Week 14: The Week I Ate Six Strawberry Cakes

And you best believe I got you the recipe for the best one

Hi folks!! Welcome back to my newsletter. I’ve landed safely back in London and cannot wait to tell you about the week I’ve had in Finland.

But as a sneak peek, I sourced what I strongly believe may be the best strawberry cake out there. I know that’s a bold statement, but I’m willing to draw blood over it. Over the course of our week in Finland and Sweden, we somehow ate six different strawberry cakes. It’s a really big deal. And when we thought it couldn’t get any better, Seb’s cousin Salla made us her infamous strawberry cake literally the morning of our flight.

four of the six strawberry cakes consumed

We were stunned. Engulfed the cake in minutes. It was perfect. A thin, light layer of sponge, topped with crunchy caramelised meringue, and filled with soft whipped cream and the freshest strawberries you will ever lay your eyes on.

Salla very kindly shared her recipe, and so you too can enjoy this beauty of a cake at the end of this newsletter :)

(Also, I know originally I said I wanted to start with the lows, but I’ve changed my mind. I’m not sure why, but that’s that.)

Highs

Meeting the in-laws
I met all of Seb’s extended family for the first time. I didn’t feel particularly nervous, but I was worried that since they didn’t speak a lot of English, it might be hard for me to talk to them. And from what I know about Finnish people (very little), they can be quieter and to themselves. Since that’s basically the polar opposite to me, I was apprehensive.

this house they built and is so beautiful!!

But guys, I had the time of my life.

If you had a scale of extroverted to introverted, I would say I’m as extroverted as they get.

So when I’m around his Finnish family, which is just people spewing in from every direction, I’m in my element. Everyone lives just a few minutes' walk from each other, so people are always just coming in and out of one another’s houses. They are loud and chatty and always laughing.

Sebs uncle showing us his workshop and all the things he’s made

It really reminded me of my family in India - the level of comfort and ease around people you’ve known all your life, and the feeling of having a home in so many houses.

Not everyone spoke full English, but it didn’t matter because everyone tried. And to be honest, it was far good enough to hold a conversation - especially with Martina and Seb’s mum translating.

homemade hammer

Another similarity to my family in India is the resourcefulness. Everything is handmade - from tools like hammers to the actual buildings they live in. Seb's grandad built the house, and his uncles built a few more. His aunt even built an entire cabin herself???

They get their materials and equipment from people in the village, using windows from old buildings and sharing tips with neighbours.

It’s such a different life, and it really is so beautiful.

It also really made me understand Seb’s resourcefulness and why it’s so important for him to be close to nature. And seeing the shared mannerisms between him and his uncles was also a huge bonus.

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The Finnish countryside
Now after being with Seb for a while, I’ve been slowly understanding this obsession with nature. As a girl from Slough - neither the city nor countryside - I’ve always been quite indifferent to nature. Honestly, I just liked being indoors with the windows shut.

Those days are long gone.

And I kind of get it.

When you see an untouched forest, it really is quite magical. It’s rough and wild, full of berries and deer.

sebby in his element

Seb grew up with real forests at his doorstep. Fields and fields of wild blueberry bushes in the summer, being able to pick fresh peas, and mushrooms in the autumn. When you’ve lived like this, I can see why it gets frustrating to pay £3 for a tiny handful of bland blueberries.

Sadly, we weren’t there at the right time for picking blueberries or mushrooms - but mark my words, I will be back.

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A real-life Finnish sauna
As a self-proclaimed wimp, I hate it when it’s cold and when it’s too hot.

Unfortunately for me, a real-life Finnish sauna is both of those things.

I’ve been sauna-ing with Seb a few times, but man - these guys take it very seriously. Almost everyone’s home has a sauna built in, which they use several times a week!

You sit butt-naked in a small wooden coffin until it gets so hot you feel like your eyes are going to fall out. If you’re lucky(?) someone will whip you with soaked birch leaves. And just when you feel like you can’t take it anymore, you’re rushed into an ice-cold lake or shower until your muscles seize up.

But somehow, afterwards, you feel fantastic enough to do it all over again.

I’m not sure if the fantastic feeling is just because you’re no longer enduring either temperature, but I’ll take it.

keeping up with the Graus’ (i.e. canoeing)

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Lows

Carbs on carbs on carbs
As wonderful as it was to be in Finland, one thing I really missed was my regular food.

The Finnish diet consists very much of potatoes, bread, and butter - all three of which I rarely eat day to day.

So after about four days of eating mainly carbs, with little vegetables, protein, or exercise, my body really felt it.

a very Finnish meal with moose sausages and buttery potatoes

(Though on the plus side, I think I finally understand the joy of a really good potato - buttery, slightly sweet, and so soft.)

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Being better at making decisions
My second low - which is also partially a high - was being able to explore Seb’s aunt’s gallery (aka her home). Auli is an artist and her home really showed it. There were paintings on every inch of wall; every drawer and cupboard was hiding more artwork she had created over the course of her life.

We could see how her style adapted from real life to abstract - the use of colour, textures, and even glitter was beautiful.

And can you believe it - we were allowed to pick any pieces we wanted to take home, as her cupboards were literally spilling over with art.

After what felt like minutes looking through every piece, I’d narrowed it down to two.

And this is where it went wrong.

I’m not very good at making decisions.

Especially when the stakes are high (in my head) and the decision can change the look of my flat.

I think living with two very creatively driven people has its cons - I’m given so much support on what looks good together, but it also means I can end up second-guessing myself.

Will it make it look edgy or lame? Is it ugly or cool? How the hell am I meant to know if I like it?

Honestly, I don’t know. And I took a guess.

And immediately regretted the decision as Martina snapped up the other piece.

And that, folks, is where it went downhill.

I felt like my whole world came crashing down. My head was spinning. I was feeling faint. I had such a visceral reaction, I felt like I was going to cry??

Over a painting??

(That’s art, baby.)

The whole rest of the day, all I could do was think about my decision. What if I had thought harder? What if I’d called Soph for help? Would the other painting have made me happier, made my flat feel more complete?

I was spiralling like I’ve never spiralled before.

I even dreamt about the painting.

Do I need to start therapy again??

And then by God’s grace

My period started.

I have never had such a wave of relief wash over me.

Looking back, it’s wild how your period can make you feel insane. And this exact thing has happened many times. Why won’t I learn?

And honestly, both paintings are beautiful, and it’s just made me love mine even more now.

Stay safe folks 💛

(also sorry for the lack of pics this week, I was trying to stay off my phone lol)

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Salla’s Brita Cake (aka Finnish strawberry cake)

Ingredients

Cake Base:

• 125 g butter, room temperature

• 80g sugar

• 2 egg yolks

• 100ml milk

• 90g plain flour

• 2 tsp baking powder

Meringue Topping:

• 2 egg whites

• 120g sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• Small handful almond flakes

Filling:

• 300 ml whipping cream or double cream

• 2 tbsp sugar

• 1 lemon zested

• 200g Strawberries

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Instructions

Prepare the Cake Base:

1. Preheat oven to 175°C (347°F). Line a baking tray (~30×40 cm) with baking paper and grease lightly with butter and breadcrumbs for extra texture (optional).

2. Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy.

3. Separate the eggs

4. Add the egg yolks one at a time into the butter-sugar mixture, beating well after each addition.
   In a separate bowl, mix the flour and baking powder.
   Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk into the batter, mixing until smooth.

5. Spread the batter evenly over the prepared baking tray.

1. Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form, then gradually add the sugar and vanilla sugar. Continue beating until stiff and glossy.

2. Gently spread the meringue over the cake batter

3. Sprinkle almond flakes

1. Bake in the preheated oven at 175°C for 10 minutes until lightly browned.

2. Lower the temperature to 150°C (300°F) and bake for another 25-30 minutes, until the meringue is crisp and golden

3. Let the cake cool completely on the tray. Then cut it in half, either lengthwise or crosswise depending on your tray size.

4. Whip the cream with sugar and lemon zest until stiff peaks form.

1. Spread the ⅔ whipped cream and sliced strawberries on one half of the cake.

2. Carefully place the other half of the cake on top like a sandwich.

3. Top with the remaining cream dotting it around, decorating with mint and more strawberries