Celebrating!

This past week was the 17th of May which is Norway´s national day like the American 4th of July. Although these two countries couldn´t celebrate their national days any differently. While Americans buy fireworks and BBQ supplies for their national day Norwegians celebrate by marching in human parades (meaning only humans participate, no floats like in American parades) eating hot dogs and ice cream and otherwise spending a relaxing day with family. I love how the area we live in decorates for the national day, all the flags are so pretty against the green fields and blue skies (which we were lucky enough to have this year)

The beautiful weather encouraged many to come out in their gorgeous bunads which are the national costumes here in Norway. They also have what they call "festdrakts" which are costumes anyone can wear. To wear the various bunads one must have a connection to where the bunad comes from (family homestead for example). Below is an example of a "festdrakt" (loosely translated meaning party costume)

This is a Lundeby Costume.

Then there are the gorgeous bunads..if my daughter´s wanted a bunad they could choose one of these..these are the various examples of the Nordmøre´s Bunad. The Captain comes from Nordmøre.

The men also have bunads but it is seldom you see men wearing bunads. Which is sad because they are really special.

Neat looking eh?

My kids looked good too even though they weren´t wearing bunads or party costumes..

I think it is a nice change from their regular look...

On the national day only the finest will do...as you can see by the type of transportation some of the locals used...say it with me people.....sweet.....

The best part of the 17th of May was that the weather stayed gorgeous the entire time we were down in Tingnes. Below is a photo of the crowds down at Tingnes and the two photos after that are beautiful Helgøya on the same day...

However, in the afternoon the clouds got thicker and darker and the heavens opened up with rain and hail. We have had a lot of rain lately and they say more is in store for us...on the positive side of rain...there often comes a beautiful rainbow or two to cheer you up and you don´t have to water the plants outside...win win if you ask me!

My kids have been asking me to make fylt horns which translated is probably inbaked pizza rolls? I used the following recipe for the dough:

HORNS

16 horns

45 g margarine

3dl milk

35 g yeast

3/4 tsp salt

1 tbsp sugar

about 400 grams of flour

(I used half spelt flour and half regular flour because I doubled this recipe)

Melt the margarine and add milk, stir until finger warm (about 37C) Stir the yeast in until it is pretty much dissolved. Add salt, sugar, and most of the flour. Knead on a floured countertop until the dough doesn´t cling to your hands. Let rest someplace warm under plastic for about 30 minutes. Roll out into a giant circle and cut into about 8-10 good size triangles. Place fill on the fat side of the triangle, and then roll from that side toward the point...hence you get the look of a horn. Brush with water before putting in the oven at 230C/400F for about 15 minutes. I brushed these with some olive oil and sprinkled a little garlic salt on them after they were done...

For my fill I used low fat hamburger (karbonadedeig here in Norway) and I made my own tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes and spices from my new kitchen garden, oregano and basil. I also had some onion and garlic which I sauteed first in olive oil and then added the tomatoes and rest of the ingredients. I love roasted red peppers and had a jar of them in the fridge so I threw in a few of those also. Use a kitchen mixer and puree these ingredients and let slowly cook as long as you can...the longer the better...

I also used some mozerella slices which were the perfect size for these horns. The photo below shows you the process and the final product...they were so good and they freeze really well so you can take them up for after school snacks or a late night snack!

Oh I also need to share with you what I made to be sold in the food stands on the 17th of May. I am really glad I did this as there were like 90% chocolate cakes so I am glad I didn´t decide to bake a chocolate cake which I honestly had been thinking about. This is the peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon rolls (but with pearl sugar instead of frosting since Norwegians aren´t really keen on super sweet baked goods) When I got the tray back there was just a row left of cookies, so that was good! Just wish I knew what people thought of them but I didn´t see anyone eating them...

I am really grateful for the encouraging words left on my last post. I didn´t mean to be such a downer, my motto in life is to be as positive as you can be but every now and then life just hits you a little too hard and you fall a little harder then normal and it takes you a minute or two to get back up on your feet but you do...I do...I have too. I have noticed that anything is possible as long as you keep a positive attitude. I have to tell you, I am on these forums or groups on facebook with American expats living in Norway and the one group isn´t so bad but the other group is full of negative people and they complain so much about living here that I find myself wondering why do they live here when they obviously hate it so much? Everyone has choices, they don´t HAVE to be here, even if they say they are being "forced" to live here and one woman claimed this...everyone has choices so it is a lousy excuse in my opinion to say you were forced. I think to be successful as an expat you have to keep a positive attitude. You have to accept that you do not live in your home country, respect your new countries customs and mannerisms, respect that things could be done totally different then what you are use too but that doesn´t make it bad. It´s just different. Learn to accept and be ok with different and you can begin to see more positive then negative around you.

Ok, that is enough of my opinions for today...have a great evenings folks...I´m heading out to clean up some doggie poo...yes yes...I know it´s Friday night...I live an exciting life don´t I?

Until next time my friends....