Urban Hike: No Sausage, But Blueberries And Frog!

No, we didn't eat the frog. It just happened bounce about amongst the blueberry twigs while I was picking. So I took a picture.

I guess it's best I start from the beginning. The other day, we decided to go to a lake side campfire spot and and torch some sausage, pick blueberries, spy for new mushrooms and have a good healthy dose of fresh air. Many cities here have established campfire or barbeque sites for citizens to use and often the city council provides wood for the fire. As Finnish cities are small and practically next to nature, it's very popular summer pastime, to go hiking and eat in the wild. So we bought sausages, filled water bottles and I prepared some vegetables to roast in the fire: cut them in pieces, add some spices, oil and wrap in tin foil. Then we set out.

Weather wasn't ideal but you cannot always choose. It was good enough (not raining constantly). After stumbling on a work site with explosives (due the map that was not updated properly) we finally found the right path and begun wading through undergrowth, mud and midgies. The path meandered between swamps and forest, and to my delight I saw arctic cloudberries, blueberries and wild strawberries, some of them already ripe.

Arctic cloudberry

Blueberry

Finally we reached the campfire site. It was next to a small lake and heavily populated with insects.
To our dismay, there was no wood to burn. The forest was wet because it had been raining heavily, so no hopes of finding dry wood to burn from there. We sat a while, listened the never-ending "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" of midgies, drank some water and begun our journey back home. After all, you can always roast your sausages in an oven too.

No wood, no fire

On our way back home we picked some blueberries and a few occasional wild strawberries. And got bitten here, there and everywhere. Picking berries is not that hard a job, but trying to stay calm in midst of a cloud of midgies is another thing. Midgies are not dangerous but when there's a plutoon of them trying to land on your fingers and feed on you, it tends to get bit annoying. The bites itch quite a bit. There are many ways to try to avoid them incuding poisons, clothing, ignoring them and staying inside. The most hardy people up north, where midgies are weather (not insects), say that you should just ignore them and get about on your business. Your body will adapt to the bites, and them and bites bother you less. I guess I've been away long enough to become soft and squealy. Midgies are one reason why I rather pick mushrooms, or rather their absence. In the autumn, midgies are gone for the most part, and it's more calm in the forest. Excluding of course, an occasional bear or wolf. (just kidding, it's quite rare to run into those two in the wilderness, they tend to avoid people)

That's a midgie bite. Luckily I am not as juicy as my friend.

When we got back home, we stuffed vegetables and sausages in the oven. It was good but I do miss proper fire burned sausage. Not often but it belongs to summer fun. Traditionally, mustard goes with sausage. I especially like dijon with honey, though I am not a big fan of mustard. Finnish mustard that is know as the Finnish mustard, is Turun sinappi, though it's not manufactured in Finland anymore but in Poland. Ah well, that's the global market for you.

That's all folks! I have a lot going on in my life the following few weeks so I might post a little more infrequently but I'll be around. Have a nice weekend everyone!

And here's what we did with the blueberries - ice cream with bluberries and cherry sabayon

The Light Side of Life

Helsingin Sanomat (the biggest Finnish newspaper) tipped me off. This is quite an entertaining and informative gadget that shows how healthy eating is dependent on daytime. So we eat healthy in the morning and by the late night news have found our gargantuan eating monster, and begun devouring pizzas, hamburgers and ice cream. The site is worth to have a look at for those who are interested in healthy eating and changing their eating habits.

There is an old saying that goes "Eat like a king in the morning, like a prince during the day, and like a beggar in the evening". Personally I've always found that bit of advice problematic, as I really dont feel like eating much in the morning. Just coffee and bread for me, thanks. When I was overhauling my eating habits, I had to teach myself to eat lunch, even before noon! (It wasn't easy) Though, I recognize the need and craving for sweets and palate pampering towards the evening. I suppose it is as the day progresses, and we get tired and loose energy, the body starts to crave more. Researchers actually have found that sleep deprivation makes you eat 300 calories more per day. So how about actually winding down and having a decent amount sleep?

Being an avid self-indulger (hey, someone's gotta do it!) I've tried to teach myself to enjoy some less questionable evening treats. Some are actually very good, so good that it makes you wonder how can this stuff be healthy?!

Mango-Banana Smoothie

This is less imaginative recipe than most of the smoothie recipes out there. See for instance here.
Nevertheless, this one is my favourite. It's quick, cheap and simple. Most of all, I love the taste. It's especially good during hot summer evenings. This makes 1 big glass or 2 smaller ones.

2-3 dl unsweetened apple juice
1 banana
1,5 dl frozen mango cubes

1. Put everything in a bowl. Grab a stick mixer and pure the whole thing. If you have a bowl with a lid, I strongly advise using it. Mango cubes tend to splurge about quite a bit.
2. Pour in a glass and enjoy!

Banana-Blueberry Quark

This is another simple, easy and rather a healty dessert type of food. I don't usually put in cream, as it is like giving your finger to the devil, start with small doses and end up using more and more. Usually I dont use any sweeteners with it but if your sweet tooth is aching bad, a teeny weeny pinch of stevia is good. This makes for 2 or one greedy.

250 gr quark (fat-free or low-fat)
1 banana
1+ dl blueberries
touch of vanilla powder
(sweetener of your choice, sparingly dosed)
(1 dl low-fat fake whipping cream or vanilla custard)

1. Put everything (but the creamy stuff) in a bowl and mix with a stick mixer.
(2. Whip the cream and slowly mix it in with a spoon.)
3. It's ready to serve!

Tomato-Basil Salad

Tomato and basil are a great pair. They make a great salad just with onion and a touch of olive oil and vinegar. Add mozzarella to that and its mmmmmmm..  Here's another kind salad, for light evening meal or side dish. Lovely with grilled chicken or warm baguette. This makes for one not too famished person.

1,5 dl sweet mini plum tomatos
10 basil leaves
1/2 small very finely sliced onion (shallot)
5-6 pieces artichoke in oil (with herbs/grilled)
Handful of rucola leaves
1 tsp balsamico
Pepper
1-2 tbsp olive oil (or use the artichoke oil instead)


1. Halve tomatos, slice onion, cut artichoke in 1 cm pieces. Rince rucola.
2. Put tomatos, onion and artichoke into a bowl and rip basil and rucola over them.
3. Sprinkle oil, balsamico and pepper over. Mix with spoon and let sit for 15 mins.
4. Serve.