Adding A Little Danish Tradition

Ages ago we attended the
Oktoberfest in Mt. Angel, Oregon
and ate aebelskivers for the first time.
In just 4 days the festival begins again and I think it would be so fun to be there
...not happening for me though.
Several times I have seen the aebelskiver pans at thrift stores but just passed them by. . . until this week. With my trusty 20% off coupon I brought one home at the cost of $4.00. I looked it up online and saw that mine was a NordicWare and sold through Williams Sonoma.

I've been doing some studying online and think I'll be making a "batch" soon.
It sure seems simple enough.

NordicWare Ebelskiver Pan (here's a link)
and here's a tutorial. No excuse for failure.

Ebleskiver or Aebleskiver Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 egg whites
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 egg yolks
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 cups buttermilk (or soured milk)
  
• 1 cup vegetable oil for frying (I think I'm using a bit-o- butter instead)
  
• 
  
• Directions (these are a bit different from the video)
  

1. In a clean glass or metal bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until they can hold a stiff peak. Set aside.
2. Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, sugar, egg yolks, melted butter and buttermilk at one time and beat until smooth. Gently fold in the egg whites last.
3. Put melted butter in the bottom of each aebleskiver pan cup and heat until hot. Pour in about 2 tablespoons of the batter into each cup. As soon as they get bubbly around the edge, turn them quickly (Danish cooks use a long knitting needle, but a fork will work). Continue cooking, turning the ball to keep it from burning.

Do you have any aebelskiver stories or experiences? I'd love if you'd share. My research tells that these were eaten in Danish homes on Christmas morning and New Years eve and day. May be adding a new tradition in my home since I have such a strong Danish heritage.

Wishing you a "god dag" . . . good day in Danish.

Thinking of Mom. . .

. . .and Dad. Today is their anniversary (correction, it's their birthday, yes they were both born on the same day-7 years apart). I always remember it and feel grateful even though they have passed on. They are always with me. So often things will happen that remind me of them . . . and I end up smiling. Here's a cell phone pic of my nut bowl. I always bring it out from Oct. through Dec. The grands can pack away a good amount of nuts. I also recall dear friend Steve C. enjoying our nut bowl. As best I can recall we had one just like it when I was a kiddo. I favored the almonds and filberts for their ease in cracking and avoided the Brazil nuts which were and are almost impossible to crack. Unfortunately I was taught to call the Brazil nut by another name, which was derogatory and I never taught my children that offensive name. I love carrying on traditions. I hope the next generations appreciate and remember.

Wishing you fall joy. Speaking of joy, Dori shared with me to spell it this way:

J = Jesus

O = Others

Y = You

P.S. To find true joy you need to put Jesus first, Others second and self last. Many would not agree but I do. That doesn't mean You become a doormat or You don't learn, develop and grow but that You don't make it all about Yourself.

I like that. Thanks Dori.

Old Terminology . . .

was "spend the night" in my day. Today the terminology is "sleepover". I can handle that, even like the newer version. End result is still the same and I was blessed to have Tessa sleepover last night. She is so much fun and outgoing. . . when it's just us. She likes to cling to Mom and give her the attention otherwise. I can handle that too. We laughed, gathered firewood, built a little fire inside for marshmallow roasting, popped corn and watched the movie. . .

Jammies, teeth brushing, prayers, back rub and song and she was snoozing.

This morning, and none too soon, was Tessa's first lesson with making biscuits from "scratch" - of course. Can't end the long tradition of scratch biscuits in this family. She did very well and really enjoyed herself. She's also a purest so-to-speak and only wanted butter skipping the honey and blackberry jam. I remember when all I wanted was butter on my pancakes. I grew out of that and now love toppings.
We made small biscuits but they were plenty tall - can't stand flat ones. Here they are ready for the oven.

We also did a little jewelry making. She picked out the seed beads and each color. Silly me should have remembered to get my "readers" first but managed to string this little memory gem. We also talked while setting the table about the proper way to set a table and also shared about dead heading the spent blossoms in the back yard. Aren't grammy's supposed to do those things even though I know the mommy's do it too.

And now for a P.S. I was just reading Audra's blog and she has a little blip about grand Jake (Morgan and Tessa are also in the photo background). You can read it here. So cute Audra, thanks. I'm so proud my grandson's are involved in Scouting. What a great thing.

Looking Back at PA

You know I had a wonderful time with the J&C clan in PA. You may or may not know that the trip there and back was less than stellar!!! I'm almost too tired to tell you about it but will give the highlights.
1. flight from Phx. to Charlotte, N.C. - Huge storm closed the Charlotte airport down. We circled hoping for clearing. Didn't happen. Rerouted to Greensborough, N.C. Refueled. Waited for weather to clear in Charlotte then took off to return to Charlotte. Somewhat upset thinking I had missed my connecting flight to Scranton/Wilkes Barre (pronounced Barry) but due to storm that flight was delayed and wouldn't depart until 10:30 pm. Worried about Jesse having to drive an hour to Scranton to pick me up. Just before boarding came the announcement that my flight was cancelled. Couldn't get a crew. Long, long lines. Slow, slow moving line to get issued a new ticket. Nothing going out that night. By almost 1 a.m. I still hadn't been able to get on shuttle to free hotel for night. Only one shuttle going between airport and hotel. Maybe a hundred people trying to push way on when it came to the airport about every 30-40 minutes. SLK and I speak and he encourages me not to go to hotel fearing I couldn't get back to airport on time for my 6:00 am flight out. Sat in chair in front of baggage center all night. No sleep. My flight out in the morning changed from Scranton/ Wilkes Barre to Williamsport which is a tiny bit closer for
Christie to pick me up. This little propeller plane putts in okay, I loved flying lower and seeing this great landscape. Airport so tiny, one gate. My bag didn't arrive with me. Tracer out to find my bag. Oh I want a toothbrush and clean set of clothes. Wonderful seeing C, E, J and A. Beautiful drive to Danville. Dead on my feet to say the least. Nap. Bag found in Scranton and delivered between 10-11 pm. I'd already gone to Wally's for toothbrush, new jammies, basic makeup.
2. Trip home Tuesday. Departed from Scranton/W.B. for Atlanta. 20 minutes into flight pilot announces mechanical problems with the flaps. Diverted to Harrisburg. Coached for an emergency landing. No flaps so landing hard and fast. Little nervous. Several prayers. Glad Heavenly Father is in my life and hears my prayers regularly so I'm not new to Him. We land okay really. No emergency evacuation but told to get off quickly and not to "light up" since smoke is coming from plane. Okay, I wasn't planning on lighting up anyway. Walk down the stairs from plane to the tarmac and see 3 big yellow fire trucks. This was serious. I'm now saying several prayers of thanks. Sit in terminal long time. Told to not bother asking for help as this is another small airport and they are all busy getting people on planes and that we will be delt with asap. No flights to Atlanta. Can be bused back to Scranton. Call C, she says she'll load up the kids and drive the 1.25 hours to get me and take me back to Danville. She's so good to me. Prayers of thanks again. We get home about 9ish p.m. Call airlines and get flight out to Atlanta on Thursday. Yeah, that means I get to go to the Wednesday farmers market.
3. Thursday attempt to get home goes smoothly except for my restless leg condition. That was weird and annoying. Blessed Del.ta even has milk on the beverage menu so that's what I drink for my legs. Guess you really didn't need that detail.
Now some extra photos:

Out the planes window leaving Scranton/Wilkes Barre, green, lush, crops, fun.

Downtown Danville patriotically decorated for Memorial Day. Double flags flying from every lamppost.

E at a fun park.

E helping make the apple pie. She was really good at the apple peeler, slicer, corer.

Two yummy pies over her shoulder. We followed that up in a day with a rhubarb pie with fresh rhubarb purchased at the farmers market.

E and J in my "hide-a-bed", that's what we called a sofa sleeper in "my day".

Views out J&C's front windows

3 views off their deck.

Sadness to not have photos of the farmers market though I had my camera with me. I so wanted pictures of the Amish folks behind the counters or me with them. It's not polite to do that though. I expected the Amish to be quiet and reserved and found just the opposite. I'll tell you about it sometime but I'm too tired now.

Thanks J&C and Crew for the wonderful stay!!! You really went out of your way for me and it didn't go unnoticed. My love, thanks and appreciation. Mom

Happy May Day

One of my fun memories is making May Day "baskets", filling them with freshly picked flowers, anonymously hanging them on neighbors doors with a quick bell ring and running away. I think my first memory of this activity was in Grangeville, Idaho. Construction paper formed into cone shape, strip of paper for handle and flowers. . . even dandelions will due - pretty simple and do-able. Is this tradition disappearing? I hope not.
I'm thrilled to report on this beautiful May Day I have almost red tomatoes and baby zucchini and yellow squash. Hurray for fresh veggies. I'm wishing you a happy day. Maybe my grands will get to make May Day baskets and if you don't have fresh flowers you can even make construction paper flowers. 3

Make a May Day Basket:

Brighten a friend or neighbor's day with a colorful May Day basket hung on their door. For a traditional May basket, cut a wide triangle shape from a sturdy piece of paper. Snip off the triangle tip and roll the remaining piece into a cone shape. Glue or tape the over-lapping sides (using paper clips to hold it in place while the glue dries). Cut a strip of paper for the handle (12 inches in length should do) and glue or tape it to the top of the cone. Fill your cone basket with real (or home-made tissue paper) flowers and sneakily hang it on your friend or neighbor's doorknob.You can also use your imagination with recycled materials to create a truly unique basket. Try a toilet tissue roll cut in half, decorated and closed off at the bottom with a stiff piece of paper. Attach a pipe cleaner handle and fill with small flowers. Other recycled "basket" ideas include plastic strawberry baskets, yogurt cups, play dough containers or baby food jars. Just decorate, attach a handle and send spring greetings! (Nature Craft idea from www.familycrafts.about.com)