Eat your way around the world
THE SCENE Rather abruptly, Ava threw up. She was in her room, but we could hear her all the way in the kitchen. Keith called out in a panic: "Sash, could you ... come here?" I excused myself from our guests, bracing for what I knew would be a gruesome sight. Little did I know... Blueberries. Were. Everywhere. Ava, strangely enough, didn't seem bothered in the slightest. She played with her baby doll while Keith and I scrubbed. Five minutes later I went back to the … [Read more...]
Serves 2-4 You could glaze a hub cap and I'd eat it. The key is to make the glazed item tantalizingly sweet - leave a little mystery. I'm not into savory foods swimming in syrup. This Finnish recipe shows lovely restraint, striking a delicate balance. In fact, shortly after I took my first bite I decided to make this recipe as often as possible for the rest of my life. Rutabagas come from around northern Central Europe. Maple syrup and butter give the root the most addictive flavor and it … [Read more...]
Makes about 1 1/2 cups Mustard-lovers unite. This tangy, spicy Scandinavian recipe goes great with meaty salmon. Take the time to buy really excellent mustard - the spicier the better. If you have leftovers try spreading a little on a sandwich. That's what I did! Ingredients: 3/4 cup (7 oz) spicy dijon mustard 1 1/2 ounces fresh dill, stems removed and chopped (about 1 cup) 1/8 cup vinegar 1 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp sugar 3/4 cup oil Method: First things first. Start a small herb … [Read more...]
Makes about 1 1/2 quarts The Finns are a healthy bunch. Between foraging for berries and milking cows, it is no wonder that they also enjoy slurping blueberry milk - an antioxidant rich powerhouse of a drink. Not to mention - it's blue - an underutilized color in cooking. Pretty cool in my book. This recipe is adapted from The Best of Finnish Cooking. They used half as much milk than I did - which would make a thicker and much bluer mixture. Play around and see what works for … [Read more...]
Finns greet Easter with a goopy, black as tar dish called mämmi. If that's not enough to entice you, let me see if I can adequately describe the flavor. It's been described as a cross between Guinness and shoe paste. Even with such a distinct look and taste, mämmi is a tradition held seriously enough to warrant protection from the European Union. Making mämmi is no joke - first you mix rye flour with bitter orange peel, a hint of sweetener, and a few other ingredients. Boiling water gets … [Read more...]
Makes 1 giant loaf (or as many smaller shapes as you'd like) Pulla is the ultimate Finnish bread dough. Feeling sad? Shape it into a teardrop. Feeling confused? Twist the heck out of it. Feeling like Pippi Longstocking? Braid it! Feeling creative? Shape it into men, women and children. Feeling pregnant? Just make little buns, baby! There's also plenty of choice in regard to flavorings. Pulla always tastes of glorious cardamom. After that? You can leave it plain or fill it. Sweeten life up … [Read more...]
I always wince a little when I tell a native about the food I chose to represent their country. I wait for the hammer to drop - for them to tell me "no one eats that food!" Or "good job stereotyping my country!" When I met Ruby, my new half-Finnish friend, I had already been to the grocery store and purchased what I needed for this menu. The thought of changing plans exhausted me. When she asked me what I was making, I almost didn't tell her. I almost ran away. For some reason I didn't. I … [Read more...]
This past Saturday, while at a baby dance class - in between pretending to be a turtle and an elephant, I met a woman. Her name is Ruby and she's half Finnish. To be fair, I had no idea she was Finnish and it isn't why I started talking to her. Of course, once I found out her origins, I immediately took her home to cook with me. Mr Picky was okay with it - as long as he got to eat. While we cooked, Ruby told me lots of neat things about Finland (did you know they are one of the … [Read more...]
