The Return of Lutefisk!

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (kland01s)

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 15:12:38 GMT

Love the lefse, those look perfect! A little butter and a little cinnamon.

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (MSPD)

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 14:32:51 GMT

And lutefisk was in abundance at Christmas supper...along with a pile of lefse!

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (MSPD)

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 14:29:38 GMT

And if you're having a lutefisk emergency.....there's a HOTLINE!!!

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (Davydd)

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 16:15:55 GMT

It could be because the Olsen Fish Co. That makes most all the lutefisk is in Minnesota and the Sons of Norway international organization headquarters is in Minneapolis. That, and we own the Ole and Lena jokes.

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (ScreamingChicken)

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 14:43:52 GMT

It's interesting that the Tribune feels the need to attribute lutefisk to Minnesota when at one time the largest Norwegian settlement outside of Norway was in Wisconsin.

I believe that's called "deflecting the blame".

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (easydoesit)

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 14:36:46 GMT

I posted this a few days ago in another thread, but maybe it's worthwhile here, from the local paper:

In our local Festival Foods a few days ago, I saw two different brand names offered.

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/state-and-regional/lutefisk-minnesota-dish-lives-on-despite-taste/article_bc770e90-4b9e-11e2-b2d5-001a4bcf887a.html

And what it looks like:

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/national/lutefisk-minn-dish-lives-on-despite-taste/image_9ebc70a4-5458-5800-9492-05b973c2721d.html

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/national/lutefisk-minn-dish-lives-on-despite-taste/image_f555308f-f1bd-5f2f-8094-436b51652833.html

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (badbyron722)

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 20:03:15 GMT

Think I would run from this stuff.

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (HollyDolly)

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:07:14 GMT

Love the great photos.I doubt I would care to eat it.,but I certainly would try the other foods.I don't know if my dad ever tried any,growing up in Milwaukee.I know they are big up there on fish frys,and being good german katholischers that the family is ,they always ate fish on Fridays.Even after the Church said we could eat meat on Fridays, my parents still insisted on fish for that day.
I know what you mean about the old foods dying out. My grand mother used to make cookies and such for the holidays sometimes, with rendered goose or chicken fat, it makes them very rich.
Maybe a few old ladies do,but not the young ones. There is a book, called America Eats I have at home.It was a prodject of the WPA.It finally many years later published into a book.I'll have to look, but I believe it has an article in it onLutefisk.

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (myterry2)

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:16:44 GMT

The meatball Lefse meal wrap looks just terrific..wish I was close enough to drive there today...thanks for the great picture.

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (kland01s)

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:42:42 GMT

Davydd

ann peeples

Good, homemade lefse, is such a treat. I have only had it once......

In Osseo, Wisconsin you can stop at the Norske Nook and order this Meatball Lefse Meal Wrap...

Sorry but I really crave a good dry lefse with a touch of butter and a touch of cinnamon, this looks horrible to me!

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (easydoesit)

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:11:05 GMT

Davydd

Note the lefse too.

Homemade Lefse is something I always look forward to made by someone who knows how to make it during the Holidays. We don't make it. We're not Lutherans.

Don't know what happened to that last message, just wanted to mention the store.

But your comment on 'someone who knows how to make it' is right on the mark. We are probably losing many things as we rush towards our national homogenization. My mother, of solid Bohemian/Czech heritage, used to make a thing I loved -- a sort of sauerkraut cracker, thin, crispy and chewy together, salty, darkened edges, -- made with lard and flour into dough like a pie crust, with kraut mixed in and everything rolled thin, then salted and baked until crispy done. Just those few simple ingredients.

In our house it was called (phonetically) zel-ne-akk (or ach).  "Zel" or "zele" means sauerkraut, but the rest I can't be sure of. I can't find it on the internet, after many attempts. As a kid, I always thought the spelling was 'zelniak" but I don't really have a clue. That's how we said it, though.

After Mom died, my sister made them for us as a Christmas gift for a few years, and then reported they are WAY too much work, which they are. It takes those older church ladies for that kind of dedication.

I always thoughts these sauerkraut cracker things had some commercial potential, especially in this snacking age. Mix in a little smashed onion, peppers, maybe..., who knows what will take off?

But anyway, I haven't seen them for thirty years.  I am going to make a run to Cedar Rapids to check out the Bohemian places there, maybe I'll get lucky.

But where can I find those wonderful Bohemian church ladies that know how to make this stuff, not just zelniak, but bukta (buchta?), which is a terrific potato dumpling? They will be gone soon, like so many other things.

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (Davydd)

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:02:56 GMT

wanderingjew

"Ya Sure, you betcha"

Wanderingjew I was wondering when your sage wisdom was going to popup in the thread.

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (Davydd)

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:57:49 GMT

easydoesit

When making your trips up/down the river, if you do WI Hwy 35, there is a nice little lefse shop in Fountain City right across 35 from the Golden Frog (old, real place, worth a stop all by itself).

Nice shop, nice people, and they make the booty right in the next room.

http://www.lefsetime.com/visit-us-at-lefse-time/

Our next trip to La Crosse, WI will be for Thanksgiving. We usually drive the fastest way down via Rochester and vary our routes home sometimes Rochester again or via Wisconsin or Minnesota sides of the Mississippi River. Most of the time those are leisurely Sunday afternoon drives with a stop some place.

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (easydoesit)

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:18:59 GMT

Davydd

Note the lefse too.

Homemade Lefse is something I always look forward to made by someone who knows how to make it during the Holidays. We don't make it. We're not Lutherans.

When making your trips up/down the river, if you do WI Hwy 35, there is a nice little lefse shop in Fountain City right across 35 from the Golden Frog (old, real place, worth a stop all by itself).

Nice shop, nice people, and they make the booty right in the next room.

http://www.lefsetime.com/visit-us-at-lefse-time/

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (brisketboy)

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 08:41:38 GMT

I've never eaten it, only seen it in a frozen tv dinner at a convenience store in Poulsbo Wa. But as I understand it it will put the fear of cod in you.

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (Phildelmar)

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 22:13:33 GMT

Granted, it's a strong taste, and not for the faint of heart, but I like it. It's not too accessible where I live, but I can sometimes get it when traveling.

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (wanderingjew)

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:15:51 GMT

Davydd

ann peeples

Good, homemade lefse, is such a treat. I have only had it once......

In Osseo, Wisconsin you can stop at the Norske Nook and order this Meatball Lefse Meal Wrap...

"Ya Sure, you betcha"

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (Davydd)

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 19:47:48 GMT

ann peeples

Good, homemade lefse, is such a treat. I have only had it once......

In Osseo, Wisconsin you can stop at the Norske Nook and order this Meatball Lefse Meal Wrap...

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (syrupmi)

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:30:49 GMT

Actually all the Stooges were Jewish execpt Curley Joe DeRita.

I always wanted to try Lutefisk. It's probally hard to find in Pontiac MI.

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (ann peeples)

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:13:15 GMT

Good, homemade lefse, is such a treat. I have only had it once......

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (MSPD)

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:23:49 GMT

Here's some lefse:

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (kland01s)

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:52:06 GMT

Davydd

Note the lefse too.

Homemade Lefse is something I always look forward to made by someone who knows how to make it during the Holidays. We don't make it. We're not Lutherans.

In the early 1960's in Junior High I had a Swedish Home Ec teacher who taught us how to make Lefse. It was so delicious! I've never had it anywhere else since and I still crave that taste.

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (MSPD)

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:38:59 GMT

My guess is he was just doing that for effect Paul. Lutefisk is just cod, after all. Actually, most people are more put off by the texture of lutefisk when not prepared by skilled cooks (it ends up like an unappetizing jelly). It certainly is nowhere near as intense as mackerels and salty lox and oysters and many other seafoods people love (many of which Zimmern grew up with on the East Coast).

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (Sundancer7)

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:38:23 GMT

On a program from Travel Channel called "Bizarre Foods" with Andrew Zimmern featured a visit to a small town north and west of the Twin cities that had a lutefisk dinner at a Luthern church. If you have watched Zimmern, you are aware that he consumes some pretty bizarre foods. However if I recall correctly even Zimmern had a hard time with Lutefisk but after a few bites, he declared the taste improving???

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (crew84row)

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:18:00 GMT

joerogo

I thought Moe was Jewish?

Regardless, very nice post and pics.

I think "Moe" is a common name for many Luthern churches in the upper midwest/plains and refers to a parish in Norway from where many immigrated back in the 19th century. But I like the 3 Stooges reference.

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (Davydd)

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:14:44 GMT

Note the lefse too.

Homemade Lefse is something I always look forward to made by someone who knows how to make it during the Holidays. We don't make it. We're not Lutherans.

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (ann peeples)

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 20:45:48 GMT

Some of the best pics I have seen! Swedish meatballs! I made a huge batch for my niece's wedding! The real recipe is awesome.....

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (FriedClamFanatic)

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:44:35 GMT

GREAT Photos......lovely people............nice church.......some interesting looking food...............and I'll still pass on the main topic!

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (macaroni)

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:48:47 GMT

Very beautiful and evocative photography ~ meatballs look good, too!

Re:The Return of Lutefisk! (lleechef)

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:30:15 GMT

That is one brave little boy!!! Lovely pictures - thanks for sharing.