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Final OS...

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Posted by Poppa_Zit on Saturday, April 25, 2009 4:52 PM

Bergie --

Take this with you (remember, Glögg is best guzzled by those with full beards, using the beard to filter out the lumps):

Swedish Glögg
Makes about 1 gallon
1.5 litre bottle of inexpensive dry red wine
1.5 litre bottle of inexpensive American port
1 bottle of inexpensive brandy or aquavit
10 inches of stick cinnamon
1 Tablespoon cardamom seeds
2 dozen whole cloves
Peel of one orange
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup blanched almonds
2 cups sugar
Garnish with the peel of another orange

Notes
There is no need to invest in expensive wine or brandy because the spices are going to preempt any innate complexity of a fine wine, but don't use anything too cheap. Remember, the sum will be no better than the parts. Do not use an aluminum or copper pot since these metals interact chemically with the wine and brandy and impart a metallic taste. Use stainless steel or porcelain.

Cardamom comes in three forms: pods, seeds, and powder. Do not use powder. If you can only find the pods (the look like orange seeds), take about 2 dozen and pop them open to extract the seeds. Cardamom seeds may be hard to find, so you may need to order them from a spice specialist like Penzeys.com.

Assembly
Pour the red wine and port into a covered stainless steel or porcelain kettle. Add the cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, orange peel, raisins, and almonds. Warm gently, but do not boil. Boiling will burn off the alcohol.

Put the sugar in a pan and soak it with half the bottle of brandy. Warm the sugar and brandy slurry over a low flame. The sugar will melt and bubble until it becomes a clear golden syrup of caramelized sugar. If you wish, you can speed up the process a bit and create quite a show by flaming the brandy. Flaming will create a 2 foot high blue flame, so be sure there is nothing above the stove that can catch on fire. Then, stand back and light the brandy. Turn out the kitchen lights and watch it burn! This caramelization is crucial to developing complexity.

Add the caramelized sugar to the spiced wine mix. Cover and let it mull for an hour. Just before serving, strain to remove the spices, and add brandy to taste (about 1/2 pint). You can serve it immediately, or let it age for a month or two. If you are going to age it, make sure the bottle is filled as high as possible and sealed tight.

To serve glögg, warm it gently over a low flame or in a crockpot, and serve it in a mug. Garnish it with a fresh orange peel, twisted over the mug to release the oils.

You can easily tailor the recipe to your own tastes by changing the sweetness, potency, or other ingredients. Try brown sugar if you wish. Or Southern Comfort instead of brandy. The orange peel garnish, however, is essential to the fragrance.

Drink while seated and give your car keys to a friend.

 

 

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. They are not entitled, however, to their own facts." No we can't. Charter Member J-CASS (Jaded Cynical Ascerbic Sarcastic Skeptics) Notary Sojac & Retired Foo Fighter "Where there's foo, there's fire."
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Posted by ns3010 on Saturday, April 25, 2009 4:42 PM

Erik,

Sorry to hear that you are leaving Kalmbach and the Trains.com forums. Thank you for everything.

Good luck at the new job!

Joe

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
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Posted by Poppa_Zit on Saturday, April 25, 2009 4:37 PM

PS Have you got a good recipe for Baba ghanoush? Goes great with carrot juice. 

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. They are not entitled, however, to their own facts." No we can't. Charter Member J-CASS (Jaded Cynical Ascerbic Sarcastic Skeptics) Notary Sojac & Retired Foo Fighter "Where there's foo, there's fire."
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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Saturday, April 25, 2009 4:32 PM

Bergie

For all have you have done here, Thanks.

Good luck in your new job, may it be all that you hope for.

Enjoy

Paul

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
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Posted by Poppa_Zit on Saturday, April 25, 2009 4:27 PM

Traitor.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. They are not entitled, however, to their own facts." No we can't. Charter Member J-CASS (Jaded Cynical Ascerbic Sarcastic Skeptics) Notary Sojac & Retired Foo Fighter "Where there's foo, there's fire."
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Posted by ICRR1964 on Saturday, April 25, 2009 3:48 PM

 Eric,

Good luck to you on your new job. Thanks for all the hard work and effort you put into this forum. Drop a line every now and then in the forum and let us know how you are doing.

ICRR

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Posted by TMarsh on Saturday, April 25, 2009 2:20 PM

Good luck Bergie. 

Todd  

Central Illinoyz

In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.

I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk. Laugh

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, April 25, 2009 2:07 PM

Just goes to show ya - hobbies last longer than jobs.

Good luck with your new position.  Hey, can you use the same Avatar over there?

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, April 25, 2009 1:35 PM

 Erik: I just heard that you're leaving us. Good luck in the new job. You will truly be missed here.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
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beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by Flashwave on Saturday, April 25, 2009 1:20 PM

Ashamed

Well, Best of luck. Come bt often, and thanks for all you've done. We'll lave a seat open for ya at the Diner, possibly in the kitchen...Whistling Do you prefer a table, counter stool, or a booth?

-Morgan

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Posted by SteamFreak on Saturday, April 25, 2009 1:19 PM

 I think he's leaving for all the free food. Dinner 

 Not that I blame him. Smile,Wink, & Grin

 Good luck Bergie, and don't be a stranger.

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Posted by Hoople on Saturday, April 25, 2009 1:07 PM

 We'll miss you, Bergie. Who will police the trackside diner now... That's a good question.

 

Mark.
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Posted by steinjr on Saturday, April 25, 2009 12:22 PM

 Erik -

 Sad to hear that you are leaving, but I wish you the best of luck in your new job.

 You have done a great job, and it won't be easy for a new guy (or gal) to take over your job here!

 Smile,
 Stein

 

 

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Posted by mersenne6 on Saturday, April 25, 2009 9:11 AM

 

 

  Manager of the Reader's Digest Forum????  [Bergie's note: No, not the Reader's Digest forum, the TasteOfHome.com forum.]  Now that has the potential of being curious in the extreme.  The last time I looked at Reader's Digest I noted everything they printed was abridged so I assume you will be responsible for abridging posts to their forum

 Whch cld mn u shrtn the ltr cnt

 or

 You take the sentences as offered and reduce the word count. (words)   Smile

   All the best to you Bergie - thanks for your efforts on this forum.

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Posted by erikem on Saturday, April 25, 2009 1:04 AM

Bergie

mudchicken
Are you gonna put the recipe for that wicked holiday stovetop homebrew on there at Christmas?Whistling

Now there's an idea! But what, that could either endear me to people or make them hate me (once they actually try it). I guess it wouldn't hurt to see how many good Swedes are over there though!

Take care,
Erik

 

You wouldn't be talking about glögg by any chance???

 Can think of some other holiday goodies such as the Lucia buns, krumkake, limpa bread, etc Got lucky this last Christmas as my niece shipped me a package of lefse.

- Erik (whose farfar was from near Arvika and bestamor from near Stavanger)
 

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, April 24, 2009 7:05 PM
I should have seen this coming...

When Pat and I were given the royal tour of Kalmbach last year, we encountered Bergie by the fridge in the break room. Now if that wasn't leading up to this...

Seriously, we hope we haven't seen the last of you here. There is a concrete contractor and a railroader, among others, who regularly post some great stuff here--not all of it words. I hope you'll consider contributing, even without all of those stars in your avatar!

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by miniwyo on Friday, April 24, 2009 6:10 PM

 

Murphy Siding

Mookie

Murphy Siding

Mookie

Actually have read the magazine and used some of the recipes.  If you are a working person Sigh (I wish) you can get great recipes for those every-other-day pot luck or some unknown holiday celebration. 

  You celebrate unknown holidays?  Weird.  Um...how do you know when to celebrate them, and what to make?  Wait- I get it- you go on the wesite!

Don't you work in an office?  Don't you have the normal pre-holiday pot luck (that's about 15-20 and don't forget Mardi Gras & groundhog day) and then the rest of the celebrations - Doris got an engagement ring, Paul is getting married, Janet is expecting, and then "the weather is too nice/snowy/rainy" potluck and the 44 employees birthdays.....

     Gee Toto,  I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.  I work in a lumberyard= 24 guys, and  one gal in bookkeeping.  We're probably less into celebrations, and more into indistinct grunting. Laugh

Holiday Celebrations? What are those? 

RJ

"Something hidden, Go and find it. Go and look behind the ranges, Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go." The Explorers - Rudyard Kipling

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Friday, April 24, 2009 8:53 AM

Mookie

Murphy Siding

Mookie

Actually have read the magazine and used some of the recipes.  If you are a working person Sigh (I wish) you can get great recipes for those every-other-day pot luck or some unknown holiday celebration. 

  You celebrate unknown holidays?  Weird.  Um...how do you know when to celebrate them, and what to make?  Wait- I get it- you go on the wesite!

Don't you work in an office?  Don't you have the normal pre-holiday pot luck (that's about 15-20 and don't forget Mardi Gras & groundhog day) and then the rest of the celebrations - Doris got an engagement ring, Paul is getting married, Janet is expecting, and then "the weather is too nice/snowy/rainy" potluck and the 44 employees birthdays.....

     Gee Toto,  I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.  I work in a lumberyard= 24 guys, and  one gal in bookkeeping.  We're probably less into celebrations, and more into indistinct grunting. Laugh

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Mookie on Friday, April 24, 2009 8:40 AM

Murphy Siding

Mookie

Actually have read the magazine and used some of the recipes.  If you are a working person Sigh (I wish) you can get great recipes for those every-other-day pot luck or some unknown holiday celebration. 

  You celebrate unknown holidays?  Weird.  Um...how do you know when to celebrate them, and what to make?  Wait- I get it- you go on the wesite!

Don't you work in an office?  Don't you have the normal pre-holiday pot luck (that's about 15-20 and don't forget Mardi Gras & groundhog day) and then the rest of the celebrations - Doris got an engagement ring, Paul is getting married, Janet is expecting, and then "the weather is too nice/snowy/rainy" potluck and the 44 employees birthdays.....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Friday, April 24, 2009 8:31 AM

Shock  He's tough !!!

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by Murphy Siding on Friday, April 24, 2009 8:26 AM

Mookie

Actually have read the magazine and used some of the recipes.  If you are a working person Sigh (I wish) you can get great recipes for those every-other-day pot luck or some unknown holiday celebration. 

  You celebrate unknown holidays?  Weird.  Um...how do you know when to celebrate them, and what to make?  Wait- I get it- you go on the wesite!

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Friday, April 24, 2009 8:01 AM

zardoz

Bergie

Long story short, I'm staying in the Milwaukee area and becoming the Community Manager for Reader's Digest Association's TasteOfHome.com (the site for Taste of Home magazine). Basically, they have a reader forum very similar to this one and I'll be managing the day to day operations.

I would venture a guess that those forums will not get as politically "charged" as they sometimes do here.

Don't know about that.  Think about the potential political, social, and moral issues involving "organic" or "natural" foods, "factory farms", "Community Supported Agriculture", imported vs. domestic food, "green" foods,  genetically modified food, "mom 'n' pop" stores vs. chains, sustainably harvested foods (like spices and coffee), "fair trade" foods (coffee & cocoa), recycling or composting of waste food and packaging materials, cooking heat sources (gas vs. electric vs. Sterno or whatever), vegan/ vegetarian/ macro-biotic, all the health issues - obesity, cholesterol, sugars, salt/ sodium, alcohol content, ethanonol fuel competition for food sources, western water usage for crops, land use policies, energy used for transportation of foods, unavalability of foods in certain chains, highly processed foods, seasonal foods, etc., etc.  (I'll stop now or I might get hungry again !)

Hey - after looking over that list, Bergie might even be back here before too long !

But if not - and either way - thanks again, Erik, for you many years of supporting, caring for, riding herd, and being the trail boss/ "ramrod" for this bunch.  Best wishes to you for all of your future endeavors, and I hope to see you here more often enjoying this as a hobbyist (instead of as "work").

- Paul North.

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Posted by dknelson on Friday, April 24, 2009 7:47 AM

It's nice to know Erik will be staying in the Milwaukee area so at least we locals have a chance of seeing him trackside from time to time.  On the other hand if he is expected to sample the goodies in the Taste of Home testing kitchen we might not recognize him.  Of course he hasn't gotten puffy yet from years of patronizing Steak n Shake so perhaps he is immune from poundage issues.

Remember Bergie this means that railfanning trips, digital cameras, and the like will no longer be tax deductible after May 4.  But maybe all your groceries and a new stove will be!

Dave Nelson

PS Bergie: Galesburg RR Days is June 26-27 and there will be private cars on the Sandburg

DN

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Posted by Mookie on Friday, April 24, 2009 7:44 AM

Bergie

Mookie
(Can I lock it now?)  Mischief

 

Keep it up, funny girl. I still have all the tools needed to lock your account for a few days. Evil

Big Smile 

Erik

Feel the love?  Kisses

Actually have read the magazine and used some of the recipes.  If you are a working person Sigh (I wish) you can get great recipes for those every-other-day pot luck or some unknown holiday celebration. 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by zardoz on Friday, April 24, 2009 7:29 AM

Bergie

Long story short, I'm staying in the Milwaukee area and becoming the Community Manager for Reader's Digest Association's TasteOfHome.com (the site for Taste of Home magazine). Basically, they have a reader forum very similar to this one and I'll be managing the day to day operations.

I would venture a guess that those forums will not get as politically "charged" as they sometimes do here.
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Posted by Bergie on Thursday, April 23, 2009 11:40 PM

spokyone
Good luck from Aledo.

There's one of my guys from Swede-land. Thumbs Up Thanks, Bob!

Erik

 

Erik Bergstrom
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Posted by Bergie on Thursday, April 23, 2009 11:38 PM

mudchicken
Are you gonna put the recipe for that wicked holiday stovetop homebrew on there at Christmas?Whistling

Now there's an idea! But what, that could either endear me to people or make them hate me (once they actually try it). I guess it wouldn't hurt to see how many good Swedes are over there though!

Take care,
Erik

Erik Bergstrom
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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:30 PM

Bergie

Bottom line, if you need a recipe for something, visit that site! Chef

Bergie

Are you gonna put the recipe for that wicked holiday stovetop homebrew on there at Christmas?Whistling

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by erikem on Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:11 PM

 Erik,

 Good luck in your new endeavor, and good to hear that you don't have to move for the new job.

- Erik
 

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Posted by spokyone on Thursday, April 23, 2009 8:36 PM

Bergie

Long story short, I'm staying in the Milwaukee area and becoming the Community Manager for Reader's Digest Association's TasteOfHome.com (the site for Taste of Home magazine). Basically, they have a reader forum very similar to this one and I'll be managing the day to day operations. Bottom line, if you need a recipe for something, visit that site! Chef

Thanks again,
Bergie

Erik. I joined that forum. The moderator has to approve my posts. Go & straighten 'em out. Good luck from Aledo.

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