How to throw a Swedish midsummer party

DECORATE WITH SUMMER BLOOMS

It would not be midsummer in Sweden without a house full of the sweet scent of summer’s beautiful blooms. Traditionally Swedes pick summer flowers and turn them into table decorations and delightful flower crowns which are then worn throughout the day in celebration of this day. Wild flowers in white and blue are the most traditional but you can choose whatever you like.

To make your own flower crown:

• Scissors or secateurs
• Wire
• Your choice of midsummer flowers such as Daisy, Bridal Veil and Prairie Bell. <br>

To tie your crown:

• Pick the midsummer flowers you want and make sure you have them close at hand.
• Make a circle out of the steel wire and create a loop of one end.
• Wrap the flowers around the wire one at a time or make small bouquets of them if it makes it easier.
• Secure the flowers with steel wire so that the stems are pinched between two twisting loops of wire
• When you have covered the wreath, tie it together by hooking one end into the loop you previously created. Adjust the size by twisting the thread until the wreath fits perfectly!<br>

Top tip: if you have flowers leftover place them in vases on the Midsummer table or add a small bouquet to each place setting.

A TRADITIONAL TABLE SETTING FOR AN AUTHENTIC SWEDISH MIDSUMMER PARTY

Midsummer is all about alfresco dining in the sunshine. Traditionally the table is set with blue and white porcelain with hints of red from the summery strawberries. Start with a crisp white table cloth and elegant glasses. Dare to mix and match different patterns and styles which it comes to your porcelain, as long as the tone is the same you can be sure they will complement each other. In this classic midsummer table setting, the timeless porcelain Ostindia and Ostindia Floris from Rörstrand have been used for a flourish of elegance. Add height and greenery to the table with some summery flowers in vases and a pop of colour from bowls of the first strawberry harvests of the year are sure to delight your guests.

THE ALL-IMPORTANT MIDSUMMER MENU

Celebrating the start of the most fruitful season of the year, no midsummer table could be without a spread of seasonal fruit and vegetables. You are always sure to find a salad made from the freshest new potatoes, dill, sour cream and chives. Gravlax (a sort of cured salmon) is also a must have, along with sill (pickled herring) and the cheesy favourite Västerbotten pie but the pièce de resistance is surely the strawberry cake dessert.

Discover more recipes for a summer garden party here!

MAKE A STRAWBERRY MIDSUMMER CAKE:

A simple sponge layered with cream and strawberries and a vanilla custard is the perfect summer dessert.

Ingredients for the cake:

• 4 eggs
• 170g granulated sugar
• 50g flour
• 50g potato flour
• 1 tsp baking powder

For the vanilla cream:

• 200ml milk
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1.5tbsp potato flour
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 tsp vanilla extract <br>

Extras:

• 200ml whipping cream
• 2 punnets of fresh strawberries

To make the cake bases:

• Set the oven to 175 degrees.
• Whisk together eggs and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Mix the dry ingredients separately.
• Sift the flour mixture into the egg batter and stir everything together until smooth.
• Pour the batter into a greased pan with a removable edge, about 24 cm in diameter
• Bake in the middle of the oven for about 30 minutes until the is golden brown colour, insert a knife into the cake, if it comes out clean it is cooked. Let cool.<br>

For the Filling:

• Add all the ingredients for the vanilla cream to a cooking pot and whisk until well combined.
• Gently heat the ingredients on the stove making sure to stir the whole time.
• The custard should become thicker as you heat it, once it has thickened nicely remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• In a separate bowl whisk the whipping cream until stiff peaks form.
• Slice 1 punnet of strawberries

How to assemble the cake:

• Slice the sponge cake base into three equal cake parts.
• Spread a generous layer of vanilla cream on the first layer of cake.
• Add the sliced strawberries so that the bottom is covered and then top with whipped cream. Repeat with the next layer.
• Place the top back on the cake and spread the last of the whipped cream on top.
• Garnish with whole strawberries and flowers.

AND FINALLY, A TOAST!

No midsummer celebration could possibly be complete without the obligatory glass of snaps or three. Snaps or brännvin (literally translated to burn wine), served in snaps or shot glasses, is a strong spiced alcohol that is drunk on many celebrations in Sweden, most notably Christmas and Midsummer. A tradition that dates back centuries, in between courses of the midsummer meal you will often hear a someone announcing the start of a snapsvisa or Swedish drinking song. The dinner party guests will then break out in unison into a verse of any number of drinking songs before taking a swift shot of snaps.

Text: Rebecca Sparling

Photography: Angeliqa Daldorph