Great for Entertaining!

The season of entertaining is coming to a close, but we can make your final shindigs of 2011 delicious!  Drop by our Swedish Food Market and pick up our recipe card for a quick prawn cocktail, and a half-pound bag of peeled shrimp for less than $5!

Grab a couple bottles of sparking juice so even non-drinkers (and your young ones!) can toast the new year, too.  Available in pear and apple/lingonberry for $3.99.




Prawn Cocktail (serves 4)

1/2 bag RAKOR UTAN SKAL peeled shrimp
1 small head of lettuce
2 eggs
4 thin lemon wedges
grape or cherry tomatoes

Rhode Island Sauce
(if not ready-made)

1 3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 tbsp chili sauce
a couple dropped fresh lemon juice
salt and ground white pepper
1/2 tbso cognac or Madiera (optional)

For Decoration:
4 tbsp mayonnaise
Sprigs of dill

This is how you do it:
1. Rhode Island sauce: Mix mayonnaise, ketchup, chili sauce, lemon juice, sale and white pepper. Add cognac or Madiera if desired. Chill until serving.
2. Hard boil the eggs and chill with cold water. Rinse tomatoes and cut in half. Cut the eggs in half. (This can be prepared ahead of time.  Refrigerate the items covered in plastic wrap.)
3. Rinse and shred the lettuce, and cover the bottom of your serving dishes (or stemware.)  Add some Rhode Island sauce and fill with tomates and prawns. Place a dollop of mayonnaise on each egg half and garnish with a sprig of dill.  Put the egg halves and lemon slices on top of the prawns and tomatoes.

Thank You, from IKEA and Twin Cities Toys for Tots!

Our donation bin was filled to

overflowing during the weekend

after Thanksgiving!

I just got back from my final drop-off at the Twin Cities Toys for Tots warehouse!

All-told, our customers and coworkers donated almost 300 toys!  That means a big difference in the holiday celebrations of some deserving kids in the Twin Cities AND nearly $400 to UNICEF and Save the Children for deserving kids around the world!

Thank you so much for your generosity this year.



Don't worry, you can still make a difference in the life of a child!  Our Soft Toys for UNICEF campaign runs through December 24th!  For every soft toy, children's book, or kids' meatball combo meal sold, IKEA will donate $1 euro (about $1.35 US) to UNICEF and Save the Children!





Look at all the cuddly friends waiting
to get packed up and given to

deserving kids in the Twin Cities!




I was able to fill my car TWICE this
season for Twin Cities Toys for Tots!
Thank you, generous customers!





The Never Ending List #29 - Giving the Gift of Light

In June 2009, IKEA started the SUNNAN solar lamp campaign.  For every SUNNAN lamp sold in IKEA stores worldwide, UNICEF receives a SUNNAN lamp.  These lamps are distributed to enable children in homes without electricity to do their homework, even after dusk.  (It also lets them read and play, too!) Our goal is to donate 1 million lamps in the year 2011.

SUNNAN lamps combine low energy LED technology with solar cell panels. Since there’s no need for electricity, you can use it anywhere indoors. Just charge the panel for 9-12 hours in the sun and get three hours of lamplight.

Read more about this initiative and how it’s making a difference in India! Go to the UNICEF site.

The Tradition of Santa Lucia

On the morning of December 13th, the eldest daughters in households across Scandinavia dress in white robes with red sashes with wreaths of candles upon their heads.  They wake the members of their family with coffee, ginger cookies, and “St. Lucia” buns. Younger daughters follow holding single candles, the boys (called “star boys”) wear pointed caps. The whole procession may also sing traditional Swedish Lucia songs.

Before the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, this day fell on the darkest day of the year: the winter solstice.  Winter nights are cold and long with up to 21 hours of daylight and only six to seven hours of daylight in the brightest regions.

Signifying the return of light to the world, St. Lucia symbolizes resilience and hope that spring will come again. She combats the dark, cold, harshness of the winter with the warm, gentle glow of her candles.

 

Read more about the legend and traditions of Santa Lucia, and a wonderful recipe for Lucia Buns (from the American Swedish Institute) here.

One Light Bulb for Change!

If every household in the United States replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an compact fluorescent light bulb, the energy saved could light 3 million homes for one year, save about $600 million in energy costs per year, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions in a single year (the equivalent emissions to 800,000 cars!)

Is it time for you to jump on the CFL bandwagon? If you haven’t yet, why not?

The light from CFLs isn’t the same as my incandescent bulbs.

CFLs still have a reputation for giving off a cool, eerie light that doesn’t flatter anyone’s skin tones.  Manufacturers now offer a wide variety of bulbs with different Kelvin (K) ratings. Bulbs ranking under 4,000K will have a warmer light. Those above 4,000K have a cooler light.  Look for “soft white” or “warm white” bulbs to most closely mimic the light from incandescent bulbs.

Visit http://green.yahoo.com/18seconds/ (the time it takes to change a light bulb) to find out where your state ranks in the CFL switch, (Minnesota is #25!) and get tips on selecting the right bulb for your needs.

CFLs are too difficult to dispose of.

CFLs contain about 4mg of mercury (compared to about 500mg found in a conventional mercury thermometer.) This does not pose a safety risk at home, but could add up if disposed in a landfill.  Disposing of your used CFLs shouldn’t be an inconvenience: keep in mind that they have a much longer life than traditional bulbs. You can dispose of them at your local Household Hazardous Waste collection site, and many retailers that sell CFLs also accept them back for recycling. (Like IKEA Twin Cities!  In fact, if you bring in your bulb to be recycled Monday – Thursday, you can receive 15% off any item in As-Is priced over $20.)

The CFL bulbs I used didn’t last as long as promised.

Following the correct guidelines for usage is key! Don’t use a CFL with a dimmer, unless the bulb is labelled as “dimmable.” Also, choose CFLs for rooms where you leave the light on for an extended period of time (more than15 minutes.) Frequently switching the bulb on and off will shorten its life.

Compact Fluorescent bulbs last up to ten times longer than incandescent bulbs.  Generally, an incandescent bulb will last less than 1,000 hours (about a year, if used 3 hours per day) while a CFL last about 10,000. So, if you install a compact fluorescent bulb in your dining room for your child’s first birthday, that same bulb may be casting light on dinner of their tenth birthday as well.

The time is now! We can all band together an build a more sustainable life at home. Visit www.ikea-usa.com for more tips for all the areas of your home.

(Check out this great article at WIRED about the future of LED bulb technology!)

Extendable Solutions for Your Extended Family

It’s that time of year!  Gathering family and friends together to enjoy company, cozy spaces, and food. But has your circle of friends and family outgrown your entertaining space? Don’t let that limit your invitations! Use some smart ideas and furnishings to keep your holiday entertaining going all season long.

Dining table getting a little crowded? A table with extendable leaves (drop, pocket, or even ones that store inside the table) can give you floor space for the everyday, but also seating space for entertaining. The NORDEN gateleg table folds up to just 10” wide, perfect to tuck away or use as a entry table, but opens to seat four comfortably. (And the six drawers are great for storing linens, cutlery, or candlesticks!)

Table top too crowded? Using a tiered serving tray lets you go up, not just out – leaving room for those other important things... like plates and silverware!

Not enough chairs to go around? Folding chairs are quick to set up and don’t take a lot of storage space. Or, set up a seating area around a low table (like a coffee table) with cushions or low stools.

 

The most important thing to remember is that friends and family gathering together is always a fun time. These tips will make your event run a little smoother, but the people surrounding you will make the party! Enjoy!

Smörgåsbord!

Julbord is the traditional Christmas smörgåsbord in Scandinavian countries. Traditionally, it has three courses and features family recipes as well as local dishes.

Course One: Fish, Fish, Fish!

Start your holiday Julbord off right with some fabulous pickled herring and lox! For some traditional pairings, try your herring with boiled potatoes and hard-boiled eggs, washed down with strong spirits. (Snaps, Aquavit, or Brännvin – your choice!) Some other popular dishes in the first course include: baked salmon, smoked eel, and crab canapes (with a variety of sauces and dips.)

Course Two: Cold Cuts Galore!

This is when the Christmas ham makes an appearance, usually paired with a strong mustard. Other traditional cold cuts include sausages, head cheese, and liver paste. Soft and crisp breads serve as the base, and various cheeses and relishes top off the creations.

Course Three: Warming it Up

A traditional start to this course involves dipping bread into the stock from the Christmas ham.  Other dishes include Swedish meatballs, roasted pork ribs, small fried sausages, and a potato casserole of matchstick potatoes, cream, onion, and anchovies called “Jansson’s Temptation.”

(Wait... what about the lutfisk? It is traditionally served for dinner two days following the Julbord feast.)

...Did you think I forgot dessert?

Julbord desserts vary according to traditions and tastes, but a staple is rice pudding sprinkled with cinnamon.  An almond is hidden in the bowl, and whoever finds it receives a small prize or recognized for their luck. Ginger cookies, sandbakkels, and krumkakke often make an appearance as well. (A delicious pairing with the rice pudding, IMHO.)

---

Want to try a Julbord, but don’t know where to start? We’re hosting one!  Join us at IKEA Twin Cities on December 9, 2011 for a fabulous all-you-can-eat feast of Swedish fare.  Tickets are $9.99 for adults, $2.49 for children 12 and under. We will have two seatings this year, one at 5pm, and one at 7pm. Live music and a cash bar ensure much singing and toasting throughout the evening! Tickets are on sale now at the IKEA Twin Cities restaurant, and will sell out – don’t wait!

The Never Ending List #23

We believe that home is the most important place in the world, and that children are the most important people in the world.  Since 2005, IKEA has partnered with UNICEF and Save the Children for our annual Soft Toy Campaign.  To date, the campaign has raised 35.2 million euros ($47.5 million US) and enabled approximately 8 million children in nearly 40 countries the great opportunity of having access to a quality education.

This year’s event runs from November 1 – December 24^th, and includes soft toys, children’s books, and kids’ meatball combo meals in the IKEA Restaurant. For each of these items sold, one euro (approximately $1.35 US) is donated to the Soft Toys for Education Campaign. These incredibly affordable and cuddly creatures will certainly put a smile in the hearts of children, while supporting millions of other children who are in need of a quality education.

The best gift you can give a child is the gift of an education. And educating our children is a top priority. Yet every day millions of children around the world are unable to receive a quality education.  School offers chil­dren a safe environment with support, supervision and socialization. Kids learn life skills that can help improve their own health as well as for their family and community. No doubt, it’s imperative that every child, no matter where they live, receives a quality education.

In conjunction with other IKEA stores around the country, IKEA Twin Cities will donate hundreds of soft toys to our local Toys for Tots chapter this year. We have also selected Toys for Tots as the beneficiary of our in-store donation bin!  Customers are invited to purchase a soft toy or children’s book to go to their local efforts.

Learn more about some of the projects that benefit from our Soft Toy Campaign here.

 

Read about UNICEF and Save the Children on their official sites.

The Tradition of the Straw Goat

One of our most popular holiday items, year after year, is the straw “julbocken” (yule goat.) Not too much of a surprise, considering the Scandinavian heritage of our area. But why? Where did the tradition of a Yule goat come from?

The origins may go back to as far as the times of great Norse gods.  Thor’s chariot was pulled by a team of goats, and pre-Christian Yule celebrations often involved the slaughter of a goat. Throughout the ages, goats have served a number of roles: from scaring children and demanding gifts at Christmas, to an invisible presence checking to make sure the Yule preparations were done correctly.

Present-day julbocken are usually ornaments or decorations made of straw, traditionally tied with red ribbon.  A popular prank used to be to hide a goat in the home of a house or neighbor, who then would pass it on in the same fashion.  Goats were also left on porches, usually with a funny or naughty rhyme. Sometimes they are placed under the tree to guard the gifts.

One tradition that I’ve come to love reading about is the huge julbocken built by the city of Gavle, a seaside city on Sweden’s Eastern side. Starting in 1966, an enormous version has been built in the town square. Approximately every other year, the goat is burned by arsonists. (Starting in 1988 it was possible to place bets in England on when the goat would be burned.) In 1996, webcams were installed and now you can watch the construction of the goat, from anywhere in the world!

For more information about the Gavle goat, check out the Wikipedia article, or visit the official website of the Gavle Goat.

How will the julbocken join your holiday traditions?

Tips for a Safe Halloween!

Halloween brings crisp weather, tasty treats, and a chance to show your ghoulish best! Here are some tips to make your Halloween celebrations fun and safe this year!

Before You Go:

• Make sure everyone is well-fed and ready to collect that candy! (Full tummies may prevent eating treats before home inspection.)

• Inspect costumes for fit and mobility, and make sure your little monster can see well enough to navigate in the dark.

• Is your ninja a master of stealth in your living room? Make sure to add some reflective tape and/or lit accessories to make sure your trick-or-treater is visible to others.

• Is there such a thing as too many accessories? Make sure your child has a hand for their treat sack/pail, and a hand free for any accidental trips or spills (or maybe a flash light!) (Also consider: do I want to end up carrying that for blocks and blocks?)

With so many fun light options (flashlights, glowsticks, or
these fun and rechargeable friends) there's no reason
for your child to get lost in the dark this year!

While You’re Out:

• Travel in a group, and always with adult supervision.

• Keep to well-lit sidewalks, don’t cut through yards, and only approach homes with their porch/front lights on.

• Obey all traffic signals, and make sure to cross at intersections! (Drivers are expecting ghosts and goblins, but prefer to not encounter them darting out from between parked cars.)

• Save all candy and treats to be eaten at home, after they’ve been inspected by an adult.

When You’re Home Again:

• Inspect all candy, removing choking hazards for the little ones and watching for signs of tampering. (At this point, my dad would also remove all Snickers bars and my mom would get anything with coconut.)

...at this point recommendations can be made about rationing the treats, but we leave that to you to decide!  (My siblings and I were always allowed to keep everything and eat it as we pleased.  However, my parents would also pay us by the pound for any candy we decided to sell to them. Clever.)

Find more hints at these websites: 

Halloween Safety

FDA - "Lucky 13"

CDC - Halloween Safety

Easy and Beautiful Entertaining

The holiday season is fast approaching!  Family and friends, cooking and eating together. The highlight of any entertaining situation is, of course, the company you keep.  But sometimes you want to take it up a notch – make the experience something really special. You aren’t miraculously given more time to prepare, so it’s time to work smarter, not harder.  Here are some simple and beautiful solutions to make your holiday table top-notch this season.

Talk about a name that makes sense:
SMARTA serving dish goes from oven to
table in a snap.

Double-Duty! Choose bakeware that can double as a beautiful serving piece.  Taking something straight from the oven to the table cuts down on preparation time, and also assures your dish will be hot and ready for the guests to dig in!



Cakes, cupcakes, candies... ARV BROLLOP
cake stand displays them all beautifully.



Put dessert on display! A pre-prepared dessert can double as table decor, and also gives your guest a glimpse of delicious tastes to come.



GOTTIS serving bowl, available in
two sizes, dresses up any occasion.
Fill with potpurri, lake stones, or a
delicious dessert!



Put your pantry to work! Fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts, in a lovely dish or container, can make a beautiful centerpiece for your celebration.  Plus, once everyone’s gone home it’s quick to put away.  No special purchases necessary.

Let your menu be a treat for the eyes as well as the tongue! Nothing wows like a table full of attractive, delicious looking treats. Don’t distract from your hard work with extra frills – let the food do the talking!

Inspiration is everywhere! 
Check out these websites for more great entertaining ideas:

• Hostess with the Mostess

• Sparkling Ink
• Martha Stewart

• Food Network

The Never Ending List #9

IKEA tries to get the best possible return from every tree trunk.  The NORDEN table has been available at IKEA stores since the late 1990s and was revolutionary when it was launched.  It was the first time that furniture had been made from the knotty crown of the birch tree. Previously this wood was either burnt as firewood or ground as part of chipboard production. Today the whole trunk is used in the production process, and there are a number of products in the NORDEN family.

To read more about IKEA and their commitment to sustainable forest management, visit here.

To read more about our Never Ending List, click here.

Making the Most of Your Media Storage

The simplest decision to make when considering a storage solution for your television and media is probably whether you’d like an open solution or a closed solution.

With sliding doors, you choose what is open to view! Also, sliding doors are a

great space-saver if your don’t have a lot of room to work with.

If you have an extensive DVD, CD, video game, etc. collection and want to show it off: open is probably the way you’ll want to go.  If you’re looking for a solution that will look clean and uncluttered, and will allow you to store a variety of things, you may be more interested in a closed solution.

A flexible media storage system lets you use every available space –

from awkward corners to over the door!

In either case, make sure to find a unit that is flexible.  If you want to be able to store everything from LPs to books to CDs: a unit with adjustable shelves will help you make the best use out of the space that you have.  A system with a variety of different types of shelves and inserts allows your storage unit to flex and change with your tastes and collections. A system offering solid and glass doors, both hinged and sliding will allow your unit to keep clutter under wraps, but also let you choose to use some spaces for display.

The living room is just for that: living! Flexible storage keeps clutter at bay and

Lets the whole family share the space.

If you have children, keep their games and movies within their reach in a cabinet or drawer near the bottom of the unit.  (Closed storage can provide a great place for puzzles, books and toys as well!)

Bonus Tip!

Don’t underestimate the power of cable management!  In an era of video game systems, DVD players, sound systems, and cable boxes – you may have a mile of cable tucked behind your television!  Keeping the cords and cables bound and labelled doesn’t just make the area visually restful, it can reduce the headache of any future moves or reorganization.

Crib and Crib Bedding Safety

At IKEA, we know that children are the Most Important People in the world.  Keeping them safe and happy is the Most Important Job in the World.  To help parents keep their children safe, the Consumer Products Safety Comission has issued guidelines for cribs and bedding for children under 12 months of age:

Crib Safety Tips from the Consumer Products Safety Commission

For infants less than 12 months of age, follow these practices to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and prevent suffocation:

• Place baby on his/her back in a crib with a firm, tight-fitting mattress.

• Do not put pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, pillow-like bumper pads or pillow-like stuffed toys in the crib.

• Consider using a sleeper instead of a blanket.

• If you do use a blanket, place baby with feet to foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, covering baby only as high as his/her chest.

• Use only a fitted bottom sheet made specifically for crib use.



Keep cribs clear of additional textiles while baby
is sleeping. A single fitted sheet on a tight-
fitting mattress is the best bedding combination.



Check Your Crib for Safety

• A Your mattress should be firm and tight-fitting so baby can't get caught in gaps.

• No missing, loose, broken or improperly installed screws, brackets, or other hardware on the crib or mattress support.

• Cribs that are assembled wrong, have missing, loose or broken hardware or broken slats can result in entrapment or suffocation deaths. 

• No more than 2 3/8 inches (about the width of a soda can) between the crib slats so a baby's body can't fit through the slats; no missing or cracked slats.

• No corner posts over 1/16 inch high so a baby's clothing cannot catch.

• No cutouts in the headboard or foot board so a baby's head can't get trapped.

For mesh-sided cribs and playpens, look for:

• Mesh less than ¼ inch in size, smaller than the tiny buttons on a baby's clothing.

• Mesh with no tears, holes or loose threads that could entangle a baby.

• Mesh securely attached to the top rail and floor plate.

• Top rail cover with no tears or holes.

• If staples are used, they are not missing, loose or exposed.

Soft Bedding May Be Hazardous To Babies

To prevent infant deaths due to soft bedding, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development are revising their recommendations on safe bedding practices when putting infants down to sleep. Here are the revised recommendations to follow for infants under 12 months:

Safe Bedding Practices For Infants

· Place baby on his/her back on a firm tight-fitting mattress in a crib that meets current safety standards.

· Remove pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, pillow-like stuffed toys, and other soft products from the crib.

· Consider using a sleeper or other sleep clothing as an alternative to blankets, with no other covering.

· If using a blanket, put baby with feet at the foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as the baby’s chest.

· Make sure your baby’s head remains uncovered during sleep.

· Do not place baby on a waterbed, sofa, soft mattress, pillow, or other soft surface.

Placing babies to sleep on their backs instead of their stomachs has been associated with a dramatic decrease in deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Babies have been found dead on their stomachs with their faces, noses, and mouths covered by soft bedding, such as pillows, quilts, comforters and sheepskins. However, some babies have been found dead with their heads covered by soft bedding even while sleeping on their backs.

For more tops about preparing for your baby's arrival, or making their sleeping space a safe one, visit our Baby Knowledge site.