Fabulous Finnish Foods - what Fun!

Though many Alaskans would argue, Finland claims to have the official house of Santa....but I will get to that in a moment.

First, on May day there is a traditional food that one needs to eat....its the Tippaleipä - traditionally served with Sima.  Sima is a fermented lemon juice that is a real big hit or miss depending on who made it.  This Sima was a total miss.  It tasted baaad.  The Tippaleipä...Looks like funnel cakes if you are familiar with the American fair food.

 When Tuija brought me the dish I made the worst mistake a person can make when eating foreign food.  I made the mistake of thinking it would be just like the funnel cakes Ive eaten during my childhood.  I was imagining the yummy doughy deep fried hot and steamy doughnut like cake, with the powdered sugar just melting as the funnel cake dissolves in your mouth.  oooh so yummy, making my mouth water as I think about it right now.

It was not hot, steamy or soft and melty.  It was not smooth and it did not dissolve anywhere.

Something else that is traditionally eaten in Finland is Leipäjuusto (bread cheese) or juustoleipä, which is also what I would call Finnish squeaky cheese!  YUMMY - and you would not believe how you eat it - you take

The cheese is on the right, the cupcakes were left just
because they look so pretty.

 a slice, pour in some heavy cream and sprinkle in some cinnamon - heat until warm and then put into a bowl and cover with cloud berries and  gaaaaaaaasp! sooooooo good! 

In Finland, Ive come to appreciate rye bread even more.  Well, maybe I shouldn't finger out Finland alone.  The variety of breads in EU is sooooo tremendously huge compared to the bread we eat in USA.  Additionally, Ive yet to find anything mundane as white bread.  Most of the time its wheat or rye here.  Love it!  In this photo all the way on the left is another yummy yummy dish - if served right.  It is this baked rice pudding surrounded by really really really thin rye bread.  The way I like to eat it is to have it warm, melted butter on top with a little bit of cinnamon or sugar.  The name is something like Karjalan or Ive also seen Karelian and Karjalanpiirakka.  Whatever its called, it is just a solid breakfast dish I enjoy.