Nordic Life

Celebrating Advent

December 1, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

In the Christian church, Advent is a time to prepare for Christmas. It is celebrated on the four Sundays prior to Christmas and is often marked by lighting a candle, one for each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Day.

Despite the fact that the population of the Scandinavian countries has become more and more secular over time, Advent in Scandinavia remains an important season of celebration. It is a time to bring light and warmth to the darkest days of the year. This might mean lighting candles, or a fire in the fireplace, baking something delicious in a warm, cozy kitchen or drinking glögg in the company of friends and family.

It is ironic that as everything becomes dark, quiet and still in nature at this time of year, we run around like crazy people caught up in the busy-ness of the holiday season. The celebration of Advent creates a little space each week to breathe, to take the focus off of all of the preparations for the Big Day and simply enjoy the here and now. How might you bring light to this darkest time of the year? Maybe you begin a tradition of hosting an annual glögg party. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy…..bake a batch of gingersnaps to pair with some homemade glögg and invite a few friends over. Keep it low-key and casual and simply enjoy one another’s company.

Or maybe each Sunday in Advent becomes an opportunity to slow down and take some much-needed time just for you. Take a nap or a long, hot bath. Go for a winter’s walk, bundled up and cozy. Make a big pot of homemade soup. Or simply be like the trees outside, hushed and still, in a comfy chair in your living room (candles, a good book and a steaming cup of glögg might be nice here, too). Take some time to craft a Sunday Advent ritual that nurtures and restores your weary December soul.

I invite you to make the Advent season yours, to set the Christmas shopping, card writing and present wrapping aside for awhile each Sunday and simply enjoy the coziness of this time of year.

How to Host a Glögg Party

November 29, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

It’s nearly December. The days are short and the air is chilly and damp. We need something cheerful and warm to counteract the cold and lift our spirits. Why not invite friends over for a cozy afternoon of Swedish Glögg (spiced mulled wine) and some tasty Scandinavian treats?

Hosting a glögg party is very common during the month of December in Scandinavia. So common, in fact, that you may need to make appearances at several parties on any given Saturday or Sunday. Perhaps this is why glögg is best served in small cups.

Ready to host your own glögg party? I’ve got an easy and delicious menu to get you started. Just add some festive music, candles, a few evergreen boughs and a handful of good friends. There is perhaps no better way to spend a blustery December afternoon.

Easy Glögg Party Menu

Swedish Glögg

Blue Cheese and Pear Compote Smørrebrød

Potato and Pickled Herring Bites with Remoulade

Swedish Ginger Snaps (Pepparkakor)

Potato Pickled Herring Bites — Blue Cheese and Pear Compote Smørrebrød

Cozy Friday

October 4, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

When I began this blog, I was quite sure that my Mexican food eating days were behind me. Hello boiled potatoes, salmon and rye bread…goodbye tacos and guacamole. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that many Scandinavians spend their Friday nights getting cozy at home and eating chips and tacos! Known as Fredagsmys in Swedish (Cozy Friday) or Tacofredag in Norwegian (Taco Friday), this unlikely tradition began in the 1990’s with an ad campaign for chips. This genius marketing concept glorified the idea of spending Friday nights at home munching on tacos and hanging out with your friends and family. Cozy Friday quickly became a popular ritual in modern Scandinavian culture and continues its reign as the thing to do on Friday to celebrate the beginning of the weekend.

Tips for Creating Your Own Cozy Friday Ritual

1. Find some delicious, easy taco recipes. I’ll get you started with this one for THE BEST ground beef tacos (it’s important to master the basics after all), but consider branching out from this good old stand-by. There are so many interesting taco recipes out there these days featuring chicken, fish, beans or roasted vegetables in place of the predictable ground meat. Get creative!

2. Chips and dip. Whether it’s salsa, guacamole or something more exotic, you’re going to want something crunchy to munch on while you prepare your tacos.

3. Beverages. Whatever your festive beverage of choice might be. I am a beer and tacos kind of girl but also love a good margarita now and then.

4. Convince your people to stay home with you. You don’t need to ask this homebody to spend Friday night in. But here in the U.S., we are more likely to go out for a bite to eat on Friday nights that our Scandinavian counterparts. Make Cozy Friday a festive occasion, a reason to stay home in and of itself.

5. Find something fun to watch. Scandinavians typically gather around the television and watch something together as they munch on their tacos. Find a movie or show that everyone can agree on (sometimes this is the hardest part) and snuggle in for dinner and a show.

The Basics of Hygge

September 5, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

What is Hygge?

By now you are probably familiar with the Danish term hygge (pronounced “hoo-ga”). Hygge is often defined as cosiness here in America, hence its association with things like woolen socks, faux fur blankets and a steaming mug of hot chocolate by a roaring fire. But in truth, hygge is much more than candles and blankets. At its core, hygge is a state of mind, a way of living and being in the world. It is comfort, warmth and belonging, a feeling of being at home. It is presence, an awareness and appreciation for what is right in front of us. It is contentment with what is.

What Hygge is Not.

Hygge can be difficult to define, and I think sometimes it’s easier to understand what it is by understanding what it is not:

Hygge is not about spending money. Hygge is a state of being and therefore free to all. It’s not that having a favorite warm blanket or pair of fuzzy socks can’t help create a feeling of hygge. These cozy everyday comforts may indeed bring you the feelings of contentment and joy that we associate with hygge. BUT, at its core, hygge can’t be bought. You could own all the blankets, socks and candles in the world and still not feel content and at ease.
Hygge does not belong to any particular season of the year. When I hear the word hygge, the first mental picture that pops into my head is of two people clad in warm socks snuggling by the fireplace, snow falling softly outside, warm beverages in hand. While this is arguably a very hyggeligt winter scene, hygge is actually available to us all year round. Hygge is about fully embracing the season that is currently present.
Hygge is not pretentious. The huge house, expensive car, designer clothes, and fancy meals in exclusive restaurants are definitely NOT hyggeligt. Living a hyggeligt life involves a shift in priorities. Time, presence and attention are valued above money and “keeping up with the Joneses”. Living within your means, appreciating the simple things and having time for the people and activities you love are what counts.
Hygge is not a disregard for your wellbeing. Sometimes hygge is associated with overindulgence (think an abundance of tasty baked goods and a lot of lying around by the fire). But I will be the first to tell you that a sedentary lifestyle and a steady diet of cinnamon buns and hot chocolate are not the road to happiness. In reality, hygge is about balance. It’s about making room for celebration and goodness in our lives and treating ourselves well. At any given moment that might mean a brisk walk outside, a nap, a warm cinnamon bun straight from the oven or a steaming bowl of vegetable soup for lunch. Being good to ourselves can take a variety of different forms.

Why Hygge and Why Now?

While the concept of hygge has been a part of Danish culture for hundreds of years, it is a very recent phenomenon here in the United States. Why has it suddenly become so popular? As I see it, there are a few reasons why we are so drawn to hygge at this particular point in time:

We live in a time of great uncertainty, and quite honestly, fear. From politics to personal safety to the state of our planet, everything feels unpredictable and out of our control. The idea that we have the ability to create a refuge of safety and comfort for ourselves and the people we love is enormously compelling and restores a small but very real sense of power over our chaotic lives.
Our lives move very fast, so fast that we often feel as though we are missing something. At a very primal level, we long to slow down, to take it all in, to enjoy our time on this planet in a very human way.
We live in a consumer culture of want. It’s always about what we don’t have. What we need to obtain, acquire, BUY. There is a humble simplicity to hygge, an appreciation for the unpretentious, day-to-day aspects of our lives.

To see hygge as merely a trend or fad is really missing an important point: Deep down we crave comfort and security. We want to slow down and be present to our lives and the people in it. We long to be happy. And who could blame us? Of course we do. Can hygge solve all of our problems? Of course not. But it can improve the quality of our daily lives in very simple, tangible ways.

8 Simple Ways to Bring More Hygge into Your Life

Appreciate the simple things. Let’s face it, our lives are largely comprised of everyday experiences. Yes, there is the occasional BIG day…a wedding, the birth of a child, landing the job of your dreams. But in between there is a lot or daily activity that is quite ordinary. Learning to find gratitude in the everydayness of our lives helps cultivate hygge. An early morning walk with the dog, the first sip of coffee, a simple dinner together at the end of the day are all cause for celebration.
Cultivate small moments of comfort and joy. Pay attention to these simple things that delight you on a micro-level and cultivate more of them. For me, that first sip of coffee in the morning holds an enormous amount of pleasure, far more than it’s simplicity might suggest. I make sure it’s a part of my daily routine and that I’m paying attention to the experience of it while it is happening. There are many opportunities throughout the day to enjoy and acknowledge these small moments, and for each of us they will be different. You may even go so far as to write these small moments down when you notice them, capturing them for future reference.
Anticipate and celebrate the changing seasons of the year. As I mentioned above, hygge knows no particular season BUT it is greatly enhanced by diving deep into whatever season is currently present. This is one of the most powerful ways to cultivate awareness and a sense of alignment with the natural world, both important aspects of hygge. How do you dive deep into the seasonal moment? Be outside in all the seasons (as Scandinavian parents say, “there is no bad weather, just the wrong clothing”). Choose to eat seasonal foods. Entertain seasonally: host a soup party in the fall and a barbecue in the summer. Most importantly, don’t wish it was summer in the middle of January. Instead, find things to love about January (hint: this might be where those cozy blankets and warm beverages come into play). There is something to celebrate about every season of the year if you look closely enough.
Cook and bake from scratch. This is a food blog, after all! I feel strongly about the power of home cooking and baking to heal and transform weary souls in need of comfort and restoration. This applies to both the cook AND those being served. Find simple, seasonal things to make and eat. Make and eat them with people you love. Some foods you prepare might feel more nutritious, while others might feel more indulgent. Know that there is room for both in a hygge kitchen.
Seek out warmth, fire and natural sources of light. In the winter that might mean a fireplace, sauna or that cozy blanket we keep talking about. Summer days bring ample sunshine, and it’s time to be outside whenever we can. Summer evenings call for grilling over an open fire or sitting by a fire pit with friends or family as the nights turn cool. And there is a reason that Danes burn 13 pounds of candle wax per year per person. There is something primal, communal and comforting about warmth, fire and and natural light.
Minimize and simplify. Before I got divorced a few years ago, I had a lot of stuff. Seriously…A LOT. As I began sifting and sorting through my belongings, I found that I really didn’t need or want much of it. And the more I let go of, the better and lighter I felt. There was a time when I had very few possessions at all. That has since balanced out to some extent, but I still believe in the power of minimizing and simplifying. Fewer possessions means less to take care of and more time and attention for the activities and people in my life that matter to me.
Keep things tidy. For me, hygge is easier to cultivate when my house isn’t a mess. There is a general sense of order, ease and relaxation that comes with tidying up and keeping things simple. Take the time to make your space comfortable, functional and free of clutter.
Limit your screen time. It’s hard to be present to your life and the people in it when you are staring at a phone or have the television on all the time. Put the phone down and turn the t.v. off when you aren’t actually watching it. Work periods of time into your day that are screen free.

Walpurgis Night (Valborgsmässoafton)

April 30, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

*Bonfires are the traditional way to celebrate Walpurgis night in Scandinavia*

Walpurgis Night (April 30), is celebrated all over Scandinavia but especially in Sweden and Finland. The holiday is named after Saint Walpurga, a Christian saint known for her healing powers and her ability to repel witchcraft. Great bonfires were traditionally lit in her honor in an effort to ward off witches and evil spirits.

In modern day Sweden, Walpurgis Night is a time to gather around a bonfire to celebrate the arrival of spring with drinking, dancing and singing folk songs. Fortunately for those who overindulge, May 1 is a national holiday (their Labor Day). The celebrating continues into this next day with parades, picnics and other festivities.

In the Swedish university towns of Uppsala and Lund, Walpurgis Night conveniently falls at a time when the students are just about to hunker down and study for final exams. Needless to say, they take this opportunity to let loose even more seriously than the rest of Sweden. The morning begins with a breakfast of champagne and strawberries. The day continues with a huge street party and more champagne, some for drinking, some for shaking up and spraying in celebration.

Thinking of hosting your own celebration of Walpurgis Night this evening? If you have a fire pit in your backyard or live somewhere that permits bonfires you can really celebrate Nordic-style. But for most of us here in the US I’m guessing that’s not an option. Maybe just a stroll around the neighborhood to admire all of the beautiful trees in bloom and then an outdoor toast with a glass of champagne to celebrate the return of warmer weather. Happy spring!

Shall We Fika?

February 28, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

To truly fika requires a commitment to making time for a break in your day, the creation of a magical moment in the midst of the routine and the mundane.

–Fika, Anne Brones and Johanna Kindvall

At its very essence, the Swedish term “fika” (pronounced fee-ka) means to take a break and enjoy a cup of coffee and possibly a delicious baked good to go with it. Fika can be a noun (it’s time for fika) or it can be used as a verb (shall we fika?). But to simply call it a coffee break as we understand that term in English would be missing the point. The tradition of fika runs deep in Sweden. Life in structured to accommodate fika, even in the workplace, and the expectation of a midday opportunity to stop what you are doing and enjoy a cup of coffee and a treat is something that is anticipated and enjoyed as a part of daily life. According to Nordstjernan, The Swedish Newspaper of America, most Swedes fika twice a day for an average of 52 minutes in total.

Fika is not something you do in front of a computer screen or as you scroll through social media on your phone. It is meant to be a sacred pause in the day, an opportunity to rest and reconnect. If you are enjoying fika in the company of others, consider it a time to relax and engage in face-to-face conversation with your companions. If you are on your own, simply siting and enjoying your break in silence can be a quiet moment of peace and restoration. Or maybe you turn to the company of your journal and a pen or an engaging book. The particulars are entirely up to you…coffee or tea, treat or no treat, alone or with company. What matters most is that you pause, unplug and enjoy a momentary respite from the day.

A New Nordic Kitchen

February 28, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

*Beets are an important part of the Nordic Diet.*

”As Nordic chefs we find that the time has now come for us to create a New Nordic Kitchen, which in virtue of its good taste and special character compares favorable with the standard of the greatest kitchens of the world.”

-New Nordic Kitchen Manifesto

Back in 2004, a group of twelve Scandinavian chefs developed and signed the New Nordic Kitchen Manifesto in an effort to both preserve and advance the unique food culture of the Nordic region. It contains ten major focus points:

The aims of the New Nordic Kitchen are:

1. To express the purity, freshness, simplicity and ethics we wish to associate to our region.

2. To reflect the changes of the seasons in the meals we make.

3. To base our cooking on ingredients and produce whose characteristics are particularly in our climates, landscapes and waters.

4. To combine the demand for good taste with modern knowledge of health and well-being.

5. To promote Nordic products and the variety of Nordic producers – and to spread the word about their underlying cultures.

6. To promote animal welfare and a sound production process in our seas, on our farmland and in the wild.

7. To develop potentially new applications of traditional Nordic food products.

8. To combine the best in Nordic cookery and culinary traditions with impulses from abroad.

9. To combine local self-sufficiency with regional sharing of high-quality products.

10. To join forces with consumer representatives, other cooking craftsmen, agriculture, fishing, food retail and wholesale industries, researchers, teachers, politicians and authorities on this project for the benefit and advantage of everyone in the Nordic countries.

This manifesto not only elevated the restaurant landscape in Scandinavia (think Noma in Denmark or Fäviken in Sweden), it also brought international attention to the fact that a diet rich in Nordic ingredients could be good for you. For many years, the Mediterranean Diet has received countless accolades for its health benefits. But for the many people who don’t live near the Mediterranean, following a diet that is largely based on the local produce of that particular growing region is unrealistic and not an environmentally sound practice. The so-called Nordic Diet provides a cold climate alternative: Still rich in plant-based foods, whole grains and fatty fish, but with more focus on the nutrient dense root vegetables that grow well in the north. So what might one expect to eat in Scandinavia if one were interested in eating local, nutrient-rich foods?

Root vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, mushrooms and hearty greens. Beets, carrots, celery root, parsnips, rutabaga, turnips and potatoes are among the common varieties of root vegetables and tubers grown in the northern regions. You will also find brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli. Cabbage is plentiful as are dark leafy greens such as kale, spinach and chard.
Whole grains. The Nordic region is known for its rye consumption, particularly in the form of dark rye bread, but barley, spelt and oats are commonly enjoyed as well. Not only are whole grains ground into flour and baked into delicious breads, they are also enjoyed as creamy breakfast porridges or cooked simply and served in salads or hearty grain-based bowls.
Fish and seafood. Surrounded by the sea and freshwater lakes, Scandinavians enjoy a diet rich in local seafood. Salmon, cod, herring, shrimp and mackerel are among the most commonly available choices.
Wild game. Scandinavians are more likely to enjoy reindeer, moose, elk, venison and game birds on occasion than we are here in the United States. Conventionally raised meat and poultry are eaten in moderation.
Berries and Other Seasonal Fruit. Antioxidant-rich blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries grow seasonally in the north, as do the more exotic cloudberries and lingonberries. Apples and pears are readily available in the fall, and rhubarb is plentiful in the spring.
Rapeseed (Canola) Oil. This is one area in which the Nordic diet differs from the Mediterranean diet which focuses solely on olive oil. Rich in Omega 3’s and neutral in flavor, canola oil is a popular choice in Scandinavia.
Cultured Dairy Products. Filmjölk (a pourable yogurt like kefir) and skyr (Icelandic yogurt) are a couple of examples of fermented dairy products available in Scandinavia. They are typically enjoyed with porridge, granola or muesli at breakfast.
Pickled foods. Pickling is a popular way to prolong the shelf-life of seasonal vegetables and is quite popular in this region that has a relatively short growing season.
Legumes. Dried whole yellow peas are the core ingredient in a traditional Swedish Pea Soup, but lentils, beans, chickpeas and split peas are also commonly consumed.
Fresh herbs and exotic spices. Dill is a well-known staple of Nordic cuisine, but you will find other fresh herbs as well: Thyme, tarragon, parsley, rosemary and marjoram, just to name a few. Scandinavian cooking and baking also boasts its share of exotic spices, most notably cardamom, cinnamon and curry powders of all kinds. It is believed that the Vikings brought these unusual spices north after encountering them on their eastern travels.

As far as food preparation is concerned, Scandinavians tend to value simplicity. There is generally one main course served family style, and foods are likely to be simply prepared, letting the true nature of the ingredients shine through. Thanks to the concept of hygge which runs deep in Nordic culture, there is also a commitment to cooking intimate meals at home with friends and family instead of going out.

Finally, there is a Swedish concept called lagom which loosely translates to “just the right amount”. As applied to food, this means that Scandinavians tend to seek balance, both in what they decide to eat and how much. We Americans are quick to take the extreme route when it comes to diet, attempting to cut out certain ingredients entirely. “I’m giving up gluten,” we might say, or “I’m going sugar-free.” In the Nordic countries people are more willing to accept that there is a middle way, a lagom way of eating that makes room for the nutrient dense ingredients AND the occasional indulgence.

The Basics of Smørrebrød

February 27, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

“The fastest way to understand the Nordic region’s food culture is to eat an open sandwich topped with butter and hard cheese.”

-Magnus Nilsson, The Nordic Cookbook

The Nordic region’s food culture is largely based on bread. According to The Nordic Cookbook, before potatoes arrived on the Scandinavian mainland in the early 1800’s, most people ate one to two pounds of bread a day! It’s no wonder that the open sandwich (smørrebrød in Danish, smørbrød in Norwegian and smörgås in Swedish) became a staple of Nordic cuisine. The origins of the Nordic open sandwich can be traced back at least as far as the Middle Ages. At that time it would have been a rather simple affair….probably some kind of fat (butter or animal fat) spread on a dense rye bread with leftover meat or vegetables piled on top. As fresh ingredients became more available, the open sandwich evolved into something more refined and elegant, particularly in Denmark where smørrebrød is now practically an art form. There are entire restaurants devoted to the open sandwich in Denmark, and it is even possible to attain the a professional qualification known as, “Open Sandwich Master”. But not all open sandwiches are fussy restaurant affairs. Generally speaking, Nordic cuisine has an elegant simplicity to it, and a sandwich made at home might be as basic as a buttered slice of rye bread and a few slices of cheese or last night’s leftovers arranged on top.

Trine Hahnemann outlines a few rules for constructing smørrebrød in her book, Open Sandwiches. I have included some of them here along with a few of my own to help you put together an open sandwich you can be proud of:

Barring a few exceptions, Nordic open sandwiches are served on dense rye bread which has been sliced quite thin. I like my slices just a little over 1/4 inch thick.
If you are using a dense rye, the bread is simply sliced, not toasted. Sometimes I will do a light toast on mine just to freshen up the bread slightly without causing the exterior to get crispy.
The bread is usually buttered quite liberally with salted butter. If you don’t usually stock salted butter, you can use unsalted butter and sprinkle a little kosher salt on it after you spread it on the bread.
There is typically one main topping and a combinations of condiments. A well-designed smørrebrød has a variety of flavors and textures that come together to create a sandwich that is more delicious than the individual components might suggest.
Smørrebrød doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should be pleasing to the eye. That’s part of the fun of the open face sandwich…with no top to disguise what’s inside there is much opportunity for creating something that is as beautiful as it is delicious.
Season as you layer. If your main ingredient is sliced cold potatoes or hard-boiled egg slices, you are going to want to season that particular layer with salt and pepper before adding the remaining condiments.
Think about your layering, both in terms of visual presentation and what makes sense in terms of the temperature and shape of the main ingredient. If your topping is warm roast pork, for example, you aren’t going to want to put tender arugula leaves underneath it. That’s a recipe for soggy greens. Layer in a way that lets each ingredient shine.
If you really want to get serious about aesthetics, consider placing any sauces that you are using into a squeeze bottle, plastic piping bag or ziploc bag (with a corner of the bag cut off). This allows you to squeeze the sauce onto the sandwich exactly where you want it. It can be difficult to artfully arrange sauces with just a spoon.
Unless it really doesn’t seem appropriate, always add a shower of something small and green on the very top for garnish. Chopped fresh herbs, microgreens, sprouts, or watercress are all good choices.
If you’ve created a lovely smørrebrød piled high with delicious ingredients, don’t try and pick the whole thing up and take a bite. These sandwiches are usually a knife and fork affair.

Picasso once said, “learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist.” Make a classic smørrebrød or two (recipes to follow), but also get into the kitchen and play! Let your bread be your canvas and get creative. Anything goes when it comes to designing your own open face sandwiches.