Customer Reviews (1)

An exellent treat...
My mother gave me this book knowing my interest in swedish cuisine and cooking in general.
It is two books in one; side one is scandinavian cuisine with the majority of recipes swedish. Side two is dutch cuisine. Here you have two under-appreciated european cuisines that don't seem like a good fit but really are in many ways.

I love this type of book because a hobby of mine is learning more about and preparing dishes from those cuisines that are not as well known or popular. Everyone likes italian food and french cooking techniques are standard but eastern and northern european foods have a lot to offer.

A particular strength of this volume are the fish recipes given that scandinavia the netherlands are geographically bound to the sea. Different flavor combinations for marinades and sauces adorn fresh and cured fish and there is a lot more here than pickled herring. Fatty fishes like herring, trout, salmon or white fleshed fishes like cod or haddock are prepared many different delicious ways. I especially love the dutch for baked cod and potatoes so simple yet so delicious..

If you love meat and potatoes this volume is full of great recipes for that as well. You may want to spice up the dishes a bit as they are bland at times but the basic ingrediants are terrific. This book was the first time i discovered a dish called beef lindstrom a swedish beef patty with mashed potato as a filler it has become one of my favorites. Try that with a norwegian brown onion sauce How about a swedish christmas ham with dutch raisin sauce?

In this book you will find dozens of recipes you have never tried and while you can't taste them all it is fun learning about them and trying some. ... Read more

Product Description
Weathervane Books Hardcover with 80 pages, approx. size: 8 1/2 x 11" - This book will be your key to the treasures of the Scandinavian table including: Herring Rolls, Marinated Salmon in Dill, Swedish Meatballs, Fruit Soups, Dumpling Steak, Baked Shrimp and Crab, Red Cabbage, Sardine and Beet Salad, Coffee Bread, Danish Pastry and much more. - The hundreds of recipes have been carefully planned and tested to make them easy to follow and a pleasure to prepare. ... Read more

Product Description
Simply Scandinavian presents modern takes on traditional Scandinavian recipes, combining time-tested Finnish food preparation with twenty-first century taste. The recipes are organized by time of year--appetizers, main courses, and desserts for Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The authors have arranged the book to take the reader through a year of Scandinavian recipes, pairing gorgeous four-color photographs of Finland's landscape--from the archipelago in the south to the harsh wilderness of Lapland--with mouthwatering food photography.

Many of the recipes open-mindedly integrate the past and the present, such as the recipe for rye cannelloni served in consomme; it contains a pinch of hard times in Finland, a dash of modern universal cooking, and a smidgeon of national romanticism. The shape comes from Italy, the filling from a Finnish meat pie, and the dough from the Karelian pastry from eastern Finland. Simply Scandinavian is a treat for adventuresome home cooks or anyone looking to escape into the beautiful landscapes and delectable flavors of Scandinavia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Simply Scandinavian
I love food, so as soon as I saw the gorgeous piece of salmon nesting on a bed of greens on the cover of "Simply Scandinavian, Traveling In Time With Finnish Cuisine And Nature," I was excited to get my hands on a copy.While I have to admit I didn't have a clue about Finnish cuisine, that picture was enough to pique my interest.

I was thrilled when I discovered that this cookbook is more than a collection of Tero Kallio's recipes.It's a stunning book that will teach you a bit about Finland through images and food.Good food engages all of the senses and Kimmo Saira's pictures will have you drooling in anticipation as you flip through.Another thing I really appreciate is the way this collection is organized.Anyone who has had the pleasure of picking a tomato off of the vine in the summer can tell you the importance of eating seasonally and this book guides you through all four seasons on a culinary journey.

While pretty pictures are nice, what really counts in the end is the food you produce and both items I made were fantastic.Since it's been nearly 100 degrees every day, I started with the Lemon and Lime Sorbet, which was easy and refreshing.While I sadly couldn't track down the Sal Ammoniac squares need to make the accompanying sauce, it was fantastic by itself.Hopefully I can find that missing ingrediant in the future to enjoy it as intended by the author.Regardless, it was a quick and easy summer dessert.

I also couldn't resist trying the Grilled Raw Spiced Salmon with a green pea salad.It's a fantastic summer dinner because you don't need to turn on the stove for more than a couple of minutes.I loved the horseradish cream which is reminiscint of wasabi, but offered a fresh burst of flavor thanks to the green peas.

Both recipeswere easy to follow and the results were well received by everyone.The only thing I should point out for those of you who are used to American cookbooks is that the ingrediants are measured using the metric system.While nothing I made required exact measurement and I'm used to converting because of my work, you may have to take an extra five minutes to figure out how much of everything you'll need before starting for recipes requiring precision.From what I've made so far, it will be worth it!

After reading through this beautiful book and trying a couple of recipes, I'm sold on the food of Finland.While I most likely will not be serving Reindeer with Cloudberries at my next dinner party, there are a number of recipes I'm looking forward to trying out.Plus, even though some of the ingredients may be difficult to find here, I think the techniques and concepts will translate to my local ingredients just fine!

The best gift for Scandinavian lovers
I recommend this book as a gift for anyone who is into Scandinavian culture, design, nature etc. The recipes are a great mixture of tradition and modern, and the pictures are absolutely beautiful. The book serves well as a coffee table book which people will love to flick through again and again but I warmly recommend trying out the recipes too, you will amaze your friends with these fantastic tastes and love the Scandinavian experience, I promise.

A delectable look at Finnish cuisine
"Simply Scandinavian - Travelling in Time with Finnish Cuisine and Nature" by Tero Kallio and Kimmo Saira is a feast for the eyes and the stomach. The authors claim to take readers on a journey of two dimensions: tastes and time. Boy, do they succeed.

The gorgeous photography sets off the more than 40 recipes included in the book. Kallio and Saira divide the recipes by season, and further by appetizers, main courses and desserts, with accompanying photos of the recipes and Finnish scenery. The authors point out that "Simply Scandinavian" is a picture book and that the recipes, some of which combine the old and new, are mostly Finnish dishes with a smidgeon of Italian, Russian and other cuisines thrown in.

Readers will learn how to prepare dishes of reindeer, rabbit, salmon, crayfish, beef, lamp, cep mushrooms and more. I did have to look up some of the ingredients in the recipes because I was unfamiliar with them. With each recipe, the authors recommend a beverage ranging from pinot noir to champagne to cold milk to specialty drinks, etc. One of the recipes that sounds interesting is reindeer with cloudberries. I would like to try that someday if I were to visit Finland. Some of the dessert and drink recipes like the rhubarb smoothie and blueberry cheese-cake I may attempt to create at home.

In sum, "Simply Scandinavian" is a breathtaking picture book that readers will enjoy for both the recipes and photography. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

A glimpse into Finland
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (01/10)

I was totally mesmerized when I started flipping through the pages of this cookbook, "Simply Scandinavian," and all that would come out of my mouth was "WOW!"This is one of the most beautiful cookbooks I have encountered and I have seen and have many.But, there is more besides the beauty of the photographs; the recipes I tried so far are fantastic.

The first recipe I tried was "Rhubarb Smoothie."I was excited to see I could do more than just stew or make a pie out of rhubarb.Because of my lactose intolerance I was able to use goat yogurt and rather than sour milk I used coconut kefir. I don't believe the substitutions made any difference because the end result was to die for.

The second recipe I experimented with is "Dandelion Salad."Making my usual substitutions worked very well in this recipe also and the end result was very nice. The dressing is creamy, but light.

The third recipe I tried is "Pot-Roasted Mallard." Although I wasn't able to get a wild mallard, I purchased a fresh duck.I found it interesting the recipe called for juniper berries.I did have those on hand and know they are available at herb or health food stores.Simply exquisite.

I am looking forward to trying more of the recipes.As I skimmed the rest of the recipes in the book, I will venture to say most ingredients will be found in a kitchen pantry.

Aside from a wonderful collection of recipes "Simply Scandinavian" by Tero Kallio and Kimmo Saira offers the owner of the book a glimpse into Finland with a concise description and beautiful photos of elements in nature.It is very obvious both Kallio and Saira are dedicate to their craft and are willing to share it with others.Their creation is of coffee table book quality and when used will create adventure for the browser and harmony for the diner.What a wonderful gift this book would make to a chef or connoisseur of fine foods. ... Read more

Product Description
Stocking stuffer.Compiled by Melinda Bradnan, thiscolection includes a variety of recipes for the smallest or largestcatch with Scandinavian expertise for using the bounty of the sea. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

My Fish Dish Wish
Scandinavian Style Fish and Seafood Recipes is a full "kettle of fish," from cold to hot and saucy and more-basic methods to prepare and cook fish along with recipes to prepare, even the most common catch, in savory, tasty dishes.

To find the best of the best, Melinda Bradnan compiled this collection of recipes from a number of sources: old, authentic Scandinavian cookbooks from a time when the bounty of the sea was a main staple in the Scandinavian diet; contributions from some of the best Scandinavian cooks, and her own cache of recipes. Noted for her creative offerings, Melinda knows her way around the kitchen, working with husband Mike in their food service consulting business.

Several recipes of the late Margaret I. Bergquist, an outstanding Scandinavian American of Cloquet, Minnesota, who sought to put a "little bit of Scandinavia in every home in America," are included in this book which is dedicated to her memory.Tips and hints for the right preparation-the key to delicious fish dishes from caviar to crayfish-are noted throughout the book. Cold Table foods feature appetizers, salads, dressings and open-face sandwiches; Hot and Saucy Fish recipes include boiled, poached, broiled, baked, and fried fish dishes with a variety of savory sauces, for example, Salmon with Lingonberry Glaze; Soups and Chowders presents hearty fare such as a Crab Stew; On the Hook and In the Net is a miscellany of not only traditional foods such as Lutefisk Pudding, but also some of the most unique-Carp Burgers.

Delightful drawings of happy, friendly fish, all too eager to leap into the pan, are by David Fitzsimmons, cartoonist of Tucson, Arizona. Bernhard Hillila, Valparaiso, Indiana author and poet, shares a recipe for life in his "Cook's Prayer." "My Fish Dish Wish," a whimsical poem by David Mather of Iowa City, Iowa, adds to the bountiful feast of this book.

Excellent for personal collections and as a special gift. ... Read more

Product Description
Revised edition of simple Scandinavian folk recipes remembered from the author's childhood. ... Read more