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November 19, 2017

Scandikitchen The Essence of Hygge by Bronte Aurell - Review


Book details
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Ryland Peters & Small; Reprint edition (February 14, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1849758743
ISBN-13: 978-1849758741

Book description
Discover the essence of hygge as revealed by Brontë Aurell, Danish owner of London’s ScandiKitchen in this honest and thoughtful guide, which also features some of her favorite recipes from her books, The Scandi Kitchen and Fika & Hygge, to help you enjoy a "hyggelig" time.

Hygge is in the zeitgeist, but what is it, how do we bring hygge in our lives and why are we so captivated with this Danish word? According to Brontë it is really not complicated and doesn’t involve spending vast amounts of money on candles or blankets… in its purest form it is simply about appreciating life.

Explained in 12 entertaining chapters interspersed with recipes, you will learn first about the origins of the word hygge (old Norse) and then how to embrace it with essays on: Hygge and the Basics, Hygge and Happiness, Hygge and Sharing, Hygge and Baking, Hygge and Darkness, Hygge and Light, Hygge and Time, Hygge and Stress, Hygge and Soul, Hygge and Nature, Hygge and Stuff, and Hygge and Your Home.

Hygge is a completely psychological and emotional state of being. Whether it’s going for a long walk or baking and sharing a cake with friends, when you carve a pocket of time in your day, hygge can often be found. Remembering to appreciate and experience the moment will help you find your very own hygge.

Meet the author - Bronte Aurell
I'm Bronte Aurell and I co-own and run ScandiKitchen Cafe in London, England.

Our cafe was set up in 2007 - because we (my partner Jonas and I) missed food from our homes in Scandinavia. We wanted to create a place where ex-pats could find the foods they missed from home and where everybody else felt welcome to pop by and enjoy some nice open sandwiches, cakes and coffee.

We love our little cafe, webshop and warehouse and we're super proud to be publishing our first book, ScandiKitchen, in September 2015. We wanted to write a book with really simple Scandinavian dishes - the way we cook them at home. No fancy stuff - just honest food - good food, with love, from Scandinavia.

In 2016, we published Fika & Hygge - a collection of all our favourite Scandinavian bakes and treats. Perfect for baking your way through a dark, cold winter.

Do pop by and say 'hej' if you are ever in London.

www.scandikitchen.co.uk

My thoughts
This was a very quick read for me. I picked it up at the library at 4:00 and by 9:00 I was done reading it. I enjoyed the way the author talked about Hygge and her experiences with it. She also compares Danish, Norwegian, and the Swedish and the way they all practice Hygge. There were many great recipes included in this book - a few in which I plan on making for myself. At the beginning of each recipe she tells a story behind the recipe. I like this added personal touch. There are also quotes at the beginning of the chapters which I enjoyed. One of my favorites is a Julia Child quote - A party without a cake is just a meeting. This is a book that you should add to your collection. 

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