The last Tuesday in September is Norway’s designated Apple Day ‘epledagen’ where we celebrate this harvest fruit, which is the second most popular fruit in the country. Norway’s climate provides a long ripening time throughout the summer with cool nights and warm days that is ideal for apple varieties with thin skins that are crisp with a sweet and tart taste. Shops and farm stalls are full of juicy apples at this time of year – tantalizing us with the many ways in which to use and cook with them. So, if you are looking for inspiration, below is an apple recipe round-up of those you’ll find here on the site!

A couple of fun apple facts:

• Norway has over 400 varieties of apples
• The largest variety of apples in Norway is Red Aroma followed by Summerred and Discovery 
• The season in Norway runs from August to December
• Vikings made a brew from apples and honey, called Bjor
• Archaeologists found traces of 54 apples when excavating the Oseberg Viking ship 
• In the 13th century, monks who immigrated to Norway from England taught local farmers how to plant apple trees, beginning fruit cultivation in the region
• In 1273, the church decided to tax apple production by introducing a “tithe provision”. The clergy realized that there could be money made from apple cultivation, so they decided that a tenth of the fruit’s value should go to the church
• The Hardangerfjord area is famous for its cider, and offers a Fruit and Cider Route one can take 

Caramelized Apple Burgers with Blue Cheese & Bacon (burger med karamellisert epler)

Custard Apple Cake (Stjørdalsblink)

Potato Tarts with Spiced Stewed Apples (potet-terte)

Slow-Roasted Lamb Shoulder and Cabbage with Pan-Fried Apples

Eplekake (Apple Cake)

Apple ‘Julekake’ Cake

Rutabaga Apple Soup (kålrabisuppe med epler)

Chicken Harvest Salad with Crispy Fenalår & Lingonberry Dressing

Rutabaga & Apple Salad (Kålrabi Salat med Epler)

Brown Cheese Caramel Apples

Hard Cider Poached Salmon with a Creamy Dill Sauce

Honey Sautéed Apples, Prunes and Onions (honningstekte epler, svisker og løk)

The post ‘Epledagen’: Apple Recipe Round-Up appeared first on North Wild Kitchen.

It’s May and we’re here for all the delicious cakes and desserts on offer on the kakebord (cake table)! From cream cakes and pavlova to mousse and ice creams, I have a round-up of delicious desserts you can make for Norway’s Constitution Day on the 17th May or any other celebration you might have this month!

You’ll also find other classics, like Almond Wreath Cake (kransekake), White Lady Marzipan Cake (hvitdame), Prince Cake (fyrstekake), Candied Almond Cake (krokankake), and Mini Custard Pies (linser), in my new cookbook – Norwegian Baking Through the Seasons. So, be sure to grab a copy to add to your collection!

Bløtkake (Layered Cream Cake)

Kvæfjordkake (The World’s Best Cake)

Kari’s Cheesecake (Ostekake)

Lemon Blueberry Cream Cake (sitron- og blåbærkake)

Pavlova Cheesecake (Ostekake) with Fresh Berries

Fresh Strawberry & Cream Layer Cake (jordbærkake med krem)

Brunost Layered Cream Cake (Brunost Bløtkake)

Moist Chocolate Sheet Cake (sjokoladekake i langpanne)

Sitronfromasj (Lemon Mousse)

Strawberry Mousse (Jordbærfromasj)

Grilled Strawberry Cream Cake Roll (Grillet Rullekake)

Brunost Cream Pie (brunostkrem-pai)

Strawberries and Cream (Jordbær med Fløte)

No-Churn Brunost and Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream with Brunost Dipped Waffle Cones

Daimiskake (Chocolate Toffee & Macaron Ice Cream Cake)

Roasted Strawberry & Lemon Ice Cream (Jordbœr Iskrem)

Rømmegrøt Ice Cream

Norwegian Success Tart (Suksessterte)

The post 17th May Cakes & Desserts (17. mai-kaker) appeared first on North Wild Kitchen.

Winter is here in the north and that means lots of snow and chilly temperatures. Simple, warm, and comforting meals are always welcome, which is where good winter soups and stews come in. Rich, hearty, creamy, nutritious, and full of flavor – whether teeming with vegetables, fish or meats – you’ll find something here for everyone.

From the sea or land, these winter soups and stews reflect the availability of produce. As the growing season outdoors has concluded, we look to our storage of root vegetables, apples, and herbs for bulk. Wild meats, such as reindeer and moose, are more common in our mountain region. The sea, of course, is full of abundance with winter being the high season for many of the species found there.

I hope these winter soups and stews will keep you warm and happy!

Creamy Cod Soup (Torskesuppe)

Norwegian Betasuppe

Creamy Salmon Soup (fiskesuppe med laks)

Rutabaga Apple Soup (kålrabisuppe med epler)

Norwegian Lamb Fricassee (lammefrikassé)

Sosekjøtt (Rich Beef Stew)

Salmon, Bacon & Barley Soup (laksesuppe med byggryn)

Farmhouse Hen & Dumplings (Hønsesuppe med Melboller)

Bidos (Sami Reindeer Stew)

Beef and Vegetable Stew (Brun Lapskaus)

Wild Meatball Stew (Viltkjøttboller i viltsaus)

Root Vegetable Soup with Crispy Fenalår

The post Warming Winter Soups & Stews to Cozy Up With appeared first on North Wild Kitchen.

Norwegian Brown Cheese Recipes (scroll down to get them).

Brunost is Norway’s most iconic cheese and you can read all about what it is and its origins here.

What makes brown cheese so special is that it irrevocably represents the traditional Norwegian farm life; everything from the romantic notions of the summer seter to the hard labor and struggles faced, as well as the successes and innovation that has steered the dairy to what it is today. It provides a connection to the natural landscape of Norway and highlights the quality of the dairy products found here. In some varieties, the tanginess of the goat’s milk is so prominent that it feels as though you are tasting the farm itself. So, for those who appreciate knowing where their food is sourced, this is an absolute sign of farm to table. Utilizing whey, a by-product of cheesemaking, means it’s also a sustainable approach to food waste. At the end of the day, though, people love brown cheese because it happens to be incredibly delicious.

I’ve compiled a list of all my recipes on this site using Norwegian brown cheese. Each recipe highlights seasonal and local cooking. From sweet to savory and everything in between, I hope these brown cheese recipes will inspire you use this speciality ingredient in your everyday cooking!

Brown Cheese Recipes

Brown Cheese Cream Brownies (Brownies med Brunost)

Brunost, Buttermilk & Cinnamon Waffles

Brunost Meatballs (kjøttkaker med brunost)

Brunost-Caramel Cinnamon Buns

Brunost and Herb-Crusted Lamb Cutlets

Brunost Layered Cream Cake (brunost bløtkake)

Brunost Cream Pie (brunostkrem-pai)

The Ultimate Brunost Burger with Lingonberry-Bacon Jam

No-Churn Brunost and Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream with Brunost Dipped Waffle Cones

Creamy Wild Mushroom and Brunost Soup

Wild Meatball Stew (viltkjøtboller i viltsaus)

Homemade Brunost Marshmallows

Brunost Turkey & Kale Pot Pies

Kling (Lefse) from Eksingedalen

Layered Brunost Pepperkake Cake (pepperkakekake med brunost)

Brunost Toasts with Creamy Reindeer & Mushrooms

Brown Cheese, Honey & Rye Quick Bread (brunostbrød uten gjær)

Summer Berry Salad with Brown Cheese Vinaigrette

Brown Cheese Caramel Rice Krispies Treats

Brown Cheese Meatloaf (kjøttpudding med brunost)

Brown Cheese Caramel Apples

Creamy Brown Cheese Scalloped Potatoes (fløtegratinerte poteter med brunost)

Creamy Spiced Brunost Latte

The post Norwegian Brown Cheese Recipes appeared first on North Wild Kitchen.