You know that moment when the rhubarb plant begins to bud in the late spring and there’s this anticipation of just how long it will be until it’s harvest time. The time when the leaves unravel and expand, while hidden under their canopy are long stalks of bright pink, deep crimson and earthy green. That excitement of a year-long wait to enjoy a slice of homemade rhubarb pie, a bowl of rhubarb soup, a hot rhubarb crumble, a fresh stalk dipped in sugar, a tangy pickled rhubarb slice or even a glass of rhubarb wine.
Yeah. I think you know what I mean. (more…)
The farm is exceptionally lush after a heavy rain. What once was a sparse and navigable terrain has turned into something of a throbbing Norwegian jungle. Complete with honey bees and energetic insects. And this is only the beginning. The next weeks will lead into summer and this will bring more and more life back into the surroundings. And lucky for us, this means more wild edibles. 
Yay for May! And layer cakes!
A name can give away a lot. A name with a bold statement also has a lot to live up to. This is one cake, and I think you will agree, which lives up to its name and puts all its cards on the table. In every way, this cake is a golden success.
One of my first introductions to Norwegian food was raspeballer, potato dumplings. The memory of my husband’s grandmother proudly shaping a mixture of potato and flour into large rounds the size of my fist is one I have imprinted in my memory. She served them with boiled meat and large sausages. Less that was not enough, she also topped them with a generous portion of fried bacon and fat.
There’s something quite alluring about making waffles. Golden batter poured over a hot, textured iron, quickly flowing into each deep groove. As the top of the iron closes over the bottom, the batter squeezes towards the edges. Sometimes a little batter escapes the confines of the iron grasp and hangs on the outside. With a bit of patience, the waiting concludes with a simple green light or a gentle lift. The test of success comes in the form of desired crispiness, desired browning, and whether it can easily be peeled from its honeycomb embrace. Seeing those five hearts melded together and the taste of each one is nothing short of humble satisfaction. It’s the simple pleasures, you know.