Celebration!

My birthday falls on a weekday this year so Pete and I decided to invite his family today, a Sunday, to have a small, simple lunch. I wasn't really keen on doing anything special - just some simple fare for the adults and kids to enjoy.  I didn't want to cook the spicy dishes that we Malays would have on such occasions since I didn't think the kids could handle it.  Instead I decided to cook chicken wings and drumsticks.  Which kid wouldn't like them? 

I wanted to have a bit of Singapore in the food, though, so I marinated the chicken wings in turmeric and a bit of chilli powder and fried them.  I also made jemput-jemput udang, or prawn fritters.  I wanted to make fried beehoon, which are vermicelli noodles, but I couldn't find them in the neighbourhood stores.  I had to substitute it with egg noodles. I also roasted some drumsticks, made mashed potatoes and coleslaw for the non-spicy choices.

One of Pete's sisters very kindly made a smörgåstårta, the Swedish sandwich cake.  It's a fragile thing and she successfully brought it here after an hour's drive.  It looked so beautiful and tasted great.  The dill that was on top of the cake as a garnish even came from my mother-in-law's garden! 

So, once everybody - two of Pete's sisters and their five children, and my mother-in-law - got here, we started eating.  I thought I didn't cook too much, but in the end we did have plenty left.  I guess I'm just like my mum.  She would cook more than what was needed, but for us, it's better to have too much food than too little.

I find that parties here are a bit different than those I'm used to.  Back home, most of the time, the food is served buffe style.  We would put all the dishes out on a long table and everybody help themselves to anything they want, however much they want.  Then guests would either find a seat somewhere or simply stand and eat, while chatting with friends.  

Here, or at least in Pete's family, the savoury food would be served first, also buffe style.  But usually, we would take our food and sit at a long table, with napkins and cutlery neatly laid out.  Then, after everyone has had their fill, we would clear the table and put the kettle on to make tea and coffee. Those would accompany the dessert - mainly cakes or cookies.

We did the same today.  After the main dishes, I put out the sweet stuff - tiramisu and Swedish chocolate balls which I made and some cinnamon rolls and almond fingers that we bought. The kids, being brought up on Swedish chocolate balls and cinnamon rolls, had their fill of them.  I, don't know about the others, thoroughly enjoyed the tiramisu. I used to make them often back home since that was my family's favourite.  This was the first time I made it here and I would be making them again for the simple reason that the mascarpone cheese and whipping cream are cheaper here. And that I love them.

Apart from the food, the company was great.  I enjoy talking to everyone.  I did try to speak in Swedish but I switched to English when I found I was taking too long to find the proper Swedish words.  I also had fun playing with the kids.  Time really flies when you're having fun and I didn't realise how soon they had to leave.  That's the downside of living far away.  But whatever time we got to spend together was great.

Oh, they also got me some very thoughtful gifts.  I got a gift card from one of my favourite malls, a lovely wicker basket for picnics, a purple scarf, a set of four candle holders and a cake carrier.  Everything that I needed and wanted.  In fact, they asked me for my wish list two months ago!  I didn't really tell them what I wanted since I didn't want to trouble them, but they seem to know what I wanted.  Maybe they paid careful attention whenever we talked or maybe Pete told them.  I don't know.  But I do know that I feel so blessed to be here.  Not only am I married to an awesome guy, I also got to be a part of an awesome family.  Life is swede :)