Boy do I have a treat for you! Today author Mary Morgan is guest posting on the blog! She’s prepared a delicious Viking recipe for us, and we’ve got a tantalizing excerpt from her newest release, Rorik. If Mary is a new-to-you author, I highly recommend checking out her latest series, The Wolves of Clan Sutherland.

Welcome aboard, Mary! We’re glad to have you!

Bread for a Viking Table

I’m a research geek when it comes to writing my stories. I get giddy when I have to look up anything—from historical herbs, landscapes, naming a character, and food. During my research into Viking foods, I found out what they used as a leavening agent in their breads. I have shared my love of cookbooks with my readers, but I also have another valuable reference source for medieval recipes and techniques. YouTube videos!

Do you ever wonder how a medieval person made cheese? Or what about breads? How did one heal a broken leg? What about medieval weaponry (Sorry, I have a fascination with swords)? There are tons of books and internet sites, but a YouTube video is often times the best for me. I’m able to visualize the process, instead of merely reading about the history of a particular item.

It was customary for the Vikings to eat two meals per day—one in the morning and one in the evening. They ate with their fingers from flat wooden trenchers, or used wooden bowls for porridge, soups, and stews. The Vikings also used antlers and bones that were fashioned into spoons and forks.

A bit of trivia about the antlers they used: Since they didn’t have baking soda, baking powder, or yeast, they did have another leavening agent—reindeer antler salt. The oil is distilled from the antlers and from there salt was created.

This dense bread is an easy version of Viking bread. It’s delicious warm from the oven with butter and/or honey spread thickly over a slice. Or rip off a portion—Viking style.

Skål (Cheers)

Viking Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 cups water
• 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 3 tablespoons rolled oats (to sprinkle on top)
• Honey and butter

Instructions

1. Whisk all dry ingredients together and then add the water.
2. Stir everything with a wooden spoon until it comes partially together.
3. Knead the dough with damp hands.
4. Form the dough into a round disk (approximately 8 inches across). Place bread on baking stone or a greased baking sheet.
5. Lightly brush the top with water and sprinkle the reserved oats on the top. Put into a cold oven.
6. Turn on oven to 375 degrees and bake for 1 hour.
7. Cool slightly and then spread with butter and/or honey.

From Rorik

“Have you been eating the fresh berries in the meadow, Ragna?” asked the male voice behind her. The man rolled her name off his tongue, sending shivers down her back. She knew him well, often staring at him while she traveled into the nearby village of Kirkjuvágr.

Doing her best to compose herself, she wiped the palms of her hands down the front of her gown and turned around. “I have yet to find any. Why do you ask?”

Rorik stepped forth from the shadow of a tree. His smile came slowly as he approached her.

She tried to control the fierce beating of her heart as the man loomed over her with a dark and hungry gaze.

“Your lips are as red as the berries that grow in abundance in the meadow,” he stated softly.

“’Tis only an apple I have been eating.” Unable to move away, Ragna studied the man’s features—from his deep green eyes to the dimple hidden within the dark facial hair covering his chin. To suppress the urge of twining her fingers into his long ebony hair, she dug her fingers into her gown. She thought the warrior had to be chiseled from the Gods.

Rorik lifted his hand and gently pressed his thumb against her bottom lip. “Beauty.”

An ache grew within Ragna. His nearness made her weak and without breath. When his hand slipped around her waist, she collapsed into his embrace, placing her palms against his broad chest. “What are you doing?”

“I want to taste your lips, Ragna. I have thought of nothing else these long summer days.”

She tried to breathe, finding it difficult within his strong embrace. “Why me?” she blurted out on a gasp.

He lowered his head near her ear. “Why not you?”