White Birthday Brunch

Last week it started snowing here in Berlin. Since then I felt more and more like staying inside. But on Sunday, we braved the coldness to celebrate Vincent's birthday with a proper brunch at Silo in Friedrichshain. It was a great start to the day, sitting in the windows, watching people rush in and out for coffee and food, talk and enjoy some really nice food and coffee.

Afterwards we took a little round at Boxi to see if there was anything interesting at the flea marked, but it quickly got too cold.

The rest of the day was spend inside in the warmth, opening presents, watching movies and baking Galette des Rois. Result = one happy Frenchman.

The Tale of a Kransekage

Last year, when we were in Paris for New Year, I attempted my first kransekage. For those of you who don't know what kransekage is, it is a baked marzipan cake - sometimes filled with nougat, sometimes not- and it is very common to eat at big celebrations such as weddings and very traditional to have with the Champagne at the stroke of midnight on new years eve.

Last year, I just made straight pieces, but this year I felt like taking on the challenge of the kransekage-tower - something a bit more festive - since we were going to kliché new years dinner.

In the end, I was quite satisfied with it, even though I had slight problems with getting it to harden in our gas oven. But I managed and they all fitted on top of each other. So next year, I will just have to focus on making it look prettier.

Last Day of The Year

On the last day of the year, I woke up to sun in our living room, which is quite unusual as it is facing north. But the windows one the other side of the street manage to catch the sun and project it into our place.

There was frost on the top of the roofs and a beautiful light in the whole apartment, and I made some pancake for the last brunch of the year.

Later we went to buy a couple of stuff with the rest of Berlin, who was getting ready to party, and I spend the afternoon baking.

In the evening we celebrated the new year with some friends in Weisensee and had a great start to 2017. I wish you all a happy New Year and hope that the next year will bring you joy and many happy moments.

Festive Christmas Time

One nice thing about Christmas in Berlin is that there is not too much Christmas filling up the streets. Especially in our neighborhood. Christmas exist in spesific places and you can go there if you wish to indulge. At home I desided to decorate a bit more for Christmas than usually. Since my family was coming I also organised a Christmas tree (although not quite traditional).

It does somehow brighten up the place in these dark times and the livingroom seemed a little bit more sad when I took down the ornaments and put the tree back out on the balcony so that it would not dry out.

Chritmas Days

Christmas is the time of good food and company, and this year was no different.

My family came to Berlin to spend the holidays with us, and they brought lots of goodies from Denmark. Christmas eve Edgar also joined us and as always we got two types of roast, three kind of potatoes (one is really only potato chips) and risalamande not to forget. This year I was the fortunate one to get the almond.

On the 25th I baked æbleskiver. My first time ever. They started of small, but I eventually got the hang of it and the last couple ones looked quite good and completely round. Too bad there is a whole year until Christmas again. I guess I will never become an æbleskive-pro if I only get to practice once a year.

But Christmas passed peacefully and I enjoyed very much having everyone gathered in our home.

Julerier

Since I only posted pictures from my trip to France this month, it could almost seem like I forgot it was Christmas. However, December has been full of little Christmas doings and treats, I have just been too busy with stuff to post anything.

I did manage to sit down and write some Christmas greetings, visited a couple of Christmas markets, make some homemade Chrismas wreaths, bake lussebullar for Lucia, make cookies, enjoy the sun in our living room and cook Christmas lunch for three days and have a great time with my friends and lots of good food.

Now with Christmas two days away I am still not completely done with my Christmas shopping, but today my family is arriving in Berlin and I am sure we are going to have some lovely and serene Chrismas days ahead of us.