Christmas Smörgåsbord

All of us local Ortlunds gathered for our annual Christmas Smörgåsbord last weekend. Except for the supremely icky pickled herring (I don't care how spicy it is!), I think it's one of the most delicious meals of the year. We always start with hot fruit soup, and then have limpa with lingonberries, knäckebröd which is like a rye cracker, pickled herring, Risgrynsgröt (rice pudding), cucumber salad, swedish sausages, köttbullar (Swedish meatballs), and red cabbage.

Granddaddy used to be the only one who truly looked forward to eating pickled herring, but now Uncle Nels has at least a taste in his honor -- good man! Personally, I wouldn't touch the stuff unless someone double-dog dared me and it was chased with at least one tall shot of Akvavit!

Grandmother, Auntie Sherry, Uncle Walt, Mother, and Nels have always shared the cooking for this family meal, but I've made them promise to teach me how to make these dishes the right way. So far my attempts have come out sadly sub-par. Sherry makes the best köttbullar in the world. There is no point in ordering Swedish meatballs, even at a five star Scandinavian restaurant because even they, real Swedish chefs "Yorn desh born, der ritt de gitt der gue. Orn desh, dee born desh, de umn børk! børk! børk!"... don't make them nearly as delicious!