Cloudberries, known as multebær, begin popping up through the moist terrain around mid-summer. They are truly a treasure to…
September 9, 2019
Rows of purple-pink geitrams, also known as fireweed, rosebay willowherb, and great willowherb, line the landscape at this time…
August 24, 2019
Bring on the wild nettles. It’s the season again when these wonderfully nutritious, wild greens pop up all over.…
May 31, 2019
In moments of indecisiveness, inspiration can come unexpectedly. Sometimes, it just takes a good friend and a simple conversation…
May 12, 2019
The smell of eggy batter cooking atop a skillet is almost unmistakable. It draws you in as it evokes…
February 22, 2019
Not long after we moved to Norway, I was served kaffegraut “coffee porridge” at the Rollag Station Kafe in…
February 5, 2019
The near year is upon us and sometimes that means getting back into the swing of things takes a…
January 19, 2019
The snow continues its graceful decent from above – large flakes producing a thick, white blanket as far as…
December 21, 2018
Brune pinner directly translates to “brown sticks” – a direct reference to their appearance, but an understatement in terms…
December 17, 2018
“Lefse uten gomme er som grøt uten salt”. (Lefse wthout gomme is like porridge without salt) Gomme goes by…
December 6, 2018
There is an intense ruggedness at this time of year when autumn is holding on tightly before winter sweeps…
November 27, 2018
Scrumptious lamb, slow-cooked atop cabbage that has softened while baking in all the juices is just one of the…
September 25, 2018
Orchards have this incredible presence and sense of wonderment that draws you in and envelops you as you gaze…
September 12, 2018
Stacks of dried cod, butterflied and doused with salt, are one of the most iconic images you will find…
September 6, 2018
The slender tree branches, laden with luscious, dark sour cherries, seemed in dire need of relieving their seasonal burden.…
August 16, 2018
A smoldering heat enveloped me as I gazed out from the brygge (docks) toward the sea; one hand shading…
August 4, 2018
Rhubarb plants – with their ornate and statuesque figures – have long been sought after and used as garden…
June 12, 2018
Sponge cake baked with meringue and almonds becomes the centerpiece of this delightful layer cake filled with custard and…
May 2, 2018
As a follow up to my previous recipe post, Whole Wheat Dark Chocolate and Candied Orange Peel Braided Swirl…
March 23, 2018
Påske (Easter) is only a few weeks away and Norwegians are undoubtedly preparing for the days preluding påske and…
March 14, 2018
Spring officially marked its entrance on the meteorological calendar, but it has yet to arrive (or come close to…
March 6, 2018
While winter means a barren landscape void of fruits and vegetables and wild herbs, life is teeming and thriving…
February 20, 2018
Winter came with a fierceness this year, unlike last year’s somewhat bleak and disappointing season where pockets of snow…
January 30, 2018
Lapskaus is simply a Norwegian stew made up of meat and vegetables, with both dark and light versions. Brun…
January 12, 2018
In the bright of the day, looking toward the bay, the water sparkles as the sun’s rays reflect off…
December 28, 2017
One of the great things about holiday baking is that everyone has their own traditions and favorites. Recipes which…
December 13, 2017
Smultringer is considered one of the seven Norwegian Christmas cookies (syv slag), with very interesting origins. Before smultringer, Norwegians…
December 9, 2017
Norway has a long tradition of curing – graving – both fish and meat in order to conserve them.…
December 6, 2017
This is the third and final part of my three-part series of autumn dishes featuring Rutabaga When you have…
November 10, 2017
This is the second part of my three-part series of autumn dishes featuring Rutabaga Rutabaga (aka kålrot, kålrabi, swede)…
November 3, 2017
This is the first part of my three-part series of autumn dishes featuring rutabaga. For me, these days have…
October 27, 2017
As we head into the last weeks of summer, it means final chances to use up the last of…
August 17, 2017
There is a great wonder when you travel throughout Norway, never quite knowing what grandeur will appear around each…
August 8, 2017
Daylight seems to never fade over the blooming fields as the sun’s warmth beats down. It’s the start of…
June 22, 2017
It’s not difficult to see just how important bread plays a role in Norway. The Nordic food culture is…
June 17, 2017
You know that moment when the rhubarb plant begins to bud in the late spring and there’s this anticipation…
June 2, 2017
The farm is exceptionally lush after a heavy rain. What once was a sparse and navigable terrain has turned…
May 24, 2017
Yay for May! And layer cakes! With 17 May (syttende mai) soon approaching, there is always a heightened sense…
May 10, 2017
A name can give away a lot. A name with a bold statement also has a lot to live…
April 13, 2017
One of my first introductions to Norwegian food was raspeballer, potato dumplings. The memory of my husband’s grandmother proudly shaping…
April 6, 2017
There’s something quite alluring about making waffles. Golden batter poured over a hot, textured iron, quickly flowing into each…
March 24, 2017
Some days you just need something with a bit of depth and a bit of warmth. An all-in-one meal…
March 17, 2017
There’s nothing quite like the smell of homemade bread baking in the oven. The warmth of the oven encompassing…
March 9, 2017
Change is in the air. That time again when the sun stays a little longer each day and the…
February 24, 2017
Tropisk Aroma-Kake, or tropical aroma cake, conjures up an incredible scenery in the mind. Thoughts of palm trees and…
February 11, 2017
Some days, you just need to bake. Whatever the occasion, whatever the sky. My baking day turned into days.…
February 3, 2017
Mother nature has been busy these past few days. Our snow has almost entirely melted and our skies have…
January 5, 2017
2016 has been an extraordinary year, to say the least. This past January, I launched the blog to bring people…
December 30, 2016
Arguably, the most aromatic and popular Christmas cookies in Norway are Pepperkaker. They stand out among all the other traditional…
December 13, 2016
Rødkål is a sweet and sour braised red cabbage. A side dish that is a necessity for many Norwegians when…
December 7, 2016
The sound of wood crackling in the fireplace. A good friend stopping by for the day. The trickle of snow…
December 1, 2016
The farm has become a blanket of white, with only the contrast of branches and jetting rock to add…
November 22, 2016
Centuries ago, a group of fishermen mounted their horses early in the autumn and began their trek deep into the…
November 16, 2016
This recipe is not one that you can just make at any time and anywhere. It’s a special recipe…
November 9, 2016
Lapper is a traditional Norwegian flat cake similar to that of an American pancake, but by no means the…
October 25, 2016
There’s a certain joy that comes from being able to watch another person prepare a dish. Being the student and…
October 18, 2016
Lightly sweetened buns, boller, are one of the most beloved breads in Norway. The sweet-smelling aroma coming from boller just baked…
October 13, 2016
There are so many reasons to celebrate. Daily ones in fact. From the sweetest smiles to the dearest conversations…
October 4, 2016
As September arrives in Norway so does the annual round up of the sheep from the mountain pastures to…
September 21, 2016
My visit to Slettastølen Seter introduced me to the Norwegian Seter Life, or mountain farm life. Sonja treated me to a…
September 16, 2016
Apple trees across the valley hang a little heavier these days, their branches full of the fruit which has…
September 14, 2016
Following a magnificent seter feast filled with Sonja’s homemade products of cheese, cream, jams and cured meat, Sonja shared…
September 9, 2016
Some days need a little nostalgia to brighten up the table and connect us to another time and place.…
September 2, 2016
Berry season is nearing its end for the year as the tips of the trees give way to yellow,…
August 26, 2016
The forest is full of gold this time of year. Skogens gull. The time of year when mushrooms can be…
August 16, 2016
This summer has been filled with celebrations and wonderful gatherings. My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, my husband and…
August 10, 2016
My mother-in-law, Kari, makes one of the best cheesecakes (ostekaker) around. It’s her most requested dessert, and I, of…
July 19, 2016
The woods, blending well into the deep valley, are welcoming on this day. Edged against the great river, a…
July 13, 2016
Sankthans, or Midsummer, is a celebration of both folklore and Christianity in Norway and across Scandinavia. An old tradition…
June 23, 2016
Today is the longest day of the year for those living north of the equator. The summer solstice. A…
June 20, 2016
My second visit to Uvdalsleiven Tradisjonsbakst is underway and as I draw nearer to the bakery, I pass the…
June 13, 2016
It’s 9.00am when I pass through the open doors of the old barn, overlooking a valley carving its way…
June 8, 2016
Nearby an old rock wall, sturdy but aged and covered with greenery, lies a handful of rhubarb plants. I…
May 31, 2016
Wild garlic or ramps, known as ramsløk in Norwegian, can be found along the coasts and in the forests…
May 19, 2016
Kringler. Nordic pretzels of various forms of sweet, salty, filled, crispy and soft. But one kringle stands out as…
May 13, 2016
Sprouts of stinging nettles and wood nettles (brennesle) have unearthed across our farm following an indecisive spring which left…
May 9, 2016
Lifting the weight and removing the board revealed a two-day culinary journey. Nothing difficult, nothing too time consuming. An…
April 29, 2016
A Norwegian breakfast and lunch is never complete without a slice of bread or a type of knekkebrød. These ‘crisp…
April 21, 2016
The roosters and hens have given a whole new meaning to the term ‘free range’ these days. Making their…
April 14, 2016
My sister recently collated and copied my Great Grandmother’s recipes as gifts for the whole family. Reading through the…
April 8, 2016
As the sun rises, I find myself in the room I grew up in. The interior may have changed…
March 23, 2016
The smell of melting butter amidst flaky dough fills the room. A slight hint of orange and vanilla. As I…
March 17, 2016
Visiting friends usually means finding yourself sharing cake and coffee amongst a centerpiece of overflowing, grapefruit-sized oranges gleaning from a…
March 15, 2016
Spring is on the horizon, and I’m beginning to see green amidst all the snow lying heavy over the…
March 10, 2016
Brunch is one of those meals, where anything goes. Hot and cold. Savory and sweet. Honestly, it’s just a…
March 3, 2016
The smell of bread slowly baking is one of the most delightful and simple pleasures in life. As I…
February 25, 2016
It’s that time of year when winter seems to be letting go of its grasp upon the terrain. The…
February 18, 2016
A friend once introduced me to the amazing combination of vodka, lemon and black pepper, frozen together in a…
February 10, 2016
Fastelavn. Shrovetide. Carnaval. Seven weeks before Easter, and sitting at the cusp of Lent, is a celebration spanning the…
February 5, 2016
It was a gusty weekend throughout parts of Norway as storm Tor made an unwanted appearance. Our little valley seemed…
February 2, 2016
Wild strawberries. A camera & pen. Lots of brown cheese. This is my Norway.