MDM’s husband has a friend that during this time of the year he makes a list of the many church dinners serving lutefisk, a traditional dish of cod served with cream sauce over potatoes with butter, as of way of keeping in touch with his Norwegian roots. 

This is an "either,or" meal; either you love it, or you hate it.  If you can get past the odor, you will find a fairly mild fish and because of the preserving process of soaking it in lye and air drying– 1 kg. of dried fish=5 kg. rehydrated lutefisk–the cod is  more of a gelatinous texture, than the flakiness associated with prepared fresh fish. 

Many churches try to accommodate the tastes of those who are more of the "or" eaters also by offering swedish meatballs with gravy, salmon, along with side dishes of pickled herring, cabbage salad, cooked beets, and breads like julekage (christmas bread), rye bread, and lefse.

For your holiday entertainment and just to bring a smile to your lips,  MDM is including the words for "Oh Lutefisk" to sing and share with your other traditional holiday songs.  This is sung to the tune of  O’Tannunbaum.

Oh Lutefisk by Red Strangeland

last verse by Robert L. Lee

Lutefisk…Oh Lutefisk…how fragrant your aroma

Oh Lutefisk…Oh Lutefisk…you put me in a coma.

You smell so strong…You look like glue

You taste just like an overshoe.

Put Lutefisk…come Saturday, I tink I’ll eat you anyway.

Lutefisk…Oh Lutefisk…I put you by the doorway.

I vanted you to ripen up…yust like dey do in Norway.

A dog came by and sprinkled you…I hit him vit an army shoe.

Oh Luefisk…now I suppose I’ll eat you as I hold my nose.

Lutefisk…Oh Lutefisk…how well I do remember

On Christmas Eve how we’d receive …our big treat of December.

It vasn’t turkey or fried ham…it vasn’t even pickled spam.

My mudder knew dere vas no risk…In serving buttered lutefisk.

Lutefisk…Oh Lutefisk…now everyone discovers

Dat Lutefisk and lefse makes…Norwegians better lovers.

Now all da vorld can have a ball….you’re better dan dat Yeritol.

Oh, Lutefisk…vit brennevin…You make me feel like Errol Flynn.

Lutefisk…Oh Lutefisk…You have a special flavor.

Lutefisk…Oh Lutefisk…All good Norwegians savor.

That slimy slab we know so well… identified by ghastly smell.

Lutefisk…Oh Lutefisk…our loyalty won’t waver.

Lutefisk…Oh Lutefisk…When my poor heart stops beating

The pearly gates will open wide and I’ll see the angels eat inside

From steaming platters of the stuff, and there will always be enough.

O piece of cod that  I adore, O Lutefisk forevermore! 

 Click Here To View LUTEFISK DINNER Slide Show.

For the Scandinavian gastronome, Target carries some essential Scandinavian specialty cooking tools like this Lefse making kit  for $44.99.  Kit contains flour, pastry cloth, rolling pin, and the important lifting stick that will lift the delicate lefse gently without breaking it.  Great source for all your baking tools!

As MDM’s Norwegian Grandmother, at the end of A Holiday Baking Season, would exclaim:

‘Uffda’ and Merry Christmas! 

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