@brittarnhild
This mountain, Hatten, the hat, has given name to a valley north in Norway, Hattfjelldal, The Hat Mountain Valley. I have been there before, through work, with a group og Sami people, but this time we had a very special goal, Sæterstad Gård, an ecological farm with goats and Arctic char. Sæterstad is owned by Siri Kobberrød and Knut Kastnes. Siri is one year younger than me and we grow up as next door neighbours, but now I hadn´t seen her since I was 14, she 13, when her family moved from our neighbourhood.
I have heard about this farm, deep into the wilderness, for years, and finally I had the chance to come here.
And what a place!
We arrived in the afternoon, and had a couple of hours to sit out on the terrace of the eco-house where we were to stay. Sun, clouds, goats, a little lake with ducks, mountains with patches of snow, fresh air, silence.
Before dinner Knut showed me the bread oven, where they can bake 25 breads at a time.
At Sæterstad they make most of their own food. As a starter we got cured meat from a goat´s leg, cheese, bread and vegetables. The main course was salt baked Arctic char, and for dessert we had a heavenly fruitcake made by Siri, coffee and coffee cheese.....yes, you read correct. Coffee cheese is a Sami tradition, probably from long cold winter days when the food you brouht with you on long days in the mountains froze. Pieces of dried and frozen cheese were put into the cup, coffee poured over, and when the coffee was finished the cheese ready to eat. I loved it!
After dinner it was time to pamper ourselves. First one hour in a new salt grotto, perfect for my troublesome sinuses, then another hour in the jacuzzi. After a while we even persuaded my parents to try.
Breakfast was another delight for the palate. Siri, Knut and their four children are not only clever, it looks like everything they touch becomes gold. I ate almost double of what I usually have for breakfast, the same did Terje and also my parents. Fresh bread from the oven, warm smoked and cold smoked of char, a lot of different goat cheeses......and again cheese in the coffee.
Siri and Knut, you have done an amazing job building up Sæterstad. We had a wonderful stay and will be back!
And next time I come I hope to have more time to enjoy this view.
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You can read more about Sæterstad here.
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Britt-Arnhild´s House in the Woods has been on internet since 2005. The blog is my virual diary and a tribute to life and life´s Creator. I love to hear from my readers, in comments and in emails, and from time to time I am lucky to meet some of you, here, there everywhere.
I also have a few other blogs, you find them in the right hand bar. Welcome over, and welcome back here.
