LET’S HYGGE MARCH 2024

Let's hygge Lindbjerg Graphic Journal Blog

[definition of hygge]

a quality of cosiness and comfortable living that engenders a feeling of contentment and well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture).

Add a little hygge to each month

I hope this little Easter greeting finds you well. I am loving this community and cherishing all of your kind messages. It’s wonderful to hear how you share my ‘let’s hygge’ journal with friends. Please keep spreading the hygge!

With Easter just around the corner, I share with you my eBook “let’s hygge Easter” full of things to create, cook and celebrate. I have also made a few, little films where I show you how I make an Easter wreath of native branches and flowers and another film showing you how to make paper Easter eggs. This month I am also sharing a Moroccan Salad that is great with the Easter lamb or as a vegetarian dish on it’s own. Lately I have been watching a Danish series with great joy – I give you the recommendation below, if you feel like a moment of relaxation.

I wish you a wonderful Easter with family and friends and lots of hygge!

Please see your copy above of the let’s hygge Easter eBook. It is filled with things to make, create and celebrate. Hopefully you will find a project that will make you smile! Click on the book or use this link!

EASTER WREATH WITH NATIVE BRANCHES

I make wreaths all year around. It’s my favorite way to start the weekend after my morning walk where I collect whatever branches I come across, so that a wreath reflects, what’s in season.

ALL YOU NEED:
a bunch of branches and flowers in season
scissor
1 metal wire ring
florist’s wire

STEP BY STEP:
I have bought some metal wire rings – these make it very easy to create a wreath and can be found in many DIY shops. I make small bouquets and tie them to a ring with florist’s wire. Watch the little film I made below of how I make the wreath or see the instruction in the eBook “let’s hygge EASTER” on page 18.

MOROCCAN SALAD WITH CHICKPEAS – PERFECT FOR LAMB!

This is a recipe given to me by my Danish friend Henrik. He made it for me when I last visited. He served it with a steak that he had finely sliced. I have made it many times since with great success. For Easter, I plan to pair it with lamb, though it’s equally delightful as a vegetarian option. Any leftovers makes a delicious lunch the following day!

SERVES 6-8 PERSONS

INGREDIENTS

2x400g cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 red onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup dried cranberries or dried apricots, chopped
1 preserved lemon, rind only, finely chopped
1 lemon, juice only
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs ground cumin
1 tbs ground smoked paprika
1 tbs ground cinnamon
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
1/2 cup Greek yoghurt
1/3 cup pistachios roughly chopped
pomegranate Molasses to serve

Place the chickpeas in a bowl and add the onions, garlic, cranberries or apricots, preserved lemon, spices, olive oil, lemon juice and soy sauce. Toss to combine and leave to marinate for at least an hour.

Line a serving bowl or dish with baby spinach leaves, add the chickpea salad and sprinkle with the parsley. Top with the yoghurt and pistachios and drizzle with the pomegranate molasses.

If you’re in the mood for relaxation, I highly recommend the Danish series “Dag & Nat” or the English title “The Shift”. The emotional, contemporary workplace drama is set in a maternity ward. Midwife Ella and her staff fight a daily battle to provide the best possible care for expecting mothers and newborns despite understaffing. At the same time, she is doing everything she can to keep her feelings for a married pediatrician at bay. Ella is brilliantly played by Sofie Gråbøl, who you may recognise from another Danish series, The Bridge. If you are in Australia or Denmark, you can watch it on SBS or TV2 play, respectively.

I am so excited to find that it is Wild Lilly season yet again! The first time I saw wild lilies growing along the roadside, my heart skipped a beat. I find it incredible to live in a country where you can freely pick flowers that can only be found in flower shops in Denmark. It is such a treat to be able to fill my vases with these elegant white flowers whose scent is milder and more delicate than the lilies you buy. At this time in Denmark though, they are blessed with pretty snowdrops which are just perfect for decorating secret snowdrop letters that you can find on page 10 in the eBook ‘let’s hygge Easter’ ! Good luck with your flower hunting!