A clean Tea Towel?

Came across a recipe that called for putting roasted hazelnuts in a clean tea towel, in order to rub the skins off. Really? Why would it be necessary to point out the great idea of using a clean towel, as in: “If you use the rag recently utilized during an oil change, instead of aContinue reading “A clean Tea Towel?”

According to Instructions

In the recipes I find in books and magazines, it often states to cook the spaghetti (or whatever shape the pasta has) “according to the instructions on the package”. Oh, really? So what would happen if that part of the recipe fell off? Would all good Americans cook their pasta without looking at the cookingContinue reading “According to Instructions”

Finnish Honey

My entire life I have yearned to be able to buy a jar of Finnish honey, Hunajaa, from the excellent market Gamla Marknadshallen (the Old Market Hall) in Helsinki, capitol of Finland! Not really, but when it happened it was a true delight. It was in connection with visiting Chinese-Finnish-American friends from Berkeley, CA, inContinue reading “Finnish Honey”

Burgers the Swedish way

Sweden is a small country that aims to be a big country. Most real Swedes have at least one pair of Levis’, some wear them all year round. Instead of the American institution Taco Tuesday, Swedes have Taco Friday, and throw in chopped cucumber and radishes in the mix. There are coke and popcorn inContinue reading “Burgers the Swedish way”

Baby-sitting the Fil

(Acidophilus vs Buttermilk) Finally I could find crème fraiche in my local California food store! Maybe Smetana on a good day, but the true acidophilus is a tougher nut to crack. Buttermilk is, to a Swede, a weak substitute for the stuff Vikings are made of. Or at least what their common breakfasts are madeContinue reading “Baby-sitting the Fil”

UC Davis Picnic Day

In April it is already shorts and Birkenstocks in Davis, California. That is when University of California at Davis arranges its annual Picnic Day; a kind of Open House event for prospective and current students, alumni and the public. Davis is a big university town and more than 50 000 visitors usually show up forContinue reading “UC Davis Picnic Day”