It's not about Ole and Lena - it's about the lefse

Lefse Day 2008

Now you may ask yourself, what is Lefse?

Well! Lefse is the bread of Norwegians. Think tortilla made from potatoes, oil and flour.

My Grandma Eunice made it, and both my Grandma and Grandpa Ekern were awesome at making it. I am trying to keep the tradition alive. My partner in crime in this effort is my dear friend Maggie. We have been pals for a long time...worked together in Madison at Roses R Read...and she is ALSO down with NORWAY heritage and my right hand griddle gal.

It was with some sadness as I pulled out the hand written instructions (2 pages!) from Grandma Ekern. I will have to make a photo copy or laminate them for safe keeping. She even drew me a smiley face and an AMEN at the end...she knew exactly how hard this stuff can be to make.

So here's how you do it

Step 1: Peel 10 lbs of potatoes

Step 2: Boil 10 lbs of potatoes

Step 3: Drain and let cool

Step 4: Rice the 10 lbs. of potatoes (put them through this mideaval play-dough pressy device thing, good arm work out)

Step 5: Cool the potatoes some more

Step 6: Rice the 10 lbs. of potatoes again

Step 7: Cool the potatoes even longer

Step 8: Mix the batter! Add in flour and oil

Step 9: Fire up the griddle and flour the shit out of every surface you come in contact with.

Step 10: Roll dough in to balls and roll out onto clothed pastry board. KEEP FLOURING!

Step 11: Transfer carefully with pretty little stick thing the piece of lefse from board to griddle. This is usually when all hell breaks loose.

This is often when you take a break to play, "Name that Lefse Shape", here is one of our finest, the "GHOST"

Step 12: Lefse cooks on the griddle on each side for a few minutes

Step 13: Lefse is transfered from griddle to table! To be carefully stored under a sheet to keep it moist.

About 9 - 10 hours later....when yourself and every surface in your home is covered in flour and a potato-y starchy film... you can eat this amazing bread in one of the following ways:

1) With butter

2) With butter and sugar

3) Make a Norwegian Burrito - fill it with turkey, stuffing, corn...whatever. SO delicious

I will say this year we did a mighty fine job! There was only minimal swearing and only a few pieces went to the dog. There are a few batches in the freezer waiting to be brought home for Christmas time. YUMMMMM.