February, oh you sassy month! I have a recipe that is a fun take on Valentines Day, the cold Hunger Moon theme, how people were aware of food costs and seasonal local foods.
BURNING LOVE - a traditional Danish recipe. A long night in the February Hunger Moon will be warmed immeasurably by soups, creamy potatoes, bacon...oh bacon how it comforts the home.
This Danish side dish is a traditional part of the meal for this time of year. Using seasonal foods, fermented foods (sour cream and pickled beets) and the simplicity of what would have been left in a typical storage room or cold room gives a nod to seasonal cooking and still sharing the Love.
It is also very simple and it only consists of a few and relatively natural ingredients which is the main reason why this dish was so popular back then. Today, this dish is still served in many Danish homes and it is especially great for a cold and dark winter evening. Enjoy everyone!
Burning Love Mashed Potatoes Directly translated Braendende Kearlighed means Burning Love which actually does not say much about this dish, except that it is supposed to be served very hot.
This recipe for Braendende Kearlighed is an old and very traditional Danish recipe. This dish is said to be more than a 100 years old and originally from the rural area, and often poor parts, of Denmark.
Burning Love consist of mashed potatoes top with an onion and bacon mixture – it is easy to prepare, very filling and at the same time cheap to make.
The mashed potatoes with sour cream is how my family has always made mashed potatoes and let me tell you, almost EVERYONE asks how I make my potatoes, they are that good. So this is a take on what I've grown up on, usually fried fish, chicken, pork chops were the meat choice to go along with it.
Burning Love
Ingredients:
Mashed potatoes 6-8 large potatoes
1/3 cup cream or keep adding until you like the consistency
1 TBS salted butter salt to taste
Topping
Eight slices of diced bacon
2 onions Side dish pickled beets
Instructions:
1. Peel the potatoes and cut them in smaller pieces.
2. Put the potatoes in a larger pot and cover them with water.
3. Boil the potatoes until they are tender. This usually takes about 20 minutes.
4. While the potatoes are boiling; peel the onions and dice them finely.
5. In a frying pan; fry the diced bacon until ALMOST crisp.
Add the diced onions and fry until they become soft, transparent and a little golden and the bacon crisp. Remove the onion bacon mixture with a slotted spoon.
Set aside.
*Tip: the onions will continue to cook in the hot bacon grease so don't cook too long, or they will darken. This is not the flavor you want! lol.
6. When the potatoes are done; pour away the water and let them cool off a bit without the lid.
7. Pour the boiled potatoes into a large bowl or in a stand mixer and whip them until they become mashed potatoes.
8. While whipping the potatoes add the cream and butter. Continue whipping until all the cream and butter are mixed with the potatoes. Add salt to taste.
9. Serve this dish with the mashed potatoes at the bottom and the bacon and onions as topping. Sprinkle with a little chopped green onion tops or dill.
You can also serve some pickled beets to your Burning Love.
Happy Valentine's Day to you all.
Know you are loved and worthy of comfort, good food, and love, regardless at whatever point you are in your life.
Be sure to reach out to someone who may need to know they are thought of. ~xo