MONROE - Although its nickname is "poor man's bread," to members of the Monroe Sons of Norway, lefse making is a rich, lifelong tradition.
Lefse is a Scandinavian-style tortilla, made from potatoes, flour, butter and cream.
Eben Robertson, a member of the Sons of Norway, said his mother would always make the Norwegian flatbread using mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving.
The group met Saturday at the Union Presbyterian Church to start making lefse from 80 pounds of potatoes. The Sons of Norway have been meeting to make it together for about 12 years.
Maren Nelson, Monroe, said they started gathering when they realized everyone was already making lefse at their homes. Some were better than others.
"There were all different recipes," Nelson said. "Some were good, and some were not good. Everyone worked together, and we came up with one recipe."
Part of the group met Friday night to peel, cut, cook and rice the potatoes. On Saturday, they mix the lefse ingredients to make patties. The patties are then rolled out until thin and cooked on top of a large round griddle.
While typically served with butter and sprinkled with sugar and then rolled, Nelson said there are several ways to eat the bread. It is also consumed with peanut butter, jam or used in a variety of sandwiches.
Beverly Blumer brought her granddaughter Lily Blumer to the church Saturday to carry on the tradition.
Lily traveled to Norway over the summer to visit a former foreign exchange student and said she found out lefse is typically called "poor man's bread" and made in more rural areas of the country.
Beverly said it was fun getting to teach the process to Lily, remembering when her grandmother used to make it on an old stove.
Monroe resident Helen Miller has also grown up eating the Scandinavian treat. Both of her grandparents were from Norway.
"It's fun getting together and making it," Miller said.
The annual Norwegian bake sale will begin at 9 a.m. Dec. 7 at Woodford State Bank and will continue until supplies are sold out.
Lefse is a Scandinavian-style tortilla, made from potatoes, flour, butter and cream.
Eben Robertson, a member of the Sons of Norway, said his mother would always make the Norwegian flatbread using mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving.
The group met Saturday at the Union Presbyterian Church to start making lefse from 80 pounds of potatoes. The Sons of Norway have been meeting to make it together for about 12 years.
Maren Nelson, Monroe, said they started gathering when they realized everyone was already making lefse at their homes. Some were better than others.
"There were all different recipes," Nelson said. "Some were good, and some were not good. Everyone worked together, and we came up with one recipe."
Part of the group met Friday night to peel, cut, cook and rice the potatoes. On Saturday, they mix the lefse ingredients to make patties. The patties are then rolled out until thin and cooked on top of a large round griddle.
While typically served with butter and sprinkled with sugar and then rolled, Nelson said there are several ways to eat the bread. It is also consumed with peanut butter, jam or used in a variety of sandwiches.
Beverly Blumer brought her granddaughter Lily Blumer to the church Saturday to carry on the tradition.
Lily traveled to Norway over the summer to visit a former foreign exchange student and said she found out lefse is typically called "poor man's bread" and made in more rural areas of the country.
Beverly said it was fun getting to teach the process to Lily, remembering when her grandmother used to make it on an old stove.
Monroe resident Helen Miller has also grown up eating the Scandinavian treat. Both of her grandparents were from Norway.
"It's fun getting together and making it," Miller said.
The annual Norwegian bake sale will begin at 9 a.m. Dec. 7 at Woodford State Bank and will continue until supplies are sold out.