Marmite

How daft banning Marmite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.  Apparently the legislation was put in place because of a health scare over the effect that high levels of vitamins may have on children and pregnant women. Surely common sense plays a part?!!! Don't spread it thickly on the children's bread and pregnant women already avoid certain foods such as pate, cheese and nuts so why not add marmite to the list? Can't see a problem, so come on Denmark employ some common sense, allow Danes to make an informed choice.

Marmite & Cucumber sandwiches rock!!!!

Honest

Another recent study has shown that Marmite aids recovery after a heart attack so banning Marmite is ridiculous. Maybe Danes could get it on prescription?!!

Friday Tea, Swedish Style

Trying Swedish macaroni casserole (Makaronipudding). Similar to English macaroni cheese with the addition of smoked ham and leeks today. The recipe can be found at www.scandinaviafood .com It has made a trough full, far too much for the suggested 4 servings. It doesn't look very elegant,  but rather a homely, cosy supper. 

Swedish Macaroni

Talking about homely and cosy here are some pictures of the holiday cottage that we stayed in last year in Vastby, Sweden.

Cosy living room at the house in Vastby

Modern cooking facilities at Vastby!!!

I chickened out of trying the range and wish I hadn't.

The poshest kitchen light in Sweden!!!!!!!!

The house at Vastby

If you want to try something more adventurous you could always take a raft on the Klarälven

Rafting & Camping on the Klarälven

If you fancy giving it a go, more information can be found at 

http://www.simplysweden.co.uk/raftingadventure.php

The area along and around the Klara river at Sysslebäck is beautiful. You do not have to go far from the main roads to find yourself in the middle of nowhere where you may not see another car for hours. I imagine it is different in the winter as there is a large ski resort at Branäs.

Success with Crispbread, hoorah

Hoorah, success.
They turned out pretty well for a first attempt.

Lovely and crispy crispbread

Even better with a selection of Swedish cheese, fruit and a glass of red wine

The cheeses are:- 

Morfars Brannvinsost - a slightly crumbly, medium soft, cows milk cheese with aquavit

Wanås ädel - soft, blue and slightly salty

Wästgotä Kloster - hardish with a nutty flavour

Crispbread or Cardboard

If you think crispbread tastes like cardboard, then think again. Unlike the majority of crispbread available in the supermarkets the handmade crispbread made by artisan bakers at Peter's Yard are in a completely different league. They are made to a traditional Swedish recipe, are thin, crispy and tasty, so tasty that I sometimes break off a piece to nibble for no other reason than just because I can. In fact they are so good that they won a gold medal at the Guild of Fine Foods,  Great Taste Food Awards 2010. I cannot buy them locally but I stock up when I see them. They can also be bought on line from Peter's Yard.






Because they are so good that I have been looking for a recipe which might come somewhere close and am going to try Trina Hahnemann's recipe in The Scandinavian cookbook.

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Many thanks

Gina

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The Humble Beetroot

The humble beetroot, a vegetable that I have carefully avoided for many years has now found its way to my shopping list on a regular basis. It is a vegetable that I think I really ought to like, but I have never been able to convince myself until now. So for all those beetroot haters try beetroot spiced with star anise in sweet vinegar

Sweet Spiced Beetroot with Star Anise

Freshly boiled and cooled beetroot

Vinegar

Sugar 

Star Anise

Peppercorns

How sweet you make the vinegar is up to you but I generally use about 300 ml vinegar to 125-150g sugar heated along with the star anise and peppercorns until the sugar has dissolved. 

Which when cool is poured over your sliced beetroot. This enough for 500g cooked & sliced beetroot in 1 large jar.

The first time I tried this I used a well known brand of beetroot in sweet vinegar, drained the vinegar from the jar, added a star anise and some peppercorns, heated for a couple of minutes, allowed to cool and poured back into the jar. Very successful if you want to cheat.