New Years and Christmas are over but in Scandinavia the celebrations officially go on until the ceremonial "undressing" of the Christmas tree on 13 January. So, it is still time to party, but perhaps on a lighter and smaller scale.

The Party Goes On
The party is not yet over in Scandinavia with the celebration of the end of the holiday season in mid-January. Yet one still has the feeling that it is time to downsize and reduce after a food-filled holiday season. Basically, one wants to continue celebrating, but not too much!

Delicious Dried Fruit
Dried fruit is a great way to enjoy a little sweet whilst at the same time consuming a nutritious one. As there are increasing varieties available today, you can enjoy a very wide variety of dried fruits. Do, however, watch out for 'sugar enrichment' on the labels of many dried fruit products. This means that the dried food has added extra refined sugar which is best avoided.

Food Handcrafting
Thanks to the emergence of an exciting local "hand-made food" industry in Scandinavia, unusual and particularly delicious forms of dried fruit have become available. This includes the dried black currants from Jämtland that we used in the recipe on this page.

The Virtues of Small
As a rule of thumb, it is worth remembering that too much of anything when it comes to food is bad. Below we provide you with a recipe for enjoying small clusters of dried black currants with a thin chocolate coating to give it that extra festive flavor. One or two with a cup of tea or coffee is a satisfying finish to a great meal.

You can try this recipe with any one of your favorite dried fruits. As a rule, darker colored fruits taste best with white chocolate and lighter colored (e.g. apricots) with dark. Dark chocolate is, of course, a healthier alternative. Chop the fruits if you choose a fruit that is larger than a raisin.

Recipe: Dried Fruit Clusters with White Chocolate (makes up to 20 clusters)
2.5 dl or 1 cup dried dark fruit (we used dried black currants)
125 g or 4.4 oz best quality white chocolate

Line a baking sheet with baking paper and set aside. Melt the chocolate in a pot which is placed in a pan of boiling water so that the chocolate melts evenly. Once the chocolate is melted, remove the pot from the heat and mix in the fruit with a wooden spoon. Using a teaspoon as a measure, spoon small clusters onto the baking sheet. Place in the refrigerator for a half an hour. Enjoy, but not too much!

Try our Light & Warming Winter Meal and enjoy the recipe on this page as a small and delicious finish to the meal.

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