Something had been reignited again. It started with a holiday and then snowballed from there.
I’ve been reading.
Congratulations, I hear you mutter. But really it is a big thing. Books were getting piled up in ambitious piles and not moving. The newspaper was taunting me.
Then it all changed. Three books in three weeks and the ball was rolling, really quite fast. They were fat books too. The most I had been reading before that, was the back of the peanut butter jar… Even that was skim reading.
So what got me going again?
Stieg Larsson. The Millenium triology.
Goodbye Monkeys, goodbye Mr Chocolate, goodbye tv, *ahem* goodbye cityhippyfarmgirl blog… hello Sweden and your criminal mysteries.
Thoroughly enjoyed the books, all three of them.
Now with that being said, I have been immersed in all things Scandinavian and my taste buds are calling for food that would be fitting. Rye bread was obviously a must, along with anything else I could make happen.
I had also kept in the back of my mind this beautiful lady’s crisp bread recipe from the beginning of the year. It was time to give that one a go, and I’m so glad I did. They make the perfect base for an open sandwich, and I think they will definitely become a staple around here.
Knekkebrod
200g spelt flour
200g whole oats
100g pepita
100g sunflower seeds
100g LSA (linseed, sunflower and almond meal)
25g sesame
350mls water
These are the ingredients I used as it was what I had on hand. I can see how they would be incredibly versatile though, and using any ingredients that you really like. I loved them, and am definitely going to make them regularly now. See here for Turid’s original recipe though.
The Split Pea Soup I suspect is not just restricted to Swedish eating, however Jamie Oliver has a recipe for it in his Swedish section in this great book, and while I adapted it to what I had on hand and my taste buds, the one thing that I think is genius was to put mustard on top. Now, I love my mustard but I would never have thought to add it to a Split Pea Soup, so thanks Jamie.
Split Pea Soup
adapted from Jamie Oliver’s “Jamie does…”
A good couple of slurps of olive oil
add a couple of diced sticks of celery, and an onion
cook it down a little
add 500g of washed split peas
and about 1.5 litres of stock (I use vegetable stock)
1 tsp oregano
and simmer it for about 45 minutes or until soft.
Serve with a dollop of mustard and knekkebrod.
I got the steig Larssons for christmas and totally ignored my family for the five days it took me to devour them:) They are fantastic aren’t they? What are you planning to read next?
Your crispbread and soup look delicious.
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Thanks P.H. I’m glad I’m not the only one that felt compelled to ignore their families 🙂
Next book is The Land of Painted Caves, the last of the series.
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I loved the books! Thanks for sharing the recipes inspired by reading them 🙂
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They completely draw you in don’t they.
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You could try the box set of ‘The Killing’ the Danish original, not the American remake. That would take you through to Christmas… I think that might be the soup that goes with the pancakes on Thursdays…. Your knackebrod looks very snappy 🙂
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Very snappy!
I think The Killing may have been shown here, but I didn’t watch any. I’ll have a look for it though. Have you seen any of The Wire? Best box set EVER…we did them last year.
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Thanks for the reminder that some escapism is a good thing. I might try working my way through the pile next to the bed. And I loved the Millenium series too. Have you tried Janet Evanovich? Totally different, female bounty hounter, American/polish/italian, very funny, little bit of sexual tension and a really easy but good read. Start at number one.
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Escapism is a wonderful thing Alison. I’d forgotten too…
Thanks for the book tip.
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Lovely recipes 🙂 And I’m thrilled for you that you finished the books! I remember the satisfaction of getting to the end of the third…although then there was also the thwump of coming down to earth and realising that they were over. At least there’s always a new book waiting in the wings.
Are you going to see the movies? I’ve only seen the first (I’m much slower at getting to movies than to books…) and I liked it, but of course films never live up to the magic of books.
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I do want to see the movies, but haven’t as yet. I wanted the strong imagery I had from the books to fade a little before I changed it all by watching a movie.
hey I might have to start a little book chart like you 🙂
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I often head off into book land too, until the family starts grumbling about a lack of food 🙂 Those books were good! Love a kick ass chick 🙂
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Nothing better than a kick ass chick!
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These are definitely going to get made in this house – particularly after my recent conversation with you about that magic combination of rye bread or crackers, spread with cream cheese, carpeted with green chives on top of which go slices of cured salmon and softly boiled eggs, before adding a little nest salmon roe. I know you don’t like me bringing it up (at the risk of you bringing it back up) given your thing about soft eggs and salmon….but it’s soooooo good.
I can’t seem to put down David Mitchell’s The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. And I recently went back to some of Dahl’s decidely grown short stories – they are a wonder.
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“So, please, oh please, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away, and in its place you can install, a lovely bookcase on the wall”- Roald Dahl
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I have a similar love of split pea soup…we also put in some carrot, barley, and lentils…so good (but not on the hottest days of summer here)
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No, I would think that would be the last thing you would be feeling like in the depths of your summer!
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For genuine Scandinavian pea soup, search out split yellow peas (in Danish called gule ærter), and make your soup from those rather than split green peas. There’s a huge difference in taste, and you’ll find that your added mustard takes on a new dimension.
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Actually, they were yellow. The photo probably gives a funny green tinge because of the bowl and the lighting, but they were yellow. I just had another bowl for lunch and they really do hit the spot.
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It’s not your photo. 😀 I just looked at the same photo on my husband’s big monitor, and it’s lovely and golden colour.
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Ha! Hilarious that a re-ignition of an affair with the written word should lead to…rye bread. Passion, that is!
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I’ve just started a book on neanderthals and cro-magnons, but am pretty sure this will not be leading to a paleolithic diet- no bread and cake? Never.
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Good books, rye bread and crisp breads, and pea soup w/mustard sound perfect for a winter’s evening. For right now- I’m going to stick with a savory cantaloupe soup with capers and dark cherry salsa and blt sandwiches. 🙂
But I’m revisiting here as soon as the temps drop!
Although I’m going to keep reading no matter what the weather is outside!
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Your alternative heidi sounds just fine 🙂
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a have a mountain of books, magazines and catalogues growing by my bed by the day. spare time seems to be occupied by house building stuff and the entourage series these days. hope i get bitten by your reading bug soon!
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It really did take a holiday to restart it all. It’s hard though, all I want to do now is read.
House building is time consuming though!
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I never managed the 2nd & 3rd Millenium books – the violence was a little too much for me – but there are quite a few great Scandinavian writers around at the moment. You might not get any chores done for quite a while!
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Ahh, what’s a girl too do eh? The dirty oven will still be there 😉
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Your knekkebrød looks so tasty! I can highly recommend the Norwegian writer Jo Nesbo whenever you need something new to read. Not only crime, but also children’s books; Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder etc… Very amusing for both adults and children!
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Thank you Turid for the recipe! I would never have thought to make them if you hadn’t posted them. To give it an Australian twist they are delicious with butter and vegemite. Although I’m also loving them doused in mustard, salad, canned beetroot, and cheese. Piled high!
And I’ll keep my eye out for Jo Nesbo, looks like he would appeal to both me and The Monkeys.
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Ooh I love that series! And it got me all inspired to bake Swedish things too! Hehe I’m still curious to try a Billy’s pan pizza 😛
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Yum yum. Both the bread and the soup sound delicious, and SO comforting.
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The Millenium series is definitely a great read (although, honestly, I did get a little lost in all the Swedish politics at times.) Salander was a brilliant character – so unusual and compelling. Glad you matched your food to the books. An excellent time of year to get Nordic x
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This looks lovely! I’ve never thought of split pea soup as swedish either but who cares where it is from as long as it keeps out the cold – we have been having bread and split pea soup this week too but very different versions.
Good to hear you are getting into reading – the millennium series is compulsive reading – though quite intense too – I need something to grab me right – now – nothing like the pleasure of snuggling up with a good book
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I’m half Norwegian, I grew up there mostly and I loooove your knekkebrød recipe! Way to go, now *i* need to read those books!
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hi.would you please send me method for knaekebrod?because link is not available anymore.thanks.btw.I made your xmas stoellen and it was a hit!good luck with writing nice blog.
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Sorry Hana, it’s been awhile since I made them and I can’t remember the ratios now. Let me see if I can make them again.
Really happy to hear about the Stollen too 🙂
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