SWEDISH THOUGHTS

2012-01-21T14:32:00.006+01:00

This photo shows
my grandmother´s sister Anna, her husband Albin
and their daughter Astrid Svensson.
Anna was born jan. 26. 1886 and Albin was born may 31, 1883.

2012-01-17T17:09:00.020+01:00

Now I am amongst all the interesting genealogy blogs here.
I feel honoured!
I celebrate by showing this old photo.

It is my mom's grandfather and grandmother.
Fredrik Niklasson, born Marbäck jan 19, 1848, dead Gällstad july 1, 1928
and Anna Lovisa Andersdotter, born Länghem dec. 12. 1850 dead may 5. 1912 Gällstad.

And now: it is the time to bake a cake..!

Tosca Cake

2 eggs
125 g sugar
100 g flour
1 tsp baking powder
100 g butter
2 tbsp cream

Topping:

50 g butter
100 g sugar
2 tbsp cream
2 tbsp flour
50 g flaked almonds
75 g hazelnuts, chopped
75 g almonds, chopped

Preheat the oven to 175°C.
Butter and flour a springform pan, about 24 cm in diameter.
Beat eggs and sugar until very fluffy.
Melt the butter.
Stir in flour and baking powder with the eggs, and then fold in butter and cream.
Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes.
Meanwile, prepare the topping.
Just mix all ingredients in saucepan and bring to a obil.
Spread it on top of the cake, and bake for another 15 minutes.
Let it cool more or less completely before taking it out of the pan.

I hope you like it. It is a typical cake in Sweden.

2012-01-15T16:24:00.007+01:00

This is my grand father Albin Målberg
born in Gällstad, dec. 21, 1880
dead in Gällstad, march 9, 1956

This is Albin, his wife Selma and their son Holger, born july 17, 1912

I have these amazing photographs thanks to my nice cousin!

2012-01-14T18:48:00.018+01:00

This is my grandmother Selma Målberg
Born in Gällstad, Älvsborgs county
febr. 2, 1889 - oct. 18, 1972

These are two of Selma´s brothers.
Ivar Andersson, born in Gällstad
oct. 30, 1891 - sept. 17, 1956 and
Sven Andersson, born in Gällstad
july 2, 1901 - june 19, 1973

I do not know the year in which the photo is taken.

2012-01-08T15:38:00.010+01:00

A photo from 1924 or 1926.
This is my grand father's sister Agnes and her family.

Agnes Viktoria, born 1884 in Gällstad and her husband Karl Emil, born 1879 in Länghem.
Their children:
Karl Helge, born 1908
Anna Viktoria, born 1911
Bengt Alvar, born 1922.
At this time the family lived at "Stora Ekered", Brunn parish outside Ulricehamn.
I have not seen this photo until very recently so I am very glad to have been able to scan it and preserve it.

2012-01-05T15:53:00.015+01:00

Trettondagen / trettondag jul

Twelfth Night or Epiphany falls just thirteen days after Christmas, more specifically, on January 6, and is in Sweden a red holiday.
Epiphany has an Eve called Twelfth Night.
Until the 1600s included the Christmas twelve days and on the great thirteenth day it was over.
In many Christian countries, the Epiphany of the Three Kings, Kaspar, Melki and Baltasar's day. The Swedish word Twelfth Night, will think of it just falls thirteen days after Christmas.
On the Epiphany was celebrated around the star-bearing. It went on tiggarstråt from farm to farm. The star would be in constant motion, which symbolized the sun. Young and old were playing indoor games.

Tjugondedag jul / Tjugondag Knut

falls on January 13, twenty days after Christmas, and counted in Sweden, Finland and parts of Norway as the Christmas deadline. Sayings: "Tjugondag Knut dance Christmas out". The day is called tjugondag Knut because it falls 20 days after Christmas and to Knut has name day on this day.

Julgransplundring
Christmas Looting is a tradition that involves the "get naked" and "throw out" Advent and Easter at tjugondag Knot, which falls on 13 January. Many Christmas tree looting is held, however, a nearby day.
The traditional Christmas tree "thrown out", while the plastic Christmas tree, Christmas tree foot, Advent candlestick, and more of julpyntet put away for the following Jul.
Christmas looting is usually seen as an end to it over a month-long period of Christmas, which begins with Advent. The period covers Advent, Lucia, Christmas, New Year and Twelfth Night. In conjunction with the Christmas tree looting arranged, especially for smaller children, dancing around the Christmas tree, various games, demolition / up of gingerbread houses, raffle, fish pond and opening-filled Christmas crackers.
This is done both at home and in public as the People's House, kindergartens, schools, sports clubs and faith communities.

2012-01-04T18:59:00.007+01:00

An old school photo

I have borrowed this beautiful photo of a nice relative. I have scanned it so that I can save it.
Likely it is from the area around Gällstad in Västergötland, because it was found in a box as my relative's parents had saved.
It is certainly some of our ancestor´s on the photo, but yet we do not know who it can be...we do not know what year it is either..

2011-12-31T14:31:00.018+01:00

I celebrate my 1 year blog anniversary!

I found this photo of confirmation in Gällstad 1902 th.
The priest named Clas Alfred Lönnerblad
and the house is called Bondegärde and that is where the priest lived.

My grandmother Judith is on this photo.
From left to right, front, Judith is No. 1 in row 4.
I had not observed this picture until now, I am so happy I found it!

This is Judit from the photo above.

2011-12-30T14:49:00.064+01:00

I wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New Year is a traditional holiday celebrated at the start of the new year.
The world's different countries, cultures and religions are a number of different calendars, and the celebration of New Year is important not only for believers.

Usually, it has major festivals taking place over several days before and after the New Year. New Year may have given in this year's rhythm, such as the vernal equinox March 20 to 21, parties to welcome the spring, or take a purely religious affiliation.
In earlier times, before the restaurants with their tempting menus, took over.
How we celebrated the New Year? By Christmas food there was left, so the table was laid it out the same dishes at Christmas. In southern Sweden, it was not unusual that they gave each other gifts, sometimes instead of Christmas presents.

Today's tradition to watch the New Year was originally something that is, primarily, engaged in the upper class and young people. Through radio "nyårsvakor", this tradition became widespread and today it is probably extremely few Swedes can think of a new year but to watch the 12-blow.
Like Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve was an important day for anyone who wanted to know something about the future.
A common way to prediction of the new year – or "nyårstyda" as it was also called – was to cast in lead or Tin.
Had the molded lead shape of a crown, it was a sign that they would be married.
Other ways to find out who would be even to the next one could get if you "curtsied three times before nyårsnyet" (new moon) while saying eg "Whose shirt should I sew, whose cake should I bake, whose wife shall I be?" That magic at New Year, to some extent still lives reflected in the claim that a promise given at the New Year is a promise that is more binding than the promises made at different times during the year.

The night of New Year's Eve 31 December and New Year's Day January 1 and midnight regarded as the transition from the old year to the new.
While Christmas is a holiday celebrated with family, it is common to New Year's Eve, a New Year party or dinner with friends. This feast or dinner use to be a little more exclusive than usual and they are often dressed up.
Just before midnight yesterday festival participants often went out to some place where you can fire off their own fireworks or watch others, or you can go the window or on the balcony to see the fireworks. It is also common to have champagne to be opened and drunk just on the stroke of midnight.
Minute before midnight is count down ... and on the stroke of midnight shout "Happy New Year!" Open the champagne and toasts. It is also common to ships in port signal exactly at midnight. When the fireworks fade out and the champagne is finished, which usually takes 10-15 minutes usually retreat to a party room in order to continue to spend another couple of hours.

It is quite common to give New Year’s resolution.
A New Year's resolution usually be about to start doing something (for example, start exercising or to start learning a new language), or stop doing something (such as quitting smoking).

Most of the fireworks for sale to private individuals in Sweden are used during New Year's Eve. Fireworks really requires police permission, but at times when you can expect fireworks (eg New Year, Easter and Walpurgis Night) is not normally needed permission, unless it involves a risk of harm or poses a significant disturbance.
It sometimes happens that someone injured in connection with the release of the fireworks, often this is because alcohol was involved and that security methods is ignored.
Each year there are approximately 300 people who seek emergency room because of injuries from fireworks. Fireworks that go wrong can also cause fires, and it is not uncommon for the fire department will turn out just after midnight. ".

Just before midnight recited parts of Edward Fredin translation of Alfred Tennyson's poem "Nyårsklockan" ("Ring Out, Wild Bells") to Solliden stage at Skansen, something that has been made since the 1895th. The years 1934-1955 was also the recitation of radio, and since 1977 it has been sent by SVT. Reciters has among others been Anders de Wahl, George Rydberg, Jarl Kulle, Margareta Krook and Jan Malmsjö.
Other TV programs associated with New Year's is Countess and the servant ( “Grevinnan och Betjänten” or “Dinner for one”) who is sent on the evening of December 31, and in the afternoon on January 1 and a New Year's concert, performed by the Wiener Philharmoniker.

This is Edvard Fredin and Alfred Tennyson

Poem
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

This is some delicious cookies!
They're perfect to have at hand in the freezer!
And obviously - you can use any jam you like.

Raspberry thumbprint cookies
Hallongrottor

makes 40

240 g flour
55 g potato flour (potato starch)
90 g sugar
2 tbsp vanilla sugar (or the seeds of one vanilla bean)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
200 g unsalted butter, cold
50-100 ml raspberry jam

Mix all the dry ingredients - everything but the butter, and the jam. Dice the butter, add it and work quickly into a smooth dough. It's easiest using a stand mixer or a food processor, but it can be done by hand, too. Don't overwork it!

Divide the dough into 40 equal parts - mine weighed between 15-17 gram.
Roll each into a small ball, and place in a small paper cup.
Press with a fingertip to make a small well in each cookie.
Fill with a little bit of jam.

Bake at 200°C for 10-12 minutes.

2011-12-26T11:48:00.036+01:00

Annandag Jul / Den helige Stefanos dag
Staffansmäss/ St. Stephen's Day.
These are different names on the day after Christmas day.

In Sweden is "Annandag Jul" , just as Christmas Day, a holiday.
In Norway, it is called "Andre juledag" and in Denmark "Anden juledag".
In the U.S. there is not "Annandag Jul" as the general federal holiday.

Ris a la Malta.
Ris a la Malta is a dessert that is often eaten at Christmas in Sweden.
The name is probably a corruption of dance influence Risalamande, which in turn can be traced to the French influence Riz à l'amanda = "rice with almonds." It consists of cold rice pudding and mixed with whipped cream and flavored with sugar and vanillin-/vaniljsocker.
The decorated sometimes with canned mandarin segments or the like.
A variation on the right called "Apelsinris".
In addition to the above mixed in concentrated orange juice and / or cut orange pieces. Sometimes excluded vanilla sugar.
The rice can be served natural internationally, with nuts, juice, soup, jam, apple sauce or a sweet berry compote (for example, cherry or apricot).

Recepie :
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups water
1 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup short-grained, glutinous rice
4 1/2 cups milk
.
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 Tbsp. vanilla sugar or 1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. freshly ground cardamom or ground cinnamon
(1 cup chopped almonds )

Preparation:
Use first five ingredients to prepare rice porridge.
Allow to cool, refrigerated, for at least three hours or overnight.
Stir together heavy cream, vanilla sugar (or vanilla extract), sugar, and cardamom.
Whip until stiff peaks form.
Fold whipped cream mixture and almonds into cold rice porridge.
Pour into pretty bowl and refrigerate 1 hour.
Serve with Fruit sauce, Juice soup or Juices Cream.
Yield: 5-6 servings of rice pudding.

Fruit sauce is a simple dessert that is usually served hot or cold to risgryns-/mannagrynspudding, cheesecake, Ris à la Malta or rice pudding.
Fruit sauce made of the juice of such strawberries, raspberries or blackcurrants or mixed juice, which is diluted with water and cooked with potato flour or arrowroot. A preliminary study on arrowroot gives a clear sauce, while potato flour gives a dull sauce. Fruit sauce is often confused with juice soup.
Juice soup contains the same ingredients as fruit sauce, but a higher proportion of water. It is served hot or cold and like rosehip soup, as is, or with such crusts.
Juices Cream contains the same ingredients as above but requires more precision and routine to get the right taste and texture. Juices Cream served cold or warm with cold milk.

2011-12-25T12:16:00.020+01:00

Christmas Day Peace

Christmas Day
is one of the truly great feast days, for many the greatest, of Christendom,
celebrating Jesus' birth.
According to most Christian denominations falls on December 25. As part of Christmas celebrations in Sweden days, however, of secondary importance when most Christmas celebrations take place already on Christmas Eve.
But with more and more broken families, the Christmas Day in many cases, been the day you visit the branch of the family who do not participate in the Christmas Eve celebration.
Many go to church on Christmas morning or in the solemn Mass celebrated on the night of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
In most countries, Christmas Day, the day they celebrate Christmas the most.

It is common to celebrate midnight mass in church on Christmas night, and sometimes you go over there and have torches in your hands.

2011-12-23T15:19:00.081+01:00

CHRISTMAS IN SWEDEN

Jultomten / Santa Claus

Santa Claus and Christmas

Santa Claus is known worldwide as the kind, elderly man who brings presents to children. Santa Claus will be used in a massive scale as a commercial eye catcher, especially after 1930, when Coca-Cola for the first time him in their commercials.
There he had a big white beard, black boots, a big red coat and an infectious laugh. Just as we know and love him today.

The Tomte was a kind of shadow farmer with supernatural powers who made sure that the farm has good luck with it.
He was often considered the first man who grew up at the farm, and are not going to rest after death, but always have to make sure "his" yard. He appeared reluctant, but is described as an older man and less than people (exactly how small ranges), often with a white beard, black clothes and hood. It was important to keep in with him and do not annoy him in any way.
The Tomte had a surly temper and could retaliate if such misbehaving animals or treated him disrespectfully. Above all, he kept watch over the animals in the stables and barn.
In gratitude for his work gave the site a bowl of porridge. According to a later tradition, he would be particularly fond of rice pudding (sötgröt), which therefore also called the "Tomte"- porridge.
Stories include how he in anger kills a cow when he gets a pat of butter in his porridge, or how he is rewarded with new clothes, which, however, means that he considers himself too fine to continue with their work.
It also says something about peasant society's values to the Tomte, the farm's protective nature, is a man, while the witch, wilderness protection essence, is a woman.

The Tomte has a lot in common with "vätten". Both belong to "oknyttens" crowd and stated, for example, to keep the memorial tree, and "gårdsvätten" is another name.

Christmas Decorations
Christmas decorations have been around since the old Christmas markets in Germany during the 1600s. It was especially Santas that were used to decorate Christmas decorations, that is, sugar sticks, gingerbread and other Christmas candy. In the 1800s, became many other Christmas decorations widespread. At that time, especially Christmas decorations made of tracing paper, colored tissue paper, these Christmas decorations that could contain small cute things like nuts, cookies, raisins or fruit.

Christmas traditions
Christmas is a wonderful holiday filled with lots of food, gifts and a whole world of Christmas traditions. Christmas traditions as we know them today, slowly took shape during the 1500s, when the special food in Europe in connection with Christmas.
Today, Swedish Christmas traditions a mixture of hundreds of different Christmas traditions from all over Europe. The most basic of all Christmas traditions is probably that in line with the Christian faith, will there be peace on earth, the night that Jesus was born. It is the foundation for all other Christmas traditions.

OATMEAL AND ALMOND
Almond in the porridge is not a very old Christmas tradition, it was not until the 1800s that it became customary to add almond in rice pudding. Whoever got the almonds would perform a rhyme. There was even jocular suggestion that the one that got the almonds would be married in the near future. Rice pudding was the first one lyxvariant of vitgröt which was the usual Christmas porridge. In time, rice pudding more common than the white flour porridge. Porridge was often served with a dollop of butter. It was according to tradition very important not saved in the butter in the plot grötfat. On the whole of that Christmas is a blend of tradition and exoticism. Christmas traditions old familiar menus extended with exotic news.

Swedish Rice Porridge (Risgrynsgröt)

Ingredients:
2 cups water
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup rice (short-grain rice such as pearl rice or arborio rice)
4 1/3 cups milk
cinnamon stick
(1 tablespoon sugar)
Method:
Bring up to the water to a boil in a heavy pot with salt, butter and a cinnamon stick.
Add the rice, cover and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.
Add the milk, and bring to a boil.
Lower the temperature to your lowest setting,
cover with a lid and cook for about 30 minutes.
Preferably don’t stir until the porridge is ready.
Add sugar to taste.

Christmas Cookies

115 g butter, soft
115 g sugar
1 egg
175 g flour
0,5 tsp baking soda
55 g glace cherries, chopped
55 g citrus peel
55 g sultanas
dark chocolate, melted

Preheat the oven to 190C.
Beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
Beat in the egg.
Add the flour an baking soda and mix to a soft dough.
Mix together cherries, citrus peel, and sultanas.
Stir half into the dough.
Place 18 heaped spoonfuls of dough onto baking tray, spaced well apart.
Sprinkle with rest of the the fruit.
Bake for 10-12 minutes until pale golden.
Leave to cool completely.
Drizzle melted chocolate over each cookie.

Goat
For an old-fashioned Christmas is sweet straw decorations,
these are hung on the Christmas tree and in the windows.
The traditional straw goat is obvious.

A swedish "vätte".

2011-12-23T09:36:00.012+01:00

My Aunt Sonja
December 23, 1919
April 4, 1970

2011-12-20T18:56:00.066+01:00

My Grandmother
Judith Andersson
December 21, 1888
January 28, 1965

This is Judith, her husband Axel and their first child Ella.
Ella was born December 20, 1915. Perhaps this photo is from her fathers birthday, in May 16, 1916...He was born 1879 and should be 37 years old at this time.

This is Judith and other ladies from the village of Södra Säm, where they all lived.
I think there are ladies who like to get together and knit and crochet and other needlework.

This is from a journey as they did, I don't know what year it is.

This is Judith and her son´s Hugo ( my father ) and Gunnar.
I am sure it is Judith's birthday, but I don't really know what year it is, perhaps, 1964 ...

2011-12-20T07:30:00.011+01:00

My aunt Ella

December 20, 1915
March 18, 2009

Ella, their mother Judith, Astrid and Gunnar.

2011-12-18T15:23:00.039+01:00

LUCIA December 13

The Lucia tradition can be traced back both to St Lucia of Syracuse, a martyr who died in 304, and to the Swedish legend of Lucia as Adam’s first wife. It is said that she consorted with the Devil and that her children were invisible infernals. Thus the name may be associated with both lux (light) and Lucifer (Satan), and its origins are difficult to determine. The present custom appears to be a blend of traditions.

In the old almanac, Lucia Night was the longest of the year. It was a dangerous night when supernatural beings were abroad and all animals could speak. By morning, the livestock needed extra feed. People, too, needed extra nourishment and were urged to eat seven or nine hearty breakfasts. This kind of feasting presaged the Christmas fast, which began on Lucia Day.

The last person to rise that morning was nicknamed ‘Lusse the Louse’ and often given a playful beating round the legs with birch twigs. The slaughtering and threshing were supposed to be over by Lucia and the sheds to be filled with food in preparation for Christmas. In agrarian Sweden, young people used to dress up as Lucia figures (lussegubbar) that night and wander from house to house singing songs and scrounging for food and schnapps.

The first recorded appearance of a Lucia in Sweden was in a country house in 1764. The custom did not become universally popular in Swedish society until the 20th century, when schools and local associations in particular began promoting it. The old lussegubbar custom virtually disappeared with urban migration, and Lucias with their singing processions were considered a more acceptable, controlled form of celebration than the youthful carousals of the past. Stockholm proclaimed its first Lucia in 1927. The custom whereby Lucia serves coffee and buns (lussekatter) dates back to the 1880s, although the buns were around long before that.

More info about Lucia here : http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Traditions/Celebrating-the-Swedish-way/Lucia/

Saffron Buns
Lucia Buns
Makes 20 large ones

100 g fresh yeast
400 ml milk, full-fat
100 ml cream (35-40% fat)
200 g butter
1-1,5 g saffron
200 ml sugar
1 tsp salt
1 egg
1 kilo white flour

Decoration:
1 egg, beaten
raisins

Crumble the yeast into the bowl of your stand mixer (or a regular bowl, if making this by hand). Melt the butter, then add the milk and the cream and heat until it's about 37°C - it should just barely feel warm to the touch. Add this to the yeast and stir until it has dissolved.

Put the saffron with a pinch of sugar in your pestle and mortar, and mix well. Add to the dough, along with salt, sugar, the egg and most of the flour. Work into a smooth and silky dough - it will look pretty sticky, so add the rest of the flour, but don't worry if it's still sticky. It's supposed to be. It shouldn't stick to your fingers though.
Transfer the dough to a clean bowl, and leave to rise, covered, for 45 minutes. Then it's time to shape the dough. I started by dividing the dough into equal portions, using digital kitchen scales. I like my lucia buns fairly large - that, again, helps counter any dryness. The traditional shape is as you can see in the photo below a fairly tight "s". Place raisins in the middle of the swirls on each side.

Place on a cookie sheet, cover, and let the buns rise for about 15 minutes. Brush with a beaten egg, and bake at 200°C for 8-10 minutes.

This is a painting from 1908 made of Carl Larsson.
"Welcome to the house
of Carl Larsson and his spouse. "

Johan August Johnson, where did he go??

2011-12-11T15:55:00.062+01:00

Johan August Johnson, my grandmothers brother,
where did he go??

He was born Nov. 11, 1867 in Borås, Älvsborgs county, Sweden.
He emigrated to South Bend, America June 1891
and with him was his sister Jenny Amalia, born March 12, 1874.

Jennie Amalia married Andrew G. Chilberg in South Bend July 21, 1894.
Andrew G. Chilberg emigrated in 1883 from Kila, Värmlands county.
In Sweden his name was: Anders Gustaf Kilberg.

They got three children:
Pearl Edith, June 27, 1895 - Sept. 28, 1973.
Alva Victoria, May 16, 1898 - Dec. 26, 1985.
Arthur Valdemar, Febr. 6, 1905 - Febr. 22, 1955.
They all lived in South Bend. They were members of the GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH.

I have not been able to find Johan August as a member there....

This is from the Passenger list 1891.
Johan Aug. J. Svensson is nr. 6 and Jenny Amalia Svensson is nr. 7.
They were called Svensson since their fathers name was Johannes.
I do know both Jennie and the brother Emil called themselves Johnson in USA.
I think maybe Johan August called himself: John August Johnson...?

This is Jennie Amalia.

The photo was taken by a photographer in Ulricehamn and it should be from just before she emigrated.

This is Jennie Amalia Chilberg´s grandchild.
Jeanne Enid Derbeck, born July 14, 1920,South Bend, dead Dec. 12, 1994 South Bend.
She was Arts writer of South Bend Tribune.

Jennie Amalia and Johan August had a brother, Emil Johnson, born Aug. 7, 1865.
He emigrated in April 1882.

This is his family: wife Louise and the daughters:
Pearl Elaine, April 23, 1892 - July 3, 1974.
and Amy Violet, Oct. 20, 1898 - June 1987.
They lived in Michigan.

2011-12-11T14:00:00.007+01:00

Saffron Cake

This is a cake that we bake in Advent in Sweden.

1 g saffron, ground (or mash it with a sugar cube in a pestle if you have saffron threads)
200 g margarine (if using unsalted butter, add a small pinch of salt)
2 eggs
300 ml sugar (about 300 g)
150 ml milk (0,6 cups or 150 g)
400 ml all-purpose flour (240 g)
2 tsp baking powder
Confectioner's sugar to garnish

Melt the butter, and stir in the saffron. Add the milk and let the mixture cool a little.

Beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flour and baking powder. Carefully stir in the butter mixture - if you're not careful, you'll get saffron-y butter all over.

Pour into a buttered and floured pan, preferrably a springform with loose sides. Bake at 175°C for 40-45 minutes, until the cake is no longer sticky in the middle and has started to shrink away from the sides of the pan. When cool, decorate with sifted confectioner's sugar.

2011-12-11T13:14:00.012+01:00

The third Sunday of Advent
Gaudete Sunday

One of the candles surrounding the Christ Candle in the Advent wreath is rose coloured, for Gaudete Sunday or Joy Sunday, the beginning of the third week in Advent. The parament next to this rose coloured candle has the word Joy printed on it.
Gaudete Sunday is the third Sunday of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western Church, including the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Churches, and other mainline Protestant churches. It can fall on any date from 11 December to 17 December.
The day takes its common name from the Latin word Gaudete ("Rejoice"), the first word of the introit of this day's Mass: Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete. Modestia vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus: Dominus enim prope est. Nihil solliciti sitis: sed in omni oratione petitiones vestræ innotescant apud Deum. Benedixisti Domine terram tuam: avertisti captivitatem Jacob.
This may be translated as "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Let your forbearance be known to all, for the Lord is near at hand; have no anxiety about anything, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. Lord, you have blessed your land; you have turned away the captivity of Jacob." (Philippians 4:4–6; Psalm 85 (84):1).

The incipit for the Gregorian chant introit from which Gaudete Sunday gets its name.
On Gaudete Sunday rose-coloured vestments may be worn instead of violet, (or in the Anglican tradition and some Lutheran traditions, Sarum blue) which is otherwise prescribed for every day in the season of Advent.

This tradition, previously informally observed in the Anglican Church, was formally noted as an option in the Church of England in the Common Worship liturgical renewal.In churches which have an Advent wreath, the rose coloured candle is lit in addition to two of the violet (or blue) coloured candles, which represent the first two Sundays of Advent.
Despite the otherwise somber readings of the season of Advent, which has as a secondary theme the need for penitence, the readings on the third Sunday emphasize the joyous anticipation of the Lord's coming.

2011-12-04T12:29:00.025+01:00

The Second Sunday in Advent.

Advent comes from the Latin Adventus (Domini) meaning (Lord's) arrival, although a common misconception, especially among children, is that the word means "pending".
Advent is the initial period in the Western liturgical year.

Its historical roots, the Advent celebration in julfastan, a fixed period which reflected the Easter Lent, and like this was 40 days long and thus included six Sundays. This reflection of the Easter Lent lives on in Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is predikounderlag well on the first Sunday in Advent as on Palm Sunday. Traditionally, the church's Advent thus a time of fasting, preparation and anticipation for the celebration of Jesus' birth at Christmas. During the 1000's prompted julfastan term "Advent" and the time was set at four weeks.

Advent begins the fourth Sunday before Christmas and lasts until Christmas Eve.
The four Sundays before Christmas called Advent everyday first, second advent, and so on, or more formally, first, second, third and fourth Sunday of Advent.
When Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, as in 2005, Advent becomes long compared with the Christmas Day falls on a Monday, as in 2006.

The period up to Christmas Eve count down in different ways depending on tradition.
In the northern hemisphere, it is the darkest time, and many homes houses during this time an Advent candleholder with four candles, where a candle is lit for each Sunday in Advent, which passed.
Another countdown, popular among children, is Advent calendar. Advent is mixed in these contexts often associated with time 1 to 24 December.

Advent Stars
As a harbinger for Christmas are many Advent stars in their fönster.Nuförtiden lit Christmas stars in almost every window during the Christmas period in December. This practice is not old, sometime in the 1880s, was hanged on the first Sunday of Advent star in Germany. It took about 50 years of tradition to reach Sweden. Nowadays, most electrically illuminated Christmas stars.

The star symbolizes the star of Bethlehem, the star that led the way for the Magi to the newborn baby Jesus in a stable manger. Today used the stars to spread the Christmas spirit and longing for Christmas Eve.

2011-12-03T16:35:00.012+01:00

These cookies are called "Sirapskakor" or Kolasnitt".
They are easy to bake and get a little crispy and crunchy ...

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter (or margarine)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
2 tablespoons golden syrup

Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour and baking soda.

2.In a separate bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, vanilla sugar, and golden syrup; mix well. Stir in the flour and mix until just incorporated. Form dough into two, 1 inch thick elongated rolls the length of your cookie pan. Place them on the cookie pan with enough space in between for them to spread.

3.Bake in preheated oven until they are light golden brown and have flattened; about 20 to 22 minutes if using margarine, or 13 to 15 minutes if using butter. Remove from oven and let cool slightly for about 3 minutes. Cut diagonally into 1 to 2 inch strips while still warm. Remove individual cookies to cool on a wire rack.

2011-11-27T01:01:00.000+01:00

The First Sunday in Advent
November 27, 2011

It is time to light the first candle of four.
In Sweden there is a tradition that we light a candle for each Sunday in Advent,
and there are four Sundays.

With the first Sunday of Advent begins the Christian church year. In the farming community was the first Sunday not a particularly marked days, now it appears as an extra holiday. At church services on this day the churches are mostly well-filled, sing hymns such as "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" and "Hosanna" and above all, candles lit.
This day is one of our largest church walking days.
The word Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus, which means arrival, but has popularly come to mean pending. Advent time was in the farming community a period where you could relax and gather themselves for the upcoming holiday season.
Too messy and noisy outdoor work was forbidden. Instead, they take on the quieter chores at the farm.
Many of the customs that we now associate with Christmas was for the people who lived a hundred years ago quite unknown. Most of our popular Advent traditions belong 1900s. These include, for example "adventsstaken", which begins to spread among us in the 1930s. It comes from a German custom, that from the first Sunday of Advent lit seven candles, one for each weekday, each of the four Advent Sundays until Christmas.
The candles were placed in a small indoor fir, which was placed on a table,
all in all was this tree that contain 28 candles.
Eventually, this tree being driven out of the Advent candle holder with four candles.
Today there are hardly any homes that lack this Christmas Ornament.

Electric Christmas candle in the windows, the whole of Sweden looks to be changed "overnight" at the first Sunday of Advent.

An electric star to hang in the window is very beautiful.

Door Wreaths for Advent and Christmas is very common.
Many people make them themselves otherwise you can buy ready-made.

2011-11-21T07:25:00.023+01:00

My mom, who I still miss
Asta Gunhild Teresia
November 21, 1919
december 31, 1999

This is a photo from februari 1959, my mom, her siblings and their mother Selma.
It is my grandmother Selma´s birthday, born februari 3, 1889.
On the right side of Selma is Ingamaj, behind them, from left, Holger, Elin, my mom and Göte.

2011-11-14T17:43:00.032+01:00

My uncle
Gunnar Anders Andersson
born in Lunden, Södra Säm, July 11, 1921
dead in Lunden Södra Säm, November 14, 2006

2011-11-08T13:04:00.074+01:00

Our cat
Sigrid
June 21, 1993 -
November 08, 2011
... has gone to meet Sissi.

Our cat
Sissi
Jaunary 30, 1990-
April 2, 2011

2011-11-07T16:16:00.019+01:00

My Aunt Ella Ingegärd.

Today is her name day: Ingegärd.

2011-11-06T08:07:00.012+01:00

Gustav Adolfsdagen

November 6
Gustav Adolfsdagen (Swedish for Gustavus Adolphus Day) is a general flag day, celebrated in Sweden on November 6 in memory of king Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden (Swedish: Gustav II Adolf), who was killed on this day in 1632 at the Battle of Lützen. Gustav Adolfsdagen coincides with the Finnish Swedish Heritage Day.
The date has been celebrated since the early 19th century. It is especially popular in Gothenburg, which was founded by Gustavus Adolphus, and in Uppsala, where the king donated a lot of money to the university.

Gustav Adolfsbakelse, One of the many cakes eaten on Gustav Adolfsdagen (Gustavus Adolphus Day), November 6, in Sweden.

2011-11-04T17:40:00.009+01:00

All Saints Day

All Saints Day and All Souls' Day
All Saints Day is celebrated on the Saturday that falls between October 31 and November 6. Then burn the candles in cemeteries to our relatives' memory. But the practice is only just over half a century old in Sweden. Ancient, however, death cult, cult soul and saint worship at winter-half entrance.

All Saints' Day in the Roman Catholic Church
On November 1, All Saints' Day, the Catholic Church since 700's, celebrated the saint who had their day in the calendar. The day after, on November 2, celebrated All Souls' Day of the dead family members and the night before, on 31 October, was Halloween (All Hallows Even = Halloween).

All Saints have in varying degree retained its importance in the Roman Catholic Church in Western Europe.

All Saints' Day was the first day of winter
During Sweden's Catholic Middle Ages, we encounter the first time on All Saints' Day in Vallentuna Calendar 1198th It was counted as second-class weekends, that is, the more important came immediately following Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. That day was significant can also be read in the presence of All Saints' guilds in various places in the country. All Saints' Day role as calendrical fixed point can be seen in medieval laws and it was considered to be the first day of winter.

All Saints' Day holiday, which was removed
In Sweden maintained Saints' Day holiday, which even after the Reformation in the 1500s, despite various attempts to remove it, and despite the fact that the worship of saints is not merged with the new Lutheran doctrine. It was apparently as difficult to get rid of without protest, however, abolished All Souls' Day, November 2. But finally disappeared also All Saints' Day as public holiday in the calendar reform 1772nd

All Saints Day was introduced in 1953
Only later, in the twentieth century, the custom grew with candles on the graves up - inspired by the Catholic Mediterranean countries. And finally reintroduced day of the holiday reform 1953rd The day was called All Saints Day and is celebrated on the first Saturday in November and its importance as a much appreciated break in the darkness just grows and grows. The old All Saints' Day remains November 1.

2011-10-28T07:24:00.012+02:00

This is a School Photography from Södra Säm, Västergötland.
The year is about the 1914th.
I think it's very interesting to look at old photographs,
I also think that they are worthy of display so that more people will be able to watch them.

2011-10-22T11:45:00.011+02:00

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
A simple and delicious cake ...

Ingredients
2 cups Granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1-stick)Unsalted butter
1/2 cupevaporated milk; (whole milk will also work)
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoonSalt
1/2 cuppeanut butter; (creamy or chunky)
1 teaspoonVanilla extract
3 cupsquick rolled oats; uncooked

How to Prepare :

In a large saucepan set over medium heat, combine sugar, butter, evaporated milk, cocoa, and salt.
Heat, stirring frequently until boiling.
Cover saucepan for 30 seconds to allow steam to wash sugar crystals down sides of pan.
Uncover saucepan and continue to boil while stirring continuously for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla until smooth.
Add quick oats and mix until well combined.
Let mixture stand for 1 to 2 minutes to allow oats to absorb some of the liquid.
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper, parchment or silicon baking sheets and allow to cool completely.
Store at room temperature in an airtight container.
(You can also pour this mixture into a 9-inch square pan that has been greased with unsalted butter, let cool, then cut into squares.)

Makes 2 1/2 to 3 dozen cookies

2011-10-18T17:44:00.015+02:00

Exhibition at Ulricehamns museum.
November 5th- 13th.
Mats Aronsson

Mats Aronsson, born 1958, lives and works in Växjö.
"I call myself a painter light because the light is my biggest inspiration."
"For me, reality is a journey through time and space, light and darkness, heat and cold.
The impressions from that trip, I paint from one so down to earth perspective as possible.
When the viewer's emotional picture of reality conform to my travel book, which is also my picture of reality reached its final destination! "
http://www.matsaronsson.nu/

Vernissage 5 november kl 11.00

Öppet:
Lördagar och söndagar kl 11.00-15.00
Öppettider under vardagar: ring 0321-59 51 72 eller se anslag på dörren på Ulricehamn museum

Utställningen arrangeras tillsammans med Ulricehamns konstförening.

2011-10-17T16:54:00.011+02:00

This is one more photo from Södra Säm´s school in Västergötland.

In the middle row, from left: Astrid Andersson, she is my fathers sister.

2011-10-10T18:03:00.009+02:00

This is a photo from around 1930.
It's Karl Isak Johannesson, born 1867 in Rydaholm, Småland.
His sons Hugo and Hjalmar Karlsson.

This is Karl Isak and his wife Augusta Vilhelmina, born 1871 in Slätthög, Småland.
Augusta was my grandfather Axel´s sister.

2011-10-01T15:15:00.008+02:00

I have had the privilege to borrow old school photographs.
They are from Södra Säm´s school in Västergötland..
I will scan them and save them, and show them to anyone who wants to see.
I think it is great fun with old photographs.

2011-09-22T21:50:00.011+02:00

A delicious cake for the weekend ...?

Basic Yellow Cake

Ingredients:

1 c Butter; softened
1 1/4 c milk
1 ts Vanilla
2 c Sugar
5 lg Eggs
1 tb Baking Powder
1/2 ts Salt
3 c All-purpose flour; sifted

How to Prepare :

Let eggs, milk, and butter stand till room temperature.
Cream butter, gradually add sugar, beating well.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt, add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
Stir in vanilla.
Pour batter into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans or 13x9 inch cake pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

2011-09-18T15:24:00.027+02:00

Exhibition at Ulricehamns Museum
Erik "Kulan" Wennberg

read more here: Erik " Kulan" Wennberg

and here: Ulricehamn.

2011-09-15T20:28:00.014+02:00

I got an old photo showing a " Gökotta"
It is in the village Södra Säm, 1927.
A Swedish tradition, on Ascension day, is to celebrate by having a dawn picnic and listening to the birds singing early in the morning. It may be fairly chilly that early, it may rain but if you are lucky you might even see a fantastic sunrise.

When you listen to the birds you are supposed to listen out for the cuckoo. Apparently he might be telling you something about the future.
The folklore had lots to tell about the first call of the cuckoo in the spring. In what quarter is he cuckooing? And how many times does he call?
"Coming from west is best,
from east is comfort,
from north is sorrow
and from south is death"...
And how many times he is calling can predict things, e.g. ask him how many years you will stay unmarried, and await his answer....

The cuckoo is a migrating bird, moving to the south, usually to Africa, at winter and coming back to Sweden in May for the whole summer.

Read more here about the Cuckoo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Cuckoo

Among people in the picture is my grandmother Judith, and my grandfather Axel Andersson. They stand in the back row.

...............

2011-09-03T18:04:00.037+02:00

Now it's time for Chocolate Cookies...!
I guess you know I like cookies, hard or soft or crunchy .....
In Sweden, it was common in former times to have coffee party and they had baked seven kinds of cookies.
If you could not manage to eat all at once, so you could take home the cakes
that remained....

Milk Chocolate Cookies

makes about 40

170 g butter, at room temperature
45 g white sugar
45 g raw sugar (or brown sugar)
3 tbsp golden syrup
300 g all-purpose flour
1,5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla sugar (or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract)
150 g milk chocolate, chopped

Whisk the butter with both sugars until pale and fluffy. Add the golden syrup, and then all remaining ingredients. Mix into a supple dough.

Shape logs (in my case, three), that are about 2-3 cm thick. Place on a baking sheet, and bake at 175°C for about 20 minutes. They will start to look cracked on top - this is normal.

Leave to cool for a few minutes, and then cut into 2 cm thick cookies, diagonally.

This is a photo from Ljustorp Local History Society, Medelpad.

This is an old photo with the coffee table in the garden, 1912.
It is from Heda Local History Society,Östergötland

2011-09-01T07:32:00.010+02:00

J. Hugo Aronson
born sept. 1, 1891, Södra Säm, Västergötland, Sweden
dead febr. 25, 1978, Columbia Falls, Flathead County, Montana

You can read more here:
www.swedenroots.se

2011-08-26T20:15:00.008+02:00

I found this recipe. It looks very yummy......
I have not tried it myself, yet ...

Snickers Cheesecake

Crust
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 stick unsalted butter; melted
3 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon salt

Cheesecake
4 sticks of cream cheese, 8 oz each; room temperature
1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs; room temperature
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Topping
20 Mini Snickers; cut in fourths
1/3 cup roasted peanuts; chopped
1/4 cup caramel syrup

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Tightly wrap a 9 inch springform pan in heavy duty foil. This step prevents leaks when using a water bath. I also take the extra step by placing the foil wrapped spring form pan inside an oven bag while baking.

2. Mix together the crust ingredients and press into the bottom of your pan and about 1 inch up the sides. Bake for 7 minutes and cool completely on a wire rack.

3. Begin to boil a large pot of water for the water bath.

4. In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with your paddle attachment, combine the sugar and cream cheese and cream together until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Make sure to scrape down the bowl in between each egg. Add heavy cream and vanilla and mix until smooth.

5. Pour batter into prepared crust. Place pan into a larger pan and pour boiling water into the larger pan until halfway up the side of the cheesecake pan.

6. Bake 45 to 55 minutes, the edges will appear to be set, but the center will still have some jiggle to it. At this point, close the oven door, turn the heat off, and let rest in the cooling oven for one hour. After one hour has passed, carefully remove the cheesecake from the water bath and place on a cooling rack to cool completely. Once the cake is completely cooled, place it into the refrigerator for at least 5 hours.

7. Top with Snickers bars, peanuts and caramel.

Storage:
A tightly covered cheesecake can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days. The cheesecake can be stored for approximately 2 months in the freezer. I recommend you freeze this variation without the topping (Snickers, peanuts, caramel). To defrost, allow cake to defrost in the refrigerator overnight.

2011-08-26T16:18:00.006+02:00

ArkivDigital for free Aug 27-28 2011

http://www.arkivdigital.net/

2011-08-20T13:59:00.006+02:00

Unknown man
I do not know who he is, maybe a relative who emigrated to the U.S. ...?
The photo was taken in the U.S..
Anyone who has seen this?

On the edge: Cottage Studio, 170 Elm Street, New Britain, Conn.

2011-08-12T17:57:00.017+02:00

This is the wife of my grandfather's uncle.
Her name is Ulrika Flinta.

She was born Januray 1, 1834 and died October 11, 1925.

This photo was taken on her birthday when she was 8o years old, 1914.
Her husband was Carl Johan Niklasson and when be became a soldier his name was Flinta.
They had three children. Alma Elisabeth, born 1869 and Karl Albert, born 1872, they both emigrated to Amerika. Alma Elisabeth in 1889 and Karl Albert in 1893.
...Is there anyone who may have seen or know anything about them ...?
They were all born in the parish Marbäck, Älvsborgs county, except Ulrika, she was born in Böne parish.

The third sibling, Klas Oskar, born 1876 was living in Stockholm, Sweden. He and his wife Karolina Hult is on the photo below.

2011-08-12T17:44:00.005+02:00

Let's try another delicious cake....

Spiced Zucchini Cake

Ingredients
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup sugar
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon minced crystallized ginger
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup applesauce
2 eggs
1 cup shredded zucchini

Cream Cheese Frosting
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons butter, softened
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
2 cups confectioners’ sugar

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter or spray an 8×8 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
2. In a bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, crystallized ginger, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
3. Combine oil, applesauce, eggs and sugars; add to dry ingredients and mix well. Add zucchini; stir until thoroughly combined. Pour into the prepared 8×8 inch baking pan. 4. 4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.
5. For the icing: In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, maple syrup, cinnamon and cardamom until smooth and creamy. Add confectioners’ sugar and mix well. Frost cake with icing.

Storage:
Store covered in refrigerator for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Notes:
1. This icing is a little on the thin side and is not able to be piped. If you find the consistency to be too thin for your taste, gradually add in a little more confectioners’ sugar.
2. If you enjoy nuts, pecans and walnuts both pair well with this recipe. Simply fold in a ½ cup of chopped nuts before pouring the batter into the pan.
3. Don’t have cardamom or crystallized ginger? No problem, just omit them, but I do highly recommend adding both of these to your spice rack.

2011-08-12T15:54:00.013+02:00

Now it's time for a tasty cake

Black Magic Cake

Ingredients :

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup strong brewed coffee
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans or one 9x13 inch pan.
2.In large bowl combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center.
3.Add eggs, coffee, buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Beat for 2 minutes on medium speed. Batter will be thin. Pour into prepared pans.
4.Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and finish cooling on a wire rack. Fill and frost as desired.

I have not baked it yet but I hope it will taste good!

2011-08-03T22:14:00.007+02:00

This is a photo of two people who I do not know the name of.
Is there anyone who may have seen this and know them?
I think it says: "Worcester" at the edge of the photo.

2011-08-01T15:56:00.006+02:00

Here you can find many, many good links if you want to do research in Norway.

Norwegian genealogy resources

2011-07-31T12:45:00.045+02:00

I have some beautiful old photographs.
They might be relatives of mine ...
I know that the couple are named Backman
and the card was taken in Chicago.
I would like to know more ...

On this card we see a girl who is sitting, her name is Edit Backman.
Her sister Maria sent it to Sweden.
I do not know the name of the girl standing next to.
Could these be related to the couple ..?

... Is this the same girl as on the card abowe, Edit Backman ...?

2011-07-24T18:18:00.007+02:00

This is a link to: South Bend, Indiana city directory (1921)
I found my ancestors Andrew and Jennie Chilberg here.
I knew that they lived here and was looking for them.

2011-07-23T14:52:00.013+02:00

Augusta Danielsdotter
born oct. 31, 1845 Brunn parish, Ulricehamn, Älvsborgs county
dead oct. 22, 1933 Storgatan 15, Ulricehamn, Älvsborgs county

This is Augusta´s husband
Klas Oskar Niklasson
born dec. 22, 1844 Marbäck, Älvsborgs county
dead febr. 4, 1915, Ulricehamn, Älvsborgs county

Klas Oskar Niklasson and Fredrik Niklas Niklasson are brothers.

2011-07-21T09:15:00.005+02:00

This is my great grandmother Anna Lovisa Andersdotter
born dec.12, 1850, Granåsen, Länghem, Älvsborgs county
dead may 18, 1912, Målek, Gällstad, Älvsborgs county

This is Anna Lovisas husband; my great grandfather Fredrik Niklasson
born jan. 19, 1848, Kärrbo, Marbäck, Älvsborgs county
dead july 1, 1928, Målek, Gällstad, Älvsborgs län

They were married in nov. 8, 1873.

2011-07-08T18:04:00.017+02:00

Now it's time for a delicious cake!

Old-Fashioned Raspberry Bars

Ingredients :
1/2 cupBrown sugar; packed, light or dark
1 cup Unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon Baking soda
1/8 teaspoon Salt
1 cup rolled old-fashioned or quick oats
1/2 cup Unsalted butter; cut into 1/2-inch pieces, softened to cool room temperature
3/4 cup Seedless raspberry jam; (up to 1 cup) or preserves or conserve

How to Prepare Old-Fashioned Raspberry Bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with two sheets of foil placed perpendicular to one another, and long enough to overhang pan edges. Spray foil-lined pan with nonstick cooking spray, or grease with butter or shortening. (Overhanging foil will serve as handles to lift the cooked bar cookies from the pan.)

In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, baking soda, salt and rolled oats, mixing well.
Cut in butter using a pastry blender to form a crumbly mixture, or using a mixer, beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until mixture is crumbly, 2 to 3 minutes.
Press 1/2 of crumb mixture into bottom of prepared pan.
Spread jam to within 1/4-inch of pan edge.
Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over the top, and lightly press it into jam.

Bake until topping is deep golden brown and filling is bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes.
Cool to room temperature in baking pan on wire rack.
Once cooled, remove from baking pan by lifting foil extensions, cut into bars and serve.

Variation: Use other types of jam, such as apricot preserves or even a bitter-orange marmalade.

2011-07-02T11:55:00.040+02:00

John Johnson
Swedish Mission Church 1899 - Duluth

Here is very interesting site:
The St. Louis County MNGenWeb site

There are photographs and much more.

Missionsförsamlingens Sångkör
Swedish Mission Church 1899 - Duluth, MN
Individual Choir Members Pictures

This is the name of the people on the photo:
Augusta Anderson, C.L. Carleson, Emma Carlson,
John Carlson, John P. Engstrom, C. Erikson,
Oscar Erikson, Sofi Erikson, Frida Falgren,
Gust Fallquist, Victor Fredrikson, Mary Hammarstrom,
Inga Hoveland, Alfred Jernberg, Lina Jernberg,
Andrew Johnson, Chas. Johnson, Esther Johnson,
Ida Johnson, Ida N. Johnson, John Johnson,
Lina Johnson, Maria Johnson, Mrs. A. Johnson,
Ruth Johnson, Thea Johnson, W. Leafquist,
Agnes Lindberg, Frida Lindberg, Annie Lundberg,
Hulda Lundberg, Hilda Miller, Alice Nelson,
George Nelson, Emily Oberg, Ernst Peterson,
Lina Peterson, Annie Philstrom, C.H. Schell,
Oscar Strom, Rev. Ludvig Sundeen,
A.E. Swedberg, Axel Wilson

2011-06-27T13:22:00.002+02:00

http://swedenroots.se/sweden/emigrants_sodra_sam.htm

2011-06-27T11:24:00.018+02:00

Hugo Andersson
May 16, 1923
June 27, 2000

This is a photo from the school in Södra Säm, from about the 1930th.
Hugo is No.3, from the left side.
The teacher's name is Berta Åstrand.

2011-06-25T10:47:00.022+02:00

One of many, many very interesting websites,
this is from Montgomery County, Iowa

You can read about this family here:
Noah and Hulda (Knudson) Dujardin
DUJARDIN FAMILY

2011-06-22T08:51:00.018+02:00

It is Midsummer in Sweden
You can read about the tradition
here : Midsummer
and here : traditional Midsummer

2011-06-21T09:09:00.006+02:00

Today, our cat Sigrid
18 years old.

2011-06-19T09:16:00.035+02:00

J. Hugo (John Hugo) Aronson
..from Södra Säm, Västergötland, Sweden to USA.
1891-1978.

Biographical History

J. Hugo Aronson was born in Södra Säm, Västergötland, Sweden on September 1, 1891, a son of Aron Johan Johansson (1856-1927), a tenant farmer, and Juliana Fredrika Johansson (1857-1940). The Johanssons had five children: Anna, Karl, Julia, John Hugo, and Erik Johansson Aronson. Anna Aronson married Karl Sköld and the couple had three children: Gunnar, Karin, and Allan. Julia Aronson Josefsson had two sons. Sven Johanson was also a nephew of J. Hugo Aronson.

J. Hugo Aronson was educated in the public schools of Gällstad, Sweden. He left school at the age of 14 to work. Hugo came to the United States from Sweden in 1911, penniless, except for the $25.00 immigration fee required. His brothers and sisters remained residents of Sweden. After working at various jobs through thirty-eight states, Hugo arrived in Columbus, Montana in 1914. While working for Frank Young in Columbus he got the nickname "The Galloping Swede." In 1915 Hugo filed for a 320-acre homestead in Elk Basin.

On December 8, 1917, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Billings and served as a private with the 20th Engineers in France. On June 3, 1919, while in France with the American Expeditionary Forces, Aronson married Matilda Langane, who was in charge of the French-American Red Cross group and had been one of premier Georges Clemenceau’s secretaries. He was honorably discharged on July 17, 1919, as a private first class at Hoboken, New Jersey.

Aronson returned to Columbus with his wife and rented a farm which he operated while working in the oil fields at Elk Basin, Wyoming. In January 1923, Hugo went to Sunburst, Montana where he was a tool dresser, or driller’s helper, for a drilling company. In 1924, another rig-builder, Roy Berrey, and Hugo became partners in the Sunburst Construction Company. It was a profitable business but only after a year Roy decided to sell Hugo out. Hugo then operated his own rig-building outfit under his own name and started advertising as "The Galloping Swede." Matilda was the bookkeeper. He added a trucking business to the rig-building company, and at the time Hugo was the largest rig-builder in Montana. When oil was discovered in Kevin-Sunburst fields in Montana, Hugo built the first building in Oilmont. In 1928 he founded Gallop City near Conrad. It was the largest of the oil-fields camps, a community which boasted 500 inhabitants.

He served in the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I and returned to Cutbank, where he established his own oil company and founded the oil towns of Oilmont, Gallup City and Santa Rita in addition to becoming president of the Cutbank Bank.

Hugo and Matilda Aronson traveled to Sweden and France to visit family in 1924. That same year, they traveled to Glacier National Park and Waterton. They also visited California, Nevada, and Utah.

Matilda died in Paris, France in 1936 of cancer.

On September 25, 1944, J. Hugo Aronson married Rose McClure in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Rose McClure Aronson was born in Mondovi, Washington in 1904, the daughter of rancher Evan McClure and Bertha Brink McClure. An educator, she was superintendent of schools in Glacier County at the time of her marriage. The Aronsons had one daughter, Rika Berthevan Aronson, who was born in Cut Bank on December 13, 1945. She married Gary Robert Mogolis and the couple had two children: Joani Michele (born Oct. 1, 1967) and John Robert.

Aronson's political career began with his election as Cut Bank City Alderman in 1934. A Republican, he served three terms in the Montana House of Representatives as a member from Glacier County (1939-1944), and for the next eight years was a member of the Montana State Senate, also representing Glacier County. Aronson served on the board of directors of the Montana Motor Transport Association for many years. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (V.F.W.) and the American Legion. He was a member of the Algeria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Blue Lodge, York Rite, and Scottish Rite Masonic bodies.

J. Hugo Aronson was elected governor of Montana on November 4, 1952. George Gosman was elected lieutenant governor. Other executive officers included Attorney General Arnold Olsen, Secretary of State Sam W. Mitchell, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Mary M. Condon. Hugh Adair was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Montana; Alex Stephenson, Chief of the Highway Patrol; and Wesley Castles was Aronson's executive secretary.

Aronson was elected to a second term in 1956. Democrat Paul Cannon was elected lieutenant governor. Edna J. Hinman served as Clerk of the Supreme Court; Forrest H. Anderson as Attorney General; Harriett Miller as Superintendent of Public Instruction; and S.H. Mitchell was the Adjutant General.

As Governor, Hugo battled over oil and gas leasing that arose out of the discovery of oil in the Williston Basin in 1951; he worked for better schools, for prisoner rehabilitation, for oil conservation, and for highway development. In 1959, a new governors' residence was built and the Aronsons became the first family to reside there.

Following his second term as governor, the Aronsons retired to Bigfork, Montana. Rose Aronson died February 25, 1968 and J. Hugo Aronson's death came on the tenth anniversary of his wife's, February 25, 1978, at the age of 86.

Info from: The Social Networks and Archival Context Project (SNAC)
and : Mondovi Pleasant View Cemetery

You can buy the book as J. Hugo Aronson wrote here : amazon.com
or here : ebay.com

2011-06-18T15:40:00.018+02:00

A delicious cake for the weekend!

Lemon Curd Bars
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 (10 ounce) jar lemon curd
2/3 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup toasted and chopped almonds
....................

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2.In a large mixing bowl cream the butter. Add the flour, sugar and baking soda.
Mix until the mixture forms coarse crumbs
3.Put 2/3 of the mixture into the bottom of one 9x13 inch baking pan.
Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 10 minutes.
Remove and let cool slightly.
4.Spread the lemon curd over the baked layer.
To the remaining 1/3 of crumb mixture add the coconut and the almonds.
Sprinkle over the top of the lemon curd.
5.Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bake bars for 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

2011-06-15T07:41:00.014+02:00

......................

This is another old photo of my grandmother's album.
I do not know his name.

I hope someone will recognize the photo and let me know. .....

2011-06-15T07:16:00.011+02:00

............................

This is an old photo of my grandmother's album.
I do not know his name.

If anyone might have the same photograph I will be glad if you could let me know.
Perhaps you know his name ....
Photographer's name is Therese Nilsson, Borås.
She had a branch in Limmared, Västergötland.

2011-05-31T18:31:00.014+02:00

I would like to say: Thank you so much to Cheryl,
Heritage Happens:http://heritagehappens.blogspot.com/
She was so very kind to think of SWEDISH THOUGHTS when passing on this
Beautiful Blog Award.
I am truly honored!
I am suppose to pass this Beautiful Blog Award on to five others I feel are deserving...... It is very tough choices to only pick five, well, I have chosen ~

Astrid : http://haugenhistory.blogspot.com/

Britt : http://brittsslektsblogg.blogspot.com/

Claudia : http://claudiasgenealogyblog.blogspot.com/

Deb Ruth : http://deb-adventuresingenealogy.blogspot.com/

Vidar : http://vidarsslektsblogg.blogspot.com/

Award winners, please pass your award on to five other beautiful blogs!
It is a tough task....!

2011-05-31T17:10:00.014+02:00

This is museum / arts center in Ulricehamn.
It is an old house and was built in 1860 and was originally a school.
It is currently being renovated, and will include exhibition hall, various workrooms and offices.

This is the exhibition hall, in the waiting for an exhibition.....

This is one of the rooms that are going to be renovated.
These and other museum objects are placed in a larger room, in another place, where they will be stored and retrieved when you want to do an exhibition.

Continued ...

2011-05-29T14:19:00.007+02:00

Today is Mother's Day in Sweden.

This is my mother Asta, in the middle,
her mother Selma and my father's mother Judith.

2011-05-08T18:08:00.012+02:00

Do you have ancestors in Norway?
Here is a good link, it is a digital book, with photos:
http://da2.uib.no/cgi-win/WebBok.exe?slag=lesside&bokid=whoswho&sideid=8&storleik==

2011-04-26T07:14:00.012+02:00

My grandparents
Selma Andersson
and
Albin Målberg
were married April 26, 1912.

2011-04-21T12:54:00.003+02:00

....maybe some Muffins this weekend?

Rhubarb Muffins with Sweet Ginger

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. finely chopped crystallized ginger
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 cup finely chopped rhubarb

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F/200 degrees C. Grease the cups of a standard muffin pan or line with muffin papers.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and crystallized ginger. In another bowl, whisk together the sugar, milk, sour cream, oil and egg. Stir in the rhubarb. Add to the flour mixture and stir until just blended.

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each about three-fourths full. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes, then remove the muffins from the pan.

Makes 12 muffins.

2011-04-16T17:54:00.031+02:00

Today we were on the Museum in Vänersborg and watch a very special exhibition. There were old photographs from the 1840s and also forward. The most famous photographer's L.J.M. Daguerre and he cooperated with J.N. Niepce. This is also an interesting photografer, from London: Richard Beard.

Isen´t they amazing...? Made of silver plated copper plate.

2011-04-12T17:41:00.013+02:00

Do you have ancestors from Bullaren, Bohuslän, in southwestern part of Sweden?

Here you can get some very interesting information.
There are also lists of emigrants.
Take a look ..
http://www.bullaren-emigranterna.se/index1.html

2011-04-11T17:04:00.027+02:00

Do you have ancestors from Vilhelmina, in Northern Sweden? The emigration from Vilhelmina, Västerbottens county. Between 1867 and 1915, almost a thousand people emigrated from Vilhelmina. Here is a good and interesting link with a lot to read. http://www.vilhelmina.se/~abm/eng/emigrationen.html

2011-04-04T07:23:00.002+02:00

Sissi... we miss her...

2011-04-03T12:45:00.024+02:00

Our cat Sissi
She has gone to the other angels
30 januari 1990 - 2 april 2011

...we miss her....

2011-03-31T18:48:00.006+02:00

This is John ( Johan) Magnus Andersson

He is born 7 aug. 1852, Sweden ( perhaps in Stockholm...?)
He died 21 jan. 1919 in Red Wing, Goodhue, Minnesota,USA.
Is there anyone who may have the same photograph?
Do you know anything about his parents?
Family lore says he left his father & step mother (didnt get along with her) and went to Germany to work at age 15.
He probably came to the US in 1870-1871.

This is John Magnus and his wife Alfreida Charlotte Peterson.
They married 1879, Eggleston, Minnesota.

2011-03-30T17:55:00.014+02:00

This is the old poor house in Ulricehamn, Västergötland. It was in use between 1827-1912. Poor house, home where the poor and infirm persons formerly housed. Act of 1734 imposed on parishes to establish poor cottages. Poor houses were replaced in 1918 by retirement homes.

2011-03-26T17:29:00.015+01:00

My grandparents Judit Svensson
and Axel Andersson
Married March 27, 1914.

Judit was born dec.21, 1888 and she grew up in the house, Gudmundsgården, here on the left. Axel was born may 16, 1879 and he grew up in the house, Bengtsgården, here on the right. The house in the middle, Lunden, they bought it together in 1914 and lived there all their lifes..

2011-03-24T18:43:00.007+01:00

Here is the recipe for this weekend's yummy muffins

Apple Cranberry Muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1 cup milk
1/4 cup sour cream
2 eggs
1 cup chopped and peeled apples
1/2 cup halved fresh or frozen cranberries
2 tablespoons sugar

Servings: Makes about 18 muffins

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1 cup milk
1/4 cup sour cream
2 eggs
1 cup chopped and peeled apples
1/2 cup halved fresh or frozen cranberries
2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:

Heat oven to 425°F (220°C). Butter 18 muffin cups. In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and cinnamon; mix well. Stir in rolled oats and brown sugar.

In medium bowl, beat butter, milk, sour cream and eggs until well blended. Add to dry ingredients; mix just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in apples and cranberries. Fill buttered muffin cups 3/4 full. Sprinkle sugar evenly over muffins.

Bake muffins for 15 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown.

TIP: If desired, chopped fresh rhubarb and cherries can be substituted for the apples and cranberries.

2011-03-20T09:59:00.000+01:00

Do you have ancestors from Bohuslän in southwestern Sweden?
This is a good link with maps and more.

http://hem.fyristorg.com/bohusgen/

2011-03-17T18:03:00.017+01:00

I have be given the "One Lovely Blog Award" !
I wish to thank Leslie Ann from "Lost Family Treasures"
and Karen from "Genealogy Frame of Mind"
for thinking so kindly of "Swedish Thoughts" when giving out this award!
I feel really happy and honored! Thank you so much!

This of course comes with rules for accepting the award, they are as follows:
1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted the award and their blog link.
2. Pass the award on to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them
know they have been chosen for this award.

Here are the 15 blogs I chose,
I have placed them in alphabetical order~

Alana Farrell ; A Twig in my Tree
Amanda Perrine ; A Tale of Two Ancestors
Astrid ; Of Trolls and Lemons
Betty ; Betty's Boneyard Genealogy Blog
Caroline Pointer ; Your family story
DianaR ; Random Relatives
Deborah Andrew ; The Sum Of All My Research
Jenn ; Roots and Stones
Kristin Cleage ; Finding Eliza
Sharon ; Kindred Footprints
Sara Beth ; Lessons from my Ancestors
Susan D. ; Family History Fun
Tess ; Tess´s Tree
Tina Lyons ; Gen wish list
Theresa Casteel ; Tangled Trees

2011-03-08T07:16:00.003+01:00

Mardi Gras
In Sweden the celebration is called Fettisdagen. It comes from the word "fett" (fat) and "tisdag" (Tuesday).
Originally, this was the only day one should eat semlor.
These are now sold in most grocery stores and bakeries preceding the holiday, and up until Easter.

A Swedish "Semla"

½ pkg of yeast (25 g)
75 g margarine
2 dl milk
1 egg
1 ml salt
½ teaspoon cardamom
½ dl sugar
7 dl flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg

FILLING AND TOPPING:
almond paste, roughly grated
whipping cream
milk
icing sugar

Melt the margarine in a sauce pan, add the milk and make it lukewarm.
Put crumbled fresh yeast into a bowl, add some of the liquid and dissolve yeast.
Add the remaining liquid, salt, cardamom, egg, sugar and 6 dl of the flour.
Mix together and work into a dough, a kitchen-machine makes this easy.
Allow the dough to rise for 30 minutes, covered with a towel.
Then mix baking powder and the remaining flour and work the mixture into the dough.
Knead dough until smooth.
Form dough into 12 small balls, if you want big buns, fewer.
Place the buns on lightly greased baking sheets, cover and let them rise for 35-40 minutes.
Beat the egg and brush onto the buns for glazing.
Bake in the middle of the oven at 250 C about 10 minutes.
Let them cool off at a wire rack, cowered with a towel.

DO THIS BEFORE EATING THEM:
Cut off a circular piece on top of the bun. This piece will make a lid on top later on.
Scoop out the interior of the bun with a spoon to make a hole.
Mix grated almond paste with the bread crumbs from the bun, add some milk and put this smooth mixture into the hole of the buns.
Whip the cream and put on top of the filling.
To crown the buns, place the lid on top of the filling and decorate with some icing sugar

2011-03-07T18:21:00.001+01:00

Ingredients
For the buns:

Margarine or butter 75g
Milk 3 dl
Yeast 50 g
Salt 1/2 teaspoon
Sugar 1 dl
Egg 1
Baking soda 1/2 teaspoon
Flour approx 9dl
1 extra egg

For the filling:

Sweet almonds 100 grams
Sugar 1 dl
Breadcrumbs from the bun
Milk or heavy cream 1 dl
For the garnish
Heavy cream 2 dl
Powdered sugar 1 tablespoon (on top)

MAKING THE BUNS
Melt the butter and pour in the milk.
Let the mixture cool to about your body temperature.
Take some of the mixture and dissolve the yeast.
Then add the rest of the mixture, and then salt, the egg and sugar.
Mix the baking soda with some of the flour, and then add to the mixture.
Work the flour into the mixture by hand or with a food processor so that it makes a nice workable dough.
It should easily come off the sides of the bowl and should not be sticky.
Let the kneaded dough rise in a covered bowl to about double the original size for about 20 to 30 minutes.
Now, with the left over flour, kneed the dough on a well floured surface.
Make the dough into 10 to 12 buns.
Let it rise again, covered, on a baking sheet for about 20 minutes.
The baking sheet should be well greased.
Then brush the tops with an egg that has been beaten and bake them in the middle of the oven at 250 (approx. 490 F) for about 5 to 10 minutes.
Take them out and let them cool on a rack, covered with a cloth.

MAKING THE FILLING
Peel and grind the almonds. Cut the top off every roll, and dig out most of the center. Mix it with the almonds, sugar, and milk or cream. It should be a bit runny. Put the filling into the rolls and top it off with whipped cream.
Then take the top of the bun and place it on top, and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Have your buns with coffee or tea or warm milk as dessert.

2011-03-04T08:11:00.005+01:00

This is the weekend cake.

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Ingredients :

1/2 Cup Shortening
1/2 Cup Butter

1 1/4 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs; Beaten
1 Cup Sour cream
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
2 Cups Flour; sifted
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking soda

Topping :

6 Tbsp. Sugar
1 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 cup Raisins; minced
1/4 cup Pecans; minced

Blend all ingredients except topping.
Put half in a greased bundt or angel food pan.
Sprinkle with half of topping (cinnamon and sugar) and all of the minced raisins and pecan nuts. Add other half ingredients.
Sprinkle with other half of topping (only the cinnamon and sugar).
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until knife comes out clean.
Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar lightly while hot.

Hope that it should taste good!
Have a nice weekend!

2011-03-01T15:55:00.005+01:00

Jennie Amalia Chilberg
born in Borås, Sweden
march 12,1874
dead in South Bend
September 12, 1955

Buried in Riverview cemetery
South Bend.

2011-02-25T07:19:00.019+01:00

This week's cake.
I have a recipe for Pear Cake, which I think looks very yummy!

Pear Coffee Cake

Ingredients

4 cups ripe pears, washed and quartered
2 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
a dash of salt
1 tsp baking soda
20 tbsp butter
2 tbsp milk
14 tbsp sugar
2 egg, lightly beaten

Topping

2 tbsp sour cream
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
2 egg

Finishing touch
confectioner’s sugar

Preheat the oven to 360°F and grease a 9” cake pan, preferably springform.
In a food processor, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and butter.
Add in the sugar, and mix again.
Add in the egg and milk, then mix again until just combined, avoid overmixing.

Pour the batter into the pan — it will be somewhat thick, so spread it around with a spatula if needed.
Add the pears on top, arranging them in a pretty circular pattern.
In a small bowl, combine the crème fraîche, sugar and egg, beating them with a fork, and pour this mixture evenly over the top of the cake.
Put in the oven to bake for about 60 minutes, or until golden and the pers are tender. Leave it in the turned off oven for another ten to fifteen minutes.
Dust with confectioner’s sugar just before serving, warm, at room temperature or cold.

2011-02-23T18:22:00.005+01:00

Another photograph of unknown people.
Photo taken in Borås,Sweden.

Comments: "Found in grandfather's album dated 20 June 1912.
Would have been an aquaintance/relative of Erick Peterson. "

2011-02-22T16:34:00.006+01:00

Does anyone recognize this photograph?

I do not know who it is or how old the photo is.
It would be interesting if someone recognizes it.
It was in an album along with some other old photos.

At the bottom it says:
Schaidner, 183 E 124 th St. NEW YORK

2011-02-19T10:30:00.004+01:00

A yummy carrot cake for the weekend.....

Carrot Cake

4 eggs
400 ml sugar
400 ml flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla sugar
1 tsp baking soda
200 g butter, melted
600 ml (about 500 g) carrots, finely grated
cinnamon

Beat eggs and sugar until very fluffy.
Stir in flour, baking powder, vanilla sugar and baking soda.
Then add the butter, and finally the carrots.
Pour into a buttered and floured baking pan, and sprinkle over cinnamon.
Bake at 175°C until the cake is baked through.
Count on about 35-45 minutes, but depending on your pan it can take longer so keep checking it.
Let the cake cool completely before frosting it.

Cream cheese frosting
150 gram cream cheese
60 gram butter, at room temperature
250 ml powdered sugar

Beat all ingredients until it's really light and fluffy.
Spread over the cake and place in the fridge to set.
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En mumsig morotskaka till helgen....

Morotskaka

1 normalstor kaka (24 cm) - dubbla för långpanna

4 ägg
4 dl socker
4 dl mjöl
2 tsk bakpulver
2 tsk vaniljsocker
1 tsk bikarbonat
200 gr smält smör (antingen vanligt, eller osaltat - tillsätt då ca 1/2 tsk salt)
6 dl fint rivna morötter
kanel

Vispa ägg och socker riktigt pösigt.
Rör ner mjöl, bakpulver, vaniljsocker och bikarbonat, sen smöret, sist morötterna.
Häll i en smord och mjölad form. Strö över lite kanel.
Grädda i 175°C tills kakan känns genomgräddad - räkna med ca 35-45 minuter,
men beroende på din form kan det ta längre tid.

Låt den svalna helt innan du brer på toppingen.

Topping:
150 gram philadelphiaost
60 gram rumsvarmt smör (osaltat)
2,5 dl florsocker
Vispa ihop alla ingredienserna tills det är riktigt fluffigt.
Bred på kakan och ställ svalt.

2011-02-18T07:28:00.010+01:00

NATIONWIDE CASTING SEARCH
Meter Television are searching for Americans with Swedish ancestry
for a new reality TV-show, set to be filmed in Sweden!

In the years 1846-1930 1, 3 million Swedish people immigrated to America
to build a better life for their families.
Today, more than 4.8 million Americans have Swedish heritage.

The Producers of the Swedish version of “American Idol” and “Minute to win it”
are coming to the U.S. to find fun, outgoing Americans with Swedish ancestry to participate in their new reality television series “The Great Swedish Adventure.”

Americans will travel to Sweden and participate in an exciting reality television series. Showcasing everyday Americans as they journey throughout Sweden
to discover their land, roots and cultural heritage
Read more here: “The Great Swedish Adventure.”

2011-02-17T17:03:00.009+01:00

Folklore in Sweden

Web magazine for
genealogical reseach in Sweden

A webpublication presenting up to date genealogical research from Sweden,
in depth research into Swedish church records and archives,
historical articles and interviews about Swedish rustic history .
Click here: Folklore in Sweden

2011-02-13T14:00:00.007+01:00

A journey of discovery Passenger lists with over 24 million records from ships sailing to destinations worldwide. Findmypast.co.uk, in association with The National Archives, is proud to present ancestorsonboard, a new database featuring BT27 Outward Passenger Lists for long-distance voyages leaving the British Isles from 1960 right back to 1890. With ancestorsonboard, you can search for passenger list records of individuals or groups of people leaving for destinations including Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and USA featuring ports such as Boston, Philadelphia and New York. Passengers include not only immigrants and emigrants, but also businessmen, diplomats and tourists. Images of the passenger lists are available to download, view, save and print. http://www.findmypast.co.uk/files/titanicVideoFlash/titanicVideoFlash.html http://www.ancestorsonboard.com/

2011-02-11T07:43:00.008+01:00

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Friday = time for a: Swedish Brownie
”Kladdkaka”

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:
•2 eggs
•1 1/3 cups sugar
•1/2 cup cake or all purpose flour
•1/8 tsp. salt
•1/2 cup melted butter
•4 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
•1 Tbsp. vanilla sugar

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350º.
Lightly butter a round 8” or 9” springform or cake pan.
Whisk together the eggs and sugar. Gradually mix in the flour and salt.
Stir cocoa and vanilla sugar into melted butter until well-combined.
Add cocoa-butter mixture to batter, stirring well until any lumps are removed.
Pour batter into prepared pan.
Cook in 350º oven for 25 minutes.
Check for doneness; the edges of the cake should be crisp but the center still moist and sticky
(Tip: A good test is to insert a toothpick first into the cake’s edge:
it should come out clean.
Then, insert it into the center of the cake.
It should come out smeared with gooey, melting chocolate).
Do not overcook (but if you do, you’ll have stellar brownies as a compensation prize!).
Dust with powdered sugar and serve with whipped cream, if desired.

2011-02-08T07:58:00.003+01:00

This is an old photograph in an album that belonged to my grandmother.
I know, unfortunately, not who people are.
Photographer's name is Therese Nilsson, Borås / Limmared, Västergötland.

Does anyone recognize them?
Someone who might have the same photo?

2011-02-06T10:00:00.005+01:00

Hjälp oss hitta Sindy!

Need help finding Sindy.

Detta är inte min hund, men jag vill ändå sätta in denna efterlysning:

Vår hund Sindy försvann torsdagen den 30/12-10 vid 17 tiden från våran hus i Olsfors. Hon sågs senast springa i Hultafors på bron då en volvo stannat till vid henne. Detta var runt 18 tiden samma kväll. En person som har kört en volvo har hört av sig och sagt att han försökte få in henne i bilen men att hon sprang iväg.. Frågan är bara om detta var samma bil/person som några andra personer såg stanna till vid henne?!

Antagligen har hon blivit skrämd av en smällare så att hon har sprungit iväg ifrån vårat hus.Vi har letat överallt, varit i kontakt med polisen, satt upp efterlysningar på internet och i affärer m.m.

Om Sindy:
Hon är en 4 årig renrasig Berner Sennen
Tatuering i örat (ID-märkt)
När hon försvann hade hon ett mörkbrunt läderhalsband med guldiga "nitar" på sig. Hon har ett litet överbett.

Om någon ser en hund som likar Sindy, en granne om helt plötsligt har fått en likadan hund, ser en annons på internet eller i en butik m.m.. Alla tips är viktiga!!

Vet du något, hör något eller har annan viktig information,
ring vilken tid som helst på dygnet!

Sara Bengtsson 0763-053810
Fredrik Lindvall 0722-972496
Eller ring hem till oss på 033-295262
eller ring till polisen på 11414

2011-02-04T07:15:00.004+01:00

Friday: Time to bake a delicious cake....

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
zest of one lemon
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/2 cup softened shortening or butter (I used butter)
1 cup frozen blueberries

Topping
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 T lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar

Mix dry ingredients and set aside.
Beat eggs, milk and shortening (or butter).
Add dry ingredients and stir to combine.
Stir in blueberries gently.
Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Combine butter and lemon juice for the topping.
While the muffins are still warm, dip the tops in the butter and lemon juice,
and then dip in sugar.

Makes 12 muffins.

2011-02-02T15:41:00.005+01:00

My grand mother Selma Målberg
born February 3, 1887

Selma was married to Karl Albin Målberg, born 1880
Their children: Holger, Elin, Göte, Asta and Ingamaj.
This photo is from about 1921 and Ingamaj was not born yet.

2011-01-28T07:39:00.004+01:00

Time to bake a delicious little cake for the weekend ....

Entenmann’s Crumb Coffee Cake

Ingredients:
3-3/4 cups flour
1-3/4 cups sugar
1/4 pound butter (l stick), softened
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2/3 cup milk

Topping:
1/4 pound (1 stick) butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 pinch salt
confectioner’s sugar (for dusting)

Mix together in a large bowl flour, sugar, baking powder, salt; and set
aside 2 cups of this mixture for the topping.

Add butter, eggs and milk to flour mixture in large bowl and mix well.

Grease and flour a 13-inch rectangle baking pan. (I used PAM spray w/flour)

Spread batter in prepared pan.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

For Topping: Take the 2 cups of reserved flour mixture and add to the
butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Mix together with your fingers until
blended and lumps begin to form when you squeeze the mixture making small
pea-sized crumbs.

Cover the entire cake with the crumbly mixture.

Bake for 30 minutes.

When cooled, dust with confectioner’s sugar

I found the recipe here:
http://www.recipesecrets.net/

2011-01-26T15:34:00.007+01:00

Nice giveaway at Fågel Blå.
Fin utlottning hos Fågel Blå.

http://fagel-bla.blogspot.com/

2011-01-14T07:58:00.003+01:00

Friday: Time to bake some Chocolate Chip Muffins....

Chocolate Chip Muffins: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Position rack in center of oven.

Butter, or line with paper liners, 12 - 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 inch muffin cups.

In a large measuring cup or bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract.

In another large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the chocolate chips. With a rubber spatula fold the wet ingredients, along with the melted butter, into the dry ingredients and stir only until the ingredients are combined. Do not over mix the batter or tough muffins will result.

Evenly fill the muffin cups with the batter, using two spoons or an ice cream scoop.

In a small bowl combine the topping ingredients and then sprinkle a little topping on each muffin. Place in the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 18 - 20 minutes.

Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for about 5 minutes before removing from pan.

Makes 12 regular sized muffins

2011-01-13T07:39:00.007+01:00

This is what I've found so far,

concerning Lovisa Larson.

This is the passenger list from Gothenburg in Sweden to, Hull in England.
Anna Lovisa Larson is number 83.
It says that she was going to New York

and there are several people from Varberg, on this list.

2011-01-12T13:00:00.011+01:00

Can anyone help us with this brick wall?

It is a friend of mine who is looking, and I try to help her.
The person we are looking for is: Anna Lovisa Larsson, sometimes she probably is called Louise ( Lovisa) Larson.
She was born September 27, 1856 in Träslöv, Hallands county, Sweden.
She emigrated in July 1883, destination: New York.
She was in Sweden on a visit and went back to the us in April 1893.
There is a photograph of herself, which she has sent to a relative in Sweden.
There is also a card which she sent to Sweden.
In the photo it says at the bottom: Neivdick, 18th, ... 6th Ave. N.Y.
On the postcard it says: Scott, Memorial Hall, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn..

This is ( Anna ) Lovisa Larson.

This is the card that she has sent to Sweden.

If anyone knows anything, we are grateful for any tips.