Ostara - My spring Equinox

Ostara comes from the name Eostre - a germanic goddess of spring! 

Every religion celebrates the season of spring starting -  "Ostara//Easter/Passover.... to give a few names" 

As Spring reaches its height, day and night are in perfect balance, with light increasing. The young Sun God now celebrates his joining with the young Maiden Goddess, who conceives.This is the time of great fertility, growth, and newborn animals!

The next full moon is called Ostara and is sacred to the germanic fertility Goddess Eostre 

(where we get the word estrogen from and whose two symbols are the egg and the rabbit.)

These symbols for Easter are still used to this day - although a bit more commercially. Christians funnily enough decided to keep their "Easter" in accordance to the pagan traditions and it is still celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox.

The legend of the Easter Bunny

Long ago, according to legend, many animals attempted to win the favor of the goddess Eostre, but because  she was so difficult to impress, all of them failed. 

However, one day on March 21, a rabbit decided to try to impress her by taking an egg from a local hen's nest and decorating it beautifully with paint. 

Much to the suprise of the other animals, Eostre was very moved by the beautiful gift, and as a result, she gave this rabbit the task of creating and delivering these beautiful eggs, which he carries in a basket, and still does to this day! 

Another legend says that Eostre found a wounded bird on the ground and to save it's life, she transformed it into a rabbit. The bird appeared to look like a rabbit, except that it could still lay eggs. And so every spring it would decorate it's eggs and give them as an offering for Eostre as thanks.

I celebrate Ostara or "Påske" as we call it in Denmark by hanging coloured eggs from branches and filling the house and gardens with spring flowers! 

We have a great tradition in Denmark of sending "guessing-letters". This is a small Ostara-greeting - a paper with cut out shapes and sent anonymous with a little rhym... (roughly translated)

"Guess, guess, guess, my name has been lost. Here it stands with dots, watch out it doesn't jump!"

And the sender signs his name with a number of dots equivalent to his name... 

 If the receiver can guess the sender, he is owed a chocolate easter egg, and if not, it is the sender who is owed the chocolate egg. 

It's very popular for kids to send these letters to their close families and friends and earn treats this way!  

My dear niece and I made some last weekend... and she has already earned her first treat!

You can put pressed flowers and decorate the letter as you wish - but most of all you must try to make it as hard for the receiver to guess as possible.... 

What are your Ostara traditions?

I have saved some of my Ostara inspiration on Pinterest - Go have a look!!

My first buy from Ebay

Ok, so I'm not really one to buy things online 

(except dogfood.... just because delivery is so much easier then having to carry home 2 x 14 kg bags of dogfood...!)

- but I've just bought my first item from Ebay!

...and I can´t belive how cheap it was! and the delivery was sooooo fast!

Korea style bracelet w/pearl

What it really looks like:

Even Gaizia - "Queen of the cusions" loves it!

But it's quite addictive that Ebay.... hmmm what to buy next....??!

What are some of your best online buys??

News from BY Nord

One of my favorite danish designs at the moment is "BY Nord" who really showcases the nordic nature, a mixture between raw details and supple softness. My clear favorite and on my permanent wishlist are their animal print pillows.... I really love the wolves and oooooh the little penguin... SO CUTE!

Check out their new catalogue here

Here are some of my favorites...

I love their play on tough dark wood and soft/light glass in the tealight holders... definetly on my WANT list!

What's on yours?

Babyshower

So my very good friend Majken just had her baby boy Julian - and since I haven't had time to post earlier - his arrival suddenly reminded me I had lots to post about her (and his) babyshower!

Majken & Jakob and little Julian

Babyshowers are not really a common thing in Denmark - usually you just wait for the "new family" to invite you over (one at a time, so they're not too stressed) and you pay your respects that way.

 My family lives in England though, and over there it's quite a big deal with these babyshowers - so last time I visited my parents I was inspired to do the same for my good friend.

She and her boyfriend had been trying for some time to get pregnant, so when it finally happened, I really wanted to show my support and happiness for her! We studied together at the same hospital, but sadly don't have as much time as I would like to see eachother (mostly cause we live so far apart), I plan to be better at it this year though (yup - new years resolution nr. 1!)

Anyway she is a busy girl, so the greatest challenge was to find a weekend that wasn't completely booked already in her calendar. I gor her boyfriend in on the plan and he put at fake date on their calendar - he just told her, that he had a suprise for her... which was ... well... true hehe....

Next I went on Pinterest..... omg... sooooo much stuff on pinterest.... and I made a board.

We didn't use all the ideas and some plans had to be changed last minute, because of cancellations, but it was a great way to brainstorm, and plan the shower.

Shortly translated: Majkens little prins is on the way....
...it's a suprise, so help keep the secret!
adresse and phone nr.

I teamed up with one of her co-workers and former study-mates, so I could invite both her family, friends and co-workers. Sadly the date that worked for most was in the danish autumn holiday, so not everyone could attend - but we were 10 peeps in total, which I thought worked really nicely.

We made it a Babyshower brunch, because that fit everyone best and the food was easy (though we made waaaay too much! but it's always nice with leftovers!)

We filled the countertop with brunchy-yummy-goodness!

And a fruit baby....
(grapes, kiwi, pineapple, strawberry, melon and orange for a head)

No babyshower is complete without games!! 

Here we had been very creative - we planned 10 events/games!! and thinking back that was way overkill for 3 hours hehehe 

We bought a onesie for everyone to sign (kinda like a guestbook) and made a "pin-up board" with some good advice for mommy and daddy. 

Also we made a calendar - where people could guess Julians birthday, which mommy later could frame for his room. 

Oooh and of course we brought presents!!! 

Mommy dearest opening presents! 

We ended with the game of all games!! - toiletpaperdiapers! Aren't they cute?? 

Teams of 2 - 3 min. to make the best toiletpaper diaper....
it's harder then you think!!

All in all a great day that I would repeat in a heartbeat! The very best moment, was when Majken opened the door and saw us all in her living room. She got so very emotional and I could see she really knew we all cared for her and her little soon-to-be baby boy! 

If you're planning a babyshower for a friend/sister/co-worker - head to www.pinterest.com. There is so much inspiration to get there. 

Decorations and so on I bought at Søstrene Grene (danish shop that has really affordable, cute tablewear and decorations!) 

I'm especially crazy about these honeycomb - paper-pompoms that you hang from the ceiling....

and was thrilled to see that Majken had kept the ones we had bought for the shower and hanged them in Julians bedroom - such a cute idea! 

When I was in England, visiting my parents, I went to Party Fever where I got the sash for Majken and some great banners for her house! They also had baby-shaped confetti and in case you don't want to make your own invitations - you can also buy them there. 

Next time it could be fun to make the shower co-ed! So hurry up Majken - Julian needs a brother or sister!!!! 

Merry (after) Christmas!

So we did not host Christmas eve this year (in Denmark we have the Christmas celebration on the eve of the 24th), instead we had it at my sisters new house and almost my whole family was gathered! Which is a BIG deal, since we haven't all been together for an event for like.... well 8 years I suppose!! (yeah - waaaay too long I agree!)

My parents told me some great news tho.... they're moving back to Denmark!!!
(hubby is still sulkning, cause he won't get to play golf as much in the UK... - hmm or maybe it's just cause they're moving closer.... hehe). I can't wait to be able to call my mom on the phone and ask if she's got the kettle on, without it entailing a 8 hour car/plane/train - trip! YAY!!

I was completly spoiled rotten this christmas!!! 

Michael Kors watch/Leather gloves/Baileys YUM!/Bathrobe
Bodyshop Almond Handcream/Giftcard to Matas/Running gloves
Golden candle dish/Giftcard to the movietheatre/New filofax calendar/
Golden Swarowski crystal pen! 

I did give some pretty great gifts as well tho.... 

Filofax for sis/Shaver for son/Calendar for Dad/Coloringbook for niece
Italien cookbook for Brother/Concert tickets for mom&dad in law
giftcard for daughter/leather gloves for sis/coloring pencils & crayons for niece/bracelet for mom
Bob Dylan Biography for Dad/Handcream for grandmom/Le Creuset salt&pepper churn for auntie/Lego for nephew
Color run tickets for hubby (and myself!)

But the absolutely best present was getting to spend christmas with my grandparents.
Nelly and Vagn Pedersen - the two gentlest, kindest people on earth.
They traveled 'cross Denmark to be with their family on christmas, even tho my grandpa is really sick (terminal cancer - stupid disease!)

Wearing "naughty and nice" santa hats! 

We had a great evening and these past days off have been a real treat!
(going back to work tomorrow!.... ARGH!)

Every christmas we serve Roast duck, Pork belly and sausages with boiled potatoes, caramalized potatoes and red cabbage, but this year my sis added a lovely orange salade to the mix and I thought I would share this easy-peasy recipe with you, so here is...

MinNna's Fruity christmas salade

Serves 12 (as a side-dish)

Ingredients
5 oranges
2 red onions
Good handful of parsley
½ dl of olive oil
salt & pepper

How to
Cut the oranges into thin slices, removing all the white membrane possible (it gives a bitter taste).
Chop the red onions finely and cover the orange slices.
Chop the parsley finely and sprinkle on top.
Add olive oil -  salt & pepper!

YUM YUM

You can also make the parsley into a pesto and spread it more evenly

Alright - heading back to the couch!!!! 

Merry (after) Christmas to you all 

love Pennie

3 months.... phooooosh....

Ok... so 3 months went by..... can anyone tell me where they went???!?

Work... work.... more work.... christmas decorating....work.... christmas baking... oh and a little more work! Anyway do I have a treat for you!!! My absolute favorite christmas cookie-recipe!

PenNnies coconut slices with rum-icing!

yields about 40

Ingredients:

125 g Flour

125 g Butter

65 g Coconut flour

65 g Sugar

1/4 tsp. hartshorn (ammonium bicarbonate)

(makes the cookies nice and crisp!)

Rum-icing:

100g icing sugar

1 tbl. sp. rum (if you're using real rum)

(if needed 1 tsp. water)

or

100g icing sugar

3-4 drops off rum-essence. 

roughly 1 tbl.sp. water

How to:

1. Sift the flour and hartshorn in a bowl. Crumble the butter into it. Add the rest and kneed the dough together, either by hand or in a kitchen mixer! 

2. Part the dough in 3 parts and roll out to 3 sausages on the baking sheet. Press them lightly with your finger. 

3. Bake for 10-15 min. in a 200 degree preheated oven. Cover in icing while they're still hot. 

Cut them into 1-1½ cm small slices. 

The cookies need to be cool, before you put them in an airtight cookiejar. 

(the air-tight keeps the cookies crisp!)

Full of Christmas flavor!! :) 

Happy holidays - Pennie <3

Blackberry, Blueberry and Apple Clafoutis - OH MY!

So I was a very good girl this year and was gifted with this gorgeous recipe book for my Bday.

Thx sis!

 I am a very big fan of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and River Cottage. If you've never heard of him or River Cottage before... 
- Take a look, you will be amazed!!! 
Basically his cooking ethos can be summed up to:

"passion for food integrity and consumption of local, seasonal produce"

And thanks to him and the program, the eating habits of a nation have been changed for the better and the welfare and sustainability of animals and fish are much improved!  Told you he was great!!

If you have time - watch this video. This is what it's all about!

Anyway... back to my clafoutis... 

PenNnyLanes Blackberry, Blueberry and Apple clafoutis

Serves 6-8

4 apples (about 350 g)
25 g butter
25 g sugar (yes yes - the real deal, no artificial sweetner today!)
Zest from 1 small organic lemon
100g Blackberries
20 g (or so) Blueberries

Dough:
50 g Flour
smidge of salt (yep smidge...)
25 g sugar (yep still the real deal...)
2 medium organic eggs
2 dl whole milk 

Topping:
Double cream, Ice-cream - any kind of cream... yum yum!

How to:

Preheat oven to 190 degrees. 

Peel and core the apples and slice into 8 parts. 

Melt the butter and pour into your pietin, and butter the pietin, so nothing sticks when baking! 

Add apples, sugar and lemon zest og mix about with your hands (Always tastes better when you do it with your hands... it's the extra love you add!)

Bake the apple-sugar mixture for around 15 min. til they are tender and soft. Don't eat yet - it gets better!

Mix the dough in the mean time. 

Pour the flour through a sieve along with the salt into a big bowl. Add the sugar. 

Make a dent in the middle and pour in the already mixed eggs. Whip the mixture starting from the middle, gradually adding the flour and sugar, to create a pancake-like consistency. 

Take out your pie tin and sprinkle the blackberries and blueberries evenly over the apples. 

Pour in the dough mixture. 

Bake for 35 min, until the pie has risen and is goldenly delicious! 

Let it cool. The cake will fall again and be nice and soft, and quite dens - not airy at all! But delicious!!

Add cream and ENJOY! 

Broken pie-tin - good thing we still had some BBQ-trays!
Waste not, want not! Right?! :)
I think Hugh would approve....