torontoanna

2012-02-04T22:33:00.002-05:00

Saturday night and home alone at the kitchen counter with my iPad. Not that I want to do this every Saturday night but once in a while it is soo relaxing and cosy. I have been listening to lots of podcasts and music.
Earlier today was big Semla Saturday at Beaches Bakeshop & Cafe. It was pretty busy and a few swedes came by.
J, P, and M are up north this weekend. P raced today and did great. Tomorrow J is racing and I wish I was there. S is babysitting so that is the reason we didn't go to Collingwood. Went to my friend G's house to pick up a cook book she got me from Sweden. She went there for 2 weeks to "find back to herself". She was in big need and had a great time. G is a very good friend of mine. I am going to spend more time with friends like her this year. Ok, that's it for now! Have to read my new cookbook- cant stop myself! Tomorrow is Superbowl Sunday, which doesn't matter much to me but I am making a chili because of that. I got inspired!!

2012-02-02T06:52:00.002-05:00

Good thing I didn't sign up to do the 100 days of blogging!
Life goes on and I just forget to stop and write a few sentences to save my thoughts of the day for the afterworld. I have diaries from way back when I was 8-10 years old. I wrote almost daily until I was 30. Then kids started to come along and other things took over my writing time. Now, almost 20 years later, I am trying to find that time again and use it for what it was intended for.
I have had some great moments lately with my kids. P is learning to play guitar and I am soo impressed by how dedicated she is and that she is teaching herself. J is working hard on being as good as she wants to be in all areas. She runs, studies, is the inspiration of the school's volleyball team. She loves it all. S is working hard on her school. She has high hopes and I am sure will make some great choices and will reach her goals and hopes!
I, on the other hand, don't know what my goals are at the moment, more than I have to start to get this day off the ground! So, go on, have fun and do the right thing!

2012-01-22T22:32:00.002-05:00

Short post since it is late and my bed has been calling my name for a while now. Why is it so hard to go to bed sometimes? I feel that there is so much I want to do and keep updated on and that takes time. Now and then when I hear someone say something I agree with or maybe not but it is interesting anyway or if a person is really funny in a great way I think- that person would be great to sit around the dinner table with. I always think I should write down who these people are, who would sit around my dream dinner party table? Today I heard Mark Levengood be interviewed on Swedish TV by Skavlan. I think I would like to have both Skavlan and Mark around my dream dinner party table. I also would want some of my girlfriends around that table. I will revisit this subject and maybe figure out what I would serve as well. As for tonight this is it- have to sleep!!

2012-01-20T23:03:00.002-05:00

Friday evening and suddenly I am in Collingwood. We drove up today because daughter 2 and 3 have races in the morning. They are both racing at the club where daughter number 1 had her ski accident last season. Don't feel really comfortable with the whole thing! It is chilly out there but it is nice to be up here again. I worked really hard to get everything ready for the shop since I am not there tomorrow. Quiches, salads and cakes. Lots of special orders. Did I mention dish crawl? We were part of that this past Wednesday and it was a blast. 20 people divided into 2 groups visits 4 places in the course of 2 hours. We served soups , salad and sweets. We got tons of compliments both during the evening but also on twitter during and after. Lots of fun!! A great thing to do all around. Both for attracting new customers and also for us as business owners to get together and work towards a common thing. I'll try to post the link to the pics later. Now I have to go goodnight !!

2012-01-19T07:05:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was another busy day. DishCrawl.TO visited us at Beaches Bakeshop & Cafe' It is a great concept where 20 people, sometimes more, sign up to go on a guided tour through a neighborhood's restaurants. In our case we were the only restaurant on the tour. Courage Food, Close to the bone and Art of cheese were the other places We had two groups of 10 plus the photographer and "leader". On our menu we had 2 soup shots - Mexican Bean Soup with Salsa on a stick and Carrot Ginger with a splash of Roasted Beet Root Soup. They both looked and tasted, I hope, fantastic. We also served 2 salads, Puy Lentil with Green Beans and Feta plus Roasted Butternut Squash with Red Rice. We served them on these amazing bamboo dishes and ate with the cutest bamboo forks. For sweets we had an assortment of Tradtional Swedish stuff of course. We also gave a little care package consisting of a mini Swedish Cinnamon bun and a mini Semla bun. Everyone had a great time and if you ever have a chance to check out DishCrawl in the city where you live - do it!! It's a great way to find new places and meet new people!! A perfect thing to do on a date for example!!
Enjoy the day!

2012-01-17T21:14:00.002-05:00

People are trying to blog a 100 days in a row. I have not blogged in a million years.....don't know why I suddenly kind of feel some little need to express myself here again.
I am still a cafe' owner, mother of three girls and married to Mark. We have been busy with life. Past year included knee injuries and reconstructive surgery after ski racing accident- not fun!, finished our house renovation- very nice and lots of fun, spent 2 weeks in Stockholm last spring- loved it and would love to make it a tradition. Over the recent holiday we went to Austria. Spent 4 days in Salzburg and the rest in Bad Gastein. It was the best family vacation and exactly what we needed. I realized that I actually really like my kids. You know how you sometimes wonder what planet they just arrived from or how you possibly could be more unsuccessful in raising responsible people. Anyway, we are in a good place at the moment and I really am trying to suck in these times. I know very soon we will all be in different places and I will wonder if my girls are ok and if they are doing the right thing. I know I will be ready when the day come to say goodbye and have fun but for now I feel like I want to stop time for a while.

2010-03-23T22:20:00.003-04:00

Tuesday evening and two days since we got back from one of the best vacations I have ever had. We went to Costa Rica and stayed at an All Inclusive Resort, RIU Cunacaste. If you had told me a year ago that we would do that I would have said No way. It was sooo great! Relaxing and good in every way. Super hot every day and the food was totally acceptable. Lots of fruit. Papaya, Mango, Pineapple, Bananas plus so much more and super fresh. The girls had a great time as well. We went with another family with kids the same ages.
What about my cafe' you are thinking...Our staff took good care of everything. I had prepped as much as possible of course but they really did an awesome job! Thanks guys if you read this!
The picture is taken right before we started the mandatory zip lining. It was fun. Not super scary but a bit weird to send your 9 year old daughter away flying upside down high up in the air!
Beaches Bakeshop & Cafe' is continuing selling semlabuns a couple of more weeks. We will add Hot Cross buns this weekend and have them until Easter as well. The recipe for the carrot cake I made a few weeks ago will be posted- I promise, Anne!!
Ok, have to print some recipe booklet for a cooking class!! No Rest! We are also starting to renovate!!! I will get a new kitchen!!! Long way till it's done but very exciting!! I'll keep you up to date on that progress as well!

2010-03-04T06:42:00.004-05:00

Really time for an update. Can't believe it's 2 months since the last one...
Olympics 2010 in Vancouver, BC was a big hit and Canada got more medal, golds in particular, than anyone ever before. Congrats to Canada.
Beaches Bakeshop & Cafe' is chugging along with really busy days and some not super busy. I am now making a really good carrot cake. Never thought I'd make that but I kind of like it. Lots of carrots, crushed pineapple and pecans. I am not a big fan of walnuts. I might omit the nuts completely actually. The article I have posted here is from a magazine called Local. It is what the name says a local magazine. Very well written articles and we have had lots of customers commenting on it. A new cafe opened down the street this week. I have not been in yet but I am telling myself that competition is great. The more the merrier and so on...Welcome new neighbours!!
Well, this was just a short update this morning- have to get ready and take on today. It's going to be a great one!!
Let me know you were here!

2010-01-09T06:35:00.003-05:00

God Morning!!
A Saturday morning in mid January and it's cold outside. For once it is even colder in Europe and Sweden than here in Toronto. It is 6.38am and a big part of the family is on their way to Collingwood skiing. Can't believe how easy it is for Mark, Sigrid and Pippi to get up superearly when skiing is on the agenda. ASk them to get up on time any day of the week and it is a like scratching nails on a blackboard- a painful process!! But this morning they were all ready and out at 6am! I am sitting here sipping tea and contemplating my day ahead with Jojo and the cafe'. First heading to the St. Lawrence Market of course.
I think it's time to make semla buns at the cafe' as well! I wonder if cafe's in Sweden has started already?? Have to call someone and ask. This past week has been a pretty slow one and as usual that makes me restless! We try to make the most odf it and take care of things that were neglected during busier times. Don't know how well i did at that do. It is so easy to slip in to a slower mode all around and I don't like that- HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED! Our regular customers are great though, they show up and brighten our days- Thanks!!
Did I mention my iphone? Yeah, I did but it's worth mentioning again- I love it! Last night I downloaded the SKYPE application! How cool is that?? Now I guess I can call my friends all over the place for free as long as they have a SKYPE account! It should be free to call iphone to iphone! I could call Sissi in NYC all the time!!
On February 2nd we have scheduled our premier "Tuesday Lunch FOOD TALK". I am really excited about it. 10 lunchguests at the cafe' chatting about a common interest- FOOD! What little tricks do you want to share?? I will show how to treat Quinoa, file' orange and grapefruit and probably some other little fun things. Show the difference in intensity of spices if you grind them as you go compared to buying already ground. Have any other suggestions? I'll keep you posted about how it went but I am sure it'll be great! We already have 5 people signed up!
Ok, have to wake up Jojo and head to the market in the freezing cold! Stay warm and in touch! Let me know you stopped by!

2009-12-28T08:50:00.002-05:00

Life is good!!
Sitting in Collingwood, Ontario a Monday morning and I have time to write a post on my blog!!! The basic reason for this is that Beaches Bakeshop & Cafe' is closed until January 4th!!! I was soooo ready for a break! Mark just took the girls to their ski programs and I am going cross country w. 2 friends today.

Christmas was ok, I have a love - hate relationship to that Holiday. I always feel incapable of giving that perfect christmas gift. This year turned out ok but I could definitely have been a better gift giver. Have to work on that skill until next year.
One thing I am good at is giving myself good presents. I received an iphone a few weeks ago and I love it. It is soo great. All in one is the way to go. Ok, now time is up for lazy'ing around. Have to clean up and get ready to cross country ski!! It's going to be a great day!
Love to all!

2009-12-15T21:47:00.002-05:00

But get real, how can it possibly be almost 3 months since I wrote on my blog??? It is very close to Christmas and this fall has just swept by really fast. two new schools this year and so far so good. Both girls seem to enjoy where they are so no complaints in that department. Jojo is doing gymnastic 6h/ week and is enjoying that.
The cafe' is doing well. We are busy and that's what we want obviously. Don't know how to go forward and in which direction we should go but I am sure it will somehow work out. We had a big catering this past weekend. It went really well and it was for a friend in our neighbourhood so I was kind of nervous prior to the party. Everyone liked what we served and it went great so afterwards it felt awesome. Will be fun to see if more business will transpire from that. I think I want to get into catering again. I would not work the parties myself but I love the planning of menus and interacting with clients. What we really need is a website. Hello out there- Who wants to help us with a website??? We don't need a big elaborate website, just one with really good layout and all the right info about what we are.
Taste-Buddies cooking classes are still going strong. I have a class with 6 5-6 year old boys right now- note to self: Don't do that again!! It has been fun but CRAZY!! Tomorrow is the last class of this session and we are making checkerboard cookies and maybe jam caves.
I am still running and I did finish the Scotia Bank Marathon in September, 4.20 was my time and I felt great.
Speak about running, have to stop blogging and go to bed- up and out for a run at 6am tomorrow!!
Will definitely try to post more often! That's it for now!

2009-09-18T20:37:00.002-04:00

Is it really mid September already??? Can't believe it! In just over a week I am running my 4th marathon. Also my first marathon in 15 years. I have been training, of course I should have trained more, harder and longer. But guess what I don't really care about my time. I just really want to earn the bragging rights you get for a while after you have finished a marathon- 42,6km.
Apart from running the past 6 weeks I spent 3 weeks in Europe. First a short intense visit to Malmo, Sweden. Weather was great actually so all the good karma I tried to spread about the weather worked well! We rented bikes and biked around like the rest of the average Malmo citizen. Had dinner i Vastra Hamnen, visited Annika i Ljunghusen, spent time at mormors kolonistuga, went to Osterlen and stayed at Karlaby Gard one night, had the most amazing dinner there by the way....We also spent the afternoon we left for PAris in Kopenhamn so I got a nice smorrebrod. I really enjoyed our visit and specially seeing all my friends. There are so many more friends I would have loved to catch up with but the time was NOT enough this time around. I'll be back!!!!
After Malmo we went to Paris and from there to Bordeaux- gorgeous place and so much to see. Not really a relaxing vacation but fun to see everything. We went to St. Emillion, Cap Ferre, Sarla, Arcichon, Dune du Pylat and so many more places. Before coming home we had 3 days in Paris with good friends in St-Nom-La- Breteche. Mark and I went shopping in Paris one day and I finally got the cutlery I have wanted forever.The typical french one with colourful handles. I should have a picture right here but I don't...
Since coming back to Toronto, the girls have started school-2 started new schools. Kids are now in 3 different schools. So far they really like their schools and everything is going great.

Beaches Bake Shop & Cafe' is doing great. We closed for 3 weeks and the first couple of days back were a bit scary. Now we are back to normal and have had 2 crazy lunches these past 2 days- I LOVE IT when it is busy. I also think I have an incredible "flyt" sometimes. Today a customer walked in and sat down with his 2 little girls for lunch. He starts talking about fresh produce in the car and vips I am out the looking at his heirloom tomatoes, macintosh apples that were picked this morning and zucchini galore.....I asked him how much?? He says - I like trading for favours! Ok, I said lunch is on us! So he and his 2 girls walked away happy and full and Beaches Bakeshop & Cafe' is making apple crumbles tomorrow like you have never seen before!!!
On October 3rd we will celebrate Kanelbullens Dag again. It was a huge success last year so we are planning for that again this year!

On a sad note I have 2 girlfriends who have been diagnosed with breast cancer recently and I don't like it one bit!!!! I am running Run for the Cure in a few weeks and suddenly that race will mean so much more.

2009-08-02T10:07:00.003-04:00

Sitting on our deck this Sunday morning. It has been a non stop week. It started with dropping Sigrid and Pippi at camp up north. They were very excited to go to this amazing camp where they have everything you can imagine. Challenges in many different ways, lots of kids wanting to have fun and so many new friends to be made. The cafe' has been slow and that is draining in it self. I start questioning what we are doing and HOW WE CAN DO IT BETTER! I am starting to learn to understand the cycles of running a small business. When it is slow you have to take advantage of the time to organize yourself and the store. My head is always spinning with new ideas and things we can do. Rose and I have a good relationship in these situations. I bounce off my ideas with her and she executes in the front. A small instant idea is that the last couple of days we have offered samples of the salad to anyone that walks in the door. That way the salad was gone in 3 hours on Thursday. People love to get free things and we love to introduce as many people as possible.
I am also working on organizing all our recipes. Printing and laminating is the plan. I am converting all recipes we are using to use the same "language". There are so many languages you can use in recipe writing. I obviously use many swedish recipes that need translation but also when it comes to units and wording- it has to be consistent. Many years ago, when we first moved to Portland I signed up to take a cookbook writing course. I did it just for fun of course but today I find myself digging out old information from that course. Never underestimate the value of ANYTHING you do. There is nothing that's not worth learning- you never know when it could come in handy.
I am reading a "fun" book right now called "Ratio" by Michael Ruhlman. It's not really a cookbook but the science behind cooking and if you know the ratio of ingredients you can cook almost anything based on that. Custards, cookies, vinaigrettes, sauces, breads and lots more.

On to another subject in my life- I am running a marathon in just over a month!! My running partner is up north and it is hard for me to stay focused on the running when she is not around. I am going this afternoon when Mark returns from his business trip. Planning to do 20 km or maybe a bit longer. My other worry is that it will be hard to run when we go to Sweden and France in 10 days. I really have to force myself.......
Writing all this down makes me even more stressed! I have to go and print some of those recipes and get ORGANIZED!!! That is my mantra it seems like. Organized at home, at work, the kids, myself and my training, food at home, the kids clothes, my kitchen, my clothes- it goes on and on!!! I wonder if other people feel this way or if I am lacking some "enzyme" that should make the organizing of my life soooooooo much easier!

2009-07-14T21:46:00.003-04:00

Ok, just a quick note on a Tuesday evening in the midsmack of summer. So far Toronto has not experienced the muggy, hot and sticky weather I kind of love hate. It has been very average and a bit cool even. The kids have been busy, Sigrid came back from camp, Pippi is playing tennis and Jojo went to a day camp last week and dances this week. I am in the middle of Cooking Camp and it is going really well. I think I am ready to move on to older kids. This week I don't have any small children and it is a lot of fun! What about the pictures?? Jojo is helping out at the cafe' one day, could not resist taking a picture. The other ones are from our backyard with granpa' and nana. The one on the dock is from Lake Ontario, just down the street from our house. French friends visiting and enjoying the summer!
Have to sleep now. The plan is to run 13 km tomorrow morning so I need my beauty sleep!!! Bye for now!

2009-07-01T17:00:00.003-04:00

Ooops, now it is suddenly July! Oh, well, June was jampacked with graduations, work and I don't really know what else. It went fast though.
We are going to Sweden in August. Just for 8 days but I am planning to fill those days with the essentials and I think I will feel satisfied when leaving. After Sweden we are heading to Bordeux so how bad can it get?
Sigrid has left for 2 weeks of camp and Pippi and Jojo are doing daycamps while I am working. So far everything goes smooth. Not to busy at the Cafe' but we are full for our camps starting next week. Kids will come at 12.15 and start with eating a light lunch. We then proceed with a regular cooking class and they will be picked up at 2.15pm. It might be weird if we have a really busy lunch and have all the kids as well but I think it will all work out.
Today is Canada Day and we are going to a friends house for a BBQ. I just made a sockerkaka with fresh fruit and Ice cream and a Clafouti. Clafouti is among the best thing I know. It looks and smells absolutely awesome!!!
I just bought a great cookbook called "Family Meals, creating Traditions in The Kitchen". Can't remember the authors name right now but she is a women, chef and mom. Oh, I looked it up, her name is Maria helm Sinsley. Check this book out if you have kids in your life and like to pass some cooking abilities on to them. It is actually William Sonoma that published the book. They usually know what they are doing.
The pictures I have added are from NYC- funny with all the different eggs at Union Square Farmers Market, instead of an ice cream truck I saw this cup cake truck, and the last picture is from outside BEACHES BAKE SHOP & CAFE'. Our new storefront that I promised to show off a long time ago!
Off to get ready for Canada Day BBQ!

2009-06-03T20:17:00.002-04:00

June already!!!
Can't believe it. At least it is warm enough tonight to sit outside on our deck at 8pm. This week started with the worst summer weather you can imagine. The worst thing with that weather was that it was supernice weather in Sweden. When it's nice weather in Sweden and bad where I am, I get very depressed. Don't really know why but maybe it is because there is not many places I really want to be more than a SUNNY Stockholm or Malmo. We are going for a short visit in august so if you are planning a Sweden trip- don't go 12-20 of August- the weather will for sure be crap! It always is when I am in Sweden. Please, the only thing I really want is nice, warm weather for 8, PLEASE 8 DAYS!!! That can't be too much to ask for. Enough about my swedish weather hang ups.
I am doing a Marathon in September! Yes, that is right, I am running a marathon on September 27. Scotia Bank Waterfront Marathon. It will go through The Beaches where we live. I am counting on all my friends to come out to cheer for Leigh-Anne, my running partner and I. Tomorrow I will take pictures of the new store front at the cafe'. Beaches Bake Shop & Cafe' looks great these days- I am sooo happy with how the paint job and sign came out.
Now it is time to shut down. I am tired and ready for bed!
Bye Bye

2009-05-24T22:35:00.003-04:00

May 24 was mormor's birthday. She would have been 98 today if she was still alive. Incredible! I wish she was still with us! Sometimes I think I should call her but the I remember that I can't.
In 3 days my mom is turning 70. That is another totally unreal thing. I feel like she should be 58 for some reason. That is 12 years ago, when I was 33- yes, time could have stopped there when it comes to aging. THen again. Sigrid would have been 2 for ever and Pippi just a few months and Jojo would not be born...
Have to include a picture of my very north american daughter. She is graduating from 8th grade and is entering High School in the fall. I am very proud of her. She is going in to the IB programme and is nervous but also super excited!
Have to get some sleep- tomorrow is the bug track meet- Jojo is doing relay and Pippi is stand in for Kate, who fractured her foot, in triple jump! Fingers crossed, please!!

Will return shortly to show pic's from our new store front at Beaches Bake Shop & Cafe!!

2009-05-10T08:48:00.002-04:00

Mothers Day, I am always kind off lukewarm in regards to how I feel about this day. It is definitely a Hallmark holiday but it's obviously nice to get some extra attention. Anyway, I am going to get myself a nice pair of expensive denim jeans. I wonder if expensive jeans have always been the way to go or if the need comes with age?
Did a big catering yesterday and feel a bit wiped today. It was really fun and went great.
We have booked tickets to Europe this summer. Landing in Paris and on a plane to CPH right away. In Sweden for 8 days and then back to Paris for villa vacation with Patti and Francois. Hopefully we will have time for a mini trip to Praque and Vienna as well.
OK, short post today- going for a run and then tackle the day!!!

2009-04-25T23:14:00.004-04:00

Hello! Saturday around 11pm and just finished watching a movie with Mark.
Sigrid came home on Monday and it feels REALLY good to have her home. I don't think I realized how much I really missed her until tonight when she is at a friends house for a sleep over. I didn't want her to go.
It has been a good week.. Busy at Beaches Bake Shop and Cafe, that is our new name by the way. We added the Cafe and took away Anna and Rose.
I have a few caterings coming up- always stressful before everything is in place. Rentals, staff, menu etc. I enjoy doing them though. On May 1st I am going to a Slow Food Toronto dinner. I am very excited. Carlos Petrini, who started Slow Food in Italy is coming as well.
If anyone reads this and sometimes checks out Twitter, check out Beaches Bake Shop! I try to post the menu every day and I like the whole twitter thing. It is less invasive in a way than facebook.

Ok, short post today, have to work a bit before crawling into bed. Keeping my fingers crossed for a great sunny day tomorrow and a long exhausting and energizing run!
Let me know you dropped by!

2009-04-15T22:02:00.004-04:00

Is it just me who is a uninspired food enthusiast right now?? I was wondering all day why I just could not get excited about what to cook at the cafe. Then I realized that I am boooored with the ingredients produce, I guess, available this time of the year. I am tired of the winter root veggies I have worked with and enjoyed for months now. I am ready for asparagus and all the spring stuff!!!! Have to get to St. Lawrence Market asap!! The cafe was super quiet today and that always bugs me. I am not very patient with slow-period!!! I want busy and crazy as much as possible. Luckily I had a Taste- Buddies cooking class this afternoon and they always spice up my day. We made chicken noodle soup and corn bread.

From one thing to the other- Sigrid is coming home on Monday, can't believe she has been gone for 2 months. She has had a great time and family dynamics at home changed a bit. Pippi got to be the oldest sister and there was just more time to be shared between the 2 sisters instead of 3.

The weather is finally supposed to get warmer- can't wait! Apparently it will warm up to 16*C by Saturday- I really hope that happens! That's it for tonight! Take care and leave me a message!

2009-03-29T21:59:00.002-04:00

Oooops, way too long since I updated again. It seems like that is a very common first sentence here on my blog. We went to Mt. Tremblant and had a great time. Weather, Company, Chalet and Food all cooperated! I was the lucky receiver of a new ski outfit for my birthday! It was well needed since my kids have complained for years about my UGLY snow pants. I might put them in a shadow box just for fun. Maybe in our future chalet they could be some kind of centre piece over the fire place.....
I have opened a twitter account which I am planning to update with Beaches BAkes Shops daily menu and future events. An event I am looking forward to is "Speed Babysitter" We are inviting potential babysitters in the area to come and at the same time we have invited parents of kids that needs to be babysat. Smart, eh'! A friend of mine suggested it and I ran with it. We will see how it will work out. The format is still a bit up in the air.

Sigrid is doing great in France. She does not like school at all but everything else seems ok. She and Laura went to PAris 2 weeks ago for the weekend- on the TGV all alone! They of course had a blast. Will post pictures when blogger allows me.
Right now we are experiencing some difficulties in connecting apparently.
I'll be right back!

2009-03-05T20:56:00.003-05:00

Just super quickly a short post before I have to do other things.
I have the best MAMMA and BISSA- look what I got for my birthday!!!! The package came today even though my birthday is not for another week but I kind of knew what was inside so I had to open it and there it was my all time favorite pattern on a table cloth!!!! It fits the kitchen table perfectly and I JUST LOOOOOVE IT!! TACK SA JATTEMYCKET !!!!!!! Jag blev jatteglad!!!
Stora kramar
Anna

2009-03-04T22:37:00.003-05:00

next day already.....
The cooking demonstration went really well. I didn't have a long time to plan it because quite frankly I had forgotten committing to do it until one of my friends that was coming asked what time the class was going to start the next day....It was a swedish cooking class and I decided to show and teach the guests about the following:

3 Crispbread toppnings
Egg salad with Kalles Kaviar
Skagen mix- cold water shrimps with dill and mayo
Old Cheddar with Cloudberry

Ovenbaked Salmonfile under a dill and dijon crust served with horseradish whip

Biff a la Lindström- mini hamburgers filled with beets, pickles and capers
Roasted ugly root vegetables- turnip, rutabaga, parsnip, carrots and potato

For dessert I made SEMLA buns. Everyone assembled their own and the whipped cream go a Lingonberry touch.

Every one enjoyed it a lot and I think I would like to do more teaching. It is fun!!!
Have to go- sleep is important!!

2009-03-02T20:52:00.003-05:00

Just a quick post today because it is over a months since last time -again!!
Sigrid has left, she is in France for her 2 month student exchange and is having a great time- I hope!!! She did loose her camera on the slopes on the weekend but we have "taken care of that".
I can't remember the expression that goes with the picture of Jojo and her friend in Sigrid's room. Something about when .....is away the.....I need help!!
The cafe is going, we have been busy every other day it seems like lately. It is freezing cold outside and people do not want to go outside, I guess. On Saturday I am cooking up Swedish Pea soup and Swedish Pancakes. Come on by!!! I went to IKEA yesterday and bought another s/s kitchen counter. It works really well. Everybody said, wow we look like a "real Kitchen" now.
Ok, have to go. I have to plan for a Swedish Cooking Demonstration I am doing tomorrow night. Don't know how many people yet.
I'll be back soon!

2009-02-08T09:23:00.003-05:00

So, here I am again. A Sunday morning in deepest February and believe it or not the snow is melting, sun is shining and it is super nice outside! I am definitely going for a long run a bit later this morning. I run while listening to my favourite podcasts. MENY from Swedish Radio, THE SPLENDID TABLE from American Public Media and THIS AMERICAN LIFE from NPR. The best runs start with new episodes of all these podcasts on my IPod.
Two of the pictures I have added today are of SEMLA buns. I bake and sell them at the cafe now until easter. They are a traditional Swedish bun that YOU HAVE TO HAVE at this time of the year. The word comes from Latin Simila which means wheat flour and the bun is made with cardamom and then you cut the "hat" off, hollow the bun out, fill the hole with almond paste cover that with a big dollop of whipped cream and finally the hat goes back on sprinkled with icing sugar! It is soooo yummy!
The other picture is a great Indian Carrot Soup I made last week. Super good and so beautiful to look at. That yellow is my favourite colour!
If you find yourself in Toronto from now until easter, please come by for a SEMLA or two!
Bye for now!

2009-02-01T07:48:00.003-05:00

Happy Anniversary to me!!!!
Today marks the first year of being a self employed cafe owner. This year has gone unbelievably fast. I just wrote a list of 25 random things about myself and one thing that I wrote was "I love what I do but I question it everyday if it is the right thing to do right now". I mean the kids are still kind of young. Sometimes I do miss out on things I wouldn't have to miss if I didn't own a cafe. I think I would still be working though. I tell myself that at least I am 2 minutes from their school and if something happens I can be there in, that's right, 2 minutes. My two younger girls comes up to the cafe for lunch most days, sometimes that is a bit stressfull when we are busy but it is great to connect a little in the middle of the day.

Yesterday was a funny day at Beaches Bake Shop. It started with me not "feeling up for it at all". Would have preferred to stay in bed and take care of my voice, cough and throat. Since that was not an option I went to St. Lawrence Market. Jojo came with me, she is the biggest trouper there is! We picked up the 25dz bagels and went back to the cafe. I decided to make SEMLOR. I made some earlier in the week and the weekend before so I was hoping people would remember. To recap the day in a semla kind of way we sold about 25!! That is a great number. I have orders for more and I love it. I am convinced we should market ourself as a Swedish Cafe. There was 2 groups of swedes that came in and they were just as excited as I was back in the mid 90's when I found something authentic. They were blown away how "real" the choklad biskvier and of course the Semlor tasted. It totally made my day! Something not so funny about yesterday was when I went downstairs to the womens washroom and noticed the switch plate for the light switch missing. SOMEONE STOLE IT!!!! Granted it was cute, Andy Warhol's Cambell Soup look alike. The screws were screwed back in after removing the plate-INSANE!!!

Now the question is YOGA or not. I think YOGA. I feel almost healed from my little stint of being sick- loosing my voice etc. so I really should get going!

2009-01-14T19:34:00.002-05:00

Hello again,
twice in the same day...
I found this list on NYT times most e- mailed stories. I think lists like this is great for people to remember what to eat. Short and easy to remember. You read through it and when you're at the store you remember the food items, maybe not why they are good, but that doesn't matter- just buy it!
Read on!

(This post was originally published on June 30, 2008, and recently appeared on The New York Times’s list of most-viewed stories for 2008.)

Nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden has created several lists of healthful foods people should be eating but aren’t. But some of his favorites, like purslane, guava and goji berries, aren’t always available at regular grocery stores. I asked Dr. Bowden, author of “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth,” to update his list with some favorite foods that are easy to find but don’t always find their way into our shopping carts. Here’s his advice.

Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.
Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.
Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes.
How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.
Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol.
How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.
Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded with antioxidants.
How to eat: Just drink it.
Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but they are packed with antioxidants.
How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.
Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.
How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.
Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.” They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins.
How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.
Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,” it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.
Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies.
How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.
Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories.
How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.

2009-01-14T06:59:00.003-05:00

Hourly Forecast
6am

-19°C

Feels Like
-29°C
9am

-20°C

Feels Like
-30°C
12pm

-19°C

Feels Like
-29°C
3pm

-16°C

Feels Like
-24°C
6pm

-18°C

Feels Like
-28°C
9pm

-21°C

Feels Like
-31°C

These temperatures are real!!! And we are not talking Nunavut or the Polar Circle or even Greenland- We are talking outside my house in Toronto. It is going to be freezing!!! I wonder if people will venture out for some soup and salad today and tomorrow? Minestrone Soup and Quinoa with Corn, Cilantro and Feta is on the menu together with some other yummy stuff of course. Have to run to the passporrt office this morning to get a new passport for Sigrid who is leaving for France in 4 weeks and yesterday we realized that oooops, her passport expires on April 6 - 2 weeks before she is scheduled to come home....Good thing I notized it yesterday and not in 3 weeks!! Have to run!!
Until next time- stay warm!

2008-12-27T22:45:00.003-05:00

A long day with rain coming down sideways has passed. The girls are disappointed, no skiing today and the weather does not look promising for tomorrow either. Mark went back to the city for a footballgame in Detroit tomorrow.....he'll be back up tomorrow night. Even if the rain continues tomorrow we have to come up with something to do other than relaxing- even though it has been nice and way toooo long since we had a day of nothing. Keeping my fingers crossed for some cold weather and snow!

2008-12-26T21:53:00.004-05:00

Time has flown by as usual. Now even Christmas has passed and it is Boxing Day 2008. Just a few days left of this year, can't believe that at all. Christmas turned out to be great at the Cafe. We had some really slow days leading up to the last day Dec. 24th but that was good because I had to bake and cook a lot for special orders. It would have been impossible if we had normal busy student busyness. I managed to get a cute christmas pictures of my three favourite people in the world. It was not an easy thing to get a picture were all three looks "normal".

Ok, I have to tell you about how crazy I really am. It all started with me taking on a job to cater swedish chrismas food for a family that owns their own catering company. The wife is swedish and obviously knows how to cook it all but ran out of time so I was asked to do it. I planned for it and was prepared I thought until the 24th arrived and I felt totally out of control. Lots of cinnamon buns, quiches and salads on order. I started working at 05.30 in the morning and at 10am when the catering order got picked up I felt pretty good about it all. I thought about it yesterday, the 25th but a few other things went on and I didn't go over the menu in detail. Then I woke up at 03.30 this morning or last night, I guess. I woke up in a cold sweat and was convinced that I had NOT sent enough food for the lunch the clients were to host today, the 26th. I came up with a solution and went to the cafe and executed my plan and at 9.15 am I packed the car and drove in the direction of where the food needed to be. I called the guy at 9.20am and woke him up...I explained the situation and said that I am on your street with more food. He must have thought I was crazy, which I kind of felt like as well. Anyway, I dropped off food and met his really nice wife and I think it all ended okl. They were very happy about the food they had yesterday and hopefully today's lunch went fine too. The whole morning was very surreal and I felt like I was in a movie- out of body experience, kind of.

Anyway, now I can relax. we are in Collingwood for a few days. Oh, yes we closed the cafe until January 5th! We decided to do that since both Rose and I could use a break. Inga- Lena, Ulrika and Axel are coming to stay with us over New Years. I am really looking forward to that. We re going to Lotte and Alain for dinner on nye and we are definitely going skating and maybe hiking a bit as well. Depends a little on the weather.

I brought a ton of cookbooks up here and I really have to come up with a schedule for next session of taste- buddies. I also have to plan for a cooking class over at the cheese guys. I am cooking swedish food there on January 13th. I am thinking veal and dill stew and kroppkakor as a start. have to practice those things a few times first...I am always open for suggetions
I also need to come up with a new years resolution. Have not decided what yet but it's leaning towards sleeping more...I heard that you can get early on set alzheimers from not enough sleep. I think I am in the risk zone.....
I am starting my resolution right now by saying goodnight!

2008-11-25T21:32:00.003-05:00

An ordinary Tuesday night has passed. Mark was out on some work thing and I was home with the girls. Had planned to maybe go to Costco and IKEA but when I thought a bit more and looked at the darkness outside I decided against it. It was ice to just stay home and do nothing. I was up early this morning and is already tired for bed.
My Garland oven is not connected yet and our landlord wants proof that it is hooked up according to code before we start using it. Nothing is really simple in life.....
Now on to to something totally different. I am supposed to teach a Swedish Cooking Class in early January at a cheese store across the street from the Cafe. Give me some tips on what to cook!!!! I did one in the spring and made gravlax, venison, cloudberry parfait and a few other things. I am thinking of veal Stew in Dill Sauce. It is one of my favourite dishes. Please if you read this and have suggestions- give them to me!!!!! Ok, off to bed I go! I am "scheduled" to get up super early for a spinn class tomorrow morning.
Bye for now!

2008-11-18T07:06:00.002-05:00

This is not what I should be doing at this point but what the heck....it is 07.10 and I just got back from a good run with LeighAnne. We have the best runs!!!We met at 05.45 and ran for just over 1 hour. Is there a better feeling than finishing up an hour run in the early morning?? Don't think so.
The rest of my day will be spent inside mostly. The cafe was not very busy yesterday so hopefully it picks up today. We re planning for christmas. The oven is still NOT totally hooked up and it is starting to bug me. I want to bake in Garry the GARLAND oven NOW!!!
Mark is in Buffalo, N.Y. He went there yesterday with some friends to see a football game. He called from the parking lot where they had a tailgate party. The menu was canned chili- yum!I remember when we went to Detroit to watch a soccer game Sweden- Brasil and Mark wanted too have tailgate party in the parking lot. I thought he gone mad. I didn't know what a tailgate party was and he didn't know that when you so to a soccergame you can't waist time in the parking lot.
Ok, my day has to get started. What I would pay for a day just at home with nothing special to do! It would be soooo nice, specially now when the cold has hit Toronto. I think it is -3 right now, Ok, bye for now!

2008-11-07T21:51:00.005-05:00

Definitely time to update my blog. I have been facebook'ing lately and it is such an easy way to stay in touch with people that nothing else is unfortunately needed. Even so, here I am after a month and a half or so ready to update all my regular visitors.....

The biggest thing is that my oldest daughter is turning 13 on Monday. I just CAN'T believe it. Next thing, what is that??? Well Rose and I are working harder and harder at the cafe it seems like. We have had some really hectic days and it wears you right out. I can't really explain it but I do feel happy and that it is very right 5 out of 6 mornings to go and start all over again at Beaches Bake Shop. Today we had a very busy lunch and 2 swedish friends came to eat. I love that it is busy when people come of course. Talk about visitors, Inga-Lena, Ulrika and Axel are coming for New Years. They will be visiting us for 4 days, I think and that will be great! I feel I am in need of some old friend injection. It is definitely something special to sit and have dinner with friends you have known for over 20 years. We met when we were all just brand new in NYC in 1988. Wow, the stories we can tell are many and crazy for the most part.

Ok, I am going to join my family instead of sitting by the computer- it is Friday night after all!!!
Take care and let me know you were here!!!!!

2008-10-04T20:35:00.006-04:00

KANELBULLENS DAG!
The most peculiar of holidays maybe but it was a great celebration at Beaches Bake Shop today. I think I baked and sold close to 300 cinnamon buns. It is like an adrenalin rush when you're in the middle of it.
Lots of swedes came for fika, many friends showed up to buy some buns and strangers got introduced to the craziness of Beaches Bake Shop. Even Sandra Bussin and Marilyn Churley came by. I had sent an e- mail to Sandra Bussin- kind of kommunfullmaktige in our area and Marilyn is the leader for the NDP's in Beaches - East York. Both these ladies are super busy right now since Canada is as well as USA, gearing up for an election later this fall. Enough politics, but it was fun that they showed up.
I think I am going to launch some kind of FIKA PAUS at the cafe. A set time when Swedes would know that they could come by to connect with other Swedes over a FIKA! What about the third Saturday of each month at 1.30pm or something.
I am having an event for SWEA on Oct.27Th. We are all going to listen to Linda Olsson's sommarprogram from 2 years ago and discuss it after. I am looking forward to it, I hope lots of people signs up.
Ok, time to shut down.....I am running Race For The Cure with a whole bunch of Beach women including Sigrid, Laura, Jojo, Rose, Chantal, Sam, Atara......the list is endless!!I love the event- always very emotional but a great togetherness for women of all ages! Next week is a new adventure at Beaches Bake Shop- it never stops, I'll get back to that later!

2008-09-01T22:18:00.003-04:00

Back again and not that long since last time. Everything is going well. with everything. I have to add to that statement that I am going back to the cafe tomorrow and it is the first day of school tomorrow as well. Since we have 4 girls in the house these days I am a bit worried about the morning rituals and getting everybody out on time. Rose and I have lots of work in front of us at the cafe. All new staff, taste- buddies birthday party on Thursday all ready, a fairly big catering on Saturday and hopefully lots of students back for lunch every day.

On a totally different note I found this list of 100 things you should eat before you die. It is according to a guy who writes a blog called www.verygoodtaste.co.uk
Items in bold are things I have tried. Let me know what you have tried.
The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

I have not decided what is going to be my next bold item.

Earlier tonight Sigrid, Laura and I got to go to Canadian Idol. See pictures. It was fun. Specially fun for Sigrid and Laura to go to a live TV show.
Can't believe the cafe is opening again tomorrow. Don't know if I am ready or not. Anyway, to start of the best possible way I am turning off the computer now. The weather by the way is outstanding and it's going to continue for a while!!! YIPPY!

2008-08-21T14:16:00.009-04:00

Ok, who timed their vacation so perfectly this year????? I did, believe it or not but since we closed the cafe on Saturday afternoon the sun has not left the sky during the day. It is beautiful in Toronto these days. Perfect temperature and I am so happy we decided to stay home these 2 weeks. We had talked about driving to Oklahoma, or driving out east in Canada, which is very popular to do but a few weeks ago we realized that the most relaxing thing is probably to stay right here in our own backyard. That leads me to tell you about Mark's latest accomplishment, he just finished building a new deck in the back of our house. So, that is where I am sitting right now writing this. I LOVE IT!!
Another reason why we stayed home is that we have a fourth girls staying with us right now. It is Laura from France. She is an exchange student and will go to school with Sigrid for 5 weeks or so. Her total stay is 2 months and she arrived just over a week ago.
We went to Prince Edward County for 2 nights. I have been wanting to go there for a long time. The highlight was definitely a meal we had at Harvest. A restaurant I can recommend to anyone. The waiter we had was Jason and he was an ex Beach'er who had just moved to Picton. He was very knowledgeable and seemed to be a very nice guy as well.
On Monday we wanted to something special since it was Laura's 13th birthday so what is better to do than go for a few scary rides in a huge amusement park. Here in Toronto the destination for that is Canadas Wonderland. What a place. It is enormous with lots of rides, both scary and not so scary. They also have an amazing water park that the kids enjoyed a lot. I think we will get season passes for next year. It is definitely worth it.
Mark took daughter 2 and 3 back to Prince Edward County for a night of camping with his sisters and parents. They are on their way back now and it sounds like they had a great time.
I gently forced the bigger girls to do some exercise this morning and biked to my favourite place in Toronto, St. Lawrence Market. It is a 30 minute bike ride and it was a bit windy coming back. We bought some fresh seasonal berries and a piece of horseradish. I am hoping to do some pickling but I couldn't find the dill you use for that. Is it called crown dill in english???
That was my post for today, I am going up to Sigrid's room to finish building an IKEA dresser. I do well with IKEA building stuff usually but this morning I had to step away and take a brake.......
I will be back with more pictures but as always, let me know if you have been by to read my blog! Enjoy the last bits and pieces of summer 2008!

2008-07-02T22:11:00.006-04:00

Jag har blivit utmanad av malin2 och forsoker mig nu pa att svara pa all fragor.
Here we go!

1. Beskriv reglerna
2. Svara på alla frågorna
3. Välj ut 6 personer som du vill ska svara och utmana dem i deras bloggar.
4. Be dem läsa din blogg.
5. Låt personen som utmanade dig veta när du svarat på utmaningen.

Fem saker som finns på din Att-göra-lista idag?
1. Skriva inköps lista till en catering vi har på lördag
2. Skriva upp Jojo på camp en vecka när stora systrarna är pa sova borta camp
3. Sova i tid så jag orkar upp för att gå på bootcamp klockan 06.30
4. Inte bråka med äldsta dottern
5. Ta mig tid, leva i nuet!

Vad gjorde du för 10 år sedan?
Ja, 1998 hade vi precis lamnat vart forsta hus i Lake Oswego, OR o ch flyttat till Vancouver, WA. Barnen var sma och Mark jobbade mycket.

Ställen du bott på?
Stockholm, Oslo, Malmo, Uppsala, New York, Portland,OR, Vancouver, WA, Toronto

Fem saker du skulle göra om du var biljonär?
1. Fixa till vart hus som vi skulle vilja ha det och lite till
2. Kopa en liten rod folkvagn och satta taste-buddies logga pa den
3. Resa till Sverige och kopa ett sommar hus pa Osterlen.
4. Kopa boende till mamma i Toronto
5. Resa, trana, bjuda kompisar med pa resor mm mm

Sadar ja, da var det nastan gjort. Sex stycken bloggare som ska utmanas och bes lasa min blogg- oj,oj kan inte komma pa nagon alls. Far tanka pa det en liten stund. Ska informera malin2 att jag antagit utmaningen och dessutom nastan svarat.

Now I will continue in english again. The summer is in full swing. Today was the first official smog alert issued in Toronto. Last year there had been 8 on July 7th. I love the heat. The cafe had it's slowest day EVER today or I should correct that, slowest since we took over in February. I guess we were prepared for this because we did not freak out and it is kind of obvious, I guess. It was super warm and people are away at cottages or have left the country for Europe, South America or some other fun place to visit. I am enjoying staying put this summer. We have travelled so much previous summers. Sigrid is bored out of her mind but she is leaving for camp on Thursday so a bit of boredom won't hurt her. Pippi is going with her and it will be super quiet around here for 2! weeks. Jojo is signed up to do a theatre camp. I hope she will enjoy that. After the camp things start to happen. Laura from France arrives and the day after she gets here we are going to Picton for 2 nights with two other families. I have been wanting to check out Prince Edward County for a long time so I am excited about it.
The pictures I added today was taken last weekend when our good friend Francois came for a short visit from France. He loves food as much we do so the choice what to do on Saturday morning was easy- St. Lawrence Market of course. This time we all biked there and it was as usually great. Unfortunately we came to late for Sigrid's favourite sausages- the veal/ spinach- they are soo yummy!

Oh, time flies and I am going to bootcamp in the morning. Jojo just called and wanted to come home from her sleep over- that's ok. She said she missed me- who can resist that?? As always, I'd love to know you where here and thanks to you , who leaves me small messages- I love it!

2008-06-23T22:31:00.004-04:00

I am always excusing myself and making up reasons for not having posted any new postings. I am not doing that this time. I know it's a long time since I wrote last but hey, I have had things to do....
Birthday parties for two of my daughters, working a bit and I have actually relaxed a bit these past weeks. Oh, I forgot to mention the boot camp I started last week. It's great. Down at the beach at 6.30am , for 1 hour and the guy who leads us is crazy. One morning we did a total of 210 push- ups. Even I, the push- up Queen, had enough! I will bring my camera and take pictures one morning. These pictures are taken randomly during the past month. One picture shows Rose, my partner at Beaches Bake Shop.THe crazy looking person in a H/M marimekko t- shirt is moi! The little girl in taste-buddies uniform is of course Jojo. I will produce a better picture and with her team mates. I just love yelling -Great job, taste- buddies!!! Remember, I am the vice- coach. I am not fullfilling my responsibilities all the time but I will try to get there on time from now on at least. The other pictures are from the best market in the world, at least the world I know, St. Lawrence Market on a Saturday morning. Listen people! It is AMAZING! specially this time of the year with all the local farmers and all there fresh produce.
Ok, I wanted to write so much more and post many more pictures but I have roll into ed since I am going to bootcamp in the morning!! Good night and see you soon again! Don't forget to let me know you where here!!

2008-05-11T14:52:00.004-04:00

Wow, over a month since I wrote last time....
My mom is still here but that is the only thing that is constant, I think.
What has happened since last??
Lots of work, we did a catering for 380 people at a night club called CIRCA here in Toronto. It was for the Danish Film Institute and we did a great job if I can say it myself.Lotte luckily was in between jobs the days before the event so she could concentrate on this ginormous cocktail party. We have also had a break in to our house. Very upsetting and not fun AT ALL! Someone broke the glass by the front door and went through our entire house. They took all small electronics, cameras, Ipods, docks for Ipods, my wedding ring, perfume and guess what else he stole, our SHAMPOO! He treated the break-in as a one stop shop! The police came that night and investigated and wrote down a report etc. The worst thing is that someone has been in our house and gone through our stuff but the best thing is that NOBODY was home! Sigrid could have been here, my mom could have been in the basement watching TV or something. I wonder how people that break in to houses really function. Does anybody know?? At the cafe we are still working hard. We have had smaller caterings and busy lunches. I have to make the menu for this next week right no actually..instead I am sitting here writing this while watching the movie 27 dresses. It is Mothers Day and I just bought my first pair of Converse. They are really cute. I also bought a pair of Tretorn rain boots, they are cute as well. Tonight we are having bbq and I am going to bed early to be ready and awake for my new week. Have to plan a menu so bye for now! Will try to be back before a month suddenly has gone by!

2008-03-31T05:24:00.005-04:00

My mom arrived after a long trip with stop overs in Atlanta and Cincinatti. It is great to have her here!!! She takes care of everything behind the scene kind of. It is just nice to be another adult in the house. She fixes everything that is in need of a new button, table clothes that needs ironing or jeans that needs to be hemmed etc. Things like I NEVER EVER get to. Cooking classes are in full swing and believe it or not but classes are filled to the brim. I love the kids and it will be a fun session no doubts.

Last night we sat prepared in front of the television to watch StreetEats when they filmed at the Bake Shop and taste- buddies. It turned out really great. They have a short clip on their website. Unfortunately not with taste- buddies, just me talking about pressgurka
I have the video of the entire program and will try to figure out how to post it somewhere so my friends and family can see it. Suggestions please!
It is now 5.30 am and Leigh Anne will soon be knocking on my door to go for a run so sorry, but I have to go! I'll be back very shortly!

2008-03-16T20:56:00.005-04:00

Sunday evening, again.....
Guess what, my mom has decided to come for a visit! She is arriving on Tuesday already if everything goes well. She comes over on a stand by ticket so you never know.....
She will stay for a while and I can't wait to show her Beaches Bake Shop.

This weekend has been great. I worked super hard yesterday. We had a great day. My friend Anna came in and baked up a storm. If we could make stuff all day long and have Rose selling at the front we would do awesome. People love the smells and the excitement when something new comes out of the oven.
Last night Mark and I got invited out for dinner, my birthday dinner by good friend. We had a wonderful time. This morning started slow and then I realized I had to freshen up the guest room for mormor. So out came mr. vacuum and his entourage. I kind of like to clean. I wish I could throw more stuff away. We have sooooo much stuff. Lots of things that we have not used in years. Why is it so hard to get rid of it???

Tonight Mark's parents came over and had dinner with us. We had broccoli soup, a bit of spinach and goat cheese lasagna, veal and spinach sausages, tilapia, roasted potatoes and my all time favourite salad. Arugula, grapefruit, avocado, shaved Parmesan, roasted pine nuts drizzled with olive oil and balsam vinegar. I promise you, there is nothing fresher or healthier looking. I just love that salad! Try it, you'll like it!! Just thought about something, some red or green onion would probably go very well with the salad. Add that as well and let m know if you like it or not!!!
Have to close down, spinning at 6am tomorrow!!!

2008-03-12T11:42:00.008-04:00

OOps, how could the time fly by like this again?? Almost 3 weeks since I wrote last. I have worked lots, I have had sick kids, I have had a husband who has been absent, first Cayman Island and then Chamonix, I have shoveled and shoveled and I am sure other things have happened as well but I have been too busy to remember, I think.
Ok, this is not a complaint corner of my blog so here we go. I am sitting in The Yoddeler Chalet in Ellicotteville, NY while the rest of the family is out skiing in a bit of a snow storm, yes , another one!!!!!

I have planned the six weeks of next session of taste- buddies. We will have tons of fun while among other things making Hollandaise sauce, learning how to file' a whole salmon. I wonder how many kids have seen and touched a whole salmon?? I want to show them how to make Hollandaise sauce while talking about emulsions. Maybe my plans are too high flying, I'll let you know. We are also going to visit the cheese shop across the street and put together a cheese platter and make our own fresh cheese from yogurt. Like I have said before cooking classes are endless.

Have you visited one of my favourite food blog? Sorry, to all you English and not Swedish speaking people, this blog is written in Swedish. Ninna, the author, writes about short cuts to everyday dinners. Often really great ideas. I just heard a story about a new cookbook that is published in Sweden about leftover cooking. I love "day after" dinners. you know, when you are able to use up leftovers and make something new that taste even better than the day before.

While I am sitting here and devoting time to my blogg I am adding 2 pictures of Sigrid and Pippi skiing a few weeks ago at Mt. St Louis, Ont. The weather was beautiful and they really love skiing. Unfortunately, my digital camera is not the best for pictures like these.

How is the Bake Shop doing, you wonder? Very well thank you, we work our butts off and are loving it! Just purchased a super duper panini maker and will ramp up the options for panini's on the menu next week. What do you say about Grilled Chicken and roasted vegetables on Rosemary Foccacia bread?? Maybe a bit of rosemary mayo to go with that....Let me know what your special deluxe panini would consist of! I feel a bit guilty as I am relaxing here in Ellicotteville while the rest of the crew is slaving away back on Kingston Road in Toronto..
Anyway, come by for a panini any time!! I will be there, no more vacations for me in the near future!!!

2008-02-23T07:22:00.003-05:00

Saturday morning and it's not snowing! I think there is a light at the end of the tunnel called WINTER this year. We have had soooo much snow! I have shoveled out my car numerous times and I am sick and tired of it! Anyway, this morning will be interesting. Sigrid had a sleepover last night and has basketball practice at 10.30am. She will be picked up her at home around 10am. The question is -will she be home by then??? Not very exciting for anyone else but me. I am curious to see what her choice will be. Stay and hang out with her friends and feel lacy for the rest of the day or get up, go to practice and get back to friends afterwards and feel good about it? How do you teach things like that???
I have to do a bagel run to St. Lawrence Market, the best market in the world -almost at least- on Saturdays. You can get everything there! I have promised the kids to pick up veal sausages with spinach. There is a guy that comes in on Saturday who has the best sausages. I will get a few and stick them in the freezer. After that I'm going to the Bake Shop to get organized. Rose is coming in a little later and I am going home in the afternoon- FOR SURE! Just got back from a quick run and a good chat with my friend Leigh Anne so now I have to get ready and start my day!! Until next time!

2008-02-19T21:06:00.002-05:00

What do you think about the new logo my dear friend Karin Broden has done. I love it. Just have to tell her to add the e- mail address and make the phone number in bigger font. Apparently people have a hard time reading it. We are making stickers to put on our soup containers and sandwich bags. We also have to make a menu. I should probably be doing that right now instead of writing this....
Another day at the Bake Shop has gone by and I feel very energetic about it all. Maybe because we had that long weekend..
I feel that we have to come up with some more things to make money of. Can't say I have that many ideas but I am sure I will come up with something good.
A friend of mine gave me the idea of buying fresh yeast from a bakery so today I asked at a local bakery if they by any chance would sell me some fresh yeast and they did! Now I have a big thing of fresh yeast to bake with. I am very excited!
It will be interesting to compare cinnamon rolls baked with dry yeast to cinnamon rolls baked with fresh yeast. Do I sound like a total " food nerd"?
I am enrolling students for the next session of taste- buddies right now. I am thinking of advertising that we are happy to do birthday parties as well. There could be a few different options for birthday parties. Brownie baking is always popular, I can see Baked Alaska or Banana Split being other good dishes depending on age and abilities. I have to come up with a schedule for the next session first, when that is done it's soo much easier.
I was supposed to have the last Wednesday class tomorrow afternoon but Pippi is playing a volleyball game that I don't want to miss so the kids will come next week instead. Pippi was so happy when I was able to come to her game that it's totally worth the hassle of rescheduling the cooking class. Until next time, let me know you visited and please , if you have ANY suggestions or tips let me know!!!

2008-02-17T22:03:00.002-05:00

It's time to update my blog! It has been a crazy ride these past 2 weeks. Rose and I have now owned the bake shop just over 2 weeks and I think I still like it....We had a crazy busy first week and a bit slower this past week. That was a good thing because I was going nuts! We have had one snow storm after the other on top of that. This weekend is a long weekend. The government decided to make a new holiday in Ontario, Canada. They called it Family Day! Innovative, eh! It is very unclear who should be open and who should be closed but we decided to close Beaches Bake Shop. I think it was a good decision.
I have spent today at Mt. St. Louis Moonstone. Sigrid and Pippi are in a program there and they have been going up every Sunday for 6 weeks. It is a 8 week program so 2 more to go. Todays weather was pathetic. It was raining and and all the skiers got super soaked. I stayed in the chalet and relaxed. Listened to my Stieg Larsson's audio book Flickan som lekte med elden" It is a very good book that I think is being translatet into english as I am writing this. I definitely recommend the book!
I will post some new pics this coming week so please stop by and let me know you where here!! Bye for now!

2008-02-06T20:37:00.000-05:00

It is not +13C tonight , that is for sure! the snow started falling last evening and it has NOT STOPPED. Last Friday was February 1st and Rose and I became cafe owners. We now own Beaches Bake Shop! It is fun but LOTS of work. It is sooo much to do. I have no time for anything else than cooking and baking all day long....I love it. Pippi and Jojo come up for lunch every day almost and that part is really awesome! I have a small catering that will be picked up on Saturday. It is great. I need to be there a few hours anyway and it is perfect to have a special order for pick up! Taste-buddies start a new session on March 17th after march brake. Some kids have already signed up again. Will be interesting to see if I can fill three classes again. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. 8 kids in each class.
We redecorated the cafe on Super Bowl Sunday. Rose's family came out in full force to help with painting, changing lights and putting together wonderful IKEA furnitures.
I am baking Swedish kanelbullar (cinnamon rolls)every day. We sell an average of 40- 50/ day. Tomorrow it will be a busy lunch, I think. I guess people might stay home if this snow keeps coming down. The great thing with our neighbourhood is that people walk everywhere. In case there is a snow day for the schools tomorrow we will be super slow but otherwise people will come, I am sure! Have to put kids to bed, it is getting late... Look at the pictures and imagine some more details and less clutter behind me in the kitchen. Have to work on that tomorrow if we are slow- hope NOT!
Bye for now!:o)

2008-01-08T20:38:00.001-05:00

Fatta att det har varit +13 idag och det ar 7/1. Helt otroligt. Jag haller for fullt pa att forbereda mig infor overtagandet av cafeet den 1/2. Ansokte och printade ut ett master license som man maste ha for att kunna ansoka om ett business license. Allt sant tar ju sadan tid!!!! Vet inte men jag undrar om inte Toronto eller Ontario ar extra byrakratiskt. Kanske Sverige ar likadant. Vad vet jag??? Man lar sig mycket i alla fall och sjalvfortroendet okar lite ocksa maste jag saga. Alla barnen ar hemma ikvall. Mark ar borta och resten av familjen slappar lite och ska snart packa ihop for att ga och lagga oss i nagot sanar tid. Jag maste verkligen ut och springa i morgon.
Det har oppnat en ost affar precis mitt over gatan fran cafeet och de ska ha nagot de kallar for "meet the chef" och fatta att de fragade om jag ville komma och vara med som en av kockarna....Ska prata mer om det nar ratta killen kommer tillbaka fran sin ledighet men jag tankte att kanske jag kan gora gravlax pa nagot kul satt eller ska jag gora semlor

2008-01-05T22:01:00.000-05:00

Hello there again! Twice in one day, wow, that has never happened before.
Sweden played really well but unfortunately they lost 3-2 in overtime so the Canadians can now call themself best in the junior hockey world. Congrats!!!

Just surfed to some other blogs I like to read. Unfortunately for non- swedish readers they are in Swedish, sorry, and found a great idea at matalskaren.taffel.se
It is all about making a new years resolution regarding greener, more earth friendly food habits. I agree with Ninna at favoritmat.blogspot.com, she is among other things promising to always use her cloth shopping bags and NOT GET PLASTIC BAGS at the grocery store. I am promising that as well! I am also promising to educate people close to me what it is to be more seasonal in your food habits. In Toronto we shouldn't be eating strawberries in January for example. Lots of people are not aware of this discussion going on at all and I was reminded of that last weekend while visiting some friends that eats very traditionally and doesn't spend much time on food. They just eat because they are hungry.... Anyway, what will you promise to do this year when it comes to your eating and foodbuying habits?? Let me know! Eat more seasonal produce, locally grown, organic....you name it there are so much going on in this department that the list is endless. Toronto is great when it comes to garbage sorting. We are sorting everything. They still discuss what we should do about the landfills of course. I heard about a really stupid thing. It was bookstore owners who has to tear the cover off totally perfect books they can't sell before they discard them. The publishers are so afraid that someone will find them and sell them without the publishers knowledge, I guess. Lots of manufactures prefer to throw away totally perfect merchandise than to have it on the market for different reasons that I can't think of right now. This became a rambling post but there is so much to say about so many things that sometimes it is hard to stop yourself!

2008-01-05T09:09:00.000-05:00

2008!!! Here it is a brand new year in front of us. It feels great, mainly exciting. First off is a big chance in my work life. I will from February 1 take over the bake shop together with my co- worker Rose. I am a little scared of course, specially when I think about how "tied down" I'll be. I mean what will happen to my 6 week stints to Europe? Will I ever be able to go to Sweden again?? I definitely hope so. I am sure it will all work out. It will be busy but fun, I am sure. I will keep doing the cooking classes for kids as well. That feels a little much at this point so I will see if I continue the same format after this 6 week session I have starting on January 7th.
Today Sweden is playing Canada in junior hockey world championship. All our friends is asking who I am cheering for, SWEDEN of course! That is sooooo obvious to me but it surprised friends. This ended up being a short little update , have to get back to blogging more often! Will post some pictures as well!

2007-12-28T14:33:00.000-05:00

Ok, Happy New year everyone! Can't believe it is actually going to be 2008 in a couple of days. We are at Blue Mountain, it is a little hill north of Toronto where people congregate to do some skiing. I have lucked out 2 days in a row because I have not had to strap my little feet into the monster boots and skiis!!! Well, that was a bit exagurrated but I have really enjoyed some time on my own. I finally got to book my ticket for NYC in mid- January. I am leaving on a Wednesday and wont be back home until Sunday!!!Spending a day with Sissi, the cousin and the rest of the days with girlfriends coming in from Sweden. There will be a total of 12 of us. We all met in NYC 20 years ago! Amazing, isn't it! It is going to be so much fun, I cant wait.
I am also trying to include a really cool link in this post. It is a list of the 100 special foody things one should not miss while in Toronto.
Tonight will be spent with the Peters up here in Collingwood. Hopefully there will be snow coming down tonight so I will be exited enough to go skiing tomorrow. We are spending new years with friends in Kitchener, that should be great as well. HAPPY NEW YEAR ONCE AGAIN!

2007-12-09T21:44:00.000-05:00

A great weekend is a balanced weekend and this weekend was just that! We have been to 2 Christmas parties, kids have had down time, we got to spend some time alone and on top of that we actually got some stuff done. Sigrid played basketball for 4 hours on Saturday and today she had one of her oldest friends over and they baked up a storm while Mark took the 2 other girls to a tree farm up north to cut down a tree. Now we have a decorated home, a Christmas tree in the corner and all the laundry is almost done. It was a scary sight this morning. I don't think the laundry mountain had reach the same altitude before...I have to post this really quick now because I have to plan for taste-buddies this week. I also have a catering job on Friday that needs some attention as well. Anyway have a great week!

2007-12-04T06:49:00.000-05:00

What to write about?? Well, lots of time right now is spent on planning a new taste-buddies session and coming up with catering menus. These two things are probably what I enjoy doing the most. I mean, I have decided to start working after being home with kids for almost 12 years so as a person working away from home I can't see myself doing anything else righ now. I feel very fortunate to be able to do what I love to do. If it could just bring in a bit more money it would be even better!!! I am also thinking about introducing a few Swedish specialties at the cafe'. Open faced sandwiches would work very well, I think. I have started baking some typical Swedish cookies and they go over very well. Gingersnaps and jam caves. Ok, a new day has started, I just got in from a morning run in newly fallen light, fluffy snow and -5*C. Great start of the day!
Driveway is even shoveled!

2007-12-01T20:18:00.000-05:00

Oj, så mysigt det kan vara! Finns det något bättre än nybakat saffransbröd? Knappast. Jag har så otroligt starka minnen av mina barndoms jular hos mormor. Hon jobbade på EPA och var alltid helt slut när julen väl kom. Hennes saffrans bröd var det absolut vikigaste för mig. Sitta på mormors köksoffa i Årsta och doppa saffrans bröd i varm choklad kunde jag längta ihjäl mig efter. Hon bakade det bara för mig, trodde jag i alla fall. Mina barn har inte riktigt fattat tjusningen med saffrans bröd. Det stör mig lite måste jag erkänna. Om jag utesluter russinen kan det tänkas att de i alla fall smakar och säger att det är gott.
Nu är mitt te klart sa jag ska njuta av första saffrans brödet för i år. Kan inte fatta att jag faktiskt fått upp stjärnorna och advents staken i tid till första advent. Trevlig advent allihop!

2007-11-14T06:35:00.000-05:00

Ok, I have a new "mission" in life! The mission is to get the schools around here to be good role model for our kids!!!!! Everywhere we go we see messages about healthy life style and how important it is to make those healthy food choices. Meanwhile the schools, where our kids spend most of their life promotes sports to ONLY A FEW, the ones who makes the teams. These kids are good, strong and active- great! But what about the average kid who might not priorities sports but would like to stay healthy and active??That kid have NO chance in todays school because he or she will NEVER MAKE A TEAM and because of that will totally loose inspiration to be active and healthy!
The same thing goes for the cafeterias. A school official told me "We have to sell things that we know the kids will buy" Ok, so why don't we stick to teaching our kids 1+1 since they know that?? Let's move a long and record that ok, our kids, future adults, like hot dogs, chips, french fries and pizza. What else do they like or what can we introduce them to and maybe teach them to like?? I am trying to include a great interview with Silken Laumann. If Im not successfull, please google Silken Laumann writers cafe and listen to it! In the end of the interview she talks about this problem. If you live in Toronto and want to help me in my new "mission", please let me know!!!!

2007-10-30T22:42:00.000-04:00

Here again!!!
Just a few days later and I am back. Things are still going well. Lots of stuff to do. Halloween is coming up and friends around us have apparently entered some freaky competition "Who can decorate and spend the most" It is over the top, I think. I have always had a hard time with Halloween. Didn't grow up with it in Sweden and saw my first carved pumpkin about 12 years ago. Mark carved the most amazing pumpkins when I was very pregnant with daughter number 1. I was soooo impressed.
At taste-buddies I haven't done anything in the spirit of Halloween. My friend Melissa wanted a picture from taste-buddies in action so here it is. You have to agree that they are adorable!
I have a sandwich catering on thursday morning. It is swedish open faced sandwiches for 17 people. Meatballs, skagen, gravlax etc etc. But before then I have to come up with another proposal for a sandwich catering on Nov. 15. Busy busy!
Frank and Leigh opened a bar right around the corner from us today. I can actually see myself go there and have a beer after kids are in bed. It has a great atmosphere, kind of like an Irish Pub in NYC. I guess it could be dangerous but chances of me becoming addicted to anything but the computer are minimal. Ok, my costume is ready and I have to roll into bed! I am Pippi Longstocking of course!! I dare you to go to St. Lawerence Market dressed like Pippi!!
See ya and Happy Halloween!

2007-10-28T21:38:00.000-04:00

Can't believe it is soooo incredible long since I wrote on my blog...Have been busy, I guess but I have had time to read other peoples blogs. Blogs I read often are mostly food blogs, some Swedish ones are my favourites.
Taste-buddies cooking classes are going on and I really enjoy doing the classes. Don't know where I am heading with them really. I am still in the place where I cooked in the spring. I cook there now as well just not as intense as in the spring. It is good because it gives me time to spend on planning for taste-buddies. I am starting a new session on Nov. 12. If you live in my area and have kids between 6-11 and they love to cook and bake- send them my way! We have lots of fun!
This weekend we went up north to a friends beautiful house. It was not on a lake which is the common way or setting for people to have "cottages"here. It was on top of a hill and the view was just incredible. The coulours at this time of the year north of Toronto are just plain stunning.
Unfortunately my camera decided to have a melt down last week so I could not take any pictures. Very annoying!!
Well it is not very late but I think I have to get ready for this upcoming week. Busy, busy but that's the way I like it so I am NOT complaining! I will definitely make an effort to post blogs more often. It is great to have and look back on.

2007-09-13T19:48:00.000-04:00

A totally normal Thursday today. Middle daughter had to see the orthodontist since she lost her THIRD retainer at friends cottage last weekend. After dentist visit we went to the shopping mall. I don't last long in those places but sometimes there is just no way out of it. Pippi needed jeans and running shoes....
We came home, I parked nicely but forgot to put the gear in parking before I took my foot of the brake and YES I rolled into the car in front of me. The woman saw it of course and FREAKED right out! Ok, so there was 2 little dots in the "lack"(Swedish word for what I am trying to describe) but hardly noticeable. I went in , got my camera to take a picture of the dots. I think I got it but it's hard to say...maybe I post the picture on the blog for people to see, or actually not to see. This freaky owner of the car started to call the car "her baby". That's when I had had enough! People needs to get a life. Specially people without kids. I told her to proceed with her dinner plans, enjoy her dinner with her friend and that it could have been WAY WORSE! If she comes back to talk about how we should go from here I am tempted to tell her that having a brother committing suicide or knowing a 67 year old mother that doesn't recognizes her grand kids due to Alzheimer's is tragedy! Getting a dot on your car's bumper is NOT TRAGEDY. Mark advised me that Ontario is a no fault province, so there!

2007-09-10T22:52:00.001-04:00

2007-09-10T21:51:00.000-04:00

time really has flown by, can't believe it is almost 2 months since I wrote last time....Have traveled a bit since then. Left Sweden on a chilly early August morning, flew from Sturup to Marseille. Was very skeptic to the whole Ryan Air thing but we had a smooth check in and flight and suddenly the girls and I found ourselves in Southern France....rented the booked ahead car from Hertz and off we went. We had a great map and driving directions to Bandol (thanks Francois). After about 2h of driving we met Mark in a Mac Donald's parking lot. Our family vacation started......
We spent a few days in Bandol, had an authentic Bouillabaisse and got introduced to a great honey from Provence among many other good things.

After lots of more driving and crossing the border into Italy we arrived at the villa we would stay at for the next week together with 2 other families. All in all 15 people. This villa was enormous, we could easily have been 30 people and still been ok for space. It was beautifully located among Tuscany's rolling hills in Chianti area. We ate and drank very well. Cooked sometimes and went out for nice dinners a few times. Second week we stayed in a villa outside Lucca, closer to the coast. Visited Florence, Forte dei Marmi, Pisa and many other places. Again, ate and drank very well. The best meal we had was at a restaurant out in the countryside, they served the best buffalo mozzarella and pannacotta! We went to a butcher in San Gimignano, he was the 6th generation owner and only sold meat from a farm in Spain while playing loud Opera in the background all day long. I actually think it is the butcher Bill Buford writes about in his book "HEAT".

We came back to Toronto after been away for over 6 weeks. It felt great to sleep in my own bed and the girls were very happy to be home.

Now school is in full gear and I am back the bake shop. I am still responsible for lunches and I am starting taste-buddies classes in a couple of weeks. I am really looking forward to focusing on the cooking classes more than the lunches. I just watched a video on epicurious.com with Alice Waters from the Edible Schoolyard kitchen. What a dream to have a place like that to cook with kids in. Check it out! I'll try to post a link to it later. The first cooking class is ravioli making. I want to make samosas one time and then we are baking once and the last time we will make different snack stuff. Have not pin pointet everything yet but I am doing classes 3 times/week and so far one day is full. Have post this now and the get into bed!
If you visit please let me know!

2007-07-30T14:53:00.000-04:00

Längesedan igen......
Är just nu i Sverige, min andra vecka har just bärjat och dagarna bara springer iväg. Har varit i Malmö sedan vi kom hit men har gjort 2 utflykter till Österlen, mitt nya absoluta favorit ställe. Det känns som man är i ett annat land där. Små byar med mysiga cafeer som Olof Victors
och restauranger t ex. Friden, med härlig atmosfär och bra kvalitet och naturen är ju bara helt ljuvlig. Måste nog lägga in ett nytaget foto från tidigare idag. Har givetvis varit på Möllans Ost i Malmö också, wow, Alex Farm i Toronto kan slänga sig i väggen! Jag kommer ihåg att jag köpte min första getost på Möllans Ost för ca 20 år sedan, när jag var hemma på besök från NYC. Möllans Ost var då ett litet hål i väggen som inte så många hade en aning om. I morgon hoppar vi på tåget mot Stockholm men först ska vi in till Lund och fika med I-L. Ska bli super kul att bara träffas! Hon är hemma från NYC . Har givetvis spenderat tid med Annika, min underbara vän i Höllviken. Det är forfarande många kompisar jag inte har träffat ännu, som står på lut så att säga. Tyvärr är några bortresta så vi missar varandra den här gången. Måste nog komma hem nästa år också! Hyra hus i 3 veckor på Österlen skulle ju vara som en dröm. En dröm som inte är helt omöjlig att förverkliga.
I Simrishamn idag stötte vi på en familj som precis flyttade från Toronto och är på väg till London. De har hus i Kivik och jag tänkte att det skulle ju vara för roligt om vi sprang på dem. Helt plötsligt kom de springande över torget och jag sprang efter och sa Hej! Skoj när sånt bara händer. Mammas granne på kolonin kände jag igen och vi kom fram till att vi har en gemensam kompis i Pia. Att vi aldrig riktigt kände varandra och att det säkert är 25 år sedan vi sågs spelade ingen roll. Vi skrattade gott när vi kom fram till varför vi kände igen varandra. Sådana små händelser får mig att undra hur mitt liv hade sett ut om jag bott kvar här i Sverige.

2007-06-27T21:27:00.001-04:00

School is out and summer is here in full force! Wow, today was hotter that ever. I started the day early this morning with a quick conversation with mamma on Skype then continued with boot camp on the beach at 5.30am, went home prepared the kids for the last school day of the year and went to the grocery store. Shopped in a rush while talking to Lotte on the phone. Came to Happaranda Kitchen and started making quiches, potato salad, see picture. Lunches was supposed to slow down considerably now when the students doesn't come anymore but I have been pretty busy this week actually.
Big news is that I have decided not to continue Happaranda Kitchen in the same format as I have done this spring. Lots of different reasons but the biggest one is that I can't see myself committing more time and stress than I have done and that is not enough in order to stay in Beaches Bake Shop. My hope is to continue taste-buddies in some form or another. I am still working on that...I know that taste-buddies is something I really want to keep going.
Sigrid is going away for 2!!! weeks on Friday and I will miss her! It fees weird that I have to work and won't be able to take her up to camp. I am sure it's good for her and Mark to bond a bit but my ego is selfish and wants to be everywhere and not miss anything!
Have retire to bed right now! Way tooo late once again.

2007-06-24T06:34:00.001-04:00

Oops, the link I added in regards to the fabulous knife I bought yesterday is incorrect, Actually, not incorrect but it's the wrong link if you want to check out what someone else had to say about this knife. Another great food blog is Brax on Food That is where I read about the knife. Both these blogs are AWESOME! Anne's Food is as I mentioned, written in english while Brax on Food is written in Swedish. Just had to clarify all that! Enjoy the day!

2007-06-24T05:57:00.001-04:00

Ok, I am back!

Summer is here in full force and I have no clue what I will do in the fall. Very frustrating!! I know what I WANT to do but sometimes the two do not go hand in hand unfortunately. Hopefully I will know by the end of this week what the future regarding my working life will hold for me.
Yesterday was spent in a little town north of Toronto, Orangeville. Big Lacrosse play day and daughter one and two participated. It was a beautiful day and the girls had fun. I managed to find a farmers market and bought lots of goodies. I also found a kitchen store where I bought a new knife. I read about this amazing knife on Anne's Food, a great blog by a swedish girl who writes in english. Anyway, the knife is called a pastry knife. Anne talked about the make, Victorinox but the one I bought is made by Wusthof. You can use it for everything, slicing tomatoes, bread, a roast and many more things. I love it and feel that I have worked hard enough these past 3 months so I could definitely justify a little purchase like that!
It is early on Sunday morning..the coming week is BUSY! Graduations, school ending and one daughter going off to camp!! At times like these I realize the difference between working from home and not working from home. There is a lot of planning that has to take place for everything to function somewhat normal. Don't quite know how Happaranda Kitchen is going to serve it's loyal customers tomorrow, I will go in and prepare a few salads and make up some sandwiches but there will be no Panini's or custom made salads. Sorry for the inconvenience!!
Ok, it is almost time to listen to today's sommarpratare on swedish radio! That's summer for me!!! Have to go and relax a bit before this Sunday starts..take care until next time

2007-06-13T22:02:00.000-04:00

Bara supesnabbt!
Var precis inne och kollade på årets sommarpratare. Den 23 juni är det första programmet och gissa vem som inleder, Ulf Lundell! Sedan är det Mark Levengoods tur och efter det följer en hel drös av skojiga och intresssanta sommar pratare. I can´t wait!
Har inte tid att skriva just nu egentligen men var bara tvungen att informera om sommar programmet!
Jag skriver mer inom kort!
Adjö och kram

2007-06-05T05:36:00.000-04:00

Ok, now it's three weeks since last time......I guess time flies when you are having fun. I am having fun, almost always...When I am not having fun is when my house is a total mess and the rest of the family decides to ignore the fact that EVERYONE has to pitch in to help! I wonder if other people have the same "problem"?
I have cooked at Happaranda Kitchen for 10 weeks now and I have done as many cooking classes. The cooking classes are a blast still. I really hope to do more in the fall.
I have a little summer course July 3-5 between 2.30 and 4pm. Hopefully I'll get kids signed up for that. Sigrid is playing semifinal in Baseball today and tomorrow it's second meet of track and field. Don't know how I will be able to swing it all but I guess it will all work out.
Then Jojo's birthday party is on Saturday after the Triathlon and on Sunday I am SLEEPING!
Pippi is having her party on the 14th at Laser Quest! Yippie, can't wait to go there. Actually before Pippi's party I have two fairly big caterings.
On July 17th we will go to Paris and then from there to Malmo and Stockholm. I can't wait! We won't be back in Toronto until late August.
I am looking forward to meet friends in Sweden that I haven't seen for a long time. Will try not to book us to crazy but that's hard when you want to see everyone.
Then the fall will come and I will hopefully find myself back at Happaranda Kitchen. We are not quite there yet but hopefully it will be that way.
It's early morning and I have lots to do so have to go!
Let me know you visited!

2007-05-15T22:03:00.000-04:00

Not tooo long ago this time!
Worked like normal today, not very busy. Went shopping after service and then home to the kids and Frida. The weather is crazy, one minute really warm the next it's pouring rain. Hopefully it's nice tomorrow morning at 5.30 am. Have I mentioned bootcamp?? Three mornings I do bootcamp on the beach. It's great fun. Not to crazy hard but if you want to you can really push yourself and get exhausted. It is kind of hard to do at that hour but at least I have exercised a little bit that day. New taste-buddie session is in full swing. Monday calss went off to a great start. I love it! We made Uppsala Berry Cake and mini wraps. A few new kids came and they seemed to enjoy it. I definitely enjoyed having them. I will take more pictures during class. tomorrow i have another class and new kids, I have never met. Very exciting.
On thursday we are putting on Victoria Day High tea. Sandwiches and little desserts, Have to get tobed in order to get up tomorrow, bye bye!

2007-05-11T22:52:00.000-04:00

Here I am, back after a long brake. Actually call it anything but not a break. Jag har verkligen jobbat som en slav. Fast en slav som gillar det hon jobbar med. Mina forsta taste- buddies elever tog examen den har veckan och alla utom 3 kommer tillbaka. det tycker jag kanns jattebra. Jag tycker det ar sa himla roligt att halla pa med klasserna.
Det ovriga jobbet pa Happaranda Kitchen ar ocksa roligt. Den har veckan har det varit extremt mycket. For mig alltsa. Allt ar ju relativt. Mitt i allt ihop sa fick ju Jojo vattenkoppor. Hon hade massa prickar, mest pa magen och ryggen och som tur inte sa manga i ansiktet. Frida, min raddare i noden, passadde henne en dag sedan var hon hos Leigh- Anne en dag.
Idag lagade jag pasta sallad, quicher, fransk potatis sallad, smorgasar mm mm. I have realized that I don't really need to have a pre set menu because people eat what's available that day when they get in there. Not too many customer comes and has their heart set on a certain thing that they saw on the menu. I did 2 Mother's Day lunches this week and 2 caterings on top of regular business.
I am starting up a new session of tste-buddies next week and I don't really know what we are doing yet. Can't decide if we should bake or make wraps. I have three new kids on Monday and three new kids on Wednesday. I think we might make mums mums. Have to check recipes right now!
See you soon!

2007-04-14T23:32:00.000-04:00

OOps, have not been writing much lately.

I have been BUSY! Got the Happaranda Kitchen Lunches going at The Beaches Bake Shop and twice / week I am doing cooking classes for kids. The cooking classes are awesome! They run from 4-5.15pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. I have 6-8 kids in each of the groups. I specially love working with the little boys. They are sooooo adorable and interested. I have chefs hats for them and you cna just imagine how cute they are in their aprons and hats. This coming week we are making maroccan meatballs and swedish meatballs. It will be served with cous cous and hummus. i love to teach the kids. The great thing is that I have Frida helping me with the classes. Frida is Swedish and a school teacher, how perfect is that??? Here i have attached my logo's. Do you like them?? They downloaded in the wrong colours unfortuantely. Don't know why they are so blue. Happaranda is in chocolate brown , not blue! karin, my super friend from NYC and now lives in Stockholm designed the logos. She has been so much help. I will write much more and include my menu and stuff another da but now it is time for me to get to bed! Goodnight!

2007-02-20T05:29:00.000-05:00

http://www.gildedfork.com/culinarypodcastnetwork/2007_01_01_culinarypodcastnetwork_archive.ht ml
This is a great podcast. It talks about the history behind the Parker rating system on wine. You can then listen to part 2 if you want as well. Check it out and enjoy!

Another fun thing is that you can go to Barilla's website and download a cookbook and for every downloaded cookbook they will donate $1 to Second Harvest.
www.Barilla.com

Ok, it's early morning and I am working the food show today again! Have to get everything ready for the family!
Today is the last day- great!
Tomorrow and Thursday will be crazy busy. I have 2 caterings on Thursday! run, run, run!
Bye for now!

2007-02-16T09:13:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I have decided to take my blog to higher levels by adding links to other blogs. This is a pretty big step for me so enjoy!

http://aglio.blogspot.com
This blog must be one of the more beautiful ones out there. Take a look! It's in Swedish but worth looking at for anyone.

http://pdxdane.blogspot.com
This is about a guy who after many years abroad has just moved back to his wifes native Sweden. He is from Denmark. It is fun to read about his view on changes and differences.

http://malin2.blogspot.com
Had to add this one as well.

http://cookscompanionchats.blogspot.com/
A woman in Oakville, Ontario who loves food as well. What more can I say?

2007-02-15T21:40:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was as I wrote Valentines Day. It was a good day.. Had to add the picture of our cookies. The picture turned out pretty cute, I think.
Today on the other hand was totally different. I spent the day at work.... I just ran around like a crazy person and still we didn't get to finish everything we should have done. I mean it is not that bad. It feels good to work but drive for 1 hour like I did today is insane! That is 1 hour there and 1 hour back! People do that stuff ALL THE THE TIME! I don't get it??
Thank God for kids friends Grand mother that is always there to step in and help out with my kids when I need. They all went to their house, skated and had dinner and watched Cinerella 111. It is a PA day tomorrow and the snow is still on the ground. It is -26C with the windchill!!! I think it will be a perfect day for some tobagooning!
Until next time!
Kram

2007-02-14T21:28:00.000-05:00

Evening of Valentine's Day....
Chocolate and flowers was part of my day as well as some Yoga. Mark stayed home due to heavy, heavy snow fall! West of Toronto got massive amounts of snow much more than us apparently. Schools were closed and everything. Our school never closes though.
I found something funny on a fellow swede's blog. I have to copy it and post it here. It's not really funny for anyone else but swedes but hey, that's life....

You know you are from Sweden when...

1. Your family had to re-arrange a number of Christmas traditions when Arne Weise retired.
2. You get nostalgic by thinking of the summer of 1994.
3. You don't rely on weather forecasts unless presented by John Pohlman.
4. You thought Astrid Lindgren was immortal and was shocked and cried your heart out when she actually did die.
5. You really want to attend the Nobel Price Dinner.

6. You get pissed off when Norwegians state that the peace price is much more famous than the other Nobel prices.
7. You go seriously sentimental when entering an IKEA store, outside the borders of Sweden.
8. You love complaining about Sweden when you are there and state "it's much better in Sweden" when you are abroad.
9. You secretly love the Eurovision Song Contest to pieces.
10. You know at least 10 Abba songs by heart.

11. You claim that you are not a royalist but actually do care what "she" will wear on the Nobel Price dinner.
12. You are prone to stand in line without complaining.
13. Whenever discussing international problems you always, without exception state that "why don't you do it like we do it in Sweden?"
14. You know the names of a multitude of IKEA items.
15. You know how to pronounce these names and sigh when non-Swedes don't.

16. You grew up in a house looking exactly like as if iit would have been in the IKEA-catalogue.
17. You have a tendency to not divide words when you write in English, since "särskrivning" is a sin.
18. You don't really care about winning as long as the Swedish beat the Norwegains and the Finish, no matter what the game/contest is.
19. You know that Sweden never actually will win the World Cup in Football, but keep partying anyway.
20. When you don't really consider silence a problem in social situations.

21. When you find people from other cultures generally being rather loud. With the exception of the Finish.
22. You wouldn't even consider buying electrical items unless they are "S"-marked.
23. You consider the question "how are you?" as a question that when posed, needs to be answered with a honest and thorough explanation of your mental health.
24. You have serious difficulties crossing the street when there is a red light. Even when there are no cars.
25. You get guilty conciense from throwing things in the dustbin that could have been recycled.

26. You take your shoes off when entering a house, and don't get why non-Swedes find that funny.
27. You know what the term "dansband" refers to, but know that it is a losing battle explaining to non-Swedes what it is.
28. You don't consider a congregation of trees being a "real" forrest unless it takes at least 20 minutes to drive through it.
29. You use metric system and really don't get why there are people out there who don't.
30. You consider "schlager" being a proper music genre.

31. You consider a fast and audioable intake of breath as a synonym to the word "yes".
32. You find the ads for Coca Cola during Christmas completely useless since noone would consider drinking any other soft drink than "julmust" during Christmas anyway.
33. You consider Denmark and the Danish "pretty continental".
34. You know that it is not true, but you like to believe that there is a massive difference between the taste of "julmust" and "påskmust".
35. You know that the most common cars in Sweden are not Volvo's or Saab's, but Ahlgrens Bilar.

36. You can debate for hours the difference between the taste of the pink, the green and the white car in a pack of Ahlgrens bilar.
37. You actually have a favourite colour of Ahlgrens bilar, and is pretty militant in your opinion on this point.
38. You are not likely admit to having watched a full episode of Allsång på Skansen, but feel that the fact that they broadcast it every summer is soothing, and a notion that things remain in their normal state.
39. You like things in general to be "lagom".
40. It annoys the hell out of you that there is no good translation for the word "lagom" in any language (except in Turkish, apparently)

41. You consider Sweden being on the verge of annoyingly "lagom". Like a tetra pack of mellanmjolk, sort of.
42. You have at one point, or more, during your childhood, attempted to fabricate something that you learnt how to make from watching "Hajk".
43. While fabricating the thing mentioned in point 42. things went terribly wrong.
44. You think that Sweden winning a gold in any type of World Championships require celebrating by getting really drunk and splash around in a large and famous fountain.
45 You have a tendency to make Swedish verbs out of English nouns, and do not consider it slang or gramatically incorrect.

46. Generally, you prefer writing in pencil.
47. You've never seen a starbucks.
48. You have a summer house in the countryside. It has no running water or flushing toilet, but you can't understand why no one wants to visit.
49. Making fun of Norway is a national institution. And vise versa.
50. You love Kalles Caviar. Everyone else outside Scandinavia hates it.
51. You are obsessed with health issues. Everything is bad unless it comes from Sweden, in which case its ok.
52. You could survive on just fish and prawns, and still manage to have a different dish for every meal for a month. Oh, and you even put it in cake.
53. You find it normal to have to go to a special store that is owned by the government, that's only open during daytime to buy a bottle of wine, or other alcoholic beverages.
54. You constantly try to avoid meeting your neoghbours in the stairwell.
55. You split the check by the exact penny after eating at a restaurant.

56. You try to explain "The Law of Jante" to non-Swedes..!
57. You don't mind waking up way too early during the first 24 days of December in order to watch 15 minutes of TV's annual Advent Calendar.
58. You find the idea of wall to wall carpets in bathrooms and toilets simply appalling.
59. You just don't "orka"...
60. You think you understand Danish.

61. The Danish think you understand Danish.
62. Ultimatley, when spoken, you don't really understand Danish.
63. You thought wall to wall carpets was a concept of the past or the ferrys to Finland/Estonia/Germany/De nmark. Then you went abroad and realised that you were wrong.
64. You don't even realise that you speak/write Swenglish whenever you speak/write to Swedish people.
65. You die a little inside if you don't get your weekly ransion of "Mamma Scans Kottbullar".

66. You think that everyone is allowed to walk in any field or forrest. And when people abroad tell you it's private land, you don't understand and say "But, what about Allemansratten?"
67. You expect people to be drinking atleast a bottle each of vodka, and think that's normal.
68. Your ideal breakfast consists of a sandwich with ultimate breakfast consists of a slice of bread with egg och kalles kaviar, och a big cup of oboy...
69. You drink black espresso without sugar, believing that is what you do in Italy, and actually believe that you like it...
70. After having realized that someone is standing on your foot in the subway, you think that the best idea is to not say anything at all or maybe cough or nod a little in order to attract the attention of the person standing on your foot.

71. You find non-scandinavians so loud and noisy but find it perfectly normal to get completely wasted, "bröla", sing along to "när vi gräver guld i usa..." and piss in public, when you're abroad and partying with non-scandinavians.
72. You secretly consider Sweden the best place on earth and that Swedes are the most intelligent and beautiful people in the world.
73. You know who Bamse is, and love him with all of your heart.
74. You take a sip of Strongbow, frown, and state that there's nooo way that the yellow sludge they call cider really is cider..
75. You refuse to belive that snuff or "snus" is harmful.

76. Since snuff "isn't harmful", you can't understand why no one except the swedes use it...

Soory to all my non- swedish readers (ha, ha) but I just had to post that list. It is funny to me, believe it or not!
Happy All Hearts Day!
Kram to everyone!

2007-01-28T20:01:00.000-05:00

Sunday night once again! Mark is back home, in one piece I might add. There were some injuries. One broken rib, shoulder injury, one guy puked over other guests in a restaurant..not from overdrinking apparently. Enough about them.
I had an overall good week with the kids. It was PA day on Friday so it feels like we ahve been off school for a week instead of three days. Pippi has been skating most of the time. She is a born again hockey girl suddenly I have alway known that she is a hockey girl in waiting. She would love to play. We have friends that have made a skating rink in the back yard and that is where Pippi has been for three days solid pretty much.She did 200 laps the other day! I am going to look into hockey fundamentals for March brake, I think.
I talked to the church on the corner and they are willing to rent the kitchen to me. I think it could be great. I have told a few people and I am picking other friends brain that have experience in the field of cooking with little kids. I have to work out a curriculum and then decide on how long the sessions are going to be. 6 or 8 weeks? I am a little comitted to work already in February so I might have to wait a little longer to start then what I originally thought. Ok, I should start working on the curriculum for "tastebuddies".
See you next time!
A

2007-01-24T22:33:00.000-05:00

The last few weeks I have been a REAL stay- at- home- mother. It has been pretty good. It's nice to not have something to rush off to and have hanging over you. But the downside is that you don't have anything to rush off to and to hang on to......sounds weird? It is, let me tell you!
I love the fact that I have seen my oldest daughters 2 volleyball games this week, I had time to really sit dowm and help middle daughter with her monthly writing assignment without feeling like everything around me was falling into pieces. I had time to listen to my 6 year olds suggestion to start a COOKING CLUB for her and her friends. I had so much time that I got really hooked on that idea and have a call into a church that apparently has a great kitchen. Will talk to them tomorrow, hopefully. The more I think about it the better it sounds. Am I right??? As far as I know there is nothing like that in this part of the world. There is lots of gymnastic places for kids and art places but no Cooking School for kids! I definitely think I am on to something. Husband is still away so I have not bounced the idea off him yet. He just keeps sending us pictures from the french, Italian or swiss mountains and him skiing and so on......we are here in a wintery Toronto going about our regular business. I kind of like my regular business, especially now when I have something little "hanging over me" again!!! It is just fun to brainstorm, plan and hope!
We met a new little friend yesterday. A little girl, 3 days old, who has a sister, Jojo's best friend. You definitely forget how incredibly tiny they are. She was soooo cute. Welcome to the world Lauren!!

So I think in Anna's perfect world I wouldn't want to miss much of my kids life but I definitely want my own thing going somehow!!!
I do actually have 1 or 2 catering jobs coming up next month as well so I think I'll be ok!
Thanks Ginetta for stopping by my blog and leaving a nice long comment!!! When are we getting together again??

2007-01-19T23:27:00.000-05:00

Ok, so what kind of blogger am I? Once a week blogger or almost once every three week blogger. Oh, well here I am anyway! It has been a quiet week. The catering event last week went very well. The food was extremly well received. It was fun to work with Lotte again too. The Swedish women has sent e-mails asking for the recipes- funny!
Mark went to Chamonix yesterday and called today from a windy Switzerland. Apparently there are hurricane strong winds and power is out in large parts of middle Europe.
My morning started with us walkning to school as ususal and the kids went into class. I noticed one mom walking back home yelling her son's name. She came back a few minutes later very frantic (totally understandable), saying she could not find her son. He had walked ahead to school but he was not there.......just writing about it now makes me appreciate knowing the kids are in their beds right now!
I went to the school office. The principal was on it with her staff. They announced the boys name while Oh, Canada was playing- that means serious stuff! He was no where to be found. There was probably 15-20 people that had gotten together and we all went back out on the street, yelling his name and looking everywhere. Cars where stopping and people said they would drive around looking for him. The neighbourhood just really showed it's best side. I asked for the exact address and started running back to their home, I came halfway down the hill and some other parents had already gotten there and luckily the boy found, he was sitting in the family van...a mix up between walking or driving to school...mom thought she saw him up the hill ahead meanwhile the little boy was waiting in the van, he waited 45 minutes! We were all so relieved that he was ok and found. I can't imagine loosing a child for real, it must be the most terrible thing that could happen to a parent. You could never stop looking!

Last night we went to an open house at the neighbourhood 7-8 school. My daughter really liked the school,it's teachers and what they had to say. Students made presentations and wow, they were good. There are 3 ways you can go to grade 7.
1. Just normal, core French- You continue having 1h (I think)of french / day
2. Exteded French- You get extra French and it is a LOTTERY to get in.
3. Alternative school, a few schools with different specialties, you apply to the one you find interesting and yes, it's a LOTTERY to get in! I told my daughter that we, or she could want whatever she wants but it is still a lottery and faith will decide. That is not right. I think the kids should be able to apply and then really know what they have to do to actually get in to the program of their choice.

Well, that is it for tonight. We are hoping for some extra snow overnight so we can go for a good tobagoning ( how the %$## do you spell that)tomorrow! Lots of people are going skiing this weekend, I am sure. Hopefully it will be more skiing in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for dropping by!

2007-01-09T23:16:00.000-05:00

I am back!
Why is it always 11pm when I finally sit down by the computer???
Today I have been to Costco again plus I have been cooking a bit for my catering job on Thursday night. Have a feeling Jojo will be staying home tomorrow. She is not feeling well at all. She actually fell asleep at 5pm and missed dinner, her favourite salmon and mashed potatoes. She did wake up at 8.30 and had some mash. Then back to bed....her throath is sore and maybe we have to go to the dr, tomorrow. I have lots to do of course since I am cooking food for 100 people on thursday night. Anyway, it will all work out.
The menu for thursday is sundried tomatoes and olive spirals, beef keftas, curried orzo, wild rice and lentil salad, rajita, green salad for dessert a typical swedish dessert Longonbery and cardamom parfait! I think it will be good. Have not calculatet on the whole thing yet but hopefully i'll make some money!
Talk about money, Sigrid wants to go to camp again this summer. It is soooooo expensive. two weeks and it costs around $1700. Can't decide if it is too much or not....ok, I know it is too much but do we want to send her there or not is the question??
I will get back to this matter when my energy level is higher! As alway I ave to leave and go and rest!
until next time! Don't forget to leave a comment that you read my blog!
hugs and kram!
A

2007-01-03T23:21:00.000-05:00

Time for some english......
we are in the middle of christmas break and we are having a good time. Jojo spent some of the day at Jillians house. The plan was sleepover but she wanted to come home. I always feel kind of "happy" when my kids wants to come home instead of sleeping over. I think the reason for that is that they, especially Sigrid, have always been so happy to go to other people's houses. Jojo is luckily much more of a homebody.
We had some friends over as well. Everybody pitched in and voila dinner on the table for lots of people without too much effort! I love that style of entertaining.
Our friends had a terrible new years. Their nephew was killed by what seemes to be a drunk driver when he was walking home from a new years eve party. It is just BRUTAL! The visitation and funeral is tomorrow and Friday. I wish I could do more to help them get through this!
Mormor went back home today and she got on the flights without delays. I would love to have her come a few times/year for 3-4 weeks maximum each time. The kids learned to like her and I think she really feels like mormor after this visit. It must be tough for her to have us all sooo far away. I just hope my kids stay close to me when they grow up- fat chance!
it is alway too late to sit here and write nonsens so ones again I have to get to bed. Are going for a walk with a very pregnant Leigh Anne tomorrow morning at 6am!
Godnatt!

2007-01-01T23:33:00.000-05:00

2007-01-01T23:09:00.000-05:00

New Years Day, 2007

Vi hade ett trevligt nyar tillsammans med vanner har hemma. Vi at och drack gott. Dave, Shannon, Sheila, Al, Mark och jag plus alla barn. Inte Shannons eller Daves, de var hos deras respektive ex, men resten plus Emma. Lotte var pa fest ett kvarter harifran sa det var lite lage att Pippi och hon fick leka lite. Barnen gjorde partyhats av glass strutar och vi at lamm, goda ostar och mumsig sallad. Mark deckade tidigt. Pa morgonen tog jag mamma till Downward Dog och det var forst lite nervost- Skulle hon klara det? Hon imponerade dock och tyckte tom att det var riktigt kul. Sedan skjutsade Mark henne till Rob och Mary och hon spenderade nyarskvallen med dem. De hade jattetrevligt pa nagon dans tillstallning.

Tyvarr sa ringde Al med fruktansvarda nyheter. Sheilas systerson blev ihjalkord av en rattfull nar han skulle ga hem fran en
fest pa nyarskvallen. Dessutom hade foraren smitigt. Idag hade en tvabarns mamma anmalt sig sjalv till polisen. Tank sa javla hemkt och hur manga liv som egentligen drabbas. Bara for att hon inte hade vett att INTE TA BILEN! Vi har pratat om det har hemma nu hela kvallen. Sigrid var den som sa att det ar ju inte bara hon sjalv som drabbas utan hennes bar, hennes foraldrar Tonys foraldrar och ovriga familj. Ja, den listan kan man gora hur lang som helst.

Har inte kommit pa nagot riktigt nyarslofte att avge annu.Maste hitta pa nagot....Big Dave overtalade Mark att kopa en ny dator sa nu har vi en splirrans ny iMac. Den ar helt underbar. Det ar mycket att lara sig och vanja sig vid. Mamma aker hem pa Onsdag. Tydligen sa ser det dessutom bra ut vad galler plats tillgang. Jag tycker vi har haft en valdigt mysig tid tillsammans. Jag hoppas hon tycker det ocksa. Tjejerna har uppfort sig ok. Sigrid ar ju lite tonarig men i ovrigt helt ok. Mamma sydde en jattefin quilt till Pippi som hon fick i julklapp. Mark och jag fick en quilt for var sang. Den ar ocksa fin faktiskt, Jag ar ingen stor quilt fantast egentligen men det ser fint ut.
Pratade med Annika igar och onskade Gott nytt ar. Jag ringde Anne ocksa och hon satt och at middag med Agne, Kalle och hans fru. Ganska lustigt. Kalle och jag hade ju nagot slags forhallande for 110 ar sedan ungefar. Ja, det var faktiskt 1984 om jag ine minns helt fel. Nar jag gick pa Lanthushallsskola i Hoor. Tank det ar 23 ar sedan i ar. Fasen vad gammal man borjar bli. Nu ska jag tomma diskmaskinen och sedan krypa till kojs!
Kram till nasta gang!

2006-12-25T23:33:00.000-05:00

Jaha, sa var julen slut. Ja, inte riktigt men nastan. Vi hade en bra dag men det ar jobbigt att vara mamma pa julen. Allt hanger liksom pa en. Att alla ska bli nojda med klapparna, att maten ska bli god, att bordet blir dukat sadar fint som man vill sa att alla far fina minnen. Egentligen ar det ju det som galler. Man vill verkligen gora allt sa himla bra for att alla ska ha fina och positiva minnen fran sin mammas jular. Helt plotsligt sa kanske vi inte firar jul tillsammans mera. Da galler det ju liksom att ha satt sina spar!
Alla i familjen verkar i alla fall nojda med dagen. Min man bestmamde sig dock for att fixa ekorr invasion i stora tjejens rum. En ekorre hade byggt ett naste darl Jag hoppas verkligen att han patchade ordentligt sa den inte kommer tillbaka.

Jag lagade kalkon 11kg, grona bonor, ris och orzo sallad, roasted potatoes, stuffing, mashed potatoes, svamp med vin och soltorkade toamter, roasted onions och sakert nagot mera som jag glomt bort. Alla at jattemycket for jag vagrade satta fram massa appetizers. Jag hatar nar man satter i sig chips o dyl innan middagen sa man inte orkar. Borde verkligen ga upp och lagga mig nu.
Kan inte rakna ut hur man post links pa den har bloggen...maste forsoka klura ut det "one of these days". Tyvarr maste jag nog sluta nu. Ogonen rasar. Nu senare ikvall medans mamma stadade upp det sista sa tittade vi pa en jattebra svensk film. Livet ar en schlager heter den.
Som sagt maste sova men aterkommer snart!
A

2006-12-04T23:30:00.000-05:00

Ok, so the biscotti day was today. We had fun. It went by too fast of course. We made 4 different biscottis. They are all good.
Ginettas house worked perfectly.
I was super tired afterwards and came home to a messy house with no food. Hate that! I made chicken noodle soup that turned out ok. Luckily my kids likes crispbread which is perfect to add to a not so perfect or "incompleat" meal. They ate crispbread with cheese and soup. After dinner Mark decided to get the Tree! I decided that I needed a break from people so I went to YOGA at Downward dog. It was a great thing to do. I feel like I did learn a little bit at the fundamentals course so it is important to keep it up now. Mamma is coming on thursday so I assume it will be a little hard to escape and go to yoga while she is here, we'll see. Tomorrow I'm going to Bloor West Village to get the ham for my catering job. I'm also trying to get a costco run in. Can't decide what I should get for Sigrid. I think she would love something from Lululemon so maybe that is the way to go...
Mark is off to London on Thursday for 9 days. Kind of ok timing since mamma is coming on Thursday as well.
I can't believe it's almost 2007, i am turning 43!!! In a few months. Totally unbelievable.
Time for bed, it's geting really late!
Bye for now

2006-11-30T08:13:00.000-05:00

A dear friend sent this little poem to me yesterday. It is very true and worth taking to heart. I just had a big fight with Mark so this poem means even more to me right now.
Please read it and let me know if you like the poem!
Off to another busy day in the life of me.

Beautifully Stated

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.
~anonymous~

2006-11-28T20:18:00.000-05:00

Oops, over a week since I wrote last. Ginetta (one of the few that knows about this blog) even said she had checked for new posts, so here we go.
The last week has been filled with gougeres and- gravlax making and slicing. The slicing is still going on. I have 8 more gravlaxar to slice. It takes about 30 minutes / salmon. .. This weekend was spent solid at the Swedish Christmas Fair at Harbourfront. We worked SUPER HARD all weekend. On Sunday night I had to leave before it was done, I was just tooo exhausted to do anything else and was afraid I was going to lose it totally. It was better to just go home. Yesterday was a day of many cultures and new experiences. We went to Newmarket to the the eye doctor. Jojo is getting glasses as well now and Sigrid's prescription has changed so she ended up with a new frame, $$$$$...!!! The plkan was to visit a dreaded mall to get some new clothes for the girls after the eye doctor so we stopped at The Promenade Mall. Never again!! Found some stuff for Sigrid but wow it's a different world out there. We are very sheltered here in our part. That became even more apparent when we after that drove to the Air Canada Centre to see Pippi's friend's oldest brother play basket ball. We were in definite minority being white. I have never felt that before. I felt like the whole place could burst out in riats any minute. The game was great and the right team won. Everyone was happy. It was so nice to finally come home and tuck everone into their beds and relize ones again how lucky we are to be safe in our homes. Tomorrow is a new day with things to do and places to go. Mamma is coming on the 7th. It will be fun, I hope!!! I could sense a little digging towards not so good stuff the other day I talked to her but I tried to brush it off so hopefully we can kep it like that!
Have to tuck myself in now, it is late and my eyes wants to stay shut!
Until next time!

2006-11-20T06:47:00.000-05:00

Monday early morning.
Cold outside, the thermometer is showing .7c, that is very close to freezing. Have to prepare for a fight with Pippi about not wearing shorts anymore this season. - I DON"T LIKE PANTS is her new mantra. We had the "family" here last night for Sigrid's belated birthday celebration. It was good. I made chicken chili from The Barefoot Contessa. It was ok. Not really great but ok. As a cake I made a ice cream cake. We tried to order one from Ed's but he needed 2-3 days notice..HELLO, It is November, how busy can your ice cream shop be???
Saturday night we spent with friends and went to The Balmy Beach Club. A band palyed and lots of people were there.
This week has gingerbread making sheduled. I am responsible for baking 500. Have found a few people helping me luckily enough, but I will have to do lots myself.....Tonight is Gourmet Club, I am making french onion soup. Don't really feel like starting cooking again but it's just to dive in. Will also check if there is YOGA this morning or afternoon. Next weekend is the Swedish Christmas Fair at the Harbourfront so next weekend will be spent down there.

2006-11-16T22:40:00.000-05:00

I want to write a great blog. A blog that people actually return to and leave comments on....So here we go, I am going to give it a try. I will do my best and hopefully I'll get better with practice
This afternoon I went to watch my 11 year old play basketball with her school team. If anyone from Kroksbäcksskolan had been there they would have reconized me in her. I so totally remember when I was in grade 6 and loved to play basketball. We played every gym lesson against 9c, we where 9d. Can't remember if my class used to win or loose but I definitely remember how into it I was. Lena, Marie, Marina and the rest of you, do you remember?
This evening was one of those rarities when nobody has anything and I became restless and ran off to a YOGA class at Downward Dog. Didn't realize before I got there that the 7.30 class was a level 2 ooops. The instructor , the same guy who teaches fundamentals on Wednesday, was there. That was good because he just thought I really wanted to learn. Which I of course do.
Last Saturday we had a little dinnerparty here. It was a swedish family and Robert and Helen. The menu was: smoked salmon with horseradish on bruchetta with the drinks...then pumpkin and carrot soup that was deliscious. For main I made Butter Chicken- my favourite! We had saffron rice, dahl and rajita as well of course. The dessert was supposed to be chocolate mousse but became soup for some weird reason. Think I let it sit out for to long before serving....
I am reading cookboks like crazy right now. The Barefoot Contessa is my favourite. I have all 5 of her books. Her and I have the same tastebuds, I think.
I have to go to bed now because otherwise I'll have to eat something and that is not the right thing to do at 11pm! So, have to go! Bye for now!

2006-11-08T22:14:00.000-05:00

Went to YOGA fundamentals today. A class that was supposed to teach us beginners the "moves" so we can go to a class without feeling totally lost. It started out pretty good. A little slow maybe. I found myself thinking about what to serve Robert and Helen for dinner on Saturday when they are coming over......Anyway, it picked up and we did work a little harder but towards the end I got kind of annoyed. There was 2 people that are very experienced and not really in need of YOGA fundamentals. They asked some questions and suddenly the class was all about them and not me (yoking) This could turn in to a ranting thing but I won't let it, instead I will look forward to next week and I am sure the class will be great then! Other than that what has happened? The weather is awesome, a little grey but very mild. It is almost middle of November and still not freezing I LOVE IT! We had a big radiator in the hallway taken away today. It will be good when it is done. The rad had been there since the house was built so the wall behind the rad is in a terrible state. Have to figure out what to do with that.

Ginetta and I are planning a biscotti making day in December. We will be 10 people and we are making 6 different biscotti recipes. I am looking forward to it. Ginetta is making really cute invitations and is handing them out in the next couple of days!
I have rev up my blog a bit, I think. I don't feel inspired at all right now. Some days I am full of things to vent but today I fell totally deflated, sorry!
Will do better!

2006-11-05T14:50:00.000-05:00

Just an average Sunday in the household. Just got back from a stint down on Queen street. Always fun to browse through some stores now and then. I am also trying to organize the gingersnap baking for the Christmas fair at Harnourfront. Somehow I got involved in that as well. It is ok. This week I have to get prepared for christmas catering season. I am starting with the gravlax. Hopefully I'll get that done this week. Next weekend is Sigrid's birthday and party. We are probably going out for dinner with her and her friends on Firday night. She wants to go to the new Il Fornello. Then we have Swedish school on Saturday morning and a brithday party in the afternoon. Can't decide if I am going to follow through with ny thing that I don't give out lootbags after age 10. Have to disuss it with Sigrid. It is soooo overrated. Just after Halloween on top of everything.
Ok, I am going over to the school yard, apparently the kids and Mark are there playing soccer.
Later!

2006-11-04T11:30:00.000-05:00

This is fun. I like having a blog. I have not told many people because I am not sure I want everyone to know about it. I told Ginetta and Pia, that's it. It would be fun to get a comment though. So, if you are stopping by please let me know!
Today is a typical Saturday. 2 kids at sleepover from last night and 1 is having a birthday party to go to this afternoon. It is at an indoor volleyball place. Same place as my daughter is celebrating her birthday next week. i might meet up with Lotte to make lots of gravlax for SWEA's christmas fair at The Harbourfront here in Toronto. It is the 25th anniversary this year. They have lucia celebration there as well. Have to run now and get the kids from the sleepover and then birthday present shopping at Mastermind.
Talk later.

2006-11-03T13:26:00.000-05:00

Nu tänkte jag skriva på svenska igen.
Har precis haft alla barn hemma på lunch. Ja, tro det eller ej men mina barn kommer hem och äter lunch. De går i 1an, 4an och 6an. När vi flyttade hit gjorde det mig helt galen. Nu har jag vant mig och inser ju att det är ganska bra egentligen. De äter ju ordentligt men det är fruktansvärt med allt fram och tillbaka till och från skolan hela tiden. Nog om det, jag har kommit över det och behöver inte rant om det mera. Det känns skönt att lämna saker bakom sig ibland.
I eftermiddag ska jag simma. jag simmar i en masterswim class. Det är kul men skitjobbigt. Man är helt slut efteråt. I Sverige lär man sig ju knappt crawla om man inte tävlings simmar så jag har äntligen lärt mig att crawla. Efter simningen ska vi hem till några kompisar och äta middag.
Helgen ser relativt lugn ut, skönt!!! Måste få tjejerna att göra lite svensk läxa. Det är svenska skolan nästa Lördag!
Måste få något gjort innan det är dags att hämta alla barn igen!
kram och hej

2006-11-02T21:35:00.000-05:00

Ok, so today I feel like writing in English. I still can't decide which language to write in. I guess I have been away from Sweden so long that it is almost more confortable to write in English.

When I was younger I kept diaries all the time. I still have them all in abox in the basement. I have told my kids to write journals or diaries but I don't think they see the pleasure in it. I use to love to go back and read what I had been up to a year ago for example. That is what I want to use this blog for. A blog is really todays diary, right...

The pisture is from the cocktail reception at the MaRS centre last week when the Queen and King of Sweden came for a state visit to Kanada. There was 300 people but I don't think everybody got to talk to them!!!!

I am going to use this blog for "ranting" as well. I am not sure of the meaning of ranting but what I mean is that I most often have certain things that I just can't believe. It sometimes is good but most often it is bad...Like the cupcake day at my kids school was suppose to take place on NOV.1 the day after Halloween, HELLOOO! Who in their right mind wants to bring in 24 cupcakes to school and tell your kids that yes, you had tons of candy yesterday but here you are, have a cupcake!!! I talked to my oldest daughters teacher and we decided to postpone it til next week. So now I ahve rantet about that. Anothr thing I am ranting about is Organized snack at kids sport events. I was sent this great article from NY times. I ahve forwarded it to lots of people and everybody agrees with me. I will try to post it on my blog.

As I mentioned earlier I use to write diaries. I also wrote tons and tons of letters. I still have lots of them. Not my letters but my friends that I got in return. It was great when I moved to NYC in -88 I remember taking the elevator down to the mailbox and most often there was a letter. My most devoted friend to write was Pia! We must have exchanged at least 200 letters over the years, maybe more actually.

Ok, I have fold some laundry before bed time!

TorontoAnna

2006-11-01T22:09:00.000-05:00

Wow, jag har börjat blogga. Det trodde jag inte jag skulle göra. Jag blev så imponerad av andra bloggare så jag är tvungen att testa själv. Har inte bestämt om jag ska skriva på svenska eller engelska.

Den här veckan har varit ganska lugn. Ja, det var ju Halloween igår och det kan man inte kalla lugnt. Jag gillar inte Halloween egentligen. Allt godis och skräp som barnen äter kunde de verkligen vara utan.
Förra veckan var svenska kungaparet i Kanada på statsbesök och jag var bjuden pa cocktail party. Det var verkligen häftigt. De var sa fina och det var kul att kanna sig riktigt svensk.