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Lefse
Every holiday season as far back as I can remember, making lefse has been a family tradition. It wasn’t until I became an adult and moved away that I realized just how many steps it takes to create it. The first year I tried my hand at lefse making without parental supervision, I made too large of a batch and it took me several hours four nights in a row to finish baking the batch. I have seriously wised up, and I now have many willing helpers so I don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen. This year was especially fun having these two nerds helping me. I don’t…
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Aebleskivers – Scandinavian Pastry
Growing up, Aebleskivers were a staple on Christmas morning. We’d have Aebleskivers, scrambled eggs, and either sausage or bacon. Since I became an adult and am now responsible for Christmas morning breakfast, I quickly realized just how time consuming Aebleskivers are. So we’ve changed this Norwegian family tradition to suit our timeline. We have them for Christmas Eve breakfast and then again for New Year’s Eve breakfast. Aebleskivers are essentially pancake balls made in a semi-odd shaped cast iron skillet. Some times people like to fill the pastry balls with fresh fruit or fruit jam, we like to keep it simple; plain Aebleskivers served with a sprinkling of powdered sugar…
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Julekake – Norwegian Fruitcake.
It’s no secret that I have plenty of Scandinavian heritage in my family tree. Lefse and aeblskeivers have been typical meals in my family since I can remember. This Christmas though, I wanted to branch out with other holiday type foods…explore some more of the food aspect of a part of my heritage. That’s when I came across julekake, Scandinavian version of fruitcake. Now I know…traditional fruitcake is in the same category as cilantro…either you love it, or you loath it. I am definitely of the loath it persuasion. That being said, when I came across julekake, I realized the only thing it has in common with the well known…
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Norwegian Krumkake
Holiday baking continues in my house, and now I am on to a treat that my family almost always made around this time of year as I was growing up. Krumkake (pronounced kroom-kah-kuh or kruhm-keyk), is a thin wafer-like cookie that is immediately rolled into a cone or cylinder as soon as it comes off the iron. You can eat it plain, or fill it with fresh whipped cream or custard. I’ve also dipped one opening in melted chocolate. Essentially krumkake is the Scandinavian version or the cannoli. Personally, though, I prefer them plain so I can dip them in a creamy mug full of hot cocoa. A special iron…
