95 YEARS OLD SUOMI-FINLAND

Today we celebrate our 95 years old, independent fatherland. Old and young gather together to salute the war veterans in a torchlight procession. The cathedral of Helsinki is an unusually popular spot today, when the president and the first lady attend the independence day mass.

At 6 pm every household lights 2 candles at window so that they are visible from outside, therefore it's also a perfect time to go for a walk. At night the number 1 ball is held in the president's castle, live coverage is shown on the national TV. But anywhere you go, you'll end up in a celebration, tonight is one big cocktail-party.

♡ HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELOVED SUOMI-FINLAND ♡

CRANBERRY PARFAIT

2 egg yolks
2 dl granulated sugar
4 dl double cream
2 tablespoons vanilla sugar
2-4 dl frozen (Finnish) cranberries + extra for decorating

CARAMEL SAUCE
2 dl double cream
1 dl brown sugar
1-2 tablespoons butter

Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan, let simmer over a moderate heat, constantly whisking, until sugar is dissolved and the sauce as thick as desired.


Whisk the egg yolks and sugar until frothy, whip the cream and combine all. Mash 1/3 of the cranberries and mix all, mashed ones and whole, into the parfait. Pour the mixture into a cake tin or serving dishes and freeze for 4 hour or until firm.

Transfer the parfait to the fridge 30 minutes before serving, so that it softens slightly. Sprinkle frozen cranberries on top just before serving. Serve with caramel sauce.

SMOKED SALMON SPREAD

warm smoked salmon
creme fraiche

Remove any bones from the salmon and break it up into small pieces. Add the creme fraiche and mix with a fork. Fold in the capres and chives.

Cut bite sizes of rye bread or slightly sweet archipelago rye-malt bread. Serve on top of the rye bread.

EASY SALMON WRAPS

150 g thinly sliced (Finnish)cold-smoked salmon
200 g Philadelphia cream cheese, garlic and herbs flavored

Set salmon slice on a work surface, spread the cream cheese at one end of the fish. Squeeze together and roll the salmon into a tight log. Cut the log into bite-size pieces.

REINDEER-WRAPPED CHEESE AND PLUMS

175 g cured (Finnish) cheese
100 g thinly sliced (Finnish) cold-smoked reindeer
80 g walnuts
100 g dried stoneless plums

Cut the cheese into bite-size pieces, lay the reindeer slices on a work surface. Cut each reindeer slice into two, put a plum and a walnut on top of each half, wrap each end of the reindeer over the cheese and nut, secure with a toothpick. Repeat until all the ingredients are used.