Santa Lucia & Lussekatter

Lussekatter

Today is Santa Lucia, which is celebrated throughout Scandinavia.  It is one of the very few saints days observed in this part of Northern Europe.  Celebrations are usually kept to barnehager (kindergarten/Nursery) and schools and rarely observed at home.  Nils and I watched the Santa Lucia procession (tog) when Oskar was at barnehage.  The first time he cried his eyes out and Nils had to carry him around in the train/tog.  One year we managed to get him dressed in the traditional white long gown and he sang his way alone, holding a candle - result!  Today at school, where Oskar is 2nd year pupil, there will be a procession.

As with any good feast, there is a something tasty to accompany it - Lussekatter.  I used this recipe (Norwegian) to make the ones pictured above.  I looked on the internet to find an equivalent recipe in English, but it looks like everyone has their own "best" way to make them.  The ones I made include cardamom.  Recipes I found from USA/Australia didn't include this.  Also, some use Quark/Kesam/Kvarg and egg....my recipe didn't include either ingredient.  Whilst there is absolutely nothing wrong with the ones I made, next year, I think I'll try a different recipe to compare.

The Kathleen Turner Series Book Blitz & Giveaway Day 5

  Turn on Dime - Blane's Turn is a companion novel to No Turning Back book one in the Kathleen Turner Series.

SYNOPSIS

Blane Kirk is a Navy SEAL turned high-powered attorney with old money and an even older pedigree.  Yes, he plays the field and changing women as often as he changes his ties, but they're not complaining.  He has only two rules -1) don't date employees and 2) don't get emotionally involved.  Those rules have served him well.  He sees no reason to change his ways, until his Runner, an employee at the law firm named Kathleen Turner, does an unexpected face plant in his lap.

Kathleen's too young, too innocent and suddenly much too vulnerable when her friend is murdered and Blane knows she could be next.  Keeping her alive means keeping her close, but can Blane keep her safe...from him?  Kathleen is like no woman he's ever met and protecting her could be the one thing he never expected that would make his life turn on a dime.

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Teaser

The Kathleen Turner Series Book Blitz & Giveaway Day 4

Today we begin profiling each of the books that have been published so far in the series, starting with book one - No Turning Back

Kathleen Turner has goals. She moved to Indianapolis to start seeing to them, but things aren’t going quite as well as she’d hoped. She’s a runner for a high-powered law firm in town, not the most prestigious of positions, but it and her part-time bartender gig at least pays the bills. And one of the senior partners is a dreamboat in that obscenely rich, disturbingly good looking, slightly snobbish sort of way.

Before she did a mortifying face plant in his lap during a meeting, she was quite happy ogling him from afar. After that…well…she was more about the avoiding. Mature, no. More likely to assure she keeps her job, yes.

She’s made some friends in the few months she’s been in Indy. One of those friends is her neighbor Sheila, though Kathleen can’t say she’s completely comfortable with Sheila’s job choice as a high-dollar escort.

It’s the middle of the night when Kathleen hears fighting coming from Sheila’s apartment. As disturbing as that is, it’s the ominous sound of silence afterwards that keeps Kathleen from falling back to sleep. Slipping from bed with the intention of making sure everything is okay, Kathleen knocks on friend’s door, only to find Sheila murdered, her naked body sprawled on sheets stained crimson with her blood.

Shock and horror are followed by gritty determination when it becomes clear that Sheila’s death isn’t random and it isn’t the result of a jealous boyfriend. It’s the opening gambit in a web of murder, deceit, conspiracy, and fraud that stretches to the law firm for which Kathleen works. Maybe to the very office that Blane Kirk commands.

And Kathleen Turner, law office runner, can trust no one if she wants to survive.

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Teasers