Tradition. An annual Christmas specken dicken meal is tradition in Josh’s family. Specken dicken is a German dish. They are pancakes with anise flavoring. But actually, I’ve learned that specken dicken is translated loosely to mean “meat cake” or meat pancake or something like that. Prior to my entrance into the family, they actually made the pancakes with meat (ground sausage) in them. I guess not everyone liked having the meat inside the pancake, so today, we eat specken dicken alongside meat.
Also, specken dicken would have traditionally been made in celebration of a new year. It was thought to bring luck. Nowadays, whenever the family can get together in December is a good time for specken dicken.
If anyone is interested, I uploaded the recipe for specken dicken to Pioneer Woman’s Tasty Kitchen site.
And there is my new mixer. I wouldn’t have won this mixer if it weren’t for specken dicken. You see, I replied to an online contest that to qualify a person had to name his/her favorite holiday dish. I entered with specken dicken and out of 29,000 people, I won the Kitchen Aid mixer. It was only fitting that I brought it to make this year’s specken dicken. Worked like a charm. The extra-large glass bowl was big enough to handle the massive batch.
Here cousin Anna is holding Jace. He was in good hands all night long.
Would that face lie? Nope. Good hands, I tell you.
This is Will. He just turned 1 year old.
Bacon.
And more bacon!
In the name of diversity, we also had sausage patties and little smokies.
Can’t believe my nephew Jackson will be 2 years old in February! And that’s Jackson’s dad Justin (Josh’s brother) and mom Tiffany.
Back to cooking: this is the secret ingredient. Well, not so secret, but special ingredient. Anise extract has the flavor of black licorice. And I’m just seeing on the label “avoid pouring near a flame”. Hmmm. Contains alcohol. Wait, contains alcohol? Oh, the scandal!
Cooking up nice and golden… mmmm.
That’s not Santa. Trust me. Even though he’s next to a Christmas tree and there are children on his lap. Oh yeah, and the big white beard. Nope, that’s uncle John and those kids are his grandkids Abby and Daniel.
Oh, whoops! How did another picture of Will sneak in there? Hee hee! He’s so cute. His mommy Rachel is holding him.
Add in Vincent and there’s the whole family.
Wouldn’t ya know I wanted so badly to get a picture of my family together – I don’t think we’ve had one taken since Jace has been born – and it didn’t happen! It’s my own fault, I let the kids run off and play with their cousins, when it should have been the first thing we did.
Check this out! Almost all of the cousins’ kids together.
Jettster Poindexter and Jacey-Wasey Puddin’ Pie.
Jackson is looking pretty tough in those cowboy boots and top hat.
This was a cute moment. Abby was holding Hannah. And Hannah…
… was playing with Josh’s iPhone!
And this wild one is mine. After eating almost the entire batch of raspberry cream cheese dip, he had a near-disastrous trip to the bathroom on our way out. It wasn’t pretty. A day and a half later and his digestion is nearly normal again. Someone should have been watching that boy.
I guess that someone was me.
I have a few questions re: this post. They are as follows:
1) What if you detest the taste of black licorice….will you or will you not enjoy specken dicken?
2) What is the proper pronuniciation of this dish? Is it just like it’s spelled?
3) Raspberry cream cheese dip? Talk to me about that one, sounds yummy. Sounds like Jett would agree.
4) What name did you decide upon for the gorgeous mixer won from PW?
And that concludes my intense interrogation. Love all the pictures and a special thanks for not including a picture of the near disastrous bathroom trip. :)
1. I do not like black licorice but I love specken dicken. If you don’t add a lot of anise, it’s not too strong.
2. Just like it’s spelled.
3. I’ll have to get this from my mother-in-law… Josh loves it! Maybe my mother in law will post it here? Jan? Are you there?
4. Ruby
Thank you for your questions! I’ll be here all night! =)
I love these pictures of your family gathering. I especially love that last picture of Jett, oh, he is gonna hate this one, especially if the details come out – no pun intended!!
Real Norwegians flavor their kringla with anise, Grandma Mary did, and I loved it. I like licorice, though.
PS I saw your mixer in Younkers the other day, the bowl is huge. What a great prize to win.
I think I would love specken dicken. I like black licorice.
These are great pics. All really good looking kids!
Sigh… so jealous I missed yet another Specken Dicken get together… but lovin’ the blog! Almost feel like I was there.
I can’t believe all those kids on the couch… Grandma would have been so proud of all those great-grandkids!
And I’d never realized how similar Uncle John does look to Santa Clause!
Great pics, thanks for bloggin about it! Looks like you all had fun :)
I’ve only had specken dicken with meat mixed right in and it’s tasty. I’ve never really noticed the anise flavor…
Nice pics! And I’m totally jealous of your mixer. It’s so beautiful!
Thanks for sharing your pics, Jessie. Looks like such a fun night. We used to make specken dicken with tiny sausage patties in the middle, but it seems like the pancake was always raw yet around the patties. When I make them now, I crumble the sausage first.
Sure wish I could have been there!!!
I’m here. I bought the raspberry dip mix at the Atherton House in Adel. The brand name is Wind Willow- Raspberry Ice Sorbet. You add cream cheese & butter to the packet. You should be able to get it in a specialty store or gift shop. Another really easy dip is mixing 8 oz cream cheese (raspberry, strawberry or regular) & 1 jar of marshmallow cream. It’s good with fruit or graham crackers etc.
Jessie, I sent some of your Specken dicken pictures to my cousins on both sides. It is amazing how many Eekhoffs and Assinks still keep the tradition. One comment included something about all the emotions that came to her because of your pictures. Guess specken dicken will so that to you!!!!!!!!!!!!