Lefse

Traditions! I love this time of year because of all of my family's traditions! Jayson's family traditions usually fall during the spring and summer months. We go jet skiing, camping, car shows and all of those fun things while the weather is warm. It works out well!

 

My mom's family is of Norwegian decent and there are a few food items that we all enjoy making together. So on Saturday we all gathered at my Aunt Lisa's to make lefse (pronounced "lef-suh"). It is sort of like a tortilla but it is made out of potatoes. They are fairly simple to make, but time consuming.

 

The first step in the process is to peel your potatoes. We use 10 lbs. of Russet potatoes.

 

 

 

 

After dicing them and boiling them until soft (think mashed potatoes), you push them through a tool called a ricer. It makes the potato look like rice. Here are Jess and Grady modeling the ricer. After you do that, you add a few other ingredients and mix it all up and then chill it. Lucky for us, it's like an arctic wonderland outside so we just stuck our bowls out in the snow.

 

 

 

After your dough is cooled to the touch, you use a special lefse rolling pin and roll it out into a really thin round. No one could make it as perfectly round as Aunt Susan, she was quite proud!



 

 

 

Here is my grandma (G-G to the great grandkids) monitoring them on the special round lefse grill. That stick she has is also a special lefse tool that is kind of like the Holy Grail of lefse making. I am not sure why but I remember several debates and arguments between my mom and aunts over this tool. :)

...Also, you should notice Jessie's hair in the back ground. I think I caught her mid spin! He he he.

 

 

 

Once they are done you smooth butter over them, sprinkle a little sugar and cinnamon if you like, roll it up and enjoy!



 

 

 

 

The kids joined in on the fun too and were playing in the snow and then warming up in the house and playing with toys. They are so cute!!