Invitation to Valhalla
350116
What a pleasant surprise.  I saved this book for one of my annual seaside vacation reading selections and lost a whole day of sun and sand.  I couldn't put this book down, and I remember little about that day-and-half except the disappointment that this novel ended.  Mr. Whicker has crafted an absorbing thriller that stands up well to the best I've read in a long while.  The characters are well fleshed out, the plot intriguing and unique, and the pace is just about perfect.  There are no doldrums here.  I sincerely hope the rest of the world discovers this gem of a novel soon.
689978
This was my entry into Sigur Ros. I heard it at a music store and had to buy it. The quality and depth carry from release to release. Hoping to see them live this year.
2632375
The photos in this beautiful book are what will grab hold of you, shake you up, and make you yearn for a trip to Denmark, Sweden, Norway or Finland.  The simpler, homey recipes will lure you in more subtly.

The recipes here are not fancy, and not from the latest and greatest restaurants that are popping up in those countries.  These recipes are the traditional kind, and (seem to) provide a good representation of traditional Nordic dishes.  (I am not an expert on this area by any stretch of the imaginationand I feel I should admit that up front.  I downloaded this book because I was interested and intrigued.)

There are no deeply involved, intricate instructions, no unusual or surprising ingredients (from the POV of whats available in that part of the world).  But they are intriguing recipes and combinations of ingredients for someone who is not familiar with Nordic foods.  Just the beauty and freshness of the ingredients are enticing and seem to lend an air of the exotic.  For instance, I want to go out and find cracked rye and create a porridge.  And I am eagerly awaiting fresh horseradish to appear in the produce section of my favorite grocery store, so that I can cook a simple fresh, cod fillet in butter and oil, that is topped with warmed grated horseradish.

I did make a few of the recipes:  Roasted Apples and Onions with Lemon and Elderflower (liqueur), the Butter-Steamed New Potatoes (using a technique that steams and bakes at the same time), and an interesting Whipped Berry Pudding, made with cranberry juice and farina.  I also tried an Aland Pancake, also made with farina, which was quite good.

Being a fan of red glogg in the winter months, I am really looking forward to trying the White Glogg that I found in this book.  Its made with white wine and apple juice with oranges and other spices common to the more well-known Scandinavian red glogg.

Very few recipes are familiar to me, but then, I am not that familiar with Nordic dishes.  But, the recipe for Caramelized Potatoes can be found in an old book by Nika Hazelton, called The Unabridged Vegetable Cookbook, and repeated again in One Potato, Two Potatoes, and other books as well.  Janssons Temptation is a luscious casserole dish of onion, potatoes anchovies and cream that has been around for a long time and I first saw it in The Onion Lovers Cookbook by Brian Glover.

You may want to hold off on purchasing this:  "The Nordic Cookbook" by Magnus Nilsson, is coming out later this month.  I've not been invited to peruse it, but it does contain an epic 700 or so recipes (says the product page).  Interesting, that at 700 recipes vs. 100 recipes here, these two books are only about $5 apart in price.  So, maybe the larger book is without pictures?  It's likely.  And it will be hard to beat the beautiful pictures in this book--and the interesting stories.  But, like I said, I can only comment on the great quality of the photos in this book, along with the easy-to-work-with recipes.  And 700 recipes may very well be unwieldy...  This, on the other hand, is a nice-sized, comfortable book.  Very suitable for gifting, too.

What is not shown in the "Look-Ahead" feature on this product page:

12 appetizers
11 breads
9 soups and porridge
8 salads
14 fish and shellfish main dishes
11 meat and poultry main dishes
12 vegetable dishes
14 desserts
10 Larder Nordic basics

There is a decent index of six pages, and a short page-and-a-half of sources.

*I received a temporary download of this book from the publisher.
3885547
Do you want to be a legend? Of course you do! Sharpen your battle axe and pour yourself a horn of mead because you just became a Viking.

Excellent quality. It was such a good gift that it was given twice at our secret Santa party.
295454
This was a great read, and a great way to view the whole rpg gaming session from a different view.  I want my half orc monk dragging me into that world!!  Haha, fun stuff and the two other books should be read as well.  Can't wait for more from Bevan!!
4593252
One of my favorite games in the series. It probably goes Morrowind, ESO, Skyrim, Oblivion, then the rest in order. Skyrim would rate higher if it weren't for the open multiplayer world in ESO. Huge fan of the character customization, play with a friend! My friend and I have been playing with each other since level one, now level 35. So addicting and fun.
2357505
Mix this stuff with velveeta. Throw it in a crock pot. Show up with chips and you'll be the most awesome dude at the party.
1266534
I enjoyed this book.  It was simply some guided conversations from their drive through a remote part of Iceland.  There were a handful of beautiful photos.  It is a small,well printed book.
3826370
One of my two favorite coffees on here. My other favorite is the Deathwish Valhalla coffee. :'D Great morning pick-me-up!
3556671
A MEETING PLACE - Munir Nurettin Beken & August Denhard - Sono Luminus

With August Denhard on lute and Munir Nerettin Beker on ud, "A Meeting Place" is an exploration of medieval and Renaissance instrumental music (more than half of it anonymous), with special emphasis given to the historic, improvisatory nature of the different forms.
While the ud is traditionally played with a plectrum and the lute with bare fingers, for this recording Mr. Denhard and Mr. Beken have each employed both techniques on their respective instruments. The results, though sometimes a little uneven, never fail to surprise, especially Mr. Beken's improvisations; his fretless instrument (designed to accommodate the Arabic 16 tone octave scale) allows him to add an element of exoticism to even an overly familiar tune like "Greensleeves".
This east-meets-west, medieval/Renaissance jam session may not suit the tastes of the more traditionally-minded or authenticity-obsessed, but anyone interested in hearing two excellent musicians take a more relaxed and creative approach to ancient music will find "A Meeting Place" both intriguing and fun. Another very cool recording from a company that seems to be making a habit of putting out cool music.
Highly recommended  9  out of 10  Oscar O. Veterano
285581
We went to see Lord of the Dance years ago and really enjoy Siamsa. It was a wonderful experience to say the least!
3041178
Valhalla Java has the best flavor Ive ever drank.
Im a Petes Coffee and Starbucks drinker, but
Valhallas deep dark rich flavor surpasses both of those commercial coffees.
3656943
A brash and brazen Norseman, a fresh new castle guard, an old stable master, a barons daughter, and a woman of striking beauty. What do these people have in common? Nothingand everything. A grand adventure for five stalwart companions drawn together by lies, greed, and one old Vikings journey to find a grand and glorious death worthy of the notice of the Valkyries.  Together the group finds that no matter what brings us together, it is the trials and struggles we experience together that brings us together in unbreakable bonds of friendship. So what do a wise old warrior, a powerful young fighter, a determined horse master, a compassionate baroness, and a loyal woman have in common?  Nothingbut adventure!
545610
More great music from the ladies from Norway.
Curvaceous Needs, Oh My God, Lady Grey, Bad Girl, and Rockland are all
stand out excellent tunes.
I just wish they would tour in the US.
3593961
This group is amazing - I was with them at the 2007 Magical Mountain Mabon in New Mexico, and took my own part in dancing, drumming, fluting, singing (their songs), merrymaking, and solemn unified promises to the Earth and Heavens with many others there.  It was beyond fantastic, and I am sure that these ladies deserve credit for a big part of my sensuous experience there; I know that Oastara is not even upon us yet, as Imbolc (my birthday) just passed, but I feel motivated towards so much more peaceful creative activity, and towards healing others in teaching the Quadrivium and providing shamanic counsel... like two years have gone by!!  I think that these months past have supplied me with a great evolution of thought and heart with which to carry on my own gnosis and freely share it.  Thanks, Crow Women!  I hope to see and hear you soon.  I am your friend and local alchemist, close at hand in Durango.

Light and Truth,
Brendan Bombaci
Durango, CO
3871610
From Little Accident to Jumpa to Shoeless Joe - You should do a Zep Cover of Ramble On - Best of luck guys from Manchester New Hampshire!! =VH= Steve Vai
2834538
As you see in this picture, there is supposed to be a Viking head, as well as the word "VIKINGS" below it. What I received was a nice leather checkbook cover that only has the Viking head with no words. It was for my husband, who didn't want to go through the trouble, cost, and time of doing a return, then try to reorder again, hoping it was still available, so we just kept it.