A Swedish Kitchen: Recipes and Reminiscences

by Judith Pierce Rosenberg

To many Americans, Swedish cuisine remains a mystery. From the Baltic Sea, the 100,000 lakes, and numerous rivers comes a wealth of fish and shellfish. Abundant forests provide game, mushrooms, and berries. These mild delicacies, combined with staples like potatoes and other root vegetables; grains such as rye; and herbs and spices, including dill and cardamom, make up husmanskost, or classic Swedish home cooking. The stories and recipes in A Swedish Kitchen celebrate this cuisine. A Swedish Recipes and Reminiscences is the story of an American woman's 25-year love affair with the land, people, and cuisine of this Nordic nation. Sharing her love of food and cooking, Judith Pierce Rosenberg leads readers to markets in search of wild strawberries and smoked reindeer, and to cafés for a cup of strong Swedish coffee and a kanelbulle (cinnamon bun) or mazarin (almond tart). Among her culinary adventures are dinner at a wilderness lodge, a medieval banquet, and a Christmas smorgasbord with all the trimmings. Throughout this culinary memoir, Rosenberg interweaves the historical and cultural context of Swedish cooking, explaining the history of waffles and the traditions behind Saint Lucia Day. A Swedish Kitchen includes 80 recipes that highlight traditional Swedish flavors and ingredients, such as red currants, cloudberries, and cardamom, Recipes are designed for use in the American kitchen, enabling readers and cooks to easily prepare such Swedish favorites as rabarbersoppa (rhubarb soup), prinsesstårta (princess cake), and Janssons frestele (Jansson's temptation).

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Scandinavian Literature

234 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2004

Reviews

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the lovely Cover from a lovely Carl Larsson painting to the wonderful recipes I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The first half of the book is more than a memoir. Much more than reminiscences, the first half covers history, geography, and much Swedish culture. The cookbook includes delicious and authentic recipes.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am in the process of reading this one, another cook book. This one has a story in the first half that makes me want to go to sweden and spend the summer... repeatedly. Norm got me this book for christmas. I am wanting a swedish birthday party this year so I am hoping to find some good recipes for a super smorgasbord.

[Katharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes me daydream about a summer in Sweden... recipes have clear instructions and I've bookmarked some, although haven't tried any yet.

[Lynea Finn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll give it a better rating once I make a recipe. Makes me want to learn more about my family's culture.