food in colour

that i immensely enjoy colours in my life is very obvious (no kiddin'), that includes food when possible. as i think food should be pleasing to the eye as well as palate. while presentation certainly isn't everything, it does count for a lot. as does colour.

last week i made a big batch of beetroot risotto. which isn't all that pleasing to the eye (granted it looks like a big, nasty chunk of minced meat in picture), but very colourful. and very tasty. and got us peeing red for the rest of the week. 

-- i'll try and link the recipe later, the day my broadband see fit to work again. until then search the blog for 'beetroot risotto' and you shall find. just remember not to dive into the risotto like poor byno did, his li'l bobbaloo face is stained for life -- edit, recipe link

i've also rekindled with blood grapefruit. amazing both for eye and palate. apparently a fruit in season now. not locally grown of course. but something perky and nice to get us through a couple of more glum scandinavian winter months.

what are your favourite colourful foods?

green times, green nails

Sometimes the silliest little matters count. Like exactly which colour(s) of nailpolish you should start a new year with. I've contemplating this serious decision for a couple of nailpolish-free weeks now. And since I green is my number one nailpolish love I went with the three greens I adore most. Circus nails in green.

Starting the year with a de-lovely trio, setting the bar for the year to come. Oh, it will be a difficult green trio to top.



China Glaza Running in circles, Sally Hansen Grass slipper, Essie Pretty edgy

What's the first nailpolish of choice for you this brand new year?

it is the time of tulips - apparently

I've bought the first tulips of 2014. Seems terribly early in the season for that. They were irresistable, the pale salmon pink/peach colour is amazing. Soft, creamy and somehow silky to look at. They were also rather overpriced. Not something I'd do regularly. But it was a treat to get them as an office windowsill inspiration. New (work) year and all.

Unfortunately they didn't exactly thrive upon arrival home. Three days later they do look very tired and uninspired poor things. They probably miss the sun too. Or it actually is too early in the season for them to grow naturally and healthy...

Someone said tulips will be hard to find this season. And that they will indeed be more expensive. As a part in what climate changes do. If that is true it is indeed heartbreaking. All those sad little steps and signs heading in the wrong direction. What we people have done to this planet...

All the more reason to do good deeds and try and be a better being as long as we have a planet to live on. To try and make a positive change, for others and for ourselves.

Thus the green notebook will soon be filled with great things. In fact they will be super exceptional splendid phenomenal genius matters. Not only because the book clearly states so. But also because it will be the start of one of many great projects planned for this year.

the fabulous happy coat

The much awaited coat arrived today. When I unwrapped it it was a most gorgeous piece. The colour is amazing, someething between salmon pink and coral. When I tried it on it was clear we were made for eachother. A coat obviously designed by someone who knows the female body, what shapes and details that flatter and compliment. Seemingly simple, understated, timeless and simply marvellous design. Quality down to every detail.

The shoulders are not too wide, just perfect, the arm-length perfect, chest width leaving room for sweaters and movement. It looks great both buttoned up and open. The collar is adorable, the buttons cute, the length perfect, it has a fabulous swagger, more flared than A-shaped.

If you remember the lovely red coat worn by Martine McCutcheon in "Love Actually", it's very much in that style. And I adore it. I'm so happy the green duffle coat didn't fit. I'm actually glad I didn't find a red coat, because this colour is just stunning, totally inspiring and happiness instigating. Especially in this drab weather we're currently having.

It seems that Marimekko keeps bringing me perfect garments filled with joy (like last year's summer dress to mention but one other). Next time I'm looking for something smashing in timeless style, great fit and awesome colour I will remember to look at the Marimekko website first (because the selection in the Swedish shops is unfortunately rather meager).



It wasn't a day for great photos, and I don't know if it's even possible to capture the colour right, but here are a few quick snaps of awesomeness.

What a fantastic way to start the year, I am so looking forward to spending many winter days and oh so many years in this coat. Glorious giddiness. We were simply meant to be together, the fabulous happy coat and I.

winds of change

So on this last day of Christmas and New year's holidays I thought it would be nice with a summary of sorts. What I have done, felt, accomplished and what I have not. See, I had big plans on cleaning, cleansing and shuffle around things and messy stuff in the house. That I have done very little of.

But what I have done/got - which always is much nicer to concentrate on, wouldn't you agree? The things we accomplish and enjoy, not our shortcomings and room for improvement-features - are;

~  enjoyed good food - and not really Christmassy food since I've never appreciated that kind of food, not only because it's terribly animal flesh concentrated per se, I don't enjoy the vegetarian version either. Not really my type of food. With some few exceptions.

~ the relaxation away from thoughts and mind revolving around work

~ the knitting and crocheting

~ the swearing over the fact that the internet/broadband really doesn't work as it's suppose to (what I pay for) - had a sneaky suspicion it was the computer singing its last tune, turned out it isn't. Tomorrow I will have to deal with that nuisance too.
~ the scent of hyacinths

~ good talks - admittedly there have been some less than good ones too. I really do not appreciate how those retrieve less than pleasant traits in me. Although life as a saint would be terribly samey and dull due to no room for improvement and growth I suppose.

~ a certain fox jacket

~ good walks - although I would have liked more of those, but weather has really not been outdoors inviting, more of indoors snugglingish. So that's alright. It has after all been lovely to snuggle.

Tomorrow the new year begins for real. And while I am right where I should be in certain aspects of my life, others really need to change. Well, I'm probably at the right place period, what I mean is that in certain areas in life I am calm and content, whilst in others I am now ready and open for a lot of change, improvement and shift of focus.

Life is bittersweet as in it is not a constant, it always urges on, we evolve and change with it. I do believe I'm at that phase in life where I can understand and fully embrace that fact. In all its bittersweetness. I hope you can too.

saffron toffee

This kind of toffee is a traditional Swedish sweet during Christmas. It's called "knäck" (as in "crack", but the only addictive ingredient in it would then be sugar). Few ingredients, but still pretty tricky to get just right, the perfect kind of chewiness, not to soft, not too hard. I've actually never boiled "knäck" myself, but my mum usually makes a batch every Christmas.

This year she made a vegan version, using oats-cream from Oatly instead and it turned out lovely! She also used the Oatly recipe (which you find in Swedish here) that suggested saffron would be a neat thing to flavour with. And it really really was, very nice indeed.

If you'd like to make your own "knäck", here's the recipe;

Saffron toffee (knäck)
makes 50-60 toffee moulds

3 dl caster sugar
3 dl light syrup
3 dl iMat
(Oatly oats-cream for cooking,
I'm sure you can find something similar vegan in your food store)
2 tbsp vegan butter (if the toffee is to hard after sphere-test)
2 dl parboiled/peeled/chopped almonds
1/2 package saffron

1. Stir the ingredients together in a thick-bottomed pan.
2. Let to boil and then boil on low temperature without lid for about 90-120 minutes. Stir regularly.
3. Make the "sphere-test" to determine the right sticky consistency. Drop a small sphere of the batter in a glass of cold water, remove and feel the consistency. Too soft? Let it boil some more. Too hard? Add the butter.
4. Pour the toffee into the moulds, let it cool and solidify.

Let the furry inspectors give paw of approval.
Enjoy! (But please beware that they might be hard on teeth)

two woolly hats

A year ago I knitted quite a lot of hats, caps and beanies, but I never got around to the blog show and tell part. Not even sure I've uploaded to photos to Flickr actually. When I do I will blog a bit. Because they were/are quite adorable pieces. Some from pattern, some my own creations.

But for now, two hats I've made during the Christmas holidays. I may not have followed through with a lot of the things I had planned to do during these past few weeks - I totally blame the glum weather and lack of energy for that - but at least I have been busy with needles, hooks and yarn.

So apart from finishing the supersized red scarf - more of later - and the finishing touches of the Lovikka mittens I have also begun crocheting one shawl for myself (bought yarn for it three years ago ie better late than never. Although it's a lot of work for a minimal progress, seems like it's going to some kind of eternity project...), begun a scarf to order and then these two hats.

The purple one is actually a Lovikka hat, a gift for my mother. I have yet to do the finishing embroidery. And with the green winter it's no rush for that, too warm to wear anyway.

The other one, with a big pink bobble is from left over yarn from that soy-wool scarf I made a few year's back. Lovely soft yarn, winter white and blue greyish. My own creation and I thought a big pink bobble on top would be the perfect finishing touch. I will probably save it for inauguration next winter. The hat itself was a reasonably quick knit, the bobble on the other hand took well over three hours to finish. A lot of yarn went into that. And obviously a lot more work than one might think... At least when one does it by hand alone.

To begin and finish a knitting/crocheting project within a reasonable time span, there's something so utterly satisfying with that. Must. remember. that. feeling. And un-embrace the fact that I might be the queen of half finished yarn-projects.

fox jacket

behold the fox(y) jacket! an irresistable piece found at the winter sales (in one of my favourite shops). 

organic jersey cotton, pale grey chocka-block with tiny winered foxes. adorable, stylish, comfy and fun galore. and with pockets. yes pockets might be the best, practical detail on pretty much any garment imho.

i'm sure we'll have lots of great times together, my foxy new pal and i.

cabbage and quorn

I'm thinking I will make more of an effort to cook varied meals this year, because if there's something I really really have not felt inspiration to do this past year it is having fun in the kitchen. At least not the fun that involves preparing food and trying out recipes.

It's been a year of mostly stir fries with whatever vegetables I have in the fridge and freezer. Which of course isn't bad food or non-tasty, it just gets... a bit dull, uninspired.

Thus the thinking of varied cooking effort would be nice - not that I count this as a New year's resolution, I never do those, find them plain silly. Every day is a new day to improve yourself and your deeds no matter time of the year as far as I'm concerned.

I will continue with the stir fries of course, because they are so darn tasty, healthy and reasonably quick to whip together - because planning ahead of hunger is not one of my strong points - one of my simple favourites being this one. The white cabbage and minced quorn. Lovely flavours, textures and surprisingly filling.

I enjoy quorn, but I'm not a fan of it containing eggs, which is such an unnecessary ingredient really. I know there's a vegan version too, no eggs in that, but sadly not available in Sweden. Yet. This quick dish can of course also be made with minced soy. I bet that is just as lovely and satisfying as cabbage and quorn.

I keep the flavouring to a minimum, just salt, black pepper and a tad coriander. A splosh of soy sauce would probably be nice too.

What's your favourite quick meal with few ingredients?

my january first

~ cleaned the bathroom and put up that pretty bird shower curtain bought a year ago. It is lovely!

At the same time I counted to 37 bottles, jars, soaps, lotions and potions on the bath tub only. (Ie not counting all the other bottles, jars, lotions and potions pre- and post-shower.) There might be a diagnosis for that condition. I simply call it utter pleasure and indulgence. Counting 35 bottles now, I emptied two today.

~ intention was a one hour brisk walk, to start out the new year (which will be fabulous of course!) with fresh air and energy refill. It became 2,5 hours brisk walk instead. To be honest it was only pleasurable 2/3 of the distance, feeling tipsy and exhausted from all that oxygen. Though pleased I did it, a great way to set the pace and attitude for 2014 somehow.

I love how the year is still unspoilt, the road open and everything is possible. Imagine what amazing things we can achieve!

~ a soy latte and a green smoothie - which also are important ingredients of my 2014.

~ did a pedicure - as much as these feet in boots were made for walking they so deserve to be pampered and cared for regularly.

So, how was your first day of the year?