Hospitality No-No
Apparently, I am a bad wanna-be-Finnish hostess. There have been some funny things since I've been here. Mikko asked one guest what we could make for lunch if she came and visited. Which I believe he meant to say, "Is there anything you can't eat?". She responds, "Fish sticks and rice please!"
But then, it gets funnier. Most the time I don't bake or buy ready cookies for guests. People usually bring them and we store them in the cupboard until folks come. Last week was crazy, we had 3 people stay the night 3 different nights and I was quite busy with other things. One guest asked, after Mikko made coffee, "Ummm do you have any sweets?". Mikko asks and I panic. No one has asked before! Fortunately, one guest brought chocalate and there were some Animal Crackers from the States that B got from Great-Grandma Mary. (God Bless America!)
Quite embarressed, but the guest made a joke in Finnish about it's terrible if a Finn doesn't provide sweets with coffee. Oh, dear...
This situation reminded me of what was written in a 1964 Finnish Cookbook (CAPS emphasized):
"The Finnish hostess is ALWAYS prepared to set a coffee table for she ALWAYS has cookies on hand. These she bakes about twice a month, then stores in a cool dry place."
Fortunately, Diaper Lover came over yesterday as I taught her oldest how to make chocalate chunk cookies. Come on Heidi get ahead of the game!
But then, it gets funnier. Most the time I don't bake or buy ready cookies for guests. People usually bring them and we store them in the cupboard until folks come. Last week was crazy, we had 3 people stay the night 3 different nights and I was quite busy with other things. One guest asked, after Mikko made coffee, "Ummm do you have any sweets?". Mikko asks and I panic. No one has asked before! Fortunately, one guest brought chocalate and there were some Animal Crackers from the States that B got from Great-Grandma Mary. (God Bless America!)
Quite embarressed, but the guest made a joke in Finnish about it's terrible if a Finn doesn't provide sweets with coffee. Oh, dear...
This situation reminded me of what was written in a 1964 Finnish Cookbook (CAPS emphasized):
"The Finnish hostess is ALWAYS prepared to set a coffee table for she ALWAYS has cookies on hand. These she bakes about twice a month, then stores in a cool dry place."
Fortunately, Diaper Lover came over yesterday as I taught her oldest how to make chocalate chunk cookies. Come on Heidi get ahead of the game!
Comments