Rosolli: A Finnish Christmas Salad The first time I encountered Rosolli, it was a startling splash of color on a stark white Christmas table in Helsinki. My Finnish friend’s grandmother, a woman with eyes as blue as the Baltic Sea, proudly presented this ruby-toned salad. I was initially hesitant – beets aren’t always my favorite … Read more
Finnish Sweet Cardamom Raisin Bread (Pulla) The scent of cardamom always transports me back to my grandmother’s kitchen. She wasn’t Finnish, but she had a well-worn cookbook with a Pulla recipe that she made every Christmas. The warm, yeasty aroma mingling with the spicy cardamom and sweet raisins filled her small apartment, creating a comforting … Read more
Lingonberry Crumb Pie: A Taste of Nordic Autumn The scent of warm butter, tart berries, and toasted oats always transports me back to a tiny cabin nestled deep in a Swedish forest. It was there, during a crisp autumn visit with my grandmother, that I first tasted lingonberry pie. The vibrant red berries, a staple … Read more
Lattyjä: A Taste of Finnish Sunshine The scent of warm butter and something subtly sweet always takes me back to a small, sun-drenched kitchen in Helsinki. It wasn’t my kitchen, but the cozy space of a friend’s isoäiti (grandmother), where I first encountered lattyjä. She stood patiently by a well-loved cast-iron pan, expertly swirling batter … Read more
Rosolli: A Finnish Christmas Salad Steeped in Tradition The scent of earthy beetroot always transports me back to Christmases spent with my Finnish grandmother. I remember her bustling around the kitchen, her hands stained a vibrant magenta from preparing rosolli, this wonderfully colourful salad. It wasn’t just a dish; it was a symbol of family, … Read more