We have just returned from the most relaxing week in Cornwall. Eating out, walking with our dogs, exploring some of our old favourite haunts and dealing with the odd unexpected heavy downpour of rain. You can always rely on very varied weather in the west country. On the days where we stayed at home, we…
scandinavian flavours
Smörgåstårta (Swedish Sandwich Cake)
Swedish Midsummer’s Eve falls on 25th June this year. Midsommar is the purest celebration of the summer solstice, involving flowers in your hair, dancing around a maypole and a never-ending supply of pickled herring, crispbread, beer and aquavit (snaps). As it’s not possible to spend it in Stockholm this summer, we’ll be celebrating in style…
National Sweden Day Cupcakes
Buttery light vanilla cupcakes with a fresh strawberry filling and velvety crème pâtissière, trust me, they’re so irresistible, you won’t be able to stop at one. It’s not strange that the house is full of so many baked goods at the moment, the vast majority of them produced by me. I’m a natural baker, and…
Saffron Spiced Easter Salad
This impressive-looking Easter Salad of Quails Eggs & Hasselback Potatoes with a saffron dressing is actually very easy to make. The rich, velvety dressing can be prepared ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. The rest is really very straight forward with delicious results. Saffron and citrus, the sunshine in all…
Swedish Saffron and Vanilla Buns
It might surprise you to find out that saffron is a very popular spice at Christmas and Easter in Sweden, especially in baked goods. With a glorious splash of honey yellow and a delicious subtle floral yet earthy flavour, it adds a wonderful warmth to these Swedish Saffron and Vanilla Buns. A sweet, enriched yeasted…
Seeded Sourdough Knäckebröd
Knäckebröd or crispbread are widely baked in the Nordic region. Their origins lie in Sweden and Finland where they have been baked in their current form for around 500 years. You may wonder why they have a hole in the middle? Before the invention of the iron stove, baking these crisp flat breads was something…
Speedy Laxpudding (Swedish Salmon Pudding)
This has to be one of the finest examples of Swedish home cooking (husmanskost). This, for me, is nostalgia on a plate; Laxpudding or Salmon Pudding is a meal that is a wonderful way of using up leftovers, however that doesn’t mean it needs to be relegated to the status of a mere mid-week supper. …
Festive Saffron & Cinnamon Bread Star
This Saffron and Cinnamon Bread Star is a stunning centrepiece that’s so pretty nobody will want to be the first to cut into it. Enriched, soft, golden saffron dough layered with sweet cinnamon scented butter and folded into a festive star shape. It’s so, so good. This certainly is sometimes a little different to serve…
Kroppkakor (Swedish Potato Dumplings)
Ask two people from different parts of Sweden, how to make kroppkakor (potato dumplings), more than likely they won’t agree, however what they will agree on is that you must make them. Originating on the Baltic island of Öland, inland to rustic Smaland, kroppkakor always consist of mashed potato, with the addition of flour and…
Classic Swedish Pickled Gherkins (Västeråsgurkor)
Pickles were always part of our meals at home, breakfast and lunch especially. There are several ways of pickling cucumber, however this is one of the most popular in Sweden, as it has a nice balance of sweetness, vinegar and salt. Delicious on open sandwiches, with meat, pate and fish. They also work well as…
