Sourdough bread

When I lived in Stockholm, I lived just around the corner from a fantastic bakery called Riddarbageriet.
Johan Sorberg is one of the best bakers in Sweden (if not the best), ever sins I moved I have missed going there to get some lovely walnut bread or a sweet bun.
In 2003 Johan published two great books about baking, one about how to bake bread and another how to make cakes and sweet bread.

Yesterday I made his Sourdough Cheese and sesame seed Loaf.
It is so easy and delicious.

360g water
30g fresh yeast
100g sourdough
60g butter
650g strong white flour
15g sesame oil
16g salt
100g cheese in cubes

50g roasted sesame seeds.

Mix all ingredients apart from salt, cheese and sesame seeds.
Work your dough for at least 10 min then add the salt and work for another 4 min.
Quickly mix kneed in the seeds and cheese.
Let the dough rest for 30 min.
Make two loafs and put in oiled loaf tins.
Paint them with a beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Let the loafs rest for 45-60 mins
Pre-heat the oven to 250 C ones it is time to put the bread in lower the temp to 220 C.
When the bread is in put half a cup of water at the bottom of the oven, this will help to form a nice crust.
The loafs should be done after about 30 min.

Enjoy toasted with some lovely fig preserve.
Good luck!

Knitting, obsession or hobby?

I have always enjoyed knitting and I go through periods when I knitting quit a lot.
Most of the time I don't ever use what I have knitted. It all ends up in a drawer never to see daylight again.
The last few weeks however, I have started to knit enormous amounts of baby stuff that I might actually use.
The question is, when does a hobby turn in to an obsession?
In the last week I have knitted an matching pair of socks and hat, another pair of socks and two dresses. In all fairness they are small but still.
Looking back at this week, I realise that I have done very little apart from knitting.
I'm starting to think that I might have passed over the line and knitting is now more than a hobby.

Can I blame pregnancy and plead temporary insanity?

Story North

This is my friend Samantha's web shop Story North. I love everything she stocks.

Story North Kids is just fantastic, I want one of everything. I mean, how woulden't want to have all Kay Bojesens wooden animals, byNorth bed linen, a mini Panton chair and a knitted Kebnekaise Pouf in there kids bedroom.  www.storynorth.com

9 Months pregnant and batteling flat pack furniture.

I'm now 9 months and 4 days pregnant and to be perfectly honest I'm starting to feel a bit feed up.
So, I decided to put together a few IKEA drawers for the little ones wardrobe. What was I thinking???
As a swede I normally don't have any problems with flat pack furniture but with pregnancy brain it is a completely different ball game.
I have now put together the same drawer 4 times and finally managed to get it right. 1 down 3 to go.

The good thing is that I'm not alone, Fred is here to "help" me. A 2 year old boy can have surprising skills.

Together we have also managed to assemble the Stokke sleepi cot for the little one.

I know we are cutting it a bit fine, but now it's done so we are ready whenever she is.

I absolutely love Stokke products, fantastic design and super practical, very Scandinavian.
We have used Stokke Sleepi for Fred as well and it's been great. He is still in his extended cot but I think it is time to take one of the sides down. www.stokke.com

Scandi Kid

I just wanted to let you know about some of my favourite Swedish Kids cloths designers.
Sture & Lisa makes fantastic fairtrade and organic baby outfits, with wonderful retro patterns.
www.stureolisa.se

Li and Lo is a company from my home town Jonkoping. They make cloths and fabric in playful colours and patterns.

www.liandlo.com