Swedish Christmas

I may or may not have lost a year of my life this December, engaged fully and solely in the building and decorating of ginger bread houses. I'll admit it: I got obsessed. And it turns out, gingerbread houses can get pretty frustrating. They break often and despite how many glues I tried (8), frosting is always the best adhesive. I worried that my efforts would be deemed 'little kid'; why hadn't I waited for Amy to return from Chicago?!? But, when I laid the remaining five houses down the center of my table, and Courtney and I created rivers and paths between them with cinnamon bears and peppermint sticks, I felt redeemed. I couldn't imagine a more perfect backdrop for my Swedish Christmas dinner party. This menu was a fun one to create and delicious to eat. We started with individual fish and pickle plates and then enjoyed a family style feast of Swedish meatballs. And we played a game that people didn't seem annoyed to play!, guessing who wanted what from Santa. This is my very favorite time of year, and ginger bread houses will most certainly be a new tradition. Next year, I might just stick to one. Happy happy holidays & a merry merry Christmas to all...

The Menu

sips

the st. lucia

lingonberry, thyme simple syrup, house sour, guests' choice: bourbon, vodka or gin

snacks

martha stewart's cheese balls-three ways

hot spinach balls with spicy mustard dip

to start

fish & pickle plate

house pickled green beans, beets, carrots, onion & cauliflower

smoked trout, creme fraiche, caper berry

cold-smoked salmon, cornichon, lemon & dill

rye crisps & pumpernickel toast

to share

swedish meatballs with lingonberry jam

buttered egg noodles with dill

sweet & sour braised red cabbage

winter greens with pomegranate seeds & lemon vinaigrette

sweets

spiced egg nog

cookie platter: raspberry linzer, ginger snaps & gingerbread men sugar cookies