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Very soon we are having Easter here in Sweden. March 29 is the first day of Easter week. First holiday is Friday, that week, Långfredag and ends with Monday, Annandag påsk. The next couple of weeks are going to be very busy for us. We are having our spring breaks plus getting ready for the Easter holiday. We will be having a short blogging break but will be back on April 8th. Until then please enjoy the photos of easter in Stockholm.
~A Look Back~
While we are on spring break I thought I would share with you a look from my travel journal. Last September I made a big trip to Sweden and had a great time. Come and have a look at the most fabulous way to have coffee.
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Greetings friends. Sorry to leave you for a few days without a blog-post. I'm in Sweden ,and the last four days have been a whirlwind. Aside from some serious jet lag, I've been spending most of my time catching up with friends. Here in Sweden we have great tradition called a Fika. This is a nice little word which means coffee break. At least once a day, sometimes twice, I meet with friends to share a fantastic cup of coffee and some sweets.
I had such an occasion with my friends the Svangrens, as we visited this beautiful manor house to taken in one of the best Fika's around. I now invite all of you to embrace this tradition.
I want you to stop what you are doing, grab a friend, sit down, have a cup of something and catch up on all of your doings.
I'll be back soon with some more visions of Sweden. Until then, take care.
Just a few days after arriving back from Paris, we had our first day with spring here in Stockholm. It felt so strange as we have had winter since November now and we all thought that we had to wait until May for spring. But today the sun was really warm and all the snow started to melt.
There was water pouring in the streets, snow falling from roofs.
While walking I started to look for the first spring flowers, but realized very soon that it is much too early, it is just the spring feeling that makes you think that way.
But it will be snow here for a long time as we have had so much snow this winter, but in a month or so we will see the first spring flowers and will not see any snow at all.
By Per Svangren
Last week, me, my wife, and my youngest daughter went to Paris for a long weekend. First of all I had a couple of things to do and second we wanted to feel a little bit of spring.
We have had the longest, snowiest, and coldest winter for a very, very long time here in Sweden and we really felt the need for some sort of spring. So two hours south by plane and we landed in Paris, the train into the city center and there we were, in snow free streets and in a temperature at 5-10 degrees Celcius. So lovely. The very first thing we did, was stopping at a café and had an expresso outdoors. How lovely.
The rest of the days, we walked around the city, felt the non icy air, saw green grass and just felt spring. So we walked and saw attractions like the Eiffel tower, Mont Martre, Mona Lisa, Les Halles and so on. And of course French breakfast, French three course lunch and in the evenings, lovely long dinners together with French wine.
So back in Sweden again with a feeling of that we soon will also have spring here.......I hope.
Following the ski trail.....
we find people walking unintentionally in a line.
Some fine a solitary moment.
Some walk way, way, out.....almost to the other side.
And what's this? What do you see boy?
Yea!!!!! hot dogs, Korv, hurry hurry....let's go quickly.
Eating our hotdogs we watch the others, still walking in a line.
But all the while, all of them, all of us, are walking on the sea.
I love to watch cooking shows on TV. I can get bored with the same old recipes week in and week out. Even the recipes that are seasonal. I always love the cooking shows with the nice looking chef and beautiful scenery etc.
Last Sunday I was watching TV and the most incredible souffle came up. I had never made a souffle but with Giada's guidance it was a success.
Giada DeLaurentiis is a favorite in this house. Not just with me but the kids too. Give this one a try. I hope it warms your bones. You can use any cheeses that you want. In fact we substitued the cheddar cheese for a cheese blend of mild cheddar,monterey jack, and colby. Enjoy!
Special equipment: a 2-quart (8-cups) souffle dish
Arrange an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 2-quart souffle dish. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan, heat 1/2 stick of butter over medium-low heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture coats the back of a spoon, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the nutmeg and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cheeses, the spinach, chicken, egg yolks, and bread cubes. Stir until combined (mixture will be thick).
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites at high speed until they hold stiff peaks, about 2 minutes. Stir 1/4 of the egg whites into the chicken mixture. Using a spatula, fold in the remaining egg whites. Spoon the batter into the prepared dish and bake until the souffle is puffed and the top is firm and golden, about 55 to 60 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
Here's another glimpse into my Swedish travels in September. Enjoy!
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Upon leaving the Hansgatan Konditori, I found this lovely little shop just across the road called, Acanthus. Here they mix old with new but honestly....I love the old. When I say old I mean really old. The cupboard in the photo was built in the early 1700's. There were many lovely items spanning many centuries. The only draw back is that they wouldn't ship. I got to keep a few more dollars in my pocket but sadly missed my newly found treasures.
Hejsan allihopa! Over the weekend we had a couple of fun things happen. First it was Per's birthday. Grattis På födelsedagen tjena! ( Congratulations on your birthday, friend.)
Second, I received this very lovely comment from Lexie who just happens to be living in Portland, Oregon, engaged to a Guter ( Someone from Gotland), and wants to a know a little more about Sweden and the island. Well Lexie and all of our blog friends, here is a little look from my travel journal from September 2009. Enjoy and I hope this makes you want to come to Sweden.
*************************************************************************************************************************Curious? Finally, after many airline delays and transfers, I made it from Karlskrona Sweden to our hometown of Visby Gotland. I thought I would arrive in the afternoon but when I finally landed it was 10:30 pm . So under the cloak of darkness I found my way up the winding stairs to the tower. You see, Visby was built in the 12th century and is one of the most complete medieval cities in the world. Since I couldn't catch a glimpse of my walled jewel at night, I prepared to get the glimmer of first light. This required that I would have to be a damsel, not one in distress mind you, but a damsel in the tower none the less.
I don't care how many times I do this, it never gets old.
Here is my little tower window.....getting ready to open the curtains....
to see this incredible view.
What is needed now is a morning walk by the wall. Out through the front door, down the street, past the gunpowder tower and next to the sea.
This is always a tradition for me here in Visby. Every morning I walk by the sea around the wall and choose a favorite cafe location.
Today's cafe is the Hansgatan konditori. The front looks like any other cafe. It's when you walk to the back that you realize there is something very special about this place. There you will find the ruins of a 13th century cathedral.
I have many memories of this place. We, my family and I , love to sit in this corner.
Today I am alone, however, enjoying the early morning for myself. I've chosen to sit by a lovely apple tree , who has proven itself to be possessed. Every five seconds it is dropping apples on me. What else can I expect from an apple tree. It's just doing what apple trees are suppose to do I guess. I'll take a few of these home to make some apple sauce.
This mornings fika (coffee time) includes the very famous saffranspankaka. It's a lovely cake like dessert made with rice and saffron,topped with jam and whipped cream. I had to add a latte with that as well.
How could the day not go well when one starts it off like this. :)
