This narrative's fate has been in the wind. My recollections can scarcely recite the day without the accompanying fatigue. Still, I fail to find the words. My camera, who also attended the event, has volunteered to assist in the retelling.
So there we were, a full day and an accumulation of dough before us. Grandma sat in the director's chair, reminding us—jovially, of course—that we were doing everything wrong. We've all learned to accept our ineptitude over the years.
Gathered by the front door, Ellen performed her pre-baking meditation on the right and Rose, center, stole one last minute of peace from her coffee while Grandma's assessing gaze fell upon the Norwegian Krumkake press.
Shall we run through the assortment of treats? Grab your toothbrushes and we will begin:
There were the Krumkakes. They are a Norwegian cookie, pronounced KRUME - KAH - KUH in the singular, prepared with a decorative press and then rolled about a cylinder or cone while warm and pliable. UFF DAH—there were so many of them! But then, there were so many of all of them...
There were the Rosettes, another Norwegian offering. They are gorgeous cookies, but they're about 95% grease, so be kind to your belt buckles and just look at them. Perhaps take a picture or two. All you need for this low cal offering is a vat of boiling peanut oil and ornamental metal irons. Oh, and some tradition-seeped Norwegians can really sweeten the pot.
There were both melt-in-your-mouth cookies and Norwegian butter cookies. I would give them each a separate paragraph, but you can't tell them apart by sight, and the camera didn't want to mislead you. Their taste separates them, of course—the melt-in-your-mouths are much more delicious. Of course, that's the dough that I made, but I'm sure this tidbit has little bearing upon my opinion. But with these images, really, your guess is as good as mine.
Aunt Ellen brought dough for Peanut Butter Temptations—peanut butter cookie dough with a decadent little bundle of joy known as the Reese's peanut butter cup placed in the center while cooling. What's not to love!?
Here are Grandma's thumb print cookies. Three guesses why they are so named...Norwegians are well known for their imaginative use of words, you know. Uff dah, for instance, has become immortal.
Rose made cocoa fudge—peanut butter and coconut varieties also. While in infancy, the tooth-decay-agent seems innocuous and endearing. As it matures, it begins to learn the tempter's call, to break the bonds of will power. Upon reaching adulthood, the true nature of the fudge—the hardened criminal, the embodiment of evil—is fully realized. The fudge has acquired the power to sound unheeded warning bells.
Uff Dah...not done yet. I will have to return after a short recess to finish the account.