, chilli (chili pepper), parsley,</li> <li>Oregano and basil</li> <li>Coconut oil, to shallow fry</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>Place all ingredients into a bowl, then mix and massage with the hands until completely combined. Allow the mixture to set in the fridge for 20 minutes.</li> <li>Remove the mixture from the fridge. Form patties by taking a couple of tablespoons of mixture into your hand, rolling into a ball and pressing flat. Place a frying pan on the stove, add a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil and fry in the hot pan.</li> <li>Serve hot as a bunless burger wrapped in an iceberg lettuce leaf, with slices of tomato, cucumber, red onion, pickle and avocado.</li> </ol> <p><img width="198" height="244" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/33505/9781925335163_198x244.jpg" alt="9781925335163" style="float: right;"/></p> <p><em>Extracted from The Edible Pharmacy by Sophie Manolas, available from <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.exislepublishing.com.au/" target="_blank">www.exislepublishing.com.au</a></strong></span> and wherever good books are sold.</em></p> <p><em><strong>Have you ordered your copy of the Over60 cookbook, The Way Mum Made It, yet? Featuring 178 delicious tried-and-true recipes from you, the Over60 community, and your favourites that have appeared on the Over60 website, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://shop.abc.net.au/products/way-mum-made-it-pbk" target="_blank">head to the abcshop.com.au to order your copy now</a></span>.</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/2017/01/bunless-beef-burgers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Bunless beef burgers</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/09/vege-burgers-with-chickpea-and-spinach-patties/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Vege burgers with chickpea and spinach patties</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/06/pulled-pork-coleslaw-mayo-burgers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Pulled pork and coleslaw burgers with chipotle mayo</strong></em></span></a></p>

Food & Wine

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Vege burgers with chickpea and spinach patties

<p>These tasty vegetarian patties are super-quick to make in a food processor. Begin making them at least an hour ahead so they have time to firm up in the fridge before frying.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves:</span></strong> 6</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>400g can chickpeas, rinsed and drained</li> <li>⅔ cup cooked and very well-drained spinach</li> <li>1 small onion, finely chopped</li> <li>2 cloves garlic, crushed</li> <li>½ cup panko breadcrumbs</li> <li>1 egg, lightly beaten</li> <li>2 tablespoons chopped parsley</li> <li>2 tablespoons chopped mint</li> <li>1 teaspoon ground cumin</li> <li>½ teaspoon hot smoked paprika</li> <li>½ teaspoon flaky sea salt</li> <li>Oil for frying</li> <li>6 burger buns</li> </ul> <p><em>Filling suggestions</em></p> <ul> <li>Hummus</li> <li>Slices of oven-baked beetroot</li> <li>Shaved cabbage, or sauerkraut</li> <li>Slices of red onion</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>To begin, place all the patty ingredients in a food processor and pulse to combine.</li> <li>The mixture should still be a little chunky.</li> <li>Form into six patties and refrigerate for an hour or more before cooking. </li> <li>Fry patties in oil until golden and cooked through, about three minutes each side.</li> <li>Serve in grilled buns with a selection of the suggested fillings. </li> </ol> <p>Have you ever tried vege burgers? What’s your favourite BBQ dish? Let us know in the comments.</p> <p><em>Written by Bernadette Hogg. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><strong><em>Have you ordered your copy of the Over60 cookbook, </em>The Way Mum Made It<em>, yet? Featuring 178 delicious tried-and-true recipes from you, the Over60 community, and your favourites that have appeared on the Over60 website, <a href="https://shop.abc.net.au/products/way-mum-made-it-pbk" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">head to the abcshop.com.au to order your copy now</span></a>.</em></strong></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/06/pulled-pork-coleslaw-mayo-burgers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Pulled pork and coleslaw burgers with chipotle mayo</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/04/vegetarian-beetroot-burger-with-avocado/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Vegetarian beetroot burger with avocado</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/04/turkey-and-sage-burgers-with-onion-and-fennel-relish/"><span><em><strong>Turkey and sage burgers with onion and fennel relish</strong></em></span></a></span></p>

Food & Wine