Don't ask me why I did it. Maybe it's to strengthen my food street cred. Maybe it's because I'm still at the age where trying food because you know it's bad is still appealing in a perverse sort of way. The point is, I ate lutefisk. And it was AWFUL. If you don't know, lutefisk is dried out fish re-hydrated in lye (which I wouldn't think is safe for consumption). It smells, and has the texture of mushy shrimp. Kind of gelatinous and stringy. *Shuddershudder*.
We got into a small conversation about lutefisk in one of my classes today. Since Norwegians established my school, and lutefisk is a "traditional" Norwegian food, it's served for four days every year in the dining hall around Christmas. Everyone hates it. And very few Norwegians actually eat it, as it's kind of considered peasant food. When you had no other choice, lutefisk seemed pretty okay. Eating it today doesn't really connect us with modern Norwegian culture (and maybe it never did, since it's the food of poor immigrants). Anyway, if it's okay with you, I would like to talk about food that is actually delicious now.
These banana bars do a fine job of washing the taste of lutefisk or anything else unsavory out of the mouth. Though the recipe called them blondies, they're somewhere between a bar cookie and a cake, and studded with almond slivers and white chocolate! They turned out a bit sweeter than I would like, so next time, cut back on the sugar a bit.
And if someone offers you lutefisk, say no.
White Chocolate + Almond Banana Bars
adapted from Honey, What's Cooking?
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 ripe, mashed bananas
2 cups flour
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine butter and sugar until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth. Add bananas and blend again. Fold in flour, nuts and chocolate until no dry spots remain, but do not over mix. Pour batter into a greased 9x13 tray. Bake 20-25 or until a toothpick comes out clean.
We got into a small conversation about lutefisk in one of my classes today. Since Norwegians established my school, and lutefisk is a "traditional" Norwegian food, it's served for four days every year in the dining hall around Christmas. Everyone hates it. And very few Norwegians actually eat it, as it's kind of considered peasant food. When you had no other choice, lutefisk seemed pretty okay. Eating it today doesn't really connect us with modern Norwegian culture (and maybe it never did, since it's the food of poor immigrants). Anyway, if it's okay with you, I would like to talk about food that is actually delicious now.
These banana bars do a fine job of washing the taste of lutefisk or anything else unsavory out of the mouth. Though the recipe called them blondies, they're somewhere between a bar cookie and a cake, and studded with almond slivers and white chocolate! They turned out a bit sweeter than I would like, so next time, cut back on the sugar a bit.
And if someone offers you lutefisk, say no.
White Chocolate + Almond Banana Bars
adapted from Honey, What's Cooking?
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 ripe, mashed bananas
2 cups flour
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine butter and sugar until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth. Add bananas and blend again. Fold in flour, nuts and chocolate until no dry spots remain, but do not over mix. Pour batter into a greased 9x13 tray. Bake 20-25 or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Lol, that lutefisk thing sounds pretty gross indeed, but the bars look amazing!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I'm giving away a copy of Sprinkle Bakes in my blog, you may want to check it out :)
Haha, thanks. I'll check it out!
DeleteJust wanted to stop by to comment that my cookies came today! I will admit I was having a bit of a frustrating day at work so they were such a lovely surprise!
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling! Glad you had a happy surprise to hopefully cheer you up :)
DeleteThese look so tasty - I can't wait for Christmas and winter deliciousness! My main source of sugar in Vietnam has been the coffee, which is great - but I could go for a real dessert. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've been consuming so much sugar, haha. Eat delicious Christmas cookies for me!
Delete