LET’S HYGGE APRIL 2023

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!

We are SO excited to experience that our goats are all expecting. We were actually not convinced that the visit from the Billy Goat was successful, but he has done a very thorough job. We spent the weekend preparing the shelter for the new kids. After some hours outside I enjoyed a quiet time creating a few paper Easter eggs. They are so simple and therapeutic to make. Have a go at making them yourself by looking at my video and instructions below. For more Easter ideas, take a look in my ‘let’s hygge EASTER’ eBook. It is full of lovely things to create, cook and celebrate! This month I am also sharing our traditional Danish Easter dessert, Citronfromage. Lately I completed work on an inspiring book project, The Art of Full Time Living. I am sharing that with you as well. I wish you a wonderful Easter, time 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!

PAPER EASTER EGGS

ALL YOU NEED

paper in a pattern or colour you prefer
scissors
glue stick
string for hanging

These paper Easter eggs are very simple, but decorative. Each egg requires 5 paper cut egg shapes. You fold them vertically then glue one half circle onto the second folded piece. To the second and third paper pieces you add a little loop for the egg to hang by. Repeat until all 5 cuts are glued together…and voila, you have a very pretty little egg. I found my William Morris wrapping paper in a bookstore. See the film below for even further instructions!

This traditional Danish Easter dessert is a celebration of eggs. After the long, dark, northern winters when chickens stop laying any eggs, Easter is the time when the days are getting longer and brighter and the chickens usually begin producing eggs once more. This traditional recipe harks back to the time when most of Denmark was farming based.

CITRONFROMAGE – DANISH LEMON MOUSE

INGREDIENTS

4 sheets gelatin
3 eggs
100 g sugar
2-3 lemons (100 ml lemon juice
1 tbsp. lemon zest)
400 ml heavy whipping cream

SERVES 6-8 PERSONS

Place the gelatin sheets in cold water for 5-10 minutes.

Using an electric mixer, whisk the eggs and sugar together until you have a light and airy mixture.

Finely zest a lemon (you need 1 tbsp of lemon zest) and squeeze the juice out of the lemons (you’ll need 100ml lemon juice).

Using your hands, squeeze the gelatin sheets to remove the water and place into a saucepan with 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice. Heat at low temperature until the gelatin is completely melted, stirring continuously.

When the gelatin has melted, remove the pan from the heat and add the remaining lemon juice and the grated lemon zest. Next, gently blend the gelatin mixture into the airy egg mixture.

Whip the cream until semi-stiff peaks form. Carefully fold the whipped cream into the egg/lemon mixture. Arrange your lemon mousse in a large bowl or in smaller serving glasses. Let the mousse set for 2 hours in the fridge.

As we have just finished building our own pizza oven, we thought it would be a great inspiration to watch CHEF’S TABLE PIZZA on Netflix. It’s such a wonderful series about how chefs found their passion and the journeys that took them there. It is mouthwatering but also very touching to see the magnificent results of their labours. A big recommendation… but don’t watch on an empty stomach!

I have loved creating the design and graphics for The Art of Full Time Living. It has inspired me to reflect upon my own life and how I imagine the future. Here is what the author, Natalie Yan-Chantonsky writes about the book: “The Art of Full Time Living is an uplifting, narrative-driven guide that will turn your midlife transition into a midlife transformation. Designed to help you feel less stressed and overwhelmed by changes in your midlife, the discussions and actionable steps in the book will sketch out your new possibilities. The book contains seven chapters: Midlife women today, Reimagining your next chapter, Full Time Living, Purpose, Social connections, Lifelong learning and Experiment with a Full Time Life. Please see the link to the book here.

Lately I have enjoyed listening to Tracy Chapman’s old album “Tracy Chapman”. It’s been really wonderful hearing her songs again as they bring back great memories of my youth… and it feels great to sing along!!
Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube.