Despite the mess...

- we still managed to squeeze some time in to do Christmas Baking with the girls - twice :-)

First time was on Thursday, where they made some "peppernuts" with Granny (pepper, because it's one of the ingredients and nuts, because that's how they are shaped). And as a demand by my little girl it had to be nursery's recipe we used.

Peppernuts or "pebernødder" as they are called in Danish is one of the oldest Christmas Cookies dating back from the 1700's - and I think most families have there very own recipe. It is a must-have for Christmas (which is a bit of a problem as ours have already gone...) and it was one of the eatable things they used to put in little cones on the Christmas Tree.

If you would like to try them yourself, here is what to do:

375g of butter
375g of sugar
850g of flour
3 eggs
1 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cardamom
1½ tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1-3 pinches of white pepper

Kneed it all together until you have a uniform ball of dough. Take a piece of the dough and roll it into a long snake-shape about ½ inch thick and then cut into ½ inch pieces (see 2nd picture of the girls). Roll each piece into a ball and bake for 10-12 mins. at 200 degrees.

If you would like them really crunchy, put then all back in the oven once it has been turned off, whilst it is cooling down.

I really hope this makes sense :-)

Happy Baking

Gitte x

Apples Apples Apples

The apple season is over us, and I have been given lots of cooking apples from a lovely neighbor - like two shopping bags and a big bucket lots :-)

The thing is - I just can't turn down an offer like that, so what to do...

I have tried to do different thing with them - diced and halved some for the freezer, ready for crumble and pie, cooked some with sugar and vanilla to serve with crushed macaroons and whipped cream and finally I made 2.5 liters of apple squash, which is different but nice.

So tonight, since the in-laws are here and it's the girls autumn half term, I found a recipe for apple pie here, but since it's in Danish I thought I'd just translate :-)

Sweet pastry
You need 2 portions, one for the base and one for the lid:
100 g butter
150 g flour
1½ tsp sugar
pinch of salt
½-1 egg

Mix butter, flour, sugar and salt until crumbled, then add the egg and bring it all together. 

Filling
5 apples, halved
4 tbsp sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
egg for egg wash
sugar for sprinkling

Roll out one portion of the pastry for the base. 

Place the apples on the pastry, round side up. Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the apples

Roll out the lid and place over the apples and join with the base at the edge. Cut some holes to allow the steam from the apples to get out.

Finally, bake for 25-35 mins. on 180 degrees and Ta-daaa...

Enjoy :-)

Gitte x

Dinner with friends

A few weeks ago we was invited to the Christening of our lovely nephew Jonannes. I was a lovely day with family and VERY nice food.

I have to admit I have never been a fan of the thought of bulgur wheat and spelt salad but that day I saw the light. We had the most fantastic various salads with spelt, fennel, sun dried tomatoes and green beans (not all in the same bowl of course).

Today, after 5 k of orienteering, we had some very good friends over for lunch and after hunting high and low for some spelt grain with no luck, I decided to try a green bean salad my good friend Anette told me about.

It is very delicious and so easy to make too - here are the ingredients if you want to try:

Fresh green beans - blanched
Feta cheese
Red onion
Almond flakes

Dressing:
2 parts olive oil
1 part balsamic vinegar
1 part acacia honey

Bon appetit!

Gitte xxx