Tag: liquor

  • Aquavit, Orange, and Juniper Cocktail (Akevitt-cocktail med appelsin og einer)

    Aquavit, Orange, and Juniper Cocktail (Akevitt-cocktail med appelsin og einer)

    Aquavit, Orange and Juniper Cocktail (Akevitt-cocktail med appelsin og einer) Aquavit, Orange and Juniper Cocktail (Akevitt-cocktail med appelsin og einer)As a follow up to my previous recipe post, Whole Wheat Dark Chocolate and Candied Orange Peel Braided Swirl Bun, I’m sharing this simple and refreshing cocktail that I like to make when I have leftover orange syrup (from all those candied orange peels) around. I especially find this to be a great drink to serve during påske (Easter), right after a good, long trek in the brisk mountain air.

    I use a local aquavit called Fjellvitt Akevitt “white mountain aquavit”  that has a rich characteristic of caraway and other spices, and just a hint of sherry. The orange adds a nice sweetness and the juniper berries offer a subtle earthiness. To me, this drink captures the essence of the hytte (cabin) lifestyle and can easily be made indoors or outdoors. If snow and ice are still gracing the landscape, then pack your bag with some empty cups, a flask, a small jar of the syrup, and instead of ice cubes, use what nature readily provides. (more…)

  • Aquavit-Cured Venison with Pickled Bilberries (Gravet hjort med sylteblåbær)

    Aquavit-Cured Venison with Pickled Bilberries (Gravet hjort med sylteblåbær)

    Aquavit-Cured Deer with Pickled Bilberries (Gravet hjort med sylteblåbær) Aquavit-Cured Deer with Pickled Bilberries (Gravet hjort med sylteblåbær)Norway has a long tradition of curing – graving – both fish and meat in order to conserve them. While cured salmon (gravlax / gravlaks) may be more well-known, the same technique can, and is, applied to meats. Curing the meat provides a distinct flavor and smooth texture, which today is seen as being quite exclusive. Yet, it’s simple to make at home. (more…)

  • Rice Porridge Ice Cream (Risengrynsgrøt Iskrem)

    Rice Porridge Ice Cream (Risengrynsgrøt Iskrem)

    Rice Porridge Ice Cream (Risengrynsgrøt Iskrem)Rice Porridge Ice Cream (Risengrynsgrøt Iskrem)2016 has been an extraordinary year, to say the least. This past January, I launched the blog to bring people into the Norwegian kitchen, the Norwegian landscape and the Norwegian culture. A reflection of my journey. My interactions with the community around me. My take on local ingredients. The seasons came and went. Spring’s nettles, ferns and rhubarb, summer’s berries, autumns’s harvest and winter’s cakes and hearty fare. Here we are, coming full circle once again.

    As 2017 draws near, I look back with such awe of all that has transpired and all that I have experienced and been a part of. All of the recipes. All of the stories. All of the people. All of the traditions and all of the innovations. All the highs. So many highs.  (more…)

  • Old Fashioned Pepperkaker (Norwegian Gingerbread Cookies)

    Old Fashioned Pepperkaker (Norwegian Gingerbread Cookies)

    Old Fashioned Pepperkaker (Norwegian Gingerbread)Arguably, the most aromatic and popular Christmas cookies in Norway are Pepperkaker. They stand out among all the other traditional cookies with their fragrant presence, crispy and inviting texture, and ability to transform into whatever shape or design or role the beholder so wishes.

    Pepperkaker is more than just another cookie on the table. It’s a transformative dough of make-believe where dreams of candy houses and whole cities are an annual tradition, stories of runaway gingerbread men come to life, and windows and trees become a canvas for warm greetings and decorations.

    Old Fashioned Pepperkaker (Norwegian Gingerbread)Old Fashioned Pepperkaker (Norwegian Gingerbread) (more…)

  • Fattigmann (Poor Man Cookies)

    Fattigmann (Poor Man Cookies)

    Fattigmann (Norwegian Poor Man Cookies)The farm has become a blanket of white, with only the contrast of branches and jetting rock to add depth and structure. It’s tranquil and all encompassing.

    With the holidays fast approaching and the weather conveniently allowing for more time indoors, baking is on the mind. For centuries, people have gathered around the oven, the stove, the griddle, and the fire to produce baked goods befitting of a celebration. It’s a social event from the moment the ingredients are combined all the way to the last bite. (more…)

  • Aquavit, Raspberry & Cardamom Sorbet (Akevittsorbet)

    Aquavit, Raspberry & Cardamom Sorbet (Akevittsorbet)

    A friend once introduced me to the amazing combination of vodka, lemon and black pepper, frozen together in a state of utmost bliss. Saved for a special occasion, and served in the heart of winter. Something about fire and ice. Opposites.

    Here in Norway, we have firewater. Aquavit (akevitt), that is. Golden or as clear as crystal and as hot on the throat as lava. There’s a saying that goes:

    Drik min ven, men drik med maade;

    drik, men lad fornuften raade.

    Drink, my friend, but drink with moderations;

    drink, but let good judgement rule.∗

    Aquavit, Raspberry and Cardamon Sorbet (more…)