There is an intense ruggedness at this time of year when autumn is holding on tightly before winter sweeps through for good. The sky is more often than not a grey hue with gaps of blue sometimes piercing through. The landscape is subdued, quiet even, as it slowly paces toward the end of another season. The fog comes rolling in with more vigor, covering everything in its path in a billowy embrace. It’s a magical time; a window between the end of one period and the start of a new. (more…)
Tag: hygge
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Lingonberry Cinnamon Sweet Buns (kanelsnurrer med tyttebær)
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Pinnekjøtt Macaroni and Cheese and Winter Slaw
Pinnekjøtt (cured lamb ribs) will be served on many tables this Christmas and New Year’s Eve. When all have had their fair share – belly’s content and smiles abounding – there might even be a couple ribs leftover. And this is when it’s fun to get creative and come up with new ways to serve the leftovers. For me, a family favorite – and indulgent one at that – is homemade macaroni and cheese. Cheesy and creamy, simple and versatile – the perfect balance of pasta and cheese.I’ve had this idea brewing in my head since last year – combining these two traditional meals into one glorious hot casserole of macaroni, cheese, and shredded pinnekjøtt. While this recipe is about bringing two traditional dishes together, and may even appear a bit un-Norwegian, macaroni has been a Norwegian favorite for quite some time. (more…)
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Mollas Bakeri – Rollag, Norway
I woke up feeling a little bit more Norwegian today. Almost as if I had woken up wearing a pair of skis. It’s that kind of a feeling. A rush, a flutter of excitement, a step closer to my fellow nordman. And all because of lefse. Yes, that laborious, understated flatbread that easily reigns as Norway’s national bread.
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Cardamom Hot Chocolate (Varm Sjokolade med Kardemomme)
There’s nothing quite like a cup of hot chocolate to warm you up in the cold of winter. There’s a certain decadence to it, and I like mine served alongside anything baked. And that’s when it hit me. Maybe I can have the best of both worlds in one cup.
Norwegian baking and cardamom go together like bricks and mortar. Sugar & cream. Salt & pepper. Knives & forks…. I digress…. But in all honesty, the two are concurrent with each another. Where there is boller (buns), there is cardamom. And when you enter into any bakery in Norway, you will be welcomed in by that sweet, aromatic scent.
And so I thought, if I can’t have my boller and my hot chocolate, why can’t I have my hot chocolate inspired by boller. A creamy, subtly rich & flavorful cup of cocoa which will satisfy all on its own. So here it is, one of my favorite versions to warm up any cold winter’s day or night.