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| Swedish Pea Soup (Ärtsoppa) |
I’ve read somewhere that Swedish pea soup
started being served even before the Vikings came into existence. It became the
traditional Thursday meal when Sweden converted to Catholicism. Around 1530
Sweden converted to Lutheranism but the soup remained a Thursday meal. Even
today restaurants serve this on Thursdays, along with pancake.
Small confession. I didn’t completely follow the
recipe. I added some harissa, which is very un-Swedish, and I left out
pork, which is very un-Swedish. It still turned out nice. The recipe is
available here
Today's Favourite Photo
Source: Cakewhiz
Today’s Favourite Blog
Hitler was a vegetarian. I don’t know why but I
was surprised to read this. I suppose vegetarians too can have all sorts of
traits.
Margot Woelk was one of Hitler’s 15 food
tasters. For almost 2½ years her job was
to taste, or test, the food for poison.
So every day between 11 and 12 in the morning she was forced to eat a
lavish meal. If she did not fall ill, the food was packed into boxes and taken
to Hitler at the Wolf's Lair, a military headquarters located in Poland.
I guess there are not many occasions in life
where one is forced to eat a lavish meal, every day. And I guess there are not
many occasions in life where you eat every meal thinking it could be your last
meal.
This job was not advertised. I don’t think
anyone would have applied if it was advertised. But maybe I am wrong, we have
all sorts of people in this world. “Lucrative food testing opportunity. Lavish
meal served daily, for free. We make sure your last meal is a lavish one. Salary paid
daily in advance”.
Margot escaped when Hitler was killed. The other
14 food tasters who had stayed behind were all killed, I guess not by food.
I love pea soup and I think adding harissa was a great idea! My favourite dried pea soup is with smoke pork ribs (simmered together for hours.... it's a pure delight but I have never seen it in France or Switzerland).
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Hitler being vegetarian is quite a famous history fact -or rather anecdote- for us, Europeans.
Smoked pork sounds awesome. I've had soup once made with pork hock, really nice. I still remember the taste even though I had it long time ago, like more than 10 years ago! Time to try again, this decade:) Smoked pork is not difficult to find.
DeleteBeing vegetarian - at least he spared other animals. I am very tempted to share more thoughts but I think its best to stop:)
Here smoked pork is everywhere too, but not smoked pork ribs (with bones). They are just another dimension. Haha! I think I know what you mean ;-)
DeleteI've never seen nor tried smoked pork ribs. I will buy it if I come across it
DeleteNice looking soup, good call on the harissa. Would be fun to compare it with a French Canadian pea soup.
ReplyDeleteGee, not a food job for me!
Maybe a soup fest to compare different soups?
Deletea very interesting article. i even clicked on the link to view the full article.
ReplyDelete