Lemon meringues | Citronmaränger

It was my dad's birthday yesterday, and since he is allergic to gluten it is always a bit of a challenge to find gluten-free cookies and cakes. This year I made him lemon meringues. I tried to make them striped like good ol' Martha Stewart's, but that didn't work out at all. But they tasted good.

If you'd like to make these it's really easy. Take a standard meringue recipe and add zest and juice from half a lemon. I added a little vanilla seeds too.

Min pappa fyllde år igår och eftersom han är glutenintolerant är det alltid lite knepigt att fixa gott glutenfritt fika. I år hade jag gjort citronmaränger. Jag försökte göra dem snyggt randiga som Martha Stewarts, men det gick åt skogen. Men de smakade gott.

Om du också vill göra dem är det en baggis. Ta ett vanligt marängrecept och lägg till skal och saft från en halv citron. Jag hade i lite vaniljsocker också.

And you can't celebrate a birthday in July without a strawberry cake. Gluten-free, in this case. Happy birthday dad!

Och man kan inte fira födelsedag i juli utan en jordgubbstårta. Glutenfri förstås. Grattis pappa!

Happy 6th of June! | Glad sjätte juni!

Today is June 6, Sweden's National Day! We are not that good at celebrating it though, not as in for example the US or Norway at least. But a few flags always cheers me up, and since my birthday was a couple of days ago I made a jelly roll. Very festive.

Idag är det Sveriges nationaldag! Vi är väl inte så bra på att fira det i och för sig, inte som till exempel i USA och Norge i alla fall. Men några flaggor piggar alltid upp, och eftersom jag fyllde år för några dagar sedan gjorde jag en rulltårta. Mycket festligt.

Some got Swedish flags, others got washi tape flags. I couldn't help myself. It is possible I am a washi tape addict.

Vissa fick svenska flaggor, andra fick washitejpflaggor. Jag kunde inte hejda mig. Det är möjligt att jag är washitejpberoende.

The amazing outdoor cakes | De fantastiska friluftstårtorna

I have been away for the weekend, learning about new ways and ideas to get kids interesting in exploring the outdoors. It was super inspiring, and I have met more than a hundred fun, creative people that know everything about what's out there in the woods! 

And then there was also me. Who don't know everything, but got some exciting ideas for the year to come.

Yesterday they arranged a little celebration, and a woman who had helped organizing had made the awesomest cakes I ever saw. Aren't they over the top? Tiny details and fun solutions - I am mostly impressed by the lake made out of blue jello.

I really have to improve my cake baking skills ...

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Summary in Swedish: Jag har varit på konferens med Friluftsfrämjandet i helgen, för att fortbilda mig som barnledare och lära mig nya lekar, övningar och sätt att få ut barn i naturen. Helt kul och inspirerande, men det som verkligen fick oss alla att tappa andan var de helt enkelt fantastiska tårtor som en tjej ur den arrangerande lokalavdelningen hade bakat. Jag måste verkligen öva mer på att baka tårtor ...

Happy Easter! | Glad påsk!

YAY - the Easter bunny came to our house yesterday, and hid the eggs in the garden (in the snow...). There were Easter eggs for everyone - candy-filled for the most of us, but with corn sticks (aka "majskrokar") for the baby. Happiness for everyone.

Happy Easter!

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Summary in Swedish: Påskharen kom till oss igår! Med påskägg till alla, godis i massor blev det, och majskrokar till I.


Glad påsk!

An Easter bird's nest dessert | Efterrätt med påskfågelbo

For our crafternoon (yay!) last Saturday, I made the yummiest raspberry mousse ever (recipe in Swedish found here). Helena at Craft & Creativity came up with the idea of decorating regular plastic cups with washi tape, and it felt appropriate to put a candy egg bird's nest on top. The gorgeous gorgeous washi tape is from Bookbinders Design.

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Summary in Swedish: Efter påskpysslet i lördags åt vi påskmiddag allihop, och till efterrätt blev det bubblig hallonmousse (se recept här) med ett fågelbo med godisägg på toppen! Washitejpen är från Bookbinders Design.

DIY The Candy Cactus | Gör-det-själv: Godiskaktus

This might look really weird, but the truth is that there was one thing A wanted for his birthday morning, and that was a candy cactus. So I made one. And remembered it from my own childhood. Do you remember making them? Or is this a Swedish thing?

It's really easy to make, and immensly popular with the five year old crowd at least. You'll need: 1 cucumber, candy, toothpicks. I usually put them in a paper cup, but didn't have one this time. Put the candy on the toothpicks and stick them into the cucumber. Done! A ate most of the candy before I remembered to take this photo, but you get the idea...

Summary in Swedish: På sin födelsedagsmorgon ville A absolut ha en godiskaktus. Gjorde ni också sådana då ni var barn?

Party forks | Kalasgafflar

We have gone skiing this week, that's why I can't publish as many blog posts as usual. But I'll soon be back! We're having a great time, but I think I will be done with winter when we return home. The season of longing for summer parties begin...

From jamieoliver.com

Remember the chocolate party spoons? Jamie Oliver has a similar idea, but with party food on forks. I had this at a party a few years ago, and it was great! Really easy to make, and very easy to handle with your party dress on. And you can use whatever food or snack you like, as long as it stays on the fork. Use regular forks, or nicer silver (or colorful) plastic ones.

Summary in Swedish: Snart är sommaren här (jodå) och jag börjar redan längta efter sommarkalas! Kanske kan dessa goda gafflar vara något att prova?