Monday 10 January 2011

Danish love...giveaway day three!

Happy Monday to everyone! Today is the final day of my blog birthday giveaway week. I have been amazed and delighted by all of your comments and the number of new readers.

I write this with my head still full of images from the ballet yesterday. It was just incredible - the Moscow City Ballet - the talent and discipline of the dancers was something to see. I realised how great it was to see something that impressive that did not involve technology! It was pure and simple; but still created absolute awe in us. And not a computer in sight...

More country walks today in an effort to wear out the Boos; I still have two more days of school holidays contend with so it's fresh air all the way.


We are all, to some extent defined by our past, our upbringing, our heritage. I am half Danish. However that Danish half of me is not prominent all the time; I don't speak the language and nowadays rarely visit Copenhagen where my family live. But as a child we went a lot; especially when our little family needed stability. My Mum would take us back to her homeland and we would spend summers with my cousins, aunts and uncles, and my grandparents: Mormor and Morfar. My Mormor, who lived until she was in her nineties was an incredible cook and so many of my childhood memories are rich in taste when I recall her cooking.






She had a little house just outside of Copenhagen and I would go with her as she spoke in her Danish tongue that I never understood, and we would pick gooseberries from her garden to bake a tart. Or my Mum and I would return from a shopping trip and my Mormor would have made us elderflower cordial and pastries. So I associate all Danish cooking with goodness; a pure palate of honest food. So when I was given this book, The Scandinavian Cookbook by Trina Hahnemann I was transported through the incredibly evocative photographs back to my childhood.




It's the simple, sometimes austere style of Denmark that I love. The minimalism, the design, the whole clean, clear feel to it. This book sums up that feeling, when applied to food. It's broken down into seasons too, which I like, so you eat the food that is in season when it is in season, rather than sourcing from far overseas.

by Vilhelm Hammershoi




So for today's final blog birthday giveaway, a hard back copy of

'THE SCANDINAVIAN COOKBOOK'

To win, it's as easy as one, two, three or should I say in Danish
 'en, to, tre', 

1. become a follower of my blog 'Lou, Boos and Shoes'
2. leave a comment to have the chance to be chosen
3. cross your fingers that you get picked!

Closes midnight UK time, Tuesday 11th January.

The recipes are divine and even if you have never tasted Scandinavian food there are some beautiful things to prepare. If you don't cook, the photographs are stand-alone beautiful!

GOOD LUCK!

via Copenhagen Cycle Chic

 Bye-bye...!

34 comments:

  1. I absolutely love this Lou. One of my aunt's is Danish and we were treated to some pretty incredible pastries and desserts growing up. Here's to crossing my fingers!!

    xo,
    Carrie

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  2. Happy Monday! I would love to visit Copenhagen, and this post means that maybe I might this year (we are still planning our holiday) - thank you!

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  3. hi Lou - how beautiful. I don't usually participate in giveaways but this book is on my list. You know you should take up Danish again. And teach your children.! xoxo

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  4. Good morning! I have never been to Denmark, but hopefully I can fly there soon! It has to be amazing! SO fingers are crossed!! Let´s hope! and congrats for your lovely post! muacks!!!!!

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  5. morning gorgeous gal...
    firstly -those images are divine...fresh..clean...uncluttered...wonderful
    & just what i need this morning as i face my first real morning alone for 5 weeks....
    my parents have flown to thailand...my kiddos are at school...& i am indulging in some serious quiet me-time visiting blogs and mentally re-arranging the big old house after such a busy christmas period...
    thank you- they are just what i needed...M xxxxxxx

    p.s- you know i love popping by with my pot of tea...& i have my fingers crossed and i was thinking...we had a gorgeous wedding anniversary this weekend...& our photographer all those years ago on an island in sydney harbour- was danish...!

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  6. Hi Lou. I so loved Copenhagen when I visited a couple of years back. My only other sample of the Scandinavian livestyle was a fabulous holiday last year in Sweden. I do love the simplistic style from these countries. Clean, neat, and yet still warm. And now that cookbook looks super. Keeping everything crossed over here that it may just come my way!

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  7. Hello Lou, I admit I'm a long time lurker of your delightful and inspirational blog and always look forward to your postings :D Having lived in Norway for 5 years has given me a love of the Scandinavian way of life :D x

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  8. I love scandinavian culture, therefore I would love to learn how to cook scandinavian dishes.
    Keeping my fingers crossed!

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  9. tutto ciò che io amo è dentro il tuo blog. ti seguo

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  10. this cookbook looks amazing, i'd love to win (and i'm a follower!)

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  11. Ooh I love to cook and would love to try Scandinavian food! x x
    karen
    twannywun at hotmail dot com

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  12. My fingers are crossed, and I have an intense feeling that because of the fact that I AM Danish, I will win this one:-D I can only recommend you and the others who have commented to come and visit us!

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  13. Dear Lou,
    First of all, what beautiful images......anything Scandinavian is so alright with me. I am DESPERATE to go to 'Noma' in Copenhagen. It looks wonderful so, ' The Scandinavian Cookbook' would be heaven for me.
    I shall put your giveaway on my sidebar.
    .....oh, and we TRIED to watch 'Inception' the other night ( tried being the operative word !!) and a lot of it went over our heads !! haha.
    Have a great week. XXXX

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  14. Hello! Happy Birthday! What an awesome giveaway! I was already following you on Bloglovin, but I went ahead and did the Google/Blogger follow also just so you would be able to see it if you are going back and checking :)

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  15. Good Afternoon Beauty! Ooh the ballet sounds lovely and gosh... hour guys have been off school for ages! The cookbook sounds wonderful - love the idea of trying to stay within the season when buying produce. Hope your Monday is a good one! xxx

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  16. I just married into a Danish family. Boy do they love their food. It is so tasty & and full of love they way they cook. What a cool giveaway!

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  17. HappppY end of Birthday blog giveaway weeK! :) haha I just loved reading about your reminissing over times in Copenhagen and your scandinavian background... :) It's such a different way of life (i think) than back in the states.. and i just love it... (In Sweden) I'm a follower and cross my fingers to win the scandinavian book!!!! :) it will fit in PERFECT HERE!!! xoxo

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  18. I love reading your blog and I'd love this book!

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  19. As I think I've mentioned, I can relate to this so much - although with a Finnish mother. I've recently been rediscovering my Scandinavian roots, so I'd love this book!

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  20. Thank you for introducing me to this cookbook! My husband and I like really basic recipes that allow us to really appreciate the flavors of this food, and this looks right up our alley!

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  21. Glorious images as always. The first one is mesmerising....unfortunately I have no Scandinavian connections to tell you of, besides being a huge fan of the moomins; but I'd love to make that blueberry tart :) Anne.xxx

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  22. I've visited Copehagen once and absolutely loved it. The book looks gorgeous, I really enjoy cooking and I can look at stunning photos for ages. Fingers crossed........

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  23. love this giveaway and love this post. i completely agree that we are defined by our past. although i have never left my home of the u.s., i am part norwegian & desperately want to go see where my family comes from. this cookbook would help me channel my heritage while still in chicago :)
    -kait

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  24. Oooh. I have never tasted Scandinavian foods before. Definitely crossing my fingers for this!

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  25. What a beautiful cookbook. My grandmother, who was German, had gooseberries growing in her garden. Some of my most favorite memories are of picking those and other fruits and vegetables with her.

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  26. Oh hello again .... I'm just dying over the kitchen shots ..
    Love love love to win ....
    I so want to try a " gooseberry pie" or tart...
    Have a wonderful time with the smalls befor they go back to school...
    Tina

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  27. How beautiful! I love cookbooks, and this one sounds so unique and interesting. Hope you're doing great! Thanks!

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  28. I am of course a very happy follower and I can never, ever resist the opportunity for a new book. Thank you Lou...extremities crossed :)

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  29. such pretty photos! I am a follower.

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  30. Long-time listener, first-time caller. Or should I say, long-time lurker, first-time commenter! Nice to hear about your Scandinavian heritage, and it DOES come through in your great taste in style and design (and now food)!

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  31. This book looks delicious - as are your photos with today's post. Copenhagen is one place which is on my 'Bucket List' Sending you aroha from New Zealand.

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  32. Ooooh, Scandinavian ANYTHING is everything to me...when it comes to Great Danes. Once upon a time, I met a delicious looking blond, named Sven. No, he wasn't THAT kind of Great Dane but, just the sight of him would make any woman "bark." Looking at him would make your eyes cross. I would LOVE to have this book -- love to! Lou, I will take your advice and cross my fingers. While I'm at it, I will think of Sven and cross my eyes! That will give me a double dose of god luck!

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  33. Such a beautiful post Lou. You have been - happily - my introduction to all things Danish, before Lou I knew nothing!! I love the art you include in your posts sometimes, it's a really definite style and not one I was familiar with.

    Happy Tuesday :) xxxx

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  34. My maternal Grandfather came from Denmark and although I never really got to know him ~ I do embrace my 1/4 Danish heritage! Count me in for your giveaway sweet girl. xo

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