Scandinavian Christmas

Blue and I had a lovely Scandinavian Christmas with friends in South Deerfield. Sarah and Scott's home was beautifully decorated and we created a divine Scandinavian feast. On the menu: appetizer of blini with salmon, sour cream and dill, Swedish mussel soup, a lovely baked chicken and leek dish, roasted potatoes and green beans and a ubiquitous Swedish cucumber salad.

I have included Sarah's Chicken, Leek and Potato recipe and more recipes will be added soon.

These boys are relishing the mussel soup.


















Mussel Soup with Avocado, Tomato and Dill
(Inspired by a dish at the Copenhagen microbrewery, Norrebro Bryghus)

1 1/2 pounds leeks (3 medium; white and pale green parts only), quartered lengthwise, then sliced crosswise
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 (3-inch) sprigs fresh thyme
1 (12-ounce) bottle lager
1 1/2 cups water
3 pounds mussels (preferably cultivated), scrubbed well and beards removed if attached
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground white pepper
1 (8-ounce) firm-ripe avocado
18 very small grape or pear tomatoes (1/4 pound), halved
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh dill

preparation

Wash leeks in a bowl of cold water, agitating them, then lift out leeks and pat dry.

Cook leeks in butter in a wide 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add thyme and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in beer and water, then increase heat to moderately high and bring to a boil. Add mussels and return liquid to a boil, partially covered. Cook, completely covered, stirring occasionally, just until mussels open wide, checking frequently after 4 minutes and transferring to a large bowl. (Discard any mussels that remain unopened after 8 minutes.)

Working over a bowl, remove mussels from shells and put in bowl (discard shells along with any clinging leeks). Pour any cooking liquid accumulated in bowl back into pot.

Pour cooking liquid through a sieve lined with a double layer of cheesecloth or dampened paper towels into a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Stir in half-and-half, salt, and white pepper, then heat over moderately low heat until hot (do not let boil). Stir in mussels and heat until just warmed through.

Meanwhile, halve avocado, then peel 1 half (wrap remaining half tightly in plastic wrap and reserve for another use). Cut into 1/2-inch cubes, then toss gently with tomatoes and dill in a bowl.

Divide soup among 6 shallow bowls and spoon some avocado mixture into each. Serve immediately.

Cooks' note:
Soup, without half-and-half, can be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, then chilled (with shelled mussels in soup), covered. Remove mussels and reheat soup over moderately low heat before adding half-and-half and then proceeding with recipe.



















Lemongrass and Lime Cucumber Salad

In Sweden, when you ask for a side of salad with your meal, the dish brought to you would most likely be a cucumber salad, with a few wedges of tomato on the side. This recipe spices up the original with the addition of lemongrass and hot chile peppers.

1 European seedless cucumber, sliced very thin
1/2 cup red onion, peeled and sliced very thin
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 lime, sliced very thin
1 stalk lemongrass, light green center only, sliced very thin
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp finely chopped red chile peppers

Place cucumber, onion, cilantro, and lime in a medium-sized bowl. Combine lemongrass in a medium-heavy saucepan with vinegar, sugar, and salt. Cook over low heat for 3 minutes. Be sure not to bring to a boil. Let cool, stir in red hot peppers, and pour over cucumbers. Marinate for a minimum of 1 hour before serving. Serve cold or at room temperature.


Dill Chicken with Leeks and Potatoes

Dill is such an easy herb to use. You can not use too much of it – it will never be overpowering. Here, the chicken is scented wonderfully with dill and lemon.

One 4-pound free-range chicken
Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup (1dl) chopped dill, plus 1 large bunch fresh dill
1 lemon, quartered
5 to 6 medium leeks, white and light green parts only, thoroughly washed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1½ pounds (3/4kg) russet potatoes, cut into 1-inch slices
8 garlic cloves, unpeeled
3 cups (7dl) chicken stock
Fresh dill for garnish
Lemon wedges and grated lemon zest for garnish


This is how you do it
Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Rub the chicken with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine the butter and chopped dill. Rub the chicken with about 2 tablespoons of the dill butter. Carefully lift up the skin from the chicken breasts at the cavity, using your fingers or a blunt knife to loosen the skin; be careful not to tear it. Insert about 1 tablespoon of the dill butter under the skin of the breast and make sure that the skin covers the meat when you are done. Refrigerate the remaining butter. Fill the cavity of the chicken with the lemon quarters and the bunch of dill.

Place the chicken breast side up on a V-shaped rack in a roasting pan. Place the roasting pan on the middle oven rack and roast the chicken for 25 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the oven and rub with about 1 tablespoon of the dill butter, holding the butter in your fingers. When most of the butter has melted and you are at risk of burning your fingers, place the remaining lump on the breast of the chicken.

Remove the roasting pan from the oven. Fill the pan with the leeks, potatoes, and garlic and add the chicken stock. Turn the chicken breast side down and place it in the roasting pan. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F. Return the roasting pan to the oven and roast for 50 to 60 more minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Test for doneness by piercing it with a sharp knife at the thickest part of the thigh; the juices should run clear. (If there is any trace of pink in the juices, return the chicken to the oven.) Transfer the chicken to a carving board and let it rest, uncovered, for 15 minutes.

Check the potatoes for doneness. If they are still firm, increase the oven temperature to 400°F and continue baking until the potatoes are nice and tender. Squeeze the garlic out of their skins. Leave the roasting pan in the oven with the heat turned off.
Transfer the potatoes, leeks, and garlic to a serving platter. Carve the chicken at the table (discard the lemon and dill inside the cavity).

Garnish with dill and lemon wedges and sprinkle lemon zest on top.


Sarah's Yummy Pear Clafouti

Ingredients
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons pear brandy (recommended: Poire William)
2 to 3 firm but ripe Bartlett pears
Confectioners' sugar
Creme fraiche
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Butter a 10 by 3 by 1 1⁄2-inch round baking dish and sprinkle the bottom and sides with 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar.

Beat the eggs and the 1⁄3 cup of granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. On low speed, mix in the flour, cream, vanilla extract, lemon zest, salt, and pear brandy. Set aside for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, peel, quarter, core, and slice the pears. Arrange the slices in a single layer, slightly fanned out, in the baking dish. Pour the batter over the pears and bake until the top is golden brown and the custard is firm, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, sprinkled with confectioners' sugar, and creme fraiche.