WHEN THE WHOLE COUNTRY CELEBRATES

"APPROPRIATE iPHONE WALLPAPER"

Yesterday was one big party... All day, all night. It was the birthday of 98 years old Suomi-Finland.

"TWO CANDLES IN A WINDOW, @6 pm SHARP - THAT'S THE TRADITION"

The modest character of Finns is reflected in the way we celebrate. No fireworks, nor streamers, but two candles on a windowsill, dinner made of the best ingredients the country can offer and a live TV-broadcast from the nation's number one ball. That's how most of Finns celebrate our country's freedom and independence.

"NATIONAL TELEVISION COVERES THE CELEBRATIONS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY"

Usually the independence day weather is rough, this year was no exception. Still it's nice to honor the Fatherland with a picnic in the woods, which after hot sauna warms you nicely. You'll be "sauna fresh", just on time to dress to your best, lit the candles, pop the champagne and start following the Presidential reception.

"HOT BLUEBERRY GLÖG, SMOKED REINDEER TART AND MUSHROOM TART"

BLUEBERRY GLÖG
(MUSTIKKAGLÖGI)
1l frozen Finnish blueberries
1 l water
1 dl organic Finnish honey
3 cinnamon sticks
10 cloves
1 split vanilla pod
Bring all the ingredients to boil, sieve and serve. Add honey if desired. Serve steaming hot.

REINDEER TART/MUSHROOM TART 
(POROPIIRAKKA/SIENIPIIRAKKA)
pastry (100 years old Finnish recepe):
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 dl wheat flour
1 1/2 dl double cream
150 g butter (room temperature) + 1 teaspoon for sautéing the reindeer and leek
filling:
1 leek
200 g cold smoked reindeer
2 eggs
2 dl double cream
white pepper
pinch of nutmeg


Mix the baking powder with the flour. Beat together cream and flour, add the butter and mix until the dough becomes smooth. Cover the dough with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for half an hour.

Roll out the pastry between 2 sheets of baking paper, line a pie tin with the dough and refrigerate while preparing the filling.

Wash and chop the leek, chop the reindeer. First fry the reindeer for a while, then add the leek and continue sautéing until soft. Scatter the reindeer and leek in the pastry tin. Lightly beat the eggs with cream, season with white pepper and nutmeg. (No salt needed, as the cold smoked reindeer is salty enough). Pour in the egg mix and bake for 30-45 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the filling is set. Serve warm or cold.

MUSHROOM TART
Instead of reindeer use 1 dl of dried mushrooms, such as chanterelles or black trumpet mushrooms. Let them first soak in water, then drain and sauté with red onion. Add some grated cheese, black pepper and sea salt to the filling. Other than that, bake exactly like the reindeer tart.

"MUSHROOMS AND REINDEER ARE FINLAND'S ORGANIC DELICACY"

The annual live broadcast gives ordinary folk a little glimpse of the splendor of the newly renovated Presidential Palace.

The veterans are honored guests, and have the only reserved seats in the whole palace.

"MR. PRESIDENT AND THE FIRST LADY  ENJOY CHATTING WITH THE GUESTS OF HONOR"

The whole nation continues celebrating until the wee hours... But at 10 pm the TV- cameras are turned off and even the no. 1 ball continues in privacy.
                             
                                 💙  HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELOVED SUOMI-FINLAND 💙