After Jon left yesterday morning, I tuned into MPR and fell asleep listening to it. I did some devo time before I fell asleep and for the first time in years, I actually wasn’t sorry to be missing church. I was just so tired because it seems like life is non-stop for us and we’re always doing something religious or church-related. I woke up when Jon called to tell me that he was coming home and could he stop and pick anything up for me at the store?
When Jon got home, we got Dairy Queen for me (we were down to eating random combinations of things in the pantry) and headed to the laundromat to wash the comforter. It took three cycles to get everything out and after it was dry, we tossed it in the car, ran home, I tossed some khakis on, and headed to church for the klub supper. (Klub is a potato dumpling with ham in it. It’s a member of the “Scandinavian-foods-that-haven’t-been-eaten-in-Scandinavia-in-100-years-because-these-foods-were-eaten-by-dirt-poor-peasants-that-immigrated-to-America” family. )
We were assigned to be greeters for three hours but we really only needed Jon and I was trying to find something else to do. I took people to tables at first but the busy time came and I saw that we needed people to bus tables instead. I think the organizers were surprised to see me doing it in my nice khakis and everything but nobody complained and I actually had more fun doing that than greeting. I finally got to sit down and eat around 7 and everyone was watching me to see how I’d like the klub. The verdict: it’s bland (as most Scandinavian food is) but not bad with some sour cream, pepper, and salt. There was also ham, carrots, coleslaw, and various desserts. I’ve now been initiated into the cult of Scandinavian food and people are making plans for the lutefisk festival in town this summer — something I’m going to skip because lutefisk is against my religion and my dietary practices. (I try to avoid things that contain ingredients that the EPA has banned the usage of because they are corrosive and pollute large bodies of water — like Puget Sound.)
Have you had lefsa yet? That, and limpa (bread made with cardamom seeds), skör (potato sausage) and glög (a very strong alcoholic drink, served warm – made with vodka, burgundy, spices, and I’m not sure what else, served over dried fruits and nuts) are my favorites. I’ve never gone for the lutefisk though. Ick. Although I do like pickled salmon. And I’ve never had klub.
If they do a glög ceremony at Christmastime, be sure to go. I saw one years ago, and it was spectacular. Guy comes out in full Viking regalia, horns, furs, and all, and stomps up to the bowl of glög. All the lights in the rest of the room are dimmed. He scoops up a ladleful of glög, holds it up high, and lights it. Then pours the flame down to the bowl. And repeats this over and over, until the glög is warm. And it’s YUMMY! I can’t have it anymore – it messes with the diabetes too much, but it was well worth the price of admission.
And yeah, Scandanavian food makes British food look spicy. It took years to overcome my upbringing and actually *spice* food – I do it now as a matter of course, but it took a lont time.
I grew up in Minnesota and never had Klub either. I *have* been to fish boils. Nothing like crab boils, believe me – white fish, white potatoes and butter, no spices.
But wait until Christmas and all those tasty Scandinavian cookies. You will know you’re in heaven then!
“Minnesota – a whole ‘nother country”
Ellana
Lefse can be either really good or really bad — depends on the cook. Haven’t had limpa, skör, or glög yet. They will have to duct-tape me to a chair to force lutefisk down my throat.
what is lutefisk? why is it against your religious beliefs?
(i obviously know NOTHING about scandanavian food…heck, it looks like i can’t even spell it!)
Lutefisk is cured codfish. You cure it in lye and then boil it. It’s perfectly white and you pour butter on it. The reason it’s against my religion is that it uses the lye which is a pollutant. It’s also been described to me as “fish jello”.
oh that is disgusting!!!