Scandinavian delicacies make fair debut

Aebelskivers, lefse and Swedish pancakes — oh, my.

There’s a new set of pastries being served up for the first time this year at the Northwest Montana Fair. Although these delicacies have funny names, Scandinavians know them well and can vouch for their deliciousness.

The Sons of Norway Fredraheimen Lodge has joined forces with Mette Cephers of the local Scandinavian Baking Co. to operate a food stand that fairgoers can’t miss on the grounds — it’s got a six-foot Viking ship attached to the front.

“We decided to give it a try,” said Sons of Norway member Donna Tice, who was part of the crew that made 1,000 flats of lefse in preparation for the fair crowd.

Lefse is a soft Norwegian flatbread made with potatoes, butter, flour and cream. It’s time-consuming to make on a griddle, so typically it’s savored only during the Christmas season. Getting a piece of lefse in the middle of summer is a big deal for true connoisseurs.

Tice said the lefse will be served three ways: with butter, butter and sugar or butter, sugar and cinnamon.

Aebelskivers are another Scandinavian favorite that aren’t everyday fare for most people. They’re Danish pancakes with a round, ball-like shape, made in a special pan with round indentations molded into the pan. They will be served at the fair with a variety of fruit toppings, including strawberry, triple berry, raspberry, rhubarb and bananas foster with caramel sauce.

The Swedish pancakes also will be served with fruit toppings, and both the aebelskivers and pancakes come with a savory piece of bacon.

“There’s already been a lot of interest,” Tice said on Tuesday as last-minute preparations were underway. “It’s totally different.”

Tice is a lefse lover. She’s working to perfect a gluten-free lefse and operating a “lefse shack” would be a dream come true.

Cephers, a member of the Sons of Norway, is slowly building a solid business based on her Scandinavian heritage. Her father is from Denmark and her mother’s ancestors come from Sweden.

Her Scandinavian Natural Outerwear, or SNO knitted mittens, hats and headbands are sold in sporting stores across the country as well as local shops such as Sportsman & Ski Haus.

More recently Cephers has been selling her Scandinavian Baking Co. food items at the Kalispell Farmers Market. She hopes to establish a full-time bakery, perhaps yet this year.

“Ultimately I would like to have a bakery and Scandinavian gift shop,” she said. “I hear stories about everyone’s grandmothers” and how they used to make lefse and other Scandinavian foods.

“I don’t want the traditions to die,” she said. “The Scandinavian lifestyle is farm to table. It’s something they just do. They’re very good stewards of the land.”

The Sons of Norway also works to keep those traditions alive. The organization gives $8,000 annually in scholarships — two $3,000 awards to high-school students and one $2,000 Flathead Valley Community College scholarship.

“With [proceeds] from the fair stand, we hope to give another scholarship,” Tice said. “Kids are our No. 1 priority.”

Added Cephers: “We like to say we’re keeping traditions alive through education.”

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.