Tag: farm

  • Gomme (Norwegian Sweet Cheese)

    Gomme (Norwegian Sweet Cheese)

    Gomme (Norwegian Sweet Cheese) Gomme (Norwegian Sweet Cheese)

    “Lefse uten gomme er som grøt uten salt”.

    (Lefse wthout gomme is like porridge without salt)

    Gomme goes by many names, including gumme, gubbost, and dravle. It’s created by cooking down fresh milk – curds and whey and all – to achieve a soft and spreadable sweet cheese. It’s been around for centuries, perhaps one of the older desserts known, and has had a central place among Norwegian milk dishes. Life on a self-sustainable farm meant a limited supply of cow’s milk during certain parts of the year. Therefore, since gomme was made of fresh milk, it is reasonable to assume it was a highly treasured dish that was reserved for special occasions and high holidays. (more…)

  • Slow-Roasted Lamb Shoulder and Cabbage with Pan-Fried Apples

    Slow-Roasted Lamb Shoulder and Cabbage with Pan-Fried Apples

    Slow-Roasted Lamb Shoulder and Cabbage with Pan-Fried ApplesScrumptious lamb, slow-cooked atop cabbage that has softened while baking in all the juices is just one of the autumn dishes I look forward to the most this time of year. The combination is simple. No fuss. Just allowing the flavors of the ingredients to shine. (more…)

  • Potato Tarts with Spiced Stewed Apples (potet-terte)

    Potato Tarts with Spiced Stewed Apples (potet-terte)

    Potato Tarts with Spiced Stewed Apples (potet-terte)Orchards have this incredible presence and sense of wonderment that draws you in and envelops you as you gaze among its rows and rows of spectacular fruit-laden branches. An unkept orchard can become a magical arena for the imagnination and the senses to come alive.

    All across Norway, regions are brimming with apples from August to November, depending upon the apple variety and climate. The village we live in is just one example of how apples have overtaken many yards. A quick drive through and your eyesight will be drawn to craggy apple trees  dotted with bright reds, pinks, and subtle greens. Even the ground below is strewn with fallen fruit.  (more…)

  • Outdoor Skillet-Bread with Lamb and Pea Pesto (Bålbrød med lam og erterpesto)

    Outdoor Skillet-Bread with Lamb and Pea Pesto (Bålbrød med lam og erterpesto)

    Outdoor Skillet-Bread with Lamb and Pea Pesto (Bålbrød med lam og erterpesto)Outdoor Skillet Pizza with Lamb and Pea PestoA crackling fire set amidst the backdrop of nature is one of the most pleasant and fulfilling ways to cook. There’s a connection between the ingredients, the process, and the finished meal that completely transcends the traditional kitchen.

    One thing you learn quickly when living in Norway is that your home extends beyond a structure’s walls. Your time is shared both under a roof and in the open expanse of the surrounding landscape. Not even bad weather can, nor should, contain an individual to an enclosed space. That’s why every opportunity to explore the outdoors is relished upon. (more…)

  • Beef and Vegetable Stew (Brun Lapskaus)

    Beef and Vegetable Stew (Brun Lapskaus)

    Norwegian Beef and Vegetable Stew (Brun Lapskaus)Lapskaus is simply a Norwegian stew made up of meat and vegetables, with both dark and light versions. Brun “brown” lapskaus is made with beef that is browned first before the other ingredients are added. Some also prepare brun lapskaus with the addition of a brown gravy. Lys “light” lapskaus is typically made with pork, salted or smoked, and cooked in the sauce rather than browned first. (more…)

  • ‘Glitre’ kringle

    ‘Glitre’ kringle

    Glitrekringle (Maj-Lis's Norwegian pastry with raisins and nuts)Glitrekringle (Maj-Lis's Norwegian pastry with raisins and nuts)In the bright of the day, looking toward the bay, the water sparkles as the sun’s rays reflect off the waves with an intense luster creating an almost magical atmosphere.  This reoccurring picture and likening to glitter is what gave inspiration for the name of a farm in Rollag three generations ago. It would, in recent times, be the inspiration behind the name of the baked good so loved and so often served at this farm, by the hands of Maj-Lis. (more…)