Winter Bathing

Guillemette and I decided it was about time we got in touch with our Nordic side and went winter bathing. It was an overcast Sunday afternoon just above freezing- probably around 45 degrees. We blasted the heat in the bathroom, threw our towels in the dryer and then venture out into the cold. 

Winter bathing in 40 degree water? 

YEAH TAK! 

 

Today

 

I woke up this morning to find a little chocolate elf hiding in my cupboard! 

I have some very sweet housemates. 

After a delicious breakfast, I bundled up and ventured out to face the storm.

 Last night a windstorm swept though Copenhagen with hurricane force winds. Gusts continued though today, as well as periodic spurts of hale and snow. 

With the wind at my back it took me about 8 minutes less than normal to get to work. 

 And when I arrived, this is what I saw!

The boat was a good 4 feet higher than normal!

The porch is usually about level with the ground. 

 The water was nearly lapping up over the edge. 

For fear that the water level might rise just a few more inches and flood the area, the noma chefs left the kitchen, threw on their jackets, and then began sandbagging all the windows and doors.

With all of the excitement regarding the severe weather, none of us were able to focus on work. Instead, we cooked a beautiful lunch in honor of the Finnish independence day. 

 

Making Karelian Pies-

A Rye dough filled with a rich rice porridge and then eaten with egg butter (hard boiled eggs mashed with butter- sort of like egg salad but with butter instead of mayo).

 

Smoked Root Vegetable Tartar with Horseradish Cream and Fried Leeks. 

Then, later in the day we went to the Coffee Collective for a tour of the rostery and to participate in a coffee cupping. 

Snapshots

Project Night at Noma- Ducks and Plums.

Amazing winter sunset (3:40pm).

The first frost.

The morning commute.

Winter morning sunrise as I rode to work (8am).

Christmas is in the air.

Æbleskivers!

Sunrise over the neighbors house.

Chez Moi (the tenant entrance).

Thanksgiving in Sweden with the Hardlund Family

 I took the train to Karlskrona, Sweden on friday to celebrate Thanksgiving with my good friend Linnea (whom I met in Uppsala) and her relatives. We both arrived Friday evening and that is when the baking began. First on the list were the pies; we baked 2 pumpkin and 1 apple. The next morning we got up early and after a light breakfast we were right back in the kitchen, chopping, slicing, mixing and stirring.

On the Menu-

 Pumpkin Bread Rolls with a Buttery Walnut Crumble.

 Brined Turkey rubbed with Spice Butter and Stuffed with Apple and Herbs. 

 Swedish Kantarella Mushroom, Celery, and Onion Stuffing with lots of fresh herbs.

 Two Sweet Potato Casseroles with a Walnut Crumble. 

 Lingon Berry "cranberry" Sauce with Earl Gray and Clementine Peel.

 Warm Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad.

 Green Beans with Caramelized Shallots and Toasted Almonds. 

 The whole spread including the Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Mashed Rutabaga, and Roasted Carrots. 

The proud cooks.

 The excited cooks!

 mmmmm Thanksgiving!!

 

After packing up the leftovers (the rediculous amount of leftovers Linnea and I took home), it was time for Dessert. 

 My oh my, that is a lot of pie. 

The eight of us enjoyed a slice of each of the three pies- 2 different pumpkin pies and an apple pie, as well as some cookies and ice cream.

 All in all the dinner was a HUGE success, nothing burned, no fingers were chopped off, and we managed to time everything perfectly. It was all to-die-for delicious and it was a lot of fun sharing a deeply rooted American holiday with a bunch of Swedish people.

You can put the American Thanksgiving meal on the table, but you cannot put the American Thanksgiving spirit in the people. Linnea and I were the only two who ate so so so much we felt sick, going back for seconds and thirds; the rest just ate a little more than they normally would.

I'm looking forward to the leftovers :)