January 2013 In The Arctic

How are you all doing in the new year? We're kind of pale these days.

Looking forward to the sun coming back in a couple of weeks!

My father celebrated his 75th with us this Cristmas. He had ordered what his father had for his 75th birthday:  meatball soup with vegetables, beer and aquavit. This is the traditional feat dish for the middle region of Norway.

As you can see: our garden is filled with snow now. My daughter looked outside the window this morning and asked when will summer arrive, mum?

I said it's a while to.

Wishing you a great January! 

Merry Christmas from The Top Of The Map

Merry Christmas to my dear readers, from the top of the map! We don't decorate so much, but we do have a tree (with finest ornament from my Boston trip two years ago), and some vintage and new red scandi decorations.

Tomorrow we'll go iceskating on the pond. It's a matter of going outside in the hour or two we have some light. I'll get back to you by then.

My herring recipe is over at Silvias Christmas blog.

Happy holidays!

My Herring Recipe for Christmas

I always make different kind of herring dishes before Christmas. I enjoy it more than all the cookies in the world, and it's a nice childhood memory for me. You see - my mother always made it.

And now you can too!

My favourites are herring with tomatoes, herring with mustard and herring with curry.

And here it is with mustard:

3-6 spicy filets of herring
1 finely chopped onion
a little more than half a cup of neutral oil (not olive oil as leaves taste)
2-3 big spoons of water
a little more than half a cup of half sweet mustard
one cup (or more) of sugar
lots of dill

Mix it and put it in a jar in the fridge.

I also made herring two years ago. 

Feeling the holiday spirit coming along, so all of you who participated in my giveaway will get cushions for Christmas, I'll be in touch:)

Happy week!! If you're stressing - don't! (this one also goes to myself)

Making New Vintage Cushions

Making retro cushions is one of the (too many!) tasks I've given myself this fall (read: winter). They're bound for a Christmas market nearby in a couple of weeks.

I love to sew, but I'm squeezed with time. Along with full time work, (still one hour off to nurse, though!), a project management course and a promise to run "The Polar Night 10 k", I may have taken too much on board. My immune system is protesting.

Let's just say there won't be many homemade stews in the next few months.

I wish you a good week! Our winter has started to rain away. And Polar Night is just around the corner.

Whatever happened to Ludo?

Ask the iKids. They certainly don't play it on Christmas parties anymore.

Happy New Year, friends!

Don't forget my giveaway of gorgeous H&M baby clothes!

Holiday update with H&M Giveaway

How's your holiday going? We're taking a break from all the heavy, traditional food with a spanish omelette. (not so Arctic-ic is it)

This 5month old baby loves turnip mash. But she's not very fond of sleeping in the evenings. Unless there's a dummy (read:me) in sight.

I'm excited to host a giveaway for H&M's new clothing line for babies, concious newborn - just about to hit the online stores! The clothes are made from organic and recycled materials, free from chemical additives. They are in French nostalgic style. I love them for not doing the pink and blue thing this time. It's not excactly unisex, but they're getting there.

Do you know anyone excpecting who deserve a suprise-gift from H&M, or just yourself? For entering, leave a comment before Monday the 2nd of January, and I'll pick two winners! A shout out on Twitter and Facebook gives you extra tickets, so let me know:)

Good luck

Congratulations Litlo&Kalen and Kelleyn with winning!

Happy Christmas!

We have decorated the tree, and the children can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring. We'll watch the film Three nuts for Cinderella, take the kicksled to the churchyard to see my mum's grave, eat pinnekjøtt and open gifts.

I wish you all a good Christmas. I have met so many friends through blogging - from all over the world. Warm wishes to you and big hugs from the top of the map!

The Lutefisk Tutorial: A Rerun

Time for a rerun of last year's lutefisk dinner!



I think they do their own versions of this dish in the US, with lefse. Have you had it? We don't do the lefse thing, and people like my father are puritans and adds only green peas and potatoes. The fish should be in the center, right?

Or maybe not. After all the fish had been dried and lyed. Sounds horrible. But I like!

I'm excited to see if my 6YO and 4YO like it too. They can be adventurous if in the right mood. Maybe I should present it as jelly with a fish taste?

Looking forward to Christmas now!

A Post on Christmas

How are you doing with your holiday preparations? We've been baking a little bit, gingerbread and cookies. But we're eating it just as fast. Sorry for any potential guests...(I have emergency cookies).

Christmas means time spent with your loved ones. You'll find us outdoors to catch some light in the blue hour every day, often on a kicksled. We have a low-ambitions Christmas.

But I think of all the children who dread the holidays because alcohol abuse and domestic violence increase at this time. I think of lonely children. The feeling of "togetherness" is heavy, but no one is as alone as alone at Christmas. There is also the pressure of baking, of decorating, of buying. I think children want time and security from parents more than gifts (even though a Hello Kitty computer is more wanted in this household).

We'll make something yummy to eat - I'll come back on that (more lighthearted) subject!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

 

I always get very emotional at Christmas, and a coctail of feelings arise, sometimes in shades of grey and sometimes in bright colours.

Now our tree is ready, and we can't wait to see what Santa will bring us tomorrow.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and I'm sending you big hugs wherever you are!

The Blue Hour in the Gingerbread Village

 

 

 

 

 

We spent the blue hour at the public library today. It's freezing outside. There is a village of gingerbread houses there. My favourite is the slum area made by Amnesty International. To remind us how lucky we are to be free.

Will you like me run around to fix the last things this week? Note to both you and self: Breathe into your stomach.

A Herring Merry Christmas

 

We try to stay outdoors as much as we can these days. I'm craving that light at the moment.

 

Whereas you now know I'm not a baker, I'll reveal that I'm quite a fine herring dish maker! It might not be so useful on a daily basis, but tomato herring and mustard herring is very, very yummi on rye bread for Christmas.

 

We made (store bought dough) gingerbread this weekend, a lot of fun but with mixed results. Let's just say I won't quit my day job to become a full time gingerbread designer.

Enjoy your week!

Swinging in The Dark (and a confession)

 

 

Of course you can swing and play in the dark. Just add a couple of reflective vests or a headlamp!

 

I'm good at having the Christmas presents ready early. What I'm not good at is baking. I have to confess I think it's boring.

My bread rolls are flat and useless (except you can use them to knock a person out), the cakes are either dry or burnt in the ove. I once had to make three chocolate cakes to my daughter's birthday.

I just have lack of interest, (I also blame genetics, my mother's bread rolls were even heavier) and can think of a million things I'd rather do on a Sunday Morning. Even clean the house.

I feel quite alone in Bloglandia about this. Maybe there's a Boring Bakers Anonymous meeting I could go to? The good thing is that my children's teenage revolt probobly will be about baking.

There. I've said it. You'll never see a cupcake here.