My story begins with a pancake – specifically a Norwegian lefse. Although it looks simple, lefse, in actuality, is a labor-intensive crepe that delights with its deliciousness and serves as a reminder of who we are as a family.
As a child, I would anticipate our family holiday celebrations when the house would convert to a mini factory, making platefuls of lefse along with other desserts. The bustling kitchen housed the potato ricing, the rolling and the griddling; this preparation yielded a flatbread that had a lacy texture and a seductive butteriness. There are different ways to flavor lefse, but my family upholds traditional ‘lefse-klenning’ by adding butter, cinnamon and sugar and rolling it up. In some odd way, I felt connected to lefse, but I knew very little of its origin and importance until I began to ask questions. What I discovered would ultimately lead me to a better understanding of myself and where I come from.
My maternal grandmother, Linda, connected me to my ancestry as she told me the story of lefse. The recipe was carried in my great-great grandmother’s heart as she traveled from Norway to America. Ida emigrated alone on the Caronia, which set sail for Ellis Island in 1913. She was a 20-year-old, 5’1” wisp of a woman who was single and pregnant. Sent by her family to reside with distant relatives in Iowa, Ida faced what would be the greatest ordeal of her life. Her struggle as an immigrant is inspiring, and the challenges she faced are undoubtedly like those many other immigrants have had to overcome. She established herself in the United States and became a farmer’s wife, bravely enduring any sacrifices that came along. But my grandmother’s most vivid memory of Ida is making lefse with her, when the intimate knowledge of our family history was passed on — an oral history that now lives within me. It is my responsibility to share the story with future generations.
This knowledge has helped me understand and embrace diversity, humanity and the importance of preserving traditions and culture. I feel a special connection to Ida, who because of her bravery, afforded us our wonderful life in America today. She is an inspiration, and I see parts of her in myself. Knowing I share Ida’s DNA makes me feel her strength and determination. I am convinced my adventurous spirit, independent persona and willpower can be traced through this wonderful lineage. The spirit of family history is the spirit of love and belonging. This gift has allowed me to learn by Ida’s example and understand my place in a family that started with one courageous woman.
Intrigued by the stories my grandma told me, I wanted to genetically track down my ancestry through 23andMe. The results traced my path back thousands of years to disclose where I came from, including which of my ancestors lived there and when. 23andMe revealed I am 23.2% Scandinavian with family ties in specific counties of Norway; my family’s oral history and stories are now supplemented with my genetics. The DNA Relative tool helped me discover an extended branch of my family tree I never knew existed. I have the chance to message them to better understand my family connection. Who knows– they may celebrate family history with lefse, too.
Lefse symbolizes the roots and connection to my ancestry. The recipe tells a story that binds me to those who have come before, and hopefully, the tradition will continue through future generations. Every time lefse is prepared and shared, we are celebrating family history. Learning about my ancestors, I feel bound to them even though I can’t look in their eyes or hear their voices. I will honor their history and tell their stories as I prepare lefse.
RECIPE
3 c riced russet potatoes
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 c flour
3 tbsp cooking oil
Mix and roll into a long roll — size of a 50-cent piece. Cut into ½” chunks. Roll thin and cook on a 400 F/200 C griddle until bubbles form and each side has browned.