A Modern Classic
I'm a cookbook junkie, I admit it. I have shelves full of cookbooks that I've never made even one recipe from, yet I won't part with them and I continue to buy more. My latest favorite, however, is one that I can't use enough, the Swedish classic baking book, Sju sorters kakor.
The title means "Seven Kinds of Cookies," a reference to a rule of etiquette for Swedish hostesses that at least that many varieties of cookie should be served at coffee-time. According to the book's forward, "The coffee klatch with seven different kinds of cookies is an important institution in Sweden. Our country is also the only place in the world that calls such an informal gathering a party." These days it's not so common to be offered such a wide array of goodies at a private get-together, but most Swedes are still aware of the tradition. This past year I hosted the family Christmas dinner for the first time, and I have to say that my in-laws were duly impressed when they saw the seven-cookie spread I had set out for our pre-meal coffee.
In the case of this cookbook, the title is a considerable understatement. The latest edition contains almost three hundred recipes, and you'll find a lot more than cookies inside. Every classic of the Swedish "cake table" is represented, as well as many treats more familiar to American tastebuds, such as brownies and blueberry muffins. The pages are so packed with great photos that you're likely to get a sugar high just from flipping through them. The first edition of this book was published in 1945, and until very recently you had to be able to read Swedish to get at all the good stuff inside. Last year, however, an English translation hit the bookstores, with all recipes fully translated and measurements given in both metric and U.S. standard units.
What could be better, you ask? How about your very own copy, free of charge? One lucky reader can win--just send an email to beverlyATmosaicmindsDOTnet to put your name in my random drawing. (Don't send your address now--the winner will be contacted at a later date for address information. Drawing will be held April 30, 2006 and the winner announced in our next issue, due out May 15, 2006.)