Category Archives: Heritage from Mom

Norwegian Skolebrød

This is a wonderful fine wheat bun with delicious custard and icing covered with dried shredded coconutflakes. It is a Norwegian favorite. This bread or bun probably appeared in the 1950´s and has over time become one of the Norwegian´s favorites. Skolebrød is actually one of the most eaten wheat buns in Norway. It is especially popular with schoolchildren. In the 70´s when I was a child and a teenager it had a revival and the name was the new Norwegian word of the 70´s. 2017 the Skolebrød got it´s own day in Norway.

Mørk Hemmelighet (Dark Secret)

Norways “Mørk Hemmelighet “ which translates into “Dark Secret” is a wonderful mousse cake covered in an outer layer of chocolate pudding, it has bits of tropical fruits, nuts and raisins inside, a perfect match with the chocolate. It is incredibly light and not too sweet. I think it’s a unique dessert but I never saw anyone else than my mother make it. Yesterday I decided to recreate it in memory of my mother.

Norwegian “Vannbakkels”

When I was growing up there was one pastry my mother used to make that was very special. It was called “Vannbakkels” in Norwegian. It means “Waterpastry”. I understood that this was a very special pastry. I didn´t understand why though. It was not so much flavor in the pastry itself, however when it was filled with the filling it was delicious. I used to help my mom make these sometimes. And I remember how she stressed the importance that they only could be filled right before the serving. They didn´t look so special before they were filled and sprinkled with icing sugar. But than they were really beautiful. And they tasted wonderful. I didn´t know that these pastries were the french Petit Choux.

Norwegian Kabaret

This dish I learned to make from my mother growing up and it was fun and creative to make. It also required some patience. But coming up with patterns was fun and to see the outcome when it was done. I also loved to eat it. We only made Kabaret for special occations and maybe as a Buffée dish. Kabaret was common food in the 50´s and 60´s and for me even during the years I still lived in Norway during the 70´s and beginning of 80´s. It might be a really retro dish today. Kabaret can be made with so many different good ingredients, and you can get a result that tastes a little different each time. Here are some variations I made.

Fruit and Chocolate Cake with Jelly

Growing up in Norway Cake was always on the menu for various celebrations and occations. And not only one but lots of different cakes. My mother made cakes of all kinds and for all different purposes. A dessert that was very common during my childhood and teenage years was Jelly with vanilla sauce. It was a kids favorite and a modern dessert back than. My mother some times used to combine cake and jelly and made fancy cakes that way for special occations. So this cake is a Fruit and Chocolate Cake with Jelly! And with vanilla filling.

Norwegian “Marmorkake” (Marble Cake)

My mother used to make Marble Cake. I thought it was very impressive when I grew up, how she could make the pattern inside the cake. I cannot remember I have made this since I moved from Norway actually when I was young. So I wondered if it is still being made. As I searched for it I found it is made but referred to as “An Old Fashioned Formkake”. Formkake is a Norwegian term for a lot of coffee cakes that you bake in a pan and than cut in smaller pieces. So this is one out of many. Anyways the marble is what is special with this one. Last night I recreated my mothers Marmorkake.

Norwegian Lefse (Tjukklefse)

Lefse is a traditional kind of flatbread made in Norway. It is used as coffeebread with different fillings. There are so many variations across the country and unique to regions and families. My mother had so many recipes and we used to bake Lefse of various kinds before Christmas. We would make so much it would last throughout the year. I was very little when starting to bake Lefse with my mother. This recipe from my mom is one of the easiest one´s to make, “Tjukklefse” (thick Lefse). It is filled with a spread of butter and icing sugar which is whisked fluffy . Lefse is eaten as a coffee cake.