must have cardamom

[bedlamsbard]

Am taking advantage of The Great Scandinavian Baking Book and the holiday season to make The Baked Goods of My Ancestors. (Swedish and Norwegian, on my dad's side. My mom's side is a straight line of samurai back several thousand years; yes, I'm sure those particular ancestors are wondering where they went wrong that she married a gaijin.)

So far, the Cookie of My Ancestors could use a little zing. Probably why the Swedes started trading with Constantinople in the first place, shouting for spice, spice, as they assailed the walls of Constantinople. Then the Byzantines hit 'em with Greek fire.

...oops, did I say trade? That happened after the attack. (Guys, I cannot make this history up. It really happened, multiple times. My professor tells the story better than Wikipedia, though.)

The Cinnamon Rolls of My Ancestors are undergoing their first rise. Well, they will either be the Cinnamon Rolls of My Ancestors or the Cinnamon Wreath of My Ancestors. Any further Bread of My Ancestors is going to have to wait until I get more rye flour, as I'm out and we forgot to get some at the grocery store, and dear gods, I am never going near a shopping establishment on Christmas Eve again.

Meanwhile, there's a damned good chance Dust 22 might be done today or tomorrow, but on the other hand, the chance that anyone will be around to read it seems slim.

Comments

[aella_irene]

We are having croissants from a tin for breakfast. I'm saving all my baking for Boxing Day.

[bedlamsbard]

I feel like I should do something exciting...and I wanted to make cinnamon rolls anyway.

[scy]

My mother didn't make krumkake this year. *sadface* I love my 'Norwegian waffle cookies' and my mother has promised we shall make some after Christmas.

[bedlamsbard]

*googles* Oooh, those look interesting.

Lest one get the wrong idea, I did not grow up with traditional Scandinavian baking. I just felt like it, this year.

[scy]

Krumkake are DELICIOUS.

That is actually the only TRADITIONAL Scandinavian bit of baking that my mother does at the holidays. Last night we made spritz cookies - esentially sugar cookies with frosting and LOTS of sprinkles. *g*

[bedlamsbard]

I've seen a lot of recipes for those floating around the Internet this Christmas season! I might have to experiment with them.

[sporky_rat]

I'm around to read it!


I am so interested in the idea of The Bread of Your Ancestors.

[bedlamsbard]

There's a Christmas reference, so it's almost topical...

Limpa bread -- it's this Swedish rye bread that's flavored with orange zest, molasses, anise seed, fennel seed, and possibly some other things, I have a couple of different recipes for it. I made it last year, for the first time, and let me tell you, it makes killer French toast the next morning. Would probably also make good bread pudding.

And most Scandinavian breads seem to contain rye.

[isweedan]

That is some SRS sounding bread right there.

[bedlamsbard]

Ha, nothing compared to this one, which I look forward to attempting some day in the future. Perhaps the near future, even.

[isweedan]

0.0 Outback bread???? OMG. That would be so awesome.

(So much respect, yo.)

[cofax7]

but on the other hand, the chance that anyone will be around to read it seems slim.

I WILL MAKE TIME.

[bedlamsbard]

Heh! We shall see if it gets done. I'm trying to decide how much to draw out the chapter. (For example, do we really need two tea parties, or is one enough? On the other hand, they're with completely different people; on the third slightly mutant hand, perhaps that's too much talky face for one chapter.)

[dogstar]

MOAR DUST PLEASE. (I re-read it today. :P)

We're having egg bake and strawberry muffins.