A Wedding Celebration in Copenhagen

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Photography: Marte Kopperud

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My Best Friend's Wedding

By flying off to Copenhagen and cooking for days, food editor Jennifer Aaronson happily returned a long-ago favor. Her close friend Nichole Accettola was finally having a wedding celebration (after a no-frills city hall ceremony years ago) on her "copper anniversary" -- a Danish tradition celebrated at 12 1/2 years, halfway to 25 -- and Jen was there to help throw the party, just as Nichole had done for Jen’s wedding nine years before.

Read on for the party menu, a celebration of Danish favorites -- cured fish, potatoes, beets, pork, grains, rye bread, and strawberries.
Photography: Marte Kopperud

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New Potatoes with Aioli and Preserved Lemons

Preserved lemons give this dish a complex brightness. Although they require very little prep time, they do need to steep in their brine for at least 10 days. (Don't let that stop you from making this recipe; store-bought preserved lemons are available at many specialty food markets too.)

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Photography: Marte Kopperud

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Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Green Apple, and Honey

You can never go wrong with a beet and goat cheese salad. This one has a light lemon-honey dressing and a crown of delicate microgreens (or sprouts if you prefer).

Also on the appetizer table: Caesar Dip with Fennel and Carrots.

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Easy French Macarons

These French sandwich cookies seem like quite the task, but with a few simple tricks, you'll be an expert in no time.

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Spiced Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder with Salt-Baked Shallot and Tarragon Creme Fraiche

Fennel, coriander, cinnamon, paprika, and plenty of fresh ginger and garlic mingle with brown sugar, soy sauce, and red wine to create a mouthwatering savory-sweet marinade for succulent pork shoulder.

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Spelt Pilaf with Saffron

The acidity of white wine makes this dish a great complement to the rich roast pork. The spelt berries need to soak at least five hours, so do plan ahead.

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Photography: Marte Kopperud

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Eat Local

Nichole and Joachim’s daughter, Rosa, picks elderflowers in the backyard to go with dessert.
Photography: Marte Kopperud

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Danish Strawberries with Elderflower Cream

If you don't have access to an elderflower bush in bloom, all is not lost: Simply swap in St-Germain (elderflower) liqueur.

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Toasted-Almond Macarons with White Chocolate

These dainty confections go beautifully with the strawberries and elderflower cream.

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Photography: Marte Kopperud

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A Vision in Copper

The happy couple, Joachim Majholm and Nichole Accettola.

After cooking for days, and when the last dish was just about ready, Nichole loosely knotted her hair and quickly changed into a silk wrap dress, its color emblematic of their anniversary. She was beautiful and happy and now able to relax and enjoy the party -- knowing Jen would take care of every last bit, exactly as Nichole had done for her years ago.
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