So far, I’ve been talking about candles. Obvious: it’s the first thing that you can see, as soon as you take a tour here around. Anyway, a recent survey has asked the Danes what they link to the idea of “hygge”, and the surprising answer has placed the candles at second position.
The golden medal goes to warm drinks. Tea, coffee, chocolate (better with some cinnamon, that immediately recalls the idea of Christmas – that’s at the fourth place, right after the fireplaces).
The eight position is occupied by cakes and sweets, and the ninth is given to the general action of cooking.
Cakes and pastries make everything hyggeligt, both if you eat them or you prepare them.
A slow leavening is preferable to a fast one, and not for a better health: the slower you cook, the more “hyggeligt” it becomes.
The top is when you cook cakes in the oven, and that smell of cinnamon and vanilla spreads all over the house.
Some hours ago, a friend brought here some home-made rolls that she had just baked, and we had them with some cheese: we only missed a glass of red wine, but it was too early for that, and the hygge could have been completed.
When she went back home, I decided to try to save the atmosphere, preparing a cake. For the moment, the fruit is macerating in a mix of liquor, sugar, lemon and cinnamon, while the butter is melting on the radiator.
I’ll keep you posted about the results.
