Scandi tip #9: Borgen

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Picture from Ekstrabladet.dk

I find it fascinating that the Brits are so fascinated with Scandinavian fiction at the moment. First it was Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series, then Jo Nesbø’s books about Harry Hole, then the Danish television series The Killing and now another Danish series on telly; Borgen.

The series have already started on BBC4 but you can always catch up on the iPlayer.

This series is about the female prime minister of Denmark Brigitte Nyborg and her rise to the post and how the power changes her. The series is from 2010 and has already won two European awards and is critically acclaimed, just like the Killing.

Weekday wonders: creamy polenta with fried mushrooms

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When I grew up in the 80s in the south of Sweden we ate potatoes several times a week, that was just the way it was in my meat, potatoes and veg kind of family, and I still love potatoes, but as I grew up and the world seems smaller, there are so many substitutes for potatoes to try for variation, and I definitely like variation.

The grain I am particular fond of is polenta, because it is, like the potato, very versatile. MY favourite way of eating polenta is the creamy version in a bowl with just a fork, and that’s what I had the other day.

All you need is a few ingredients you probably have at hand anyway, it only takes a few minutes, and served with something as simple as fried mushrooms sprinkled with parsley, this is a lovely weekday meal that comforts and tastes fantastic.

The recipe below is for one, and this is perfect food to cook for one. Just double, triple or whatever, the recipe to feed more.

Creamy polenta, serves 1

50 g polenta

200 ml chicken or vegetable stock

1 tbsp butter

50 ml grated parmesan

1/2-1 garlic clove

salt, white pepper

Bring the stock to the boil in a saucepan and stir in the polenta. Cook according to the instuctions of the packet. Remove the saucepa from the heat and stir in the garlic, butter and cheese. Stir to melt and season with salt and pepper.

Fast food my way

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When I have a limited amount of time to cook supper, especially if it is just supper for one, then this is what i usually make.

It takes about 10 minutes from start to finish and I find it delicious. I always have potatoes, red onion and creme fraiche in my kitchen, and roe most of the time too. Because caviar is so salty it keeps in the jar for quite a while in the fridge, so it is easy to have some at hand.

All you need to do is to peel those potatoes, grate them and melt some butter in a frying pan. And how good does that smell?! – melted butter. Yum. Then place little heaps of the grated potatoes in the frying pan, flatten them with a spatula and season a little. Wait until they’ve browned on one side before turning, so place a dollop each of caviar and creme fraiche on your plate and chop half a red onion. Now it is time to turn the rosti and you let them brown and crisp on the other side too. Sprinkle on some more salt and pepper and as they’re done, transfer to your plate and enjoy.

Weekday wonders: dijon and parmesan mashed potatoes

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It is JJanuary. Grey January. Grey cold boring January even. Lots of people are on detox or trying to save pennies after an extravagant month of boozing.

I definitely need to save the pennies, but I also need to get into the habit of cooking weekday food again. It seems to me that December was just a long stretch of canapés, bubbly and party dresses and now we’re back to normal. What an anti climax!

And weekday food is not a particular favourite of mine, I live for parties, nibbles, indulgent puddings and creamy sauces, but I promised myself to try and embrace the regular weekday supper too, and the only way I can do that is to make the food a little more interesting.

Bangers and mash for example, is nice but in my opinion just a tad boring. But if you buy really nice sausages like Toulouse ones and add some parmesan and dijon mustard to the mash, then I can see then point.

So that’s what I did, and it was lovely.

Dijon and parmesan mashed potatoes, serves 2

4 medium potatoes, peeled

50 ml milk

4 tbsp butter

salt, white pepper

1,5-2 tsp dijon mustard

2 tbsp grated parmesan

Cut the potatoes into similar sized pieces. Place in a large saucepan and cover just about, with water. Add salt. Bring to the boil and cook with the lid half on until the potatoes are very soft. Drain and mash the potatoes up with a masher or an electric whisk (yep, it works). Add butter and milk and mash until well combined. Then add the mustard and cheese and combine. Season with salt and pepper. 

A vegan New Year’s Eve menu

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I like to be challenged in the kitchen, and that is why I thought it was a good idea to cook for my friend Jenny and her boyfriend James on NYE before heading to a party. Last time I invited James I cooked a whole lot of mezze dishes inspired from my trip to Syria and Ottolenghi’s book Plenty.

I wanted the NYE menu to be quite traditional, nice and vegan and because it was just for the three of us I kept it quite simple.

~ The New Year’s Eve menu 2011 ~

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Crostini with bean spread

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Jerusalem artichoke soup with coconut milk and fried chestnut mushrooms

Rustic baguette, olive oil and balsamico

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Butternut squash risotto with spinach

Salad with romaine lettuce, romano peppers, avocado and pomegranate

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Vanilla pannacotta with soy cream and passionfruit

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We had champagne to start as well, and thanks to Waitrose I got a great bottle of bubbly half price. At the champagne tasting at Harrod’s I tried some champagnes from Duval-Leroy, but not thiis one; their regular Brut NV, but because I liked the others and it is a good quality champagne house I bought this bottle and it was really good.

Vega Jerusalem artichoke soup with coconut milk, serves 3 as a starter

1 shalot, finely chopped

1 tbsp oliv oil

500 g Jerusalem artichokes, peeled

water

2 tsp concentrated vegetable stock

50 ml coconut milk

salt, white pepper

Topping: fried, sliced chestnut mushrooms

Fry the onion until soft in the oil. Add the artichokes to the pan and fry for a minute or so, Add hot water to cover and add salt. Bring to the boil and cook until very soft. Remove half the water, but keep it on the side, and puré the rest with the artichokes. Add the coconut milk and then adjust the thickness with the left over water. Add concentrated stock, salt and pepper. Bring to the boil again and serve.

Vegan butternut squash risotto with spinach, serves 4

1/2 butternut squash

1/2-1 onion

olive oil

100 ml dry white wine

1 litre vegetable stock

400 g aborio rice

2 handfuls fresh spinach

salt, white pepper

Peel the squash and remove the seeds. Cut it into chunks and place them in a roasting tray, add oil, salt and pepper and mix. Place in 200C for 35 minutes or until soft.

Fry the onions in olive oil in a casserole dish or large saucepan but don’t let it brown. Add the rice and stir for a minute or two. Add the wine and watch most of it evaporate. Then add a ladle of the hot stock and continue to stir while it cooks in. Add another ladle and repeat the procedure until all the stock is used up and the rice is soft. it usually takes 18-20 minutes depending on the type of rice. Add the spinach and stir until it is wilted. Season with salt and pepper and add the butternut squash. Feel free to serve with parmesan if you’re not vegan.

Vegan vanilla pannacotta with soy cream and passionfruit, serves 3

400 ml soy cream

2-3 tbsp vanilla essence

50-75 ml jelly sugar, or the same amount of caser sugar + enough veggie set or agar flakes for the amount of liquid

3 passionfruits

I tried my way through when I cooked this, to get rid of the particular aftertaste soy products have, and I recommend you do the same.

Add the cream to a sauce pan and the smaller amount of sugar and vanilla and heat it up. Then add the sugar and vanilla little by little until you are satisfied with the taste. Add the jeling agent if not using jelly sugar. Bring to the boil and stir so the sugar melts. Pour into dessert coupes or ramekins and leave to cool. Place in the fridge for a minimum of four hours to set. 

Before serving, place the inside of the passionfruits in a bowl and place enough on each pannacotta to cover the top. Serve and enjoy.

My favourtie London restaurants 2011 and where I will spend my money this year…

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It is fun to summarize the past year, don’t you think?! The way I will do it is to reminisce the restaurants I enjoyed the most during the last year.

Lovely tomato salad at Nopi

Below is my list of the best (for me) ten restaurants in London 2011, but it is not a list with the best on top or bottom, just a list, not a ranking, I liked them all in different ways.

  1. St John – I want to go back here very soon. It is a place for proper foodies who enjoy different cuts of meat and non-fancy but delicious meals. We had the best lamb sweetbreads here ever, and the madeleines for pudding are to die for.
  2. Apsleys – we had lunch here on a Top Table offer but we were treated like regulars. Great service, amazing food and that little extra you want when you go to a really nice restaurant.
  3. Opera Tavern – this is a very accessible place for me. There is something for everyone, it is walking distance from the office and the food is fabulous and not very expensive. The pork burger with foie gras is sublime and the range of small cooked dishes, cheeses and charkuteries are great.
  4. L’Atelier Joël de Robuchon – My colleague took me here for an amazing birthday meal. Relaxed yet fantastic, both decor, food and service.
  5. Da Polpo – cheap and cheerful but well cooked. Only downside is that you can’t book a table for the dinner service.
  6. Tsunami – one of my best local restaurants and they have amazing sushi.
  7. Nopi – I am a huge Ottolenghi fan and this restaurant is the perfect place. Lovely dishes and great vegetarian food.
  8. Terroirs – not exciting, but cosy and comfortable with nice no fuss food. A gem I come back to often.
  9. Corner Room – gourmet food to low prices in Hackney, and it was amazing!
  10. The Square – the food is wonderful at this, two starred place, but you need plenty of time to enjoy the meal.

In a city as large as London (same population as the whole of Sweden!) restaurants pop up all the time, and it is difficult to keep up. So I made another list comprising of the London restaurants I want to visit the most this year. Most on the list are fairly new, but there are some old gems I haven’t had the opportunity to visit yet too.

  1. Hawksmoor Seven Dials – you can have steak for breakfast here! That’s a great reason, don’t you think?!
  2. Dinner – Heston Blumenthal’s London restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel seems fabulous and the whole menu consists of old dishes, even cated (i.e. c 1390 etc). Can’t wait to try it!
  3. José and Pizarro – The same man is behind both restaurant. First José opened and made sherry hip again, then Pizarro followed. Tapas and sherry in Bermondsey, anyone?
  4. Cut 45 Park Lane – now you can get proper American steak in London, cooked by an American too. Expensive, but I think it is worth it!
  5. The Delaunay – The team behind The Wolseley has opened a more casual restaurant in Aldwych, with five stars from Time Out and as good food and service as the Wolseley, I will certainly go!
  6. Meat Liquor – Apparently the best burgers in town. Unfortunately you can only queue up and not book, but again, it seems worth it.
  7. Hix – I am a bit ashamed to admit that I haven’t been to this London institution yet, but I will go this year – promise.
  8. Pollen St Social – Ranked one among the world’s 50 best restaurants I sooo want to go. Jason Atherton’s place.
  9. Roganic – the couple behind this restaurant already runa a gamous restaurant in the Lake District and I can’t wait to try one of their menus consisting of either six or ten dishes.
  10. Koya – famous for its udon noodles, is a cheap place perfect for lunch, and that is exactly when I will visit.

A fabulous last meal

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My last evening in Sweden happened to be a Monday night, but we did not let that stop our family to enjoy a New Year’s Eve worthy supper.

Mother pulled out all the stops with Lobster Thermidor, that the whole family loves, followed by wild duck, boiled potatoes, creamy sauce and broccoli pared with a lovely bottle of Italian red.

Safe to say I left Sweden very happy! 🙂

My mother usually cooks the duck quite done by cooking it for hours so it is very tender. But since I love red meat and she loves me, she cooked it pink this time. I ate the redest bits and it was lovely and tender.

As for the wine, it was a 2007 Masi Campofiorin, that I know almost nothing about, but it was a lovely bottle. Very easy to drink also after the meal.

Lobster Thermidor is a very classic dish, and it hasn’t featured on the blog before although I have made it a few times. Unfortunately there are as many recipes as there are cooks, so my version is not even the same as my mother’s. Instead of a full recipe I will give you a little idea of how to make it, so you can take your own twist on it:

Lobster Thermidor

Use half a lobster per person. Cut the cooked lobsters in half lengthways and remove the meat. Rinse the shells and place them in a baking tray. Try to get the claws out of the shells whole if you can and use it for decoration, or just chop it up with the other lobster meat.

Fry sliced button mushrooms. In another pan make a roux and add cream until you have a thick bechamel. Season with cognac, fish or seafood stock, dijon mustard, maybe some parsley or cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Add the mushrooms and the lobster meat towards the end and fill the shells. Sprinkle grated strong cheese on top and place in oven, 200C, for about 15 minutes or until the cheese is golde brown. Serve with bread and tuck in.

A Scandinavian Christmas part III: The food

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I know that last year’s Christmas is done and dusted, but I still want to show you what we ate on Christmas Eve. Before Christmas I gave you the low-down of what happens that day, so it is about time to show you as well.

For lunch (or breakfast for me) we have the cold foods, such as pickled herring, smoked eel, smoked salmon, eggs, bread and cheeses.

And then in the evening we have all the warm food. The reason for this divide is that we don’t want to eat too much so we think having less dishes will help with that, but I’m not sure it works. We all leave the table dying to lie down on the sofa because we’re so full.

Anyway, the first course in the evening we enjoy meatballs, Jansson’s frestelse [temptation] (potato bake with anchovies), small sausages calles prinskorv, red cabbage, brown cabbage (i.e. caramelised white cabbage), Christmas ham with mustard crust, this year we also had a boar ham which was delicious, bread, cheeses and my chicken liver mousse.

Next course is very traditional, and not my favourite I have to admit. The fish is poached salted ling, served with allspice, boiled potatoes and a mustardy bechamel with melted butter.

Dessert consists of rice pudding with lots and lots of whipped cream mixed in and a coulis. We have raspberry and cherry coulis to choose from.

After dinner Santa comes with all the presents and once they are opened we have coffee and pastries. Very typical are the almond biscuit (second from left) and ginger bread of course.

Chocolate cake with mint chocolate frosting

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When it comed to chocolate I just love the Hummingbird Bakery frosting with cream cheese that reminds me of my mothers frosting for her chocolate cake. But because I use this frosting so much, it is fun to alter it a little sometimes, and the easiest way is of course to make a mint chocolate frosting. This version is not too minty, I still wanted the frosting to taste of chocolate, so for me this is perfect, but you can add more or less of peppermint essence to create the flavour you like.

I found this cake quite Christmasy because of the mint flavour and decorated it sparsley with candy cane sprinkles, which was an effective way to make a holiday cake.

Chocolate cake with mint chocolate frosting, serves 8-10

The cake, 2 sponges

400 ml caster sugar

330 ml plain flour

4 tbsp cocoa

2,5 tsp vanilla sugar

2,5 tsp baking powder

135 g melted butter

3 eggs

200 ml hot (recently boiled) water

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add eggs, butter and water and stir to combine. Pour it into one or two round 20cm springforms and bake in a low oven for 35-45 minutes in 175C. Leave to cool completely. Remove from the tin(s). If you only used one tin, but the cake in half with a bread knife.

Mint chocolate frosting

400 g icing sugar

150 g softened butter

60 g cocoa

300 g cream cheese, cold

2 tsp peppermint essence

Beat sugar, butter and cocoa with an electric whisk. Add the cream cheese and beat for about 5 minutes until you have a glossy frosting. Add the peppermint and beat to incorpotate.

Divide the frosting in four. Add the first 1/4 to spread onto the base sponge. Put the other sponge on top and use 2/4 to cover the whole cake with the frosting (both sides and on top). Use the last 1/4 to pipe decorations on top. Add candy cane sprinkles if you like.


All the best for 2012

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2012. A new year, even a new beginning perhaps. New Year’s resolutions?

None of the latter for me, more than trying to indulge in less rich foods sometimes, and instead enjoy more healthy, but still delicious, foods.

Whatever your new year will hold for you, I wish you all the best! I can’t wait to toast in champagne when it strikes midnight, sing Auld Lang Syne and say Happy New Year twice to my Swedish family and friends (because of the one hour time difference) and listen to the only song by ABBA that I atually like:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!