thanks + dinners

Thank you so much for all your sweet and kind wishes on my pregnancy yesterday. I really appreciate it. Naturally there will be a few baby related posts here on hei Astrid in the future, but it won't turn into a baby/mommy blog. I will still post about all the other things I care about too - like food.

I enjoyed doing The Dinner Project a lot. After I stopped doing it I kind of lost focus on dinners, especially after I got pregnant. I feel like I have hardly cooked at all, and if I've made anything I've made hot dogs - with ice cream for dessert. A huge hit for this pregnant lady. At one point I'll be inspired to get into the kitchen again. I hope.

Here are some recent (and not so recent) dinner highlights

- couscous salad with diced pan fried chicken filet with Santa Maria chili explosion spices, tomatoes, squash, leek, pomegranate and fresh coriander (inspired by this)

- roasted chicken with a spicy mango stuffing

- homemade pytt-i-panne with vossakorv

- red chicken curry (photo above) made with chicken filets, carrots, red and green bell pepper, onion, spring onion, cremini mushrooms, curry paste, coconut milk and fresh coriander

- my go to salmon pasta made with salmon filets, a store bought pasta sauce with cheese and herbs (this one), cream, green bell pepper, leek, store bought fresh spaghetti and freshly ground pepper (I should have added garlic, but forgot about it) (photo here)

By the way, The Dinner Project book is still available in my Blurb book store.

PS: I have made a new blogroll for pregnancy, baby, kids, motherhood and family related blogs and websites. You find it in the sidebar to the left.

Astrid says congratulations

The winner of The Dinner Project book giveaway is

Pernille!

Congratulations! Please email me your address and I'll send you the book as soon as possible.

Her tips for a quick and easy everyday dinner is:

Fresh pasta with tomato sauce - consisting of chopped tomatoes,dried tomatoes, garlic, some onion and fresh basil. On top I put some parmasan. In addition I often eat some bread and olive oil. Yum!

Thank you all for participating with your dinner tips. Check out all the 89 tips here.

- - -

Other unrelated news. I'm a novice when it comes to the technical side of photography. Tonight I'm trying to learn a little something about my external flash. So far I have only used it as bounce flash. It works well when there is a white ceiling in near proximity, but that is not always the case. Like today, when I was asked to take a few portraits inside a shopping center with no natural light, no ceiling to bounce the flash at, and only very, very ugly fluorescent light. Shooting the flash directly at a person has so far not been an option for me, because the flash will not be very flattering and I have no clue how to make it look pretty. After a little testing I found a trick of how to shoot the flash directly in my face and still look rather normal. The result is above. After a few minor tweaks in Lightroom (I have downloaded a trail version) the image is ok, but I still have A LOT TO LEARN - both about using my flash and processing my photos.

I wish there were beautiful natural light everywhere all the time! Sigh!

Happy Friday!

The Dinner Project book giveaway

photo by my husband Sølve

One week ago I launched The Dinner Project book. Now it's time to give away a softcover version of the book.

To participate in this giveaway I want you to answer this question: What is your favorite quick and easy everyday dinner?

A winner will be picked at random in one week, on Friday February 4 at ca 8 pm CTE+1.

EDIT: Sorry! I wrote the wrong date when I posted this yesterday; it's supposed to be Friday February 11. So there is still plenty of time to participate!

The Dinner Project book

As most of you probably know by now, in 2010 I wrote down what we had for dinner every day, and every Sunday I posted the week’s menu here on Hei Astrid. I also photographed at least one dinner each week. And then I made this Blurb book.

The Dinner Project is a 160 pages standard landscape book filled with 365 days of dinners and 208 photos. It is available in both hardcover imagewrap and softcover. You can find the book in my Blurb bookstore here.

You can see more glimpses from the book in this set on Flickr and in the preview on Blurb. FYI: I have decided not to show the full book preview on Blurb this time (you can however see the full book preview of my other six books).

Curious about the dinner project? Click the label "the dinner project" to see all the posts.

PS: The giveaway will be announced soon.

fresh from the printer

The Dinner Project books arrived today and I'm really excited about it. If I might say this myself; they look really great! I will of course show you glimpses of the book soon, and it will also soon be available for purchase in my Blurb bookstore. And as I mentioned a little while ago, I'm planning a giveaway with one of these books.

the dinner project: book update

Canon EOS 500N, Fuji Velvia 100

365 days of dinners, 208 photos, 160 pages; The Dinner Project book has just been sent off to the Blurb printer. I have ordered two copies and I plan to give away one of them to a lucky Hei Astrid reader. By the way, the photo above is on the front page of the book.

the dinner project, week 52

Monday December 27: at our friends': Sølve's fish soup and Kai's homemade rolls

Tuesday December 28: at my parents': a buffet style Christmas supper

Wednesday December 29: at my in-laws': red lentil soup and French onion soup

Thursday December 30: dinner out with friends at Renaa's matbar in Stavanger

Friday December 31: at our friends' place: pinnekjøtt with boiled potatoes and mashed swede (photo above)

Saturday January 1: Dolly Dimple's pizza take out

Sunday January 2: store bought pies; one with ham and cheese, one with bacon and broccoli

- - -

Done! One year of daily dinner menus. I have enjoyed this project a lot - I might even do it again at one point. Until then, as I have mentioned before, The Dinner Project Blurb book will be out within a couple of months.

the dinner project, week 51

Monday December 20: at our friend's place whilst helping him renovate his apartment: Dolly Dimple's pizza take out

Tuesday December 21: Astrid's home alone dinner: rice with butter (a guilty pleasure)

Wednesday December 22: at our friends' place: tagliatelle served with baked salmon with bay laurel, Jarlsberg cheese and cured ham, plus a citrus chives dressing

Thursday December 23: at my in-laws': a Christmas style buffet

Friday December 24: at my parents': a traditional Christmas Eve dinner of pork ribs, boiled potatoes, Brussel sprouts, red cabbage and a special kind of Christmas sausage, served with beer (red wine for me since I don't like beer) and aquavit (photo above), dessert: cloudberry cream with krumkake

Saturday December 25: at my in-laws': a traditional Christmas dinner of pinnekjøtt with boiled potatoes and mashed swede

Sunday December 26: at my parents': halibut with boiled potatoes and carrots, sandefjordsmør (a sauce made of butter, cream and parsley)

the dinner project, week 50

Monday December 13: tortillas with beef, lettuce, onion, guacamole and salsa

Tuesday December 14: Dolly Dimple's pizza take out

Wednesday December 15: nachos

Thursday December 16: Astrid's home alone dinner: rice with butter (a guilty pleasure)

Friday December 17: lasagna (photo above)

Saturday December 18: entrecote, roasted amandine potatoes and gravy

Sunday December 19: lasagna leftovers

the dinner project, week 49

Monday December 6: couscous salad with pan fried chicken fillet with chili explosion spices, tomatoes, red onion, red bell pepper and green squash

Tuesday December 7: pasta bolognese with a twist (also called scampi)

Wednesday December 8: Christmas party at the office/USF: boiled cod served with bacon, boiled potatoes and carrots

Thursday December 9: hamburgers (with store bought karbonade)

Friday December 10: homemade pizza

Saturday December 11: at Åmot Gard: four courses eaten whilst talking to the chef in the kitchen, they included locally caught Norway lobster, brown trout and red deer.

Sunday December 12: at my brother and sister in laws' place: a buffet style dinner with among other things traditional Christmas pork ribs and our niece's birthday cake.

the dinner project, week 48

Monday November 29: with guest: red lentil soup a la Orangette + bread from Godt Brød and garlic butter

Tuesday November 30: Astrid's home alone dinner: leftovers from Monday

Wednesday December 1: couscous salad with tomatoes, green squash, leek, red bell pepper and pan fried dices of pork fillet with chili explosion spices

Thursday December 2: at Åsly: store bought fresh whole grain tagliatelle with salmon, leek, squash and cream (method inspired by this and a Godfisk! TV commercial)

Friday December 3: Thai take away from Alléhjørnet Thai

Saturday December 4: roasted entrecote of beef with roasted potato wedges

Sunday December 5: leftover entrecote pan fried with onion and mixed with gravy, served with potato wedges

the dinner project, week 47

Monday November 22: leftovers from Saturday's main course

Tuesday November 23: roasted chicken filets with a tandoori spice mix from Toro + rice

Wednesday November 24: pasta bolognese

Thursday November 25: pasta bolognese leftovers

Friday November 26: at my grandmother's house: store made lapskaus

Saturday November 27: at my grandmother's house: grilled cheese and salami sandwiches

Sunday November 28: at my grandmother's house: meatballs with mashed potatoes, gravy, Brussel sprouts and lingonberry jam (photo above)

the dinner project, week 46

Monday November 15: hot dogs

Tuesday November 16: risotto with leftover chicken from Sunday

Wednesday November 17: Astrid's home alone dinner: leftover risotto

Thursday November 18: roasted salmon with blanched green asparagus and store bought hollandaise sauce

Friday November 19: with my mom and dad visiting: Sølve's fish soup (kind of like this one)

Saturday November 20: with my mom and dad visiting: first course: red lentil soup a la Orangette, main course: roasted rosemary sirloin of lamb, red wine sauce, butter fried common beans and snap peas, and boiled broccoli (photo above), dessert: dronning Maud fromasj (queen Maud pudding)

Sunday November 21: leftovers from Saturday's main course

the dinner project, week 45

Monday November 8: pasta bolognese

Tuesday November 9: pasta salad with whole grain penne, pesto, asparagus, green bell pepper, dulcita tomatoes, red onion and feta

Wednesday November 10: Astrid's home alone dinner: leftovers from Tuesday

Thursday November 11: Astrid's home alone dinner: pantry pasta with whole grain penne, pesto, canned mushrooms, red onion, green bell pepper and fresh mozzarella

Friday November 12: Astrid's home alone dinner: puff pastry pizza with cherry tomatoes, red onion, canned ham and fresh mozzarella and well matured cheddar (photo above)

Saturday November 13: first course: salmon sashimi, main course: pan-fried steak and Greek salad

Sunday November 14: roasted chicken with stuffing made of oranges, red onion, spring onion, garlic, chili and red bell pepper

the dinner project, week 44

Monday November 1: white beans, tomato and feta salad (adapted from this)

Tuesday November 2: red lentil soup a la Orangette

Wednesday November 3: dinner with friends at Jacobs Bar & Kjøkken

Thursday November 4: Astrid's home alone dinner: store bought fresh meat filled tortellini with pesto, onion, garlic and bacon (photo above)

Friday November 5: dinner at our friend's place in Sandnes: I don't remember all the details, but the first course involved melon and king crab (photo here), the main course involved grouse (photo here), and the dessert apples and some kind of cream (photo here).

Saturday November 6: at my in-laws' in Sandnes: smoked halibut with boiled potatoes, broccoli and carrots, and egg butter

Sunday November 7: my mother's homemade moose meatballs with boiled potatoes, broccoli and gravy

the dinner project, week 43

We were in New York the whole week, so we had all dinners (and all other meals) at some great restaurants. Unfortunately I don't remember all the details about every meal, but I remember they all made me very happy and satisfied.

Monday October 25: we arrived in time for a drink at White Horse Tavern and dinner at The Spotted Pig

Tuesday October 26, Sølve's birthday: breakfast at Cafe Gitane at Jane Hotel, cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery, pizza slice at Joe's, snack and drink at Sanctuary T, lunch at Grimaldi's, and dinner at Spice Market

Wednesday October 27: late breakfast at Cafe Gitane at Jane Hotel, and late lunch/early dinner at Pastis

Thursday October 28, my birthday: breakfast at Pastis, bagel from Murray's Bagels eaten in Central Park, drinks at the Boathouse in Central Park, lunch at The Modern, dinner at The Standard Grill, and drinks at Brass Monkey

Friday October 29: late breakfast at The Diner, lunch at Shake Shack on Upper West Side, dinner at Vinegar Hill House

Saturday October 30: breakfast at Cafe Gitane at Jane Hotel, pizza slice at Museum of Natural History, pretzel from a cart close to the Guggenheim museum, late lunch/early dinner at Oyster Bar at Grand Central Station

Sunday October 31: granola bar and yoghurt in our hotel room, cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery, lunch at John's Pizzeria in Bleecker street, snack and drinks at Chili's at Newark Airport, and dinner on the plane en route to Bergen via Copenhagen

Big thanks to Brian and Rick (and guide books) for some excellent restaurant tips. We definitely have to go back and eat more!

the dinner project, week 42

Monday October 18: Sølve's improvised super yummy fish soup (it included salmon, cod, bacon, vegetables, cheese, egg + +, photo above)

Tuesday October 19: fish soup leftovers

Wednesday October 20: Astrid's home alone dinner: hot dogs

Thursday October 21: Astrid's home alone dinner: ham and cheese sandwiches + rice pudding for dessert

Friday October 22: a tom kah gai inspired soup

Saturday October 23: sirloin of veal with pan fried potatoes and red wine sauce

Sunday October 24: leftovers from Friday and Saturday

the dinner project, week 41

Monday October 11: leftover meat and shiitake mushrooms from Sunday mixed with leftover Indian rice from Friday and fresh spinach

Tuesday October 12: red lentil soup a la Orangette (photo above)

Wednesday October 13: wolffish with a mix of mushrooms and onion (+ something more that I don't remember; Sølve made this, photo here) + fresh common beans and small potatoes with mustard vinaigrette (photo here)

Thursday October 14: leftover vegetables from Wednesday + pan fried chicken filet

Friday October 15: salmon sashimi

Saturday October 16: at a mountain cabin: fårikål

Sunday October 17: Thai takeaway from Kroathai

the dinner project, week 40

Monday October 4: a stew-ish vegetarian dish made with random stuff from the fridge: chickpeas (soaked, cooked and frozen a couple of weeks ago), mushrooms, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, creme fraiche and creme fraiche with mushroom flavor

Tuesday October 5: roasted salmon with pesto parsley cream (as mentioned here) served with a mix of lukewarm spinach, tomatoes, snap peas, little gem lettuce and chopped almonds

Wednesday October 6: pre-marinated turkey fillet served with brown rice with chili, green bell pepper, carrot and mango (photo here)

Thursday October 7: Astrid's home alone dinner: leftovers from yesterday

Friday October 8: Chicken Tikka from Santa Maria + fresh diced mango

Saturday October 9: panfried fresh halibut with Santa Maria seafood and fish spices (rose pepper, saffron, dill, fennel and garlic), rösti with finely chopped scampi and a creamy sauce made with scampi broth (photo here)

Sunday October 10: roasted filet mignon of beef, pan fried shiitake mushrooms with black pepper, homemade potato and carrot fries (photo above)

the dinner project, week 39

Monday September 27: stew made of Saturday leftovers

Tuesday September 28: the same as Monday

Wednesday September 29: Astrid's home alone dinner: homemade fishcakes (from the freezer) in whole grain burger bread

Thursday September 30: Astrid's home alone dinner: homemade fishcakes (from the freezer) in whole grain burger bread

Friday October 1: with house guests: salmon sashimi + fresh shrimps on white bread with mayonnaise and lemon

Saturday October 2: a 339 days belated celebration of my 30th birthday at home with ca 20 guests; a big buffet with delicious treats; meatballs, roasted chicken with stuffing, mussel soup, grilled scampi with mango, various crostinis, tapenade, aioli, guacamole, cured meat, roasted potato wedges, various sausages from the butcher, apple muffins, walnut meringue, cupcakes + +

Sunday October 3: leftovers from Saturday

I forgot to photograph any dinners this week, but one of the guests (I'm guessing it was Gustaf) on Saturday played with my camera and photographed the fabulous cupcakes - a surprise from Theresa.