Are you ready for spring? I know it’s only February, but I can’t wait for the sun to start warming up my patio and defrost my bones! I’ve already got the patio furniture lined up, and the rosé is in the fridge, so I thought I might just give it another notch with this savory zesty smoked salmon appetizer, or lunch if you like. Maybe it’s because I’m Scandinavian, but I could easily eat smoked salmon every day. It’s no secret that Scandinavians have had a particular liking for raw and raw cured fish since the Vikings, and some even claim that it was the Norwegians who introduced raw…
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Little heavenly ricotta bites
Need a great idea for an appetizer that is fast and easy to make and that will instantly charm your guests’ taste buds? In my book these little heavenly ricotta cream bites are the perfect appetizers. They are creamy, crunchy and light with that amazing freshness and fragrance that basil and lemon so perfectly provide. I’ve been making these for years, and every time I serve them, they seem to be gone before I know it, and my guests always ask for the recipe. I think it often comes as a surprise that these little pale rather innocently looking mouthfuls are so powerful and packed with taste. Because of the…
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Gnocchi and greens
Gnocchi is but one of many magnificent wonders to have come out of Italian cooking. For some reason, though, it seems these gems always come in second after pasta, which is a pity because if cooked right, these delicately soft silky-smooth Italian potato dumplings can send you straight to heaven. Believe me, I’ve been there! And this warm gnocchi and greens salad is definitely a good way to gnocchi self-indulgence. Truly, I could easily eat Italian food every day. I really love pasta, and Italian cooking is very honest. It’s filled with fresh ingredients and what you see is what you get. The only downside is that if I…
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Mini Sarah Bernhardt cakes
Mini Sarah Bernhardt cakes were my grandma Grethe’s signature cakes. Whenever she and her husband would have friends or family over for one of their lavish dinners, she would make these little mouthwatering sweet treats. She always served them after dinner with coffee and tea and chocolates, as if we hadn’t already stuffed ourselves with their delicious three-course dinner. But curiously, these little miracles always seemed to disappear before everyone had finished their coffee. And though I was only a kid, I always managed to get my share and gulp down at least a handful. Like the famous actress whom these cakes were named after, my grandma was a…
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Best crunchy creamy scones
Ever tried scones with Camembert and pumpkin seeds? Well, they won’t make winter go away, but they will bring lots of comfort if the cold forces you to stay cooped up inside. This weekend temperatures dropped to -10 F here in Toronto. My first instinct was to simply cuddle up in bed, feel sorry for myself and daydream about the Caribbean. However, I decided instead to use this as a perfect excuse to bake a nice treat for myself and my family. I’ve loved scones ever since my first encounter with them when I lived in England. The first ones I tried were the classic sweet ones with loads of…
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A tribute to grandma style cooking
My mom…not only is she the best mom in the world. (Well, I guess everybody feels that way about their mom). She is also the best grandma to my kids. I could say she wins hearts by always being ready to take care of my kids when they are sick, or being the matriarch who cooks dinner for the whole family almost every Sunday. And this is no small feat as we are 11 people and my mom makes everything herself so the rest of us can relax. However, all of this is nothing compared to the love my family bestows on her because of her cooking. Actually she is…
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Crispy fresh chicken lunch
In Denmark we like to make different mayonnaise based salads that are served for lunch with bread and/or a green salad. This chicken salad with apples and celery is a particular favorite of mine and was created by accident one day when I ran out of curry. Classic chicken salads in Denmark typically include curry or asparagus, but since I didn’t have either, I tried something else and ended up with a salad I thought was even more yummy than the one I originally intended. For me it is a go to recipe because it uses ingredients I usually always have in stock. I simply need to buy chicken and…
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The no fuss showstopper
Vitello Tonnato is a delicious dish for the taste buds, but not always so for the eyes. It tends to have a greyish color and with the capers on top it sometimes ends up looking more like a bowl of oatmeal gone bad. That doesn’t sound at all like the showstopper advertised above, but with a little twist or two it can be. Instead of the classic Italian starter, this version of Vitello Tonnato serves as the main course of a dinner where you finally have time to entertain your guests while wooing them with your fabulous cooking skills. The garnishing sauces for the veal can be made a day ahead, and…
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Something to keep you warm on a cold winter’s day
As a Dane Glögg (mulled wine) is an absolute must-have in December. With all it’s warm winter spices, sweetness, red wine and alcohol there is simply no other drink than Danish mulled wine, or glögg, that will get you into the real Christmas spirit like this one. It’s the perfect drink for when you return after a walk in the cold and you need a little something to bring warmth and comfort back into your body and bones. This recipe was passed down to me from my grandmother who sent it to me in a real old school handwritten letter when I was 19 and had moved to London. Though I…
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Warm winter comfort salad
For foodies like me the holiday season is truly a smorgasbord of culinary pleasures both to be cooked and to be enjoyed. So much so that while December is certainly a month when the foodlover in me revels in heavenly delight, it is also overwhelmingly easy to fill oneself with all the wonderful and sometimes fatty temptations that classic holiday cooking offers. This beetroot salad, however, is not only very tasty, it also counterbalances some of the very rich food you are, let’s face it, inevitably going to consume. Beets are an awesome and really very versatile, but often overlooked, veggie, and they are not only rich in fibre and…
