Smoked salmon bruschettas

This is my new favourite recipe...

Seriously!

It's delicious! And looks great! And is oh so simple to make!

There's a TV show in Sweden called "Halv åtta hos mig" (which basically means: Half past seven at my place), and even though we don't have a TV, I try to catch the show as often as I can on the internet. The show works like this: there are 4 contestants, who invite each other to their homes, for a 3-course meal. After each evening, the guests vote for their host and the host that gets the most points at the end, wins...simple as that! Anyways, I often think about what 3-course meal I would master up for my guests...

I at least have a good starter!

So why not try it out...I'll be there, half past seven at your place!

Makes about 12

To see this recipe in Swedish click here.

1 rustic baguette
150g smoked salmon, thinly sliced
1 small garlic clove
2 tbsp olive oil
1 dl (100ml) mixed seeds: pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pine nuts...
Parmesan

Dill and lemon oil:
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp finely chopped dill
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tbsp lemon juice
salt and pepper

This is how:

1. Put the oven on 200 degrees celcius.

2. Cut the baguette diagonally i 12 thick slices. Mix the crushed garlic and olive oil. Sprinkle over the bread and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes until the bread has hardened and become golden brown.

3. Roast the seeds in a dry pan.

4. Put the salmon on the bread, top with the seeds and some slices of parmesan.

5. Mix all the ingredients for the dill oil and sprinkle on top.

Delicious memories

I remember many years ago I had the opportunity to go with my family and some Dutch friends to a luxurious private game farm in South Africa. The excitement before the trip was insurmountable and rightly so.

It is an experience that I remember clearly...for several reasons: firstly, in my young and impressionable mind who hadn't experienced many of the luxuries of the world, the opportunity to stay in a luxury chalet with an amazing view, fantastic service and a private outdoor shower.

The other thing I remember was the private safaris that we had, with our very own private (and oh so handsome) game ranger. The safaris were full of many laughs and fun times together with my family, with cosy tea-times on top of hills with fantastic views. Another thing I remember from this trip was the beautiful animals that we saw, we got about 6 m away from a mommy cheetah with 4 cute little cubs and we went walking through the bushes tracking elephants and learning how to put a "bush-thinking" cap on.

Finally, one of the last things that have stayed with me from that trip was the delicious food that we got to feast on. It was on this trip that my passion for food really started awakening. It was on this trip that I tasted the most delicious soup of my life - Butternut and orange soup. Since then I have been on a mission to recreate this soup and I have finally gotten close enough to be able to share the recipe. Be prepared for the best soup of your life! Butternut is one of my favourite vegetables to use, as it has so much flavour. It isn't that common here in Sweden, but lately I've been able to find it at most of the big grocery stores. This is what a butternut looks like:

Butternut and orange soup:

(This recipe makes enough to feed many people)

To see this recipe in Swedish click here.

1 butternut
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
50g butter
1 celery stalk
½ red chilli, finely chopped
2 cups (5 dl) chicken (or vegetable) stock
½ orange, zest and juice
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 pinch cinnamon
1 pinch white pepper
1 bay leaf
½ tsp curry
1 dl cream

1. Roughly chop the onion and celery. Sauté them lightly in the butter together with the crushed garlic and chilli in a big pot.
2. Peel the butternut and chop into large cubes. Put the butternut in the pot together with the stock, orange zest and juice and all the spices. Boil for about 30 minutes until the butternut is soft. Remove the bay leaf and blend until smooth.
3. Season with Salt and pepper. Stir in the cream just before serving.

I hope that you enjoy this soup! What is your favourite soup?

Have a great day!

Love,
Heidi