If there is anything I love about Sweden, it’s the tradition of celebrating pastries (or using a pastry to celebrate a day). There’s ‘Kanelbulledagen’ in the fall (Cinnamon Roll Day), there’s Våffeldagen in Spring (Waffle Day), and now, today, is Semla Day! Okay, well that’s a bit of a lie. It’s not actually Semla Day. It’s, as most of you probably know, “Fat Tuesday” (or Shrove Tuesday, or Mardi Gras). The Semla came about as basically a “last hurrah” before fasting for Lent began. But, with Sweden being the secular country it is today, most people don’t fast anymore, and semlas can be bought and eaten anytime between Christmas and Easter. A perfect way to get through a dark, cold and gloomy winter.
The semla started out as just a bread bun served in a bowl of warm milk 
. But today it is something so much more fabulous!
Behold the modern semla in all it’s glory - A cardamom bun with a bit of the insides scooped out and filled with almond paste, a whole mess of whipped cream (real, non-sweetened whipped cream, not the spray can kind), and then topped off by the lid of the bun sprinkled with powdered sugar. It’s probably the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten. If I didn’t have any self control at all I’d eat them every single day. But, fortunately, I refuse to let all my work at the gym melt all away for a ball of delicious, sweet, creamy… mmmmmmmmmmmm… what was I saying? 
Oh right. Temptation. I pass a few bakeries on my way to work, all with large signs boasting their semlas to all that walk by. All of them making me think of sharing my morning latte in my office with a soft, creamy semla. Pure Torture.
I had one this morning, so I won’t be having any tonight, sadly. So I thought I’d draw one to drool over instead.
Ad here’s fun semla tidbit for you - According to the “all knowing” Wikipedia - King Adolph Fredrick of Sweden died after eating a rather large and rich meal chased by… wait for it… fourteen semlas. Yup. How’s that for ending a fun and cheery post? Exactly. It’s perfect 
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A country that celebrates pastries is my kind of country! I guess I know where I wanna live
Yummie! Semla’s are great! But I have a vanilla filling in mine instead of the almond paste, to avoid a similar fate to Adolph Fredrick (almond allergy)!
I just had a semla, and I ate the whole thing! I usually eat all the good parts and leave the almond paste for Erik. He wasn’t pleased to find out there were no leftovers! Haha! You know, I really liked your new design for this website, but now, every time I visit, I get hungry!! Maybe you could switch it to a less delicious theme, like maybe horses?
Mmmmmmmmm….. semla. *homer-drool*
Hej Irma! Tack för titten hos mig & tack för att jag får använda smileysarna. Det är en kompis till mig som hjälpte mej att lägga in dem, så jag hade inte en aning o att de kom från dig…men nu finns det en länk till din sida från min:) Ha en bra dag, Mvh Anki
Whew! We had a ginormous storm last night that knocked out power to a good part of our small town. Thankfully no major injuries or anything like that.