Xmas bread

[Robert S. Wachal]

I don't believe that Jjule kage is braided.  The bread I have in mind
starts with a four-braid topped with a two braid then a tree braid then a
twisted single.  I am fairly sure it is Norwegian rather than Swedish.  It
wa readily available at Xmas time in Fargo North Dakota in the 40's and
50's.Any Norwegians out there or North Dakotans/Minnesotans?

At 05:26 PM 12/4/00 +0100, Jan Ivarsson wrote:
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Lynne Murphy" <lynnem at COGS.SUSX.AC.UK>
>To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Sent: den 3 december 2000 21:33
>Subject: Re: Xmas bread
>
>
>> --On Sunday, December 3, 2000 2:29 pm -0600 "Robert S. Wachal"
>> <robert-wachal at UIOWA.EDU> wrote:
>>
>> > What's the name of the  Scandinavian Christmas bread thatt is braided wit
>> > a yellow interior stuffed with raisins and glaceed fruit?  And is it
>> > Norwegian, Swedish, or both?
>>
>>
>> I searched "Swedish Christmas bread" on Infoseek and came up with Jule
>> Kaga.  Recipe at:
>>
>> http://www.breadrecipe.com/AZ/JuleKaga.asp
>>
>> Lynne
>>
>What Mr. Wachal is asking about is probably a Swedish bread, but the above
>recipe is for what Swedes call "kardemummabröd" (cardamoun bread)
>and is not particularly connected with Christmas.
>At Christmas, Swedes usually make "vörtbröd", rather sweet, brown loaves
of rye bread
>flavored with brewer's wort and raisins, but they also make different
types of saffron bread.
>The latter can be in the form of long braids, flavored with raisins and
small pieces
>of sour orange peelings ("jullängd" or "saffransfläta") or be made into
smaller
>breads with traditional forms, "julkuse", "parson's hair", etc.
>One very popular form is "lussekatt", made for the Lucia fest 13th of
December.
>It does not look like a cat at all, but got its curious name from its origin,
>the German "Teufelskatze", a similar bread often presented to children
>with accompanying devil figures.
>
>Jan Ivarsson, Sweden
>
>