Scandinavian cooking

I received a Scandinavian cookbook from our son's host family in Copenhagen, Denmark where he spent a semester abroad a few years ago. The pictures are stunning and the food is really simple and delicious. I made the meatballs in curry sauce for a special dinner last year and they were out of this world! I'm always drawn to picking up this cookbook during the winter months mainly because of the snowy landscapes and the comforting dishes. Last night for dinner I decided to make my own variation of the cod with mustard sauce ( butter, flour, milk, whole grain mustard whisked until smooth adding the juices from the cooked fish) using a pound of fresh cod not a whole fish like the recipe, and included my own sides rather than the ones suggested in the cookbook.

To digress to the Netherlands - where some food is similarly prepared, my maternal grandmother would be proud, her Dutch roots brought a different kind of food into our house growing up.  I still love chilled cucumbers with dill, beets cold or hot, pumpernickel bread, and her love of all things cheese, especially blue.  I'll never forget the look on my father's face when my mother and grandmother proudly displayed a rather large piece of Limburger cheese during the holidays. I was the only taker of my siblings and still love strong smelling cheeses to this day.

Here is a peek at my Scandinavian inspired fare...

pickled beets, cucumber and dill in balsamic/olive oil dressing.

Cod with mustard sauce

The small tea light was a gift from Copenhagen. I really love Danish design, even the small candle holders are so chic.

I added a side of roasted cauliflower which went perfectly with the meal.