Scandelights

Almond cake with whipped cream and strawberries

Published on July 6, 2013July 5, 2013 by HannaLeave a comment

When I saw this beauty (then served with almond sorbet and blackberries) on the great Swedish food blog; Skånska Skafferiet (The Scanian Larder), I knew my colleagues would love it.

And I seem to know them pretty well, because this cake was the first to vanish when I baked for the office this time. I had also made a scrumptious lemon cake and some chocolate pots (recipes to follow).

Almond cake with whipped cream and strawberries, serves 6-8

Translated from Anna’s recipe.

The cake:

250 g almonds, whole

250 g caster sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

(pinch of salt)
butter for the tin

To serve:

300 ml lightly whipped cream

200 g strawberries, washed and halved

Pre-heat the oven to 180C.

Grind the almonds. Beat eggs and sugar, salt and vanilla until pale and fluffy using an electric whisk or Kitchen Aid. Fold the ground almonds into the fluffy mixture, keeping some to coat the tin. Butter a round baking tin/dish and coat with ground almonds. Add any remnants to the cake batter and pour it into the tin.

Bake in the middle of the oven for 55-60 minutes. Remove the cake and let it cool completely before decorating it with whipped cream and berries.

Grädda i mitten av ugnen i cirka 55-60 minuter. Ta ut kakan och låt den svalna ordentligt innan du spänner av kanterna.

Mexican corn salad

Published on July 4, 2013 by Hanna3 Comments

We had gorgeous weather here last weekend. I made the most of it and sat outside bronzing up and reading, changing between that week’s Stylist, Jo Nesbo’s latest crime novel (read it!) and the latest issues of Bon Appetit and Delicious Magazine.

At the same time I was contemplating the best way to jazz up some leftovers and then suddenly I literally saw the answer in front of me; this Mexican corn salad in Bon Appetit’s grilling issue. I had everything at home (not that it requires that many ingredients) and made it the same evening, warming up some left over pork to go with it. And OMG, the salad was amazing! The sweet and slightly smoky corn from the barbecue paired with salty cheese, fresh tangy lime juice, a hint of heat from cayenne and a little bit of mayonnaise for creaminess, this is the ultimate companion to any barbecued meats.

Do try this at home!

Mexican corn salad, serves 4

Adapted from Bon Appetit.

4 ears of corn

3 tbsp mayonnaise

1 tbsp fresh lime juice

1/8 tsp ground paprika

a pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

about 55 g grated parmesan

2 tbsp chopped coriander + more for serving

salt and black pepper

Preparation

Prepare grill for medium heat. Grill corn, turning occasionally, until tender and charred, 8–10 minutes; let cool slightly. Cut kernels from cobs and transfer to a medium bowl.

Whisk mayonnaise, lime juice, paprika, cayenne, cheese and coriander in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Add corn and toss to combine. Top with more cheese and coriander.

Vanilla ice cream with blackberries in lime sugar

Published on July 3, 2013 by Hanna2 Comments

One thing I have in common with my mother, is that the worst thing that could happen when having people over is if they were to leave still feeling hungry. On Friday, however, there was no chance of that happening. We were so full that I had to rethink the pudding.

My plan was to make molten chocolate cakes served with homemade vanilla ice cream, but instead we opted for a more refreshing approach; the same ice cream served with blackberries in lime sugar.

Although I love berries I think they can be a bit bland on their own which is why I like to serve them like this, with some caster sugar, fresh lime juice and zest.

Vanilla icecream, makes about 1 litre

400 ml double cream

200 ml whole milk

1 tsp vanilla

4 egg yolk

150 ml caster sugar

Beat the egg yolks and sugar until pale and fluffy. In the mean time heat up the cream, milk and vanilla in a saucepan. Pour the warm cream mixture into the sugar mixture while whisking. Place the bowl in a bain marie and whisk while the mixture thickens (about 10 minutes). Leave to cool in room temperature, then place in fridge to cool, preferably over night.

Make the ice cream using an ice cream maker, about 40 mins. In the mean time place the intended container in the freezer to cool down. Freeze for at least 45 minutes before serving.

Blackberries in lime sugar, serves 4

300 g blackberries, washed

1/2 lime, zest and juice

1-2 tbsp caster sugar

Mix the zest and juice with the sugar and mix with the berries. Serve straight away.

Chipotle marinade for pork

Published on July 2, 2013July 2, 2013 by HannaLeave a comment

Friday’s dinner was a casual affair. We started with my favourite summer drink then peeled our own prawns and then I dragged everyone up onto the roof terrace as I turned on the barbecue.

I had put some pork shoulder steaks in a homemade chipotle marinade two days before so they were nice and tender and full of flavour. The smoky barbecue also added lots of flavour of course, and the meat was really truly delicious.

The trimmings were just as rustic; barbecued corn on the cob (with butter and Halen Mon spicy salt), potato wedges, slaw and aioli. It was so nice to just dig into all the food and stuff ourselves. We were so full in fact, that I had to make us a simpler pudding!

Chipotle marinade for pork, enough for about 1 kg meat

800g-1kg pork shoulder steaks

4 tsp chipotle paste

2 tbsp ketchup

3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce

1 tbsp soy sauce

4-5 tbsp mild oil

salt, black pepper

Mix all the ingredients, season with salt and pepper. Brush the marinade onto the meat on both sides. Place the meat in a dish or strong ziplock bag and pour the remaining marinade over the meat. Let it marinate in the fridge for at least 24 hours (if possible) and turn the meat at least once.

Take out the meat from the fridge at least an hour before cooking so it can reach room temperature before grilling.

Cold water prawns with black garlic dip

Published on July 1, 2013 by Hanna2 Comments

Most Fridays of my ~~childhood~~ life before I moved to London we would have prawns for supper. When I grew up it was an easy supper to prepare for my mother who worked full time and we never grew tired of it. Even at university we had prawns for supper regularly and I do miss it at times.

Of course there are prawns in the shops here too, but often peeled and therefore less tasty. But when I was shopping at Waitrose for this Friday’s little dinner party they had plenty in the fish counter.

I admit it was a bit alien for my friends to peel prawns for dinner, but they all got into it. And the black garlic dip I served them with was such a nice change from mayonnaise or aioli. Much more depth in flavour I will definitely make this again.

Describing the flavour of the fermented garlic is near impossible as it is rather complex. But compared to regular garlic it is much milder, sweeter and rounder in flavour.

Black garlic-dipp, serves 5-6

Translated and adapted from Pytte’s recipe.

4 cloves black garlic

300 ml full fat creme fraiche

1 lemon wedge, juice only

salt and pepper

Press the black garlic and mix with the creme fraiche. Add lemon juice, salt and pepper and b beat with a stick blender for a few minutes for a fluffy dip.

Broad bean toast with ricotta and mint

Published on June 27, 2013June 27, 2013 by HannaLeave a comment

Preparing broad beans is quite time consuming but is, in my opinion, completely worth it. Sometimes I even enjoy such menial tasks and was stood quite happily by the kitchen window preparing these little treasures.

I prefer a simple approach to fresh new produce but at the same time want the finished dish to be exciting rather than boring and pairing these little goodies with ricotta, lemon and mint really worked.

I had the toast for supper but the toppings would work just as well on crostinis as a nibble before dinner.

Broad bean toast with ricotta and mint, serves 1

1 slice proper crusty bread

3 tbsp ricotta

1/2 tsp lemon zest

3 tsp rapeseed oil

100 ml (or so) podded broad beans

1 tbsp chopped mint

salt and pepper

Toast the bread in a toaster. Leave to cool. Cook the broadbeans in water for about 5 minutes (until they look almost white). Drain and remove the white outer shells.

Mix the ricotta with 1 tsp rapeseed oil and the lemon zest. Season well. Mix the beans with mint and the remaining oil, salt and pepper.

Spread the ricotta on to the bread, top with the broad beans and drizzle with some extra oil before serving.

A different Midsummer – Wyndstock

Published on June 26, 2013 by HannaLeave a comment

While my friends and family back in Sweden ate pickled herring and drank several aquavit I celebrated midsummer in a more British way. Together with my friends Gaby and Laura I went to Houghton Hall in Norfolk to attend Wyndstock – The Country House Party.

When I arrived on Friday evening my friends were already there, so they showed be around and we had some wine in the bar tent and enjoyed the bonfire. Then off to bed only to be woken up by torrential rain and we found out the hard way that the tent we had hired from the organisers was not waterproof. Luckily the weather improved, tents were repaired and we actually got a new (waterproof) tent for the second night.

On Saturday after breakfast we went on a tour with the game keeper in the deer park which was quite the sight.

At midday we got to go into the house and look at the new exhibition Houghton Revisited. For the first time since Catherine the Great bought Robert Walpole’s (the first British prime minister) art collection it has been returned – on loan – to Houghton Hall where he used to live.

After lunch (a nice paella with chicken, chorizo, squid, prawns and mussels)…

… we had tea and cakes. People from the local parish sold baked goods they had baked themselves. It was quite the spread!

We had a lovely cheese scone to share and a cake slice each. Gaby had glutenfree carrot cake and Laura and I had a delicious chocolate cake with both cream and frosting.

In the evening dinner was served either at 7pm or 9pm, we had the earlier slot and although it was well organised we were pretty disappointed by the food. The starter was just about OK, the maincourse dreadful but the brownie for pudding was actually delicious. We still managed to dance until pretty late and watch the fire works. And it was so nice with a dry night’s sleep. On Sunday we left after breakfast to get back to London for afternoon. Despite the weather I had a great time and although Saturday supper was pretty bad the food was otherwise quite nice and everything was very well organised.

Taste of London 2013

Published on June 25, 2013June 25, 2013 by Hanna1 Comment

I didn’t enjoy this year’s edition of Taste of London as much as I did last year’s as I rushed to Regents Park on Thursday after work. It was my only chance to attend because I was away at the weekend.

Because I was slightly rushed, and tired, I decided to only divide my attention between the restaurants and the Electrolux Taste Theatre and give the other vendors a miss. I really enjoyed some of the food and was rather unimpressed with others.

My first treat was a delicious Bar Boulud hot dog made from pork and Somerset cheddar with a cumberland glaze and Savoy cabbage.

Next up was steak from Argentinian Zoilo. I had the asado; skirt steak with celeriac and parsley salad and bone marrow sauce. The steak was delicious and perfectly cooked, but the salad was really disappointing. The bone marrow sauce was more like jus than a sauce and added umami but wasn’t as strong in flavour as I had hoped.

Gourmet marshmallows.

Serious BBQs at Gordon Ramsay.

Just before I headed to the Taste Theatre I grabbed this Barbecoa burger. And I was so disappointed. It tasted like any homemade beef patty and the bun and condiments (cheddar, heritage tomato and charred red onion) weren’t amazing either.

Cooking on stage this evening was Magnus Nilsson (from Swedish restaurant Fäviken). He was very charismatic and cooked two dishes for us while chatting to a journalist. And in the end the journalist got to try homemade Swedish snus – which was quite fun to watch.

At Alyn Williams at the Westbury I had the fennel cured salmon with nettle vichyssoise and taleggio. Both the salmon and the soup were lovely, but it didn’t seem like a finished dish.

But Sushisamba delivered! This gorgeous sasa roll (shrimp tempura, shishito, coriander, spicy mayo and red onions) was delicious. Also the yellow wrap was edible and tasted surprisingly nice.

To finish I went back to where I started – at Bar Boulud – and had the macaron sandwich with strawberry yoghurt icecream. Sweet and refreshing at the same time!

Claude’s Kitchen, Parsons Green

Published on June 24, 2013 by HannaLeave a comment

Last weekend I met up with my fellow Scandi friend Malin in Parson’s Green. I was rather tired this Sunday and it wasn’t until we walked past the restaurant in question that I remembered I really wanted to try this newly opened eatery. Claude’s Kitchen is situated on top of the champagne bar Amuse Bouche and has the same relaxed ambiance as the floor below. The decor matched the atmosphere with its mismatched wooden tables, stripped wooden floors and thick red and white napkins.

Both Malin and I decided to have two starters each. It was a warm day and the main courses was a little bit on the heavy side.

But first came the delicious bread and soft whipped butter. I like restaurants that take the bread serious. First impressions and all that.

We had the same starter to start; the variation of asparagus. It consisted of both fried and raw shavings of green asparagus, saffron mayonnaise, goat’s curd and sorrel and was utterly delicious.

Malin’s second dish was fried mackerel with pickled vegetables and grapes. Pretty as a picture and very tasty too.

My rabbit and chorizo with beetroot and hazelnuts was lovely too. The chorizo was of the meaty variety, packed with flavour. The rabbit was well-cooked but unfortunately on the bone, which proved tricky to eat when it was coloured dark purple from the beetroot. Otherwise I really liked the beetroot soup in this dish.

We really enjoyed the food and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. The only thing I found a bit strange with our service was that all the dishes arrived almost at once. At first I thought it was because we came in late (after 3pm) and the kitchen was about to close, but when we got the pudding menu the kitchen seemed to have all the time in the world so that didn’t make sense. Probably just a communication error.

I will definitely come back and don’t be surprised if I become a regular; Claude’s Kitchen is after all only 10 minutes walking distance from the flat.

Amuse bouche | 51 Parsons Green Lane SW6 4JA | 02073 718 517

Happy midsummer!

Published on June 21, 2013 by HannaLeave a comment

Today is the day when the Swedes eat plenty of pickled herring, new potatoes with dill and chives and wash it down with plenty of aquavit (snaps). Dessert is usually a strawberry cream cake or just simply strawberries and cream.

It is also tradition to raise a maypole to dance around and since it is the longest day of the year people usually party until early morning.

Even though I haven’t properly celebrated Midsummer for five years, this year I am a bit sad on missing out. But I hope my Swedish friends will celebrate for me to.

Happy Midsummer! And skål!