Day: October 6, 2008

I’ve been thinking that we need to think on other things… you know… Philippians 4.8:  “…whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are good, whatsoever things are of good report, whatsoever things are tasty; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Well, so that’s what I’ve been trying to do today… think on *good things* instead of dwelling in the valley of dimness & despair.

It’s cold outside today.  Samuel swept the chimney, the boys filled the porch with stacks of wood and there’s a fire in the woodstove.  Wood is the source of heat for this home and a fire in the stove sort of means, for our family, that the winter season has officially begun. I know it’s truly not winter yet, but this is what we call winter — the cold, wet days where swimmingpools are sort of a distant summer memory — as if there are only two seasons: summer and winter.

Hmmm, there was a point to all that — O, yes… so I’ve been thinking on lovely things — thinking on what my family might enjoy, what would say: “I ♥ you” to them — something they’d really go for right about now.  Yes… aebleskivers.  So, tomorrow morning — though it’s no one’s birthday, we’re having aebleskivers for breakfast.  Below I have posted a youtube video of Aebleskiver preparation in Solvang.

When I was a little girl, one of my very most favourite treats was to go next door and watch my friend’s mama make aebleskivers.  I loved watching her as she quickly worked with a knitting needle to flip the aebleskivers over and over in the special pan.  I loved that they had that tradition and more, that they shared it with us.  Another very favourite memory was going to visit the restaruant where we ordered Aebleskivers in Solvang.  I thought the raspberry jam was so delicious — and the presentation so lovely!!  See?  thinking on things that are lovely?? 

Well, that was a long time ago, my friend’s mama has gone to be with the Lord and the making of memories there has long passed.  However… we’ve started writing these memories into our own family’s story and, for our children, there’s nothing quite like a breakfast of aebleskivers. I love to prepare and serve them… there’s just something about making them that makes me smile.  I love that I learned to flip the aebleskivers with a knitting needle and that one of the blessings we discovered when we moved to this old farmhouse was the long row of raspberry canes (that has since become three rows) and that I learned make raspberry freezer jam that tastes just about like the sweetest summer day ever.

I don’t use a “mix” for Aebleskivers.  Here’s my recipe (pasting in from our website)

pamela’s aebleskivers

2 ½ cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2+ cups buttermilk
3 eggs (separated)
3 Tablespoons melted butter

oil or butter/oil mixture for coating the aebleskiver pan.

Powdered Sugar
Raspberry Jam and/or Real Maple Syrup

Mix the flour, soda, baking powder, salt together with a fork. Set aside.  Blend egg yolk and buttermilk.  In a mixing bowl, whip egg whites still stiff.  Gently blend the dry and milk mixture and melted butter and then fold in the whipped egg whites.

Heat the aebleskiver (able-skeever) pan (a cast iron pan that has molded, rounded “cups” that hold the batter and help form the aebleskiver “pancake” balls).   When the pan is hot, you will “paint” each aebleskiver cup with oil.  (I use a ½ & ½ mixture of oil/butter)  When the pan is hot, fill each cup with batter and immediately start “turning” the aebleskivers with a knitting needle.  Quickly turning quarter turns at a time until all sides are cooked and the center is cooked through.  This is tricky the first couple of “pan-fulls” and then you’ll get the hang of it.  Then pluck the aebleskiver balls out of  the pan with the knitting needle.  Set on a plate and dust with powdered sugar and then serve with raspberry jam or maple syrup.  Repeat process each time of coating the pan-cups with oil and making the aebleskivers.  A typical serving size is 3 aebleskivers (the equivalent of 3 or so pancakes).  I triple this recipe for our family of 11 and make even more when the older sons are home!

It’s a funny thing to have to have a knitting needle to cook in the kitchen… but it’s necessary for the easy turning of the aebleskivers.  Anything else is too cumbersome.  I use a # 6 knitting needle.