About santas and “graut”…..

The little santa called “nisse” in norwegian.. and their story.

Farmers believe that in their barns, there is a small kind santa that takes care of their animals throughout the year.

Sometimes they do little pranks around the farm, like move things about etc., but mostly they are good, and come christmas the farm owners give them “graut” to keep them happy.

And the “graut” disappears, so surely the little santas have had a feast.

These little santas are tiny, and can easily hide in the barn….. they are not the ordinary kinds of santas..

We have that kind too….the ordinary ones…. you know the northpole santa, big fellow with the red suit and black boots etc.

And we have the blue santas that lives up in the mountains.. inside the mountains to be excact…

and they come out of their hiding only during winter/christmas, AND only during the “blue hour” ….

because they can’t be spotted that easily when everything turns blue.

Back to the little barn-santas.. and their “graut”.

I would like to give you the recipe, so that you can try it some day…

Ingredients
1and 2/3 cups water
3/4 cup long grain rice (or the small round one)

1 quart milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

Directions

1 Boil water and add rice, cover and lower heat to simmer for 15 minutes.

2 Add milk, sugar and vanilla and bring back to a boil. remember to stir ofter… as the milk may burn in the bottom of your pan.

3 Cover, lower heat and simmer until the rice is tender, about 20-30 minutes. (stir.. a little)

4 Season with salt. ( might be too much with a teaspoon.. so taste)

5 Serve with butter, sugar and cinnamon and a glass of milk

6 you can also put some raisins on the top.

( oh.. and if there are any left-overs.. cool it down, whip some cream and mix the cream and “graut” together carefully.. put on some sweet red sauce.. like cherry or rasberry sauce… .. hmmm a delicious dessert.)

Good luck!