The Christmas Recipes – Part 29

Christmas Shots / Julsnaps

Pepper Cookie Coffee / Peberkagekaffe

How to Make Aquavit / Slik Lager Du Akevitt Hjemme

A spicy liquor recipe found on britishfood.about.com

Comments to the recipe: Aquavit is a Scandinavian liquor with just as long traditions as Russian and Polish vodka, so please don’t offend the whole of Scandinavia by saying that aquavit is a sort of flavoured vodka. Aquavit was first mentioned in writing in 1531 and there are 91 different aquavits produced in Scandinavia today. The only thing they have in common is that both aquavit and vodka was potato based as soon as potatoes were grown here and not made from grain (grain was to valuable this far north). And by the way, the dill plants is never used to flavour aquavit, it is dill seeds that are used and real aquavit lovers never, ever drink their aquavit chilled, it kills most of the flavours.

Luxury Chicken / Luksuskylling

A swell chicken recipe found in “Gryteretter” (Casseroles)
published by Hjemmets Kokebokklubb in 1979

Chicken is very suitable for casseroles. The meat is lean and mild and lends itself greatly for a large diversity of flavorings.

Strawberry Gin / Jordbær Gin

A homemade strawberry flavoured gin found on yourhomemagazine.co.uk

Unlike sloe gin, this strawberry version only needs 3 days to stand for the flavours to develop. Decant into a pretty bottle, or several smaller ones, and add a handmade label for a personalised gift.

 Recipe in English –  Oppskrift på norsk

Recipe posted at:

Linie Aquavit

From an article on Saveur

Linie is the smoothest, richest aquavit we’ve ever sipped. Distilled from potatoes, with a robust caraway flavour, it’s aged, per Norwegian law, in oak. But the Oslo-based makers of Linie take it even farther—literally—by sending their casks off in the holds of ships, on a 19-week voyage that crosses the equator twice.

Along the way, the spirit sloshes around with the movement of the waves, and the barrels—formerly used to store sherry—swell and contract in extremes of heat and humidity, imparting the character of the wood and polishing the flavour, so that the gold-hued liquor tastes rounder and nuttier. While many aquavits overwhelm in cocktails, Linie mixes beautifully, providing a layer of deep, warm, woodsy spice.

Linie Aquavit, $27.99 for a 750 ml bottle on DrinkUpNY

Note to the picture: The illustration indicates that Norwegian serve Linie and other aquavit straight from the freezer but this is not so. Real aquavit lovers, like myself, always drink it at room temperature. Serving it freezing cold robs the liquor of most of its marvellous rich flavours.

And another thing, aquavit is a snaps/shot kind of liquor most often enjoyed with a beer chaser, it rarely used in cocktails by Norwegians  – Ted

Brandy Cookies / Konjakk Snitter

A quick and easy recipe for some great tasting cookies
found on milk.no

Have a hard time finding what to give to the hostess when invited for a New Year’s party? Why not give away an edible gift? Bake these cookies and put them in a nice box and tie with pretty red silk ribbon. Nice to give away and nice to receive!

 Recipe in English –  Oppskrift på norsk

Recipe posted at:

Glöggmartini / Mulled Wine Martini

A nice Swedish twist on the traditional mulled wine
from recept.nu

This dead simple drink is perfect to make for the Christmas mulled wine party and a great alternative to the traditional hot mulled wine for those who prefer a cold drink.

 Recipe in English –  Recept på svenska

Recipe posted at:

Chocolate Truffles On 3 Ingredients / Sjokoladetrøfler På 3 Ingredienser

A delicious and easy truffle recipe found on godt.no

Truffle Balls are the taste of luxury. These velvety chocolate balls tastes absolutely fantastic and will keep for a long time. Add approximately 1,75 ounces of for example: cognac, rum, orange liqueur, honey or coffee. Then you just have to roll suitably sized balls and roll those around in powdered sugar or cocoa. Nice as a hostess gift, Christmas gift or a gift to a colleague. Or just eat them yourself!

See this and lots of other delicious recipes on:

Juniper Liquor / Einerdram

A traditional liquor recipe found on matprat.no

Did you know that juniper is the most important spice in both gin and genever and that genever got its name from “genièvre”, which is French and means juniper? It is actually easy to make your own juniper liquor, it also suits perfectly for a host- or hostess gift. Or maybe even as this year’s Christmas gift?

See this and lots of other delicious recipes on:

Related articles

• Herb and Spice of the Week – Juniper Berry (beatcancer2010.wordpress.com)
• Try this cranberry-ish holiday cocktail (foodanddrinkchicago.com)

Baba Au Rhum / Babakake

A great cake recipe from from matprat.no

A juicier cake than baba cake does not exist! An airy yeast cake completely soaked in liquid goodies. Server the cake with fresh berries and delicious whipped cream.

See this and other delicious recipes on:

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• Kagemand: A Headless Danish Birthday Cake (business2community.com)
• Chocolate-Hazelnut Raspberry Shortcakes (sweettablescapes.wordpress.com)
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