Posts Tagged ‘St. Lucia’
Glad Lucia!
It’s the day for celebrating light in Sweden: the tradition of Lucia.
As the child of a Swede that was intent on preserving tradition, I always knew what would come the morning of the 13th.
In the midst of the pitch black of a winter morning, my mother would gently knock on my door, the sign that I was meant to get up. Propping it open, she would walk away, leaving only the melodic sounds of Lucia sången coming from the downstairs speakers. I would rub my eyes and sleepily crawl out of bed. Outside of my door, a white robe was carefully hung, a thick red sash draped on top.
Glad Lucia!
It’s Lucia Day in Sweden which means on the other side of the Atlantic it’s time for singing the Lucia song and baking saffron bread. And drinking glögg of course.
Saffransbröd – Saffron Bread adapted from Vår Kokbok
Almond paste
- 1 cup blanched almonds
- 1/3 cup sugar
Mix almonds and sugar in Cuisinart or blender until a chunky paste forms. Set aside.
Saffransbröd – Saffron Bread
- 1/2 gram saffron
- 75 grams butter
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 3 teaspoons yeast
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 3 cups flour
- Currants for decoration