Kumpe night

 At least once a year (and sometimes more) hubby and his buddy take over the kitchen in order to make a meal that they both grew up enjoying - it has Norwegian roots and has a number of names; we would say "Kumpa" (I believe it is spelled kumpe in Norske) , or Klub, or Kumla .. etc.  It is basically potato dumplings; raw grated potatoes formed into a dough (add a little flour and salt) and then into a ball with a small piece of salt pork in the center, then boiled. 

These two peeled 30 pounds of potatoes for the evening guests.

My job was to prepared the tables for the guests. We expected about 19 guests. 

Most of these folks had grown up with this food and just loved a chance to have some!

There are a number of ways to enjoy kumpe.  Some merely add butter and salt & pepper.  Some put honey or syrup on it.  I added some cooked carrots with the meal though it often is served just alone.

 Of course, we had to have a little dessert (not a big dessert, though, as kumpe is heavy, dense, and filling!).  Keeping with the Norwegian theme of the evening, we had cold heart-shaped Norwegian waffles with lingonberries and sour cream and, of course, coffee!

However, most every person who has grown up with this will also say that it is better fried the next morning.  Without exception that is said.. and it is true as far as I am concerned too.  (I did not grow up with kumpe and have not really developed a "love" for this meal.)  What are some of your ethnic meals from your childhood? 

Saturday night supper.

I am experimenting here with trying to place a photo from my iPad into my blog here. I think I have accomplished it and I choose this colorful picture of what we enjoyed last evening while sitting by the cozy fire and watching tv together. We have been eating well for a while now and sometimes I need the presentation to help me continue making good choices. Doesn't this look good? It was..

A Minnesota Christmas 2016

Christmas 2016!

We enjoyed half of our 14 grandchildren this Christmas. (The other 7 live in Oregon; we had to "facetime" with them instead of having them here in person.)

 

Adam and his family.

 

John and family.

 

 The tree with just the "candle" lights on.

 

 All the lights.

 

 Our cute little Snow village.

 Of course, food a big part of being together!  For Christmas Eve we have Wally's Norwegian milk rice.

 

 Gift opening Christmas Eve brings lots of excitement.  New football jerseys of #11 were a hit.

 

 Following gift opening we settled back to eating.  Fruit, nuts and sweets rounded out the evening.

 

 Christmas day turkey dinner.



 Time together means relaxing.  A Christmas puzzle is always fun.

 And then there are so silly games that Grandpa played when he was a boy.  Everyone got to try to get the toothpick in their mouth and get back on to the seat of the church without falling.  Some did, some didn't!

 Trying to pull the other person up; in this case, neither won!

 This little one is quite flexible since she does gymnastics!

 Games.

99 YEARS OLD!

 My sweet mom is turning 99!  Isn't she just the cutest?  She is amazing!

 

 We had two celebrations for her, the first was on the actual day of her 99th birthday and it was a reception in the Retirement community where she lives.  The second was at my brother John's farm with many family present.

 Her is my mom and her younger sister (97!) and my oldest brother.

 

 My mom and me.

 

That evening we enjoyed a dinner together where my mom lives.  Here is my oldest brother, my mom, myself and my sister.  (The youngest brother was not there.)

The second party took place at my brother John's farm in New Jersey.  He heated the barn and we had a fun time there!



His draft horses were hitched up to the wagon and off we went all bundled up for a great ride!

My mom is there with her hood up next to my sister with the red hood. 

 

Opening up a few gifts.

Here is my 97 year old Aunt and my 99 year old mom.

 

My mom with four of her five children.

Thanksgiving 2016 in Pennsylvania

Living far from my family means that I often do not spend holidays with them. It is quite special when I have the opportunity and this year, 2016, was one of those special occasions.  We enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving dinner together at my sister's home in Pennsylvania.  Here are the four of us posing for a picture.  (Our one brother died in 2004 and it is always hard to see only 4 of us pictured when there should be 5. )

 

Here I am with my mom.  (This was a week before her 99th birthday!!)

 

 Here I am with my sweet Aunt (my mom's sister).  Aunt Bea is 97 years old and suffers from some cognitive issues.  She seemed to have a happy Thanksgiving and it was nice to see her happy.

 

 My mom and four of her five children.

 

 We had to set two tables to hold our family. And this was certainly not everyone in fact!

 

This is my youngest brother and his family. 

Visiting Odenbach

 I have been quite remiss keeping up my blog.  So today I think I will try to add a few more pictures so that my dear relatives in Germany, at least, can see a few pictures.  

 Our trip to Germany (and Sweden & Norway) was a highlight, as you can imagine.  One special day was meeting my mother's 3rd cousin and her family.  They live in Odenbach, the same villageiin which my great great grandfather Johann Möllendick was born.  We enjoyed a lovely (delicious!) meal in their home and had little tour of the village.   It was a special day!

The two "Walters"