12/21/2011

Pannukakku


There are so many memories that come to mind when I make this delicious breakfast food.
And I make it often.  :)


My dad's mom, Grandma O, came from a family with 16 children.  Her parents immigrated to the UP from Finland and brought this recipe with them.

I'm sure there were mornings when her own mother made this breakfast delicacy to fill up the troops.  With 16 kids, I'm guessing she may have tripled the batch!

Then again, maybe not.

One of the stories I heard about my great-grandmother made her sound very frugal.  Her boys would ask for dessert after dinner and she'd say, in a thick accent, "Have another potato!"

The other story I heard was about the time she had a baby while she was working out in the field.
She wiped that baby off and got right back to work...

From L to R:  My mom, Glenida (can't see her face), Aunt Annie, Uncle Norm, Aunt Sina, Aunt Alice (4 of Grandma O's 6 children - missing are my dad and Uncle Leif), Cousin Luke
 Many times when someone in our family makes Pannu, especially if it's made when there's a loud, laughter-filled family gathering, we take pictures of the Pannu fresh out of the oven.

Why?  I have no idea, but it's become a tradition!
(I'm just glad that having a baby in a field is NOT our family tradition...)

My mom, me and Emilia
We have pictures of my dad's brothers and sisters pulling the Pannu out of the oven and waving the Finnish flag above it.  I do believe they're proud of their Finnish heritage.

Here I am, newly married, holding a puffy, gently browned Pannu. 

Me
My cousin, Amy, got in on the family tradition and had her picture taken holding her first Pannu creation.

Amy and friends
It's almost a right of passage in our family to make Pannukakku and make it well.  And once you make it well, you need a picture to show the world (or at least the family) that you're now able to follow in Grandma O's footsteps.
  
Uncle Norm, Aunt Sina (brother and sister), Uncle Ken (Sina's hubby)

Cousin Heather
 It's so easy and oh so good.

My sis-in-law, Amber, with her gluten free version of Pannu
Here's the recipe in case you want to try it.

Turn oven to 425 degrees and melt a half stick of butter in a 9x13 pan (put pan with butter in oven while it's heating up).

In a mixing bowl combine 2/3 C. flour, 1/2 C. sugar, 4 eggs, dash of salt (I may have edited the original version and added the salt - I think it gives it a nice flavor), and 2 C. milk.  For milk, I use one can of evaporated milk and then top off with whatever milk you have on hand.  The creamier the milk, the richer the Pannu!  Beat until frothy.

Pour the runny egg mixture over the butter that has melted in the 9x13 pan.  Bake for about 20 minutes. 
When it's golden brown and puffy, it's ready.  Serve immediately with velia (warm fruit topping made with whatever fruit is on hand), whipped cream, maple syrup, sugar, or plain.

It's excellent any way you eat it.  My mom told me that my grandma would even serve it cold, cut into squares, to the ladies she had over for a Bible study.

Another way to use this same recipe is to make "Skinnies".
Use the butter to grease the pan and pour the batter very thin.


Sprinkle sugar on top of Skinny.
Roll it up.

When I was a little girl, my grandma showed me how to cut my sugar filled Skinny into "wheels".  And I showed my kids how to do the same.  It's our favorite way to eat them.

As we photograph and eat our Pannu, we remember you, Grandma O. and we miss you...

10 comments:

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Thanks for posting this, Heidi! What a wonderful history of panu & skinnies. It sure made me miss Mom & all of you! Love,

Aunt Sina

Cristina Vidal said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I plan to make one Pannu this weekend or why not tonight... as I am typing I remembered that Andrew's sister and family are coming over for dinner tonight so I will make this for dessert! I got Calvary Baptist Church's cookbook this week and I saw your recipe there and I thought I will make it soon!!! But, for sure I will make it again this weekend!! Thanks for sharing! We miss you all! Hugs for your family from us and Merry Christmas, dear!!!!

Heidi said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Love you Aunt Sina!

Cristina, I think I'm going to make it tonight for dinner! Hope you enjoy it! Miss you too and Merry Christmas. :)

Kara said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Heidi, I loved this! I have made skinnies many times but mine are never as pretty as the ones you have pictured!

Jennifer said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

You never told me I was supposed to take a pic of it! Maybe that's why mine never turns out! hehe :-) Actually the pictures help because I have been pulling mine from the oven when it is only lightly browned -looks like I should let it cook longer and get a deeper brown.

Also, my family (Norwegian) have eaten "skinnies" growing up... we call it "Dotch" and usually eat them with syrup or jam. I knew the first time I had Pannu with you that they were similar and the recipes are almost exactly the same -we just use a bit more flour.

Yay for all these yummy Scandinavian traditions!

Heidi said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Kara, I had to take a picture of that one because it turned out so pretty! A lot of mine are torn or in a jumble, but near the end I get some good ones. :)
Jenn, yeah, I forgot to tell you about the photo tradition! Sorry! Now you'll be able to make great looking pannu. :)

Aunt Denise said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

My kids love Pannu (much easier way to pronounce!) as well, but I have never taken a pic of it. May make when Chris comes home in Jan. Marsh has been asking for it lately. And, my skinnies never looked that nice either.

Merry Christmas!!

PS. Having seen any Amber postings lately...has she stopped?

Aunt Denise said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Oops! That was supposed to be "haven't". Fingers aren't working with the brain!

Heidi said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Hi Aunt Denise,

Enjoy having Chris home in January! Tell him I said Hi. :)

I don't know if Amber has stopped blogging completely or not...

Sennie said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Heidi, this is awesome!!! I love Finnish pancakes, your skinnies:) but I've never cared for the oven pannukakku. My mom & grandma (mummu) would make it, but it's just not my thing...

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