Beautiful evenings

We have only got just over a week left in Sweden before we return to England.

It will be lovely to see all our friends and family again, but we will miss sunsets like this.

Something "naughty but nice" for the weekend

Beskvier, that's the Swedish name for these lovely little chocolate treats. They are so naughty but so yummy.
I'm trying to loos the baby wight (yes, I still haven't lost it) so I had to give them all away straight after I made them.
But for all you out there that would like to do some Saturday afternoon baking, here is the recipe.

Traditionally Beskvier are made whit grated almonds but I used grated hazelnuts in this recipe.

140g grated hazelnuts
85g caster sugar
3 egg whites
80g 70% chocolate
150g butter
90g icing sugar
1 egg yolk
15 raspberries
100 g white chocolate
100g dark chocolate

Start with the biscuit base.
Mix the grated hazelnuts, sugar and egg whites.
Spoon out 15 "balls" of the mixture on a baking tray lined with grease proof paper. Flatten the balls slightly with wet hands.
Bake at 200C foe 12-15 mins.

Melt 80g Chocolate, whisk butter and icing sugar until light and airy then add the egg yolk.
Fold in the melted chocolate.

When the biscuits have coled down turn them up side down and spread a thin layer of the butter cream over the top. Place 1 raspberry in the middle of each of them.
Cover the raspberry with butter cream so the you get a peak on top of the biscuit.
Put them in the freezer fro 30 mins or in the fridge for 2-3 hours so the they are very cold before you dip them in chocolate.

I dipped mine in a mix of melted white and dark chocolate to get the striped effect. But you can just as well just use one type of chocolate.

Good luck and have a nice weekend.

Snow Babies

I found this article on BBC's website. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21537988

It is about how we in Scandinavia let our babies sleep outside even if it is very cold.
I understand that to many people it could sound like madness to let your baby sleep outside when it is
-10C.
Like many other Swed's I think it is good for them. They need the cold fresh air to fight germs. I let Sofia sleep outside, she is out there in the cold right now having her morning nap. The temperature is
-6C.

She is dressed warm and wrapped up in her sheepskin sleeping bag only her little face is poking out.

I wonder why not more parents in England do it? 

Is it just a cultural thing or has it got something to do with the weather conditions? 

What do you think? What do parents in other countries do?

Please let me know your thoughts.

Natural Beauty

Like so many others, I try to do my bit to care for our planet. We buy organic food from local suppliers as much as we can.
When I found out that I was pregnant with Fredrik it became very important to me to use as many natural beauty products a possible. Products free from Parabens, Sulfates and Petrochemicals.
Now I try to buy Eco friendly clothes and nappies, but it is not always easy.
Here are some of my favourite Natural Eco friendly products for adults and kids.

Cowshed is my no.1 when it comes to lotions, shampoo, baby oil and other beauty/ baby products.
http://www.cowshedonline.com/

http://www.cowshedonline.com/

Blingo is a Swedish company making fantastic Eco friendly kids clothing.
http://www.blingo.se

http://www.blingo.se

Sister Anna's "Kärleksmums"

My sister Anna is a great cook and baker.

This is her recipe for Kärleksmums, a Swedish classic on the cake table. Traditionally it is served as squares but we made heart shapes instead.  So if you did not do anything special for Valentine's day last week maybe you should try this. It's a tasty treat.

5 eggs
350g caster sugar
200 g butter
60g cocoa powder
2 tea spoons baking powder
1 tea spoon vanilla extract
200 ml milk
240g plain flour

Oven 200C
Whisk sugar and eggs until pale and airy.
Melt butter and let it cool down a little.
Mix all other ingredients well. Fold in the egg/sugar mix carefully. Stir in the butter right at the end.
Poor the mixture in to a deep oven tray lined with grease proof paper.
Bake for 20-25min

Icing

75g butter
50ml strong coffee
240g icing sugar
2 table spoon cocoa powder
1 tea spoon vanilla extract

Melt the butter and stir in all other ingredients.

Leave the cake to cool down before spreading the icing on top, sprinkle with grated coconut.

Beautiful winter day

I just have to post a few pictures that I took a couple of weeks ago.

A lovely walk on the frozen lake with the whole family.

Nils the Snowman

It is a long time sins I posted anything.
I swear time goes quicker here in Sweden. It feels like Christmas was only a few weeks ago.
I guess that's what happens when you have two children to keep you busy.

Today we have been outside most of the day with the latest addition to the family, Nils the Snowman.
He is named after my friend Carin's son, who came to play with Fredrik yesterday.