Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Scandinavian Christmas, Day 3



Today I'd like to welcome Rebecca over from Roots & Wings Co.! Rebecca's blog is all about how she makes life for her 3 children fun, exciting, and full of creativity! It's full of super creative tutorials (like this one and this one) and delicious looking recipes, check it out!

Rebecca's entire family "seriously hearts Denmark!" :) Her father's side came from Denmark and she grew up with parents and grandparents who taught her all the great Danish traditions. Rebecca loves to share these traditions with her children and has a truly Danish Christmas celebration every year.

Aebleskiver are Rebecca's favorite smorgasbord dish and she is going to share with everyone her delicious recipe! Prepare for your mouth to start watering...

Hi, I was so excited to guest post on Kathryn's blog! I love all things Scandinavian so this was a really fun one for me!

Our family roots go back to Denmark and we love bringing those roots into our celebrations, especially during the holidays! Monday night we got together for our St. Lucia's Day Festivities. My oldest daughter got to be St. Lucia and lead the procession! What fun. I also grew up with our Christmas tree always having Danish decorations on it like Danish Flag Garlands and straw ornaments.


Our favorite Danish recipe is Aebleskiver. Aebleskiver is kind of like a pancake ball that you fill with yummy jellies or sugar. Aebleskiver is something that I have grown up eating, and I just thought everyone ate it! My Father is the one who usually makes it, though we all make it in our own homes as well, now. I love using the recipe that he has used all these years because it has his writing in it to double and quadruple the recipe! This recipe uses every dish in the kitchen. So when we make it we like to make a ton! Plus, we usually make it when the whole family gets together and there are a lot of us! Aren't recipe cards with people's writing in them always the best!?


My Dad tells lots of fantastic stories about Denmark. Not only do we have our roots from there but he also lived there for a few years. So, he can tell us firsthand stories about living there. He also tells us stories about how the Danish people saved the Danish Jews during WWII. If you don't know that story you really have to look into it. It is amazing and heroic! It shows us that every one of us can make a difference when we encounter injustices in the world! My Dad is the best story teller to boot! I love that even my children know so much about Denmark.


We like our aebleskiver with grape jelly in it the best! This is a picture of my Dad a few years ago, enjoying some aebleskiver during a family summer camp that we held one year! It is so much fun to have traditions that tie us to our history and to the family we have now!

Thanks for the opportunity to share something with your readers that is near and dear to my heart!

If you need the recipe written out, here it is:

1/2 C butter, melted
3 eggs, separated
1 C Milk
2 TBL Sugar
1 1/2 C Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp ground cardamom, if desired
Powdered Sugar
Butter for pan

In a large bowl, blend 1/2 cup melted butter, egg yolks, milk and sugar. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom, if desired. Stir into egg-yolk mixture. In a clean medium bowl, beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold into flour mixture. Heat aebleskiver pan over medium-low heat until a drop of water sizzles when dropped into pan. Spoon 1/2 tsp butter into each cup; let melt. Spoon 1 rounded TBL batter into each cup. Cook about 1 minute on each side, using a knitting needle or long wooden skewer to turn balls. If heat is too high, centers will be doughy. Dust each with powdered sugar. Serve hot. Makes 20 pancake balls.

FYI we don't use a knitting needle or skewer. We use two forks to turn the aebleskiver over. Also I never have cardamom on hand so I never add it.

Thanks,
Rebecca@RootsAndWingsCo


Thank you so much for sharing, Rebecca! Be sure to check out Rebecca's blog and creative mind over at Roots & Wings Co. !

12 comments:

  1. Wow. I love aebleskiver,but haven't had them in ages (and have never made them). I wonder if you could tell us what an aebleskiver pan is... and what what we poor folks without one might use instead? Would a saucepan do?

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  2. Kathryn,
    Thanks for having me on your blog! This was a fun thing to be a part of! I can't wait to see what other great things you have in store during this Scandinavian Christmas series!

    Rebecca@RootsAndWingsCo

    Astrid,
    You can usually find aebleskiver pans pretty easily at kitchen stores. I don't know of anyway to make these without the pan though.

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  3. Oh yum! This brings back sweet memories of my grandparents. Have never made them myself so may have to give it a go.

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  4. Wonderful post! I love aebelskivers, too -- never had them until a few years ago when a Danish friend made them for us. Yum! What a fun family tradition.

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  5. Astrid - It's a long shot, but maybe you could find a aebleskiver pan at a thrift store? You might have better luck if you're at a thrift store in Denmark though...good luck! :)

    Rebecca - It was a pleasure having you guest post! I love your Lucia post over on your blog, too! :)

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  6. Awesome! Thank you for sharing both the recipe and it's history with your family.
    ~ingrid

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  7. Your blog title gave a flashback... my Mother and I on a day trip to NYC having lunch. She loved pickled herring and that's what she had! I don't remember what I had ( tho' I do like the herring) but her enjoyment was the high point. That was over 50 years ago...
    I am going to look for your pan and if I find it, try making the aebelskiver!

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  8. Oh, this is lovely! You know, overhere we eat these things too! (I live in the Netherlands) Made with the special pan with all the little 'holes' in them. We call them 'poffertjes' and do not fill them, but eat them with icing sugar and a little bit real butter...hmmm! Although poffertjes are not specialy eaten with christmas overhere.
    The funny thing is that we overhere think that it is typical dutch food haha!

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  9. Love Aebelskivers! My step mom was born and raised in Odense and we were raised with Aebelskivers. Especially at Christmas. (I'm 46 now) I only make them sometimes, but now I feel motivated:) The cardamom makes it taste Danish to me as other Danish treats have it. We have them with jam and powdered sugar. Mmmm...Thanks for this post!

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  10. Oh...and a good book for kids about the Danish saving the Jews during WWII is called 'Number the Stars.' My kids loved it and it's good for adults to read too.

    http://www.amazon.com/Number-Stars-Lois-Lowry/dp/0440227534

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  11. I used to love that book when I was younger Trisha, in fact, I probably still would!

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  12. I sure picked a bad time to "go dark" on the blogiverse! I love the Scandinavian Christmas series. And since I am still celebrating Christmas at my house (today is the 10th day of Christmas) I am enjoying reliving Scandinavian Christmas!

    Aebelskivers are a huge family favoite here ever since my sweetie and I discovered them at a local farm many years ago. Member's of the farmer's family were making them and handing them out free along with samples of the most luscious jams and jellies. I make them for my step-father every time he visits - even in July! He always requests them.

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