Scandinavian Feasts: Celebrating Traditions throughout the Year

298 Pages·2001·7 MB·English

by  Beatrice A. Ojakangas

Scandinavian Feasts
ALSO BY BEATRICE OJAKANGAS
The Great Scandinavian Baking Book
The Great Holiday Baking Book
The Finnish Cookbook
Light Muffins
Pot Pies
Quick Breads
Scandinavian Cooking
Whole Grain Breads by Machine or Hand
Light and Easy Baking
The Best of Wild Rice Recipes
Beatrice Ojakangas
Scandinavian Feasts
CELEBRATING TRADITIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
University of Minnesota Press Minneapolis — London
Copyright 1992 by Beatrice Ojakangas
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a re-
trieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the
publisher.
First published in hardcover by Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 1992
First University of Minnesota Press edition, 2001
Published by the University of Minnesota Press
111 Third Avenue South, Suite 290
Minneapolis, MN 55401-2520
http://www.upress.umn.edu
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
A Cataloging-in-Publication record for this book is available from the Library of
Congress.
The University of Minnesota is an equal-opportunity educator and employer.
11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
To my dedicated partner and loving husband,
Richard Wayne Ojakangas
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Contents
Preface — ix
Acknowledgments — xiii
Breakfasts
Finnish Farmhouse Breakfast — 3
Swedish Country Breakfast — 9
Classic Scandinavian Breakfast — 13
Brunches
Norwegian Summer Brunch — 21
Danish Advent Afternoon Brunch — 25
Puffy Oven Pancake Brunch — 29
Saint Lucia's Day Candlelight Brunch — 35
Lunches
Finnish Christmas Lunch — 43
Thursday Pea Soup and Pancakes — 49
Birthday Party Luncheon — 55
Picnics
Norwegian Celebration Picnic — 63
Dalecarlia Picnic Stew and Waffles — 75
Midsummer's Picnic — 79
Finnish Fireside Steam-Smoked Fish Feast — 89
Buffets
Easter Buffet — 97
Candlemaking Buffet — 109
Name Day Feast in Finland — 115
Karelian Country Buffet — 123
A Danish Sm0rrebr0d — 131
Dinners
Danish Confirmation Feast — 147
Christmas Season Lutefisk and Meatball Dinner — 155
Saint Martin's Day Feast of the Goose — 165
Summertime Freshwater Salmon Feast — 173
Feast of the Crayfish — 179
Gudrun's Recipe — 183
Suppers
Midnight Supper on the West Coast of Sweden — 193
Fat Tuesday Supper — 199
Norwegian Midsummer's Midnight Supper — 207
After-Ski Supper — 211
Salmon Soup Supper — 219
Snacks and Coffee Tables
Snacks in the Finnish Sauna — 225
Celebration Coffee Table — 229
Finnish May Day Party — 239
Christmas Coffee Table — 243
Glossary — 261
Conversions — 269
Index — 273
Preface
SITUATED AS SCANDINAVIA is, in the northern part of the
'northern hemisphere, it really has only two seasons: summer
and winter. Light, not temperature, has everything to do with the
change in season.
Summer comes with Easter in the minds of Scandinavians, whether the
ground is still covered with snow crystals or not. By the end of April, the
days are as long as midsummer days in Minnesota. Beginning then, the long
Scandinavian summer days are full of color, and people make the most of the
extra hours of daylight and energy by enjoying the outdoors as much as pos-
sible. The foods of summer are themselves cause for celebration: tiny garden
vegetables, lettuces, berries, and fruits; fresh fish, sometimes plump with roe,
from the streams, lakes, and seas; and dairy products, rich and creamy.
Breakfasts may be served early in the morning and suppers, at midnight.
Coffee and sandwiches fit anywhere in between. All are frequently served
outdoors, so family and friends can enjoy the lingering hours of light.
Winter, or at least the mood of winter, begins about the time that the
school year starts in August or September. Mushrooms and game from the
forests, simmered stews, and home-baked breads begin to sound very tempt-
ing. As the sun makes its way back to the southern hemisphere, the days be-
come short, welcoming cozy, indoor meals. By December, lunch by candle-
light fulfills the wintry desire for warmth and color.
Among all Scandinavians, once you break the ice, there is an abundance
of hospitality. Breaking the ice usually begins with an invitation to coffee,
which most Scandinavians drink by the gallon, often accompanied by won-
derful cookies, cakes, and pastries. Alcoholic drinks are very expensive in
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