Swedes and Swedish food

Glögg (photo: Margarita Persico)

With everything Swedish, Newcomers Club of Costa Rica’s book club group celebrated its end-of-year meeting discussing “The Girl Who Played with Fired,” the second book of The Millennium-trilogy series by Stieg Larsson, ex-chief editor of the Expo magazine. Larsson, who at age 50 died in 2004 of a massive heart attack just before the first book was published, sold 20 million copies in 41 countries; in 2008 he was second bestselling author in the world.

Stieg Larsson's triology (Photo: Margarita Persico)

As we entered the book club meeting, we were all greeted with a glass of Glögg, a traditional winter Swedish drink made from fermented apple cider (if nonalcoholic), or as this one was: wine and brandy or vodka, spiced up with orange peel, raisins, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom and almonds. The meeting on Friday, December 10, 2010, was beyond a book discussion—it was a celebration by nearly a dozen women. We celebrated our friendship and a year of book discussions, some we loved and others not so much.

The Millennium series addresses topics of racism, violation against women and human rights. Though a fictional story about an investigative reporter accused of libel who is hired as a ghost writer and investigator, the reporter along with his brilliant investigative assistant uncovers numerous murders and financial crimes with a hint of a Ponzi schemer that reminded me a little of Madoff. The books revolve around mystery, crime, sex, food and much more. Therefore Swedish music and food surrounded the book discussion. And of course, a discussion about this book included the legal treatment towards the author’s lifelong partner of 32 years, Eva Gabrielsson, who was excluded from his estate since Swedish laws do not honor common law marriages.

As we listen to “Chiquitita” and other Abba songs, we ate, drank and debated thoughts, likes and dislikes about the book. The spread of food included cucumber salad, Swedish meatballs, Biff à la Lindström, crackers and cheese, rice pudding, apple strudel, lemon tart, and other foods. With no guilt because once in a while celebrations fall within my 20/80 rule, 80 percent of the time I’m good, 20 percent or less of the time I’m not. So I ate the cookies and almost every dessert.

My Favorite!! (Photo: Margarita Persico)

Enjoy more photos below and please share your healthy Swedish and other ethnic food recipes with us. For some Swedish recipes check here, and of course for more health recipes, check our website.