To be honest, I’m actually more of a tea drinker. I love my gigantic morning mug of steaming hot tea so much that I sometimes look forward to it already when I go to bed at night! But these past few weeks have been so painfully hot and humid around here (I love heat, but even I need a break at this point) that a hot cup of anything is the last thing you want.

So I decided to try to make my own ice coffee instead. Luckily, a very nice person my husband works with had given him a big bag of really fancy espresso coffee beans a little while back, and a friend gave me a coffee grinder so we were all set to start experimenting.

I didn’t have any regular sugar – I don’t like sweets and hardly ever make anything that uses it but I do need something sweet in coffee. Luckily, I had some turbinado sugar left over from my homemade ice cream experiments last summer (more on that in future posts) and decided that would have to do. Actually I like that a lot better than plain old white sugar anyway since it adds a slight caramelly flavor.

So we brewed, we chilled, and loved the result. Those espresso beans are so good and the smell in the kitchen when you grind them – yum! It will definitely be our caffeinated drink of choice this summer.

Here’s my ice coffee recipe:

Grind the coffee beans (or use ground ones if you prefer). I use the basic manual drip method, so I boiled some filtered water and made my coffee as usual. I used 12 ½ tbsp ground coffee for about 10 cups (as measured on the coffee pot).

Take out a large glass bottle, I used an old Maple Syrup bottle, it fits quite a lot of coffee so it’s perfect (I always save nice glass bottles and jars, I have way too many already but I just can’t stand throwing them out, or put them in the recycling bin, I know I’ll be able to use them for something again – if not food, a craft project).

Put the sugar, whichever kind you’re using, into the empty bottle and pour a little bit of the hot coffee in. I probably used around 5 teaspoons of sugar for my large bottle, which fits around 6-7 cups of coffee (again, as indicated on the Melitta coffee pot). Shake the bottle about until the sugar has dissolved and pour in the rest of the coffee.

I then let the bottle sit on the kitchen table and cool off (with a piece of paper towel over since I don’t want fruit flies in it). Once it’s cooled a bit, put the cap on and put in the fridge overnight. If you’re desperate and can’t wait, you could shake it with ice and drink it sooner, but, being European, I don’t like ice in things, and I hate when my beverages get watered down, so I never do.

Once the coffee is nice and cold, pour a glass, add some milk if you want and enjoy!

I’ve tried making it with the addition of some Swedish vanilla sugar as well, but I didn’t like how that turned out. Plain and simple is best in my opinion. Although I was wondering how a little bit of rum extract would be… maybe I’ll try that some day.

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Lately I have been hooked on Pinot Gris, it is definitely one of my favorite dry white wine types, and I decided to do a taste test of six Oregon Pinot Gris for under $15. I am by no means a wine expert (although I am proud to say that I have a diploma in mixology from Harvard, never mind that they spelled my first name wrong and that it has my maiden name, so by now, nobody would know that it’s me), just an avid, enthusiastic consumer who wants to share her finds.

Here they are, in alphabetical order:

A-Z 2008 – $13.99
This has been my go-to white for the past year. Pale yellow in color and fresh, crisp and flavorful, it has been a hit with all my friends too. It’s a great pratvin (“talk wine”) as we say in Swedish – a wine that doesn’t need food but works great for just hanging out and chatting with friends. Another plus is the screw top. I know some people still consider that inferior to “cork corks” but I love them, it makes everything so much easier.

Acrobat 2008 and 2009 – $11.99
My second favorite. This discreet and elegant wine is a very pretty pale yellow, with a slight hint of honey “on the nose” as they say. It is crisp and a little bit lighter and more acidic than the A-Z, perfect for really hot days. The flavors really come out when it has had a chance to warm up a little bit, so if you can control yourself, let it sit for a few minutes when you take it out of the fridge. Also a great pratvin. The 2008 has a cork cork and the 2009 screw top.

Cooper Hill 2009 – $9.99
I rarely buy wines under $10. Call me a snob, but I just don’t expect great things from cheap wine. In this particular case, I should have stuck to that conviction. It started out well enough – the wine looked pretty and pale in the glass, with a scent hinting of melon. The first sip brought adjectives like “watery” and “sour” to mind, but I decided to give it a chance and let it sit for a few hours to see what would happen. When I tried it again, I got a clearer idea of what that flavor was – cat pee. Not a keeper.

Erath 2008 – $13.99
Loved the bottle right off the bat – tall, skinny and elegant with a pretty label and a screw top. Very pale in the glass, almost white. This one also benefits from sitting for a few minutes to warm up a bit and let the flavors come to life. It is fruity and crisp with a good dose of acidity (not bad, just more acidic than the others). It comes in as number 4 on my list of favorites. Can work as a pratvin, but I like this one better with food.

Montinore Estate 2008 – $13.99
I had great hopes for this one as I poured it in the glass – it had a yummy-looking pale golden color and a crisp refreshing smell with a hint of sweetness. Sadly, I was disappointed when I went to taste it. It was surprisingly watery, and a bit sour. Again, I let it breathe for a while and tried it again, and this time I liked it even less. Pass.

Ponzi Vineyards 2008 – $14.99
Favorite #3, from Willamette Valley. You feel refreshed just looking at it in the glass. It is a nice pale yellow with a faint smell of stone fruits. The flavor was somewhat neutral, but delicious and refreshing, and almost a little bit spritzy. A classic Oregon Pinot Gris.

So I found 4 really good wines out of 6 – not bad. But the search goes on! If you have a favorite summer wine, I’d love to hear about it. I’m always looking for great new wines to try.

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In Sweden, we like to throw everything we can get our hands on on a piece of pizza dough (a slight exaggeration). While you certainly can get a Margherita and other traditional pizzas, some of the other common toppings make people from other countries do a double take. Here are some examples from the menu at my brother’s favorite pizza place (note: kebab in Sweden is the equivalent of Schwarma meat here):

“Love You” - tomato sauce, cheese, filet of pork, ham, mushrooms, bacon, shrimp, béarnaise sauce

“Kebabpizza” - Tomato sauce, cheese, schwarma meat, iceberg lettuce, onion, tomatoes, cucumber, pepperoncini, kebab sauce (a yogurt-based spicy sauce)

“Castello” – Pineapple, mushrooms, onion, peppers, pepperoncini, salami, gorgonzola, camembert, feta cheese

“Mexico Special” - Tomato sauce, cheese, ground beef, bacon, garlic, egg, onion, jalapeno, taco spices

I’ve had the Kebabpizza and it is awesome – the sauce is to die for!

And now, on to the banana curry pizza. You might recoil in horror when you first see this recipe, but if you like curry and the mix of sweet and salt, give it a shot. It’s wildly popular in Sweden (you’ll find it under “Ordinary or Classic Pizzas” on the menus), and even my American husband liked it once he mustered up the courage to try it.

This pizza is traditionally made with smoked ham, and if you want to try it with that, buy it thinly sliced at the deli (the Black Forest ham they sell at Whole Foods is one that is very close in flavor to what they use in Sweden) and then cut it into small squares.

Since we prefer to not eat meat, we make it without, but you really do need that smoky flavor to make it taste just like it does in Sweden, and I have found that smoked cheese is a great substitute. Any smoked cheese will do, I get whatever I happen to find at the store that day.

You’ll need

• 2 individual-sized pizza doughs (make it yourself or buy it readymade – we like Iggy’s readymade)
• Pizza sauce (we use Enrico’s organic pizza sauce available at Whole Foods)
• 2 ripe bananas
• Curry powder
• Smoked cheese, grated
• Other cheese, grated (anything you want, we usually use a mozarella/cheddar mix)

Put your pizza dough on a baking sheet. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce all over the dough.

Cut the bananas in thin slices and distribute evenly over the pizza. Sprinkle them with curry powder, as much as you like (I use a lot).

Cover with grated cheese, keep the proportions around 20% smoked cheese and 80% other. If you use too much smoked cheese, the flavor gets too overpowering.

Place the pizzas in the oven and bake according to the directions for the dough you are using.

Traditional Swedish version: Include the ham and omit the smoked cheese
Vegetarian version: Omit the ham.
Vegan version: Omit the ham and use a vegan cheese (I have to admit I have never tried making pizza with anything but “real” cheese, so I don’t’ know how that will come out).

Enjoy!

PS. How do you make tomato sauce look appetizing in photos?

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Why do they want you to visit? They want you to have a good time and enjoy their town (and the beach!) but also to create unique souvenirs (which you will have the opportunity to sell at the local market). The idea is to get away from mass produced cheap so called “locally made” souvenirs and instead be able to offer real handmade crafts and arts made on site.

UHM stands for Unconventional Holiday Market, and I’d say that description is right on. I’ve never heard of anything similar, and I really hope more cities/towns/villages around the world follow suit!

Time is of the essence though! You have to apply by June 10 – they want your CV and some samples of your work – a link to your website or online portfolio is fine. You can reach them at uhm@unconventionall.com.

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I know Sweden is not in the top 10 of must-see places on most people’s list, but if you have the chance, I highly recommend a trip there (during the summer, or even in December. It’s sooo cozy right before Christmas, it’s dark, yes, but there are lights and candles everywhere). Stockholm is gorgeous, built on islands and everything you want is right there in the city. You can shop, bicycle, fish, swim, go boating, eat & drink, stroll, enjoy nature (yes, right in the city), visit museums… it’s a city that’s very easy to enjoy and live in.

My husband and I have long dreamed about buying an apartment in Stockholm, not just to use as a holiday home, but as a second home. We’d love to find a way to divide our time between Sweden and the US. So far, they’re just dreams, but I can’t help browsing around every now and then to see what’s on the market in Stockholm… I came across this apartment the other day, and had to share the pictures. If I win the lottery, it’s all mine!

Photos: Eklund Stockholm New York (real estate brokers)

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Traditional Valborg menus often include salmon, roe, potatoes in some form, and a hot beverage (it’s usually freezing still this time of year in Sweden and after spending hours outside looking at that fire, you need something warm). Now, I don’t like any of those dishes (except for the hot beverage), so I am going to make my take on falafel – chickpea burgers – instead.

I have loved falafel ever since I bought my first one at a little hole-in-the-wall place in Aix-en-Provence about 20 years ago. The crunchiness, the creaminess, the garlic… yum! What I don’t love, however, is the intense heartburn I get from the deep fried ones, so I decided to try to invent a more digestion-friendly version.

After a few trial and errors, I came up with this super-easy recipe. I think they are delicious, and if you don’t like tzatziki, or prefer a vegan diet, you can eat them with any condiment of your choice. My husband can’t stand yogurt, so he puts Dijon mustard and ketchup on his.

Just a note up front: you will need a food processor for this (there may be a way to make them without one, but I don’t know what that would be). I bought my first one a few years ago, and I love it! How did I manage for so many years without one?

This recipe makes around 10 burgers, and we usually eat 3-4 each, so I guess it’s enough for 3 people, or 2 with leftovers for lunch. For a larger crowd, I would make this same amount in batches and transfer to a bigger bowl before shaping the burgers. One batch is pretty much all my (14-cup) food processor has room for.

For 10 burgers, you will need:
½ cup of uncooked bulgur
1 cup of water
1 tsp salt

1 can of chickpeas (we use Eden Organics – no BPA)
1 medium-sized yellow onion (if it’s too big, the burgers get too loose and watery)
4 cloves of garlic
¼ – ½ cup of panko bread crumbs
1 tbs olive oil (+ more for the cookie sheet and brushing)
1 ½ tbs white wine vinegar
½ tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tbs dried cilantro (use fresh if you don’t’ like dried)
salt (lots!)

For the Tzatziki:
1 (7 oz) container of Fage 2% Greek yogurt (you can use full fat if you want)
½ seedless (a.k.a. European or English) cucumber
1 garlic clove
salt

Other stuff for assembling the burgers:
Pita bread (we use whole wheat)
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Hot sauce (we love Cholula)

1. Start with the tzatziki. Grate the cucumber on the largest side of your grater, put it in a bowl, salt liberally and cover it. Let sit in room temperature for about 30 minutes. This is to draw some of the water out of the cucumber so that the Tzatziki doesn’t get too wet.

2. Next up is the bulgur. Bring the water to a boil, stir in the salt and bulgur, cover and remove from heat. Let sit for at least 25 minutes.

3. Once the cucumber has sat for 30 min, drain off as much of the water as you can (I sometimes squeeze it in a paper towel). Stir in the entire container of yogurt (or less if you want it more on the “cucumbery” side), press in the garlic clove and salt to taste. Stir again, cover and put in the fridge for now.

4. Time to throw everything in the food processor! Cut up the onion in smaller pieces (I like to put the onion on the bottom to make sure no large pieces end up in the burgers), rinse and add the chickpeas, grate or press in the garlic cloves, add the bulgur, all the spices, oil and vinegar, salt (I probably put in a tablespoon of salt in these, they need lots of it) and last but not least, the breadcrumbs. Start with ¼ of a cup and add more if needed. Run the food processor until everything is nicely blended. If it looks very runny, add some more breadcrumbs. It should be moist and somewhat loose, but not runny.

5. Let sit for 15 minutes.

6. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Oil a cookie sheet lightly. Scoop up a heaping tablespoon (regular, not one for measuring) of the mixture and form it into a burger. Mine are roughly ½” thick and 3″ in diameter (I like lots of crunchy surface). Place on the cookie sheet. Continue until you’re out of mixture. Brush each with some olive oil.

7. Bake in the middle of oven for a total of 40 minutes, turning them once after 20 minutes. I shuffle them around on the cookie sheet too when I’m turning them, since my oven bakes a bit unevenly.

8. While they’re baking after you turned them, prepare the other stuff. Separate the lettuce leaves and rinse them. I leave them whole, but if you want them shredded, prepare them that way. Slice the tomato into thin slices. Take the tzatziki out of the fridge and open the hot sauce.

9. Once the burgers are ready, take them out of the oven and assemble the sandwiches. Tear a pita bread in half, put in a leaf of lettuce, a few slices of tomato, then one (or two) burgers. Top that with a generous serving of the tzatziki and as much as you want of the hot sauce. Make sure you have lots of napkins or paper towels close by and start eating!

I hope you enjoy these as much as we do, and if you try this recipe, I would love to hear what you thought.

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But Swedish clogs have come a long way from the basic ones I wore as a teenager (not that there was anything wrong with them). I once refused to wear anything else through an entire winter and slipped my way to school in a pair whith heels so worn down that snow sloshed into them with every step I took (my parents were very patient people!). These days though, clogs come in all kinds of designs, from the old classic wood and black leather to ultra-chic high heel metallics.

Last summer, I was home in Sweden on vacation and happened upon the cutest little store in Gamla Stan (the old part of town) called Kungens Lilla Piga (the King’s Little Maid). If you are visiting Stockholm, you have to stop by. It has a country/shabby chic look and is packed with adorable home decorating items; furniture, jewelry, clothing, shoes and more. The owner, Maria Lundgren, has created such a warm and welcoming atmosphere – I could have stayed all day.

Anyway, I had put “new clogs” on my list of what I had to get in Sweden on that trip (I always stock up on as much as I can when I’m there) but had not had any luck finding a pair that I liked. Well, at Kungens Lilla Piga, I found a pair of Calou clogs and they were the most comfortable shoes I have ever tried in my life. Soft springy soles, even softer suede upper, and wide enough so that you don’t end up with sore and swollen feet after a long day of shopping. And look how cute they are! I ended up buying this pair

You can’t buy Calou’s clogs in the US (yet), but Maria told me she would be happy to send them to customers here. If you’re interested, just contact her (there is a contact form on the Kungens Lilla Piga website)

I also found these adorable ones from Dala (also at Kungens Lilla Piga), painted in a traditional folk pattern (called kurbits) from Dalarna – a region in the middle of Sweden (where Carl Larson lived) known for painted furniture and horses, among other things. I was only going to get one pair of clogs, but after trying these on… I happened to be wearing a black linen skirt and a black sleeveless top, and these clogs looked so great with them I had to buy them!

Calou Clogs

Designed and handmade in Sweden, Calou’s clogs have leather uppers and super comfortable soles made of springy polyurethane that you can walk on all day. Most of their styles are more on the classic clog side, no spiky heels or crazy colors, but a nice range of soft colors and styles that you can wear anywhere. For those who are looking for something a little bit dressier, they do have 2 open toe designs with slightly higher heels (wooden) as well. Again, they’re not available in the US, but you can get them through Kungens Lilla Piga.

There Goes The Neighbourhood

Speaking of heels… these awesome clogs by Swedish designer Åsa Westlund have wooden soles, leather uppers, and each is hand painted in that same traditional Swedish kurbits style as my Dala clogs above. Åsa studied design in London, worked in the fashion industry in Paris and then returned home to revamp the old Swedish classic. We’re all thrilled that she did, and her shoes will be available at Anthropologie stores this summer.

Maguba

An offshoot of just such an old Swedish classic (Troentorp), Maguba’s are wild and crazy clogs! They are handmade in a family-owned factory using all natural materials, and for every pair they sell, Maguba makes a donation to plant new woodland.

They come in four different styles: the low heel Visby (classic design), the high heel strappy Barcelona, the high heel peep toe Bologna, and the solid high heel slip-in Stockholm. All styles come in several different vibrant (to say the least) color combinations, but they also have a few  that are a bit less bright (wood, brown, black and natural). But, in case you don’t see anything you like, you can design your own – just pick a style and then choose your sole and upper colors.

Maguba’s are available from their website.

Swedish Hasbeens

These are fast becoming a classic in the “chic clog” genre. Emy and Cilla (the founders) were inspired to start their company in 2006 when Emy found 300 pairs of high heeled clogs from the 70s in the basement of an old clog factory. All their clogs (and bags and belts) are inspired by the 1970s and handmade of wood and ecologically prepared natural grain leather.

They come in a bunch of styles: braided peep-toe sandals (in four different heel heights), lace-up boots, slip-ins, and jodhpurs. Popular in Sweden for several years now, it seems that the word is out elsewhere as well. Sara Jessica Parker has been spotted wearing the jodhpurs and rumor has it she will be wearing a pair of the nude peep-toe ankle strap ones in the next Sex and the City movie.

Available in the US from endless.com

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As I mentioned in Part I of my mini Green Cleaning Supplies series, the air inside our houses is many times more polluted than outdoor air, and according to the EPA, indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental health risks.

If you (like me) live in a climate that forces you to stay inside with the windows closed a large part of the year, it is extra important to choose cleaning and household products that don’t add even more toxins to your home. (Check out my “10 Toxic Cleaning Product Ingredients And How They May Harm You” post for more info on which ingredients to avoid.)

Also, try to open a few windows for just 10 minutes a day (if it’s too cold to keep them open longer). Every little bit of fresh air helps.

In my last post, I talked about my favorite green cleaning product for kitchens and bathrooms. Today, it’s all about laundry, glass cleaning, and making your home smell fabulous without resorting to toxic plug-ins and air fresheners with synthetic fragrance.

Laundry
First of all, if you read my previous post, you’re probably wondering if I’m working for Method. I am not, nor do they pay me to endorse their products in any way. I just happen to love them and think they work really well.

I’ve tried many of the “green” laundry detergents on the market – some were very disappointing, some I was allergic to. Then I found Method’s Squeaky Clean Free & Clear detergent and finally hit the jackpot. It works great, I’m not allergic to it, and it’s non-toxic.

Dryer Sheets
I can’t stand the smell of most scented dryer sheets, and while it seems like the jury is out on just how bad they are for you, I prefer to not use them. If the ingredients are indeed as toxic as some people say, then there is bound to be some of that left on your clothes, and consequently transferred to your skin. Also, many are made with animal fat which not only is gross; it leaves a residue both in your drier and on your clothes. We use Static Eliminator Re-Usable Dryer Sheets (they’re just woven fabric cloths) and they work great!

My dream, however, would be to not have to use the dryer, period. If I had any outdoor space (and lived in the country and not on a heavily trafficked city street) I would always be drying my laundry on a line outside. My Mom always did (we didn’t even have a drier), and everything smelled so fresh and was so crisp. Sleeping on sheets that have dried in the sun and wind is wonderful! I actually read that in some states, or areas, you are not allowed to hang laundry outside! What a messed-up world this is!

Floor Cleaner
We have been using Ecover Floor Soap, which works fine and smells good, but what I would really like is a steam cleaner that works on both rugs and hardwood. Just using steam and no chemicals at all is the ideal solution in my opinion.

Windows & Mirrors
I use Seventh Generation’s Ruby Grapefruit & Herb Glass & Surface cleaner. It works great and smells really good too. I think the next time I buy one though, that I will get their Natural Glass & Surface cleaner, which has fewer ingredients and is totally unscented.

Home Fragrance
Many mainstream air fresheners and plug-ins and scented candles are packed with toxic ingredients such as VOCs, petroleum distillates and phthalates. There are other great ways to make your home smell good using natural products. Here is what we do:

When vacuuming, put a few drops of organic essential oil on a cotton ball and drop it into the bag of your vacuum. I use peppermint and tangerine, and it gives the whole house a wonderful, fresh smell. I also always vacuum with at least a few windows open, even in the midst of winter.

Candles can make the house smell wonderful, even when not lit, but make sure they’re not scented with synthetic fragrance oils. We love the beeswax candles from Big Dipper Wax Works and always keep one out in our living room. Everyone who walks in our front door always ask what smells so good. They make them in lots of scents (using essential oils, no synthetic fragrances whatsoever); our favorite is “Sensual” (palmarosa & geranium) which smells sort of vaguely “new agey”.

I hope I’ve given you some inspiration for cleaning your house in a less toxic way. If you want to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals even more, check out my favorite natural soaps and moisturizers as well as shampoo, deodorants, sunscreen, etc.

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