LET’S HYGGE APRIL 2025

[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

This month’s journal is all about the harvest! After a thriving pumpkin patch, I’ve been roasting slices for a simple yet delicious salad that has quickly become a favourite in our home. It’s such a joy to cook with homegrown produce.

With our trip to Denmark just around the corner, I’ve also been preparing a small, heartfelt gift for family and friends — homemade eye pillows sewn from a cherished William Morris fabric and filled with dried lavender from my garden. They’re simple, soothing, and made with love.

This month, I’m also sharing a beautiful Danish film, The Promised Land — a story that lingers long after the credits — along with a song that’s been playing on repeat here: Seasons by Amistat .

I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into my world — full of small joys, seasonal rituals, and a touch of Danish inspiration. Wishing you a joyful month of May!

ROASTRED PUMPKIN SALAD

with Rocket, Goat’s Feta, Pistachios, Pomegranate and Pesto

This salad has become a favourite in our home — not just for its vibrant flavours but because it all started with a happy accident in the garden. One afternoon, I tossed a handful of pumpkin seeds into a garden bed without much thought. A few weeks later, I was greeted by a lush little forest of pumpkin seedlings! Now, every time I roast slices of homegrown pumpkin for this salad, it feels like a delicious reminder of nature’s surprises.

Makes 6 serves

INGREDIENTS

4 to 5 thin slices of roasted pumpkin (1 to 2 cm thick)
olive oil
salt and pepper
2 large handfuls of rocket
1/3 cup toasted pistachio nuts, roughly chopped
1/4 cup goat’s feta, crumbled
1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
2 to 3 tablespoons pesto (store-bought or homemade) you can find my recipe here!

Lay pumpkin slices on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Roast at 200°C (390°F) for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping once, until tender and caramelised. Let cool slightly. I always save and dry the seeds from my homegrown pumpkins to plant again next season—it’s a lovely way to keep the garden cycle going.

On a large platter or in a salad bowl, layer the rocket and roasted pumpkin slices. Scatter over the goat’s feta, pomegranate seeds, and toasted pistachios.

Drizzle the pesto over the salad just before serving. If it’s a thicker pesto, you can thin it slightly with olive oil for easier drizzling.

EYE PILLOWS with Pearl Barley and Dried Lavender

I’ve been gathering small, heartfelt gifts to take with us on our trip to Denmark in June. Using fabric from an old dress in a William Morris print and dried lavender from my own garden, I decided to sew a collection of little eye pillows — filled with calming lavender and Australian pearl barley. I swear by mine after a long day in front of the screen. Simple, useful, and made with love.

MATERIALS
100% cotton or linen fabric (preferably soft and breathable)
Matching thread
Sewing machine or hand sewing needle
Scissors or rotary cutter
Ruler or tape measure
Pins or clips
Funnel or spoon

FILLING
1 cup pearl barley
2 to 3 tablespoons dried lavender flowers (adjust to your preference)

INNER PILLOW Cut two rectangles of your inner fabric approx. 27 x 13 cm. Place right sides together, pin, and sew around the edges with a 1 cm seam allowance — leave a small gap on one short side.
Turn the fabric right side out. Use a funnel to fill about two-thirds full with your barley-lavender mix.
Sew the gap closed either by machine or with a neat ladder stitch.

OUTER PILLOW COVER – WASABLE WITH OVERLAP CLOSURE Cut two rectangles of your outer fabric – one that is approx. 28 x 14 cm. and one that allows for a fold 6 cm fold approx. 34 x 14 cm. This will be folded to create a cover with a 6 cm overlap.
Fold the fabric right sides together so that one end overlaps the other by about 6 cm, forming a simple envelope-style case. Pin the sides in place.
Sew along both long edges with a 1 cm seam allowance, backstitching at the start and end.
Turn it right side out and press. You now have a removable, washable cover that stays securely closed with no fasteners needed.

OPTIONALS

Add a drop of lavender essential oil to the mix for extra scent
Store your eye pillow in the fridge or freezer for a soothing, cool effect
Warm it gently in the microwave for a relaxing warm compress (10-20 seconds)

This month, I’m excited to share The Promised Land – Bastarden in Danish – a powerful Nordic epic directed by my former high school classmate, Nikolaj Arcel. Set in 18th-century Denmark, the film follows Captain Ludvig Kahlen, portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen, as he strives to cultivate the barren Jutland heath in the name of the King. The story unfolds with stunning cinematography and compelling performances, capturing the resilience of the human spirit.

I truly appreciated the film’s rich, earthy colouring, the captivating landscapes that so beautifully reflect the harshness of the land, and the outstanding performances — especially from Mikkelsen. It’s a deeply moving and visually striking film, and I wasn’t surprised to see it featured on Barack Obama’s list of films worth watching in 2024.

You can watch The Promised Land on Apple TV .

Some songs have a way of settling into your heart from the very first note — Seasons by Amistat is one of them. It’s a quiet, soulful piece that captures the beauty and uncertainty of life’s changing rhythms. I’ve returned to it many times lately — for comfort, for reflection, or simply to pause and breathe.

You can listen to it here: Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube

Let it wash over you — I hope it resonates with you as deeply as it did with me.