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International Cuisine

Hasselback Potatoes – a Swedish snack

It’s not the first time I made this gorgeous snack of potatoes, but it’s really the first time I am writing a blog for this. We often take things for granted and potatoes is one of those humble things. Me and Abhisek often end up saying, potatoes can never fail you, while we enjoy one of the potato dishes.

Hasselback Potatoes or Hasselback Potatis, as they say in Swedish, was created in 1953 by Leif Elisson from Varmland, who was chef student at Restaurant Hasselbacken on Djurgården in Stockholm. I have seen versions of this snack and I am writing down my version of it. I can’t beat the original creator, but I can atleast make an effort to create something similar.

Thai Red Curry

I never fancied Thai food, but may be because of multiple trials (read forced by friends to try it) I started liking it. And, when I like something I want to try it at home. Bah! What’s new in there (wink)? The first experiment was Thai Red curry and it was successful. I promised myself, I am gonna make it more often now.Actually, it seemed trickier than it actually is. Everything is, once you try it, isn’t it? Well, I am gonna try more Thai food, that’s for sure. Both in restaurants and then at home! Now, without much ado, I’ll get back to the recipe. Here’s how I did it. I made the vegetarian version, so the fish oil (otherwise important ingredient) didn’t cut into my recipe; have used sesame oil and soy sauce instead. Hope you all like it.

Spanakorizo – Greek Spinach Rice

This is a long due post! About a month ago, I did a Greek cuisine day at home. I like celebrating cuisines, so I try and span the dishes through the day starting from the breakfast. So, on this day, I started my day with the No knead Filmjölk olive bread and black bean hummus. I will post the recipe some day. (I am a lazy bitch ;))

Anyways! for the lunch, I wanted to do something simple as I was expecting some guests for the dinner and I obviously had to focus more on the dinner. But, that doesn’t mean I will compromise on the lunch. More because I had to prepare something for the cuisine of the month going on a group of blogger friends where the host selects a cuisine and we all make one dish from that kitchen. I was the host this month and I decided on Greek as the cuisine of the month. So, here it is, a very humble Greek dish. Simple and from the everyday life of Greek kitchen: Spanakorizo – Greek Spinach Rice.

Potato and Broccoli Casserole

Friday’s have always been a pasta/pizza day at my home, so far. Not that my loyalties have changed, but I felt like eating something different and give a surprise to Friday. I looked up the Internet and did find something interesting stuff, but I didn’t have some or the other item in my pantry.

And, then I had an idea, bling!! Why not make something with whatever I have. I have anyways wanted to try Potato au gratin, and they were there in my pantry as well. They are always there, like the best friend who always stays by your side, no matter what. So, I looked up some recipes and I knew what I wanted to make finally. A mix of potato au gratin and a humble casserole. Well, since that day I have made it thrice; me and Abhishek love it so much. This Potato and Broccoli Casserole is my new found love.

No knead Filmjölk aka yogurt Olive Bread

To my dear readers, don’t be scared of the word Filmjölk. It is nothing but the Swedish version of yogurt. This yogurt is made with sour milk, more information here.

Now that you are friends Filmjölk, let me take you to the journey of the easiest bread I’ve ever made. The credit goes to the most awesome stand up comedian and my colleague, Lord James McKie who gave me the recipe. I just made some changes as per the ingredients available and to adapt the bread to my cuisine of the day, that is, Greek.

Blueberry Crumble

Hello spring!

Even though it is still cold here in Stockholm, but there is spring in the air and I love it. There is a different kind of freshness, something that tells me something is about to begin. Yes, the flowers are about to cover the ground. It will be green soon, and there will just fragrance all around. And, there will be berries…yay!!! They are already in the market, but it is just the beginning.

Vegetarian Spanish Paella

As I mentioned in my previous Spanish post, I celebrated a Spanish cuisine day this weekend. I started my day with a typical Spanish breakfast, Pan con Tomate. For Lunch, I went down my memory lane of Spanish meals, and I recalled the awesome Paella that Alphonso (the awesome and the most pleasing person who worked at a nice restaurant) served us in Seville. The restaurant is situated at the old town square, right across the famous Giralda towers. Everything was so fabulous, the warm lighting of the tower, the vibrant street and the lively people singing and dancing till late in the night.

Gotland’s Saffranspannkaka

The most beautiful place in Sweden that I have visited so far is Gotland. It is one of Unesco Heritage sites. I can go there any number of times. Everything is so beautiful and serene, water is so clean, the mountains so majestic, the old town has such a vintage feeling. I can go on and on about it. But, the blog is not about Gotland, but food :). Well, I am getting there. This dessert is a specialty of Gotland and is served with a special jam made of salmbär found only in Gotland. However, people in the mainland have it with other kinds of jam such as blueberry jam. But, Gotland’s Saffranspannkaka is very close to people who live in Gotland or have lived there sometime in their life and people like me who love Gotland.

Fetolivas – Feta wrapped olives

This is a toast to my love for olives and cheese.

I like olives and I absolutely love cheese. Anything that has cheese attracts me. Any recipe that mentions cheese is more interesting for me to try. All my friends are well aware of how to make me gain weight 😛

Enough of the cheese music, now lets get onto what I did with cheese 🙂 I saw this pin on pinterest, which had the best of two worlds – cheese and olives. And, I decided right away that I am going to try this one for sure. I had that image printed on my mind.

Finally, today when I stopped by the cheese aisle to pick some hard cheese, I picked cream cheese too. Then, I moved further and saw the kalamata olives. Till date, I tried usual black and green olives, but not the Kalamata variety. Wanted to taste the difference, so off they went in my shopping cart.

And, then started the magic. It literally is a magic finger food. It is creamy, salty, bright, and yummy. I don’t know what to call these, so I named them as Fetolivas – Feta wrapped olives.

Cheese and garlic pull apart rolls

Long long ago, when I didn’t even know how to use the oven, I saw this beautiful pull apart bread on the Internet. The bread had everything l like, garlic, cheese(s), and herbs. With the Itlaian cuisine fanaticism, I thought there and then that one day I will make this.

So, the day came and I tried my hands at this beauty. Unfortunately, I don’t have a proper bread loaf till now (I am not a regular baker), so I decided to use my cake tin. So, instead of a pull apart bread, I made pull apart rolls. And, they turned out amazingly good. I think these rolls are my best bake till date. And, yes I served it with spaghetti made in bechamel sauce. Another treat to my tongue. 🙂