This is the fourth in a monthly series that explores cultural cuisine leading up to Tucson Meet Yourself, Oct. 8-10. The event will celebrate 37 years of folk art, traditions and cultural identity.
Danish pastry is no small undertaking.
Kransekager, for example, is a towering ring cake that emanates almond and buttery goodness.
It's reserved for special occasions for good reason.
"It's time-consuming," said Gracie Peterson, who spent several hours last week baking, assembling and decorating an 18-ring kransekager for "Celebrate Tucson!"
The concert, held Saturday at the Fox Tucson Theatre, was a musical celebration of Second Saturday, Tucson Meet Yourself, Tucson's 235th birthday and the life of Peterson's grandmother - Tucson legend Cele Peterson. Among her many accomplishments, Cele Peterson is credited with starting Tucson's monthlong birthday celebration in 2006.
It won't be too long before Gracie Peterson and the rest of the Danish Club of Tucson members make hundreds of aebelskivers as part of Tucson Meet Yourself. Although easier to make, the Danish pancakes require a special pan.
"Everyone gets active at Tucson Meet Yourself," Peterson said about the Danish Club's 65 members. "This is our big fundraiser."
In addition to the Danish pancakes, which will sell at three for $3, the club will sell the special aebelskiver pan for $22.
The club also sells $1 slices of kringle made by Mona's Danish Bakery, 4777 E. Sunrise Drive.
The traditional Danish coffee cake is made with a variety of fruit fillings such as raspberry and blueberry, and the ever popular almond.
Steve Hashemi, who grew up in Denmark and earned his culinary degree there, opened the bakery 10 years ago. It's the only authentic Danish bakery in Arizona, he said, and it regularly draws patrons from Phoenix and beyond.
Hashemi also belongs to the Danish Club, whose sales of kringles at Tucson Meet Yourself have increased each year. One pastry can feed 15 to 20 people, and Hashemi hopes to make more than 60 this year.
"Everything we make is from fresh ingredients and made from scratch every morning," said Hashemi, who also sells his Danish and breads at the Tucson Farmers Market at St. Philip's Plaza on Sundays.
The Danish Club also plans to sell its cookbook (which includes the aebelskivers recipe below) for $5, along with a $12 Danish calendar and a variety of inexpensive folded paper crafts.
Mia Hansen, the executive director of Tucson Meet Yourself, joined the Danish Club seven years ago.
While she's not able to cook in the booth during the festival, she joked that she eats "lots of aebelskivers to keep my energy up."
Peterson's mother, Hilde, was from Denmark, and she instilled an appreciation for the culture and language.
Hilde initially came to Tucson as a visiting student and stayed with Cele Peterson's family while she attended Tucson High School. She and Peterson's son, Tom. Jr., corresponded after she returned to Denmark to finish school. The pair eventually married and had two daughters. Gracie Peterson joined the club about five years ago after her maternal grandfather died.
"It's a way to remember him and to keep the traditions alive," said Peterson, whose three children also belong to the club.
Aebelskivers
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
• 3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups buttermilk
Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and cardamom in a bowl; set aside. Beat eggs, sugar, salt and buttermilk until frothy, 1 to 2 minutes.
Add dry ingredients to liquid and mix well (about 3 to 4 minutes).
Heat a seasoned aebelskiver pan, and add vegetable oil to each section. When oil ripples or a drop of water added pops, the pan is ready.
Add enough batter to almost fill each section. When the batter bubbles (just like a pancake), gently rotate 1/4 turn with a knitting needle or bamboo skewer. Continue turning 1/4 turn until a ball is formed. Roll the aebelskiver in the pan, browning on all sides. When the knitting needle comes out clean and the ball holds on to the stick, the aebelskiver is done. Serve sprinkled with powdered sugar, jam or syrup. Enjoy!
Don't be discouraged if the first batch doesn't turn out very pretty. It takes practice. They will still taste delicious.
Source: Danish Club of Tucson Cookbook
More Danish
The National Danish Performance Team will return to Tucson Dec. 17 through 23 for a week of healthy fitness activities and a public performance.
The Danish Club helped sponsor the team's 2009 visit and will bring it back in collaboration with the Danish Immigrant Museum in Iowa. Go online to www.ndpt.dk for updates.
