Ruffhäxan's best food tips – a book filled with sea, people and food joy

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Text and photo: Helena Bergström

There are books you read from cover to cover – and then there are books you want to have lying around all summer. “Ruffhäxans bästa mattips” by Anki Palerby Hjelmqwist definitely belongs to the latter category. With warmth and great love for life at sea, the reader is invited on a salt-splashed adventure filled with people, recipes and stories from the sailing world.

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We have had the pleasure of getting to know Anki Palerby Hjelmqwist as a guest writer with us in recent years, and just like her texts, “Ruffhäxans bästa mattips” is permeated with warmth, curiosity and joie de vivre. The result is a book that is as much a story about people and sailors’ lives as it is a collection of recipes.

More than a traditional recipe collection

”"Ruffhäxans bästa mattips" is far more than a traditional recipe collection. The book functions as much as a journey through ports, meetings and sailors' lives. Here, different sailors share their favorite recipes, but also glimpses of their lives on board - which gives the book a personal and vivid feel.

This is a kind of coffee table book that you can browse through for inspiration – but also return to for recipes that feel authentic and ”real”.

Anki – and the other sailors

Anyone who has followed Anki's sailing adventures through her blog posts will recognize her way of telling stories – warm and full of curiosity about people. In recent years, she has sailed around Sicily, and that feeling of freedom and joy of discovery is clearly present in the book as well.

At the same time, you get to know all the other sailors and follow their adventures. A fascinating insight into the life of a sailor!

It is also nice and inspiring to take part in the different recipes. This is like for real – what different sailing families are actually able to conjure up in the boat kitchen.

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The Frog's Recipe

In the last third of the book, the focus shifts to recipes from Grodan's crew – Anki and Janne. Here you will find simple and inviting recipes for everything from breakfast and tapas to salads, soups, meat, fish, stir-fries and coffee. You will also find recipes under headings such as "picnic food", "panic food" and "drinks on board".

What I like a little more is that it feels personal and genuine, as if the neighbor comes over with his best tip. How about recipes for ”boat salad”, ”quick cream cheese” or ”egg sandwich”?

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Anki and I don't agree 100 percent on raw green peppers (she thinks they're a bit bitter and I love them), but that doesn't matter... Both Peter and I have received a lot of inspiration for the houseboat and camper kitchen.

Inspiration for everyone who loves the sea and food

“Ruffhäxans bästa mattips” is a book for everyone who loves the sea, boating and food that tastes best when shared with others. It is a book to be inspired by, browse through and return to – especially during the summer months when the longing for salt spray and new horizons is greatest.

After reading the book, you not only get hungry – you also get a little bit of an urge to throw up.

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