Fall

Baked Nordic Oat and Rye Porridge

March 31, 2020 by Kristi Leave a Comment

Porridge has been a cornerstone of the Scandinavian diet since prehistoric times. Nutritious and easy to store, it only makes sense that hearty grains such as oats, barley and rye would be important to people living in a cold, harsh climate. According to food historian Henry Notaker, porridge was once served as often as three times a day! While things have thankfully changed from the days of eating porridge for every meal, it has most definitely made a culinary comeback in recent years. Trendy porridge bars such as GRØD in Denmark have revived an interest in this ancient food by finding innovative and delicious new ways to enjoy porridge.

Baked Nordic Oat and Rye Porridge ingredients

This Baked Nordic Oat and Rye Porridge is definitely a twist on your basic bowl of oatmeal. Baked in the oven, this mixture of rolled oats, rye flakes toasted almonds and blueberries is like a porridge casserole of sorts. It makes a nice addition to the breakfast or brunch table, or you can make a batch on Sunday to reheat for quick, nutritious breakfasts throughout the week.

What Are Rye Flakes?

Rye flakes are rye groats that have been steamed and rolled, much like old-fashioned rolled oats. They are highly nutritious and an excellent source of fiber. Studies have shown that eating rye porridge for breakfast leaves people feeling satiated for a longer period of time that other breakfast options. I really like the combination of rolled oats and rye: the softness of the oats and the heartiness of the rye really work well together. Rye flakes are available at some natural grocery stores or on Amazon.com.

The concept of baked oatmeal was made famous by Heidi Swanson in her wonderful cookbook, Super Natural Everyday. This Baked Nordic Oat and Rye Porridge is a take on that original concept. Rather than including all oats, my version contains a combination of rolled oats and rye flakes. No rye flakes? No problem! Simply use all oats instead. I’ve also omitted the sliced bananas included in the original version and added more blueberries, but you could certainly add a sliced banana or two to the bottom layer of fruit if you happen to have one languishing on your counter and are looking to put it to good use.

I hope you give this Baked Nordic Oat and Rye Porridge a try! If you are the kind of person who has a bag of frozen blueberries in the freezer, it’s likely that you already have everything on hand to make this happen. Let me know how it goes in the comments below! I am always happy to hear from you.

Baked Nordic Oat and Rye Porridge

A hearty and delicious baked oat and rye porridge with wild blue berries and toasted almonds.

Author: Kristi
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 6 servings
Category: breakfast, porridge
Cuisine: Nordic, Scandinavian

Ingredients

1 cup rolled old-fashioned oats

1 cup rye flakes (or additional 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats)

½ cup sliced almonds, toasted

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon fine sea salt

⅓ cup pure maple syrup

2 cups whole milk (unsweetened nut milk or oat milk works just fine)

1 large egg

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 ½ cups blueberries, fresh or frozen (no need to defrost)

Optional Toppings:

Maple syrup

Melted butter

Skyr (Icelandic yogurt)

Milk or cream

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter the inside of an 8 x 8 glass baking dish.
In a large bowl, combine oats, rye flakes, half of the almonds, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
In a second bowl, whisk together maple syrup, milk, egg, butter and vanilla.
Sprinkle 1 cup of the berries in the bottom of the prepared dish. Top with dry oat mixure.
Pour wet mixture over the top of the oat mixture. Tap the pan on the counter a couple of times to make sure that the wet mixture sinks all the way to the bottom and that the dry ingredients are completely submerged .
Sprinkle remaining berries and ¼ cup of sliced almonds over the top. Bake until golden brown and oats are set, about 40-50 minutes. Serve warm with optional toppings.

Notes

Adapted from Supernatural Everyday by Heidi Swanson

Keywords: oatmeal, rye, blueberry, almonds, baked

Easiest and Best Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup (Dairy-Free)

March 13, 2020 by Kristi Leave a Comment

I love creamy vegetable soups, and I have a few favorites that I rotate throughout the year depending on what is in season. This Roasted Cauliflower Soup is one that I make throughout fall and winter, and it’s definitely something I look forward to when the weather begins to turn chilly.

Cauliflower is definitely having a moment. What was once a boring, bland vegetable for the crudité tray is now the darling of the culinary world. People make it into rice and use it to make pizza crust. Who knew that was even possible? And possibly the most important advancement in cauliflower cookery…..ROASTING. Yes, the high heat of the oven works its transformative magic on cauliflower, coaxing out a toasty sweetness from this otherwise mild-flavored vegetable.

Roasting = Flavor

As I began developing the recipe for this Roasted Cauliflower Soup, I began to wonder if the roasting step was actually necessary. There are plenty of recipes for cauliflower soup that simply call for sautéing aromatics in olive oil or butter and then simmering the cauliflower florets in broth prior to pureeing the soup. This seemed appealing and straightforward so I decided to give it a try.

You’ve probably already guessed the results of my experiment…the toasty depth of the roasted cauliflower was sorely missed and the soups was, well, kind of bland and boring. The takeaway: Roast your cauliflower. And while you’re at it you might was well add the onion and garlic to the sheet pan as well! This eliminates the extra step of sautéing the aromatics prior to adding the broth and roasted cauliflower to the pot. And as we already know, roasting = flavor.

Add Rice for a Creamy Texture

Finally, I wanted my Roasted Cauliflower Soup to be creamy. I tried a few different versions that called for cream or butter to finish the soup, but I just didn’t love the way the dairy muted the flavor of the roasted cauliflower. And then I remembered a little trick I picked up in culinary school for thickening vegetable soups: add a couple of tablespoons of rice to the broth and vegetables as they simmer. After a trip through the blender, this modest amount of rice provided luxurious, creamy body to the soup without any dairy at all. I most definitely had a a winner of a soup at this point, and it was surprisingly dairy-free and vegan!

Keep the Garnishes Simple

But how to garnish it? I tried several options, including a parsley-caper relish (overpowering) and toasted rye breadcrumbs (couldn’t get them quite crisp enough). I finally decided to keep it simple and toss some cubes of sourdough bread in olive oil, salt and pepper and toast them in the oven (it was already on, after all). This, along with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of chopped chives, was just what the soup needed to finish it off with a little something crispy, colorful and satisfying. If you happen to have a loaf of Danish Oat Bread or Chive Ricotta bread, either one would make fabulous croutons!

I hope you give this soup a try! You can probably just squeeze it in before spring arrives in earnest. It makes an excellent light supper any night of the week.

Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup

An easy and delicious roasted cauliflower soup. Creamy, full of flavor and dairy-free!

Author: Kristi
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Category: soup
Cuisine: Nordic, Scandinavian

Ingredients

For the Soup:

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1 onion, sliced

1 large head cauliflower, cored and cut into 1 inch pieces

3 garlic cloves, smashed

4 cups vegetable or low-sodium chicken broth

2 cup water

2 tablespoons white rice

1 bay leaf

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Croutons and chopped fresh chives for serving

For the Croutons:

2 cups of bite-size bread cubes (I like sourdough or a rustic country loaf)

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss onion, cauliflower and garlic with olive oil and a sheet pan. Season with salt and pepper. Roast vegetables until tender and caramelized, stirring occasionally, about 30-35 minutes.
Transfer roasted vegetables to a dutch oven or large saucepan. Add broth, water, rice and bay leaf. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Continue to cook until rice is tender, about 20 minutes.
While the soup simmers, make the Croutons. Toss bread cubes with olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Bake until toasty golden brown, about 7-9 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
Remove bayleaf from the soup. Puree soup in two batches in a blender until smooth (or use an immersion blender if you have one). Return soup to pot.
Bring soup back to a simmer over low heat. Add lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with Croutons, a drizzle of olive oil and a shower of chopped fresh chives.

Keywords: cauliflower, soup, winter, fall, vegan, vegetarian

Cozy Slow Cooker Chicken and Barley Soup

February 21, 2020 by Kristi Leave a Comment

I’ve tried many recipes for homemade chicken soup over the years, some streamlined and simple, others more complicated and time consuming. This Cozy Slow Cooker Chicken and Barley Soup is most definitely in the easy category and yet it is consistently my hands down favorite; the one I return to again and again each fall and winter when the temperature drops and we are all in need of a little warming up, inside and out.

I call this Cozy Slow Cooker Chicken and Barley Soup for a reason. It’s honestly one of the coziest meals I know. Hygge in a bowl. When we need something soul-warming and comforting for dinner (and BONUS…something I can make ahead), I turn to this easy, delicious and satisfying soup. Add a crusty loaf of bread and dinner is done. What more can you ask for?

One of the things I love about this Cozy Slow Cooker Chicken and Barley Soup is how straightforward the recipe and the flavors are. It is simply a good, old-fashioned chicken soup seasoned with thyme and bay leaf and the aromatics you might expect: onion, garlic, carrot and celery. But far from being boring, this nourishing and comforting soup is a delicious example of why simple is sometimes best.

Tips for Excellent Slow Cooker Chicken Soup

I’ve got just a few tips and tricks fro ensuring that your chicken soup is the very best it can be:

Choose bone-in chicken thighs. This recipe uses bone-in chicken thighs which are an excellent choice for a slow-cooker soup. Thighs can withstand a relatively long cooking time and still remain moist and tender. The meat shreds beautifully and easily. The bones also bring flavor to the broth as it simmers giving the soup a rich, homemade flavor.
Trim any excess skin and fat from the thighs. One of the reasons chicken thighs make an excellent and tender choice for this soup is that they naturally contain a higher fat content than chicken breasts. This is a wonderful thing for both texture and flavor, but to prevent the soup from becoming excessively greasy, trim any excess skin or fat from your chicken thighs prior to cooking.
Sear the chicken thighs prior to adding them to the slow cooker. This not only adds flavor, it also renders some of the fat from the skin prior to adding the chicken to the soup.

Sauté the aromatics prior to adding them to the slow cooker. Cooing the onion, carrot, celery and garlic in a little of the leftover chicken fat before adding them to the soup adds tremendous flavor and is a step worth taking.

Skim any excess fat off of the top of the soup with a spoon. Before you add the shredded chicken back to the pot, take a moment to skim any excess fat off the surface of the soup. Again, this helps prevent the soup from being greasy.
SEASON TO TASTE. I can’t stress this one enough. One of the biggest mistakes home cooks make is failing to season their food properly. TASTE THE SOUP WHEN IT IS DONE. Does it have enough salt? Probably not. Add some and taste again. Continue this process until you are genuinely pleased with the final result. We all have a different idea of how much salt is enough, so it’s important to let your own tastebuds guide you to that perfect amount.

The only special equipment you’ll need to make this recipe is a slow cooker. Mine is the Crock-Pot brand which I’ve found to be relatively inexpensive and reliable. Just make sure yours as at least 6 quarts in size as this makes a large batch of soup. And go ahead and freeze the leftovers if you like! The flavors just get better with time (the barley will expand as the soup cools causing it to thicken up a bit).

I encourage you to give this Cozy Slow Cooker Chicken and Barley Soup a try before spring arrives! I know the groundhog didn’t see his shadow, but I’m betting we still have a few more weeks of soup and stew weather ahead. And remember to leave me a comment if you do! I always love hearing from you.

Cozy Slow Cooker Chicken and Barley Soup

A delicious and easy chicken and barley soup recipe designed for the slow cooker. Nourishing and comforting, this chicken soup is the perfect cozy meal for a cold winter’s night.

Author: Kristi
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
Category: soups, winter, fall
Cuisine: Nordic, Scandinavian

Scale

Ingredients

1 teaspoon canola oil

6-8 bone-in chicken thighs (about 2 ½-3 pounds), trimmed of excess skin and fat

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

1 onion, diced small

2 carrots, diced medium

2 stalks of celery, diced medium

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

¼ cup dry white wine

7 cups low-sodium chicken broth

¾ cup pearl barley

1 bay leaf

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

3 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley

Instructions

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken thighs on both sides with salt and pepper and place skin side down in the skillet. Cook until skin is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip the thighs over and continue to cook until golden brown on the other side, about 2-3 minutes. Transfer thighs to the slow cooker.
Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the skillet. Add onion, carrots, celery and garlic and cook over medium heat until vegetables have softened slightly, about 2-3 minutes. Add thyme and wine and continue cooking, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet, until wine has almost completely evaporated, about 1-2 minutes. Add 3 cups of broth and bring to a boil. Transfer vegetables and broth to the slow cooker.
Add remaining 4 cups broth, pearl barley, bay leaf and soy sauce to the slow cooker. Cook on high for 3 hours.
Remove chicken thighs from the slow cooker and, using tongs and a fork, shred chicken into bite-sized pieces discarding the skin and the bones. Skim any excess fat from the surface of the soup. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker. Add lemon juice and parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.

Notes

Adapted from Cook’s Country magazine

Keywords: chicken, barley, soup, slow cooker

Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Pecans

December 17, 2019 by Kristi 1 Comment

It’s nice to have an elegant leafy green salad to include as part of a festive dinner or special occasion. So often these meals are centered around rich, heavy foods. Our family’s Christmas Eve Smörgåsbord when I was growing was a very heavy affair in various shades of white: scalloped potatoes, lutefisk, rice pudding, swedish meatballs in a cream gravy, lefse….you see the color pattern emerging here. A green salad can be a welcome, light addition to the traditional holiday table.

This Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Pecans is the perfect way to weave some hearty winter vegetables into your holiday menu. Crispy kale, cubes of sweet roasted butternut squash and sliced red onions and crunchy pecans come together to create a memorable salad that pairs nicely with all manner of holiday dishes.

This Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Pecans also holds well, and you can make the dressing and roast the vegetables and pecans in advance. Simply toss the salad ingredients together when you are ready to eat and you are good to go.

This salad also makes a nice main course, particularly if you scatter some cooked whole grains (rye berries or barley are both delicious) and a handful of crumbled goat cheese into the mixture.

Bring some much needed green to your holiday table this year and give this Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Pecans a try! I think you and your guests will be glad you did.

Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Pecans

A delicious fresh salad for winter with crispy kale, sweet roasted butternut squash and red onions and toasty pecans. It makes a tasty leafy green side dish or a hearty main coarse salad.

Author: Kristi
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Yield: 6-8 servings
Category: salad
Cuisine: Nordic, Scandinavian

Ingredients

For the Salad:

1 large butternut squash, peeled and cut into ¾ inch cubes

1 red onion, cut into ¼ inch thick slices

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

10-12 whole sage leaves

1 large bunch kale (Curly or Tuscan is fine), stems removed and chopped into bite-sized pieces

½ cup pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped

Vinaigrette, recipe follows

For the Vinaigrette:

1 small shallot, minced

2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon dijon mustard

1 teaspoon honey

⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil

Coarse salt and pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place squash and red onion on baking sheet and toss with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes, stir and add sage leaves. Continue to roast until vegetables are tender and golden brown, about 10-15 minutes more. Set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, whisk together ingredients for the vinaigrette in a small bowl, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer kale to a serving platter. Drizzle half the vinaigrette over the kale and massage it into the kale with your hands. Add roasted vegetables and pecans. Drizzle with remaining vinaigrette and gently toss to combine. Crumble the crispy sage leaves over the top. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.

Keywords: kale, butternut squash, red onion, pecans, holiday, Christmas, winter, salad

Herbed White Bean and Sausage Soup with Swiss Chard

November 22, 2019 by Kristi 1 Comment

Herbed Sausage and White Bean Soup with Swiss Chard

In the words of the late and beloved food writer, Laurie Colwin, “to feel safe and warm on a cold wet night, all you really need is soup.” I couldn’t agree more. I am fond of soup in all seasons, but as the weather turns chilly and darkness falls early, there is nothing quite like sitting down to a hearty bowl of soup for supper.

Soup and Hygge

Homemade soup for supper is possibly the most hyggelit meal there is. If you are one of those people who approaches winter with disdain, ready to just grumble and get through it until spring arrives, may I suggest homemade soup. At least once a week. Think of it as a prescription for learning to love (or at least make peace with) these cold and dark months of the year. There is no better way to embrace this cozy season of inner warmth than with a steaming pot of soup.

Herbed White Bean and Sausage Soup with Swiss Chard

Lucky for you I’ve got a hearty and delicious Herbed White Bean and Sausage Soup with Swiss Chard to get you started. It is so simple and satisfying for a cozy weeknight supper, maybe with some Rye and Oat Crispbread parmesan toasts alongside. And did I mention you can make it ahead of time and reheat it when you are ready? Yes. Soup IS amazing. I agree.

This recipe is incredibly straightforward, full of good-for-you vegetables, hearty white beans and browned Italian sausage (spicy or sweet, your choice). It hits all the right cozy notes and will leave you feeling warm and nourished, I promise.

Please give this delicious and easy Herbed White Bean and Sausage Soup with Swiss Chard a try and let me know what you think in the comments below! I think it might become one of your new wintertime favorites.

Herbed White Bean and Sausage Soup with Swiss Chard

An easy and delicious soup filled with nourishing vegetables, hearty white beans and browned Italian sausage. Perfect for a cozy winter’s supper!

Author: Kristi
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 4 generous bowls
Category: Soup
Cuisine: Nordic, Scandinavian

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2-3 carrots, finely diced

2 ribs of celery, finely diced

1 onion, finely diced

3 cloves of garlic, minced

¾ pound fresh Italian sausage, casings removed (spicy or sweet is fine)

1 tablespoon tomato paste

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

2 cans Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained

4 cups low sodium chicken broth

1 bay leaf

1 bunch swiss chard, stems removed and cut into ribbons (kale or spinach will also work)

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Instructions

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, onion and garlic to the pot. Cook until onions are translucent and vegetables are begining to soften, about 5 minutes.
Add sausage and cook until browned and cooked through, about 7 minutes.
Add tomato paste, thyme and rosemary. Cook for 1 minute.
Add beans, broth, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Continue to simmer for 20 minutes. Add chard and simmer until chard is tender, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.

Notes

Adapted from The Soup and Bread Cookbook by Beatrice Ojakangas

Pear Cardamom Bundt Cake

November 16, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

Looking for an easy, delicious cake to serve for your next afternoon fika gathering? Look no further. This Pear Cardamom Bundt Cake is just the thing. Made with homemade Roasted Pear Compote with Cardamom, Vanilla and Fresh Ginger (or substitute a chunky applesauce from the store in a pinch), this spiced bundt cake is incredibly moist and bursting with pear flavor. And if you’ve got some of the pear compote on hand, it only takes about 20 minutes to get this baby ready for the oven. That’s my kind of cake!

*The beautiful bundt pan*…a work of art in and of itself

The History of the Bundt Pan

Chances are that you already own a bundt pan. Millions of Americans do. But have you ever wondered how this unusually shaped pan with a hole in the center came to be? It was originally designed by the Nordic Ware company of Minneapolis in 1950 at the specific request of a group of Jewish women who were looking to recreate traditional Eastern European cakes that had a hole in the center. But the popularity of the bundt pan didn’t really take off until 1966 when the Tunnel of Fudge bundt cake won second place in the annual Pillsbury Bake-Off. Demand for these unique pans suddenly skyrocketed as women all across America wanted to bake their own versions of this gooey chocolate cake.

Today, there are as many bundt cake variations as there are bakers, and the Nordic Ware company continues to manufacture the beautifully-shaped pans that bake them. If you haven’t visited their website, please do. You’ll be amazed by the stunning array of baking pan options they have available.

Pear Cardamom Bundt Cake

This Pear Cardamom Bundt Cake is a rustic, cozy and simple variation of the bundt. It is the kind of cake that is very much at home with a mid-morning or afternoon cup of coffee. I opted for no glaze or frosting here, just a simple dusting of powdered sugar. It honestly doesn’t need anything more. Of course if you want to dress it up for dessert, a drizzle of warm caramel sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream wouldn’t hurt.

I’ve used my tried and true Roasted Pear Compote with Cardamom, Vanilla and Fresh Ginger in this recipe, and I highly recommend it. Starting with such a flavorful base naturally leads to a delicious cake. If you follow my blog, you know that I have strong feelings about making your own seasonal fruit compotes at home. They are so simple and versatile, and this cake is just another example of that. As I mentioned above, if you are in a pinch you can substitute a chunky, unsweetened store-bought applesauce. But the homemade pear compote really makes this cake something special.

Please give this Pear Cardamom Bundt Cake a try and let me know what you think in the comments below. I always love hearing about your Nordic cooking and baking adventures!

Pear Cardamom Bundt Cake

A deliciously moist and simple bundt cake featuring homemade pear compote and warm spices. The perfect afternoon treat with a cup of coffee!

Author: Kristi
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes plus cooling time
Yield: 1 9-inch cake
Category: fika, desserts
Method: baking
Cuisine: Nordic, Scandinavian

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon fine salt

1 teaspoon cardamom seeds, ground in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle (or 1 teaspoon ground cardamom)

1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

2 cups packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups Roasted Pear Compote with Cardamom, Vanilla and Fresh Ginger

Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 10-cup capacity bundt pan. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cardamom, and cinnamon. Set aside.
Combine butter and brown sugar in the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed and add eggs one at a time. Add flour mixture and mix on low until just combined. Mix in pear compote.
Spoon cake batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean, about 55-60 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Invert onto a serving plate and allow to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar. Serve.

Notes

You can substitute 2 cups of chunky, unsweetened store-bought applesauce for the pear compote.

Keywords: pear, cardamom, bundt cake, fika, simple

Mushroom Gratin

November 6, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

Scandinavians are avid foragers. From berries to mushrooms to wild greens, foraging is a very popular activity in the Nordic countries. This is partially due to a Scandinavian law known as allemansrätt, which translates to “every man’s right” or “freedom to roam”. This means there are no trespassing laws and everyone is free to enjoy the use of the land, including foraging whatever tasty edibles might grow there.

Couple allemansrätt with the fact that the Nordic countries have an ideal habitat for many wild edible foods, and you can understand why there is a long tradition of foraging in Scandinavia. This enduring custom also finds its way into the recipes of the region, many of which call for wild edibles as ingredients.

In the autumn, Nordic foragers turn their attention to mushrooms. While hunting for wild edibles may not be on your agenda for the coming weekend, you can do the next best thing and pick up some mushrooms from the grocery store and make this delicious and easy Mushroom Gratin.

Creamy, thyme-infused mushrooms covered with crispy, buttery bread crumbs and baked until golden brown and bubbly, this dish bring comfort and warmth to the late autumn table. It makes a delicious side dish as part of a cozy supper (think roast chicken or pan-seared steak), or this gratin can easily stand on it’s own as a vegetarian main, maybe paired with some sautéed greens and mashed potatoes on the side.

The inspiration for this Mushroom Gratin comes from the recipe for Baked Mushrooms in Beatrice Ojakangas’ Scandinavian Cooking. She says that the dish in Finnish in origin, probably intended to be made with something gathered by hand from the forest floor. My version uses easy to find cremini or even white button mushrooms (foraged from my local grocery store), fresh thyme and just enough cream to gently coat the mushrooms in a velvety, savory sauce. Soft white bread crumbs create the buttery, crispy top that so perfectly contrasts with the saucy mushrooms below.

Please give this simple Mushroom Gratin a try! I know you’ll love it. It might even find its way on to your Thanksgiving or holiday table over the next couple of months. It makes a delicious Nordic-inspired addition to any festive gathering.

Mushroom Gratin

A delicious and easy gratin with creamy, thyme-infused mushrooms covered with crispy, buttery bread crumbs and baked until golden brown and bubbly.

Author: Kristi
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 8 small servings 1x
Category: Vegetarian
Cuisine: Finnish, Scandinavian, Nordic

Scale

Ingredients

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided, plus more for buttering the baking dish

1 heaping cup fresh bread crumbs (from white sandwich bread, sourdough or a country loaf)

2 pounds cremini or white button mushrooms, washed and quartered

2 small shallots, minced

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

2 tablespoons all-pupose flour

½ cup water

½ cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Butter a 2 quart baking dish and set aside. Place breadcrumbs in a small bowl and set aside.
Heat a 12 inch nonstick skillet over medium and add butter. Once butter has melted, transfer one tablespoon to the small bowl with the breadcrumbs. Stir with a fork to combine.
Add shallot to the remaining butter in the pan and saute until soft and translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Add mushrooms, increase heat to medium high and season with salt and pepper. Saute until mushrooms are browned and tender, about 10 minutes. Add thyme and stir to combine.
Reduce heat to medium low, add flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Stir in water and cream and bring to a simmer. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and bake 10 minutes or until brown and bubbly. Serve.

Notes

Adapted from Scandinavian Cooking by Beatrice Ojakangas

Keywords: mushrooms, easy, gratin, simple, creamy, breadcrumbs, Nordic, Scandinavian

Swedish Limpa

October 24, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

As the weather begins to turn cold, my baking thoughts turn to the spicy, citrusy rye bread known as Swedish Limpa. A tender crumb thanks to the addition of buttermilk and a hint of orange and anise make this an exceptionally warm and comforting bread, perfect for fall and winter.

What is Swedish Limpa?

The word “limpa” simply means loaf in Swedish. Unlike some Scandinavian rye breads which can be dense and seedy, Limpa is slightly sweet with a fine crumb. In the United States there are many recipes for Swedish Limpa, most of which contain orange zest and spices such as anise, fennel and/or caraway. If you are of Swedish decent, chances are there is a recipe for Limpa in a family recipe box somewhere.

An Easy Rye Bread for Beginners

As I’ve discussed before, rye has a reputation for being a tricky flour to work with. But this simple loaf contains just enough bread flour in addition to rye to avoid any of the pitfalls associated with rye bread baking. If you are new to baking rye bread at home, this Swedish Limpa is the perfect place to start.

My Limpa Recipe

This recipe comes from my great-grandmother, Emma. She grew up on the southern tip of Sweden within sight of the sea. Her father owned the local flour and saw mill and also tended to fruit orchards on their land. As a child Emma travelled all over Sweden by train with her father selling fruit harvested from the family’s orchards.

In the early 1900’s, Emma immigrated to America, bringing this Limpa recipe with her. I’ve updated it slightly and added more detailed instructions, but it is very much in its original form. The combination of rye, orange and anise is as addictive as it is unusual. I often find myself craving a slice, slightly warm from the oven, spread with a generous layer of salted butter. And a good, strong cup of coffee, of course.

Food can be such a powerful link between past, present and future. Making this simple Swedish Limpa is a very tangible way for me to connect with my great-grandmother, revisit her stories and honor her legacy. And I am so delighted to carry this recipe forward and share it with you! As the leaves fly and the temperatures drop, give this warm, comforting and easy Swedish Limpa a try.

Swedish Limpa

An easy and tender buttermilk rye bread with just a hint of orange and anise. Perfect for fall and winter!

Author: Kristi
Prep Time: 20 minutes +3 hours rising time
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours, 55 minutes
Yield: 1 loaf 1x
Category: bread
Method: baking
Cuisine: Nordic, Swedish, Scandinavian

Scale

Ingredients

1 cup buttermilk

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons molasses

Zest of 1 orange

1 teaspoon anise seed, toasted briefly in a dry skillet and then ground, or 1 teaspoon ground anise seed

1 teaspoon fine salt

2 teaspoons instant yeast

1 cup dark rye flour (I use the Bob’s Red Mill brand)

2 cups bread flour

Instructions

Combine buttermilk and baking soda in a liquid measuring cup. Set aside.
Combine butter, water, molasses and orange zest in a small saucepan and heat to a simmer. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
Add buttermilk mixture and molasses mixture to the mixing bowl of a stand mixer.
Add ground anise seed, salt, yeast and rye flour to the bowl.
Using the dough hook attachment, mix on medium low until ingredients are combined. Add bread flour and continue to mix on medium low until the dough is fully combined and clearing the sides of the bowl. Increase speed to medium and knead for approximately 4 minutes. If you are mixing and kneading the dough by hand, the process will take longer.
Remove the bowl from the mixer, cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rise at room temperature for approximately 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove the dough from the bowl and pat into an oval shape that is about 1 1/2 inches thick. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise for another 45 minutes to an hour.
Remove plastic wrap and decoratively score dough with a razor blade or a sharp knife. Place on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 30-35 minutes. The internal temperature of the dough should be at least 198 degrees when it is done. Allow bread to cool before slicing.

Keywords: Swedish, Limpa, bread, rye, easy

Nordic Apple Strips

October 7, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

I love it when I can use one dough in multiple ways. It’s like having a little black dress in your closet that pairs with heels and a necklace one day, tall boots and your favorite scarf the next. The dough I use for my Swedish Cinnamon Buns offers just that kind of versatility. These Nordic Apple Strips are made with the very same dough (sans the cardamom) and filling but in the form of a long strip filled with thin slices of fresh apple. You’ve got to love something that offers such delicious flexibility!

If you have never made my Swedish Cinnamon Buns before, know that there is a teeny-tiny extra step at the beginning of the process that makes a HUGE difference in creating the soft and tender texture of the final product. It is a technique borrowed from the process of baking Japanese milk bread. Basically, a small amount of flour and liquid (water, milk or a combination of the two) is cooked on the stove for a very short period of time creating a roux-like mixture. This process gelatinizes the starches in the flour allowing them to absorb more liquid and results in a higher rise and a more tender and moist final product that stays that way for a longer period of time. Science aside, it takes five minutes and yields amazing results. WELL worth the effort.

These Nordic Apple Strips are a really easy and delightful fall fika treat, basically a long buttery cinnamon bun with tender apple slices tucked inside. All you need is a crisp fall day, a cup of coffee and someone to share them with.

When you are ready for a little change from the afternoon cinnamon bun, give these Nordic Apple Strips a try! I know you won’t be disappointed.

Nordic Apple Strips

Author: Kristi
Prep Time: 45 minutes + 1 hour 30 minutes rising time
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
Yield: 2 apple strips
Category: fika
Method: baking
Cuisine: Nordic Scandinavian, Swedish, Danish

Ingredients

For the Tangzhong:

5 tablespoons water

5 tablespoons whole milk

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

For the dough:

5 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, cooled

½ cup whole milk, slightly warm

2 teaspoons instant yeast

1 teaspoon fine salt

¼ cup granulated sugar

3 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 large egg

All of the Tangzhong, cooled

For the Filling:

5 tablespoons soft unsalted butter

Pinch of fine salt

3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced thin

2 teaspoons all purpose flour

For the Egg Wash and Topping:

1 large egg

1 tablespoon water

Pearl sugar and sliced almonds for sprinkling

Instructions

Make the Tangzhong: Combine water, milk and flour in a medium saucepan. Whisk until combined and no lumps remain. Place saucepan over medium heat and cook mixture, whisking constantly, until it thickens, about 1-2 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Make the dough: While the Tangzhong is cooling, begin preparing the rest of the ingredients for the dough. Combine yeast, salt, sugar and flour in the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk briefly by hand to combine.
Attach the dough hook to the mixer. Add melted and cooled butter, slightly warm milk, egg and the cooled Tangzhong (it can be slightly warm to the touch) to the dry ingredients. Mix on medium low until fully combined.
Increase mixer speed to medium and knead mixture for 3-4 minutes or until dough is slightly tacky but not sticky and clears the side of the bowl. It’s okay if it’s sticking to the bottom of the bowl slightly. If it seems too sticky, add another tablespoon of flour and mix for another 1-2 minutes. You can also mix and knead the dough by hand but it will take longer, more like 8-10 minutes.
Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise for an hour or until 1 ½ or 2 times its original size. The time will largely depend on the temperature of your kitchen.
In the meantime, make the filling. Combine butter, salt, brown sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Using a fork, mix ingredients together until a smooth, spreadable paste forms. In a small bowl, toss apples with flour. Set aside.
Once the dough has risen, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove the dough from the bowl and place it onto a clean countertop. Divide into two pieces. Cover one piece of dough with plastic wrap. Roll other piece out with a rolling pin until it is in the shape of a rectangle that is about 8 x 15 inches in size. The dough should be smooth enough that you do not need to add flour during the rolling process. If yours is sticking the rolling pin, however, sprinkle a little flour over the dough as necessary to prevent this from happening.
Using an off-set spatula, spread half of the filling in a thin layer over the center third of the dough. Shingle a thin layer of apples on top of the filling (see photo).
Cover the filling by bringing each side of the dough to the center, overlapping slightly. You may need a metal dough scraper to help coax your dough from the counter top if it is sticking. Seal at the seams and the ends. Carefully transfer the strip to a prepared baking sheet (again, a metal dough scaper may be helpful here). Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for an additional 30-45 minutes. Repeat process with remaining dough.
Meanwhile, make the egg wash. Whisk egg and water together in a small bowl. Once the first strip is ready to go into the oven, remove plastic wrap and brush the surface of with the egg wash Sprinkle pearl sugar and almonds over the top.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Repeat process with remaining strip. If the seam down the middle gives way and the strip open up while they are baking, not to worry. As they are cooling, gently coax them back together again. Cool slightly and serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

These strips slice best with a sharp serrated knife (bread knife).

Swedish Apple Cake

September 9, 2019 by Kristi 2 Comments

The fact that it is time to bake with apples again brings me great joy. We’ve made some wonderful treats over the summer with berries, rhubarb and peaches, but there is something so homey and cozy about apple desserts, cake in particular. There are many, MANY delicious recipes for apple cake out there in the world, but today we will be focusing on the Swedish Apple Cake.

Nearly all of the recipes I found for Swedish Apple Cake were comprised of a very basic cake (which may or may not include cardamom) topped with circles of cinnamon and sugar-coated apple wedges. I tried a few of these and they were good, but I wanted to take the apple topping to the next level. I LOVE caramelized apples so I figured why not cook the apples on the stove in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon before they go on top of the cake? That way they would have a chance to get golden and caramel-y, something that wasn’t happening when they went into the oven raw.

This worked to some extent. I had delicious, caramelized apples to put on top of my cake, BUT the first time I went to bake it, the center of the cake collapsed. Definitely not what I was going for. I retooled the batter slightly and dialed back the amount of apples I was using. Much better! Now I had a sturdy, moist cake that was capable of holding the apples aloft as it baked.

I was almost ready to declare the recipe ready to go when out of the corner of my eye I spotted the leftover apple/butter/brown sugar mixture in the pan. What if I made a quick syrup out of this deliciousness to brush over the cake when it came out of the oven? This was the best version yet, and the syrup gave an attractive sheen to the apples making the cake even more eye-catching than it was before.

Tips for Apple Cake Success

Use a sturdy apple such as the Granny Smith. Because we are sautéing the apples slices before they go on top of the cake, it’s important to choose an apple that can withstand a bit of cooking without falling apart or turning to mush. Granny Smiths will do just that.
Take the time to grind your own cardamom. I know I say this a lot but it really makes a big difference in the flavor of your baked goods. It’s worth the extra five minutes that it takes to get the seeds out of the pods and crush them yourself.
Don’t overmix the batter once you add the flour. Vigorously mixing a cake batter after the flour is added activates the gluten and can cause your cake to be tough in texture. Mix so that the flour is JUST incorporated, no more.
Create your circles of apples so that the slices just touch one another rather than overlap. This should give you just the right amount of apples to fill the space of the cake with two circles of slices. Save the smaller apple slices for the center circle and leave the center of the cake empty.
Don’t skip the step of making the quick syrup and brushing the top of the cake after it has baked. This step really takes this cake from good to great and gives it a gorgeous shine at the end.

As we begin the transition to fall baking, let this apple cake be one of the treats that makes it into your rotation. It’s simple, elegant and delicious…the perfect fall fika treat!

Swedish Apple Cake

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

An easy and moist cake baked with a hint of cardamom and topped with caramelized apples. The perfect fall fika treat!

Author: Kristi
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Yield: One 9 inch cake 1x
Category: fika
Method: baking
Cuisine: Swedish, Scandinavian, Nordic

Scale

Ingredients

For the Apple Topping:

3 medium granny smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into ½ inch thick wedges (about 1 pound)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the Cake:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon fine salt

½ teaspoon cardamom seeds, crushed in a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder

¾ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

¼ cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 inch springform pan. Make the Apple Topping: Heat butter in a 12 inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add apples and saute until they are lightly caramelized, about 5-8 minutes. Add brown sugar and cinnamon and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and apples are evenly coated, about 1 more minute. Remove apples from the heat and set aside.
Make the cake: Whisk flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom together in a medium bowl and set aside. Whisk sugars and eggs together in a large bowl until fully combined. Slowly add melted butter to sugar and egg mixture and continue whisking until uniform in texture. Add sour cream and vanilla and whisk until fully combined. Add flour mixture and whisk until batter just comes together.
Scrape batter into prepared pan and even out the top with a small offset spatula. Arrange apples over the top of the batter in two concentric circles. The apples should just touch each other but not overlap. Reserve the butter and sugar mixture that remains in the skillet. Transfer cake to the oven and bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached, about 40-50 minutes.
Add a couple of teaspoons of water to the skillet along with the reserved butter and sugar mixture leftover from making the apple topping. Cook over medium heat until warm and syrupy in texture, about 1-2 minutes. Brush syrup over the top of the cake, particularly the apples. Cool cake for at least 20 minutes on a wire rack and serve.

Notes

Adapted from The Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook and Fika by Anna Brones and Johanna Kindvall

Keywords: Swedish, apple, cake, fall, baking, fika, Nordic, Scandinavian, cardamom