Beef and duck liver pâté. A late night project, along the Swedish west coast, Sweden.
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & JE Nilsson 2020
A medley of pictures from the late night project, the making of the beef and duck liver pâté.
Saffranssemla
A saffranssemla. Like a semla, only with saffron added, along the Swedish west coast, Sweden.
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & JE Nilsson 2020
I did a post-Christmas grocery store run yesterday in Sweden. To my horror, I saw trays of semlor being brought out from the bakery department. I took a double take on the trays, to see they were not actually large cream puffs, because, why not? But, there were no cream puffs. The trays were filled with luscious marzipan and cream filled semlor, headed to the bakery shelves. A lovely sight, but a little early, I thought.
Satay and peanut sauce, “your lips, my lips … apocalypse…”
A short compilation of the making of satay and peanut sauce. And, the lyrics to the song Apocalypse by Cigarettes After Sex (2017), “your lips, my lips … apocalypse…”
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & JE Nilsson 2020
Sugee cake, Styrsö julbord 2020
The Eurasian sugee cake.
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & JE Nilsson 2020
A short compilation of photos and videos of sugee cake making at Styrsö, Sweden for Christmas 2020.
I learnt to bake semolina cake or sugee cake from my father. I began with cracking of the eggs for him, and separating the egg yolks from the egg whites. No shells or yellows in the whites allowed.
Janssons frestelse, Mannerström´s Christmas recipe
Traditionally known as a dish for a quick supper fix, Janssons frestelse is a family favourite, and not to be missed at a Swedish Christmas table.
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & JE Nilsson 2020
Janssons frestelse, using Leif Mannerström´s Christmas recipe.
One of the first dishes introduced to me when I landed in Sweden is the classic Janssons frestelse. With heavy cream and potatoes with slivers of anchovies, this dish makes a substantial meal for that after party downtime, if you´re still awake.
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Gravad lax, Styrsö julbord 2020
Making gravad lax or cured salmon, is an annual tradition in our household. Salmon in itself is an extremely flavourful fish, the reason for as little herbs and spices used as possible for curing. As with years past, what you´ll need to find is an excellent piece of salmon.
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & JE Nilsson 2020
The Nordic oceans are renowned to produce meaty, flavourful fish such as cod, monkfish, saithe and salmon. These fish are delicious mostly on their own, and need very little herbs and spices to bring out their flavours. I like to pan-fry or lightly grill cod and salmon in a bit of butter, with salt and pepper to taste. But at year´s end, we often go with historical Nordic culinary traditions, where fish and meat are preserved by drying, salting or smoking.
Festive pavlova
Pavlova, one of the more festive looking desserts on the Christmas table this year.
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & JE Nilsson 2020
Candy apples
Candy apples to brighten any dessert section at the Christmas table this jultide season.
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & JE Nilsson 2020
The jultide season is characterised by tinsel, mistletoe and gleaming red apples that bejewel the julbord. Making candied apples is a quick project. I had seven small apples to work with, so the glazing took under 20 minutes, or the time that your sugar takes to come to between 140°C to 158°C (hard crack candy stage).
Pineapple tarts and pirate coins Pieces of Eight
Making pineapple tarts in semblance of Spanish ‘Pieces of Eight’ colonial ‘pirate money’ or cob coins, to the value of eight reals, along the west coast of Sweden.
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & JE Nilsson 2020
Pineapple tarts, the making.
I last wrote about making pineapple tarts in March 2010. My thoughts then were focused on the method of making pineapple tarts. The open-faced tarts with a cross over the top was something I grew up learning to make in the Eurasian household. As a child, I remember that there were many more rules from my mother about how to make pineapple tarts. It had to be shaped in a certain manner, crossed over the top and pinched over the crosses in a certain manner. I thought these were rules of good, and proper baking. I was never told why we made tarts in the semblance of a coin with a cross on top. I always thought it was a show of kitchen craftsmanship and that you tried to make the tart as pretty as possible.
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Chicken and duck liver pâté
Chicken and duck liver pâté served with a slice of red wine marinated cheddar.
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & JE Nilsson 2020
A medley of different pâté recipes here, using grated ginger to Herbs de Provence.
Liver pâté is a food that is terribly unsexy to photograph. The eating of it however, is a different story. Rich and velvety on the tongue, chicken and duck liver pâté, made with a hint of your favourite port wine is a taste of sheer luxury.