Midsommar
Dani (Florence Pugh) and Christian (Jack Reynor) are a young American couple with a relationship on the brink of falling apart. But after a family tragedy keeps them together, Christian invites a grieving Dani to join him and his friends on a trip to a once-in-a-lifetime midsummer festival in a remote Swedish village. What begins as a carefree summer holiday in the North European land of eternal sunlight takes a sinister turn when the insular villagers invite their guests to partake in festivities that render the pastoral paradise increasingly unnerving and viscerally disturbing. Source
Midsommar’s food stylist and chef Zoe Hegedus creates food that is presented seamlessly throughout the movie in a way that was “naturalistic and rustic using elements from the traditional Swedish cuisine”. Source
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“I think I ate one of her pubic hairs.”
“Hmm. Sounds probably right.”
The Scene: During one of the scenes we see Dani making pies which are later served to the guests. Christian unexpectedly finds a pubic hair in his, which turns out to be a love spell cast by Maja.
Fun fact: While putting pubic hairs in food is not real in Swedish midsummer tradition, pagan rituals do regale the use of it in conjuring and spells.
Image and Recipe Source
Today we will be making:
Hårgan Meat Pies
This is a delicious and hearty meat pie perfect for enjoying during your viewing of Midsommar.
Ingredients
For the crust:
2 boxes Pre-made Pie Crust (we used the type that came 2 crusts to a box, giving us 4 crusts total)
Flour for rolling out pie crust
Butter to grease the pie pans
1 Egg for egg wash.
For The Filling:
1 lb. Ground Beef (85/15)
3 cups grated Red Potato (we left the skins on)
1/4 cup chopped Yellow Onion
1/4 chopped Fresh Parsley
1 1/2 tsp Dried Dill
1/2 tsp Allspice
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1 tbsp Butter
Salt and Pepper
Directions
In a large skillet melt butter over medium heat.
Add the ground beef in small pieces.
Add remaining potatoes, onions, herbs, and spices.
Cook until the meat is browned, stirring often. (Don't overcook)
Salt as you go while cooking (don't add it all at the beginning)
Drain grease if necessary.
Set mixture aside to cool. (The mixture should be cool when you add it to the pie)
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Crack an egg in a bowl and mix. Set aside.
Grease your pie pans with butter and stick them in the freezer to chill. (we used 4 inch pie pans)
Unroll your pre-made pie dough and make sure there are no breaks in the dough. If so, push the dough back together.
Using the appropriately sized cookie cutter, cut circles for the bottom of your pies. (Click here for the formula for the right size.)
Take your pie pans out of the freezer and place them on a baking sheet (if they aren't connected).
Place a small strip of parchment in each pan to help lift the pie later.
Press pie dough into your pie pan with a small amount on the edge for the lip.
Refrigerate the pie pans with dough again to chill them.
Fill with the beef mixture making sure there are no gaps.
Roll more dough once again for your pie tops. (This will be the diameter of your pie pan)
Make sure to add small vents towards the center of the pie top.
Brush the edge of the pie crust with egg wash and top with pie top.
Brush with egg wash.
Using the remaining pieces of pie dough. Cut small leaves and symbols.
Place these pieces on top of the pie and brush again with egg wash.
Bake for 25 minutes or until pie crust is golden brown.
Serve. (Don't put any hair in them though because that's not sanitary)
Why this recipe works
The traditional Swedish Meat Hand Pies have potatoes, onions, dill, cheese and a very flaky, perfect, crust, making this recipe a authentic must-try
The seasoning in these Swedish Meat Pies is what makes them so special. Make sure you don’t miss a step!
Pro Tips
If you really want to follow the movie and cook the Hargas version of the pie, you can use goat meat (If you have access to it)
Use a large cookie cutter or something circular in the kitchen to cut out the dough circles for the pie. You want two times the sides plus the bottom of the pie. A four-inch mini pie will need a dough circle of 5 3/4-inch in diameter. A six-inch mini pie would need a 8-inch to 9-inch dough circle for the bottom crust
I couldn’t for the life of me find a photo of the Hagar cake (supposedly shaped like a bear with apples around it) or a quote from the movie on it, so enjoy this photo of Christian offering Dani birthday cake after he forgot her birthday like the great boyfriend he is.
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Today we are making:
Swedish Midsummer layer cake
There’s something a bit mystical about Midsummer’s Day, the longest one in the whole year. Fresh berries grow in abundance including apricocks and dewberries, purple grapes, green figs and mulberries.
Today it’s all about the strawberries.
Ingredients
For the cake base:
6 eggs
8 3/4 oz of ultra fine sugar
3 1/16 fl oz of boiled water
2 tsp baking powder
3 1/2 oz of self-raising flour
1 3/4 oz of potato flour
For the filling and topping:
3/4 pint of heavy cream
4 tbsp of confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
16 oz of strawberries, hulled and cut in half if very large
7 1/16 oz of fresh raspberries
For the cake base:
Pre-heat oven to 350F/
Line a round cake tin with baking paper
Whisk the eggs with the ultra fine sugar until light and fluffy
Mix the dry ingredients together and then gently fold them to the whisked eggs
Add the boiled water and then mix until all amalgamated, but do not over mix
Pour the cake mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until it has risen and is golden brown
Turn out of the tin and allow to cool on a wire rack
For the filling and frosting:
Meanwhile, make the Chantilly cream by whisking the cream, icing sugar and vanilla extract together until the cream holds firm peaks
Cover it and store in the fridge until needed
Assembling the cake:
When the cake is cold, carefully cut it into three slices horizontally so you have three layers to work with
Place one slice on a serving plate
Spoon a third of the cream over the cake, then add the strawberries and raspberries
Continue to layer the cake this way, ending with the top which is also decorated with cream, strawberries and raspberries
Serve cut into slices with extra fruit on the side
Why this Recipe Works
Picking fresh berries is a part of the midsummer tradition, so this is best made in summer
If you want to be even more on the spot, midsummer is between the 19th and the 23rd of June
Pro Tips
Take this on a picnic! Midsummer eve is celebrated in the countryside; it’s a wonderful occasion where family and friends gather in woods and open flower meadows – here they celebrate the longest day of the year (June 21) by dancing, gathering flowers, picking berries and enjoying picnics, with many going on all night.
“It's, um... tea for the competition.”
The Scene: Before the May Queen dancing commences, Dani is encouraged what turns out to be a pyschoactive tea.
Fun Fact: The effects of real life psilocybin mushrooms can range from the physical — nausea, weakness, fatigue — to the more infamous visual and aural hallucinations. It's the secondary aspect that plays heavily into the story of Midsommar, with Dani and her friends spending much of the film in a psychedelic haze that sees the world shift and shimmer around them. Source
Image and Recipe Source
Today we will be making:
“May Queen”
Absinthe Cocktail
Oscar Wilde, a well-known absinthe consumer, is quoted as saying, "What difference is there between a glass of absinthe and a sunset?" and "After the first glass [of absinthe] you see things as you wish they were".
Ingredients
Absinthe
Elderflower liqueur
Fresh pineapple
Lemon juice
Lime juice
Directions
Cut fresh pineapple into large chunks and juice them to quickly create three quarters of an ounce of juice.
Once you have your ingredients assembled, measure each with a 1oz of eachand add them to a cocktail shaker
Fill the shaker about three-quarters with ice, shake until thoroughly chilled, then strain the cocktail into a coupe glass or over a large cube in a rocks glass.
Garnish with a lime twist
Why This Recipe Works
Absinthe made and sold today is perfectly legal and perfectly safe – just as long as you’re aware of its potency and drink it responsibly
Absinthe was outlawed in the United States for nearly 100 years, but claims of absinthe-induced hallucinations were more likely due to plain ol’ over consumption of alcohol
The strong anise flavor of most absinthes pairs perfectly with the intensely sweet and sour pineapple. Pineapple also helps to tame that aggressive licorice-like flavor
Pro Tips
If you don’t have an electric juicer or don’t want to make a mess squeezing pineapple juice, you can use a bottled or canned juice in this recipe. Just be sure that it’s unsweetened!
