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Norwegian-Americans hold virtual Nordic baking class

The Sons of Norway Polar Star Lodge 5-472, a Montgomery-based social-service group of Norwegian Americans, opened the new year with a virtual Nordic baking class.

Barb Johnson of Yorkville, Ill., Polar Star cultural director, led a Zoom class in baking a fyrstekake, "royal cake," on Jan. 9.

About 10 persons attended the hour-long online class from Johnson's kitchen. She plans monthly cooking classes in February and March.

Student bakers qualified for part two of a SON cooking culture medal.

A classic Norwegian dessert with many variations, fyrstekake features almond, cardamom and other flavors with a textured filling in a cookie-like crust.

Before the pandemic, Polar Star sponsored a monthly cooking club. Members prepared recipes in advance or in the kitchen of St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Montgomery, site of monthly membership luncheon meetings. In-person meetings were suspended in March due to pandemic protocols.

A third annual Norwegian soup cookoff was held on 2020 Super Bowl Sunday.

The contest attracted eight entries. Lodge members voted the top two chefs in blind taste tests.

Contestants' recipes were published in a cookbook issued by the Norsk Museum in Norway, Ill., last fall.

Barb Johnson of Yorkville, cultural director for Sons of Norway Polar Star Lodge 5-472, leads a virtual fyrstekake, "royal cake," Nordic baking class on Zoom Jan. 9. About 10 people attended the hour-long Zoom class from her kitchen. She plans monthly classes in February and March. Courtesy of Al Benson
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