About Holly
I believe that food connects us – Whether you’re exploring your Nordic roots, growing new roots or simply looking for inspiration and a great recipe, I hope this blog provides a source of joy and connection!
Hi, welcome to my Wild Nordic Kitchen!
I left Ireland and moved to Sweden shortly after I met a handsome Swedish man. I was 22, in love, and excited to explore Scandinavia… but moving here was not without its challenges!
I struggled to find my place, not understanding the language or culture. It was at times really lonely but I slowly began to make friends and learned early on that food is central to Nordic socializing.
Very different from the pub culture I had grown up with in Ireland, people preferred to meet at each other’s homes and share a meal or fika (coffee and cake).
Though I could pull the perfect pint of Guinness, I wasn’t a great cook at 22 and had to slowly build up a repertoire of dishes that I felt confident cooking . I learned so much about Nordic culture from my Swedish friends, and they taught me how to make basic Swedish dishes that always turned out great!
The handsome man became my handsome husband and when we started a family I found myself spending more time outdoors with them exploring the forests, lakes, and the changing seasons. I slowly learned more about foraging (something that is taught in Nordic kindergartens and schools) and began to embrace the Nordic food culture in a way that I hadn’t managed to do before. Without realising it I found myself feeling more at home in unexpected ways!
From the simple joys of preparing ‘fika’ to the excitement of learning to forage for wild mushrooms, learning to cook in a foreign country has had a profound effect on me. It’s not just about food; it’s about connecting with the land, understanding the rhythms of the seasons, and discovering the deep cultural roots connected to food that have helped make this place feel like home.
I believe that food connects us! Whether you’re exploring your Nordic roots, growing new roots or simply looking for inspiration and a great recipe, I hope this blog provides a source of joy and connection!
A little about me…
- I was born and raised in Ireland, and have lived most of my adult life in Southern Sweden, where I am raising five amazing children with my Swedish husband.
- I love the Nordic food culture, exploring my wild side in the kitchen, and embracing all that Scandinavian nature has to offer!
- My kitchen is a bit chaotic, a reflection of my, at times, slightly wild approach to life. I love to experiment, to mix things up, and to see where the journey takes me.
- Soup is my all-time favorite food! A pot of soup and a loaf of bread is a wonderful meal to share on any occasion!
- My photography skills? Well, let’s just say they’ve evolved. Some of my older posts make me cringe, but hopefully, you’ll also see a certain beauty in their raw honesty.
- I’m also a potter and love to combine my Irish roots with my love of Scandinavian design. You can find my work here!
I hope you will join me as I explore this beautiful part of the world and all it has to offer!
Scandinavian countries share a rich and intertwined history, deeply influencing each other across various aspects of culture, including diet and lifestyle. From shared Viking roots to modern collaborations, each maintains its own distinct identity while drawing inspiration from its neighbors.
The Nordic people are infamously outdoorsy! Foraging is common here and it’s also the norm to keep a small kitchen garden. I find myself constantly inspired to be in nature, learning about edible plants and also learning how to grow my own and incorporate these foods into my humble family kitchen!
