1 comments about Swedish Food and Cooking.

1. This is a terrific cookbook for anyone interested in Swedish cuisine. The recipes are clear and easy to follow, and they include wonderful tips and photos. The book also has a very nice summary of Swedish history and culture, and descriptions of the origin of the recipes and how they relate to Swedish life. Great fun!

2 comments about Scandinavian Feasts: Celebrating Traditions throughout the Year.

1. Beatrice Ojakangas proves again why she is the foremost expert on Scandinavian cooking. A great find and a good buy!



2. This book is filled with great recipes. One of our favorites is the spice rye bread recipe that takes rye bread and infuses it with essence of orange and molasses.
   
   The book is not laid out traditionally with one section for beverages, one for appetizers, one for main dishes etc. That means if you are seeking inspiration for what dessert to bring to a gathering you need to have an idea of what you are looking for and consult the index.
   
   If you are interested in learning more about the cooking in Scandinavia as part of their culture and celebrations this is a great resource. For each season there are several menus revolving around specific celebrations. Most of the menus include drinks, appetizers, main dishes, and dessert.
   
   So far we have enjoyed every recipe we've made!

2 comments about Splendid Swedish Recipes.

1. Splendid Swedish Recipes, in the popular recipe-card file size Stocking Stuffer format, is chock-full of the best recipes and notes on Swedish cuisine. Compiled by Kerstin Olsson Van Gilder, who came to America from Sweden in 1961, and refers to Swedish foods as "cooking the naturally delicious way." The Swedish diet consists mainly of fish (herring) and potatoes, making the food lighter than traditional American cuisine. This cookbook is inspired by the Swedish love of wholesome, natural foods. The cover shows a little girl in a Swedish folk-style outfit.

   In addition to recipes, Splendid Swedish Recipes contains information on The Smorgasbord (a long table buffet Scandinavian tradition), Foods for Special Holidays and Seasons, Notable Sites and Events as well as historical information on the Swedish-American Experience. The book offers you plenty to choose from to make a Swedish feast for family and friends. Try the Swedish Kale Soup or the Swedish Meatballs. Stuffed Cabbage and Rye Bread will suit almost any table! And desserts are the Swedish specialty! Try the Coffee Bread or the Cocoa Balls to end the perfect meal! This is just a sampling of what is offered!

   This book is excellent for personal collections and as a gift for anyone interested in Swedish cooking and heritage.




2. I got this cookbook as a Christmas give for my Swedish wife. She loves the dessert recipies, especially the Cocoa Balls and the Coffee Bread. If you combine this book with "Good Food from Sweden" by Inga Norberg, you'll never lack for recipies to remind you of your Swedish roots.

5 comments about The Swedish Table.

1. An amazing buy, simple easy to use recipies! i never realized how much I would love swedish cooking. I have been using it for almost every meal!



2. Author/cook Helene Henderson is an Afro-American, Swedish-born chef raised in Sweden, where she learned to cook: her childhood memories spice The Swedish Table, an inviting and unusual blend of dishes which blend traditional Swedish flavors with modern updates. Discussions of Swedish traditions and celebrations and many color photos spice a fine set of dishes, from a Lox and Cream Cheese Quiche to an unusual Juniper/Lavender Marinated Leg of Lamb. Where the usual Swedish cookbook emphases fish main dishes, The Swedish Table ably demonstrates the diversity of Swedish dishes available to cooks.



3. The Swedish Table demonstrates that not only are the French good cooks, but so are the Swedes!
   
   Helene Henderson was born and raised in Sweden. She learned cooking from her grandmother and worked in the family business. She owns a catering business in Los Angeles where she is known for utilizing organic food. She lives there with her husband and three children.
   
   This book has some lovely color photos. Henderson takes us on a journey with each recipe and makes me feel her enthusiasm and love of her heritage. Her recipes are easy-to-read and being she has been living in the United States, she understands what we don't know of her culture and does an excellent job at explaining the food and culture. Her recipes are so well written that this book is perfect for the novice or for the person curious of Swedich cuisine.
   
   The chapters included in this book are: Hot and Chilled Soups; Potatoes; Meat, Game and Chicken; Fish and Shellfish; Vegetables and Salads; Sandwiches; Eggs, Waffles and Pancakes; Desserts, Pastries and Bread; Beverages; and Wild Berry Preserves.
   
   Some wonderful recipes you will find in this book are: Gravlax and Nasturtium Sandwiches with Mustard-Dill sauce, Lentil Soup with Roasted Garlic and Baby New Potatoes, Roasted Baby Beet Salad, Sweet Rolls with Almond Paste.
   
   I would have never thought that I would be a fan of Swedish food, but now I am. This book has inspired me to research more about the country and desires to visit the country.



4. I got this book from the library, and I'm going to have to buy my own copy. My children love the Swedish Pancakes (and I love how easy they are), and my husband and I enjoyed the Lime Marinated Chicken Sandwiches. The Yellow Split Pea soup was fabulous (adding a few chopped tomatoes on top was interesting and yummy). I highly recommend this book; the explanatory notes taught me a lot about Sweden.



5. I like books like this one - with memories, family stories and home recipes. The sweet rolls I baked were perfect. I miss pictures - there are only a few. The book is worth to buy because it presents regional Swedish kitchen which is not very popular. We think about French or Italian kitchen, but the Swedish may be good as well and not boring. Healthy, light and colourfull.

1 comments about Dear Danish Recipes.

1. Dear Danish Recipes, in the popular recipe-card file Stocking Stuffer format, is full of the best recipes and notes about Danish foods and culture. Compiled by Michelle Nagle Spencer, a Scandinavian American with a love a gourmet cooking. Dear Danish Recipes contains recipes, facts, and cooking hints from contributors of strong Danish heritage. The cover features calligraphy and traditional red hearts by Esther Feske.

   In addition to wonderful recipes, Dear Danish Recipes also includes information on Danish American culture, Sites to See, such as The Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn, Iowa, and Danish Table Prayers which gives a reader a true sense of Danish heritage. This book is a must for chefs and tourists alike

   The recipes are wonderful individually or to create a full Danish meal! Included are a variety of soups such as Split Pea and Danish Soup Dumplings. Served with a homemade Rye Bread, this is a hearty meal for those cold days! The Appetizers and Snacks section has wonderful suggestions for your next get-together. Try a Cheese Buffet that serves up to twelve people, or a Salmon Log. For a main entrée, Shrimp au Gratin with Sugar Browned Potatoes and a Spinach Soufflé make for a wonderful meal. Top it off with Danish Tea Cakes for dessert!

   Dear Danish Recipes is excellent for personal collections and as a memento of Danish American culture.

5 comments about Finnish Cookbook (International Cookbook Series).

1. I love this book, and I would never have stumbled upon it except for Amazon's "recommendations" program.
   My grandmother was Finnish and used to bake bread on a regular basis. I was only 7 years old the last time I saw her, but as I knead the Finnish rye bread dough, I can see her in her kitchen making bread.
   I want to make everything in the book. Everything in it seems "right" to me. I see myself in it.



2. This book is an introduction to the Finnish kitchen. Ojakangas, a second generation Finnish-America, learned some traditional Finnish dishes from her grandmother. But when her husband was awarded a Fulbright grant in Finland for 1960-61, she was able to get make an intensive study of Finnish food culture. She discovered how some of the dishes she had learned to make as a child had roots deep in Finland, while others were presumably American creations. In this collection of recipes, Ojakangas focuses on the foods found on Finnish tables, although she does include some of the Finnish American traditions that have become standard in Finnish-American culture.
   
   The book makes fascinating reading, for Ojakangas provides not only the common recipes, but she also includes with each recipe a brief description of how the dish fits into the context of the daily diet. Rather than following the standard American cookbook organization of appetizers and soups, main dishes, sides dishes, and desserts, Ojakangas pay close attention to which types of foods are most important for Finns and how they are used together. With this in mind, the book begins with breads, moves on to the coffee table (mainly cookies and cakes), pastries (both sweet and savory), soups, fish, meat dishes (heavy on the liver, pork, and sausage, and very little chicken), vegetables and salads (mostly roots, very little greenery), desserts (fruit soups and porridges), dairy and eggs, beverages, sauces, and sandwiches (open-faced). At the end of the book is a chapter with suggested menus for special occasions and a selected reading list and bibliography.
   
   This is the best and most authentic Finnish cookbook that I've come across in English. I've tried out a few Finnish American cookbooks, and although their recipes may be tasty, they often are distinctly American in flavor, with many more ingredients like green vegetables than one would ever find in Finland. In this book, we find recipes for all the Finnish standards, for everything from kalakukko to maksalaatikko, from mämmi to sima. Ojakangas provides both the Finnish and English names for each dish; although the Finnish is generally quite accurate, there are a few typos. (I stared at "valdemariisi" for quite some time before I realized it should have been written "vadelmariisi", or raspberry rice.)
   
   The culinary descriptions make this book great reading for anyone contemplating visiting or living in Finland for an extended period. I sure wish I had read it before heading off to study in Finland as an exchange student. The first week I arrived in the country, my host-mother showed me around the kitchen and told me to make myself at home. Then she went off to work in Helsinki for the week, and I was left to fend for myself along with her teenage daughters. By the end of the week, I was starving, having consumed all the food that was familiar to me in the first few days. When my host-mother returned from Helsinki and heard that I had reported there was no food in the house, she became very upset, and showed me a large sack of potatoes and other mysterious food stores. At the time, although I was an decent pasta cook and could make some passable stir-fried vegetables, I had never cooked a potato in my life-nor did I know what to do with any of the other foods in the kitchen. I didn't know what Finns ate or when they ate it, so I was completely at a loss when left to feed myself in a Finnish kitchen. A thorough reading of this book before leaving home would have provided a great preparation for what I would find in Finland. I would not have been so surprised by the dark chewy breads, the early meal times, and the importance of lunch and coffee-hour rather than dinner and dessert.



3. This book is really a keepsake for the newest Finnish generations. I didn't have a recipe book from my grandparents or aunts, but there are so many things my grandmother made and she was also from Northern Minnesota. The only thing I wish it had more of was pictures, but the author is so knowledgeable, that this book is a must for the 3rd and 4th generation Finns.



4. My first husband was a Finn, bred, born and raised, and often longed for the food of his youth. This book was invaluable; it had all the recipes for dishes that he missed, with instructions that let me turn out perfect pulla (a wonderful bread), kalakukko (rye bread stuffed with fish and bacon) and piirakka (rice or potato pasties) in record time. Some of the cultural information is a bit dated in my edition (I have the old 60s version), but it was still an interesting read. My daughters still make piirakka every Christmas Eve.
   
   My edition has a typo that I hope has been corrected in the newer one. The recipe for lutefisk starts with "Take a large fried codfish..." It should, of course, be a large dried codfish.



5. This is an excellent Finnish cookbook. My wife, who is of Finnish decent, has been thrilled with her copy. She says she has found many recipes that her mother and grandmother both used and it is especially fun to read the titles in the Finnish words she has known . We use a great deal of Finnish food in our daily diet, but there are a great many in this book that are yet to be tried. Beatrice Ojakangas deserves 5 stars for putting forth such a great book, and for mixing in a little of Finnish culture as a bonus.

4 comments about Scandinavian Cooking.

1. My favorites were the Swedish Meatballs and Finnish Egg Cheese. Have yet to try them all but have not found one that I didn't like.



2. After I was first married, I purchased the HP version of Scandinavian Cooking. Wore the cookbook out from almost daily use. Am so glad Scandinavian Cooking was reprinted, because all the recipes are keepers. Every cook should have a copy, especially if they are married to someone from Scandinavian descent.



3. It has a great look to it and the recipes look wonderful. It has Danish Kringle and I'm in the process of making that. I look forward to trying many more of the recipes soon. I'm going to order 2 more copies for my mother and friend.



4. A wonderful book that combines a little trivia, a little history, and a little understanding into a culture that is widely ignored yet offers some amazing flavors in the culinary experience. If you are going to purchase this book, buy it with the Scandinavian Baking companion, as the two go well together and will assist amazingly in the creation of your own smorgasbord! I have used the recipes as additions to traditional American favorites for the Christmas holiday season and have gotten rave reviews (from children AND adults!). If you are bold enough to try some interesting combinations (oranges and garlic, anyone?), you won't be disappointed.

5 comments about Aquavit: And the New Scandinavian Cuisine.

1. This is not a perfect cookbook, by any means. Out of 19 recipes we tested, 12 gave excellent results and 7 were disappointing. That's not a very respectable ratio. But the good recipes are so startlingly good they make up for a multitude of sins. Some of my favorites are Juniper-Apple Soup (superb balance between fruit and meat flavors, especially when garnished as suggested with duck confit); Coffee-roasted Duck Breasts (a simple preparation resulting in a deceptively complex flavor); Salsify "Tagliatelle" with Smoked Salmon (a delicious and unusual dish faintly reminiscent of spaghetti al carbonara); Salmon Bundles with Orange-Fennel Broth (again a sophisticated balance of sweet-tart fruit flavors with the bass notes of seared salmon); Squab Toasts (irresistible treats in fig season); and many more. Less successful, to my palate, were the Pickled Herring Sushi-Style (harsh combination of strong flavors); Curried Cauliflower, Potato, and Sprout Salad (muddied, indistinguishable flavors); Salsify Cappuccino (no standout flavor I could discern at all); Pear and Fingerling Potato Ragout (too sweet); and Glögg-Poached Pears (not exciting enough to warrant all the work). Overall, it seems to me that this chef has a marvelous instinct when it comes to fish and meat, and creates many new flavor combinations that really work. He is less reliable with vegetable dishes and desserts, both of which tend to be excessively sweet. We cook out of this book frequently, however: if you have the patience to sift the wheat from the chaff, this book will reward you with plenty of delicious and inspirational meals.



2. Having become interested in northern european food of late, I decided to buy this book on a whim. Of my cookbook collection, which is a reasonable size, I rate this book in the top 5. Comparable to both of Thomas Keller's, this book combines inspirational recipes with different ideas about flavour and beautiful food photography. I read it 5 times over in the 2 days after I recieved it. I would recommend it to anyone who is a serious reader of culinary works and a great place for those new to collecting cookbooks to start.



3. I just received Aquavit as a gift, so have to add a disclaimer - I haven't cooked from it yet. But cookbooks either cast their spell instantly or don't. This is a captivating book. To begin, it's visually stunning, with beautiful photographs and an attactive wide layout.
   
   The content is equally enjoyable. The story of Marcus's journey is interesting, and his narrative style is warm and engaging. His recipe introductions are very effective putting the dishes in the context of his upbringing and culinary training.
   
   The recipes are a good mix of food and technique. The "raw and cured" section is an interesting change of pace, and his treatments of fish, meat and poultry all have appealing Scandinavian flair.
   
   Marcus frequently integrates a vegetable or side dish recipe with a main dish recipe, layering each dish with multiple flavors, textures and color. The result is recipes that are enjoyable to read and think about.
   
   The other Scandinavian cookbook on my shelf is Kitchen of Light by Andreas Viestad (2003), which has a greater emphasis on Scandinavian culture and mood. Both are good, Aquavit is a much lighter, easier read than KOL.
   
   I'm giving Aquavit 5 stars based on the reading and visual experience, with the assumption the recipes will cook just as well.



4. I tried the recipes for My Grandmother's Chicken Soup, Dill-crusted Artic Char with Pinot Noir Sauce, and Corn Mashed Potatoes. All had major flaws in them: The chicken soup not only did not match the picture (which shows hunks of chicken, lemon grass, fresh thyme, and what look like tomatoes, none of which appear in the recipe) and gave no directions for a major ingredient (garam masala). The finished product was bland (I included the garam masala in the roasting step), but usable. The artic char was completely overwhelmed by the sauce, although the seared skin and potato layer (way to much dill, though) was a good idea. Finally, the potato dish turned into soup when I added even less than the specified half of the cooking liquid; I remedied this by cooking the mixture (not called for in the recipe) which, after all, did contain two raw egg yolks at that point, until it thickened up to a reasonable consistency. The product was quite good, and the corn is a nice addition to this simple accompaniment. In summary, the ideas in this cookbook are intriguing, and I will continue to experiment with them, but a lot more kitchen testing of the printed recipes was needed before releasing this beautiful, but expensive and inaccurate cookbook.



5. This book is a delight to read, and the photographs are marvelous. The recipes are excellent and have provided inspiration for exploring my cultural heritage in a delicious and healthy way. I particularly appreciate the emphasis on fish and seafood.

5 comments about Kitchen of Light: The New Scandinavian Cooking.

1. If you like Scandinavian cooking, you'll love this. The recipes are easy to follow and produce results that will excite your taste buds. Not your usual cookbook fare. I highly recommend it for someone looking for something different. Excellent!



2. Friends of mine asked for this book, originally, and so I bought myself a copy out of curiosity, having also enjoyed the TV show the author hosted. I was definitely beyond pleasantly surprised, because he adds to his easygoing teaching style some history, personal memories and feelings, to really add flavor to the content. But you could get a lot from this book without reading a word, just from looking at the excellent presentation each dish is given, as well as glimpses of the environment that inspired them.
   
   There are cookbooks that are just books of instructions. They can be complicated, even fussy, but that's what they are. Then there are books about cuisine, that give you example recipes, and the hunger to try them and create your own with the new flavors you have learned. This definitely is of the latter type. I not only want to cook these dishes, I want to visit the lands where they originated. It's a shame that this book has fallen out of print, because I have other friends I want to share it with. If you find a copy, treasure it.



3. The pictures and descriptions are wonderful. In typical scandinavian fashion, many of the recipes are fish dishes and some wild game. If you like those items, it's a great book. We tried a baked cod on a bed of vanilla infused rudabaga. Very tasty!



4. a grate lamb and cabbage stew even better left over the next day wonderfull thats all i can say



5. I've been cooking through this book for the past two months, and have yet to find a recipe that disappoints. What I love is that it uses simple ingredients, but combines them in ways I hadn't thought of before. His broccoli dish with capers and anchovies is a new standard preparation for broccoli in our household now, and the seared fish with carmelized onions is spectacular, as is his roast chicken with leeks recipe.
   
   What I particularly love is that almost all of his dishes can be thought of as week-day dinner meals, but their flavor and visual appeal make me feel like a much better cook than I really am!
   
   Plus, the abundance of fish recipes has been terrific, since we've been trying to incorporate more of that into our daily meals of late. All around a terrific book!

5 comments about The Great Scandinavian Baking Book.

1. BUY THIS BOOK!!! Everything turns out! Everything is delicious! You will be the star of all of your family gatherings! We are always asked to, "bring the buns." Our nieghbors wait each Christmas morning for us to drop off their Swedish Tea Rings. The magic of Beatrice Ojakangas is that she has researched, tested, and refined her recipes so thoroughly that they are not only authentic, beautiful, and delicious but absolutely foolproof.
   This is a FABULOUS cookbook!



2. The Great Scandinavian Baking Book is an addictive collection of recipes from author Beatrice Ojakangas. From Cardamom Coffeebread (Pulla) and Sweet Cream Waffles to Danish Strawberry Scones (Kraemmerhuse) and almond glazed Swedish Tea Rings (Vetekrans), once you start baking from this book you'll have a hard time putting it away. I was delighted with everything I made and appreciated how Ojakangas introduced me to the many delectable ways Scandinavians use cardamom in their baking. Her recipes are easy to follow and accompanied by conversational intros that share cultural tidbits or serving tips. Although there are no photos in this book, when more complicated steps are required to complete a recipe the how-to portion is frequently illustrated with helpful diagrams. The lack of photographs is really the only thing about it I didn't absolutely adore about the book, which will make a welcome addition to any kitchen and is appropriate for beginner and experienced bakers alike. You'll revel in the heavenly aromas emanating from your oven, not to mention the baked goods you'll soon be enjoying with a cup of hot coffee or tea.
   
   Chapters: Breads for Meals, Breads for Coffeetime, Cookies and Little Cakes, Cakes and Tortes, Pastries and Pies, Savory Pies and Filled Breads. Chapters about mail order sources, baking tips and ingredients are also included.



3. This is the best most complete Scandinavian baking book that I have ever come across that is published in English. It has many recipes that my Great Grandmother brought over from the old country (Denmark), just not all her familie's special variations. The recipes are easy to follow and always come out tasting great. Many of them taste just like you were sitting at a Cafe in Kopenhagen and any of the recipes in this book will enrich your gifts of Christmas cookies and make you a big hit at the holiday parties.



4. I've purchased and read a variety of cook books over the years and have always had an interest in European traditions and cooking. This is one of the best baking books I've come across! Its definately the best european cookbook I've come across to date. Its got U.S measurements, easy to read recipes, a good variety of recipes, and interesting notations about the cultures.
   
   
   I give it 4 stars instead of 5 because some of the intricate braiding recipes could have had better illustrations/instructions and I'm overwhelmed by some of the recipe sizes. (For example, Some recipes make 3 loaves of bread, or 4 dozen cookies.)



5. I'm very satisfied with my purchase of this cookbook. Being of Norwegian decent, it was very nice to see recipies from my fathers homeland. I've already made 2 things out of the cookbook, and can't wait to go home and make something for my father to bring back some memories to him.