Yesterday, we drove down to Los Angeles to get our income taxes done. Since we were in the neighborhood, we stopped by Fishducky's house, but found no one at home. Sorry we missed you my dear friend.
Happy that we didn't owe any tax money, we then decided to go to the Scandinavian store and stock up on some herring, cheese and these wonderful crisp breads - knaeckebrod in Swedish. I lived off the salty herring and this crisp bread while I had the flu, so we were completely out. The store is owned by a Mr. Olson, old now, but he keeps it going. Yesterday, he had a young Swedish-American guy helping him. We chatted for a while in Swedish and he told me his mom was Swedish and he had learned about the store at Christmas time.
The store is very close to where we used to live and every Christmas, I remember, Swedish women from far and wide would descend on the store to get the Swedish Christmas ham and other goodies. So the young man's mom had been a part of that and kept the old traditions alive. The matjes herring is in the above container. We got two of these, just to have. This is one of our favorite meals: thick slices of fatty, salty herring that you cover with sour cream, chopped up chives or green onions, and topped with chopped up hard-boiled eggs and serve with fresh potatoes (if you can find them). We also have a salad with this meal.
On our way home, we stopped in Lancaster, a town in the Antelope Valley, about 45 miles from here. Costco was our destination. We just became members last month and are trying them out. Not sure yet if we like this huge store or not. Or if we save any money for that matter. With my husband in tow, I am not so sure that any money gets saved when there's food to buy. As an example, I got the berries above. A reasonable amount that I can reasonably finish eating before they go bad. My husband spied these wonderful looking strawberries and just had to have them.
All four pounds of them! "I want to get healthy again," he said and after being as sick as we were, I can't blame him for that. Maybe he'll create a wonderful strawberry dish from some of them.
Yesterday went well, my second outing since feeling better, but this morning I woke up early and exhausted. Then I couldn't go back to sleep, so now I'm working on drinking coffee, hoping it will wake me up. I am excited though, because later today I get to go to the library! It's only open three days a week now and it seems I haven't been there for ages.
Have a nice day, everyone!
strawberries for breakfast, lunch and dinner! yikes! :)
ReplyDeleteIt seems that quite often the body years for what it needs to heal. I often wake up very early -- between 4.30 and 5 am and now instead of tossing and turning I get up and have breakfast -- an English muffin and a cup of tea and watch a favourite world news program I discovered was on at that time! Sometimes I get on the computer for a while. It's lovely now to watch the early sunrises. After an hour or two I go back to bed and sleep soundly for as long as I need!
ReplyDeleteOh I love those knäckebröd's and matjes sill. We have IKEA here in Dublin and we go there sometimes to stock up on some Swedish goodies :)
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling better now.
Have a lovely afternoon [it's already evening here]. Been out on a refreshing run after work. Not really a fan of sitting in an office all day.
Eva
I am SO sorry we missed you. we were having lucnh at Junior's Deli with a friend--we would have loved to have you join us!! Please let us know when you'll be in our area again.!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love pickled herring, any way it's prepared, but Bud won't eat it. We used to go to Scandia Reataurant--it no longer exists--they had a wonderful assortment. Now we buy Manischewitz.
mmm I'd love to try the herring ... is it cooked or raw?
ReplyDelete... I haven't been into a library in a lifetime ... your mention of it made me recall a certain 'booky' smell ...
Så roligt att ni kan få tag på svenska varor där :) Älskar också knäckebröd! Bären ser otroligt läckra ut!
ReplyDeletehi Inger! Everything looks so yummy! I just bought a mess of strawberries as well. They are a great treat. I'm glad you and your husband are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteI love going to the library and it is just a minute from my house. Enjoy your goodies and your library time!!
Hi Inger .. love Herring the way you serve it .. with sour cream or yoghurt, some chives and gherkins etc ..
ReplyDeleteLovely to see the fresh fruits - sounds as though hubby has the right idea ..
I hope you feel better soon and enjoy your library trip .. cheers Hilary
I'm so glad to know you've survived two very taxing experiences: being sick and seeing your accountant. And I salute you on your post-taxing celebrations.
ReplyDeleteNot sure the dogs will like the berries, but they may be tempted to steal some of the herring. If you haven't finished it already!
Blessings and Bear hugs.
Inger, I am beginning to think that we are living in parallel universes! We are also thinking about joining Costco too. But also my favourite indigenous food/treat is salt herring that is made here in Nova Scotia. It is called Soloman Gundy and it is pickled herring and so good on crackers with sour cream and/or mustard!!! I want some now! lol I'll see if I can send you a link about this treat we have here>
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to 'our' herring treat here in Nova Scotia. It is an interesting read:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.merseypointfish.ca/index.php/about/a_bit_of_history/nova_scotian_solomon_gundy/
Just something about food from the home country, isn't there?
ReplyDeleteGlad that you are feeling better and are out and about. The Swedish food looks interesting. I always enjoyed Norwegian foods while I lived in North Dakota.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a while to get over being sick. I hope you get your pep back soon!
ReplyDeleteHerring... When I was a kid, we would have pickled herring. I loved it. Never see it around here. :(
Glad you' all are on the mend Inger. The herring dish sounds yummy. It's funny what you miss from your past, for me it's a good Chicago Dog with all the trimmings and a frosty mug of root beer!
ReplyDeleteTexas has chili dogs, EH!
Sounds like a fun day!...I know what you mean about Costco...when there are only two... it can be alot of food...but gas is cheaper:)
ReplyDeleteLove the herring with do-dads loaded up! CostCo is a cross for all of us, but we still go!
ReplyDeleteWe lived in Victorville many years ago. Lancaster was just a coyote howl away.
That is the problem with those big box stores, finding doable amounts of anything. Lucky for me there aren't any near me.
ReplyDeleteThose strawberries would be great in a smoothie.
Fresh berries look so beautiful! Yum!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first moved to SC my mom and I had trouble finding herring for Christmas. After that she always brought it with her when she visited!
Would love to have a bite to try it...my grandparents were swedish.
ReplyDeleteI have seen the crisp breads at a store nearby, will have to try them. Would the berries make jam? Or freeze for later?
ReplyDelete(And have I managed to get the blasted word verification off my site???) :)
Cat
Hope you're feeling better now. I've had a week long head cold and feel limp and useless right now. Just wanted to say that the official day off from the A to Z Challenge is Sunday but I'm taking Saturday off as it suits my routine better. Sorry to have misled you.
ReplyDeleteHey Inger - So glad you are feeling better:) I sure loved pickled herring growing up (since I'm Scandinavian-descent, it was a necessity during the holidays!). I think places like Costco are dangerous -- you go in for 2 things and come out with a cartful! Have a great weekend:)
ReplyDelete