Danish Christmas Dinner

I was lucky enough to reunite with some long lost family in Denmark! It was such a treat to get to know each and everyone of them! I have always said that I come from a long line of good cooks, this trip proved to be no exception! We started this culinary adventure with a traditional Danish Christmas Dinner. We had Roast Pork “Flaeskesteg” with the pork fat cooked until delicious and crispy, “Flaeskesvaer”! The pork was juicy and tender and the fat was crispy and salty, it was wonderful. A perfect compliment side dish was cooked red cabbage, “Roedkaal”, sweet and sour and similar to a version my Czech side of the family serves as well. The potatoes, “Brunede Kartofler”, were delicious and unlike anything I have ever tried before. Potatoes were peeled and boiled until tender. Sugar is melted into a pan and the potatoes are added and cooked until they are covered in a delicious savory caramel. This is really a special dish! Dessert was special in its own right that I would love even at breakfast time. “Risalamande” is a Danish Rice pudding that has raisins and almonds in it and is served with a special cherry sauce, “Kirsebaersauce”. This meal was only the first night! You can’t imagine the delights that followed! Pictured are cousins Anita and Jeanet (sisters in the kitchen) and wonderful Matriarchs of our family Elly and her sister (seated at the beautiful table), thanks to Anita for this amazing dinnerJ