NORWAY-Land of the Midnight Sun

                                                            

This week we are learning about the "Jewel of the North", Norway. This Scandinavian country has also been  called the Land of the Midnight Sun.  Norskes call their land "The Blue Meadow" for Norway is certainly a land of the sea. Norway claims the heritage of early Norse seafarers, raiders, colonizers, explorers, and merchants for whom the "Viking Age"  was named.

                                            

 

 Norway boasts over 450,00 fresh water lakes, most a result of glacial erosion. Inland Norway is so mountainous having less than 4% tillable land, with three fourths of the population lives within sight of the coast. With its elongated shape, this nation has one of the longest and most rugged coastlines in the world. It is dotted with more than 45,000 islands scattered throughout.

                                                      

Home to  wild untouched nature, glacier capped mountains, magnificent man made and natural wonders, its raw beauty attracts visitors from all over the world.

                                                   

 

 Norway has long been a nation of seafarers, explorers, and colonizers. By A.D. 1000 the Vikings had settled in Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland. They also established many communities in France, Ireland, Scotland, and parts of England. More and more evidence points to the fact that Leif Ericson, a Norseman born in the Viking colony of Iceland, voyaged to North America during the year 100. He called the new land "Vinland" since it had so many grape vines. Norse scholars have long claimed that there were Norse settlements on the East Coast of North America and as far inland as Minnesota and North Dakota as early as the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

                                                

 

Norway has a lot to be proud of. Not only a rich history, but also a global leader in many areas.

It maintains a welfare model with universal health care and a comprehensive social security system.  The petroleum industry accounts for around a quarter of the country's gross domestic product. The country has the fourth-highest per capita income in the world on the World Bank and IMF lists. On a per-capita basis, it is the world's largest producer of oil and natural gas outside the Middle East. From 2001 to 2006, and then again from 2009 to 2012, Norway had the highest Human Development Index ranking in the world.  From 2010 to 2012, Norway was classified as the most democratic country by the Democracy Index.

 

                                        

Norwegian   cuisine is very diverse ranging from Hearty Lamb and Pork Dishes to open faced sandwiches, brown cheese, smoked fish, as well as delicious breads and desserts. However, it is fair to say that the heart of the cuisine centers on fish . So this week we will prepare the fish so highly regarded as the best in the world that Norskes can be very proud of, Norwegian Salmon of course. We will prepare Herb Baked Norwegian Salmon in a traditional Cream Sauce with Butter and  Herbs in Foil. We will serve this with Creamed vegetables and Hasselback Poteter (Roasted Potatoes with Butter, Herbs, Paprika,  and grated Jarlsberg Cheese.

Recipes: http://www.norway-hei.com/baked-salmon.html