Tag: Norway

Random 32: Multer/Cloudberries

On By RupaliIn Random27 Comments
Multer/ Cloudberries

Multekrem or Cloudberries with whipped cream is a popular Christmas dessert in Norway. I heard about multekrem at my first Christmas party in Norway. Not only people in my group but many in my department praised the dish and encouraged me to try it. The taste was quite different than other berries but was fine.

Rubus chamaemorus is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae, native to cool temperate regions, alpine and arctic tundra and boreal forest. In Europe, they grow in the Nordic countries but are rare in the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). They occur across northern Russia east towards the Pacific Ocean as far south as Japan. Due to peatland drainage and peat exploitation, they are considered endangered and are under legal protection in Germany’s Weser and Elbe valleys, and at isolated sites in the English Pennines and Scottish Highlands. A single, fragile site exists in the Sperrin Mountains of Northern Ireland.

When ripe, cloudberry fruits are golden-yellow, soft and juicy, and are rich in vitamin C. When eaten fresh, cloudberries have a distinctive tart taste. When over-ripe, they have a creamy texture somewhat like yogurt and a sweetened flavor. They are often made into jams, juices, tarts, and liqueurs.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubus_chamaemorus

Last weekend we saw quite a number of people in small groups collecting multer or cloudberries on a local mountain. I picked just a few of them and leave the rest for the others. For some it’s a serious business and according to my neighbour people do not disclose the sight details 😍. Wild blueberry shrubs are easy to find as they are near every hiking trails but the cloudberry shrubs are in abundance on the flat surface at a height of 800 m above sea level (Six Word Saturday last week). It’s funny but I noticed them for the first time as we usually take the other route. My conclusion is for picking perfectly ripen cloudberries one has to be at the right place at the right time. Also hiking is something a child in Norway learns from it’s kindergaren days so it’s not a big deal.

What is your favourite dessert for Christmas?

*****

FOTD – berries

Weekend 121: Expect the unexpected

On By RupaliIn Monday Walk, Sunday trees, Weekend66 Comments

Great things happen to those who don’t stop believing, trying, learning, and being grateful ~ Roy T. Bennett

I am presenting a photo journal of our long hike which was spiced up with some unexpected experience on last Sunday.

Yellow Wisteria blooming

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has ~Epictetus.

We planed a hike on Saturday which we had to cancel due to last minute changes in the weather forecast. Sunday was all good and we decided to proceed. The aim was to climb little more than 900 meters above sea level and cover a distance of 19 km. Our daily walks have given us strength to plan such activities.

  • Buttercup flowers in abundance
  • Wild flowers amaze me
  • At 600 moh

Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you are climbing it~ Andy Rooney

Until now we had an enjoyable hike. I am no expert in knowing various birds and their sounds but these were the most beautiful sounds we heard in the nature. We didn’t see any bird due to the lush green surroundings.

  • The past
  • The future

Our destination “the top flat surface” was about 2 -2.5km away with an ascent of 300m. We needed to cross the high tension electrical wire pole which is visible up on the mountain in the image named “the future”.

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order~Jon Burroughs

  • A Magnificent Structure
  • Wind didn’t let me take the photo

Everything was fine until we crossed the high tension electrical wires but soon after the gentle breeze was not so gentle. We decided to continue as we see no danger too soon.

Shall I touch the cloud

Mountain weather conditions can change dramatically. Suddenly the heavens opened giving us a little time to put on our jackets. As we long passed the farms, finding a shelter was out of question. We wouldn’t have worried was it just rain. We saw lightning and then we realised the weather forecast for thunderstorm was preponed by a couple of hours. So there we were in a thunderstrom standing in the middle of nowhere. Going back means we had to cross the high tension electrical wire pole which we thought as a risky option. There were three cottages in sight but we picked the one which was on lower tarrain than the other two. We moved fast and felt ourself lucky as we were not on the top open space. We waited outside the cottage for about 25 minutes.

A thunderstorm in the mountains can be really impressive but also dangerous. Watching lightning on a mountain was one of the most frightening experiences I had in my life. We began our descent down the mountain after thunderstorm moved away and the rain slowed down.

The surrounding was mystical when we left the cottage at 900 meters above sea level

When we set out the weather was warm and we were in shorts and light t-shirts. There was no indication of there being any weather problems. On a mid summer day in the middle of the day we were wet and feeling cold 😜

Soon things were back to normal. Rain jackets were replaced by sun glasses though the wet hiking shoes felt quite heavy.

  • Nature at her best
  • Sheep share the Norwegian right to roam

In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

We wouldn’t have planned a hike if we had any idea about the fast approaching thunderstorm. Anyways we learned a lesson and without fail we thanked nature for keeping us safe.

Becca’s Sunday Trees &

Jo’s Monday Walk