Kumla....A Norwegian Family Tradition

This last weekend we were able to go home and celebrate the upcoming birth of my Cousin Terri, and her husband, Chris' little baby boy and then we had a Kumla feed at my cousin Randy and his wife, Janel's, house.

Kumla, what is it and where do I begin? It is our Norwegian (Larsen) family tradition. I can remember going to kumla dinners from the time I was very little. We have tried to do it every couple of years. My Grandma has always been the supervisor and now my brother, Spencer, has mastered the dish. He wasn't able to make it home this weekend, so more of us had to chip in and help. I think we all enjoyed it and were glad to learn how to keep this family tradition going.

Usually the day before you boil a bone in ham for 4-5 hours. Keep the ham stock.

You peel a lot of RED, have to be RED potatoes and cut them in half.

Set up a meat grinder in a place that you don't mind dripping potato juice on the floor. The men did this out in the garage.

Benjy and some others that have married into this family don't particularly like kumla, but they so graciously help in the process so the rest of us can enjoy it.

I love this picture of Benjy and my Uncle Roger, working together. Also my sweet husband's wedding ring that reminds him, "for better or for worse." He told me that he would give kumla, one more try even though he did not care for it the first and second times that he tried it.

It was such a neat experience to see everyone watching and really trying to figure out the right consistency of the potato, flour and salt mixture. My grandma was there to make sure we had done it, just right.

My mom showed us how to make the first couple of potato balls with the ham in the middle.

My Aunt Judy and I don't really like cooking, but we tried to mix a batch together.My mom jumped in to give us support.

So I thought I would step away, and didn't get very far before I got called back....

A family that works together....stays together. Or is it...A family that eats together stays together? I am not sure, but I just loved watching everyone pitch in.After you have the kumla balls made up, you boil them until they float, about 20 minutes?
There is always a hot dish for those who don't like kumla.

Randy and Janel have an awesome Theater room, so the kids hung out and watched movies, and waited patiently for the feast to begin.

I have to say, that I am so proud of Benjy. He did eat hot dish and then tried kumla for the 3rd time and guess what.... the 3rd times a charm. He actually said, "I really liked it this time after I lathered it with a cube of butter and a tablespoon of salt!"