Random mishmash of stuff:
I got my hair cut yesterday. I wanted it to look sort of like Faye’s hair from Questionable Content (like in this strip – Faye has glasses and gray shirt), but I’m not a comic strip character. So it looks like this:
Here’s my attempt to take the photo myself:
And I got my mom to write down some of my favorite Scandinavian Christmas recipes for a Christmas cookbook project a friend is doing as a fundraiser.
In case they are of interest:
Berlinerkranser (Norwegian Berlin Rings) (delicious with coffee)
5 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 lb butter
4 eggs
1 tsp almond extract Pearl sugar (can be purchased at IKEA or Scandinavian markets, crushed sugar cubes work in a pinch)
Sift flour before measuring, then sift together flour and sugar. Cream butter. Add flour mixture gradually and mix well. Add four egg yolks and two egg whites whipped slightly, and then add extract. Mix well. Refrigerate dough until firm. Working with a part of the dough at a time, roll between palms of hands and lightly floured board into ropes half inch thick. Cut into 3 inch sections and turn into wreath shapes, pinching ends together. Whip additional egg whites. Dip wreath shapes into egg whites and then into pearl sugar. Bake on lightly greased baking sheets at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Makes about 48.
Lussekatt (Saint Lucia Day Rolls) These are traditionally made with saffron, but my family uses cardamom instead.
1 cup milk 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup butter 4-5 cups flour 6 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 packages dry yeast 1 1/2 teaspoons cardamom 1 cup mixed candied fruit (optional)
Warm milk, water, and butter to 120 to 130 degrees. Put 3 1/2 cups flour, sugar, salt, candied fruit, cardamom, and yeast in Kitchen Aid mixing bowl. Attach bowl and dough hook to mixer. Turn on speed two. Add warmed liquids to flour mixture. Continuing on speed two add flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough clings to dough hook. Knead one minute longer. Cover bowl and let rise for 30 minutes. Turn dough onto floured board. Shape as desired. Let rise 20 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until done. Yields about two dozen rolls. Drizzle with powdered sugar glaze if desired.
Powdered Sugar Glaze
1/4 cup butter (4 tablespoons) 2 cups powdered sugar 2 tablespoons milk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Melt butter in a saucepan or microwave. Sift powdered sugar into a medium size bowl. Add the melted butter to the powdered sugar. Add milk. If desired, add vanilla for flavor. Beat until smooth and creamy. Spread over rolls.
Saint Lucia Day, celebrated on December 13, commemorates a Sicilian martyr from the fourth century. Its modern celebration is generally associated with Sweden and Norway. In the U.S. it is celebrated by families, churches, and colleges with Scandinavian heritages. It was commonly believed in Scandinavia as late as the end of the 19th century that this was the longest night of the year.
The eldest daughter of the family acts as Lucia, wearing a white dress, a red sash, and a wreath of candles in her hair. She brings her parents coffee and special rolls as breakfast in bed on the morning of December 13. The wreath of candles she wears in her hair symbolizes the fire that refused to take Saint Lucia’s life. In schools and churches one girl is chosen as Saint Lucia to lead a procession with singing and candles.
Saint Lucia was a devout Christian who refused to marry a non-Christian man. He turned her in to Roman authorities and she was sentenced to death by burning. The fire would not light, so a soldier stabbed her. Again she did not die. Eventually she was beheaded and died after receiving the sacrament.
In another story, Saint Lucia was working to help Christians hiding in the catacombs and in order to bring with her as many supplies as possible; she needed to have both hands free. She solved this problem by attaching candles to a wreath on her head.
Adapted from Wikipedia’s Saint Lucia article (www.wikipedia.org) and memories of my childhood.
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