Monday 25 January 2016

...and that's the answer 3

Yamini had quite a mundane question for me: what's for dinner? Because she liked my stories about my stove and me. Well, I will need to tell you a little story first. 

When I lived in the Netherlands, my mother would call me sometime around November and asked me whether I felt like Snert that winterseason. Snert being a Dutch pea soup that will warm you and fill you. It is thick.  Very very thick. Spoon upright thick. Some years I would answer no, knowing I didn't feel like eating that particular dish during that winter. Other years I would say yes and a few days after the phone call I would usually come home to a note on the kitchen counter, saying there was snert in the freezer. 

Then I moved to a different country. And having my Mum come around with snert isn't that obvious. Which means I have to get it some other way if I feel like it. Fortunately there is google and there are plenty of snert recipes out there. Then I had to get the ingredients, which proved a bit harder. Yes, the potato and leek and carrot, the sausage, speck/bacon and meat is fine. But some of the other ingredients are a bit harder. In the end I went with what was there: parsnip and something else I already forgot the name of.

In the end however, I got all the ingredients and proceeded to make the soup (potatoes not shown in the photo). The end result? Well, like the first time I made it over here in Norway: not good! It smelled like snert, and it even tasted of snert. But the consistency was way too liquid (too much water perhaps?) and I had to use the blender to turn the peas into something resembling edible and even then it was like eating grit. I had one bowl and threw the rest of it out (I saved the meat though).

Yamini's question: what's for dinner? Ehm... pancakes!

13 comments:

  1. CRIKEY Mara ... No-one can cook like Mum, aye? Well not my Mum but most Mums. My Mum can't cook to save herself. You seem to do a good job of those pancakes though. Boy, they look good!

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    1. Apparently I used the wrong type dried pea! Who knew!!

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  2. Morning Mara....what a great story about Snert. It sounds very hearty and like it could be a comfort food. My mom made the very best tuna salad I've ever eaten. I never quite got the hang of her secret. I hear those pancakes calling my name
    Hugs Cecilia

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  3. My husband would like snert I think since he loves think pea soup. I love the name too. It sounds intriguing! The pancakes look delicious.

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    1. The fun thing about the word snert is that it is also used to describe absolutely lousy weather!

      When I make it next time (and succeed), I will put up a recipe. But only if I succeed. If I don't, I will ask my Mum to come and bring some to me.

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  4. A soup as thick as that doesn't sounds great to me, but food has memories for us, and that does affect the taste.

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  5. Hari OM
    As you know, I'sa soupaholic... though all veggie of course. I do a good pea soup without the meat - but my dad is of course a lover of the trad pea'n'ham. ... That round thing on the low left of the pic? Either a kohl rabi or a celeriac... does that ring bells?

    Those pancakes look FABulous... tonight for me it is going to be (vegetarian) haggis and champ - it's Burn's Supper Night!!! Thanks for taking on my query... YAM xx

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    1. Yes, that sounds about right. I knew from the smell it wasn't my favourite though and I will certainly not put that in again! The parsnip was a good addition and will be used again. As will swede, if I can get my hands on that.

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    2. .... kohl rabi IS a type of swede so if you didn't like the flavour it is more likely the Celeriac; which is much better mashed and used along with potatoes just on its own... but still an acquired taste!!!

      The haggis was good; half last night and roast veges were yum.... tonight, the rest will be mashed into patties and fried to have with home-made tomato gravy..... &*>

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  6. Sorry it didn't work out. Pancakes sound like a good choice!

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  7. How interesting. You had to decide in November what you felt like eating that winter? We would always say yes!

    Keep Calm & Bark On!

    Murphy & Stanley

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    1. Ah, but then it would not be eaten and that would be a shame. I never made the mistake of saying no and then wanting it anyway. Weird that!

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  8. Sounds like "Erbsensuppe" my mother did that too it was a whole meal and the spoon could stand up ! It was sometimes served with sausages and Sauerkraut, I love it from time to time. I love lentil soup as well.

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Any weighty (and not so weighty) comments are welcome!