Norway

Apropos what it means to be a Norwegian... My bachelor thesis is actually about this topic and apparently Norwegians under communicate their differences and display equality. Anyway, I wonder if I should use this as empirical material.

;)

Post-party calzone

Being vegan presents me with a few challenges every now and then and it's safe to say that planning ahead is rather important. According to the myth thou, there's "nothing" I can eat! On the contrary, the options are unlimited. It gives me a chance to explore the world of flavor and "out-of-the-ordinary" foods. It's quite an adventure from time to time.

What ppl usually comment on is the tragedy of me not being able to eat tacos or pizza. Apparently they've never heard of beans. Today I felt like something yummy after a night out celebrating being done with the first of my last exams. Since pizza's not a hit without cheese I realized that calzone did not require cheese and in some ways is actually better than pizza.

Ready, set, cook!

Make pizza dough (probably the easiest thing in the world):
4,5 dl flour
1,5 dl water
1,5 teaspoons oil
0,5 teaspoons salt
25g yeast
pepper <-- my best recommendation! It makes the dough really tasty

Topping: anything you'd like! Here's what I put in:

Crushed tomatoes

Corn

Onion

Beans

Mushroom

Leek

And yes, I'm a natural with the yeast. For some reason beyond me I'm exceptionally good at making things thrice the size it should be.

Next up: SUMMER

I can feel how summer's getting closer by the minute and hopefully before I know it, I'll be done with all my exams, open the door and greet summer at the doorstep. Only a couple of more weeks to go and it's official: I have an education and a great summer awaiting. I have so much to look forward to: camping trips, hiking in the mountains, concerts, festivals, friends, wine, sunshine, swimming in the ocean and strawberries. Life is fantastic!

One of the festivals I'm attending is the Hove festival in Arendal, where I'm lucky enough to have two of my favorite bands playing on the same day: Muse and Paramore. Excited doesn't even start to explain how psyched I am!

Paramore with "The only exception" came up on my playlist and served me a plate of motivation for tomorrow's exam. Time to spread some good music around :)

The regulars

Everyone have some websites they check every time they're online or at least once a day. Besides online newspapers, my e-mail, the school network and so on, I allow myself to check out a couple of pages that are laughing-guarantees. One of these are Very Demotivational and today it was filled with too much good stuff to not pass around. Have a laugh!

By the way, what the heck is WRONG with ppl???

Angels in disguise

I think everyone has somebody whom they have a special bond to and many also face having this person separated from one by both time and space. I am lucky enough to have a few of these ppl whose friendships I find myself in lack of words of describing the value of. Some of these friends are close enough to brighten up my day by their physical presence, but there are some who are on the other side of the ocean, the continent or the globe. It pains me not being able to see, speak and hug them whenever I want or need to, but knowing and confirming over and over again that our friendship is still just as strong, soothes me and gives me tranquility.

No matter where I am in the world, there will always be someone missing; someone I wish could be closer. The inevitable fact that ppl of the globe are endlessly fluctuating makes this impossible no matter how much I wave my magic wand. Therefore one needs to enjoy and take care of the moments one gets to spend with these magnificent ppl who bring that magic sparkle to your life.

I had a long conversation online with one of these unimaginable uniquely fantastic ppl whom I am forever grateful to have in my life. To be able to sit in separate corners of the world sharing global concerns, hilarious stories and mutual excitement and interest in events occurring in each other's lives is pretty great. Who would ever know that it took the point of view from someone across the deep blue sea to give me the right perspective and untangle the knots that were tightening by the minute?

Little did I know when I left Norway in 2005 for a year abroad in the US, that I would meet a handful of ppl who would influence me in numerous ways and change my life forever and become some of my closest and dearest friends? Life absolutely works in mysterious ways and I'm glad it's a mystery. If we already knew all the answers, then the clues and the guidelines along the way would become insignificant objects and happenings which we did not have to ascribe meaning. We would not been given the adventurous opportunity to seek knowledge, experience and gratitude in the smaller things we are unable to neglect due to our constant curiosity and need for answers. Let life be a mystery and unravel it alongside your friends.

Thank you for being a part of my journey thru life.

Heavenly bread

I've always enjoyed cooking and baking, and I might spend more time than the average Joe/Jane in the kitchen. Today I made a wonderful scampi-mango wok which was so good that I didn't even get a chance to take a picture of it. Next time :)

With this in mind it might not come as a surprise that I prefer to bake my own bread. It took some time finding a recipe that I really liked and since I'm involuntary vegan (I'm a vegetarian and also allergic to milk) I had to make sure I found a good recipe which did not contain milk. After some strolling around in the world of full grain bread recipes, I ended up deciding on one only adding a few of my own adjustments. It's very tasty and I can't wait to get up in the morning to have breakfast and then waiting a couple of more hours to have lunch.

Here's the magical recipe (2 loaves):

• 1 liter water
• 50 g yeast
• 2,5 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• approximately 1 dl olive oil
• 2 dl wheat bran
• 2 dl wheat germ
• 4 dl wholemeal flour
• 4 dl wholemeal rye
• approximately 7,5 dl flour
• sesame seeds
• sunflower seeds
• linseeds

Add all the dry ingredients (including the seeds) except wheat flour and stir thoroughly. Heat the water to 37 C. Stir the yeast in some of the water and mix all the yeast and the rest of the water in the batter bowl. Knead the dough well. Add the flour bit by bit to make the dough firm. Don't let the dough become too hard and firm. It's better to leave it a tad soft and light before it is set aside to rise.

Cover the dough with plastic and let it rise to double size for 30-40 minutes in a sheltered place.

Turn the dough on the table. Knead it smooth and add some more flour if too soft and light. Make sure it doesn't turn firm. Cut it in half and shape it into two loaves laid in well-greased tins that take 1 1/2 liters. Cover them with cloth and let it rise for about 30 minutes. Bake on lowest rack in oven at 200 C for 50-60 minutes. I do not recommend hot air baking. Cool on a rack.

Enjoy!

MGP/ESC

You can't ignore it, whether you want to or not. It's everywhere! On the news, online, on the radio.. It's getting closer; the countdown is coming to an end. All of Europe's eyes are turning towards Norway. The biggest event of the year is within an arm's reach. This is what we've all been waiting for! THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST!

Don't you just love how it's possible to put all the one-line-movie-trailer-chliches into the wonders of the Eurovision Song Contest (or Melodi Grand Prix as we call it in Norway). Unfortunately, it's all true. This is what Europe goes completely nuts over once a year, and since Norway was the winner last year, we get to host the competition this year. The day when Europe stands still and all eyes are - literally - on Norway, is the 29th of May.

I'm not a big ESC enthusiast so I'm not really up to date when it comes to the songs, the show and participants, but my eye caught a headline on one of the tabloids online which I could not ignore. I bet the combination of curiosity and, for once, a good headline is to blame, but I'm glad it did. The Ukrainian contribution "Sweet People" turns out to be an ideological promotion of global responsibility in the typical Michael-Jackson-Earth-Song-spirit. The singer, Alyosha, recently made a music video to the song recorded in a town close to the nuclear disaster of Chernobyl in 1986.

I think it's great that a major event like the ESC is being used for ideological purposes and to send a message. Once again it makes you reflect upon and consider the coincidental fact that we live in a peaceful part of the world, and how lucky we truly are.

Putting it simple

(500) Days of Summer

Let me put this down in writing once and for all: the movie "(500) Days of Summer" is magnificent and it's a must-see! It's corny, different, sweet and funny. I've watched quite a few movies in the last couple of years, but none of them has stuck with me like this one. A smile makes its way to my face along with a small giggle when I think of all the small details that makes the movie unique and quirky dialogues. Not only is the movie wonderful, but the music is like nothing I've ever heard before in a low budget movie (be alarmed (and thrilled): this is not a Hollywood production!). It's filled with music from a wide specter of genres and they all fit in perfectly. It's a feel-good movie indeed, and so is this song which pops up in the middle of the movie. When I hear it I want to jump around and shout out how joyful I feel when listening to it. It's almost like a hidden fuse box inside of me getting switched on. Fan-freaking-tastic!!

The big picture

When faced with pictures like the ones from Afghanistan, it makes my inside twist and turn. Apart from seeming like they're living on a completely different planet, it almost makes my life appear too good to be true. It gives me perspective, which in a way is sad. It should not be so, that one needs to see others in pain and suffering to realize the gratitude one should be displaying to not have grander worries than the majority of the Western world has.

I am thankful for the most necessary of needs being covered.

I am thankful for my friends whom I adore and cherish.

I am thankful for being able to wake up every day at the sound of my alarm clock.

I am thankful for my freedom and independence.

I am, and for that I'm forever grateful.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world"

- Gandhi

The language with too few words

The Norwegian language has approximately 300 000 words whereas the English language has about 1 million words. No wonder I sometimes, or more often than sometimes, find myself in lack of words. The words to describe a situation, how I'm feeling or certain expressions are too often lacking. I often turn to the English language for support, which is amusing for most, but it's either that or me not completing the sentence.

Aftenposten recently announced a feature article competition with the subject "the Norwegian language". The winner writes figuratively about the stage between being sick and healthy and how the words to explain the pre- and post-cancer stages are non-existing. It's called "De stumme plagede" ("The dumb troubled").

Endless night

Stars are lightning up my way

I'm running, running far away

Away from hate and tears and lies

Away from wars and children's cries

Lord, oh, Lord why don't you hear?

Your peoples blood and silent fear

These days when darkness takes control

A horrow lies within my soul

After darkness, maybe light?

I'm praying, Lord, please say I'm right

Where to miss?? by Fairytale Belle ♥♡ on Polyvore.com