New Years Day FEAST !!!
I have been collecting for the past few years these Time Life Books….. Foods of the World series. Part foodie travel log and cookbooks circa the 1960’s.
Every time I run across them in the books section at the local resale stores or yard sales I snap them up 15 hardbacks and only 12 of the companion spiral cookbooklets . Just this past fall I was helping a customer out with their wine purchase and BOOM there in the back of his car was a small collection of these books destined to some self at one of the local resale stores. Some with their companion spiral recipe booklets.
One of the books from the series I had never seen was, “The Cooking of Scandinavia” alas no spiral companion cookbook…….. That was ok there are plenty of recipes in the hard bound books to work with. Being that I am Finnish and German it felt like a good fit.
With this cookbook firmly in hand I set out to have a Scandinavian Smorgasbord for for New Years Day. Oooo BOY DID I THROW A PARTY.
For 12 guests 2 dogs one cat.
To start with, being that it was New Years day I figured BLOODY MARY Shots were called for. HUGE HIT !!!
I had a wonderful French Sparkling Rose,someone brought a German Sparkling wine that was off the charts.
There was not one DROP of Aquavit to be had in the state of New Mexico …So I chose to make a MOCK-AVIT… It was NOT bad for such a short notice for an infused liquor concoction…HENCE the MOCK…
For the main course wine: Newton’s Claret
I studied the book from cover to cover and came up with a menu:
A Fish Course:
Homemade Gravlax, Smoked Trout, Smoked and Herbed Mackerel
Smoked Salmon,Pickled herring in both cream and wine sauce.
Meat and Cheese Course:
Assorted cheeses,meats and home pickled vegetables and flavored sweet butter.
The Hot Course:
Mørbrad med Svedsker og Aebler
Pork Loin Stuffed with Prunes and Apples
Steamed red fingerling potatoes with parsley and butter,
Äppel-Fläks / Smoked bacon with Onions and Apples and cracked pepper.
And for dessert a simple coffee cup of French Vanilla ice cream with the choice of mixed berries or dusted with fresh Espresso grounds. The BOMB !!!
What a terrific dinner, loads of laughs and fantastic company.
. Got to use my Grandmothers china, first time in many years.
Thank you Elizabeth Peterson for the DELICIOUS Red cabbage that your mother use to make and the I am not sure what you called it but the spread for the fish course YUMMY!!! Also Thanks to Nancy Diamond for the Gravlax recipe so simple yet so GOOD !!!!! And to my guests thanks for coming and enjoying my Smorgasbord.
Thank you Cynthia Whitney-Ward for the amazing photos.Glad you enjoyed the evening.
Visit her blog at http://chasingsantafe.blogspot.com/
Everyone have a Happy,Healthy and Prosperous NEW YEAR ….
P.S. I will work on posting the Recipes later.
Kat