This is an Æbleskiver pan. Æbleskiver is a Danish dessert that is mostly eaten during the Christmas holiday season. It is a pancake ball that gets filled with jam and dusted with powdered sugar. This pan is my grandmother's, or in Danish, my mormor’s. Every year, my siblings and I go over to her house to cook Æbleskiver the day before Christmas. We use the same recipe, from the same book, with the same bowl and whisk. A batter is created with ingredients like cardamom and buttermilk, then poured into this pan to fill the holes about halfway, allowing them to form a semicircle. Finally, they are turned with a wooden skewer to turn them into fully enclosed balls. The name  Æbleskiver directly translates to “apple slices.” Back in the 17th century, when the dish was created, apple slices were put inside instead of jam. In the mid 19th century, people got rid of the apple slices because most people didn’t enjoy the flavor, and the way the dish was cooked changed. Originally, the dessert was cooked in a standard pan, but when the dish changed, so did the pan. This pan not only represents Danish culture and history but also a greater story. After living in Denmark her whole life, my grandmother moved her family from Denmark to the U.S because my grandfather got a job. Keeping the Danish traditions alive, such as making Æbleskiver, allowed her children to keep in touch with their Danish culture and eventually pass it down to their children. Making Æbleskiver every year allows our family to gather and enjoy each other's company while enjoying a delicious dessert. 

– MM

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant