Fishing is an excellent way to enjoy the outdoors, and it’s a vastly popular hobby in the Nordic region where there is an abundance of seas, lakes, rivers, and streams for fishing enthusiasts to cast their lines.
In fact, there are well over 100,000 waterways to choose from throughout Sweden alone, and many different habitats and landscapes, all home to thousands of species of
fish. As a result, anglers from all over the world flock to Sweden and the rest of the Nordics each year to try their luck on the waters.
Fishing may seem complicated to get started with, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s an incredibly easy hobby to get into and a great way to enjoy nature and spend time outdoors doing something different.
We caught up with the well-known fishing guide Kevin Simesson from Expertfiske to deep dive into the art of fishing in Sweden. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to get started, including the gear you need and some basic tips to get started.
Fishing Licenses
First things first, licenses are used to control fishing and ensure that anglers are behaving correctly to protect the environment and minimize any damage to local ecosystems. In Sweden, license requirements will depend on where you’re fishing and what kind of fishing you’re doing. If you’re fishing with a guide, they’ll normally take care of everything for you.
However, you’ll need to be aware of the rules if you’re organizing your fishing activities by yourself. Foreign anglers can usually fish without a license if they’re on public land and using hand gear. But keep in mind that license requirements can change depending on the equipment you’re using.
The type of fishing you’re doing and the method you use will have an impact on the gear you need. There are many different ways to fish, and some are more effective in certain areas than others. Whip fishing is perhaps the easiest when it comes to getting started, and you don’t need a lot of fancy gear.
All you need to start whip fishing is a small whip, as well as a readymade rig which includes the line, float, weights, and hooks. There’s no reel involved in this type of fishing, and instead, you’ll simply be casting out the line before whipping up the pole when you feel a bite.
You can catch lots of small fish with whip fishing, but you may want to upgrade to lure
fishing, float fishing, or ledgering depending on where you’re fishing and the kind of fish
you’d like to catch.
Fishing Equipment
If you’re just starting out, you won’t need to purchase loads of expensive equipment. Whip fishing is recommended to beginners because it’s easy to get started, and you won’t need much in the way of gear.
Here’s a list of the basic things you’ll want to have before you can get started:
● Telescopic whip – This should be around 3-4 meters long. It’s telescopic, so you can
easily store it when not in use.
● Pole fishing rigs – These take the hassle out of setting up your gear. It’s a simple kit
that has everything you need to attach to your whip.
● Disgorger – Removing the hook from the mouth of a fish can be difficult, but a
disgorger lets you do it quickly and safely.
● Landing net – Once you whip in your fish, you’ll need a net to get them out of the
water. This is just a small net that you place the fish in to safely remove the hook.
Catch and Release
In Sweden, catch and release is the recommended fishing style. This means that once you
catch a fish, you’ll place it back in the water to allow it to continue its life. This helps preserve the fishing potential of Sweden for generations to come and ensures that the country will always be a perfect place for anglers.
Who doesn’t like a crisp savory waffle? The Swedes sure do – so much so that they even celebrate a National Waffle Day that occurs on March 25 every year.
Eating waffles is an old tradition in Sweden that can be traced all the way back to medieval times. The name Waffle Day (Våffeldagen) was originally a mispronunciation of the name ‘Vårfrudagen’, which was said to be the day that archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary to announce that she was carrying baby Jesus.
It was during the 1500s, that the Swedish church ultimately decided to make March 25 the official date of Vårfrudagen, better known today as National Waffle Day. This was known to be the day when winter would turn into spring, and farmers would start sowing their crops.
The beginning of spring would usually mean an increased availability of eggs and milk during a time when Swedes were relatively poor and could not afford to eat large meals. For these reasons, it became even more important for the Swedes to celebrate the making of waffles with those precise ingredients.
Swedish waffles are much thinner than the famous Belgian waffles and come in a circular shape rather than a square like most waffles we see today. It was during the 1700s when the iron stove came to Sweden that it became more convenient to simply make the waffles in a circle-shaped waffle iron. It is from those waffle irons that today’s heart-shaped irons originated.
This article was first published on March 25, 2018, and has since been updated.
According to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, an increasing number of Swedish women are having children after the age of 45.
Statistics from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare show that in 2022, the number of women giving birth after the age of 45 was 537, while the corresponding number for women aged 19 and under was 410. These trends have not been seen in Sweden since the end of the 1800s, before birth control and abortion rights, when 12 percent of all Swedish women who gave birth were over 40 years old.
Not only are pregnancies of mothers 45 and over increasing, but the number of teenage mothers in Sweden has steadily decreased since the 1960s when the birth control pill was introduced in Sweden. In 1968, close to 8,800 babies were born to teenage mothers, a far cry from the less than 410 babies born to teenage mothers today.
“Childbirth is becoming more and more well-planned, with people waiting until they have established a career and completed their education. So it’s not surprising that it looks like this,” says Gunnar Andersson, professor of demography at Stockholm University, to Aftonbladet.
Another reason for the changing trends is the increased availability of assisted reproductive technologies such as egg freezing and IVF, which can help women conceive later in life. Compared to the U.S., Sweden offers these solutions at a much lower cost, making the technologies more readily available.
It’s officially the Day of the Punschrulle in Sweden! You’ve got to love Swedes and their national pastry days.
What better way to celebrate than to make these delicious bite-sized treats that have been blessing the Swedes tastebuds for centuries? We are, of course, talking about the Swedish ‘Punschrulle’, or better known in Sweden as a ‘dammsugare’.
These small cakes covered in marzipan and dipped in chocolate are such a delight that we highly recommend putting your shoes on right now and getting to the nearest grocery store for some ingredient shopping.
1 tsp green food colouring (to color the marzipan in the typical Swedish green color)
4 tbsp Swedish punsch (could also be substituted with 1 tbsp of rum)
75 g of semi-sweet dark chocolate
250 g of leftover cake (spongecake, muffins etc)
Directions
Mix the butter, icing sugar, vanilla sugar and cocoa powder together in a food processor. When evenly blended, add leftover cake and punch to the mix and combine
2. Take out the mix and roll into two long rolls, about 1 diameter in thickness
3. Mix marzipan and green food coloring in a bowl until you’ve reached the desired color. Usually these desserts are a bright green. When done, dust a bit of icing sugar on a baking bench or flat surface and roll out the marzipan. Make sure there is enough icing sugar under the marzipan to prevent it from sticking to the surface.
4. Cut the marzipan into wide rectangular strips, about 2.5 inches in width and 5 inches in length
5. Take the cake mixture out of the fridge and make sure the rolls are tightly squeezed and even. Cut the roll into 2.5 inch pieces and roll each one up in a marzipan rectangle. Place in fridge for another 30 min.
6. A few minutes before taking out the rolls from the fridge, melt the semi-sweet dark chocolate. Let it cool for a minute.
7. Take the rolls out of the fridge and dip one end of the roll in the melted chocolate and place on parchment paper. Repeat with all rolls, and remember to only dip one end. When all rolls have been dipped on one end and the chocolate has stiffened a bit. Repeat the process with the other end of the rolls.
8. Once both ends have been dipped in chocolate and placed on parchment paper. Transfer the rolls to the fridge for at least another 30 minutes to make sure they hold their shape.
9. After 30 minutes, you are free to enjoy your Swedish dammsugare. You can also freeze them and save for a later fika!
Featured image: Lieselotte van der Meijs/imagebank.sweden.se
Today, it’s hard to imagine that a hundred years ago, women were unable to vote in elections in both Scandinavia and the U.S. A little more than fifty years ago, women weren’t allowed to open bank accounts or take employment without a man’s approval – and let’s not forget the women who are still fighting for these basic human rights in some parts of the world.
Nevertheless, a lot has happened in the last few decades, pushing equality and women’s rights, and it’s not without the incredible accomplishments of women, who had to be the first at something, smashing through stereotypes and defying expectations, and leaving an indelible mark on history.
Although, the push for equality has been a collective effort by women, and men, all around the world, we wanted to highlight some amazing Nordic women who have contributed to a change in the world, in their own special way.
Here are ten inspiring Nordic women you should know:
Astrid Lindgren
Astrid Lindgren was a Swedish author, best known for her children’s book series, Pippi Longstocking. Born in 1907, Lindgren began her career as a writer in the 1940s and went on to publish more than 40 books for children and young adults.
Her stories often featured strong, independent female characters who challenged traditional gender roles.
Sanna Marin
Sanna Marin is a Finnish politician who has been serving as the Prime Minister of Finland since December 2019. Being born in 1985, she is currently the youngest sitting Prime Minister in the world.
FinnishGovernment, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir is an Icelandic politician and former president of Iceland. She was the first woman to be democratically elected as head of state in the world, serving as the president of Iceland from 1980 to 1996.
During her presidency, she became known for her advocacy of women’s rights and environmental protection. She remains an important figure in Iceland and beyond for her role in breaking barriers for women in politics.
Rob Croes for Anefo via Wikimedia Commons
Margrethe II
Margrethe II is the queen of Denmark and has been in reign since 1972, making her the longest-reigning female monarch alive.
During her reign, Queen Margrethe II played an important role in promoting Danish culture and has been a strong advocate for sustainability and environmental protection. She is also the first female monarch of Denmark since Queen Margrethe I, who ruled from 1375 to 1412.
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe accepts flowers from the parade at Graasten castle on July 16, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Scanpix Denmark / Palle Peter Skov / Denmark OUT (Photo credit should read PALLE PETER SKOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Crown Princess Victoria
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is the heir apparent to the Swedish throne and the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.
She is a strong advocate for gender equality and women’s rights and has played an important role in supporting various charitable organizations and causes. She is also the first female to inherit the throne after her father changed Sweden’s Act of Succession in 1979, making Sweden one of the first European monarchies to adopt primogeniture.
Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg is a Swedish environmental activist who gained international recognition for her efforts to combat climate change. Born in 2003, she became a prominent figure in the climate movement after staging a solo protest outside the Swedish parliament in 2018.
Her protest inspired a global movement of youth-led climate strikes, which have been held in over 100 countries. She has received numerous honors and awards for her activism, including being named Time magazine’s Person of the Year in 2019.
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland is a Norwegian politician and physician who served as the first female Prime Minister of Norway.
Brundtland chaired the World Commission on Environment and Development, which produced the influential report “Our Common Future” in 1987, and served as Director-General of the World Health Organization from 1998 to 2003. She is widely recognized for her contributions to global health, environmental sustainability, and women’s rights, and has received numerous honors and awards for her leadership and service.
Photo Credit: Luiz Munhoz via Wikimedia Commons
Karin Boye
Karin Boye was a Swedish writer and poet who is widely regarded as one of Sweden’s most important literary figures of the 20th century. Born in 1900, Boye was known for her poetry, novels, and essays, which explored themes of love, human relationships, and the struggle for self-realization. She was also an active member of the Swedish literary and cultural scene and was involved in various political and social causes, including feminism.
Selma Lagerlöf
Selma Lagerlöf was a Swedish writer and the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. Born in 1858, she is best known for her novels and stories, which often draw on Swedish folklore and legend.
Lagerlöf was a groundbreaking figure in Swedish literature and society, and her works often explored themes of social justice, gender roles, and the power of storytelling. She was also an active member of the women’s suffrage movement and was the first woman elected to the Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Marit Bjørgen
Marit Bjørgen is a Norwegian cross-country skier and one of the most successful athletes in the history of the sport. Born in 1980, she won a total of 15 Olympic medals – 8 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze – over the course of her career, making her the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time.
From the Scandinavian countryside to the bright lights of Hollywood, Marthe Vångman’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Despite what she describes as a very comfortable life in Scandinavia, Marthe felt an irresistible pull toward the United States and set her sights on pursuing a college education in California. After years of hard work, and a little bit of fun, she’s now rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in Tinseltown as the Talent Executive at Invisible Narratives – a digital studio founded by producers Michael Bay (Transformers, Armageddon), and Adam Goodman, the former president of Paramount Pictures.
Despite climbing the ranks in one of the most cutthroat industries in the world, she has still managed to hold tight to her Scandinavian values – something she credits as a significant factor in her success.
What began as a journey many Scandinavians embark on, continued into a career many dream about. How did she do it? What have been her biggest challenges, and what can others learn from her experience? I found Marthe’s story incredibly so inspiring, I wanted to sit down with her to share her story in an effort to inspire others who might be on a similar path.
Interview by Natalie Söderberg – Founder & Editor at Swedes in the States
Born in Norway, raised in Sweden – where is home to you?
Sweden is home to me. That’s where my family and childhood friends are, but I feel very Norwegian at the same time. Growing up, we would always celebrate holidays according to Norwegian traditions. My grandparents and close family still live in Norway, so I guess I would say I’m literally half-half!
Why did you decide to leave Scandinavia, and what brought you to Los Angeles?
I’ve always felt very restless and dreamt of exploring the world. The creation of movies has also always been something that’s fascinated me and inspired me to dream about working in the movie industry. I first moved to Santa Barbara to study film production and realized quickly thereafter that in order to succeed within the entertainment business, you had to have connections. That’s when I decided to move to Los Angeles, the “movie city” of the world – I wanted to meet people with the same interests and who were working in the same industry.
Best decision I ever made.
Many Scandinavians choose to come to Los Angeles for the college experience, what were some of the highlights for you?
My college experience was great, mostly because I’ve met so many awesome people through college. I’ve created lifelong friendships, and those who are my very best friends today I met through college.
What do you think sets the experience apart from studying in Scandinavia?
It’s completely different!
First off, you need to learn a new school system which is a whole thing. Second, you meet so many new people from different cultures, and since you’re far from your friends at home, you really have to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people. Third, you get to wake up to sunshine and palm trees every day which gives you so much happiness. Lastly, Los Angeles is a city with endless things to explore and there’s never a dull moment.
How did you get a start in your career?
After college, I landed an internship at one of the biggest artist management companies in Los Angeles. During my time there I was recruited to work with one of the artists directly as a part of his management team.
As this was happening, one of my close friends was founding a company called Studiotime, a platform that acted like Airbnb but for music studios. He was looking for ways to promote the studios and came up with the concept of Studiotime Sessions, where I was directly involved by helping to gather artists for organized live music events inside the music studios. We invited people from the entertainment business, and it quickly turned into a place where people could network and discover new artists.
We grew from having 30 people attend the first show, to 200 people within a few months. Then covid hit, and we had to put the events on hold. I was lucky since I had been offered a job by my current boss, Adam Goodman, two years earlier, and decided to call him up and ask if the offer was still standing. He liked what we had done with Studio Sessions so two weeks after that call I joined the team at Invisible Narratives.
Marthe Vangman at Bay Films Platinum Dune
What projects are you currently working on?
I have some really exciting projects coming up! This summer I’m set to be working on the comedy feature film ‘Time Tripper’, which will feature some of today’s top TikTok influencers. This movie has been a long time coming as it was originally set to go into production in 2021, but due to covid and other outstanding factors, we had to delay the project. We’re finally moving into production this summer. My role is to manage all talent for this production and I’m incredibly excited to be a part of this project.
Another project that I’m currently working on is the second feature in Faze Clan’s ‘Cinematic Universe‘. The feature will be a follow-up to the first movie ‘Crimson‘, which was a box-office success and starred FaZe Rug. I’m set to be the talent agent for this production, where I’ll be working closely with the creators and producers.
In addition to that, I’m working on some fun projects with great creators like Lizzy Capri, BWA Jack, Yoeslan, Jessii Vee, Dimucc, Greg Renko.
What would be your best advice to anyone wanting to start a career in the United States?
Connect with people, and help people get connected through you. Having a great network is key, and by helping other people connect you’ll stand out as a valuable resource and friend.
Another piece of advice would be to reach out to other people that are working with what you’re doing. It’s so easy to send them an email or hit them up on LinkedIn. People love talking about themselves, so show interest in learning about their stories and the companies they work for. Don’t be afraid to brag about yourself, show your work and how you could bring value.
You recently started splitting time your time between Miami and Los Angeles, how do the two cities compare?
I love both places a lot. Los Angeles is a big city and you need to plan out your day because the distance between places is usually very far. Miami is a smaller city, and it’s easier to be more spontaneous as everything is within a 10-20 min radius. Los Angeles has so much to offer when it comes to being in the nature, there’s a large amount of hikes and mountains to visit. Miami has more of a sea-life vibe where people go to the beach, go on boats, do paddle boarding and other fun ocean activities.
Other than that, the vibe of the two places are completely different from each other. Miami is very rich in culture, and LA is rich with aspiring entrepreneurs. Both places has it pros and cons, but they are both definitely two of my favorite places.
What are your favorite spots in Miami?
Miami has many good restaurants, and some of my favorites are Mandolin, Doma, Cote, Carbone, River Oyster bar, and Chotto Matte. The one thing I do miss in Miami is a good cafe to have a “fika”.
For outside spots, I love taking walks around Brickell Key, sometimes I’ve even spotted dolphins. It’s also nice to walk around in the Design District, where you can find a lot of cool art. And of course, South Beach. Many Miami locals feel like South beach is a tourist place, but going to the beach is a must for everyone that comes to Miami. It’s really clean compared to other places, and the ocean is clear blue. I also love going out to Key Biscayne to go paddleboarding! There are so many fun outdoor activities you can do in Miami, and the best part is that it’s always warm.
What are your visions and hopes for the future?
My vision for the future is to keep working with Invisible Narratives, help build the company and take it to the next level. I want to keep evolving professionally and challenge myself. I also want to find new ways to inspire people, and eventually, build my own influencer business that makes it possible for Scandinavian influencers to collaborate with brands and influencers in the U.S. I want to keep expanding my network and create opportunities for others. Making it possible for others to achieve their dreams is the most rewarding thing in the world.
As for my personal journey, I’d like to stay healthy and prioritize well-being before anything else. I want to become a better person and see my family more often. I’d really want to start traveling more again and discover new cultures, which is something that I really value. In a few years, I’d also love to create a family and start that journey of my life. But for now, my focus is health, career, friendships, and family.
To ask someone out on a date has always been a part of American dating culture, but the Swedes didn’t really have a structured dating culture until online and app dating became the norm 10-15 years ago.
This means that the U.S has a more traditional way of dating whereas many Swedes are just now learning the ropes. This becomes especially obvious for Swedes coming out of long term relationships that began a decade or two ago. They enter a dating landscape that looks completely different compared to the last time they were single.
DINNER VS FIKA
In the U.S. dates usually consist of dinner or drinks but in Sweden, the dinner date is not at all as popular. Most commonly, and perhaps the most Swedish thing to do, is a fika date. Meeting up for drinks is also popular, as well as taking a walk. This means that Swedish dates are usually not as long as a full evening dinner date. A fika or a walk takes about an hour, and if a date is longer than that it’s usually a sign that the date is going well, whereas in the U.S it could just mean that the service was slow at the restaurant…
YOUR PLACE OR MINE?
“Your place or mine?” is an uncomplicated question in Sweden since it has the highest amount of single households in the world. Over half of the Swedish population live alone, whereas having a roommate is much more common in the U.S., especially in bigger cities.
Göran Berfenstam, a researcher on single households, says that the extreme amount of home-aloners in Sweden is a question of personal values: “we have become more interested in self-actualization which makes us less prone to compromise in our relationships”.
Meaning, in Sweden it’s easier to have an intimate date in someone’s home, but it’s more uncertain if you get to stay there…
SEXUAL OPENNESS
Is Sweden really as sexually liberal as they say? Well, compared to the U.S., it is in several ways. One difference is that the legal age for sex in Sweden is 15 compared to 16-18 in the U.S., depending on the state. Most Swedish parents and teachers are accepting of teen sex and there is little stigma around it. Sweden’s laws around sexuality have always been way ahead of the U.S. Homosexuality was legalized in 1944 in Sweden, compared to the U.S., where it was legalized nationwide in 2003. Sweden legalized abortions almost 40 years before the U.S did. Since 2018, there is a Swedish law making it illegal to have sex with someone who’s not consenting through words or actions, which shifts the question in a situation of sexual assault from “did they say no?” to “did they say yes?” Does this mean that Swedes are sleeping around irresponsibly and having abortions left and right? No (the number of teen abortions has actually dropped by 50% since 2009), but progressive laws and a relaxed attitude towards sex for teens, adults, men, women, straight people and gays alike give Swedes the freedom to date and explore their sexuality in a safe and casual way with little judgment from the outside.
FAMILY LIFE
If you’re dating with the hopes of starting a family there are two important differences:
Sweden has one of the world’s most generous parental leave policies while the U.S is the only developed country in the world with no maternity leave at all.
Swedish women have their first child later (31) than American women (26).
Statistically, this gives Americans less time to figure out who they want to settle down with, while also having to find a co-parent that is able, and willing, to financially support or take care of the kid(s). Dating thus becomes not only about finding love for themselves but also about the financial and emotional security for their future children in a more practical way.
The U.S has a much bigger housewife culture, which is uncommon in Sweden where both of the parents usually keep their jobs and share the responsibility for the family. Affordable daycare makes sure that even divorced and single parents can work which takes some of the pressure off of dating. You still have to find someone to have a loving relationship and family with, but there is no pressure to give up your career or support the family all by yourself.
This article was originally published on October 11, 2019.
IKEA have launched a duvet bundle to help the UK sleep better when sharing beds. Drawing from the Swedish tradition of single duvets, the TOG-ether bundle allows people to purchase two single duvets for less than the usual price for a limited time to help them win at sleeping.
Does your significant other have a tendency to hog the blankets while you’re sleeping? Don’t worry! Thanks to IKEA, the tug war is over. A while back, the company launched the “TOG-ether bundle,” two duvets – one for each person instead of sharing one big duvet.
Apart from being the solution your relationship probably needs, it’s also perfect for people who tend to get too hot or cold during the night. When buying the “TOG-ether bundle” you can choose the level of insulation of the separate duvets.
According to recent research, about 50 percent of people in the UK suffer from bad sleeping habits, such as tossing and turning, waking up too cold or too hot and getting bothered by our significant others. This leads to many adults missing out on at least an hour of sleep every night.
Textiles leader at IKEA UK and Ireland, Carol McSeveny, said: ‘Many of us find that not getting a good night’s sleep is becoming a regular occurrence. Getting enough sleep is of the utmost importance for us to remain healthy and optimize our wellbeing.
The project is inspired by the traditional Swedish way of sleeping— where most couples use two single duvets at night.
Photo: IKEA
We will be patiently waiting for this Swedish life hack to come to IKEA’s U.S. stores soon. Stay tuned!
This article was originally published on January 29, 2018.
I am ashamed to say that in a lifetime of traveling to Sweden, it was only a few years ago that I discovered this sweet treat! I was on a trip with my mother and infant daughter and we stopped into a supermarket for a quick trip to get an ingredient for dinner and hastily decided to get a little fika treat too. I chose my usual Cardamom bun and my Mom chose a vaniljhjärta. I was intrigued and the next day I bought one for myself and was hooked!
Buttery, cream filled and vanilla?! What more could you want in a cookie treat?
Traditionally these are made in heart molds that are deep enough to hold all the pastry cream inside. These molds are hard to find outside of Sweden so in this version, they are baked flat on a cookie sheet. Because of this, they might not have quite the same amount of cream inside, but they make up for it in flavor.
Swedish Vanilla Custard Hearts
Makes 18 cookies, with some pastry cream leftover
Ingredients
Shortcrust pastry
1 ¾ sticks butter, softened 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons powdered sugar 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt 1 egg
Vanilla Pastry Cream
2 cups milk 1 tablespoon good quality vanilla extract ½ teaspoon salt ½ cup sugar ¼ cup cornstarch 5 egg yolks 6 tablespoons butter, room temp
Directions
Start by making the pastry cream:
Pour all the milk into a medium saucepan. Add the vanilla and about a quarter of the sugar. Stir lightly and set over medium heat.
While the milk heats, whisk together the egg yolks, cornstarch, salt, and the remaining sugar. Whisk until the yolks become light in color. When the milk is hot, but not boiling, slowly pour half the milk into the yolks while stirring. Once mixed, return the yolk/milk mixture to the saucepan and set over medium heat. Stir constantly with a whisk until the mixture thickens and eventually “bubbles”. Remove from heat and stir in the butter. Transfer to a container and set in the fridge to cool for at least 2 hours.
To make the dough:
Allow the butter to soften at room temp on the counter, or if pressed for time, microwave for a few seconds at a time until soft. In a stand mixer, combine the flour, powdered sugar, salt, and butter and mix with the paddle attachment until sandy. Add the egg and mix until it forms a dough. Remove the dough from the bowl and wrap it in plastic wrap and allow it to rest for at least 1 hour or overnight.
Remove dough from the fridge and roll out to about 1/8th of an inch thickness – use your pastry cutter to cut heart shapes, making sure to cut two shapes per cookie you wish to make.
Arrange half the hearts on a cookie sheet and spoon or pipe some of the vanilla pastry cream into the centers. Use your rolling pin to slightly enlarge your heart shapes for the top of the cookie. Place the dough lid on top and press closed with your fingertips. To clean up the edges, press the cookie cutter over the cookie and cut off the excess dough.
Bake at 350F for about 15 minutes until the edges are just starting to brown, the cookies should barely have any color to them. Allow them to cool on the sheet pan.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.
Enjoy!
This article was originally published on June 3, 2021.
On February 2nd, 1966, the coldest day ever recorded in Sweden took place in the small town of Vuoggatjålme in the northern region of Lapland. At a temperature of -52.6 degrees Celsius (-62.7 degrees Fahrenheit), this was the coldest temperature Sweden had ever recorded since they started measuring temperatures in 1860.
The extreme temperature drop was the result of a cold air mass that had descended over the country from the north, bringing with it winds of up to 20 meters per second.
It’s worth noting that the temperature was measured on a private thermometer and not at a weather station, which at the time left room for debate on whether it was an accurate reading or not.
The coldest temperature ever recorded in Sweden at an official weather station was on December 30, 1978. The temperature was then measured to be a chilling -48.9 C.
Whether the coldest day in Sweden dropped to as low as -52.6 C or it was in fact -48.9 C, the extreme cold resulted in major damage in the northern parts of the country, including the breaking of water pipes and the grounding of aircraft due to the freezing of engines.
The extreme cold also had a significant impact on the country’s wildlife, with many animals struggling to survive in the harsh conditions.
Thankfully, it’s not often that Sweden gets that cold. Normal winter temperatures in Sweden will reach around -30 C in northern parts of Sweden, and stay close to freezing temperatures at 0 C in southern parts of Sweden, according to Visit Sweden.
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