It’s all feeling a little Nordic

Posted on August 1, 2011 by cityhippyfarmgirl

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.

37 thoughts on “It’s all feeling a little Nordic”

Provincial Homemaker on August 1, 2011 at 3:48 pm said:

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.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on August 2, 2011 at 12:10 pm said:
  
  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.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Tandy on August 1, 2011 at 4:48 pm said:

I loved the books! Thanks for sharing the recipes inspired by reading them 🙂

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on August 2, 2011 at 12:11 pm said:
  
  They completely draw you in don’t they.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Joanna on August 1, 2011 at 5:06 pm said:

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 🙂

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on August 2, 2011 at 12:13 pm said:
  
  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.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
alison@thisbloominglife on August 1, 2011 at 5:17 pm said:

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.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on August 2, 2011 at 12:14 pm said:
  
  Escapism is a wonderful thing Alison. I’d forgotten too…
  Thanks for the book tip.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts on August 1, 2011 at 5:44 pm said:

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.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on August 2, 2011 at 12:16 pm said:
  
  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 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Mrs Bok on August 1, 2011 at 6:34 pm said:

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 🙂

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on August 2, 2011 at 12:17 pm said:
  
  Nothing better than a kick ass chick!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Wendy on August 1, 2011 at 8:06 pm said:

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.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on August 2, 2011 at 12:21 pm said:
  
  “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
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Citysister on August 1, 2011 at 8:51 pm said:

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)

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on August 2, 2011 at 12:22 pm said:
  
  No, I would think that would be the last thing you would be feeling like in the depths of your summer!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Misk Cooks on August 1, 2011 at 9:18 pm said:

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.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on August 2, 2011 at 12:24 pm said:
  
  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.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - Misk Cooks on August 2, 2011 at 5:43 pm said:
    
    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.
    
    LikeLike
Tania on August 1, 2011 at 10:06 pm said:

Ha! Hilarious that a re-ignition of an affair with the written word should lead to…rye bread. Passion, that is!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on August 2, 2011 at 12:27 pm said:
  
  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.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
heidi on August 1, 2011 at 10:28 pm said:

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!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on August 2, 2011 at 12:27 pm said:
  
  Your alternative heidi sounds just fine 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
rachel @ tea with lucy on August 1, 2011 at 10:48 pm said:

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!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on August 2, 2011 at 12:29 pm said:
  
  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!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Amanda on August 1, 2011 at 10:54 pm said:

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!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on August 2, 2011 at 12:31 pm said:
  
  Ahh, what’s a girl too do eh? The dirty oven will still be there 😉
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
turid on August 2, 2011 at 1:44 am said:

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!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on August 2, 2011 at 12:37 pm said:
  
  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.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on August 2, 2011 at 4:54 pm said:

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 😛

LikeLike

Reply ↓
Joyti on August 3, 2011 at 5:00 am said:

Yum yum. Both the bread and the soup sound delicious, and SO comforting.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
MultipleMum on August 3, 2011 at 5:52 pm said:

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

LikeLike

Reply ↓
JohannaGGG on August 5, 2011 at 9:50 am said:

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

LikeLike

Reply ↓
Lizi on August 5, 2011 at 12:18 pm said:

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!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
hana on May 22, 2014 at 6:46 am said:

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.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- cityhippyfarmgirl on May 22, 2014 at 7:23 am said:
  
  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 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Pingback: Cinnamon Bun Day | cityhippyfarmgirl