Bruschetta is a super easy option when you want to make a really tasty, casual appetizer. I love the classic version with fresh tomatoes, basil and maybe a bit of garlic, but it’s nice to find new variations and switch it up a bit. There are so many amazing veggies that you can use as toppings. For example, check out our zucchini toast appetizer. But I absolutely love asparagus too, so here I decided to share my green asparagus bruschetta, which is just as easy to make. Bruschetta is also great for brunch or as a light lunch. Or if you have a large party, you might want to make…
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Super easy salmon salad
Ever heard of Danish ‘smørrebrød´? It’s the Danish word for open sandwiches, and they make up a key part of the diet in Denmark. Served on a rye bread base, we top these open sandwiches with various deli toppings, often including cold cuts or fish, and dress them with one or more relishes or mayonnaise dressings. Here, we wanted to share an old recipe from Karen-Anne’s family, where the fish, in this case salmon, is mixed together with mayonnaise, curry and pineapple, creating a scrumptious, creamy salmon salad. It’s easy to make, will keep for a day or two in the fridge, and makes for a delicious ‘smørrebrød’ topping. ‘Smørrebrød’…
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Nordic carpaccio
This dish is for everyone who, like me, loves raw meat. Maybe it is the Viking in me that it appeals to. Even as a kid I loved beef tartare. And as soon as sushi appeared in Denmark, I was hooked on raw fish as well. The quality of course has to be outstanding, and perhaps that is part of the reason why I love raw meat and fish so much. Because it is really honest food. What you see is what you get, and you can’t disguise bad quality meat or fish in sushi or dishes like beef tartare or carpaccio. This Nordic carpaccio is my Scandinavian take on…
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Gravlax…gravad lax…gravet laks…gravlox…
Gravlax with dill. It can hardly get more Nordic. It’s a lunch classic throughout Scandinavia, but not surprisingly it has also become a popular delicacy around the world. It’s really very easy to make, and I promise you the homemade gravlax beats any good quality store bought gravlax you can find. It’s equally delicious for lunch and as a starter, or as an palatable buffet feature. The idea of preparing the fish in this manner goes back to the Middle Ages when fishermen in Scandinavia came up with this ingenious method for curing and fermenting salmon in order for it to keep longer yet still be fresh and edible while…
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Divinely decadent shrimp appetizer
Here is our second appetizer for our Roaring ‘20s Gatsby themed New Year’s dinner. We started out with oysters, or what we called Roaring Rockefeller oysters, and we thought that a natural next step is a fresh little bite with shrimp and herb cream with a touch of lemon and watercress. We recommend you use a very small type of shrimp, as we thought this would be one in a row of appetizers, and small shrimp will make this dish look very elegant and delicate. North Atlantic shrimp are great, or maybe you can even get your hands on a batch of Danish ‘fjordrejer’ (frozen as the fresh ones are…
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Roaring Rockefeller oysters
I know New Year’s is still a bit away, but as is our custom, this is the time for Karen-Anne, my fellow blogger, and I to start planning our New Year’s dinner. We’re so lucky that we get to celebrate it together again this year, and that really calls for one knock-out dinner. To tell you the truth, we actually started planning this dinner back in July, and we decided to make it a themed evening inspired by The Great Gatsby and the Roaring ’20s. Can it get more festive, indulgent and decadent? We immediately knew that we were going to do Oysters Rockefeller, so we start off by sharing…
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Killer soup? Well, it is Halloween
It’s beginning to look a lot like Halloween out there! I’m getting ready with my Halloween menu and thought we might warm up with this creamy pumpkin soup with scallops. In my book, this is a real killer soup: creamy, sweet, spicy with a hint of citrus, garlic and finished off elegantly with pan-seared scallops. What is not to like? Serve it before or after you go out there trick or treating with the little ones, either way it will surely make you feel warm and guard you against the chill. Without a doubt the chili and garlic will keep any monsters or vampires that might be lurking out there…
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Toast for fall
This October I find myself cooking a lot with zucchini, almost to the point where you’d think I grew them in my own garden. Maybe you’re growing them yourself and are trying to find good use for the overwhelming yield this sturdy little plant produces, or maybe, like me, you just brought home a whole bunch for the price of almost nothing. Either way, these zucchini toast with fresh herbs are a wonderful way to make the most of this very reasonably priced, yet very delicious vegetable. As the days are getting shorter (way too fast!), and there’s no way of ignoring that fall is here, I really like cooking…
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While we wait for dinner
Easy and tasty appetizers are something I am always on the outlook for, because we love having friends over, but also enjoy having time to entertain them when they first arrive. With this easy and crisp salmon avocado appetizer you’ll have time to actually spend time with your guests when they arrive instead of being caught up by time-consuming starters. Karen-Anne and I came up with this yummy recipe last time she came to visit as we found ourselves with too much salmon and a ripe avocado on our hands, and good food does not deserve to go to waste! These crisp salmon avocado appetizer bites are little flavor-packed mouthfuls…
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Addictive appetizer dip
Just before guests arrive I’m always very busy making dinner ready. Of course my husband can entertain the guests until dinner is ready, but when coming to our house, our guests are used to not only lots of spirited conversations, but certainly also lots of treats for their tummies. This spinach, artichoke and cheese dip is the perfect treat to serve right when the guests arrive. With lots of fresh spinach, artichokes and no less than five cheeses, it’s sure to lay the foundations for a great evening of entertaining. As we all know, a happy belly is, after all, the foundation for relaxation, great thinking and overall wellbeing. Making…
