We don’t have snow here in southern Finland yet but the weather has turned and since the ground was still quite wet after our misty season of gray days and rains, the crisp freezing temperatures changed the landscape. Everything acquired a coating of crystals that glisten and dance in the sunlight. The night had been a colder one with clear skies and when I was driving home last night I could see the stars in the night sky. And when morning greeted us with sunshine it could be called an energizing experience. What was somewhat of a dull, brown and gray landscape just two days ago turned into winter wonderland without the snow. Even the kids got up eagerly this morning even though it was still almost as dark as the night and Erik asked me, “How deep is it outside?” thinking the frost was snow.
The snow is yet to come but now the puddles have a covering of ice that crackle and crunch when walking on them. I still like to walk over the frozen puddles and they remind me of grade school days and walking to the bus stop in the early morning. There was something so satisfying about those frozen puddles and the noise they made.
Something else that I remember doing as a kid was poring over ads that came with the Sunday paper. I remember seeing ads for fondue sets and there was something so intriguing about fondue. Maybe it was because I loved cheese and especially melted and stringy cheese. A couple of years ago we received from my sister and her husband a little fondue set for Christmas and it has been great. I can get my kids to eat just about anything if they are allowed to used the fondue spears and dip it in a cheese sauce. I often will make a herb and onion encrusted focaccia and nobody complains about the “green stuff”. If you happen to have any picky eaters at your house, a fondue set might do the trick.
Fondue just seemed like the perfect thing to have on a day that is crisp and cold. We did get our share of fresh air and exercise as we brought our four-year old to his day circle. He went on his bike and I walked and ran along side him with the double jogger and the two little ones inside. All of the cold, crisp air whets the appetite.
This time I made mini garlic focaccia with a whole grain bread flour that has a mixture of cracked wheat, wheat flour and rye flour. You could make your own mix of flours or buy different kind of whole grain mix available at your local store. We cut the rolls into cubes making them easy to dip.
Whole grain garlic focaccia
5 dl/little over 2 cups of warm water
1 block (50 g) of fresh yeast or 1 sachet of dry yeast (almost 4 tsps)
1 heaping tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tbsp sea salt
10-11 dl/4 and 1/2 c whole grain flour mix
1/4 dl/1/8 c olive oil
On top:
about 6 cloves of garlic, minced
olive oil
black pepper
sea salt flakes
Place the water, yeast, salt and sugar into a bowl or stand mixer. Mix until combined and add half of the flour. Knead until combined and continue adding flour. Knead well. This dough can be a little sticky. Add the oil last and allow to rise until double in size. To save with the clean up, I do not pour the dough on the table, rather I did the whole process in the bowl. After the dough has risen, punch is down and take small handful and place them evenly spaced onto a lined baking sheet.
Make an indentation with two fingers on each roll and place a half teaspoon of minced garlic in each indentation. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with black pepper and sea salt flakes. Allow to rise and then bake in the oven for about 12 minutes at 225 C/430 F or until golden brown.
Cheese fondue
50 g/1.8 oz butter
3 heaping tbsp flour
5 dl/generous 2 cups milk
100 g/ 3.5 oz shredded cheese (I use a mix of a strong cheese (ie. gruyére) and a milder cheese (ie. Oltermanni, Havarti or Muenster)
salt
black pepper
dash of white pepper
1-2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
Melt the butter with the flour in a sauce pan and allow it to bubble for a minute. Do not let it brown. Whisk in the milk and cook until it has become thick. Add the salt, pepper and white pepper to it. Take of the heat and add the grated cheese to it and mix. Add the balsamic vinegar and heat if needed. Serve with chunks of garlic focaccia.
tableofcolors 
Sounds so yummy and a beautiful post to your blog…
Thank you Gramma, it’s a favorite with kids…no leftovers ❤ Laila
I love the pictures. . . and the fondue looks delicious. You have a wonderful way of reminding me of all the things that I like about winter.
Thank you Sheryl! I’m one of those people that shiver a lot when the weather gets cold and so I have been practicing the art of dressing warm and finding some of the little delights of the dark season to make it seem more pleasant. 🙂
I’m sure you will have snow soon enough and I imagine in Finland it’s quite a lot of the beautiful white stuff. Your fondue is just the perfect antidote to the cold weather. I haven’t made fondue in a long time and your post made me remember how much I love it. The bread is hearty and dipped in the wonderful melty cheese it’s heavenly.
I’m sure we will, and soon the daily workout will be shoveling the snow from the yard. 🙂 We have no leftovers to speak of, it is quite popular with the little folk.
What beautiful photos, you really capture the meaning of frost. And that bread… I just might make that today, seeing as it’s cold out and I’m home with a sick child.
Yes, fondue would be the perfect thing to do on a day when you are at home with sick kids. Hope your little one is feeling better so you don’t have too many sick days!
I love your evocative photos. It’s years since we had a fondue – I shall have to dig it out when the weather turns colder. Your Maldon sea salt comes from my part of the world, about twenty miles from here.
Thank you Anne! I did a little research and Maldon sea salt has an interesting story behind it as a family company that started operation in the 1880s. It would certainly be interesting to visit your corner of the world sometime!
Lovely evocative post. I can almost hear those cracking puddles. Fondue! I haven’t had it for yeeeears, and I can’t believe my 2 boys haven’t experienced a fondue night yet. Thanks for the reminder. I grew up on fondue made by my Dutch dad. It was absolutely loaded with wine. I’m sure the alcohol had well and truly evaporated, but I remember the smell being overwhelming. I’m pinning yours to try instead!
Thank you Saskia for sharing your memories…ocassionally remembering a pleasant childhood recollection is the best.
Beautiful pictures of the frost!! We’ve actually never done fondue though my husband is itching for us to get a set! The cheese fondue looks great.
Kenley
Thank you Kenley! Fondue is a fairly new acquaintance with me as well…even though I had dreamed about it as a kid 🙂 We received the set two years ago and since then we have fondue for supper every once in a while, much to the delight of the family.
A very lovely post. Your focaccia sounds wonderful with the minced garlic on top, as well as olive oil. I imagine using gruyére is the perfect choice for the fondue. And your photographs are gorgeous.
Thank you so much! The minced garlic adds the perfect amount of sharp flavor.
Love those early wintry days where frost makes everything glisten. Would that be all to our Winters. You focaccia and cheese fondue sound wonderful. And you dreamt of fondue as a child? Perfect.
Yes, the frost and the sun make the landscape look like a painting. Maybe I was already a bit of a foodie as a kid… 🙂
Fondue is fun. Haven’t had any for ages but your post reminds me of how much I enjoyed it. And I can just hear that ice crunching under your feet 🙂
Funny the things we often enjoy in life require quite little money if any at all!
So very true.
The pictures are so beautiful and the Cheesefondue; DELICIOUS! We eat almost once a week a Fondue and for the next time I will serve it with this lovely Focaccia!
I’m sure my kids would love to have fondue once a week! 🙂 Maybe I should do some research and see what all can be done with it. It’s a great way to get them to try new things.
Such beautiful and evocative photos, Laila. I love fondue. And garlic focaccia. And now I also love frost. Sophie x
Thank you so much Sophie, I appreciate it.
OOO Fondue,
My mother would make this. I have never made fondue …. Might have to try that next. Maybe a few friends over the next time it snows here in Santa Fe , NM . Love the pictures.
My mother is Finnish, my sister went to Finland with our Grandmother in the 1970’s. I never was able to go. So the wintery pictures and the architecture of your kitchen and home with your children gives me a idea of the land of my ancestors.
Thanks,
Hi Kat!
So glad to give you little glimpse of Finland. I sure hope you have a chance to come here yourself and explore the cities and countryside and visit relatives. The summer here is beautiful as is the winter (especially if the sun shines 🙂 )
All the best, Laila