Leaping Leap Year

I don't know about you but this year certainly is leaping and galloping wildly. It's already February, and despite snow flurries and promises of "Arctic Conditions", spring is around the corner. I've already heard several bird boys trying to woo their ladies by singing loudly at dawn. I'd propose to them to maybe wait until the girls have rolled out of bed in the am and had their first cup of coffee, before suggesting any hanky-panky! And as much as I do love snow and sledging, I'm hoping to skip that this year.

One thing that I certainly don't want to skip is Lent, or at least the traditional swedish Lent buns. Oh, yes, it's time for Semlor again. In Sweden, they've been putting them away since just after Christmas the cheats and there have even been reports about new kinds of Semlor. Like one with chocolate! Blasphemy!, say I, and have joined the Facebook group aiming to get the sacred bun Grade 1 listed. If you are new to Semlor, I suggest a peek at the explanatory text over at the TotallySwedish Calendar section. If you are already aware about the facts, alternatively couldn't care less and just want to eat them, we are happy to share with you that we'll have fresh semlor in both shops from this week, on Thursdays and Saturdays. If you really want the proper experience, you should head over to Barnes on the first Day of Lent, Tuesday the 21st of February, and meet the fabulous Baker extraordinaire Daniel Karlsson of Bageriet, as he'll spend the entire day there producing these beauties. On the following Thursday, the 23rd, he'll repeat the feat at TotallySwedish Crawford Street. That week, from the 21st to the 26th, we'll have fresh ones every day. The rest of Lent you'll have to either make your own, hold out until the Thursdays and Saturdays or buy the frozen ones. They are filled with lovely almond paste and all you need is fresh whipped cream, icing sugar to dust over and a little bit of patience until they thaw. It will greatly improve the taste.

If you really want to impress a Swede, you should get them - or yourself, provided that neither of you are allergic to Birch - a bunch of Birch branches, decorated with coloured feathers. I like mine madly multicoloured but my mother insists that only yellow and white shall come over her threshold. To each their own. In Sweden, children will make little Easter oriented decorations, mostly made from egg cartons and styrofoam balls, to hang on your Lent arrangement. If you're keen, I'm sure you can pick up some handy tips on Tuesdays at the Swedish Church, when all the Swedish au-pairs, mums and their charges congregate. Interesting fact: In Swedish, the word for this kind of branch bunch is "ris", and the verb to "rise" means beat or whip and not in a good way, unless you're in the Sauna (with some Finns), when it's considered very nice and beneficial to beat yourself with fresh Birch twigs. "Ris" can also mean criticism.

Enough with the quirky Swedish habits, let's move straight on to the International Day of Looove: Valentine's Day. Love it or hate it, you can't get away, and why should you? The world could surely need a little more sweet sentiments and this celebration of chocolate and admiration is as good an excuse as any to show you care. Cards, flowers (please do not ever buy carnations, they are just naff), chocolate. Good chocolate. If you want to treat your sweetheart well, get some truffles from Åre Choklad. (Åre being a very nice place to go skiing, in the far north of Sweden). There is a small percentage of people who do not like chocolate. Or are allergic. Give them the most traditional of Swedish sweets, the pink and lovely raspberry jellies. Rudely known as ladies nipples, but you don't have to be quite so graphic unless you think it'll make a favourable impression. They are ecological, come in a pretty box and are divine. Failing all else, the Valentine's Day meringues from Bageriet are pretty special. Just saying'!

Ladies; don't forget it's a Leap Year, which means that on February 29, it's fair game to pop the questions, if you are so inclined. They are not allowed to say no!

There is more to life than love and pastry. There are books, of which we have a lot of Swedish authors in English, both adults' and children's literature, films and packed lunches (I love the Frozzypack!) as well as cooking dinner every day. We have some recipes on the website, but sometimes you can't bring the computer to the kitchen (because the kids are doing their homework and prefer your laptop to the stationary house computer tucked away behind the door), so we are going to do recipe cards! What would you like to learn how to cook? What recipe's do you want on a card? Fancy Dinner dishes with game or salmon? Everyday recipe's like Swedish meatballs or lamb casserole? Desserts?

We wish you - again and rather late, unless you're Chinese - a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you - and the sun! - soon.

TotallySwedish