Going with the flow

Church ladies just know how to "go with the flow".

Despite a little scare the day before, St. Paul Catholic Church in Zumbrota pulled off its 21st Salad Luncheon, filling the reception hall with over 200 hungry locals on such a beautiful day outside, only church food like this redeemed their souls to go inside.

And it was here, the battle for keeping such luncheons for charitable organizations in the state began - and was won. Fundraising enthusiasts remember three years ago when Cathy Thiel and Pat Irrthum of Wanamingo, loyal members of St. Paul Catholic Church, jumped into action when a state health department inspector told them they could no longer hold the traditional church meal.

St. Paul's Catholic Church in Zumbrota.

Back then both the women - and countless others around the state - felt strongly church dinners should continue. You never know when a new roof, a mission project or charity may need the funds raised by such meals. The dustup over the food came after Goodhue County dropped its enforcement of state health laws and an inspector got tough on them.

Never tick off a church lady: as loving, mild-mannered, dedicated and hardworking as they are, they stand together in defense of their faith - and food. Over 400 signatures spurred the change and the rest is history. Church, sportsmen, fraternal and patriotic groups all over the state continue their fundraising food sales because of a little church with big hearts in Goodhue County.

So when their was a small gas leak from the church's kitchen stove the day before the luncheon, there was no need to worry. Quick action and contacting the proper experts made short order of the mishap and the volunteers quickly returned to fixing their goodies. Deadline was Wednesday, August 14, and they were easily ready for the 11 a.m. start.

The signup in the corner of the basement hall shows just how many people it takes to pull off this church festivity. If you don't sign up to bring food, you can donate money, donate time or help out making the fixin's. Over three days, over 40 different women help out to make this event such a success. And it allows local and national groups, plus church activities, get a little financial help because of their commitment.

Chairman Linda Kazmierczak organized the CCW group and was herself one of the busiest volunteers in the place. Active in this luncheon for four years, she easily rose to the challenge, albeit one that many have done for decades!

Loyal kitchen workers: Louise Gerken, Kathy Thiel,
 Barb Boraas, back row: Monica Capra, Linda Kazmierczk

"Many of the volunteers will tell you they look forward to every August, when this is done," said Linda. "Like any other church worker, your biggest fear is that you run out of food," she added, although it might be a group's biggest compliment. Louise Gerken's biggest fear might be what happened a few years ago - the coffee maker went down. "People don't get their coffee they aren't very happy," she smirked.

Tomorrow's church ladies: Emma Tschann, Rachel
Tschann, Maddie Lawler, Ashli Christopherson,
Carrie Befort all pitched in at the luncheon.

In this case, the food was just enough because of great planning and the coffee as delicious as only church ladies can make. Father Randal Kasel slid in amongst his followers, never missing a second of great conversation with church members. He even handed me a special prayer token and a hearty handshake and welcome. In his second year, he shares his faithful leadership with St. Michael's Catholic Church in Pine Island. And they have such a great website and while perusing their weekly bulletin, found the cutest and best idea in helping youth expand their faith: for the second year they have the "Little Flowers Girls", a class that teaches girls 5-16 about saints, virtues and other skills in a safe an welcoming environment. The girls earn badges while learning the virtues of piety, faith, love of God, obedience - and have fun at the same time. The class ends with a Mary crowning and mother-daughter tea. Kuddos!

After you received your meal ticket, you waited until you were told to take that stub and find a seat - leaving it as reserved. Then you came back and picked what side you wanted to fill your plate from, picking from 12 salads, including a meat/cheese tray, deviled eggs and homemade bread.

And a really clever idea - although I'm a big fan of desserts of all kinds, sometimes you don't do them justice because you are too full, or maybe you don't take that one scrumptious salad choice because you gotta have that piece of German chocolate cake. Well, at St. Pauls, their dessert was a Russell Stover chocolate, which was just enough to top off the meal. What is better than coffee and chocolate at the end of such a meal? And an added bonus not mentioned it had been done at other meals in my previous undertakings: diabetic and no-gluten salads as well.

Timothy Befort filled a plate of
chocolates and was rewarded
with a drink of lemonade for
all his hard work.

Because of lack of room in many cases, not all churches can have two serving lines. But I'm a big fan of it, probably dating back to three starving kids and trying to feed them fast enough not to inconvienence everyone else with they screaming or running under the table. In my case nowadays, I can hardly wait to try out all the great food. As most people realize, it seems like everyone else's salad, even though it might be the same one you make, just tastes better because we don't have to make it!

With Monday and Tuesday preparation days, volunteers bring in the food necessary to make the salads and Tuesday is make-em-up day. Linda, however, said that next year the church will be able to bring salads from home again as the law might become more lenient in its interpretation.

St. Paul's Catholic Church was around half a century before they secured land on South Main Street for their edifice. The cornerstone was laid in 1900 and the church became the seventh one built in Goodhue County at the time.

Amidst all the hustle and bustle from workers, the greatest quote came from 10-year-old Timothy Befort, who proudly helped little old ladies to their seat, grabbed dirty plates, filled coffee pots, etc. during his shift. His hard work sprouted sweat dripping down his face and the question to Linda, "Could I have a drink of lemonade since I'm working so hard?'

A small price to pay for a loyal - and future - parishioner!

Yummy Popcorn Salad
2 cups salad dressing
1/2 cup sugar
1 TBSP vinegar
2 cups chopped celery
2 small jars (8 oz) water chestnuts, sliced
1/2 cup crumbled bacon
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Make 6-10 hours before serving. Add 6 ox. of popped white corn just before serving.

Spinach Salad for the Throngs
40 oz. spinach
4 bags romaine
12 red apples, diced
2 cans salted cashew halves
8 oz. shredded parmesan
8 oz. shredded swiss cheese
32 oz. craisins

Dressing:
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups vinegar
2 2/3 cups canola oil
3 bunches chopped green onions
1 TBSP salt
1 TBSP dry mustard
4 TBSP poppy seeds

Add dressing to mixture of ingredients, refrigerate an hour before serving.

Future food fun

Wed. August 28 - Garden Salad & Hotdish Luncheoon, St. John's Lutheran Church, Annandale, 11-1

Sat. Sept 1 - Aebelskiver Supper, Trinity Lutheran Church, Blooming Prairie, at BP Servicemen's Club, 4-7

Sat. Sept 28 - Pork Dinner, Pine River United Methodist, 4:30-7

Sat. Oct. 12 - Pine River Lutheran Church, First ever Lutefisk and Meatball Supper, 3:30 -7:30, downtown Pine River

Lutefisk at Lands

Lovin' Lands Lutheran Lutefisk 

Did you know that a  genuine uffda is using lefse as a napkin?


Overhearing Norwegians joke (about their heritage) and choke (down the lutefisk) is not only a learning experience, but a tasty one as well.

Do you love your lutefisk?

Lands Lutheran Church of Zumbrota, located one-half mile west of the Hwy. 52/Hwy. 60 junction, held it's 12th Lutefisk/Meatballs Dinner on Friday, May 18. Despite the hot, windy weather outside, close to 400 people gathered during the three-hour feast in hopes of satisfying their Norwegian tastebuds until the next Scandanavian spread comes around.


This was the first time Lucille Root of Rochester has made it to Lands' dinner: She made five southern Minnesota lutefisk dinners last year and wanted to try out this one. She's one of those 'other' heritages (she's German and Bohemian) who married into the ritual. That premise seems common at lutefisk get-togethers and most outsiders develop the same love for the lye fish as those born in their blood. Let's just say it's the second time I've had the Norwegian treat and the taste will never be a top '10' food item on my plate, but that doesn't mean everything else didn't slide down with great liking. The gathering in the church basement thought it was the best they've had in a while - for me, it was better than the last time I had it so there is truth that lutefisk tastes different depending on who prepares it and where it's bought.


Lands Lutheran Church set the Norwegian dinner tradition in conjunction with Syttende Mai, the Norwegian independence day. In 1814 the Norwegian constitution was signed, giving the country independence from Denmark after a 500-year union. Syttende Mai (Seventeenth of May) grew into many colorful, family-oriented celebrations not only in Norway, but followed immigrants to America and Canada. 


Since 2000, Deb Johnson, Betty Bailey and Darlene Johnson have spearheaded the celebration dinner at the church. After being held two years at the school in Wanamingo, the event went to the Trinity Church there then to Lands. Lois Bjorngaard and Sharon Bjorngaard of Wanamingo were instrumental in its beginnings, but passed the baton once it traveled at Lands.

Judy Hoffeck, Bonnie Greseth, Wanda Hofstad, Deb Johnson
and Audrey Viseth tackle the lutefisk responsibilities in
the kitchen.

To serve the expected crowd of about 400, the women have special local sources they go to with the grocery list. And it's not your average family of five food list. Their list includes 250 pounds of lutefisk, 125 pounds of meat for meatballs, 125 pounds of rutabagas, 50 pounds of butter and 500 rounds of lefse. The grocery supplies come from the likes of Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Pine Island and Rushford. As many lutefisk dinners of today, the lutefisk and lefse are prepared mostly in the store. But the other delicacies are made on site or homemade.


Once the food arrives, preparation begins on the Wednesday before, peeling the rutabagas and potatoes. Rommegrot, a Norwegian porridge dessert, is made from scratch as are Norwegian treats sandbakkels, rosettes, krumkaka. It's Bonnie Greseth's job to make the lutefisk, which used to be boiled using cheesecloth in the kettles for straining, but  pasta kettles with the inserts are used for draining now.

Brandi and Danielle Blakstad are the
younger generation volunteering for the
Lands Lutheran church dinner.

"My lutefisk is eaten like a Norwegian burrito," laughed Lucille. "I lay out the lefse, add lutefiskin the middle, add mashed potatoes and butter, roll it up then eat it." While melted butter was in creamers on the table, I was informed that Swedish lutefisk dinners often have a cream to cover the fish. There certainly is no wrong way in eating lutefisk - my way was the first thing on the plate and as fast as possible! I'm not the only one, Lands Lutheran Pastor David Krinke announced a couple weeks ago at Sunday service that the annual Lefse and Meatball Dinner was in a couple weeks - avoiding lutefisk ton his tongue as long as possible, but eating lots of the other tasty offerings.  "I eat enough lutefisk to get credit," he chuckled while talking to parishioners at my table.


For those new to lutefisk, it translates from "lyefish", referring to the early process of soaking where a lye solution made of birch ashes was used in the luting process, utilizing dry cod or stockfish. Today, lutefisk means family, fellowship and good times.

Mary Brummund is set to
 serve Norwegian desserts.

For sisters Danielle, 15, and Brandi Blakstad, 12, they enjoy helping out at the dinner, assisting where they can, whether it be an elderly diner who needs help carrying their plate, refilling coffee and food platters. ""I just decided I wanted to help out," said Brandi. "I enjoy talking to the people and doing what I can." Although she and her family aren't big lutefisk eaters, volunteering is just as important.


Money made from the dinner help in a variety of church projects, whether it be youth, capital projects or facility upgrades.


It was a Norwegian gathering pulled off splendidly, filling tummies to the brim and filling the basement with fellowship. First ones in were senior citizens from Pine Haven Nursing Home is Pine Island. It didn't hurt that the air-conditioning was on, as temperatures outside were close to 94 degrees with 25 mph winds.


"I enjoy visiting other churches that have these lutefisk dinners, " said Lucille. "This is such a beautiful church," she said while waiting with me in the pew with 40 or so other people. "You don't get to see what a church looks like just driving by."


Did you know:


*Madison, Minnesota is the 'Lutefisk Capital of the World'?


*Olsen Fish Company in Minneapolis has a lutefisk hotline in case you need to help or directions on how to cook the fish?


*Don't cook lutefisk in aluminum pots/pans - it will darken the kettle.

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, June 12 - Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church, Blooming Prairie, 71st Strawberry Festival, 4-7

Sunday, June 24 - Moland Lutheran Church, Moland, Strawberry Festival - 11-5