We interrupt the broadcasts about photography for a food break. There will be a Part III of the Now, What? series, but only after a discussion about what’s been haunting my dreams of late.
For my birthday I asked to climb a mountain… just me and a guide. I stated out-loud that I was going to climb Grand Teton. Then I made it very public by discussing it here. Grand stands at 13,770 feet and is a technical climb. I’m scheduled to summit over a two day period sometime late August/early September, depending on weather conditions on the mountain. By that time I will have devoted 4 months of my life to this pursuit. I’m a non-athlete. This is a big deal.
While I’ve been eating, actually more than usual to fuel my workouts, all sugar and fried foods have been deleted like a sad regret at the computer. When Beth Whitman at Wanderlust & Lipstick asked me to guest post for her Wanderfood Wednesdays, never wanting to miss writing opportunities, I agreed. True to my penchant for self-torture, I’ve made and posted about the things I’m craving. Like fried potatoes, szechuan green beans, and now Scandinavian Almond Bread.
You can see why. The bread is sweet, fragrant, dense, buttery, and pulled from the refrigerator is as refreshing as a glass of lemonade on a hot, humid Oklahoma day. What’s interesting is I didn’t know it existed until my son fell in love with Joie Sherman, a North Dakota girl of Swedish descent (and soon to be guest cast member on AMC’s Mad Men). The love affair happened even before I accidentally discovered Kansas’ Little Sweden (Lindsborg).
While Joie describes Scandinavian food to be “white and bland”, my experimentation has not confirmed that. White, largely. Bland, sometimes. Delicious, always.
Upon returning from my solo road trip to the Dakotas, I ordered a case of lefse from Freddy’s Lefse in Fargo. Grocery stores here don’t carry such northern delicacies. Our loss.
Scandinavian refers to the food, customs, products, and peoples of the countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark. It seems the Swedes have the market cornered on recognizable food items, but lots of familiar products are rooted in these countries.
Swedish pancakes. Swedish meatballs. Swedish rye bread. Swedish ostkaka (cheesecake). Lingonberry everything. Swedish pepparkakor (ginger cookies). The Dala horse. Spritz cookies. Glogg. Schnapps. Lutefish. Kuchen. Lefse. Almond cake. Pippi Longstocking!?
Thank you Joie for introducing me to Almond Bread! Since I couldn’t eat the loaf I made for this post, I gave it away to my neighbors. I only have one thing to say about that — Uff Daaaaaaahhhhhh!!!
Scandinavian Almond Bread
1 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 1/2 tsp almond extract, 2/3 cup milk, 1 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 stick melted better, Blend all with a hand mixer. Bake in a buttered & floured pan at 350 degrees for 50-60 min. or until a toothpick comes out clean. It will be VERY brown on top. Cool completely in pan before attempting extraction. Very refreshing when put covered in refrigerator.
I need to to thank you for this good read!! I certainly enjoyed every bit of it.
I have you bookmarked to check out new things
you post…
Comment by blue cross blue shield eligibility — August 5, 2013 @ 2:53 pm
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Funny, I lived in Denmark and just returned from Norway this month, Finland last, and all of this food looks MUCH tastier than anything I ever ate over there on a regular basis! Adding the bread to my recipe folder!
Comment by Camels & Chocolate — August 2, 2009 @ 9:01 pm
I am going to get Alyssa to bake this one for us!
Comment by Sara Perk — July 31, 2009 @ 2:40 pm
You could always eat some going up the mountain !!! Then it could all be blamed on the calories needed to summit !!! =) 1 loaf = 2 hrs. on the stairmaster =) haha
Comment by MTN BUM — July 31, 2009 @ 2:30 pm
Heather, it is VERY almond flavored with only the extract. You can line the pan with thinly sliced almonds, but I’m lazy and never do that. The bread is my favorite quick bread 1) because I do love almonds, and 2) it’s so easy (all one bowl), and 3) it’s simply decadent.
Anil, I found the same in Ireland. Wow, talk about carbs! And washed down with all that great beer! Yum.
Pops, a Billy’s cheeseburger is definitely on my list of things to gorge on after the climb. I’ll be watching for that check!
John B, you could always add fish on top, if you wanted. I mean, you’d be the only one to eat it, but it’s your taste buds man!
Wanderluster, it is torture. And yes, next time I’ll make you the beneficiary of that. LOL
JJ, Joie, and Jenell, Thank you for your comments!
Comment by Tammie Dooley — July 30, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
Oh…the price we pay to go higher! Just think how good all of this will taste after the climb. I think I’d start with a Double Billy’s Cheeseburger. Since I’ve enjoyed your stories so much, it’s on me. The check is in the mail.
Comment by Pops — July 29, 2009 @ 8:18 pm
I’m really fond of Swedish almond bread (and cake). I never thought it was possible to make potatoes 10 million different ways until I went to Sweden. They *love* their potatoes 🙂
Comment by Anil — July 29, 2009 @ 6:35 pm
You’re TORTURING yourself not being able to eat it yourself. Next time, consider popping into the mail via priority to Seattle and I’ll let you know how it turns out! HA HA
Comment by Wanderluster — July 29, 2009 @ 4:22 pm
Hey Hey,
I’m vexed. Part of me says, ‘rockin, spread the word about the North’ and the other part says, ‘keep it a secret.’ To be fair, another part of me says, ‘I could eat a whole damn loaf of that bread.’
This post flows very well and I can’t say enough about your sarcastic wit. Reminds of…reminds me of me (at least the sarcasm).
Nice work!
Comment by JJ — July 29, 2009 @ 2:54 pm
Yum I love almonds, but I’m surprised to find it doesn’t include any ground almonds only almond extract – is it still very almond flavoured?
Comment by Heather on her travels — July 29, 2009 @ 1:39 pm
Tammie! Tack så mycket! What a wonderful post! You’ve already done so much for the Dakotas, and for our Scandinavian heritage! I hope more people will be inspired to visit, and to discover the surprises the region has to offer (like almond bread and lefse!). Uff Da is right!-I expect you to eat some almond bread after you climb that mountain, ok? 🙂 After the first piece, you can exclaim (like a true Scandinavian) “Samma igen, tack!” (Same again, please!) I think you definitely deserve more than one piece….
Love,
Joie
*crossing my fingers for that guest role-thanks to all who have voted!
Comment by Joie — July 29, 2009 @ 10:35 am
The photos of Swedish sweet bread are scrumptous!
Comment by Jenell — July 29, 2009 @ 9:34 am
Mmmmm! What, no fish on top?
Comment by john b — July 29, 2009 @ 9:28 am