SKAL

I've been meaning to write about the two books I got over the weekend (Barnes and Noble via UPS via gift certificate via Christmas via sister who doesn't speak to me). Both are......Scandinavian Cookbooks!!! I'm married to a Norwegian and have a fondness for his ancestry, and its cooking!

The first is "The Scandinavian Cookbook" by Trina Hahnemann. Photography by Lars Ranek. It's hardback, heavy, full of gorgeous photography, and is divided into the months of the year. Go ahead and pick a month and I'll tell ya what it says. I'll go with January as it IS currently January.

Photo: two pages, black and white. The top of a wood table covered with very pretty white (?) ceramic pitchers (some with simple line paintings of flowers), sugar bowl, egg cups, a cup of coffee, and a plate with the remnants of a flaky bread.

January contents: Homemade Danish pastries, Rye Bread, Spelt Buns, Smorrebrod: Open-faced sandwiches with flounder, shrimp, and basil dressing, Pan -Fried Flounder with Potatoes and Parsley, Marinated Salmon, and Chicken with Root Vegetables.

What the author has to say about January:

"In winter it is dark for most of the day. The sky is so low that it seems as though you could reach out and touch it. Daylight disappears so quickly that on some days you do not even notice whether it was there. Breakfast seems to take on a new significance at this time of year."

Now, I just need a someone to spend the day with me in my kitchen so we can tackle a couple of these. That is something I've never done-have a friend over for a fun day of cooking together. Maybe I'll plan something like that this year.

Next up: "Kitchen of Light" New Scandinavian Cooking with Andreas Viestad. Photography by Mette Randem. The cover is beautiful. I'll just say, "large white duck with wings spread." I was immediately drawn to it. Again, good photography.

The book is divided up into fourteen chapters. They all have interesting titles. Chapter One, "On the Wings of Fortune". Chapter Eight, "Sheep in Black Tie and Stockings". I'd like to write about Chapter Fourteen, "Skal!". There is supposed to be a tiny open circle over the "a" in this word.

Skal is pronounced "scawl", and is a drinking toast. Photograph: black and white of a woman (of an older generation) smiling with a drink in her hand (mid-toast?).

In regard to skal: "This toast has, since at least the Viking age, been a symbol of friendship, respect, and togetherness, and any visitor to Scandinavia will be surprised at how frequently the friendly word is uttered. But it does not take long to discover that the amiable encouragement to drink up has a long and apparent history. In the Viking sagas, a man who did not drink up his horn when a toast was presented was seen as unreliable. Knowing how to drink, that is, to get as drunk as your drinking companions, neither much more nor less, was a quality just as highly regarded by the Vikings as strength, honesty, and brutality."

Ah, I suddenly understand the genetic forces behind my husband's entire family. It's all making sense now. They are, after all, in the business of drinking.

Now for the chapter's contents:

The Devil's Rhubarb (three ingredients: rhubarb, sugar, and very cold vodka). I think I may be Norwegian, too! Lemon Snaps with Coriander, Other Good Easy-to-Make Snaps, Mulled Wine, and Mock Aquavit. I'm so on board with this chapter. I love the direction these cookbooks are taking me.

I can't wait to get cooking, baking, and drinking! Eric is excited too. We both want to incorporate Scandinavian traditions and cooking into our lives. Our children have a rich ancestry on both sides, now it is time to learn about this particular one. They pretty much already have my "country roots" side down. SKAL!