January picture

January 1, 2012

Happy new year.

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New Year’s Resolutions 2011

December 31, 2011

I’m usually really bad at maintaining New Year’s resolutions. Or, actually getting to the point where I have them at all… 2011 was an interesting year for me. Lots of travel, I bought a car, and the sister moved out, leaving me to fend for myself in the flat. In 2012 – I shall…

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Cosmic brownies

December 30, 2011

When I posted the name of this recipe on Facebook, one of my Dutch friends said: “We call this kind of thing something completely different in the Netherlands.” The recipe comes from Macaroni & Cheesecake, They’re perfectly fudgey and chocolatey. And just right for freezing for later as well.

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Wednesday Want: The House from Home Alone

December 28, 2011

Home Alone has become a Christmas classic in my family. The house is one of those things that seemed really magical. Not just for its interior decorations (although in the newer pictures, it doesn’t look as all as magical) but for the outside as well. The one thing I recently noticed that doesn’t really make [...]

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My Christmas tree

December 26, 2011

This year’s Christmas tree. I’m going for the fake option, unlike most in Norway, as I don’t really have the space for a real one.

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Norwegian Christmas carol: En stjerne skinner i natt

December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas This is Oslo Gospel Choir singing one of the newer traditional Christmas carols.

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Norwegian Chrismas Carol: Mitt hjerte alltid vanker

December 24, 2011

Tine Thing Helseth on trumpet performing Mitt Hjerte Alltid Vanker.

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Video: Dinner for one

December 23, 2011

Dinner for one is traditional “Little” Christmas Eve, ie. December 23, watching in Norway. It airs around 8 o’clock in the evening. And it is almost always as fun each year to watch them toast and the stumbling of the butler. In other parts of Europe, it airs on New Year’s Eve.

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Rewatching Bones season five

December 19, 2011

Bones – Season 5  starts with Brennan returning from Guatemala and Booth returning, slowly, to duty after his brain surgery in the end of season 4. A recurring theme in the first episodes is his recuperation, and the fact that he has to relearn things that he  previously excelled at, such as sharp-shooting, and plumbing. [...]

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4th Sunday of Advent

December 18, 2011

And the 4th candle has been lit. Less than one week to Christmas.

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Norwegian Christmas songs: Vi tenner våre lykter

December 18, 2011

Marit Larsen, Kråkesølv and the Norwegian Broadcasting Channel’s version of Vi tenner våre lykter. The song is from the television advent calendar, Jul i Skomakergata, which was very popular in the 1980s and 1990s, and I would estimate that quite a lot of 20-30 year olds in Norway know this song. The original behind the [...]

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French Christmas Sablés

December 17, 2011

For my work computer, I tend to use Chocolate & Zucchini’s delicious-looking monthly desktop calendars. I get tons of nice comments on them from co-workers who stop by, and they’re absolutely droolworthy. I get in a better mood just by looking at them. When I noticed that the December wallpaper featured some pretty cookies, I [...]

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Gingerbread House

December 16, 2011

For a long time, we used the pre-made Gingerbread House-sets. My mother does not care for melting sugar to the point of caramel to glue gingerbread pieces together, and having a pre made set made the process easier. She just delegated it to us. My sisters and I have talked for a bit about making [...]

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Norwegian Christmas Decoration: Christmas hearts

December 14, 2011

The pleated Christmas hearts is a Christmas tree decoration staple in Denmark and Norway. They’re allegedly going back to Hans Christian Andersen, and are fairly easy to make. Since the look of it changes depending on which kind of paper you use and the look of it. Traditionally, red and white is used, but using [...]

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That time of year…

December 12, 2011

As I was proof-reading a friend’s term paper last night, I felt very fortunate to be done with my own term paper and exam-craziness. (For now.) I would however like to wish those of you who still have exams to go the best of luck in your studying. For those of you who’re done for [...]

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Third Sunday of Advent

December 11, 2011

Lit the third Advent candle today – had some trouble lighting the oldest candle… but it worked itself out in the end.

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Norwegian Christmas carol: Deilig er jorden

December 11, 2011

Originally a Danish song, here in Norwegian and Maria Arredondo’s version

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Jewish cakes

December 10, 2011

In Norwegian these have a really un-PC name, Jødekaker (directly translated it means Jew cakes), but the name comes from the alleged fact that Sephardic jews brought the cookies with them when they immigrated to Norway. Anyone of Jewish descent know anything that resembles it? It’s fairly common in certain parts of Norway, whereas in [...]

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Peppermint Creams

December 9, 2011

My sister is crazy for peppermint and chocolate flavored things, so it seemed like a good idea to make this recipe that I found in the December 2011 copy of BBC Good Food and to bring with me when I come home for Christmas. (Unless she comes to visit before that and empty out my [...]

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Small gingerbread houses

December 7, 2011

Ooooh, this is nifty. Head over to not martha and check out the tiny gingerbread houses that go on the rim of mugs. Aren’t they adorable? I’m having coworkers over for Christmas cheer this evening, and if it wasn’t for the fact that I don’t have time to make this… I would definitely try my [...]

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Quotation Monday #11

December 5, 2011

Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads. Erica Jong

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Second Sunday of Advent

December 4, 2011
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Norwegian Christmas Carol: Glade Jul

December 4, 2011

People will probably recognize the melody, as it is the Norwegian adaption of Stille Nacht, performed by Sissel Kyrkjebø & Odd Nordstoga.

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Norwegian Christmas Baking: Kakemenn

December 3, 2011

Quite literally translated as Cookie Men, these are essentially white sugar cookies, with a small change. Instead of baking powder or baking soda, the leavener is horn salt, or ammonium bicarbonate, which gives it a slight “kick” in flavor, and makes the kitchen smell a bit odd while they’re baking in the oven. It’s one of [...]

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Cranberry white chocolate cookies

December 2, 2011

One of the things I miss about living in Copenhagen is one of the cookies they sold in shops – white chocolate chunk and cranberry cookies by The Cookie Company. Unfortunately, it is not to be found in Norway. But, when I tasted the chocolate chip cookies I made with M&Ms, the base had the [...]

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December Angel

December 1, 2011

Last year’s Chrismas street decorations in Vienna. It was magical.

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