I just got off the phone with my mom, Betty Emilsson, who told me that she plans to host a benefit Santa Lucia party a week from today (12/6) to be held at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, December 13th, at her house at 2203 Main Street.

For those wondering why a benefit for Mayor Joe, suffer through this:

http://milescity.com/foru...pid=121146

Santa Lucia is the traditional Swedish celebration for the Winter Solstice. Santa Lucia party means for us of the Scandinavian descent.....SMORGASBORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



For those unfamiliar with my mom's Swedish cooking....well, she learned from my Swedish grandmother, and has hosted Scandinavian dinners for over 30 years, supervising the finest smorgasbords I have ever tasted. Those who attend will simply be amazed by it.

As for me.....I am a low +/- 20 yes/80 no about attending....due to some unforseen family matter (FIL in terminal stages of cancer). Still, I will be doing all I can from afar (aka PC) to make this event a success.

Please, everyone who can, come attend this event and SUPPORT MAYOR JOE!!! Anyone who has questions, either contact my mom or please e-mail me courtesy of this website. Thanks!

Wait, why are we doing this for Joe? If he isn't mayor, I'm sure he wont be broke. There are plenty of jobs here in town.

Will there be lutefisk?

I mean, I am all for it. But I am confused on as to why we are doing it.

Will Mrs. Woods be there?

Count me in and if you folks need any help at all please contact me by E-mail

Josh you silly boy, don't you know that Scandinavian's are the original Party People? They'll party at the drop of a hat, any excuse to get down! Just go with the flow and party on down. The food will be fantastic and the company even better.

Just don't let them try to talk you into any Swedish "snaps". Awful tasting stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snaps

Avoid anything that was fermented in the can though, and I'd pass if anyone offers you "authentic" Scandinavian licorice as well.

Foolish lads.....akavit is good stuff, and so is pickled herring!

In fact, a bite of pickled herring on a slice of hard bread, then washed down with a shot of ice cold akavit....why, it doesn't get any better than that.

This stuff is particularly good:



...and so is this:

Pickled herring.....EEEEXXXCELLENT!

Don't know about licorice, snaps or akavit. I do know to avoid lutefisk, although I tried it once and survived just fine despite the fact (rumor?) that it is cooked in lye.

BUT - I do know this. I have never been served anything at Betty's house that wasn't absolutely wonderfully and memorably DEElicious. She's a fantastic cook and marvelous person.

Betty - I love you and the food you cook!

I love pickled herring, but this is a little over the top: http://en.wikipedia.org/w...C3%B6mming

The licorice is particularly nasty though: it's advertised as "double-salted", so you think it's going to be like other European licorices, but maybe a little saltier.

Of course, what they don't tell you is that the second salt is NH4Cl, not NaCl.

We can bring the lefse.

Do you need ID to get in? (oops, sorry joe...)

Only for the Aquavit!

Ty wrote:

Do you need ID to get in? (oops, sorry joe...)

Gotta hand it to you Ty - that's the first line about this whole ugly deal that has made me LOL. Thanks... :aquavit:

So, mom says, no lutefisk (I can hear the groans of disappointment....),but there will be fine menu nonetheless. Mom says:

Menu includes, Ham, meatballs, pickled herring, hard bread, cheeses, glogg, Tom and Jerry, pepparkaka and now lefse. If anyone else wishes to bring dips, veggie, cookies, Sweet bread, it also will be appreciate. and Thanks Chad for being the first to respond.

I also have it on good authority there will be Jansson's Temptation.

i am all for lutefisk and lefse but i will have to pass on it being a benefit for Joe. Sorry. (Not really.) And Steve, it is soaked in lye, but it is cooked/boiled in water.

[This message has been edited by Larry Flesjer (12/10/2009)]

Thanks for providing the correct info, Larry. I apologize to all lutefisk lovers who were offended by my misinformation. I did not intend to disparage or perpetuate any myths about a much-revered ethnic dish.

That said, it's doubtful that I'll ever need to make personal use of that distinction. My policy is to avoid any food that has "lye" in the recipe, regardless of whether it is used as a spice or a cooking agent. But accuracy is always a plus!

[This message has been edited by Steve Craddock (12/11/2009)]

My policy is to avoid any food that has "lye" in the recipe

Actually, an authentic German pretzel is mad with a lye finish. It is a godly thing that few Americans get the chance to experience.

I will post a recipe for German pretzels in a new thread.

To everyone who likes food cooked/seasoned/glazed in lye,
And for everyone who doesn't but is planning to attend Betty's fabulous food fest for Mayor Joe anyway....

Here's some required reading regarding gifts to elected officials.

http://politicalpractices...ft_Ban.pdf

From what I can tell, anyone who doesn't have any existing or upcoming business with the City has nothing to worry about when they make a donation or gift at benefits like the one the fabulous Ms. Emilsson is hosting... but some of our resident legal eagles may want to clarify that or explain the finer points, if any.

Hey Steve,
Thanks for the endorsement for my cooking. Actually, if anyone is planning to attend,who hasn't already let me know, please post me at [email protected]. I am planning on a housefull and I am up to my eyeballs with cooking. Gunnar has sent a nice contribution for the party. You can also call me at 232-3688. I am getting close to capacity for food, glogg, etc. So if I don't hear from you, by tomorrow noon, it's better not to attend or we'll order pizzas for the people who don't know what RSVP stands for.

So, I'm just curious...how did it go?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Last night at the Emilsson residence all in attendance had a wonderful time. The conversation was light and diverse, the mood was happy and joyful, and the food was very good. Everyone got a brief introduction to the Santa Lucia day celebration from Betty and from Joe. Betty knocked herself out with all the various dishes and treats, most of Swedish and Scandinavian heritage. Gunnar the herring you sent was excellent, and I'm really not a herring eater most of the time. It was all very good. We all enjoyed the food and many took to it eager to try something new, but most important we enjoyed the company.

Thanks to Betty (and Gunnar) for putting this together.

Glad to hear everything went well. I spoke to my mom yesterday, and she had a great time. It is great that some Miles Citians have discovered what I have known all my life, that Smargasbord rocks!

I want to thank Chad and Dee for bringing their wonderful home made lefse, also Glady and Al for bringing a wonderful tray of cookies, Evelyn who made the deviled eggs, Jean for bringing her famous banana bread and Tracy who sent over cookies and fudge. Also thankyou, Steve, Ione who made the apple salad, Holger, and Earl, Cindy and Mary Catherine who chopped, sliced and put carried out dishes. It was a great evening and great company. Thanks to everyone who helped make it a success.