Le voyage créatif

Travel: A piece of rustic paradise in Tuscany

Marte Marie — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:40:35 +0000

Where to begin…well this recent weeklong trip to Italy was exactly what an overworked and a wee bit stressed Norwegian girl needed.

To get whisked away on a spontaneous roadtrip from Milano throught Tuscany to the Amalfi coast with a day in Napoli, was such a beautiful treat

Italy is close to my heart ever since I lived in Milano as a young student. The food, the life, the air, pace, art and glorious language that rolls off the tongue like creamy gelato, speaks to me ever so seductively.

Oh, how this little trip soothed my stressed soul and filled my belly with tasty and simple Italian food.

I’ll give you more photos from the trip soon, but this was just a teaser to let you know I have not forgotten about you, I’m just a wee bit in over my head these days with work;)

But soon, oh so soon, days will be different, when these two beautiful ladies (Britt and Ann) come to visit this weekend!

We’ll spend some time on my island in Norway and then slowly make our way down to Rome by train, watching the spring-filled european landscape glide by.

So what is it exactly I’ve been up to lately that is making my days so short and filled to the brim?

Some product shots for food packaging that will hit the shelves of health shops in the Scandinavian countries soon.

Food and styling for another health product company.

Editorial shoot for a fun food magazine.

A shoot for a Hotel and Spa on a beautiful island close to Sweden.

A new website, logo, etc and of course our ever evolving #60daysoflunch project to name some of it.

And amidst it all I woke up to this wonderful news one morning!

Bon Appetit magazine had so generously included my instagram feed in its 15 most drool-worthy food instagrammers!

I felt so honored and happy to be among so many other wonderful food lovers, photographers, chefs and stylists.

I may or may not have done a little dance in the kitchen that day.

I’ve absolutely loved working on all these different things, getting it all ready before my month in Rome coming up next week.

It really is so satisfying to be able to create different visual stories for clients related to food and or travel, and if you toss in art, some of the projects I’ll be working on in Rome will have a sweet combo of all three.

If you follow my instagram feed you may have seen a photo or two from the italian road-trip, and I promise I’ll keep posting new photos on my feed as I hop on the train and head south again.

May I just say before I sign out tonight that I love reading your comments that cheer me on when it rains and keeps me smiling when the sun is poking its head out.

I love getting to know you through your instagram feeds, blogs and emails seeing what life is like in your part of the world.

Isn’t it really cool to be able to be so connected even if we live miles a part?

Now I’m off to bed dreaming of my days in beautiful Tuscany.

(more photos to come soon)

Spring flowers, green buds and yellow tarts

Marte Marie — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:27:29 +0000

Spring is very much here and the forest arund mon petite island studio is brimming with sound and life.

Birds are talking non stop, flowers are covering the ground, and gray trees are busting with delight over their emerging green buds.

This time of year is so full of life, hope and anticipation.

I wake up smiling as the sun is dancing around in my bedroom and the fresh spring air is flowing through my open bedroom window.

It’s a time to come alive again;)

My trusted bike and I jet around on the island picking flowers, gathering branches, rocks and bark for props, visiting cafes and friends, and completely loving it all.

I feel like life is returning both inside and out.

I’ll admit these days are hectic, too hectic, and there is never enough time to enjoy the simple things, so after a bit of a neck breaking pace these last months, shooting and creating food stories for clients and working on my little #60daysoflunch project, I’m off on a 6 day road trip from the north of Italy down to beautiful Positano in the south.

I’m a wee bit excited and have been dancing around in my kitchen as I finished up work projects before my departure tomorrow.

I’m thrilled about the feedback in regards to the daily lunches from #60daysoflunch, and soon I’ll reveal a bit of news in regards to how you can get the recipes.

But I’m getting ahead of myself, lets just head to Italy first;)

The daily lunches will be switched up a bit as I’ll rarely have access to a kitchen on this trip, but I’ll always get the recipe for you no matter who is doing the cooking.

Stay tuned on instagram for travel updates, daily lunches and afternoon wander in the Tuscan countryside.

My island engulfed in spring fog and something cooking in the kitchen

Marte Marie — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:54:26 +0000

This time of year is magical, with heat sweeping through every now and then as the sun paint the landscape in gold and yellow, with sideways cold rain that frosts daring little green buds and mystical fog that rolls in across the fjord and casts a spell on my island.

I wander our island as often as I can, and seize every opportunity I have to fill my lungs with that salty fresh air.

Although my office is wherever the job takes me, and much time is spent in my island kitchen shooting for clients, luckily my days have some pockets of free time here and there that I treasure.

When on a bike ride to the mainland the other day, I slowly made my way along the harbour. Can I just say that I love that smack bang in the middle of our city is this beautiful spot where we can take a swim in the fjord from!

Almost every city that has some connection to the ocean has beaches and small staircases leading right out into the water, making it easy to dip your toes in.

I took my time and strolled slowly next to my bike that day taking it all in.

I love how moments like this sets my mind free.

It opens up for ideas to flow, for honest thoughts to surface, and it feeds both heart and mind with such soft beauty that I almost tear up each time of sheer gratitude.

I think I need moments like that, in which I truly feel alive, a bit raw and very peaceful inside.

…but then hunger calls…

Since I embarked on the whole 60 days of lunch project my days pretty much all evolve around food, nonstop!

In addition to the other food related styling and photo jobs I can now say that I from time to time, although very rarely:) feel like not eating!! Or Cooking!!

But, like I said, very rarely;)

But I will admit, as an answer to all the wonderful feedback in regards to my work that you send through on Instagram, yes, I do love my job.

I have many dreams and projects that I’d like to embark on, but while working on and towards them all I absolutely love working as a visual story maker, taking photos, styling, creating and designing.

During and after all the hard work, it’s all very rewarding:)

But I’ll add this, if it wasn’t for the people in my life, the ones I love and care for, the friends and family that are supporting and motivating me, any job or success is life wouldn’t have been as much fun.

Thank you all for such wonderful feedback on my work and for all the lovely comments both here and on instagram in regards to my little food project.

(the above kitchen photos are behind the scene from the rice porridge with cinnamon and butter lunch here)

Now, are you ready for some adventure?

Next week I’m taking you with me on a spontaneous road-trip along the coat of Italy from the north all the way down to Napoli!

Are you in?

I promise there will be food…and some Tuscany;)

Missing the warmth of the desert and an afternoon snack

Marte Marie — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:04:44 +0000

First off, I’m thrilled for all the wonderfully positive feedback on the 60 days of lunch project, wait what?

60?

That’s right, 60.

I had to change it due to work commitment that will greatly interfere with our delicious lunch project, so I simply turned the 9 around, et voila, we have a 6;)

(Updates on the blog and logo will come tomorrow)

During these next 52 days of the food project, that is absolutely putting my food creativity into high gear, there will be many more easy and delicious lunches for you.

In some weeks, I’ll take you to Rome, and that is where I’ll be cooking the last half of the 60 days of lunch for you.

I think we’re in for a treat, but that is still some weeks away.

Thank you again for your supportive comments, I sport a huge smile when you say I’ve inspired you to cook, from scratch, at home;)

Cooking homemade food does take a little effort, but mostly it’s just about planning and preparing in advance.

The benefits are big, both for you and your health.

Flexing your home cooking skills will feel so good, and it will taste so good, a win win, really.

So far the only place to view these daily lunches are on instagram, find me under Marte Marie Forsberg, but soon I’ll share more news with you in regards to these daily homemade lunches and the recipes.

These last weeks have been eventful, and I was thrilled to be amongst the top 3 country style bloggers from Australian Country Style chosen by the very talented and beautiful Pia Jane Bijkerk.

I’ll admit it, my heart skipped a beat. Do swing by Country Style

to take a look at the other two wonderful blogs that I’m sure you’ll fall in love with too;)

I’ve been missing the desert for a while.

Strangely enough since when I’m in the desert, while I lived in Utah, I missed the green and lush, but I guess such is always the case.

So while the spring rain pours down outside, making every sprig wild with delight, I sit by the window and miss the pale, dusty and beautiful Utah desert.

A crunchy little snack that goes with my desert melancholy is crisp bread, with a good quality cheese, a slice of pear to add a soft sweetness, and a drizzle of honey to add that dash of desert glow.

And bcause there really is nothing better at breakfast than cold milk, I avoid cows milk, today I raised my glass with fridg cold soy milk.

To the desert, oh how I miss you!

Recipe: Homemade Nutella

Marte Marie — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 21:21:57 +0000

There’s still some left of the weekend, right?

My intention was to have this up in time for the weekend, but instead it’s now just in time for the week, which is maybe even better.

Why?

Well, because you can now make the Nutella in what’s left of this weeken, and have some of this deliciousness left to “spice up” the upcoming week!

It’s been a whirlwind of a week. This weekend went by with the snap of two fingers.

It’s been great spending last weekend was doing a photo-shoot on a stunning island with breathtaking landscape.

The island is a part of a group of 400 islands located on the border to Sweden, about one hour from my little island.

The wind was cold, but the sun was up and hours were spent outside meandering in the beautiful landscape.

Now, onto the heart of the matter.

Let’s face it I’m a chocolate fiend, and when my beautiful Norwegian friend, that I visited in Milano last month, tells me that Nutella is sooo easy to make, I perked up a bit over breakfast.

( Breakfast was shamefully, dark chocolate with spoonfuls of Nutella…)

I don’t usually start the day with such overpowering sweetness, I’m more of a tea and fruit kind of a girl, but when in my friend’s kitchen on a weekend, why not;)

So when I got home, the wheels in my head started turning, and I was ready to test out just how easy it was to make this little hazelnut and chocolate treat at home.

It simply is a bit of roasting, de-shelling and a kitchen aid, et voila!

(Recipe to the end of the post)

Roast the Hazelnuts for 10 min

Put the out-of-the-oven-hot-Hazelnuts in a damp kitchen towel and massage the dark soft-shells off.

(De-shelling)

Pick out, the now light colored and “naked” Hazelnuts, or grab a handful and blow on them like my little niece thought was a good idea.

Add them to a mixmaster and start it up.

Keep it one for about 5 min till the nuts have began to look like bread crumbs.

Then add the other ingredients.

Turn the mixmaster back on for about 10 min, scraping down the sides when needed.

Et voila, delicious homemade Nutella without wax, preservatives, loads or of sugar is now ready to be enjoyed.

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What you need:

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200g Hazelnuts

50g Dark chocolate (Lindt is a great option. Remember to use quality chocolate here)

2 table spoons of Cocoa powder

2 table spoons of Icing sugar

Makes one medium size jar.

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How to make it:

________________

Roast the naked Hazelnuts in the oven spread out on a tray for about 10 min, or until the inside is golden. (take out one, split it open and check for golden color)

When done, pour the nuts onto a damp kitchen towel and massage off the soft brown shell left on the nuts. (See above images)

Pour nuts in a mixmaster and turn it on hight till the nuts resembel bread crumbs, then add all the other ingredients.

Turn mixmaster back on till all has become liquid, scraping the mixture down from the sides of the mixmaster when needed till it has become a liquid. There is no need to add water or oil. After a while the natural oil in the hazelnuts will make it all become perfect Nutella.

Do not think that when it’s become liquid that you have to add more cocoa powder or icing sugar for it to be more dough like, This will naturally happen as it cools down;)

Pout the content onto clean jars to store in the frige. It will keep for weeks in an airtight jar.

Now, sit back, relax and enjoy you very own homemade Nutella any way you like it…perhaps on warm toast as it melts ever so perfectly…?

Just a suggestion;)

Wishing you all a lovely Easter weekend!

And if you want more food, tune in on 60 days of lunch on your instagram as I whip up lunch between 12-2pm everyday (Oslo time) in my little island kitchen and I’d love to hear what you think.

See you soon!

60 days of lunch: a love for food project

Marte Marie — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:30:36 +0000

I love food, there’s no way around it.

I grew up watching bread bake in the oven, stirred, kneaded and loved spending time with my beloved mother in her kitchen.

She is an incredible cook that has a wonderful knowledge of old Norwegian traditional food as much as she eagerly embraces the world and it’s excitingly different spices and culture around food.

She tends to her garden with love, cooks with love and with her food making creates a home filled with love for all of us around her.

Food is not there to merely fill us up, or for the sole purpose of giving us the right nutrients, it’s there to bring us closer to each other, to give us an opportunity to share and enjoy together.

Those families, friends or strangers that eat together, stay together.

Mixed in with my love for eating food, making food, styling food and taking pictures of food is a deep love to travel.

These next 60 days I will give you a glimpse of my food world as I’ll cook and style with instagram between 12 and 14 everyday.

With instagram wether on the road, at home, on the train or traveling I’ll share my lunch food with you. Hopefully it will inspire you to be creative with what you have in your fridge and cupboards,to take time to sit down with friends over a good meal, or alone take time to reflect a bit on life, your day and really take time to taste what you’re eating.

Find me on istagram under Marte Marie Forsberg.

Let the 60 days of lunch begin!

How beautiful life is indeed…

Marte Marie — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:29:44 +0000

This absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful video, via beautiful Ann, made me stop in my tracks today.

I’m in the fast lane of life these days, and this gem felt so utterly calming that I have to share it with you.

I’d like to keep this glimpse of a woman’s life in my heart to daily be reminded of this calming and beautiful wisdom of life.

And tomorrow, some exciting news before we layer on with some homemade Nutella as promised, although some days late;)

Enjoy and Happy Easter!

Cafe: Brandstrup and a dash of creativity

Marte Marie — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:17:19 +0000

A skip and a hop away across the bridge, off my island and to the left is a pretty charming cafe that I’ve recently rediscovered.

Brandstrup Cafe.

It’s the kind of place I linger in and often use as an office away from the office.

Their simple lunch menu is great, but it’s their chocolate and carrot cake that makes me go all soft.

I have a hard time choosing, so I have, well… both;)

I spend hours here in the company of great friends, and I cannot wait to take this lovely friend here when she comes in May to introduce her to my neck of the woods.

And before I go on, if you follow me on instagram, you noticed my little patch in the kitchen turned makeshift herb garden the other day, but if long for some green here is Ann’s inspiring post about how to make a little herb garden for yourself even if you don’t have a lot of room or tools;)

(Oh and I love how beautifully she sports my black St Tropez necklace as well!)

This charming cafe downtown is a bustling place during lunchtime, but then in the afternoon when my chocolate cake craving emerges it has quieted down a bit.

The afternoon sun softly illuminated the dark history-filled wood furniture, walls and floor inside and its ever so magical.

When in need of some inspiration on projects where my creative mind feels a bit drained I need to get out, here, see and smell.

This always fuels my imagination and before I know it, ideas for the project that before seemed so daunting is now covering napkins and pages in my black notebook to the brim with thoughts and solutions.

Creativity is a dash of magic in our everyday lives, non?

Nothing becomes something and who knows where the idea was before it came to me?

My beloved mother calls it, with a bit of a cheeky smile, downloading.

So I guess if I don’t download and idea someone else will;)

Which reminds me of this clever TED talk on the subject of creativity by the author of Eat, Pray, Love.

Where do you think creativity comes from?

Next up just in time for the weekend, homemade Nutella!

Recipe: Breakfast bread

Marte Marie — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:44:14 +0000

Spring has arrived, the sun is up and I’m loving being outside most of the day again.

I cook with the door open, enjoy afternoon tea on the porch and run along the beach in the afternoon while the sun lazily hangs low on the horizon.

This is such a precious season!

I have some very exciting news to share with you over the next week or so and I’m thrilled to announce that some of it involves a good amount of food. In fact I’ll tell you the little news right now… are you ready?

Come mid May I’ll be spending a whole month in Rome to study art, eat great food, enjoy the company of dear friends and work on some food stories. But the big news will have to wait one week or so. It will be one of the most intense things I’ve ever done so far, and I cannot wait!

Now off to more instant edible things, like the breakfast bread.

I think we’ll have to switch things up a bit here on the blog and start giving you the recipe first, before I wander off into the garden and or tell you my treasured food memories. It simply is too long to wait two weeks for a recipe, non!?

Let’s just get down to business;)

________________________

What you need:

________________________

(This recipe makes two bread)

1 kilo All purpose flour

1/2 kilo Corse whole wheat

8-9 dl Temperate water

50g Yeast

2 tsp Salt

5 tsp Olive oil

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How to make:

_________________________

Mix the dry ingredients.

Mix the yeast with temperate water, no warmer than 37,5, test it on the back of your hand, if it feels like your body temperature you’re good to go;)

Mix the wet with the dry.

If the dough feels too hard, you simply add a bit more of temperate water.

Cover dough and set it aside covered with a linen cloth at a warm place to rise for 30-40 min.

When risen pour out on a surface with a bit of flour to knead properly.

Tear the dough in two and roll two sausages that you put into the bread forms to bake in the oven. Or just roll two big buns and bake on a tray.

Bake for 50 min on 200c.

Et voila, you have a delicious and simple breakfast bread!

Making bread, twilight and our summer garden.

Marte Marie — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:09:31 +0000

Just before darkness takes over and hides all light, there is that hour of magic, where twilight rules in my kitchen, this is when I prepare for the next day.

And sometimes that preparing includes food.

I seat myself by the kitchen window, that spot the sun gently kisses in the morning and that now, just before day becomes night, is engulfed in melancholy.

In this quiet hour I write down tomorrows to-do lists, go over what I had on the list for today, and when I’m lucky, prepare food for the next day.

Everything is so quiet.

I love this process of mixing the ingredients, the mist of flour as I pour it in, the subtle perfume of raw and dry becoming moist and swelling underneath the old linen cloth, before being popped in the oven to really become bread, the delicious kind;)

This melancholia and very magical hour of twilight is my favorite time in the garden as well.

Last summer I walked around barefoot on grass dressed in dew and took these a bit blurred shots. My beloved mother has created such a beautiful little garden to rest and rejuvenate in.

Oh the smell of melted butter!

It practically smells warm yellow;)

This recipe asked for butter, but normally I avoid it as it tastes just as good without.

This breakfast bread is actually made from a bread mix I was asked to test out for a client, so if the bread you’re making from the recipe I’ll give you next turns out a bit different it’s because it is different:)

But equally delicious!

Like tucking in one of my nieces or nephew at night, the bread needs a little love.

I always cover my baked goods for rising in linen towels.

Like this cute blue and white one bought in Sweden from an estate sale.

It even has the initials embroided on it.

I love that touch of history.

And while it rests and rises, I returned to my beloved mothers garden, the green, the twilight and the sound of birds singing sweet love songs to each other.

In my mother’s garden, organized chaos reigns, as she puts it.

She knows when each flower blooms and has timed it so there is never a clash of colors or perfume.

It’s organized enough to be very pleasing to the eye, yet enough organic chaos to make it look like all this beauty is natures work alone;)

In fact pretty much the same philosophy she uses in her interior design.

Can you smell the delightful late summer-garden perfume, the flowers, the dirt, a summer coming to an end?

Luckily this is not the end, this is merely a beginning for wonderful seasons to come, and delicious breakfast bread preparing underneath that linen towel.

You probably want the recipe by now, but I hope you’ll forgive me if we include that in my next post, this post is already becoming too long, and if you want really good bread, it involves a bit of patience and waiting.

So take a little stroll in the garden, curl up before dark in the above chair and before you know it the smell of freshly baked bread will soon arise from the kitchen and I’ll call you over.

See you soon!