End of A-Z challenge

I am so pleased and indeed proud of myself that I have managed too conduct and complete this funny A-Z Challenge.

A year ago I was just a spectator and promised myself , next time I would join. 
I have really enjoyed this month, although it was sometimes very difficult to think of the word I would use.
Next year I'm with and I will use Swedish words instead of English ones.

I don't think it's against the rules, right?

My daughter told me that girls from her football teams have decided to celebrating this day as the "Day Against Racism."
Everyone would draw on her arms symbol that they found  online.
I found it an incredibly good idea and have also participated.
This is me and my daughter together "Against Racism".

Z as in Zincica

"Zincica"

 

Zincica is a traditional Slovak product from sheep milk similar to  kefir.

The best kind is called Urda, it is denser than normal salty or sour zincica. Especially in the summer it is a nice refreshing drink.

This dairy drink has been greatly popular in all regions of Slovakia for its distinctive fine taste.

As with so  many other special flavours in terms of food, you have to be raised with these special flavours to  be able ...like them...LOL

Although Zincica is a refreshment by itself, it is often drunk in combination with the national Slovak food:

Bryndzové halusky ( Potato dumplings with sheep cheese and bacon).
 

Y as in Yoiking

A yoik is a traditional Sami form of song.

The old Sami singing style is said to be the oldest musical form in Europe. Yoiking has not always been appreciated as a form of music, however. At one time it was not even called music.

Traditionally, yoik usually have short lyrics or no lyrics at all and is traditionally chanted a cappella, but joiks nowadays may be accompanied by a drum (though not a Sami drum which is used for ceremonial purposes only) or other musical instruments.

Jon Henrik's emotional & powerful original yoik pulls heartstrings on Sweden's Got Talent:

Are you still with me, my dear friend,

Though I no longer see you?

Are you still here on earth,

As you are in my heart?

I lie here and ponder,

It's desolately quiet around me.

Tears break out and fall,

With the thought of you.

An angel that was forgotten here,

Have now got his wings.

Where do you fly now, my angel?

Where do you fly now?

Are you flying through the pearly gates?

Or the end of the world?

Are you flying next to me?

Or am I all alone now?

Wherever you are now, my friend.

Wherever the road leads you.

Promise me you'll wait there,

Until I meet you.

I hope you're happy now.

As I was with you.

And the pain you've suffered,

I hope it's forgotten.

Fly freely, my dear friend.

You are free now.

And until we meet again,

Farewell, my angel.

X as in Xanthippe

Xanthippe, 400 BC, was the name of Socrates wife. It is also an expression of quarrelsome and ill-tempered woman, originally aimed at her.

There are many stories about Xantippa but not many can be considered facts. It is often mentioned that she had a sharp tongue and she was the only one who could close the mouth of Socrates (and the only one to have ever defeated him in a discussion). Xenophon portrays her as a combative and malevolent woman with a bad temper.

In an anecdote comes Socrates home to Xanthippe, who scolds him before he came through the door and ends with a pouring the contents of a chamber pot over him. Socrates remarks then that it was often so with Xanthippe, that "rain comes after the storm."

When Socrates in Xenophon's dialogue Symposium will be asked why he married Xanthippe, he replies that he is like the man who wants to become ride expert and therefore choosing a temperamental horse.

W as in Wings of Angels

Sure, there are angels around us

I know it, because I've seen them

Even talking to them many times

Sitting on their lap and felt their arms around my body

Their wings around me like a soft blanket

Hard holding in me, all my body and soul

Protecting me against all the hardships that come up

With the old and the new in my life

Never have to be afraid to fall down

These arms will not allow it

It is warm and safe

Safely hidden by the blanket of wings

Wings of Angels

AzA 2015

V as in Viking

The Viking Age is the Scandinavian Iron Age last period, from the late 700's to about 1100 AD

The term is primarily used in the description of the Nordic region's prehistory, but also in British and Irish history. The period is counted in other parts of Europe either likewise as part of the Iron Age or as part of the early Middle Ages.

The word Viking means "fjord (or bay) people". There are different theories to how they got their name - either because it all started with people from "Viken" ("the bay" - marked with a red circle in the map to the right), or because the Vikings in their speedy longships would hide in a fjord (vik) and then launch surprise attacks on passing ships. Strictly speaking, only the people who went on raids were called Vikings. They were probably part time farmers, but there was a large population of regular farmers too. Going on raids was practical only to those who lived close to the sea.

In the territory which today is Sweden at viking Age , lived about 100 000 people, maybe even less. (Before Gustav Vasa's reign (1523-1560) we had no information about population)

The average Viking lived about 30-35 years. There were certainly those who were both 70 and 80 years old, but it was rare.

Vikings spoke a kind of Nordic, reminiscent of the Icelandic language as it is now.

U as in Uppsala

Uppsala is the capital of Uppsala County and the fourth largest city of Sweden, after Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.

It had 140,454 inhabitants in 2010.

Located 71 km (44 mi) north of the capital Stockholm, it is also the seat of Uppsala Municipality.

Since 1164, Uppsala has been the ecclesiastical centre of Sweden, being the seat of the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden.

Founded in 1477, Uppsala University is the oldest centre of higher education in Scandinavia.

A young town with nearly 40,000 students who are seen and heard everywhere.

I like it.

It makes the city alive.

T as in Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto 1 - B Flat Minor

I was maybe 12 years old when  I saw on TV a film about Tchaikovsky, his life and works.

It was the first time I heard the a piece of this concert.

I remember when the actor played those impressive accords ..

I was speechless.

Such beautiful music.

Even 40 years later it still is one of my absolute favourites.

S in a Saint

I admit that finding words in English which begins with letters i want..is harder than I thought .

I seem to have to get a "brain-drop" all the time.

In Swedish we call it " hjärnsläpp" it means I do not remember words beginning with certain letters ... my brain has laid off.

Now we have letter S.... and I just come up with one word...Saint

Ok. so this blog post will be about my favourite Saint:

Francis of Assisi.
Why?
Because he seems real.
He has lived, sinned, protected animals, lived in simplicity and done good.

 

What is there not to love about him. ?

R as in RÖMERTOPF (Roman pot, Clay Cooker)

Receipe for Chicken osso bucco with roasted garlic sauce

 Recipe

• 6 chicken thighs-organic with skin
• 2 carrots
• vidalia onion-sliced 1 large or 2 small
• 2 bulbs fresh garlic-prepared for roasting by tipping
• Rosemary, thyme, parsley chopped
• 1 bulb (small) Fennel-sliced
• approx a cup chopped tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon aged balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup cold water
• low sodium chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
• 1/2 cup or more dry white wine

Instructions

1.    Prepare chicken by rinsing, drying and seasoning with salt, pepper and your favorite combination of italian dry herbs.  Roll chicken on both sides in this herb mixture.  Drizzle with a little ev olive oil.

2.    Soak clay pot in cold water for 15 minutes.

3.    When ready, make a bed of veggies using the onions, fennel, carrots and 2 bulbs of garlic with the tips cut off.  Place chicken thighs on top of all this.
Set them up nicely on the bed of veggies and add chicken broth to cover veggies but not covering chicken, add the balsamic and all the fresh herbs and spices, salt and pepper to taste.  Optional add white wine also.  Do not let the liquid go as high as the chicken or it will not brown it will boil.

4.    Cover pot and bring to oven sitting on middle rack.  Turn over to 220 degrees C.  Do not preheat, clay pot goes into a cold oven!

5.    Let cook approximately 45 minutes -1 hour , then check , open pot with 2 heavy gloves , carefully and away from your face and take off.
At this point if the broth is simmering and bubbly but the skin is not brown, cook more without putting the top back on.
This should take another 10 minutes to brown.  Make sure the broth is not covering the skin or it will not brown.

6.    After 10 minutes it should be brown, depending on your oven if not, turn it up to 450 until it does, without the cover.  When nice bubbly and brown take it out and put on top of stove.  
Remove chicken pieces to a wooden board and strain out the veggies from the sauce.  Pour the sauce into a gravy de-fatter.  Pour now into a small gravy sauce pan on top of stove, eliminating the fat.  Purée some of the roasted garlic , carrot and veggies ( like 1/2 of them) into the gravy pot.  Adds lots of flavour.

7.    Stir the cornstarch into a little bit of cold water, like 1 tablespoon to 3 or 4 tbls water, stir into gravy, whisking till you get desired thickness,  it will boil , then  lower the heat and let simmer.  You can add more chicken broth as you go along.  Then add to the gravy some chopped fresh parsley....this is like a gremolata because you already have the roasted garlic simmering in the pan.

8.    Slice the chicken and serve with the roasted garlic and vegetable gravy.  Also can add the rest of the cooked veggies to plate.

Mangia!