Serves: Makes around 50 small breads
Approx cost: €2.40
Approx calories: ~70 per bread
Approx preparation and cooking time: 12 hours sitting + 60 minutes preparation and cooking
[button link=”#recipe” color=”silver”] To jump straight to the recipe, click here[/button]
[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #0B0B61;”]So, I’m back folks. Back in France after a wonderful, relaxing break. Naturally, our trip wasn’t long enough, but are they ever? It’s great to see family and friends, and so hard to say goodbye again. I’ve started working again yesterday and in a couple of days I’ll have readjusted to the usual schedule and it will be, once again, as if I were never away. What I do have though are wonderful photos to remind me of my trip and I’d like to share a few of them with you today, and over the next few posts. I also picked up a couple of little craft items which I’ll be offering as giveaways (first one coming up after the photos below), and not only that, but I also picked up a couple of recipes which I’m looking forward to sharing with you. However – all in good time, my friends. First, let’s take a little trip to the snowy north of Sweden. The province of Västerbotten (the official website has some good information and photos!) is the destination – one of the most northern Swedish provinces, with the exception of Lappland (Lapland) and Norrbotten which lie to the north-west and north respectively. The province is famous for a cheese produced there, called Västerbottensost (Västerbotten Cheese) and if you ever have a chance to try this I’d strongly recommend it. The cheese is only produced by one dairy, in the town of Burträsk, and – interesting tidbit of information for you – “träsk” in Swedish (pronounced a bit like “tresk”) means swamp or marsh, and is a not uncommon ending for place names in some parts of Sweden.
While we’re on the subject of place names and meanings, there are a number of places ending with the letter “å” – This, despite being only one letter, means “river” and explains why towns were called such, as they formed around rivers of the same name – Luleå, Piteå, Skellefteå and Umeå for example. Another interesting tidbit for you is that there is actually a (slightly grammatically incorrect) sentence in Swedish consisting only of one letter words – “i å ä e ö å i ö ä e å” (Written down in its grammatically correct form it doesn’t make much more sense: “I ån är en ö och i ön är en å”. For those wondering what that means, it translates to: “In the stream there is an island and on the island there is a stream”. Anyway though – enough word-play tomfoolery. Time to enjoy a few photos.
This was my first experience of Swedish winters and although my wife had told me numerous times before, I still find the idea of the sun setting around at lunch-time a very confusing experience – something which will no doubt take quite some getting used to. Aside from spending a whole lot of time eating great food we also enjoyed taking some brisk walks. In the picture below is a baking house. There’s not much inside – some work surfaces and a large stone, wood-burning oven. Inhabitants of the town where my wife’s parents live can rent out this bake-house if they wish to do their baking. The idea is that you create a great many breads which will last you for a long time, such as knäckebröd (incidentally the recipe in today’s post!)
Incidentally, the photo was taken around 11.30am. The sun remains very low in the sky through the few hours of daylight they have. In December, a typical sun-rise will be around 9am, and sunset will be around 1.30pm. A beautiful orange glow can often be seen due to the low sun around 12, and then it’s completely dark by 3pm. In the summer it’s the exact opposite. It will get a little sombre for 2 or 3 hours around 1am and then it’s back to being light again. Despite the darkness, the snow-covered scenery is incredibly beautiful. Rivers and lakes can sometimes be completely frozen over, though when I was there the fastest flowing parts of the river were only icy at the very edges. Snowmobiles are a common sight in the fields and paths at this time of year as well – you can see one tearing away in the bottom left of the photo collage below.
Remember how I mentioned the dark? Well – Swedes love light and have a wonderful way of bringing a little light to the long winter nights. Window lights! I’ve never seen them in any other country but above almost every window you will often see a special plug socket. Into these you can put low voltage lights on cords which hang down, both bringing a bit of light and comfort to those outside, as well as looking very pleasing inside. You can see an example of what I mean in the picture to the left below.
Before I move on to the giveaway (yay!) I’ll show you a couple more photos I took. The first one is a snow-covered field, with an ice-covered tree in the foreground, and the second is some snow-covered trees at night illuminated by a street-light. I hope you enjoyed the photos – most of them will be available on my downloads page, should you wish to see/download any fullsize versions. More photos coming next post 🙂
The Giveaway!
What would a Swedish-vacation-related post be without something equally Swedish to offer as a giveaway? Well – I have two wonderfully cute little things up for grabs here. The second one will be announced in a later post but for today, I’m offering a Dalahäst to one lucky reader. For many people, a dalahäst (pronounced a bit like “darlahest”) is very typically Swedish:
a traditional carved and painted wooden statuette of a horse originating in the Swedish province of Dalarna. In the old days the Dala horse was mostly used as a toy for children; in modern times it has become a symbol of Dalarna as well as Sweden in general. Several different types of Dala horses are made, with distinguishing features common to the locality of the site where they are produced. One particular style has, however, become much more common and widespread than others. It is stoutly carved and painted bright red with details and a harness in white, green, yellow and blue.
Thanks Wikipedia! So yep – one hand-carved, hand-painted Dalahäst (measuring 5cm back height, ~7.5cm from feet to top of the ears), created by Nils Olsson Hemslöjd AB, one of the main creators of Dalecarlian Horses in Sweden. I like them so much that I already have two – one the same size and one larger one, and as much as this one would love to stay here with his brothers he’s looking forward to going to a new home, so please – only enter the giveaway if you feel like you can give him the love and care he deserves!
To enter:
It’s easy! All you have to is leave a comment below specifying your desire to enter the giveaway and guess a number, between 1 and 100. If you don’t want to participate, feel free to just leave a comment. Only people who guess a number will be included in the drawing. A number between 1-100 will be randomly generated by random.org at 2200 CEST on Tuesday 17th January 2012 and the person who picked that number will win… yay! The winner will be announced in one of my regular posts on Wednesday 18th January, posted at 0800 CEST. In case no-one picked the winning number, then the winner will be the person who picked the number numerically closest. In case two or more people pick the same winning number then they will be entered into a draw and I’ll pull their name out of a hat! Good luck, and I hope you like the little guy as much as I do! The giveaway is open to everyone, regardless of where they live in the world!
Last but not least, if you’re still with me and not falling asleep from this giant post today, I’m posting a recipe for knäckebröd – of sorts. Traditionally, the crisp, long-lasting but very cheap and healthy Swedish bread is made with rye flour. This is an altogether different take on it. Crispy and delicious these go wonderfully with cheese or butter, or even just munched on their own – it’s almost like a healthy potato chip! I hope this recipe doesn’t get lost in the rest of today’s post fun, because I would really recommend you giving these a try! They’re perfect as well if you know anyone who has gluten intolerance, but just remember that although none of the ingredients have gluten, cross-contamination of oats and seeds in production is common. As a result, following tests done on major brands of oats, many were found to contain amounts of gluten from flour which had found its way into the oats during packaging since they’re often processed in the same sorts of environment.
Enjoy everyone and have a great day!
Ingredients
- 160g Oats
- 120g Linseeds
- 120g Poppy Seeds
- 80g Pumpkin Seeds
- 2 tablespoons Sunflower or other flavourless oil
- 1 teaspoon of Salt
- 0.6 litres cold Water
Note: you can use different seeds – These are the types I had on hand, but you can also add in some sunflower and/or sesame seeds, and just adjust the different quantities accordingly!
Instructions
- The night before you wish to make these, start off by placing all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well and then cover. Leave in a cool place or the refrigerator over-night and by the next day, your bowl full of seeds, oats, oil and water will have gone from looking like the left of the picture below, to the right.
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius and meanwhile give the ingredients a good stir once more. Line some baking trays with baking paper and smooth the mixture out onto the paper as thinly as you can. An ideal thickness is about 2mm – 3mm. Place the baking trays into the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- After this time, cut the mixture into squares and remove the baking paper, so the squares are sitting directly on the baking trays. Reduce the oven temperature to 150 degrees Celsius and bake again for another 30 minutes, flipping the squares over half-way through the cooking time.
- After the baking time has passed, check to see if the squares can be squeezed gently in the middle. They should be crisp all the way through, but if for any reason you made them a bit too thick, or they are still a little soft then you just need to continue baking them at 150 degrees Celsius until they crisp up. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- Once cool, store in an air-tight tin and eat with some butter or cheese, or just on their own as a healthy snack! Enjoy 🙂
I feel lucky, so my number is 27. 🙂 glad that you enjoyed good jul in Sweden. Beautiful pics!
Thanks Chami – Good luck in the draw 🙂
Gorgeous pictures, Charles. I have really missed winter and these serene and beautiful snow scenes have me thinking of the good times I’d had. Ah, memories …
Munchies! I was about to do a munchy post too! These sound a lot nicer tho, all those seeds, I love seedy stuff. Not sure if your giveaway covers the rest of the world and if it doesn’t, it’s alright, I’ll just leave my number here anyway … just in case 😀 #13, my lucky number!
Thanks so much Ping – it’s nice to see these photos again… makes me think of the wonderful snow 🙂
The giveaway is open to everyone, regardless of where they live – sorry, I should have mentioned that. I’ve updated my post to include a mention of that now 🙂 Thanks for playing along – Good luck!
Fantastic photos! You just made me very homesick. The recipe looks easy enough for my kitchen skills, I will give it a shot asap.
And forgot the number, 2!
Glad you like the photos Noora! Good luck in the giveaway – be sure to check back next week for the results 🙂 Let me know if you try these too… I’d love to know how they turned out 🙂
Beautiful photos and fascinating post, Charles. The short days would certainly be very difficult for me. I already start being depressed when sun goes down at 6 pm…
These crackers sound fantastic and strangely they don’t look difficult to make.
Thank you for organising the giveaway! The horse is really cute, so I’ll try my luck with 99 🙂
Thanks so much Sissi – they’re really easy to make (and eat!) – I hope you can give them a try sometime. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos… I’ll be posting some more soon, and in the meantime – good luck with lucky 99 🙂
🙂 When I first saw the pic of this post, I instantly thought of sesame snaps because I’ve been craving them for a while now, but the store ones are too expensive and too hard… like toooo hard.
Do you have a recipe? *blink blink*
As for this giveaway business… it’s always hard, isn’t it? I hate choosing numbers between to numbers, so I did the easy and hit to generate a number from the same generator you’ll be using. 🙂 I got 89…that’s my number!
Hi Fati – when you talk about sesame snaps, do you mean the ones which are slightly sweet – a bit like a load of sesame seeds suspended in a hard, baked syrup?
Good luck with 89, and check back soon for more photos in a later post 🙂
:'( yes… those oness… *boohoohoo* I so want some right now!
….. will be checking back to see if I win, and to see if you post-me-recipeeee…. mmmm…
Oh my God the photos are just breathtaking!! I just got a free lesson in Swedish too! Very informative!
I’m so far from France so entering the draw will be unfair….
I would like to try the recipe, but I have a question, how long it lasts in a good sealed container? any idea?
Hi Nada – the horse is quite light, so postage would be no more expensive to where you are than to, say, Japan or the US. If you wanted to take part, please feel free! The more the merrier 🙂 I don’t like the idea of someone feeling they can’t participate just because of their geographical location!
As for the recipe – as long as you bake them well and ensure that they are quite crisp (make them thin as well, this ensures they get crisp) and make sure they are quite cool before storing in a tin, I would think they should last for ages. I couldn’t say for sure, but in a cool, dry place, in an air-tight tin they should probably last for a month or more!
So you eat that Björn Knäckebröt … I really need to try to bake it looks and sounds delicious … very nice pictures Charles i am now jealous 😀
Thanks Björn 🙂 Hope you have a chance to visit Sweden sometime soon!
Oh well then! 50..
Re the recipe, I like the idea of having healthy crispy nibbles available in my kitchen.
Thanks Nada! Let me know if you try the breads, and don’t forget to check back next wednesday for the announcement of the winner 🙂
I kept staring at your recipe for 30 min yesterday trying to work out what to use as a substitute for the poppy seeds! There is no way I can get hold of them here! I bought a mix of seeds but i’m I’m eying semoulina (small size) or bulgur (broken wheat) but these too absorb liquid, poppy seeds don’t. any idea????
Hi Nada – Semolina and bulgur wouldn’t work I don’t think. Well – they probably wouldn’t be bad, but I think they’d just absorb a lot of the water and then dry out again in the oven, making the bread have no integrity and possibly just fall apart.
The seeds can really be modified however you like. I’d recommend not increase the amount of pumpkin seeds too much because they’re very large, but a variation of sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, linseeds (flax seeds) and other seeds like these can be used. Just as long as you have the general weight there of seeds it’s fine! I just happened to have a massive bag of poppy seeds in my cupboard which needed using for something, hence why I used them 🙂
yayyy! done! I have just added crushed black pepper and added more from the other seeds to replace poppy seeds.
Charles, can I post the recipe in french for my french- speaking community while linking to your post for the original recipe?
Hi Nada – I love the idea of the black pepper – I bet that gave them a lovely kick, and please do – I’d be honoured that you would translate/write-up the recipe for your blog! It’s a good feeling to know that someone enjoyed something so much they would want to blog about it themselves!
Great pictures. I guess the number 18. Hope I win!
Thanks Clare – check back next Wednesday to see the results 🙂
We love the recipe, Charles, and the photos are so beautiful. Our Dalahasts are neighing to say they would love to share their shelf with a cute new brother. Lucky number 7
Haha, check out the results on Wednesday in a new post to find out if you’ve been lucky!
I’m so glad I stopped by, I was just thingking about making my own crackers with seeds and nuts. This is perfect for the Whole Living challenge I’m on for this month! I’ll pin it and share it on FB. Lucky number 7!
BTW, beautiful pics of Sweden, kinda wishing we had some snow here in Michigan…..it’s unseasonably warm. 🙁
Thanks for coming by Lisa, and welcome 🙂 I know someone who made these very recently with pine nuts and she said they were fantastic, so there’s another ingredient idea! Hope you give these a try – let me know how it goes if you do, and check back next Wednesday to see the winner announced 🙂
gorgeous photos charles!! But at the same time, I’m thinking “brrr…”. Like sissi, I find it very depressing when the sun sets. Here, it sets at 4pm. But then again, that beautiful snow-white scene really does make it look all very magical! I guess it’s nice looking at it, but probably not so nice being IN it 😉 Great gluten-free recipe, it kind of reminds me of a flapjack, but alot more grownup(:
Thanks Shuhan – it was definitely a bit “brr”, but once you were wrapped up warm it was nice 🙂 It is quite a bit like a flapjack, but much thinner and delicious with butter! 🙂 Did you not want to guess a number for the giveaway?
As someone who has not stepped out of the US (yet) I found this post so interesting and informative! From the language to the weather..really? such a short daytime…to that baking house! I want one in my neighborhood, maybe I could start something here!! to that window light…want that one too, in every window – it would look so pretty from the ouside too! I know how you feel about vacations, takes a bit of adjustment to get back to reality and hopefully all the future posts on your travels and recipes will keep the trip more current in your thoughts. As for the recipe, I’d loveto make it tho I’m not familiar with linseeds? Can I substitute something similar?
36 is my lucky number..
Hi Linda – the baking house is indeed very cute. When I’ve been before in the summer I’ve seen people inside with the oven busy roaring away and the couple inside busy working away to produce their mountain of bread… yummy 🙂
For the recipe – linseeds are often called flax seeds in some places. If you can’t find any then they’re entirely optional. Make up the weight with a mix of your choice – sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, and kind of seed like this and it will be perfect 🙂
Good luck in the giveaway! Don’t forget to check back next Wednesday 🙂
Hey, Charles. Welcome home.
I was watching “The Girl Who Played With Fire” on the weekend and was amazed at the people riding their bikes in the cold cold weather. I commented casually on the phenomenon, and my friend replied, “The Swedish are a hardy people” and I had to agree. I don’t think I could make it through just one such winter while hundreds of generations have thrived and continue to while producing beautiful works of art like the carved horse that you’re giving away. I would like to give the little guy a good home so I’m going to enter the draw and even though my favourite number has already been claimed, I’m going to pick # 97 as my backup. 🙂
As soon as I get an adapter for my camera memory card (‘somebody’ picked the wrong size to order for shipment) I hope to be able to take some pictures as well to share. They won’t be as stunning as the ones above, but I’m going to learn.
Great snacks and I imagine as healthy as they are tasty.
Thanks A_Boleyn. When I was there I saw LOADS of people riding their bikes and at first I thought they were slightly insane, riding on thick snow and ice until I released that they even fit their bikes with special spiked snow tyres too (not just their cars!) so even though it’s probably still a little dangerous it certainly becomes less easy to slide around and fall off at least!
Good luck in the giveaway 🙂
Gosh, those are lovely photos Charles. I agree, the noon hour sunset is a little confusing and must mess around a little with your internal clock. I’m totally excited about the ingredients in your knäckebröd – talk about a healthy potato chip! ;). I think I would love this after a workout with some almond butter spread over top and a few banana slices…Mmm… Gorgeous recipe Charles.
Hi Kelly 🙂 Thanks a lot for your kind comments. I think it doesn’t mess around with your internal clock as much as it does in the summer time when it’s very bright, late at night. That’s just… weird. In the winter, once you’re all snug inside you kind of forget that it’s dark outside and just go about your usual day.
I totally agree with your “serving suggestions” for the knäckebröd. Sounds lovely, and I even have some almond butter in my refrigerator at home! By the way – did you not want to guess a number for the giveaway? (I don’t know… maybe you hate dalahästs with a burning passion!)
Thanks Charles. Since I just received a beautiful gift from you right before Christmas, I thought I would give someone else a chance but I won’t be holding off for long!! :). Good luck to all the contestants!
Love the ribbon on the knackebrod. Very cute. 🙂 They look very tasty too. Now about those photos – LOVE them! I’ve been anxiously awaiting your pictures. They are just gorgeous. I love how the snow clings to the tree branches like that. I can’t imagine that short of days either – but the summer sounds like it would be fun. My favorite picture is the one in the set of four – the upper right corner. That frozen pond just looks magical. As for my number…32. That is a darling little horse. I have one very similar to that, but it’s made from some kind of stone (escaping me at the moment). Looking forward to more pics too! Welcome home…you can always leave your watch set to vacation time as a reminder. It worked for me for a while. 😉
Hi Kristy 🙂 I’m so happy you like the photos. I find some things hard to photograph… mist, sun beams and snow aren’t easy. Snow especially has an annoying habit of screwing everything up because it’s very hard to get the camera settings right because almost everything is literally bright white. Do you know where your stone horse came from? I’d love to see what it looks like. Apparently there’s a big stone dalahäst in… Wisconsin I think, or Milwaukee or something (according to Wikipedia).
I’m looking forward to posting more photos too. I think I might post some photos of Sweden in the summer as one of my “adventure” posts sometime too, since people seem to be interested in them 🙂
Good luck with the giveaway – check back next Wednesday to see the winner!
Hi Charles, I have just mixed all the ingredients for these very healthy snacks and it is now sitting in the fridge ready for cooking in the morning. I thought it might be the perfect thing for certain Chinese visitors due to arrive next week. No sugar!!! They cannot fail to impress.
Awesome – hope you all like them a lot!
Your photos are really beautiful Charles. I really like the one above your giveaway headline. Now I’m torn between the pita or the knackebrod, but I’ve never tried Linseeds before and wonder how easy they are to find. They both sound healthy, which is the order of the day for me (and the rest of the world I’m sure). I’ll throw lucky 7 into the hat, since that number was discussed at dinner table tonight with the family. Thanks!
Thanks Barb – regarding the photo you like… I was really lucky. One day it snowed all day long and there was a strong wind which meant that everything got a good coating with snow – even trees and cables and so forth – such a beautiful landscape!
Don’t be torn between the pita and these – make them both 😀 Good luck in the giveaway! Check back on Wednesday for the result 🙂
Beautiful photos of winter wonderland! Healthy yummy snacks you have here too. I can use some right now.
Thanks Hyosun! You should give these a try – they’re really good! Did you want to enter my giveaway? Don’t forget to choose a number if so 🙂
How about 16?
Aww, you went to Sweden? Wow, nice experience and love the interesting culture there although like you, I just can’t get used to the little light they have over there while in this part of the hemisphere, we have so much light that we complain! We should be counting our blessings! Now I know why Ikea popularize lights and window lights like the ones shown in your photos 🙂
I like the Dalahast!! Hehe, so I’d like to try my luck to join and with my birthday girl’s luck, I hope I will get lucky too…hehe 😀
My Lucky Number: 10
Hi Christy – if you ever get the chance to go there, I’d really recommend it – it’s a beautiful country, but yeah – some things really do take some getting used to I think 🙂
Good luck with the giveaway!
Charles, the pic is amazing and left me drooling! I loved these. Visit to Sweden sounds really exciting! Charles, loved this post. I am following you on Twitter now!
Thanks Purabi 🙂 I hope you have a chance to try these – they’re really delicious! Glad you enjoyed the post… I’ll post some more photos soon! Did you want to enter the giveaway? If so, don’t forget to post a number 🙂
I love this! Out here we have a cracker called Dr. Kracker and they look very similar! They are so good yet so expensive! I will have to try this alternative! I would love to enter and I’d love to have #28 🙂 Cheers!
Hi Jen – “Dr Kracker”… lol. I wonder if once upon a time there was actually a guy called Dr Kracker 😀 In any case, these ones are great and all home-made, so bonus points for that! You should give them a try!
Good luck with the giveaway – check back on next Wednesday to see the result!
Welcome back Charles! You are so generous to let us download pictures! These photos are BEAUTIFUL! I love your landscape pictures as much as your food pictures! Sounds like you had a really nice time in Sweden. My friend went to Sweden once and she told me how beautiful it is. I’m very envious that you can go there fairy easily than from here. This snack looks healthy and delicious. I need to eat more healthier snack IF I allow myself to eat snack (at this moment totally omitting to lose weight. Argh!). The amount of poppy seeds is crazy (as I don’t bake you can tell I’ve never seen the mountain of poppy seeds…)! LOL.
Thanks for the giveaway! Let me choose 73. I hope to win to put it in my International souvenir collection in the living room!
Thank you Nami! Such nice compliments! 🙂 I had a wonderful time in Sweden – I always do. The air seems so clean there. I always notice the difference flying back over mainland Europe. I don’t think the air quality here is *that* bad, but it’s definitely more hazy. I hope you have a chance to one day visit Sweden… I’d recommend the north! Beautiful, untouched countryside!
I’ll admit, it’s quite a lot of poppy seeds, but it’s only because I had a load in my cupboard which I bought too many because I’m going to make Sissi’s poppy seed cake soon. You can sub in other seeds instead if you prefer 🙂
Good luck with the giveaway… don’t worry if you don’t have luck this time – I’ll be doing another one right afterwards 🙂
Your winter photos are absolutely beautiful. You definitely have an eye for beautiful scenery.. and I always enjoy viewing what you capture. I’ve never heard of Knäckebröd before.. but it definitely looks interesting and delicious. Maybe I will try it 🙂
Thanks Kay! I’m glad you enjoyed them – you should definitely try the breads… they’re great! By the way – did you want to enter the giveaway? Don’t forget to post a number if so 🙂
#57 – he looks a little orange in the pic! I have a real horse in the back pasture who would love to keep him company! As for your photos – they are beautiful. That bake house is too cool and I’d think it would be a wonderful place to spend a day baking and chatting with friends over wine and all that snow!!! Looks like a beautiful place to visit. The whole daylight or lack thereof thingy is a bit strange to the rest of us but I’d like to visit! p.s. the crackers looks delish!
Hi Linda – he does look a bit orange – it’s not the best picture… it’s definitely a red, but a light red… not crimson 🙂 I’m glad you liked the photos… I agree, the bake house always looks so whimsical every time I walk past it. When I saw people inside with the wood-burning brick oven alight, the smell of bread wafting out… I feel insanely jealous 😀
Hope you decide to try the crackers – they’re really delish 🙂
Hi Charles, your photos are lovely, indeed. And the recipe is going on my list to make for my best friend who is gluten intolerant. I will respectfully decline entering the contest because I have one of these beautiful painted horses! I think it came from my mother who was very close to a Swedish woman, sadly I cannot confirm unless I drag out the Ouija board but I am too chicken for that!
Hi Eva – if you wanted to enter then maybe you’d have two… maybe the one you have feels like a friend 🙂 I hope your friend likes the breads… I have a hard time stopping myself from eating them all, they’re so moreish 🙂
I don’t suppose you happen to have a photo of the horse you have that you feel like sharing? I’d love to see if the style is different at all… I love dalahorses so much!
Hi Charles, I wish I did, but it’s up at the Lake Cabin and we won’t be going up until the spring. I’ll try and remember to take a photo and send it to you then.
No worries Eva 🙂 Hope to be able to check it out in the spring 🙂
These look amazing! Wish I could have some now 🙂 Love your pics and stories about Sweden too – thanks for sharing!
Thanks Baking Addict! Hope you decide to give them a try… they’re pretty darn nice 🙂
HI Charles! The photos are stunning …and SO crisp! It looks very, very cold! Brrr! The knackebrod looks delicious and exactly the sort of thing Honey Bunny would enjoy! Thanks for such a fun giveaway – my lucky number is 7!
Thanks Ann – it was pretty chilly (haha, understatement!) but to be honest, once you were all wrapped up warm it wasn’t too bad. Just don’t take off the gloves when you’re walking along in the icy wind!
Number 7 eh? – a popular number it seems! Good luck!
Lucky number (hopefully!) : 9!
Those photos are truly mesmerizing! It must be freaking freezing!!! BRRRR!!!!
Thanks Kiran – once you got some warm clothes on, it was actually quite snug and cozy outside 🙂 Good luck with number 9! 🙂
Wow, those outdoor pictures are simply stunning Charles! I’m beyond jealous of the snow. Looks and sounds like you had a wonderful trip. And of course those bars look great! 🙂
Thanks Caroline – I did have a fab trip… too bad it’s all over… sigh 🙁 Did you want to enter the giveaway? Don’t forget to post a number if so! 🙂
Hmmmm… I will pick 11, I think that no one picked it before )
How did you take this photo https://homesweetsweden.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/IMG_2229.jpg ? It looks totally infrared! )
“Legs eleven” – Good luck 🙂
Regarding the photo… nothing special to be honest. Definitely not infra-red, haha. It had been snowing all day long, with a strong cross-wind, creating flurries of snow everywhere, which also blew the snow all over the trees and gave everything a good coating. Coupled with the orangey street-light behind the trees, it was just a fairly standard shot, but I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out 🙂
Hi Charles,
Fantastic photo’s. Glad you both had a lovely time. I loved seeing Sweden in the Summer but it looks truly stunning in Winter. I am certainly going to try the latest recipe it sounds great for my diet and my new 2012 healthy living plan!! Looking forward to seeing those Chinese visitors, any chance you might be might coming over as well. Umm my lucky number is 66.
Thanks so much! – so glad you liked the photos, and I hope you give the latest recipe a try – they’re really tasty! 🙂
I don’t think we’ll be able to make it over to England, as we only just came back from a vacation alas. Next time maybe!
Good luck with the giveaway 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing those breath taking pictures Charles.
I love snow, it is so white and pure. We hardly get snow here, it happens once every few years.Looking forward to more pictures.
As for the giveaway..my number is 33
Thanks Sawsan – it is so pure isn’t it… when I see a field covered in a smooth blanket of snow I suddenly have an uncontrollable urge to run all over it and put my foot everywhere 😀
Good luck with the giveaway!
Come on 74! Love those pictures of your trip, just an amazing place!
Thanks Greg! I’ll post more soon, and good luck for next Tuesday 🙂
14
My boyfriends favourite number!
Thanks for dropping by Sarah – good luck! 🙂 I’ll post the results in a post on Wednesday 🙂
Your photographs are fantastic! I particularly like the top photo with a little wooden structure and snowy road. The recipe is interesting. I have to get pumpkin seeds from store soon to make this – this would be great gift for my friend who is on gluten free diet.
Thanks Nipponnin – that is actually a baking hut. You can rent it out and do lots of baking in there for a day or so. Lots of people use it in the winter to make huge amounts of hard bread for the winter! 🙂
Do let me know if you give these a try – I love them, you can add other seeds too! 🙂