Fig- and Glogg marmelade

A little something for the holiday season. Perfect as a hostess gift perhaps with a good cheese to go with it.

Ingredients;

1 pound dried figs
2 cups glogg ( a scandinavian holiday drink that you can buy at Ikea or speciality stores, you are supposed to use wine glogg that is the one you heat with one part glogg and one part wine)

Heat the figs and glogg in a pot until boiling and keep boiling under a lid for 5 minutes.
Blend until smooth with a hand blender.

Fill the marmelade in decorative jars if used for gifts. Store in a refrigerator.

Enjoy!

Crisp Bread

This recipe has been a big hit back in Norway over the last years. Lots of fiber, no white flour.

Ingredients;

1 cup coarse rye meal
1 cup sunflower seed
1 cup flaxseed
1 cup sesame seed
2 cups oatmeal
2 1/2 tsp salt
3 cups of water

Preheat oven to 350F.

Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir until blended. Spread dough in a thin layer on 2 baking sheets covered with parchment paper.
Bake for 10 minutes and remove from oven. Using a pizza slicer cut the crisp bread into pieces of preferred size. Put the crisp breads back in the oven and continue to bake for approx. 1 hour.
Pay attention so they don't burn...

Eat alone or with your favorite topping!

Gingerbread Biscotti

With the taste and smell of Christmas these are sure to become a big hit at least at our house. Perfect for gift giving wrapped in cellophane bags.

Ingredients;

1 stick butter (113 gr)
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
3 1/2 cup flour
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
3 tsp baking powder
1tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350F

Beat butter and sugar until fluffy and white. Add the eggs one at a time beating to blend the eggs with the butter/sugar mix between each egg. In another bowl mix the dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients (I prefer to sift it but I don't think its necessary) and the vanilla extract and mix until the dough is well blended.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Divide the dough evenly in 2 equal mounds and place on the baking sheet. With moist hands space the dough evenly apart and form into 2 logs (9 by 3 inch, or longer if you prefer the biscotti not as thick).
Bake for 15 minutes and remove from oven. Cut the logs crosswise into 3/4 inch thick diagonal slices. Arrange the slices cut side down at the same baking sheet and place in the oven once more. Bake until dry and crispy. Let cool completely!

Lavender Bath Salt

The last 2 days I have been busy making stuff for the Christmas Fair at the Norwegian Seamen Church in December so I have not been blogging because I have not been cooking. I realized though that even though my recipe for Bath Salt can not be eaten, it is still a recipe so here it is;

Ingredients;

6 parts coarse sea salt
3 part epsom salt (soothes tired and sore muscles and reduce inflammation)
1 part baking soda (softens water and alleviate skin)
6 drops of lavender essential oil
1/4 cup lavender

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Put in containers and label. Perfect as christmas gifts, stocking stuffers, hostess gifts etc.