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Gingerbread Cookies

huntfortheverybest — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:59:20 +0000

At the Scandinavian Christmas fair, I bought a book, Swedish Cakes and Cookies translated by Melody Favish. The book was highly recommended by the older Scandinavian women there. I chose a seasonal cookie to make out of the book–Grandmother’s Gingerbread. First, it requires making a spicey-smelling syrup on the stovetop.

The recipe yields 100 cookies, so it’s no surprise that it calls for over eight cups of flour.

Once the syrup and the dry ingredients are mixed, the dough has to set for 72 hours. Yes, you read that right. Three days. I put mine in a huge bowl that belonged to my great-grandmother and wrapped it tightly in plastic wrap.

Once the cookies bake, don’t eat them right away. Let them cool and put them in tins. Once they harden, they are a yummy gingerbread.

Pourhouse Potatoes (and Cocktails)

degan — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:18:45 +0000

Despite being there on opening night (and many nights since), it never really occurred to me to write about a relatively new favorite haunt of mine, Gastown’s Pourhouse, because let’s face it, a place redolent of cocktail culture and comfort food – as good as it is – wouldn’t normally garner much space on an ethnic food blog. But I did have biksemad there for the first time and as I’ve recently had it again, I wanted to share it with you.

Biksemad is basically a leftover Scandinavian hash, often made with fried eggs and bacon. Good for breakfast, the Pourhouse version made with potatoes, ham, pickled beet and quail’s egg is salty and hearty and also good very late at night when you’ve had one too many Gold Fashioneds.

Since we’re on the subject, please allow me to comment briefly on the superb cocktail culture at work here. Manned by proprietor Jay Jones, formerly of Voya, the bar program at this beautiful space is booze-forward, balanced and happy-making. There are only six cocktails listed on the postcard-sized menu (of which the maple and bourbon Gold Fashioned is one), but talented barkeeps will make you pretty much anything you want, to your taste. I’ve not once been disappointed, but if you need some direction, they do amazing things with whiskey and make a mean Pisco sour.

And then after you’re done plying yourself with alcohol, get an order of biksemad (or a sloppy joe if that’s more your style) to soak it all up.

Kubb

globalplay — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:03:43 +0000

Another game that I discovered on my Scandinavian excursion is Kubb (pronounced “Koob”). It’s a great backyard game of Swedish origin (however, there is also an argument out there for it being of French origin). What I can tell you is that I saw this game in every sporting goods store I went to from Finland to Sweden to Denmark. In fact, when I visited a sports academy in Tempere, Finland called Varala, my new friend Upi explained a game in which one throws sticks at blocks of wood and called it something clever in Finnish that I have no idea as to what he meant. Once I left Upi, I soon discovered exactly what he was talking about. I then saw it in Denmark at the Gerlev Legepark (Viking game park – way cool!).When I came home, I promptly scoured the internet and ordered this totally addictive game.

Internet research led me to discover that there are Kubb tournaments in several parts of the U.S., particularly the midwest. I think that this game is great for the backyard, the beach, family picnics, schools, in the snow, recreation organizations and for old and young alike! I hope you discover it and get creative – have a Kubb party!

Kubb is a simply crafted wooden game that can be played with two or more players. Five wooden blocks are set up on a line several inches apart and five other blocks are set up directly across about 10yards or so away. In the middle is a larger block carved to look like a king. Players stand behind a line of kubbs (wooden blocks) and underhand toss six “sticks” one at a time in an attempt to knock down the other team’s kubbs. The stick must travel in the air and turn end-over-end (as opposed to rolling it across the ground). The version that I like to play calls for each block that is knocked over on your own side to be tossed across the midline of the “field” and placed upright just where it landed. Then you must knock each of those over before attempting to knock over the five on the endline. The team that successfully knocks down all of the other team’s kubbs can than go for the king. Once the king is knocked over, the game is over. If the king is knocked over prematurely, that team loses automatically. Here is a great Youtube video for you to watch to better learn about Kubb. Get up, Get out and Play!

EVEL KNIEVEL,WRINKLES AND A SUPRISE BABY

blankascanvas — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:47:37 +0000

How To Spot A Millionaire

How To Spot A Millionairre

BRITAIN FACES 4 INCHES OF SNOW Daytime temperatures are predicted to plummet below freezing today with sub-zero conditions lasting into the weekend.Biting winds will make it seem even colder in many places. Forecaster Jonathan Powell, from Positive Weather Solutions, said overnight temperatures could feel more like minus 10C in some areas.He said: “Scandinavian air will push across Britain, bringing some sharp frosts, icy roads, and when coupled with an area of rain, snow flurries too. “To the North, just above freezing by day, but overnight with the wind chill factor added in, it will plummet down to minus 10C(14F).“The South too will not escape, edging just above freezing by day, but well below by night, and with the wind chill factor, it will feel more like minus 8C(18F).”The cold snap is caused by a freezing weather system moving across the North Sea from Siberia.Sleet and heavy snow are due to start falling in Yorkshire, Humber, East Midlands and north-east England tomorrow with drivers facing deep snow in the North-east. As the freezing cold front moves south on Friday morning Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire face snow falls of up to four inches.Places as far inland as Birmingham could see below-freezing temperatures on Friday with it barely getting above zero for most of the rest of the country.A spokeswoman for the Met Office said: “This cold weather has originated from Russia. Snow will hit the east of England but the whole country will have freezing and near freezing temperatures. The maximum over Thursday and Friday for a lot of the country will be 2C and overnight that could fall to minus 4C. “The east of the country will see most of the snow, the rest of the country will be near freezing.” The cold snap has brought a flurry of bets on there being a white Christmas. Aberdeen is rated the most likely place to have snow on Christmas Day. For London the odds were 9/2 yesterday.Ladbrokes spokesman Nick Weinberg said: “The falling temperature has seen interest in a white Christmas go through the roof. If the gamble continues we could conceivably offer our shortest ever price in the build-up to the big day.”Met Office chief forecaster Frank Saunders said: “It is still too early to say what it will be like on Christmas Day itself. Eastern parts of England will have the greatest covering but places further west could see a little snow too.”Mr Powell said: “A white Christmas remains a distinct possibility… Somewhere it will snow on Christmas Day.”

Olay rapped over Twiggy’s lying eyes: Advert banned for retouching 60-year-old model

According to the advertisement featuring a smiling Twiggy: ‘Olay is my secret to brighter-looking eyes.’Sadly, for those encouraged to try the same anti-ageing cream as the 60-year-old model, there was also another secret – some hidden help from the airbrush.Today the advert is criticised by watchdogs for giving a false impression of the benefits of Olay Regenerist Definity eye illuminator.

Spot the difference: Twiggy at a fashion awards last year, and as she appears in the Olay advert

Text in the magazine advert said: ‘Because younger-looking eyes never go out of fashion. Olay Definity eye illuminator. Reduces the look of wrinkles and dark circles for brighter, younger-looking eyes.’However, the picture had been airbrushed to soften the wrinkles around Twiggy’s eyes. Critics said they could not believe the image was genuine, particularly when set against other photos of the model.The advertisement triggered more than 700 complaints, led by LibDem MP Jo Swinson, who has called for the banning of airbrushing in advertising.She said: ‘If advertisers think that someone as beautiful as Twiggy needs to be so heavily airbrushed, then what hope is there for the rest of us?

‘Experts have proved airbrushing contributes to a host of problems in women and young girls such as depression and eating disorders.’Today the Advertising Standards Authority says in a ruling: ‘The post-production retouching of this ad, specifically in the eye area, could give consumers a misleading impression of the effect the product could achieve.’However, it added that most older women would understand that Twiggy’s youthful appearance was not solely achieved by using the Olay product.Procter & Gamble, which makes Olay, said the ‘minor retouching’ had been inconsistent with its policies and it had already replaced the image with one with ‘no postproduction work in the eye area’.

Burial cloth found in Jerusalem cave casts doubt on authenticity of Turin Shroud

Archaeologists have discovered the first known burial shroud in Jerusalem from the time of Christ’s crucifixion – and say it casts serious doubt on the claimed authenticity of the Turin Shroud.Ancient shrouds from the period have been found before in the Holy Land, but never in Jerusalem.Researchers say the weave and design of the shroud discovered in a burial cave near Jerusalem’s Old City are completely different to the Turin Shroud.

Discovery: The shrouded body of a man was found in this sealed chamber of a cave in the Hinnom Valley, overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem

Radiocarbon tests and artefacts found in the cave prove almost beyond doubt that it was from the same time of Christ’s death.It was made with a simple two-way weave – not the twill weave used on the Turin Shroud, which textile experts say was introduced more than 1,000 years after Christ lived.And instead of being a single sheet like the famous item in Turin, the Jerusalem shroud is made up of several sections, with a separate piece for the head.Professor Shimon Gibson, the archaeologist who discovered the tomb, said ancient writings and contemporary shrouds from other areas had suggested this design, and the Jerusalem shroud finally provided the physical evidence.

The debate over the Turin Shroud will not go away. Last month a Vatican researcher said she had found the words ‘Jesus Nazarene’ on the shroud, proving it was the linen cloth which was wrapped around Christ’s body.

Tests: DNA analysis of the fibres of the Jerusalem shroud, have revealed it dates back to the time of Christ’s death. Experts say it casts doubt on the authenticity of the Turin Shroud.

Barbara Frale said computer analysis of photographs of the shroud revealed extremely faint words written in Greek, Aramaic and Latin which attested to its authenticity.But the shroud-wrapped body dated to the time of Christ discovered in Jerusalem seems to point in the opposite direction.The shroud was found around the remains of a man in a sealed chamber of a burial cave in the Hinnom Valley overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem by archaeologists from the Hebrew University and the Albright Research Institute, both in Jerusalem.

DNA tests indicated the man had suffered from leprosy and died of tuberculosis.That was probably why his burial cave was sealed – a move that preserved the shroud and even some of the man’s hair for 2,000 years.

Professor Gibson said the Turin Shroud did not fit what was known of burial practices in first-century Palestine – now confirmed by the Jerusalem shroud.’The Turin shroud is a single sheet made with a twill weave.The twill weave is known from this part of the world only from the mediaeval period, so we’re talking about something that’s from the Middle Ages,’ Gibson told the Daily Mail.’But the Jerusalem shroud confirmed another local practice which casts even more doubt on the Turin artefact.’It wasn’t one continuous sheet,’ said Gibson, pointing out the Turin Shroud is a single rectangular sheet measuring about 14ft by 3ft.’What our shroud shows is that the practice of having a separate shroud or wrapping for the body and for the head was common practice.’There was a separate wrapping for the head itself, which was very important because when they brought someone to burial they would place the head wrapping separately on the face in case the person wasn’t actually dead and woke up again, they would be able to blow off the face wrapping and shout for help,’ said Gibson.

Evidence: Archaeologist Shimon Gibson, centre, said tests had revealed the man suffered from leprosy and died from tuberculosis’This did occur quite a lot in antiquity because they didn’t have the medical means we have today.’The idea was that if you enshrouded somebody, you had a separate set of wrappings for the body and a separate set of wrappings for the head,’ he said.Ancient rabbinical writings mention people who woke up, apparently miraculously and lived for years afterwards.It was the custom at the time for the family to visit the tomb after three days to check their relative was indeed dead.Gibson said this was probably the source of the Gospel story about Jesus’s followers visiting his tomb three days after the Crucifixion, when they found it empty.

The Hinnom Valley where the Jerusalem shroud was discovered has long been associated with death. The Gospel of Matthew calls it Akeldama or ‘Field of Blood.’It is dotted with Roman-era burial tombs carved out of caves in the rock face.In ancient times, pagan tribes burned children alive there as offerings to the god Moloch.The ancient Israelites called the valley Gehinnom – the Hebrew for ‘Hell’ – and it was the site where the scapegoat was driven over a cliff on the Day of Atonement in Solomon’s Temple.

Whitehall’s £8m stress ball splurge: Ministers lavish cash on promotional gimmicks

More than £8million of taxpayers’ money is being spent on goods such as cakes, stress balls and Frisbees decorated with government propaganda messages.Only a week after Gordon Brown promised to slash spending on marketing, Whitehall officials have unveiled new contracts for ‘vanity marketing’ projects.The money will go towards buying items such as umbrellas, mouse mats, beanie hats and even food branded with the logos of quangos and Whitehall departments.One company awarded the right to produce branded food specialises in making sticky cupcakes.Ministers and the heads of government-funded agencies will also be able to buy mugs, aprons and balloons decorated with advertising slogans and messages promoting official initiatives.The Tories last night expressed their anger that new contracts have been awarded so soon after the Pre-Budget Report in which everyone earning over £20,000 a year was told they would have to pay more in National Insurance contributions to plug the soaring deficit.Details of the companies selected to provide the branded goods were slipped out on Monday by the Central Office of Information, the government agency that co-ordinates government publicity campaigns.That was exactly a week after Mr Brown promised a ’smarter government’ initiative to cut costs and ‘put the frontline first’.The Prime Minister vowed to halve Whitehall spending on consultancy work, and reduce spending on marketing by a quarter – saving £650million a year in all.

The Government’s total spending on public relations, marketing and advertising reached £540million last year, with Mr Brown spending £202million more than in Tony Blair’s last year in Downing Street.The contracts announced on Monday are worth £8million and run for the next three years.Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Nick Hurd said: ‘Gordon Brown’s cupcake contract will be too much for taxpayers to stomach.’Within a week, his pledge to put the frontline first has been exposed as an utter sham.’It is outrageous that Labour ministers are hiking taxes on hard-working families to pay for this vanity marketing.’Gordon Brown has lost the plot by his spending spree on Government-branded aprons and beanie hats.’A COI spokesman said: ‘COI does not order cupcakes. Our promotional items are practical everyday items that support government conferences and campaigns on important issues such as armed forces recruitment.’The contract is worth around £3million per year. We buy directly from trade sources helping save between 20 and 60 per cent on market rates.’By bringing together marketing spend across government in 2008-9, COI helped save £290million.’

Details of the spending on branded goods come as the National Audit Office today questions Labour’s claims to have made efficiency savings in government.A hard-hitting report by the spending watchdog reveals that as much as 34 per cent of reported savings by the Department for Transport have been ’significantly overstated’.The NAO also says it has ’significant concerns’ over 17 per cent of savings at the Home Office.

Rihanna’s naughty makeover continues with topless GQ covershoot

Rihanna’s raunchy makeover continues, as the pop singer graced a magazine cover in little more than a pair of leather hotpants.Despite her arms being strategically placed, the daring shot of a topless Rihanna doesn’t leave much to the imagination.Rihanna is seen featured on the forthcoming issue of the US edition of GQ magazine as she continues her high-profile publicity campaign for new album Rated R.And it’s clear she is keen to push the boundaries both visually and musically .

Rihanna gets raunchy on the cover of GQ magazine with a topless shot

The singer has worked hard to relaunch her career following the abuse incident she suffered at the hands of ex-boyfriend Chris Brown.And it appears she hasn’t taken inspiration from the pop world’s emerging superstar Lady GaGa.’She has a very bold, fearless image,’ Rihanna told MTV News on the set of her Hard music video.’I have to say, I have so much respect for original artists and artists who aren’t afraid to do what they want to do,’ Rihanna said.That’s what I respect most, so she’s awesome.’

Armed and deadly: Rihanna shows off her weapons of choice

And in tribute to her new heroine, Rihanna wore a GaGa-esque dress with huge spongy spikes for the promo shoot and carried a rifle.

Ex Chris Brown quit Twitter because of his tirade where he accused shops of not stocking his latest albumMeanwhile Rihanna’s shamed ex, Brown, has silenced himself by quitting Twitter following a foul-mouthed tirade against shops not stocking his latest album.Brown – who was convicted of beating then-girlfriend Rihanna earlier this year – deleted his Twitter account after accusing record stores of ‘blackballing’ his latest album Graffiti.”I WANNA THANK MY FANS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT,” Brown said.”I LOVE YALL. GOODBYE!!!!!!!!!!!!” Over the weekend, Brown went on a tirade after he visited a Wal-Mart in Connecticut and didn’t see his album on shelves.’They didn’t even have my album in the back … not on shelves, saw for myself,’ he tweeted.Brown said he then spoke to the manager who had no answers.He wrote: ‘The manager told me that when there are new releases its mandatory to put em on the shelves. BUT NO SIGN OF £GRAFFITI. BS.’Brown reportedly began using Twitter as a way to connect to his fans after he pleaded guilty and was sentenced for beating Rihanna.

So hungry: A rare sighting of Rihanna dressed down as she stepped out for dinner in New York last night

EVEL KNIEVEL’S SON TO DO JUMP THAT ENDED DAD’S CAREER

DAREDEVIL Evel Knievel’s son is to attempt the double-decker bus stunt that ended his father’s career 35 years ago.It is the same model his late father used to try to clear 13 double-deckers in front of 90,000 people at Wembley on May 25, 1975.He crash-landed, breaking his pelvis in front of the horrified crowd and was rushed to hospital on a stretcher, below left.Robbie announced his attempt yesterday, saying: “I can never fill the shoes of my father because he was the greatest daredevil in the world.“I’m looking forward to this. Though my dad’s jump ended with broken bones and a lot of pain, I’m confident he’ll be smiling down on this one.”Promoters are negotiating with Wembley Stadium and Battersea Power Station to stage the event, while construction begins on the rocket that will send Robbie soaring 1,600ft over the buses.The stunt is planned for May 22. Evel died in 2007. aged 69.

Woman gives birth in bathroom as police arrive to arrest her

A woman gave birth in her bathroom moments before police arrived at her Winnipeg home to arrest her, Canadian officials said.

Published: 7:09PM GMT 15 Dec 2009

Police breathed life into the newborn moments after they arrived to arrest the mother on outstanding warrants, officers said on Tuesday.Two street crimes police officers happened to arrive on the bloody bathroom scene on Sunday afternoon, a few seconds after the 32-year-old woman gave birth squatting over a toilet.One of the officers plucked the unresponsive baby boy from the water-filled toilet bowl and began CPR, eventually getting the infant to breathe on its own.Heather Richard, unaware that she was pregnant and startled by the birth of her first child, had gone into the washroom with severe pain in her abdomen.The baby “just fell out,” she told the daily Winnipeg Sun. “I thought it was my intestines, so I’m freaking out.”"But then it’s a little boy,” she said.The boy, weighing five pounds, nine ounces, was taken to hospital in critical condition, having suffered a skull fracture, most likely when his head struck the toilet.Police told AFP the newborn was now in stable condition in hospital and was expected to recover, while the mother would be asked to deal with the theft charges at a later date.”I’m still in shock. I’m not supposed to have kids,” Miss Richard told the Sun, explaining that she had suffered three miscarriages and was told by doctors that she would not be able to conceive.

Tree Man’s branches grow back

An Indonesian man dubbed the “tree man” because of the gnarled warts all over his body has said his condition had worsened again, although he still hopes to recover and find a job.

Dede, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, returned home from hospital in August after six kilos of warts were surgically removed from his body and has been treated as an out-patient since.

“Those (warts) that were removed are growing again and started to reappear after I returned home,” he said, adding that for a time he could go fishing and use a cell phone but now needed assistance again for such activity.An American doctor has previously said the warts were the result of severe Human Pappiloma Virus (HPV) infection, but the disease is not life-threatening. Doctors say his case is thought to be the worst of its type in the world.The Discovery Channel recently made a documentary about Dede’s affliction and his life.Dede, 37, first noticed the warts on his body after cutting his knee as a teenager.Over time, Dede was sacked from his job, deserted by his wife and shunned by neighbours as the horn-like extensions covered much of his body and stopped him working. He has two children.”I’m not desperate but I want to recover,” he added, speaking from his home in the remote West Java village of Tanjung Jaya.An Indonesian doctor said he would have further operations at the end of December or early next year to remove and reduce warts.”We have told him that his disease could not be 100 per cent cured. In the previous operation, we only tried to increase his quality of life,” said Rachmat Dinata, one of a team of doctors treating him at the Hasan Sadikin hospital in Bandung, a city near his village.Dinata said he would need at least two operations every year.For a while, Dede was forced to take part in a circus act in Bandung in order to make ends meet.But after his case received widespread publicity, donations from the public and allowed him to get treatment.government helpHe has also been able to buy some land to grow rice and a second-hand car so his relatives can bring him to hospital.

Todays WTF !!

Who stole Olaf?

Kate Rivett-Taylor — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:11:21 +0000

Who’s that trip trapping over my bridge? Not Olaf.

It can’t be.

Someone stole him.

Olaf is one of the dozen 1.5m wooden trolls that stand guard around the Tararua township of Norsewood – just down the road from us.

Trolls are central characters in many Scandinavian legends – their presence in Norsewood celebrates its heritage as a settling place for Scandinavian migrants in the 19th century (also the reason behind Dannevirke’s viking promotions). Apparently, according to something I just read, Swedish and Norwegian trolls are friendly and not as scary and belligerent as Danish trolls. Oh, well that had worried me.

This photo has been borrowed from the Stonepress website www.troll.co.nz

The cover for the book The Troll's New Jersey of which we have a copy!

Olaf (the wooden one, not the real one that’s in the book, of course) can usually be found guarding the entrance to town on the Thor St bridge, near State Highway 2. But on Saturday morning he was no longer there.

There is a reward for his return.

Maybe he’s thumbed a lift to Dannevirke’s Fantasy Cave.

Time for Christmas!

vintagejenta — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:52:41 +0000

Yesterday was Santa Lucia’s Day, which in the Scandinavian countries means a celebration of light, complete parades at dawn and 6 am breakfasts of saffron buns and coffee or hot chocolate. I didn’t celebrate it, mostly because I was at the boy’s parents and had laundry to do, but also because I’m away from the people I’ve always celebrated those traditions with. I didn’t think I would miss the Scandinavian culture I was so immersed in back home, but the thought of not celebrating Tjuegondedag Knut on January 13th, complete with music (played by me on fiddle and Ron the accordionist, mostly), singing and dancing, and the best damn split pea soup ever, not to mention oodles of old lady-baked Scandinavian Christmas goodies. I missed Santa Lucia’s Day, too, in the beautiful church with the great acoustics and all the little girls and boys dressed up in white robes with tinsel crowns and electric candles (girls) and paper and tinfoil star wands and hats (boys) and the young girl who gets chosen to be Lucia (usually the oldest girl who shows up – I got usurped in my glory as the youngest Lucia ever at the tender age of 13 by an even more tender 9 year old a few years ago during a snow storm) dressed in the white dress (not a choir robe like the others), crown of electric lights and fake greens, and the wide red ribbon sash. It’s a pretty little ceremony and of course, there’s always good food afterwards.

And I miss it! I didn’t think I would. It’s a little strange, being so disconnected from back home this year. I wish I could carry on the tradition here in my new home, but I don’t know enough people yet, and they just don’t share my Scandinavian background. So, I’m trying to make new traditions.

We have a fake tree now, but this week the boy and I are going to buy Christmas greens (and maybe a little floral foam and floral tape) to fill some lovely vintage glass containers/vases I’ve got. I love the smell of cedar and pine, but when you’ve got carpeting and no real vacuum cleaner (just a carpet sweeper) pine needles everywhere would be a real nightmare!

I’m going to buy some oranges when we go grocery shopping tonight. I need at least one pomander (I’ve already got whole cloves) and I’d like to make some candied orange peel. I’d like to get some grapefruit, too, and try my hand at grapefruit curd (since lemon curd was so darn easy!). I bought a few vanilla beans (read: 2 – those buggers are expensive!) at the coop up north, so I want to try and make pastry cream, but won’t until I have something to fill it with! I also got a few whole spices – cinnamon sticks, star anise, black peppercorns, rosehips – that I might simmer into a hot drink, or make flavored olive oil for the boy to dip bread in (he swears he could live off of french bread and pepper olive oil).

Today I am going to bake cranberry upside down cake. I found it on Kitchen Illiterate’s blog. She adapted it from Dorie Greenspan, who’s cookbook on baking I find I really must have! Lovely stuff, over there, at Kitchen Illiterate. Unpretentious, but unusual flavors.

I was supposed to work today, but icy roads, hills, front wheel drive, and being blocked out of your only non-hilly exit by another car prevented that. Luckily, I have very flexible hours, as the museum is closed for the season. Hopefully things will be less icy tomorrow. I think they will, it’s getting pretty melty out.

So, baking, Christmas greens, what else is a new tradition? Well, I’d like to have a Christmas party, which I may very well be hosting on Saturday, and possibly Sunday as well! Another tradition is cleaning. I’ve been cleaning my buns off (I wish) to “get my house in order.” This is why I like having guests – they force you to clean your house! The kitchen and bathroom are now nearly spotless and just require a bit of reorganizing. The bedroom and living room still need a bit of work, but I’m confident that by the time Saturday rolls around, all will be finished! I’m even going to force myself to get up and showered early every day that I don’t work this week.

A lot of people like to clean in the spring, but I kind of like cleaning around Christmas and the solstice. There’s always a lot going on around Christmas and making your house pretty for the festivities makes cleaning seem like less of a chore. Besides, as a student, spring was always the busiest time of year! No way did I want to mope around cleaning baseboards. It also helps having a small place. Despite it’s lack of storage, which makes keeping things picked up and put away a job in and of itself, it’s nice to have only three rooms and a bathroom to clean. I definitely do not want a huge house when we finally get one.

Okay, so, coniferous greens, baking, pomanders, cleaning, I think I’ll add paper snowflakes to that list, that’s always a fun (if slightly messy) project, regardless of how old or young you are. If I have time later in the week, I’m also going to try my hand at a few cookies. It helps to have a clean kitchen when you want to bake or cook – it motivates you! Of course, then you have to clean up afterwards, which is no fun, but still. I’m learning slowly but surely that cleaning everyday in small doses keeps the bigger jobs not so big. But, I have to admit, there is something seriously satisfying in making something messy and dirty clean and neat.

I think I am turning into a ’50s housewife. Well, let me rephrase that, a drug-free, depression-free, socially and politically liberated ’50s housewife. Who’s not desperately miserable, but instead blissfully happy. Well, mostly. *grin*

And now, m’dears, I think the butter might actually be at room temperature. Time to get baking!

No Link Between Brain Cancer and Mobile Phones

techiest — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:40:59 +0000

Since Mobile phones were introduced they were always criticized for being potential cause for many types of cancer mostly brain tumor. Now the recent research by a Scandinavian has claimed that there is at least one form of cancer that is not tied with mobile phone and this is brain cancer knows as brain tumor. But still it should be kept in mind Radiation from mobile phones is harmful and cant much be said till further research. But now the best part is that we at least wont have to worry about brain cancer.

Scandinavian Christmas Fair

huntfortheverybest — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:22:18 +0000

I went to the Scandinavian Christmas Fair in Raleigh, NC today. I enjoyed the Vasa Drängar Swedish Men’s Choir of Atlanta, Scandans folk dancers, and the Lucia procession. There were many booths selling Scandinavian goods. The highlight was the food, my favorite being the creamy, rich and sweet rice pudding.

There were open-faced sandwiches, a delicacy that I remember from the Danish Seamen’s Church in Brooklyn Heights when I lived in NYC. I would go with my Danish friend Ken, who taught me about Danish smørrebrød. Here, I fell in love with liver pate. At today’s festival, there were a few samplings of open-faced sandwiches.

One included gravlax.

There was also an array of food products–from Finnish limpa bread

to cloudberry and lingonberry jams

to licorice and Swedish fish

to crispbread.

I got some baked goods for the road:

almond cake, almond cookies and saffron buns. The saffron buns (lussekatter) are traditionally served on St. Lucia Day (December 13) in Sweden. They are “S”-shaped and contain saffron and raisins.

Nordic Diet Found To Be A Healthier Choice

Marie-Louise Avery — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:23:20 +0000

In the past 20 years, the Mediterranean diet has been a top choice among body conscious people. But while this diet may have benefitted a lot of people, scientists have found a new and healthier diet. The Nordic diet is the latest eating plan that could surpass the benefits provided by the famous Mediterranean diet that uses olive oil, vegetables, unrefined cereals, fish, nuts and citrus fruit.

The Nordic diet features the Scandinavian rapeseed oil, elk and berries specifically cloudberries and cowberries (lingonberries). For this new diet, University of Copenhagen scientists launched a project to identify and test other products in Scandinavia that could be used in the diet plan. The research is in response to the rising number of obese people and illnesses linked to unhealthy diets in the region such as cardiovascular disease, some types of cancer and obesity.

Traditional Nordic diets are rich in protein as it makes use of fish particularly trout, cod, salmon and herring. Fish is high in omega-3 fatty acids.

A research from Norway’s University of Agder also confirmed that native berries that can be found in the northern part of Europe notably cowberries, blueberries and cloudberries contain the same omega-3 fatty acid. The berries are high in antioxidants which can help the body fight stroke, heart disease and cancer.
Additionally, rapeseed oil has the same ingredient and contains vitamin E as well. This type of oil is considered a good substitute for olive oil.

Lead researcher of the new Nordic diet project, Professor Arne Astrup who’s also the president of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, added that meat from animals such as elk and reindeer and birds like the grouse, are also a healthier option compared to the livestock.

U.K. expert nutritionists look forward to this new discovery believing that the climate in Great Britain is more suitable in producing foods available in Scandinavia. The findings are good news to them since some ingredients used in the Mediterranean diet don’t grow in areas with cold climates.

I always knew I felt fitter in Sweden!

New Scandinavian Love: Sagaform

ravennagirls — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:14:24 +0000

D and I are suckers for Nordic Design. One summer living in Finland, and its hard not to be hooked. With Marimekko, Iittala, and Tonfisk around you and accessible all the time, you become a slave to the clean simple lines of these scandinavian modernists.

Last fall, we trekked to portland for a fall weekend and were browsing at the new location for one of our fave shops, Relish, and stumbled upon this beauty.

Cruet Set

First question was, who makes this? This is so pretty! Answer: Sagaform. A new Swedish company with a full line of completely beautiful housewares. Go here to view their complete 2009 and holiday catalog.

D bought a set to give as a wedding present, and since then i’ve been seeing their products EVERYWHERE and it seems that everything is just as lovely as the last. I waas poking around RareDevice Last week and they have this beautiful Carafe:

Pretty on a bedside table

and this pretty oven-to-table bowl:

Modern Casseroles - yum!

and THEN.

today. . .

this (via the Design*Sponge $25 and under gift guide) and these

Wonderful Scandinavian Heaven. D is a vintage Arabia collector, but those can be tough to find and this is the contemporary version, just as pretty as all the vintage pieces. LOVE!

Vintage Arabia. Via NestledIn - one of our fave Finnish blogs

More of their products that i am loving are:

Simple lovely wine decanter

this cute and simple tealight

festive serving bowls (that pink is so cute!)

and this herb pot. what a great gift for a kitchen gardener.

There is a pretty full range of products at ShopStyle. I’m actually pretty sad i’m done Christmas Shopping because i think there is something here for everyone. Serious drool. Looks like they are even selling at places like Bed, Bath, & Beyond. Crazy.

[btw - the whole shop @ Huset is chocked-full with reasonably priced scandinavian goodies. Check it out if you have holiday shopping left!]

Pretzels

Elly — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:30:16 +0000

I love pretzels of all kinds (bread-y ones, crispy ones, OK, I like both kinds of pretzels) and was keen to make some more savoury snacks for our blog-day party. I bought ‘Scandinavian Cooking’ by Beryl Frank, (published by Evans Brothers, 1978) recently but have yet to cook anything from it – the bread section looks particularly good and I had high hopes for these based on the illustration.

Notes

These were a lot of work – I had to calculate how long it would take me to make them, what with all the rising.
I was very confused by the direction that the dough should be left in the fridge to rise. Shorely yeast needs heat to rise? Anyway, I don’t cook with yeast very often and on the occasions (two) when I a) have and b)have gone un peu off-recipe, it has always been a disaster. So I decided to follow all instructions absolutely and completely.
The dough did not appear to be rising much throughout the process but I carried on, blindly!

Results

They didn’t rise. They puffed up a bit in the heat but basically, they were just slightly salted pastry-like biscuits. Pleasant but boring and not worth the time and effort at all. I will have another go at these in future and let them rise at room temp and see if this is more successful. For shame, Scandinavian Cookery, don’t let me down when 13th December rolls around and I have a go at St Lucia’s bread!

Pretzeled by Elly

Café en Malmö

cachivachevintage — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:22:42 +0000

Café, café humeante en Malmö.

Siempre con vistas al puerto en las tardes de invierno.

La jarra de café ha perdido su tapa pero no su elegancia sueca.

____________________________

Jarra café scandinavian style / 18 eur + portes / Vendida

A herd of Julbocken!

dragonflystew — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:59:25 +0000

Flock of Bocken (OK, herd, but flock sounded better)

About a year ago, I read about these Scandinavian julbocken (the plural form of julbock) and immediately wanted one. Never having seen one here in Canada though, I didn’t think it would happen.

Then, a few days ago I walked into IKEA … and stumbled upon an entire crate of them – and, like most things IKEA, the price was right. I immediately bought two as they’ll make great Winter Solstice decorations. And yesterday I went back for more!

I’m only keeping two of them though; one, I picked up for someone at work and another will also be going to work with me but won’t be coming home again. You’ll just have to check back to hear why, which I’ll explain it sometime soon …

Anyway, here’s what they’re all about:

The Yule Goat is one of the oldest Scandinavian and northern European Yule traditions and is a customary decoration or gift in Scandinavian homes.

In Sweden it is known as a Julbock, in Norway, a Julebukk (Yule Buck) and in Finland, an Olkipukki (Straw Buck). They are made from braided straw and wheat ears and are bound with red ribbons.

The Yule Goat derives from the ancient Norse legend of Thor/Odin/Ukko, the God of Thunder, who rode across wintry skies in a chariot drawn by two goats.

In earlier times the Yule Goat was burned as a sacrifice to Thor. In more recent times, a popular prank was to place the Yule Goat in a neighbor’s house without them noticing; the family successfully pranked had to get rid of it in the same way. Nowadays the purely decorative Julbock/Olkipukki is often placed near gifts to protect them.

… and that’s all well and good but I just love the way they look! Especially all four of them together. Hmmm.

Freitag.

kitschvictim — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:28:20 +0000

Bei frühlingshaften Temperaturen wirken die in die Wohnungen eingezogenen Weihnachtssterne irgendwie fehl am Platz.
Post aus Schweden mit einem meiner Lieblings-Prints lässt mein Herz höher schlagen und versüsst mir das Wochenende.

Room rescue: Sitting in Sweden

katiehodgkiss — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:13:04 +0000

Welcome to this week’s room rescue!

The room pictured below was sent in by Lisa Turner, who wants to redecorate the lounge in her Warwickshire home. Her ideal design is a “Swedish style with a dash of Designers Guild. I’d like to be very modern, with wall lights and no television please! The brick fireplace takes up three-quarters of the left wall so the problem is arranging seating around this focal point.”

Image credit: The Telegraph

After viewing the many designs offered by our mydeco community members, Lisa selected the one below, created using the mydeco 3D tool by community member Turquoiseshell

Lisa said: “This design has a very modern Scandinavian theme, and looks bright, making good use of the space. The global lighting over the fireplace is very different and something I would definitely like to use. The sleigh benches look a little uncomfortable though.”

Quite right Lisa, we love the originality of this design, although perhaps it’s a little more Eastern than Scandinavian in style? The sleigh benches could be comfortable given the right cushions, and let’s not forget there’s plenty of room to snuggle up on that fantastic sofa! Good choice, Turquoiseshell.

Unfortunately, mydeco design board member Kelly Hoppen was not quite as enthusiastic:

Image credit: The Telegraph

“I really do not like this design. Why would you use turquoise when you are working with the brick work?! I would have added a dark wood floor and darkened the beams to match. If the fireplace is to be made a feature of then a roaring fire would be a must. Palette wise a rich cream, terracotta and complimentary natural tones would look beautiful. The furniture looks wrong in the room. It looks like the designer has tried to recreate a Majorcan villa in an English country house! No, no, no.”

Well Kelly might be the expert, but I’m sure most of you will agree that style is a matter of personal taste, and Turquoiseshell has been very considerate of Lisa’s specifications when creating this room.

Coming in a very close second was the design offered by 3rd floor (pictured below).

Lisa said: “The reason I chose 3rd floor as second was the use of 3 table lights around the sofas as it really draws your eye around the room, and i like the bench in front of the fire-place which I will definitely copy.”

Well it sounds like Lisa has found plenty of inspiration to redecorate her living room, and we wish her the best of luck!

Turquoiseshell’s winning design will be featured in the Telegraph tomorrow.

Think you can do better? Put your design skills to the test and redesign next week’s room. Or to enter a room in your house for a redesign, email a high resolution photograph to roomrescue@mydeco.com.

sweet somnolence

mconrsullivan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:25:28 +0000

on this rainy, dreary morning, a beautiful cover that is sure to be stuck in my head all day.

Scandinavians dominate my playlists, especially the Swedes.

i love a good tripp trapp contest

hannahcloud — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:03:53 +0000

The toy store magic beans is giving away a Stokke Tripp Trapp chair. My bros and I had these in red growing up, now Tex and Theo share a more sedate walnut hued chair, and maybe, if I win this, they’ll both have their own. . . You should enter too, if you have a Tripp Trapp size child or friend with one.

if i had a daughter she would own these pants.

hannahcloud — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:37:44 +0000

They are available from huset an online store packed with modern Scandinavian goodies.

I think, with boys, I am disinclined to spend more than $5 ($1.99 is really more my scene. . .) on their clothing because really, a t from Savers or Target can be as cute the $60 Oilily or Boden equivalent, but the girly clothing– oh drool. I think I would be much more likely to break the bank if I had someone to dress in tunics and leggings and fabulous boots. Lucky for John, I don’t.

Also, loving this decal height chart available in multiple colors:

and this guitar is giving me some crafting ideas:

A Red and White Christmas

tialys — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:27:05 +0000

Fat and Fabulous Christmas Tree Ornaments

I used to be a bit sniffy about people who said they were having a colour theme at Christmas. I couldn’t understand why you would want to be all silver, or all white, or plaid when there are so many lovely colors around and, let’s face it, Christmas is about the only time when people forgive you if you have a complete lapse of taste and buy really tacky things like candles in the shape of angels or lamps in the shape of Father Christmas (yes, yes, I have both).

Some of my Christmas decorations have been around for almost as long as I have (definitely vintage). I have some very old glass tree decorations which I remember buying in Amsterdam about 25 years ago and, every year, out they come and go on the tree. Some were given to me as gifts and some were made by my children at school (I must admit that, 10 years on, these do go a little further to the back of the tree each year - there’s a limit to how long painted dough will last). They are all shapes, colours and sizes and I couldn’t possibly not put them on the tree just because they didn’t fit in with my colour scheme of the year.

HOWEVER! Having said all that, I usually have a sort of theme going on in the rest of the house and can usually manage to arrange the tree ornaments so the ones that are nearest in colour to the prevailing theme are more prominent.

This year, because of what I have been making, my theme is going to have to be slightly Scandinavian, and mostly red and white which is lovely. Push the gold, green and yellow baubles to the back of the tree somebody - maybe next year.

24. Hypothermia - Arnaldur Indriðasson

megandmog — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:40:25 +0000

Finished 4 Nov 09

Recipe: Sandbakkels

sugarmamabakingco — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:44:59 +0000

What? There are MORE Scandinavian Holiday Cookies with wacky names? If you haven’t already rea

Viking Apron Gown in Green & Red by Caverna Obscura

cavernaobscura — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:13:38 +0000

Today’s new releases are another 2 colours of last week’s Viking Apron Gown, this time it’s green and red. The red version is probably somewhat less authentic as red is concidered to be more common for Danelaw in Xth century, while blue and green were supposed to be worn in Scandinavia.

Viking Apron Gown in Green by Caverna Obscura

Viking Apron Gown in Red by Caverna Obscura

The set includes: loose top with all 3 layers in one (Shirt layer), glitchpants, flexi 3-layered skirt with decorated sculpted belt with a drinking horn in a horn holder, leather bag, linnen pouch, sheathed knife, keyring with 3 keys; prim fibula decorated with authentic Viking motives & tortoise oval brooches linked together with metal and glass beads + sculpted Thor’s Hammer (worn on Chest altogether); sculpted hooded cloak; sculpted hoodless cloak supposed to be worn together with the hood-up on the head.

Please click on the thumbnails below for more details!