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Bjorn Bites & Booze

Berry Tart | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking
Dessert, Recipes

Berry Tart

Berry Tart | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking

Berry Tart

Your guests will love it when you share this amazing Berry Tart on a lovely summer evening. A sweet pastry crust with a delicious vanilla and lemon cream cheese filling topped off with fresh berries and sweet vanilla whipped cream. Release your inner culinary artist and have fun designing your dessert to your liking. Use any type of berries you have on hand although I'm partial to strawberries and blueberries.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 8 people

Ingredients
  

Pastry Crust

  • 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 9 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (keep cold or frozen)
  • 1 egg yolk

Lemon & Vanilla Cream Cheese Filling

  • 16 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ lemon, finely zested

Topping

  • ½ pint blueberries
  • ½ pint strawberries, hulled and cut crosswise
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tbsp powdered sugar

Instructions
 

Prepare Crust

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 8-inch springform pan, set to side.
  • Combine flour, sugar and salt in food processor. Pulse a couple of times to just combine.
  • Add in butter, a little at a time, and pulse until mixture turns into cornmeal.
  • Add egg yolk, and pulse to combine. If needed, add in 1-2 tbsp cold water until dough sticks together.
  • Remove mixture from food processor, and press dough into spring form pan evenly as well as up the sides of the pan. Freeze for at least 30 minutes.
  • Place buttered foil over dough, pressing gently into surface and up the sides.
  • Place tart shell onto baking sheet, and bake for 30-35 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack.

Prepare Filling

  • Add cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, lemon juice and zest into a medium size bowl. Using electric hand mixer, combine until you have a smooth consistency.
  • Place filling mixture onto cooled crust, and spread evenly over the crust.

Vanilla Whipped Cream

  • Add vanilla and heavy cream into a bowl, and whisk until soft peaks form.

Assemble tart

  • Arrange freshly washed, and dried berries on top of filling in a decorative manner, piping vanilla whipped cream in between berries.
Keyword Berry Tart, Dessert recipes, Desserts, Summer desserts
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Nordic Summer Cocktail | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking
Drinks, Recipes

Nordic Summer Cocktail

Nordic Summer Cocktail | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking

Nordic Summer

The Nordic Summer cocktail is exactly the drink you want to enjoy during Sankt Hans, a Danish Midsummer tradition, or really, at any point during the summer! This cocktail is an elegant trifecta with a combination of Aquavit, Aperol and fresh lime juice. This unexpectedly refreshing cocktail has notes of crispy fruit, and unique herbal flavors. This cocktail is enjoyed around the bonfire as we bake the "snobrød" or Twisty Bread, baked over hot coals. The bonfires are lit all over Denmark on Sank Hans evening, where hygge and songs are enjoyed with family and friends.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Servings 2 people

Ingredients
  

  • 4 oz Aperol
  • 2 oz Aquavit
  • 2 oz Lime Juice

Instructions
 

Directions

  • Add all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake for 20 seconds or until well combined. Strain into champagne coupe or martini glasses. Serve with a fancy orange garnish.
Keyword Aperol, Aperol recipes, Aquavit, Aquavit recipes, Cocktail recipes, Cocktails, Nordic Summer, Sankt Hans
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Sankt Hans Denmark | Danish Traditions | Wild West Viking
Danish Traditions

Sankt Hans – Danish Summer Solstice

This year the summer solstice, otherwise known as Midsummer’s Eve, is celebrated on Thursday, June 23, 2022. The summer solstice is is the longest day and shortest night of the year, and celebrated with pagan customs, traditions, song, and of course, food & drink! Since the time of the Vikings, Sankt Hans has been a huge celebration to mark midsummer.

On this night, there were magical forces of curating healing herbs and seeking out sacred springs, bonfires to ward off evil witches. The summer solstice was celebrated as a fertility festival with several customs and rituals connected with nature, the wish for good fortune, as well the hope for a fertile harvest in the autumn. The Vikings visited sacred springs to drink the water or bathe in it to heal diseases, and had bonfires as protection to ward against evil spirits and negativity. When Denmark became Christianized in the 10th century, the midsummer solstice also became Sankt Hans Aften a celebration the birthday of Saint John the Baptist (i.e., Sankt Hans).

As a child I remember the bonfires being held at the big park behind my school where there was a straw witch affixed to the top of the bonfire. You really can’t get more pagan than that which was especially weird since I went to a catholic school! As the bonfire was lit, there was something in the witch that let off a scream (could have also been my imagination), and as the fire burned brightly, and the ashes rose to the skies. Apparently the story goes that when the witch has burned she flies to Bloksbjerg, Germany, where a witch-gathering was believed to be held.

Many people gather at the beach, watching the sunset, enjoying food and drink (akvavit of course), and while the warmth of the bonfire keeps everyone cozy, and the fireworks light up the sky, you’ll hear Danes singing the traditional song “Vi Elsker Vort Land” (We love our country) written by Holger Drachman in 1885. This declaration of love to the midsummer season is the patriotic anthem of the holiday – however also most famously also sung is the Shu-bi-dua song “Midsommersangen”.

This holiday is also a good excuse to stay up late, eat, drink, enjoyed the coziness (the hygge) of gathering around a warm fire, dance and have fun with friends and family! As much of a happy holiday this is, it is also a little bittersweet knowing that the days will slowly become shorter, and the summer nights a little longer.

There are many places around Copenhagen where they have large displays and parties. For my family and I, we will enjoy a smaller bonfire in our backyard with our fire pit however will be celebrating with a divine Summer Solstice menu!

One item I am looking forward to making is something called “Snobrød”, otherwise known as twisted bread made by using a simple and easy dough recipe. Then you find a stick in the woods, and twist the dough around a stick, and “bake” it using only the best embers around the bonfire. Seriously, what could be more “hygge” than that! A perfect “Snobrød” is crispy on the outside, and hot, soft and fluffy on the inside.

Cocktails & Beverages

  • Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • Aqvavit Spritz
  • Carlsberg

Appetizers

  • Smoked Salmon on Toast Points
  • Tuna Mousse with Red Caviar

Main Course

  • Meatballs with lingonberry

Cheese Board

  • Selection of danish cheese, red peppers, radishes, grapes, viking bread, and WASA crackers.

Dessert

  • Strawberry Tarte
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Grilled Monkfish with Parsley Beurre Blanc Sauce | Wild West Viking | Bjorn Bites & Booze
Main Course, Recipes

Grilled Monkfish with Parsley Beurre Blanc Sauce, Asparagus and Purple Cauliflower Purée

Grilled Monkfish with Parsley Beurre Blanc Sauce | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking

Grilled Monkfish with Parsley Beurre Blanc Sauce, Asparagus and Purple Cauliflower Purée

This sweet, mild yet meaty fish, also known as the "poor man's lobster" was served with an elevated parsley beurre blanc sauce giving the fish a luscious and delicious bite every time! This is such a light and healthy meal, especially with the vibrant purple cauliflower purée with goat cheese and steamed asparagus. A quick and perfect weeknight dinner although fancy enough for a special romantic dinner for two! The monkfish and parsley beurre blanc sauce was grilled on the Big Green Egg over red hot Jealous Devil Charcoal.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

  • 1 monkfish fillet
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 5 tbsp unsalted butter
  • ½ cup white wine
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tbsp shallots, chopped finely
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • Parsley for garnish

Instructions
 

Prepare Beurre Blanc Sauce

  • Cube butter, and keep chilled
  • Combine shallots, apple cider vinegar and wine in sauce pot, and simmer to reduce.
  • Add cubed butter a little at a time, and stir until thoroughly combined and just melted. Remove from heat and save until serving time.

Prepare Monkfish

  • Start grill. Add plancha to grill to allow time to heat up.
  • Brush monkfish with olive oil on both sides. Salt & Pepper on both sides
  • Add monkfish to the grill, and grill 6-8 minutes on each side
  • Serve immediately with parsley beurre blanc sauce. I also served with steamed asparagus and purple cauliflower purée with goat cheese.
Keyword Dinner Recipes, Fish Recipes, Grilled Fish, Grilled Monkfish, Healthy Eating, Monkfish recipes, Parsley Beurre Blanc Sauce
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Pineapple Mango Jalapeno Wings | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking
Main Course, Recipes

Spicy Pineapple, Mango & Jalapeño Wings

Spicy Pineapple, Mango & Jalapeno Wings | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking

Spicy Pineapple, Mango and Jalapeño Wings

These delicious wings were made on the BGE over red hot Jealous Devil Charcoal.
A little bit of sweet with a bit of heat, that’s how I like my wings! The perfect balance between sweet and heat make these juicy chicken wings from Dickie’s Barbecue at Home take you to the tropics, especially with the burst of flavor from Dickies Poultry Rub. These addictive wings are glazed with a sweet chili pineapple sauce to give them that extra bit of sweet heat. Expertly grilled on the amazing Grill Grates to get that perfect sear and crispy bite! Betcha can’t eat just one!
Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

Pineapple, Mango and Jalapeno Salsa

  • 1 ½ cups fresh pineapple, diced
  • 1 mango, diced
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
  • 1 red chili pepper (Fresno pepper), seeded and diced
  • cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • salt to taste

Chicken Wings

  • 8-10 chicken wings
  • 1 tbsp olive oil, almond oil, or vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp Dickie's Poultry Rub

Sweet & Spicy Pineapple Glaze

  • ¾ cup sweet chili sauce
  • cup Pineapple juice
  • 2 tbsp minced jalapeno
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes (or more if you want it spicier)

Instructions
 

Prepare Sweet & Spicy Pineapple Glaze

  • Add all ingredients in a sauce pot, and heat to a simmer. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes until sauce has thickened. Remove from heat and save until ready to glaze chicken wings.

Prepare Chicken Wings

  • Prepare and clean grill to 400°F
  • Dry chicken wings with paper towel, and place on baking sheet. Rub olive/almond oil on both sides of chicken wings, and sprinkle seasoning liberally all over wings.
  • Once grill has come to temperature, place chicken wings on grill and cook to temperature. The last 5-10 minutes, glaze the chicken wings with the Sweet & Spicy Pineapple Glaze (both sides). Serve immediately with the Pineapple, Mango and Jalapeno Salsa.

Prepared Pineapple, Mango & Jalapeno Salsa

  • Place chopped pineapple, mango, jalapeno, fresno pepper, lime juice and cilantro in a bowl. Stir until well combined. Add salt to taste.
Keyword BBQ Chicken, Big Green Egg, Chicken Wings, Grill Grates, Grilled Chicken
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Pineapple Elderflower Martini | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking
Drinks, Recipes

Pineapple Elderflower Martini

Pineapple Elderflower Martini | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking
Pineapple Elderflower Martini | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking

Pineapple Elderflower Martini

Three simple ingredients to create this amazing cocktail. Homemade pineapple infused vodka, St. Germaine Liqueur and pineapple juice, shaken vigorously until chilled and frothy, then strained in a martini glass! A refreshing, sweet, and delicious cocktail for any night of the week!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks

Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz Pineapple Infused Vodka (purchased or homemade)
  • 1 oz St. Germaine Liqueur (elderflower liqueur)
  • 3 oz Pineapple juice
  • Pineapple wedge, mint for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until chilled and frothy (for 30 seconds at least). Strain into martini glasses, garnish with pineapple wedge and mint and serve!
Keyword Cocktail recipes, Martini, Martini Recipes, Pineapple Cocktails, Pineapple Elderflower Martini
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Raspberry Swirled Pineapple & Mango Frozen Margarita | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking
Drinks, Recipes

Pineapple & Mango Raspberry Swirl Frozen Margarita

Raspberry Swirled Pineapple & Mango Frozen Margarita | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking

Pineapple Mango Raspberry Swirl Frozen Margarita

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in full style with this delicious, sweet and tangy frozen margarita. The frozen cocktails are perfect for casual parties or lazy Sunday afternoons! Making them with frozen fruit is even easier!
Course Drinks

Ingredients
  

Margaritas

  • 2 cups frozen mango chunks
  • 2 cups frozen pineapple chunks
  • cup orange juice
  • cup simple syrup
  • ¼ cup lime juice
  • 8 oz Tequila (or more if you like your margaritas stronger)
  • 2 cups crushed ice
  • 2 tbsp raspberry sauce

Raspberry Sauce

  • 3 cups fresh raspberries
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ lemon, juiced

Instructions
 

Make Raspberry Sauce

  • Clean and dry raspberries. Add to a food processor and blend until completely smooth.
  • Strain mixture through a sieve into a sauce pot.
  • Place sauce pot over medium heat, and add sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a low boil, and cook for about 15 minutes, until mixture has reduced about half and thickened.
  • Cool completely, and store in fridge until ready to use.

Assemble Margaritas

  • Add frozen fruit, orange and lime juices, simple syrup and tequila to blender. Blend until smooth.
  • Add ice, and blend until smooth and frothy.
  • Take raspberry syrup and swirl the inside of margarita glasses.
  • Fill margarita glasses with the pineapple-mango mixture. Top with pineapple wedge and a fresh raspberry.
Keyword Cinco de Mayo, Frozen Margaritas, Mango Cocktails, Margarita Recipes, Margaritas, Pineapple Cocktails, Pineapple Mango Margarita, Raspberry Swirl Pineapple Mango Frozen Margarita
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Avocado Toast with Grilled Beet Hummus | Bjorn Bites and Booze | Wild West Viking
Appetizers, Recipes

Avocado Toast with Grilled Beet Hummus

Avocado Toast with Grilled Beet Hummus | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking

Avocado Toast with Grilled Beet Hummus

Who doesn't love Avocado Toast? Super trendy right? But let's take this up a notch add some homemade Grilled Beet Hummus. The beets were grilled on the Big Green Egg over red hot Jealous Devil Charcoal! The grilled beets provide an added smoky flavor with a slight caramelized sweet coating. I created an avocado rose to sit on top off the luxurious Beet Hummus, added some alfalfa sprouts, sliced radishes, pine nuts, and crumbled feta on a piece of toasted multi-grain bread, and oh my goodness! So good!
Course Appetizer, Main Course

Ingredients
  

Grilled Beet Hummus

  • 2 medium beets
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Supplies for Avocado Toast

  • 2 slices multi-grain bread
  • ½ cup prepared beet hummus
  • 1 avocado, pitted
  • 1 radish, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup alfalfa sprouts
  • 1 tbsp crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 tbsp pine nuts, for garnish
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions
 

Grilled Beets

  • Heat grill to 350°
  • Wash and peel beets. Place on large piece of heavy duty aluminum foil. Rub olive oil over beets, and wrap the foil around the beet
  • Place foil wrapped beets on grill. Grill for 60 minutes or until beets are tender.

Make Avocado Toast

  • Slice thinly, and toast the bread
  • Spread a generous amount of hummus on each piece of bread.
  • Slice the avocado thinly, and lay on top of the hummus (or make an avocado rose to sit on top of the hummus)
  • Add sprouts on top of avocado, sprinkle feta cheese on top, pine nuts, and sliced radishes. Salt + pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Keyword Avocado Recipes, Avocado Toast, Beet Hummus, Beet Recipes, Grilled Beets
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Aperol Gin Sour | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking
Drinks, Recipes

Aperol Gin Sour

Gin Aperol Sour | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking

Aperol & Gin Sour

A refreshing and bright spring cocktail with bold citrus notes, slightly bitter with a touch of sweetness. It's the perfect cocktail to serve with appetizers or even just enjoyed during a simple get together. This vibrant orange-red cocktail is refreshing, bright and citrusy. A truly, easy to sip, and simple to make spring cocktail you are sure to keep on your spring beverage rotation!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz gin
  • 2 oz Aperol
  • .5 oz lemon juice
  • .5 oz simple syrup
  • 1 egg white

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds.
  • Strain and serve in a cocktail glass.
Keyword Aperol, Aperol Gin Sour, Gin recipes, Spring cocktails
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Moroccan Spiced Spatchock Cornish Game Hen | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking
Main Course, Recipes

Moroccan Spiced Spatchcock Cornish Game Hen

Moroccan- spiced Cornish Game Hen | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking

Moroccan Spiced Spatchcock Cornish Game Hen

Delicious, crispy skin, juicy and flavorful Cornish Game Hen served with herbed rice, grilled lemon and blistered tomatoes. Get ready to be transported to Morocco with this perfect, impressive dinner, and grilled to perfection. This dish was grilled on the Big Green Egg MiniMax over red hot Jealous Devil Charcoal!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Moroccan

Ingredients
  

Ingredients

  • 2 whole Cornsih Game Hens, washed, dried, and spatchcocked

Moroccan Spice

  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ginger
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ½ tsp chili powder
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Marinade

  • 2 tbsp Moroccan Spice (see above)
  • 2 tbsp parsley, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • salt & pepper to taste

Garnish

  • parsley, chopped
  • lemon slices

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients together in a bowl, stir to mix. Place mixture in a shallow bowl, and add Cornish Game Hens, rubbing mixture all over game hens, and let them marinate at least 30 minutes or overnight.
  • Prepare the grill, clean grates and heat to 350°F
  • Place Cornish Game Hens skin side down, to get a crispy skin. Grill for 15 minutes, and flip, grill for another 15 minutes or until internal temperature is 165°F. Check temperature with the meat thermometer.
  • Serve with chopped parsley, lemon slices, herbed rice and blistered tomatoes.
Keyword Cornish Game Hen, Grilled Cornish Game Hen, Moroccan Recipe
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