Secrets of the City

It’s not neccisarily Minnesotan, but when we first moved from Evansville, IN to Windom, MN, we got a Welcome Wagon packet that included a certificate for a 2 lbs. of something called “ring bologna” from Moon’s Meat Locker in Windom.

I had never heard of it before, much less tasted it, but it was great. We put some on our Thanksgiving table that year, along with letsa (great with butter).

Fav MN holiday treat? Kemps Holly Nog.

Yep, I agree with bob, lefse is huge in SD too, especially at Augustana College (founded by Norwegians). Every year during homecoming we would have lefse day where the 3 80 year old kitchen ladies would make it on these hot plates and hand it out to everyone. Mmmm, lefse.

Obvious Minnesota tradition: Holidazzle. My mom will probably want to go to it this weekend. Groan.

We’ve never been. Going this year. Why not?

Lutefisk, lutefisk,
Lefse, lefse,
We’re from Minnesota,
Yah, sure, you betcha!

Standing in line with my grandma outside of Ingebretsen’s on East Lake to buy lutefisk, rye bread, etc. on Xmas eve morning.

Lefse good.
Lutefisk bad.
Holidazzle the worst.

I first tried lefse just a couple years ago–YUM. I’m not Scandinavian at all and I was scared of every Scandinavian food, just in case it was slimy fish and/or had been soaked in lye.

Two friends, both born in MN, one to Swedes, one to Norwegians, got into a spat over the proper toppings for lefse. I believe the Swede suggested something apparently radical, like a sprinkling of cinnamon.

Oh! And I’m going to learn how to make lefse this weekend!

(From the Norwegian folks; please let me know if I should know anything important, such as don’t suggest cinnamon topping.)

From my Norwegian forebears I learned to put butter, sugar, and cinnamon on lefse. It must have been those crazy Swedes who want to put stuff like sour cream on it…

Scandinavia — if it is white, it’s edible.

My grandpa used to wrap up his lutefisk with lefse and eat it like a burrito, with the lutefisk/butter dripping down his arms.

Yummy.

I actually don’t think lutefisk is as bad as people make it out to be.

“Scandinavia — if it is white, it’s edible.”

Similar: Germany — who cares what’s in it, just cover it in brown gravy.

I suggest what I call the Norwegian Thanksgiving Burrito: Turkey, potatoes, stuffing and gravy wrapped in lefse.

We always have lefse at Thanksgiving. I like mine plain with butter, but sometimes I’ll go crazy and add the cinnamon sugar. Shocking!

A restaurant in Bemidji used to serve “Minnesota Fajitas” with lefse instead of tortillas.

Another Thanksgiving tradition — going to the bars the night before. Anyone have any plans for Wednesday night?

A new Thanksgiving tradition for the Moffitts this year.

I would go to the bars, but that’s cleaning day for me. Cannot have my mother walk into a dirty apartment.

You’re a good daughter, aliecat. As we are going to participate in Walk to End Hunger, no bars for us, either.

About five years ago a friend and I took a holiday candy-making class at Byerly’s to the tune of $60. We made three or four kinds, the best of which was toffee. Several batches of each kind were made. We all sampled them, and one instructor made up little plates with one or two of each for us to bring home. And while the other instructor gave us a final talk, the one quietly packed up ALL THE OTHER CANDY IN TWO CONTAINERS. And the instructors took ALL THE CANDY from us.

Can you tell I’m still filled with rage over this? I am.

My friend and I make this toffee every year, and it kicks ass, and now it cracks us up what jerks those two women were. I think now call it Rage Toffee.

Mmmmm rage toffee…

Just found out the true name is “Rageful Toffee.” Am on the phone now planning Rageful Toffee 2008. Toffee borne out of rage is always more delicious and meaningful.

My hometown of Starbuck, MN lays claim to making the World’s Largest Lefse. Jealous much?

My friends and I thought about attempting to beat the record in the town next to ours (because we’re assholes), but apathy got the best of us.

I can taste the rage now…

Ok I’m extremely lazy and married into a Latino\German family. Yes….They are from the West Side of St. Paul.

Where can I find good Scandinavian Bakery for some good lefsa?

Not being from around hear, I had never heard of lefse until I went to my first Thanksgiving in Crookston. I was instructed to butter the lefse, but to put sugar only on half. Must have been a mixed marriage. I also had my first exposure to ambrosia salad, which I gather must contain pineapple, mandarin oranges, coconut, and some dairy-like substance (cool whip, sourcream, whipped cream, yogurt, whatever). Are maraschino cherries optional?

Ingebretsen’s on E Lake Street will have everything Scandinavian that you need, so I hear. The Wedge also sells lefse, and it is pretty good!

Ambrosia: I grew up here but somehow my family never made that stuff. Yuck. Not that and not sweet potatoes with marshmellows. Double yuck.

I associated 55-0 ASS WHIPPINGS with Minnesota. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Varmits.

Screw it, I’m going to stuff a lefse with lefse and mashed potatoes and butter. Why pussyfoot around?

@jane: No lutefisk? For shame!