Local Norwegian Americans host virtual Nordic baking class

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

Barb Johnson of Yorkville, the lodge’s cultural director, led a Zoom class in baking a fyrstekake, “royal cake.” About 10 people participated in the hourl-ong online class from Johnson’s kitchen. She plans monthly cooking classes in February and March.

The 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, the site of monthly membership luncheon meetings. In-person meetings were suspended in March because of pandemic protocols.

A third annual Norwegian soup cook-off was held on 2020 Super Bowl Sunday. The contest attracted eight entries. Lodge members voted for the top two chefs in blind taste tests. Contestants’ recipes were published in a cookbook issued by the Norsk Museum in Norway last fall.

Learn more about the organization and the culinary arts at www.sonsofnorway5.com/lodges/details/58-Polar-Star-472.