PICNIC IN A BOTTLE SEASON

Now the thermos bottle- season has officially started. Dark winter days are history and snow covered landscape dazzles in the sun like diamonds. It's time to crawl out of the warm nest, end the hibernation and head outdoors!

This marks also the beginning of the picnic season; although right now it's more like "the season of thermos bottles". Lunch in a bottle is just perfect idea for a frosty day.

LEEK-POTATOE SOUP

4 big potatoes
2 stalks of leeks
1-1 1/2 litres chicken stock
250 g your favorite soft cheese (blue cheese, goat's cheese or melted cheese, like the Finnish black Koskenlaskija)
sea salt
cracked black pepper
1/2 dl chopped parsley

Place the pealed potatoes and chopped leeks on a saucepan of chicken stock, bring to boil and cook over medium heat until tender. Drain, but keep the stock at hand. Place in a food prosessor and process until smooth, return to the saucepan. Add the cheese, and as much of the stock as you wish. Bring to boil, season with salt, pepper and parsley. Pour into thermos when hot.

CHOCO SPOON

melted dark chocolate
ice cream/pop sticks or bamboo skewers
silicone molds

Pour the melted chocolate into silicone molds, place a stick on each chocolate and let set. Serve with hot chocolate, hot milk or with a cup of coffee, letting the chocolate spoon melt in the hot drink.

SPICED COFFEE

1 litre strong coffee
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
1 tablespoon Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons brown sugar

Combine the coffee and all other ingredients, serve hot with choco spoons.