MAMA'S CHRISTMAS BY THE CUPFUL RECIPE

A heaping cup of happiness

2 cups of love and caring

1 of understanding

1 of joyful sharing

A level cup of wisdom

1 of artful living

1 of thoughtful insight

1 of selfless giving

Mix ingredients together prayerfully.

Toss a little flair into it!

Serve to everyone you know and anyone who wouldn't have a blessed Christmas otherwise.

Top with a prayer.

May every measure of happiness and blessing be yours and for all those around you this Christmas Time!

MAMA'S CORN CUSTARD

1 can cream style corn

2 eggs (well beaten)

1 pt. milk

2 heaping Tablespoons flour

2 Tablespoons sugar

2 Tablespoons butter

Mix well, put in casserole dish and back in moderate oven for 45 minutes, or use microwave; to brown, broil in oven if you use a microwave.

Submitted by Pearl Ginther, which was her Mama's recipe, a dish that is delicious and everyone will be sure to want seconds of!

IMPOSSIBLE PIE

"With man it is impossible, but with God nothing is impossible!--Scripture says

4 eggs

1/2 c. margarine (melted)

1/2 c. flour

2 c. milk 1 c. cocoanut

1 tsp. vanila

1/2 tsp. baking powder

Mix in the blender altogether. Pour into a 10-inch pie dish. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

Submitted by Pearl Ginther

IMPOSSIBLE PUMPKIN PIE

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup Bisquick Mix

2 tbsp. margarine or butter

2 eggs

1 can (16 oz.) pumpkin

2 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

2 tsp. vanilla

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease pie plate 9 X 1 1/4 or 10 X 1 1/2 inches. Beat all ingredients until smooth, 1 minute in blender on high or 2 minutes with hand beater. Pour into plate. Bake until knife inserted in center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. This is the pie that does the impossible by making its own crust.

--from the late Pearl Ginther's purse, July 27, 2011, submitted by her son Ronald Ginther

MAMA'S SOUR CREAM/BROWN SUGAR SYRUP

Best Kept Secret in Pancake-Dom!

1 c. sour cream

1 c. brown sugar

3/4 c. granulated sugar

Put all ingredients in a sauce pan and boil very carefully so it doesn't bubble over. Let it get a little thick. Ready to put on Swedish or Norwegian pancakes.

Submitted by Pearl Ginther (this is better than any store-bought syrup, and everyone who has once tasted it will agree!)

MAMA'S NORWEGIAN PANCAKES (A Delicate CREPE RECIPE)

1 and 1/2 c. milk or 2% milk

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil or butter

3 eggs

1 and 1/4 c. whole-wheat flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1 and 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

Beat eggs and add shortening, milk, salt and flour. Mix until batter is smoothe. Ladle about 1/4 cup batter in small frying pan to make a very thin pancake (crepe). Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon, or sugar alone. Can be filled with fruit as desired, or add whipped cream. Mama's brown-sugar and sour cream syrup is the best syrup for these crepes. To make a Swedish pancake, add more flour to make a thicker batter. To make cornmeal crepes, add 1/2 c. cornmeal. For chocolate crepes add 1/4 c. sugar and cocoa to taste (to your satisfaction) and 1 and 1/2 tsp. vanilla.

Submitted by Pearl Ginther

NORWEGIAN BUTTER COOKIES

1/2 C butter (no substitutes)

2 eggs (hard boil - use yolks only)

1 C white sugar

1 C flour

1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 375. Hard boil eggs, separate and use yolks only. Cream butter and egg yolks. Beat well. Blend in sugar, flour and vanilla. Roll into balls or drop by teaspoonful on cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes. Makes 2 dozen.

Submitted by Gloria Ginther-Brown, Pearl Ginther's eldest daughter

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MAMA BERGIT'S ICE BOX CAKE

1 can pineapple, well drained.

1/2 cup butter, creamed well

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup whipped cream

1 box Graham crackers (2 lb.)

Roll out half box of crackers. Add butter, eggs (whites beaten first, then put in yolks and mix well in with cake mix), and sugar. Put in pan and level it out and pack it down good. Now add the pineapple (without juice) and cover with whipped cream. Roll out remaining half box of Graham crackers and level over top and pat down good again! Set in a cold place to chill, then enjoy!--Submitted by Daughter Estelle Rangen

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MISSIONARY PANCAKES

2 Cups flour (unsalted)

2 Cups fine, unsalted corn flour (not meal)

3 tbs. sugar

1 tsp salt (level)

8 tsp baking powder

Liquids:

3 eggs (beaten)

3 1/2 Cup milk

1/4 Cup oil to 1/3 Cup

Submitted by Dan Templeton, New Tribes Mission, Jacutinga, Brazil, husband to Grandma's granddaughter, Beth Taylor-Templeton

Some more "food for thought":

"When they place you in the coffin and someone says the last "Amen," tell me, where will your soul be, tell me, friend, what then?"--Dan Templeton, from a dream he had.

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YULEKAKE (or, Yulekage)

Recipe by Agnes Hagen, Member of Pearl Stadem Ginther's church

Add together in a bowl:

1 cup lukewarm milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp powdered cardamon

Crumble the cardamon in the mixture

1 packet of yeast

Stir it around and around

Add 1 beaten egg

1 tablespoon margarine or lard

Mix with a spoon

Add 3 & 1/4 or 3 & 1/2 cups flour

1/4 chopped candied fruit

1/2 cup raisins

Mix and knead it and put on a cookie sheet. After it has raised, bake at 350 degrees for 30 or 40 minutes. Some put melted butter on the top afterwards to make the yulekake shine.

KRANSEKAKE (Almond Wreath Cake)

A Sons of Norway Recipe

This is the Supreme Pastry and Delicacy of Norwegians

"Wreath cake can be temperamental. Even if we make it in "exactly the same way" each time we bake it, the results may vary from absolute perfection to complete failure."

250 g (9 ounces, 6 dl. 1 1/2 cups) finely ground blanched almonds)

250 g (9 ounces, 6 dl. 1 1/2 cups) finely ground UNBLANCHED almonds)

500 g (18 ounces, 10 dl. 4 1/3 cups) sifted confectioner's sugar

3 egg whites

ICING

2 dl. (scant 1 cup) sifted confectioner's sugar

1 egg

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C (400 degrees F).

Combine almonds and confectioner's sugar in a large saucepan. Add the unbeaten egg white and mix to a firm dough. Place the pan over low heat, and knead until the dough is so hot that it is almost impossible to handle. Grease the ring pans for a 16-18 ring cake. Spoon the dough into a cookie press or pastry tube with a wide round tip. Press the dough into the rings, pressing the ends together to look as seamless as possible. Bake 12-15 minutes, until dry and firm outside, but still slightly soft inside. Cool slightly, then remove from the pans and cool completely. For the icing, sift the confectioner's sugar and combine with egg white to make a thick icing. Make a small cone of paper and cut off the tip. Pipe on garlands of icing and stack. Decorate with flags, bonbons or candy.

"The Norwegian Kitchen", from which this recipe is taken, is available for purchase, through the Fraternal Department of the Sons of Norway: Sons of Norway, Fraternal Department, 1455 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, M N 55408

Pearl Ginther, turning 101 Sept. 13, 2010, has just submitted ten recipes to the Mt. View Lutheran church congregation upon request. Here are some of them:

JACK WAFFLES

2 cups flour

2 tsp sugar

2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup molasses

2 1/2 cup water

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup sour milk

1 beaten egg

1/2 tsp baking soda

Combine dry ingredients. Heat to boiling point, molasses, water and shortening. Remove from fire. Stir in soda, milk and beaten egg, and dry ingredients. Beat well to remove lumps. Bake. Serve with ice cream on top. Yum yum!!

RHUBARB DESSERT

1 cup flour

1/2 cup butter

5 tsp. powdered sugar. Mix and press into 9 X 9 pan. Bake 15 min. at 350 degrees. While baking, beat 2 eggs. Add 1 1/2 sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 3/4 tsp. baking powder, a little salt, to 2 cups rhubarb. Pour over crush and bake 35 min. at 350 degrees.

LOW-FAT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons oil

1 cup dark brown sugar

1 large egg

1/2 cup apple sauce

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cup flour

2 cups regular rolled oats

1 package semi sweet chocolate chips

2 tblsp sugar

Bake at 350 degrees. Makes 25 cookies or so.

PINEAPPLE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 cup shortening

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs (beaten)

1 cup pineapple (fruit and juice)

1/2 or 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp salt

1 cup chopped nuts

1 cup chocolate chips

4 cups flour

Cream shortening and sugar together. Add the eggs and beat well. Stir in pineapple. Sift flour, soda and salt together. Add half of the flour mixture, nuts, and chips and mix well. Then add rest of flour mixture. Mix and dro by teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for 12-14 min. at 350 degrees or 375.

BANANA BREAD

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 cup shortening

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups mashed bananas

4 cups flour

1 tsp salt

2 tsp. baking soda

1 cup walnuts (optional)

Cream sugar, eggs, and shortening. Add sour cream, vanilla, and bananas (mix well). Add flour, salt, soda, nuts. Put in a loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees one hour.

MAMA'S EASY DATE LOAF CAKE

1 cup dates, cut up

1 1/2 cups boiling water

1 1/2 tsp soda

1/2 cup shortening or 3/4 cup oil

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 3/4 cup flour

1 tsp salt

Mix dates, boiling water and 1 1/2 tsp soda. Let cool. Mix into it remaining ingredients.

Topping

1 cup nutmeats, chopped

16 ounce package butterscotch chips

1/3 cup white sugar

Sprinkle on top of loaf cake. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 min. or until done. Honey may be substituted for the sugar in this recipe.

FRUIT SALAD

2 cans mandarin oranges

1 can pineapple chunks, cut in half

drain. Mix dressings:

1/2 cup sour cream (or a little less)

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tsp. or more sugar to taste

1 tblsp orange juice (from can of concentrate)

Add miniature marshmallows.

THANK YOU, PEARL WHIRLY!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND:

ROMMEGROT

Norwegian Cream Porridge

2 cups sweet thick cream

1 c. flour

4 c. milk (heat separately)

1/4 c. sugar

1 tsp. salt

butter, melted

cinnamon & sugar

Boil cream. (Use kettle with heavy bottom). Sift flour gradually into cream, stirring with wooden spoon. Let simmer 4 to 5 minutes. Add not milk gradually, stirring continually. Add 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp. salt for flavoring. To serve: Put in bowl; cover with melted butter; sprinkle with cinnamon and granulated sugar.

WE STILL WANT TO INCLUDE A GALAXY OF SPARKLING RECIPES FOR MAKING MICROWAVE ROMMEGROT, PAN-FRIED ROMMEGROT, RAW ROMMEGROT, BRAISED ROMMEGROT, SHISH KEBAB ROMMEGROT, AND THE BEST WAY TO OVEN-DRY ROUNDS OF ROMMEGROT THAT CAN SERVE AS FLOTATION DEVICES IN CASE OF A FORCED LANDING ON WATER.

ALSO, LOOK FOR SUCH DELECTABLES AS RAISED PANCAKES (SERVED ON NORWAY'S FERRY BOATS, WHICH HELP KEEP THEM AFLOAT), NORWEGIAN COD-BURGERS, AND LUTEFISK!

YOU ARE WELCOME TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN NORWEGIAN RECIPES TO THIS PAGE, AS STADEMS OR "HONORARY STADEMS"! WE WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE ANY BITS OF WISDOM OR LORE YOU TREASURE THAT COULD BRIGHTEN OUR LIVES AND THIS PAGE AS WELL. WE PRESENTLY HAVE RECIPES FOR PEARL'S MOCK APPLE PIE, DARK WAFFLES, OATMEAL CAKE OR BARS, PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES, MT. RAINIER PANCAKES (BY JERRY GINTHER), MAMA BERGIT'S BURNT SUGAR CAKE, DATE AND NUT BALLS, LEMON SQUARES, TELEPHONE BARS, BURNT SUGAR SYRUP, AND NORWEGIAN FLAT BREAD.

NOW "TAKE FIVE" FOR A TRIBUTE TO ROMMEGROT by RAGNAR TORGUFFSON (TO MUSIC OF "ENGLAND SWINGS LIKE A PENDULUM DO" by JOHNNY CASH):

"Long Live the Rommegrot!"

Pass the bowl of rommegrot,

Eat it cold or eat it hot.

Pour on sugar, butter too,

And what you don't eat turns to glue!

REFRAIN: Norway slurps the rommegrot

From eldest Viking to a tot.

You don't need teeth to take a chew,

For what you don't eat turns to glue!

You can paper up your wall,

Use some rommegrot, you all!

Spread it thin, or spread it thick,

Like epoxy it can stick!

Who done thunk up this strange dish?

It's as odd as you could wish.

Goop is what it seems to be,

Or if you're kind, call it "puree".

--By the late Ragnar Torguffson, deceased from eating too much rommegrot after a whole turkey dinner with trimmings

A Recipe for the Good Life"

1. A heaping cup of kindness

2. Two cups of love and caring

3. One cup of understanding

4. One cup of joyful sharing

5. A level cup of patience

6. A level cup of thoughtful insight

7. One cup of gracious listening

8. One cup of sweet forgiveness

Mix ingredients together, toss in smiles and laughter and compliments. Serve to everybody you know! Philippians 3:14 (KJ): "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

A RUGGED "RECEET" FOR WASHING CLOTHES

This recipe, or "receet" as it was termed, was discovered by a great-granddaughter of a Kentucky lady, whose philosophy of life was charming as her spelling. Hang it on the wall near your automatic electric washer and dryer!

1. bild a fire in back yard to heet kettle of rain water.

2. set tubs so smoke won't blow in eyes if wind is pert.

3. shave one hole cake lie soap in bilin water.

4. sort things, make three piles. 1 pile white. 1 pile cullord, 1 pile work britches and rags.

5. stur flour in cold water to smooth then thin down with bilin water.

6. rub dirty spots on board. scrub hard. Then bile, rub cullord but don't bile--just rench and starch.

7. take white things out of kettle with broom stick handle then rench, blew and starch.

8. spred tee towels on grass.

9. hand old rags on fence. 11. scrub porch with hot soapy water.

12. turn tubs upside down.

13. go put on cleen dress--smooth hair with side combs--brew cup of tee--set and rest and rock a spell and count blessins.-- From Deborah Circle, "Favorite Recipes," First Congregational Church, Tacoma, Washington, 1965

*No Omtrint="No guess"

**Lefse recipe from "I Am the Bread of Life," Recipes of Mountain View Lutheran Church Women, 1977

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