Hi, I’m Jonni Hegenderfer.
My Swedish Family Kitchen is a place where you can explore Scandinavian flavors, places, people, culture, and lifestyles - old and new. But first, let me explain how the Kitchen came to be.
So what does a gal do when she retires after 100 years in marketing/public relations (by way of teaching, publishing, research, and other oddities like a hot dog truck) and she’s closed down her agency after almost 30 years?
She EATS!
She sorts through her belongings and the collections of all the dearly departed and holds an estate sale on a cold, rainy weekend in November.
She EATS some more.
She buys a condo in sunny Florida to escape the bitter Chicago winters where she typically falls on ice and breaks a bone or two.
In sunny Florida, a place filled with beautiful produce fresh from the field, this retired gal continues to solve world problems by eating, but now I eat different things - like fresh strawberries and watermelon and lots of fish and even vegetables. My new environment has created a new perspective on food and well-being.
Seriously, I had never given much thought to what I ate. I ate what I liked and what was convenient when meeting deadlines or running to appointments. I “cooked” whatever was easy and in the fridge or pantry. Peanut butter (extra crunchy) and orange marmalade were always my go-to.
Now, I have time, time, and intention. I can now focus on how I’m fueling my body and my day. I can give attention to the character and benefits of the food I’m eating. I’ve developed new taste buds. I’ve discovered I love the flavor of “Fresh.” And I love taking time to cook with all the freshness I find at the farmer’s market or produce stand - and even the bounty of my newly created community garden!
And then, there’s the large manilla envelope. Odd but important! The envelope held old recipes handwritten by my mother, my Aunt Mimi, and my grandma, all three 100 percent Swedish women and great cooks who knew what to do in a kitchen. These were the memories of my childhood, smorgasbords filled with the amazing flavors of soups and salads and roasts and vegetable platters and, of course, cookies and cakes and puddings and…. Every dish is made with love and care by the most important women in my life. The smells and the flavors linger decades later.
And so, My Swedish Family Kitchen was born dedicated to Cornelia (my mom), Aunt Mimi, and Grandma Anna. Everything in the Kitchen is fresh, no additives, no chemical preservatives, no fooling. Many of the recipes will be from those handwritten pages found in the old envelope. Others will be updated creations using the familiar flavors of the Swedish kitchen - the spices, the pickling, the sweet/sour influence with the foods and traditions of Swedish life.
The blog will introduce you to my Swedish family living on both sides of the Atlantic and share their recipes, both the traditional and the 21st-century adaptations. Because Swedish culture and temperament are infused throughout my DNA, much of my blog will explore the Scandinavian lifestyle - things like Lagom and Hygge and Fika - and the spaces and places of Scandinavia, my favorite trips to the land of my maternal ancestors.
I hope you’ll come to visit My Swedish Family Kitchen often and take time to share your family recipes and experiences. If you’re Swedish, you’ll probably want to enjoy Fika while you visit the site, so pour your cup of coffee and grab a biscuit.
Välkommen till mitt kök.