Hi, I’m Hanne,
Cooking has always been my joy, my solace, a way to show my love to those around me.
Mainly it has been a way for me to eat the foods I crave without breaking the bank. I love to eat. I eat like a linebacker but I want each bite to be delicious, so I make it myself.
Kibbutz Nachshon 1988
Hydra Greece 2012
Years ago a friend said to me “I wish you would call me every day and tell me what you are making for dinner. When you describe what you’ve cooked I am inspired to get in the kitchen and make something delicious”
I guess she invented the idea of food blogging.
When I first started thinking of names for the blog I thought I should call it:
“Who the F^*#@ am I to tell you what to cook?”
But I’m not telling you what to cook am I? I am hopefully giving you inspiration, little ideas that you can color with your own brushes, adding your flair and the nuances of your palate.
From the left me, my mother and my sister Athens, Greece.
In the dark days after our mother died (our Father six months later and our Aunt, a second mother to us, six months later) my sister and I agreed to begin sharing stories of our childhood, trading them back and forth between us like a game of pingpong, we called this blowing on the embers. It seemed at that time that the fires had gone out and we hoped that by blowing on the dark coals a spark would light again in our lives.
I seek the light: sometimes in bounds and sometimes with winter weary steps but always I am moving towards light and joy.
Searching for the Thanksgiving pies with my daughter Livy
My first Christmas without my mother I realized that it was now my job to carry the torch of family holiday traditions. The most important tradition being the making of the Christmas eve rice pudding. My mother never wrote down recipes (how annoying) because each time she cooked she started from scratch, intuition and inspiration.
That first rice pudding was terrible; heavy and difficult to get through just like that first holiday on our own.
Part of Blowing so damn hard on the embers is to bring back the tastes of childhood, my mother’s expatriate Danish cooking, my Father’s Eastern European specialties like his sweet Tzimmes and half sour tomatoes, my Aunt’s traditional Danish farmhouse fair and elegant midsummer night desserts, and the foods of our young childhood spent with our parents on a Greek Island. I will throw in as well the influences of my husband’s Israeli youth and my years spent living with him on kibbutz. As I have learned it is love and connections that makes this tapestry bright.
My two boys Aylam and Sterling
This year four Christmases later our rice pudding was light and airy, sparkling with lemon zest topped with glossy, garnet cherry sauce, and sprinkled with shaves of dark chocolate.
Grab your coat and get your hat
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Just direct your feet
To the sunny side of the street
Can’t you hear a pitter-pat?
And that happy tune is your step
Life can be so sweet
On the sunny side of the street
-Dorothy Fields
Those golden Hydra days with my sister and dad.
Thank you/ this is the very first time I have commented on a cooking blog. I love your mix of story telling and food making. I was born and grew up in New York city, daughter of a beat generation hippy, was sent at 9 with my twin sister to live with my paternal aunt on the west coast, emigrated to Cyprus and lived there for 20 years, now live in Norway, cook vegan, run supper clubs, teach sociology, garden and love our african dwarf goats. I love cooking and mostly experimenting with food. Like you, I grew up with little, and appreciate much. Thank you for your blog.
Katherine, Oh that means terribly much to me that you enjoy my blog/stories. I wish we could sit down over a hot cup of coffee and you’d tell me all about your life. We share hippy parents,iconoclasts and wanderers. I snooped over to your blog and your B&B looks lovely. Funnily enough my sister and her family live in Tromsø, Norway.- All the best Johanne
Wow. If there’s one perk of life it’s getting to know “beautiful “customers at my work place. And by gosh I’ ve met one. You are a wonderful peaceful person with every purpose of life going in the spiritual, nutritional belly of life. I love gibing w you about everything from the kids, to your recipes, food o course, and common everyday life. This blog is an inspiration for me. Thanx for coming into wholefoods & sharing your thoughts & ideas, especially on those cold,snowy mornings when your face was all we could see because you ‘have to’ walk from home . . . What a gift. Lol. Love , Patricia
Sweet Patricia, Entering da market be like running a gauntlet. Then I see your face. Phew. Standing there amidst the piled eggplant we are transported to a little village, a bubble where we talk, and laugh and kibitz. We are like-souls with enough differences to make our talks interesting. You have lifted gloomy days right of my shoulders with you bright smile. Xox love to you -Hanne
I don’t think I ever comment on food blogs; I randomly came across yours today via a link to chocolate hazelnut spread, and having only read a few entries I was immediately touched by your storytelling ability. I am probably closer to your children’s age than yours, but I found your writing somehow personally evocative; your description of a winter morning as a preface to a Thai tomato soup reminded me of everything I loved about reading Louisa May Alcott and Madeleine L’Engle in my youth, and I was unexpectedly emotionally affected, to the extent that I felt compelled to leave a note here. Your writing is touchingly beautiful, and I will be an avid reader. Thank you for sharing.
Cecelia, I read your comment this morning as I sat with a hot cup of coffee and my sloth like black cat draped over my shoulder. Thank you for taking the time to write these kind words. I got a little misty eyed I’ll admit. Knowing that someone like you reads and enjoys my offerings keeps me writing. Xox Hanne
Fried matzoh might be my all-time favorite food. I’ve been vegan for many years but now must be gluten-free as well. Reading your blog makes me want to pay the $10 for a box of guten-free matzoh and live a little! Thanks.
Awww live a little. Matzo Brei is the comfortiest of comfort foods.
Thank you for visiting!
Hi Johanne,
What an interesting life and mixture of cultures! I’m sorry about the hard times when and after your mother died. It must have all been very traumatic; but I see you are a happy, more resilient person. I can completely emphasize! 🙂
It’s lovely to connect with people as yourself and bloggers with fascinating backgrounds!
Saludos from España, Debra xx
Saludos Debra! Thank you for jumping over to my little space, I am just so glad I found your blog. Each time I visit you blog is like a mini vacation. ❤️
Hi Hanne,
I began following you via Instagram after I followed a fellow NGI alum. Your gift for story and description, lovely photography, gorgeous food and effusive warmth have made me a big fan. You seem like you’d be the best sort of friend to have – fascinating, reflective, kind and FUN. (It would be great too, to be on the short list of those who get to taste your drool inducing creations.)
I’m on an extremely limiting diet right now but I am living vicariously through your stomach! 😉
ab
Hi Amybeth,
I am just so grateful you visited. There are some days when you need a little extra something to propelyou forward.Today was one of those days for me and your supportive words were just what I needed.
If you are ever in Providence let me know and maybe we could have tea and chat.
Oh Johanne, I loved reading every word of this. Thank you for sharing yourself and your recipes with us. Blessings to you.
Amanda, I don’t know how I missed this comment. But now I’ve found it and am so grateful to you for leaving these kind words.
Hello Johanne,
Thank you for reading my story about Hydra and notes about Ephraim Kishon. I started to promote my travel a few days ago blog and your comment is very supportive. I have noticed that you have the very awesome website about cooking which is my passion too. I went to many vegan/vegetarian workshops but this summer on Croatian island Zlarin I experienced something amazing, I made seitan in the sea, literally, while seagulls were over my head. If you have time read my story and tell me what you think. I am looking for someone to publish it.
KR Dragana
What an absolutely magical experience making seitan in the sea. I look forward to reading about more of your adventures.
Hi Johanne
i’ve just discovered your blog after trolling through the internet looking for seitan recipes, I’ve just made your bacon and it is delicious not at all tough and chewy like some ive tried. I love your story and where you are from and thankyou for sharing your experiences with us. I am English but have lived in the West of Ireland for many years where we have raised our 5 children, most are now vegetarian or vegan as my life’s work has been cooking and teaching vegetarian and vegan cooking and its finally rubbing off on my grown up kids! My website has lots of recipes you may like to look and a little story of me.
Thanks again its made my day to find you and such a lovely food blog!
Hello Liz, I popped over to your blog and will be visiting much in the future.To me it seems so brave to stand in front of a class and teach people coking, brave and joyous I mean. Perhaps one day When I finally visit Ireland I will join in for one of your classes.
Dear Johanne,
Thank you so much for your wonderful stories and delicious looking recipes! Would you ever consider having a cooking class once in a while in Providence? I am trying to live a more plant based life but get some what intimidated with trying new recipes.
Again so enjoying your blog and seeing the pictures of your beautiful family and and inspiring stories!
Polly
Polly my sweet,
It was lovely running into you at the farmer’s market. How about you come over for dinner soon and we cook it together. I’d love to spend an afternoon chopping, sautéing, giggling and reminiscing with you and your beautiful family. xox
Girl, you can write as well as you cook. You stir the words and make them simmer in me, making me breathe deeply, wanting to inhale more. Wish you lived in Portland as I know we would be friends. Thank you for your blog and how generously you share here. I just found you because I just returned from my first trip to Thailand and wanted vegan Thai recipes. Your son is/was a monk there? I loved seeing the monks on their daily walks and I hope his experience has been profound. Sending you good vibes and friendship from afar.
Diane, lucky you traveling in Thailand! That is the dream, especially in winter, escaping the dreary gravity of February and just soaking up sunlight and fresh mangos of Southeast Asia.
Portland? I went to a wedding there once and was struck, as many are, by the uniqueness, acceptance, and great vegan food in the city. Thank poi for your sweet words.
I am sending good vibes and friendship you as well
Hanne