Why are so many Swedish kings named Carl?

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January 31, 2023

Why are so many Swedish kings named Carl?

The name Carl, or Karl, which is the Northern Germanic form of the name Charles, has been a popular choice for many Swedish kings and royals throughout history. In fact, most Swedish kings have been named Karl or Carl, including the current king, Carl XVI Gustaf. Deriving from the word ”ceorl’, meaning “free man” or “man”, the name is believed to have been introduced in Sweden during the Viking Age.

Swedish kings named “Karl” have historically spelled their name differently during their lifetime, such as “Carl” and “Carolus”. However, in the early 20th century, it was decided that all royalty with names derived from “Carl” would use the standardized spelling of “Karl”.

The popularity of the name Carl among Swedish kings can be traced back to the 12th century, when the first Swedish king named Karl, Karl Sverkerson, became king of Sweden in 1161. Karl Sverkerson’s name as king was Karl VII – a name assigned to him since six other kings named Karl were mentioned in ‘The history of all Geatish and Swedish kings‘. However, most of them were likely fictive.

Another early Karl was the youngest son of Gustav Vasa, Karl IX. He inherited the throne from his two older brothers after years of feuding within the family for the throne. Karl IX was also the father of the well-known warrior king Gustaf II Adolf and therefore grandfather to the rebellious Queen Kristina.

READ: Kristina Vasa: The life and death of Sweden’s rebel Queen

A few other famous kings with the name Carl, Karl, or Charles, include Karl XIV Johan, the first Bernadotte king who was given the Swedish throne by Napoleon Bonaparte and is the great-great-great grandfather of the current king of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf.

The current King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf, who was named after his grandfather, is the longest-reigning monarch in Swedish history. He has been on the throne since September 15, 1973.

In Sweden, the King’s Name Day is a public flag day and is marked with salutes fired by the Swedish Armed Forces from stations around the country. The name day falls on January 28th in honor of Charles the Great’s, better known as Charlemagne, death anniversary.

Featured image: Photo of Carl XVI Gustaf: Anna-Lena Ahlström/The Royal Court of Sweden

Recipe: Semla Cake Pops

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Swedes in the States

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January 29, 2023

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Fat Tuesday or ‘semmeldagen’ is less than a month away, and we are counting down the days.

We came across this amazing recipe of semla cake pops from the Swedish baker Linn Cecilia, aka Fröken Frosting. Give her a follow on Instagram for more recipes and cute pictures of Swedish desserts.

A perfect way to enjoy the flavors of a semla in just one bite!

Makes 12-14 pops

Ingredients

• Two cardamom buns

• Almond paste

• Cake pop sticks

• Whipped cream

• Chopped peeled almonds

• Icing sugar

Directions

1. Grate or tear both buns into small pieces in a bowl.

2. Start off with about 3 tbs of whipped cream and mix it in together with the torn buns. Use your hands for mixing. The mixture should be wet and formable but not too wet or runny. If it’s too firm, mix in more of the whipped cream.

3. Now you should have a mixture that you can easily form. Make 12-14 even balls and place them on a tray with baking paper in your fridge. Let them sit for at least 1 hour.

4. While the pops are resting you can put about 4 dl of whipped cream in a piping bag with a nozzle of your choice. Place in the fridge.

5. Take out the balls, one by one to keep them chilled, and cut off the top, the shape a little “hat” (about 1/5 of the total height), and save that for later. With a small tool – a knife or whatever works for you, scoop out a little bit of the ball in the center of the ball, right where you cut off the hat, and save for late. Place the ball and the “hat” in the fridge. Repeat with the rest of the balls.

6. Use the dough that you scooped out of the ball and mix it with almond paste. How much almond paste you want to use is entirely up to you. I love almond paste so for me it’s 50/50. After mixing everything together take out the balls from the fridge and one by one, start filling the little hollows with the almond paste mix.

7. Take your cake pop sticks and stick it through from underneath (so that your filled in hallows face upwards) about 1/2 of the ball with the hat cut off. Super important that the balls are chilled when you do this, otherwise they could fall off!

8. Now it’s time to add the cream! Take your piping bag and pipe on top of your cake pop. I like to pipe 2/3 the height of the ball.

9. Place the hats on top of your piped cream. Take your chopped peeled almonds and sprinkle them around the edges of the cream. Strain icing sugar on top and you’re done!!

These yummies should be stored in the fridge, and they last for about 4-5 days. But don’t worry about that. You’ll probably finish them all by the end of the day!

/ Linn Cecilia – Fröken Frosting

http://frokenfrosting.com

This article was originally published January 31, 2022 and has since been updated.

Scandinavian Design and the United States, 1890–1980

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Swedes in the States

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January 19, 2023

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Dates: Oct 9, 2022–Feb 5, 2023

Scandinavian Design and the United States, 1890–1980 is the first exhibition to examine the extensive design exchanges between the United States and the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) during the 20th century. Serving as a corrective to the dominant narrative of central European émigrés shaping modern American design culture, the exhibition will present a new international story, featuring accounts of Scandinavian designers who immigrated to the United States; Americans who studied or worked in Nordic countries; the ambitious campaigns to market and export Scandinavian design to American consumers; and the American and Nordic figures who championed sustainable and accessible design practice. Many of the issues considered in the exhibition remain relevant today, including the contributions of immigrants to their adopted societies, the importance of international exchange, critical analysis of cultural myths, and concern about environmental sustainability and accessibility.

Link to LACMA’s website: https://www.lacma.org/art/exhibition/scandinavian-design-and-united-states-1890-1980

The exhibition is co-organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Milwaukee Art Museum in collaboration with the Nationalmuseum Sweden and the Nasjonalmuseet in Norway.

The world’s most expensive drink has a hint of Sweden in it

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Swedes in the States

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January 16, 2023

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Have some extra cash to spend? Hop on a plane and head to Tokyo.

It’s at the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo that you can indulge in the most expensive cocktail in the world – with one of the main ingredients hailing straight out from Sweden.

Sweden is well-known for their numerous vodka brands such as Absolut, Purity, Smooth, and Svedka. So it might not be surprising news that a Swedish vodka brand has found itself being one of the main ingredients in the most expensive cocktail in the world.

The drink consisting of Absolut Elyx vodka, a squeeze of lime juice and a diamond at the bottom of the glass will set you back an extra ¥2,600,000 or around 20,300 USD.

Naturally ordering a drink like this won’t come without the fanfare it deserves. The cocktail aptly named ‘Diamonds Are Forever Martini’ will be served to the tunes of ‘Diamonds are Forever’.

If you’re on a tight budget, however, Absolut Elyx can be found in most stores that sell liquor for around 30 USD.

Recipe: Semmelkladdkaka

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Swedes in the States

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January 12, 2023

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semmelkladdkaka-recept-700x700 — Photo: Kungsörnen

This article was originally published on February 7, 2020.

Did you know that an estimated six million Semlor are sold in one single day, during Fat Tuesday? If you’ve ever had a semla, this probably doesn’t surprise you the least.

In the past couple of years, bakeries have been getting more innovative with the semla, trying out new recipes and pushing the boundaries for how far and wide the semla can really go. We have tried a lot of semla recipes throughout the years, and have not been disappointed – but this one might just be our favorite.

Let us introduce: The Semmel-Kladdkaka!

Ingredients

The Cake:

Butter: 5.3 oz
Almond paste: 3.5 oz
Cardamom: 2 tsp
Sugar: 1 cup
Eggs: 3
All-purpose flour: 1 cup
Vanilla sugar: (1 tsp vanilla extract mixed with 1 tsp sugar)
A pinch of salt

Topping:

Almond flakes
Whipped cream
Powdered sugar

Directions

Melt the butter, chop the almond paste and add the cardamom
Mix together all the ingredients for the cake in a bowl
Add parchment paper to the bottom of a springform pan with about 20 cm/ 8 inches in diameter. Butter the inside of the pan to prevent the cake from sticking.
Add the cake batter to the pan and place it in the middle of the oven. Let the cake bake at 175 C or 350 F, for about 20-25 minutes.
When the cake has finished baking, take it out of the pan and let it cool. Meanwhile, slightly roast the almond flakes in a pan.
Sprinkle the almond flakes over the cake, add whipped cream on the top and garnish with powdered sugar.

Recipe: Everything You Need To Make The Ultimate Swedish Waffle

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Swedes in the States

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January 3, 2023

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It might just be a normal Thursday, but don’t we all deserve a slightly crispy Swedish waffle, paired with strong, black coffee for breakfast sometimes? We do! Preferably today.

Being somewhat experts in all things Scandinavian, we decided to compile a list of pretty much everything you need to make yourself, or that special Swede in your life, a waffle breakfast in bed. Keep scrolling to find everything you need from a recipe to the right type of waffle iron, to the traditional toppings that we use.

This article contains ad links. Consider ordering from them to support the Swedes in the States community at no extra cost to you.

Smaklig måltid!

The Recipe

First things first, you need the recipe. Making these waffles from scratch isn’t very hard, but if you’re feeling lazy, you can order a Swedish pancake/waffle mix on Amazon.

Swedish Pancake & Waffle Mix from the Swedish brand, Kungsörnen

If you prefer to make it from scratch, see below:

For 10-12 waffles

Ingredients:

100 grams (½ cup) butter
4 dl ( 1 ⅔ cup) of flour
A pinch (½ tsk) salt
1 tsp baking powder (skip this if you want your waffles crispy)
5 dl (2 cups) milk
2 eggs

Directions

Melt the butter and let it sit for a bit. Mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and salt). Mix half of the milk in with the dry ingredients until smooth, then add the rest of the milk, eggs, and butter.
Heat up the waffle iron.
Brush on a little bit of butter before pouring ½ cup (1 dl) of the batter into the iron.
Bake them until they are easily removed from the iron and have a nice golden color to them.

The Correct Waffle Iron

This is very important. You see, the Scandinavians don’t make their pancakes or waffles thick like the Belgians or Americans. We like them thin and sometimes even a little bit crunchy. Swedish waffles are also heart-shaped, which adds that extra bit of sweetness to them. If you don’t have a proper iron already, we have some suggestions for you:

Heart Waffle Maker- Non-Stick Waffle Griddle Iron with Browning Control

We thought this vintage-looking waffle iron below was cool!

Nordic Ware Sweetheart Waffler

Eco-Friendly Heart Shaped Waffle Maker

Heart Waffle Maker with Non-Stick Plate
(We like this one the best!)

The Toppings

The traditional way of serving a waffle is usually with whipped cream and Swedish jam. Raspberry, cloudberry or lingonberry are usually the most popular flavors. We found some tasty-looking Swedish jams on Amazon.

3-Flavor Variety: One 14.1 oz Jar Each of Lingonberry, Cloudberry, and Gooseberry in a BlackTie Box

If you are looking to support a small business and get your hands on some real Swedish handmade jam, check out Lilly’s Marmalade. Lilly is a 4th generation jam maker based in Phoenix, Arizona but can ship anywhere in the United States. She makes all flavors like lingonberry, blueberry, and raspberry.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Homemade Jam & Marmalade (@lillysmarmalade)

This article was originally published on February 26, 2021 and has since been updated

Meet Ingrid Schatz: The Swedish-American talent behind Axelsdotter Bakery

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Swedes in the States

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January 2, 2023

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Axelsdotter bakery has been inspiring mouth-watering cravings with us since we first came across her Instagram account over a year ago. Since then, her following has quickly grown with Scandinavian pastry enthusiasts from all over the United States who can not get enough of literal eye candy. But it doesn’t stop at just pictures; residents of Richmond, Virginia swear by Axeldotter’s pastries.

The heart and soul behind all this captivating deliciousness?

Ingrid Schatz.

Ingrid is the half-Swedish, mother of two, who found a way to connect with her Swedish roots through baking. She started Axelsdotter Bakery as a tribute to her Swedish heritage and the bakers in her family on her mother’s side. Curious about her story, we were excited when she wanted to share her story with Swedes in the States readers.

We were quick to assume that you were born and raised in the United States. How wrong were we? Tell us about your connection to Sweden?
I actually wasn’t born here! My dad worked for the State Department and was stationed in Stockholm where he met my mom. We spent a lot of summers there when I was a kid at my uncle’s cabin, and I have so many good memories of swimming by the rocks, forest walks, and picking blueberries. In college, I spent a year at Uppsala University and it was one of the best years of my life. I haven’t been back in almost two years now, but I hope to soon.

What are some of your favorite places in Sweden?

So many different places for so many different reasons! I love wandering the streets of Stockholm, exploring the forests, and foraging for wild berries and mushrooms. I loved being a student in Uppsala, and also just hanging out wherever my family is. My family is currently in and around the Nörrköping area.

You started Axelsdotter Bakery early last year. What was the inspiration behind it?

I started Axelsdotter officially in January 2021, but it was something that I had been thinking about for many years. My great-grandfather on my Mom’s side, Josef Axelsson, and his brother, Bertil, started a bakery in Kristianstad called Axelsson’s and it is actually still in business to this day. The old bakery is no longer in the family, so when I decided it was my time to start a business I naturally thought of my family history when choosing a name. I come from Josef’s line of female descendants, my mom, and maternal grandmother, so Axelsdotter it was!

Who is your main clientele – Swedes living in the United States or Americans?
Honestly, it’s mostly Americans! Richmond doesn’t have a large population of Swedes like other areas in the States, so I think at this point every Swede within 50 miles of Richmond has found me! But I would say that the majority of my clients are Americans with Scandinavian roots and other European transplants to the Richmond area. Many people share stories about their Swedish grandmothers/fathers and the things that they would make growing up. It’s really nice for me to be a part of them carrying on a food tradition.

Which are your best-selling items?
The Fika Boxes. It’s just a perfect little sampling of buns and other sweet treats that make Fika time so great. I love making them and trying out new items in the boxes so they are always fun to make and fun for the customers. And, honestly, who can resist a warm Cardamom bun?

Do you have a favorite Scandinavian recipe or dessert that you like to bake?
I really love making bullar. I love the feel of the dough, the smell of them baking, and all the endless possibilities of flavors and fillings. Semla is pretty amazing to make too.

Before we let you off the hook, what does the future hold for Axelsdotter Bakery?

Great things, I hope! But in the near term, I would like to work on expanding to a retail location. I would like to be able to expand the selection of what I offer and even offer some savory items.

If you want to follow Ingrid Schatz and her work with Axelsdotter Bakery, you can find her on Instagram and Facebook.

This article was originally published on April 1, 2022.

Recipe: Sweet Kardamoms Lussebullar

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Swedes in the States

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December 1, 2022

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Sweet Kardamom is the Swedish American baking mother-daughter duo who were lucky enough to interview a while back. If you missed the popular article about them, you can read it here.

With the month of December knocking at the door and the first of advent already behind us, it is safe to say that Christmas is upon us. So we decided to share the recipe of a classic Swedish Christmas favorite – Lussebullen, a Swedish saffron bun.

Thank you to Margareta at Sweet Kardamom, who decided to share their recipe with our readers. ‘Tis the season!

Sweet Kardamom’s Lussebullar
(Preheat oven to 435 Fahrenheit)
2 cups of Whole Milk
2 Tsp Yeast
0.07 Oz. Saffron
7 Oz. of Butter
0.6 Cups of Sugar
3.5 cups All-purpose Flour
1/2 Tsp Salt

Directions

1. Pour the yeast into a bowl. Heat up the milk to warm, do not boil the milk. You want the temperature to feel warm (i.e body temperature). This is to activate the yeast and get the best possible proof. Add the saffron to the milk and pour the mixture into the yeast bowl. Let sit for a few minutes.

2. Add sugar, flour, butter, salt and mix it together, either by machine or by hand for at least 10 minutes.

3. Let the dough proof until it has doubled in size. Let it sit at room temperature and cover with a tablecloth. Depending on humidity and weather, the time may vary from location to location. Be patient, it will be worth it.

4. When your dough is done proofing, lightly flour your baking table and divide the dough into portions. This is a preference, make as big portions as you want, however, the baking time might be affected the larger the bun is. Sweet Kardamom aims for each portion to be about 2.6 Oz. each.

5. Roll the ball into a long stick form, it should be a little smaller in diameter than a quarter. Take a tip in each hand and roll one of them clockwise, and the other one in the opposite direction until they meet in the middle. They should look like the picture down below. Place your saffron buns on a tray, make sure to put them on parchment paper and spray it so that they don’t stick. Let proof a second time until they double in size.

6. Place a raisin in each heel and bake in the oven at 435 Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes. If you have a convection oven make sure to lower the temperature and check on your buns. As we all know, ovens can be different from one another, check on you saffron buns after 8 minutes.

7. While the buns are baking it’s time for you to make the syrup. It’s fairly simple to make your own. Add equal amounts of water and sugar in a bowl and stir until the sugar has melted.

8. Brush your saffron buns with the syrup as soon as they come out of the oven. This is what will give them a beautiful gloss. The only thing left to do is to enjoy your very own Swedish Lussebullar!

We hope that you enjoyed this recipe and will give it a try. Let us know if you do! We also want to thank Sweet Kardamom for sharing this recipe with us. If you want to learn more about Margareta and her baking goodies make sure to follow her on either Facebook here or on Instagram here.

All Saints Day: How Scandinavians honor the dead

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Swedes in the States

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November 4, 2022

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Although many Scandinavians have adopted the American way of celebrating Halloween in recent years, the original holiday ‘Alla Helgona Dag’, All Saint’s Day, has not been forgotten. In Scandinavia, All Saint’s Day is one of the most celebrated autumn holidays. Similar to the Mexican holiday, Día de Muertos, it is a time to honor both Christian saints and family members who have departed.

It is believed that the origins of the holiday date all the way back to the 11th century, and was originally called ‘All Souls Day’. The holiday would with time progress into a celebration of saints who didn’t have their own individual feast day, and later on a day to also honor those who lost their lives during World War I and II. Today, All Saints Day is primarily a day where Scandinavians honor their departed friends and family members.

The day is typically celebrated by visiting the cemetery and lighting candles on the graves of loved ones. They may even cook a special meal and enjoy it with family while reflecting on life, and the lives of those who have passed.

The holiday is typically celebrated on the first Saturday of November. This year, All Saint’s Day falls on November 5. If you happen to be in Stockholm and have an extra hour or two, pay a visit to Skogskyrkogården, one of the city’s most famous cemeteries, where thousands of candles have been placed on graveyards in honor of loved ones.

This article was originally published on October 31, 2018 and has since been updated.

5 Top Swedish Players in the NFL

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Swedes in the States

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August 5, 2022

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The National Football League is one of the most loved leagues globally, which welcomes and celebrates true sportsmanship. Players globally compete to be part of NFL tournaments, and there are some great players from Sweden too.

So, here are the Top 5 Swedish Players in the NFL:

Ola Kimrin

Ola Fredrik Andreas Kimrin, born February 29, 1972, is an American football placekicker with great performance statistics. He recently played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League. Ola Kimrin is quite popular on the team; as a result, fans regularly check his latest NFL odds in the season. His record of kicking a 65-yard field goal for the Denver Broncos a few years ago is still a very popular topic.

John Tyler Varga

John Tyler Varga is a name full of pride. He played gracefully with the Indianapolis Colts. Unfortunately, he suffered a huge blow in his final match in 2016 and retired due to injury. Nevertheless, he played with the Indianapolis Colts and performed well in the first-ever game against the Buffalo Bills.

Carl-Johan Björk

Swedish players are doing exceptionally well on all platforms of global football. Therefore, you must know Swedish football players to keep your eyes on right now. One among them is Carl-Johan Björk, born on February 26, 1982. He has gloriously played for the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and Cincinnati Bengals in the National Football League.

Björn Arne Nittmo

Björn Arne Nittmo is a famous name as he is one of the players who have a full season in the National Football League. Being the first player to experience a full season, he has a great history in the NFL. He played for the New York Giants in 1989.

Also, he tried to make a roster with the Kansas City Chiefs, but it didn’t go well. Later he was hired by the Buffalo Bills as a subsidy for Super Bowl XXV. Later he continued with the Buffalo Bills for one more season. His journey was quite interesting, and he played well in the NFL.

Chris Gartner

Chris Gartner is another very renowned name in the history of Swedish players. Born on July 12, 1950, he was first signed by Dallas Cowboys in 1973 after watching his good tactics in football. In 1973 he joined the Cleveland Browns as the second kicker to handle kickoff duties. He performed outrageously well in the NFL and other tournaments.

Did you know Tom Brady also has Swedish ancestors? Unfortunately, that does qualify our list for the top five Swedish players in the history of the NFL. Each one has its unique sports journey and undying sportsmanship. So, keep checking out here for more exciting news!