Author: Line West

Fastelavn/Danish Carnival

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Today is Fastelavn/”Shrovetide” in Denmark! This is Lutheran/Scandinavian carnival. I was never a big fan of this tradition as a kid. Probably because you had to dress up in the middle of the Winter standing in a line and beat a barrel in the cold winter snow! The barrel is similar to a piñata but shaped as a barrel with a picture of a cat on it. Its called “beat the cat out of the barrel” and in the old days there used to be a real black cat in it as a symbol of getting rid of evil. Now the barrel is filled with candy and oranges. Much better. The child who beats the bottom off the barrel becomes “Cat Queen” and receives a queen crown and the child who beats the last board off the barrel gets the title “Cat King” and a king’s crown. Little kids also walk around in groups in their neighborhoods and knock on people’s doors all dressed up in their costumes. They sing a little song about how …

Rye bread granola

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Danish children eat fairly healthy. For example they eat rye bread every day. But to my frustration my own children won’t really eat this even though in Denmark it is a staple like pastry and coffee… So last night I decided to make my childhood classic: rye bread granola. It is basically oven roasted rye bread crumbs with sugar. Don’t all kids eat pretty much anything as long as you add sugar? Yup, my four-year old daughter, Ava, had three portions of yoghurt with rye bread granola! Little one-year old Anton had a hard time chewing it and gave up after one never-ending mouthful… This made my daughter suggest we make a chocolate granola for him – and her… so I guess that will be up next! It will be something baby friendly with cocoa powder, oats and honey. But still less sugary than what you buy in stores. Ingredients: 500 gram of German Whole Rye Bread from Mestemacher (it has to be the hearty German kind, not the soft rye bread. You can also …

Super easy and hearty buns

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Is there anything better than fresh bread right out of the oven? This recipe is so simple and easy that anyone can do it without previous baking experience plus it can be fitted into a busy schedule. With a one-year old and four year-old around me all day recipes need to be pretty simple these days… You just mix it all together before you go to bed, leave it in the fridge overnight and voila next morning you bake them and half an hour later you can enjoy warm freshly baked buns! Ingredients 3 1/2 cup warm water 1 1/2 package active dry yeast 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon honey 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats, or walnuts or craisins 1/8 cup flax seeds 2 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, rye flour, buck wheat flour or spelt 3 cups all-purpose flour Sesame seeds, poppy seeds, oats for sprinkling This is how you do it: Proof the yeast in 1/2 cup of the warm water with 1/2 a teaspoon sugar When the yeast starts to rise and bubble …

Copenhagen

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Having been to most of the major cities, Copenhagen is still the cutest, most charming city I know of! And best of all – the bicycles rule! Biking is definitely the way to get around on wide and separated bicycle lanes. This way you don’t have to view the city from behind a windshield and you get a lot of free exercise every day. Another lovely thing about Copenhagen is all the parks! There are so many places to take a break from busy city life. I can think of at least five great parks in the center of Copenhagen. Among these “Kongens Have” or “The Kings Garden” with Rosenborg Castle in the middle is the most popular and central. It is literally located in the heart of the city. It has a rose garden, beautiful flowerbeds and lots of old trees. In the Summer you can see the city’s residents using it as their own backyard for picnics, parties, sunbathing and soccer games, you name it! This is definitely my favorite park of all …