Isms: Views on life in rural America

I’ve been thinking (and that can be a dangerous thing).

Last week’s All Things Nebraska column by Paul Hammel posed the question, “Should the legislature dish up a state dessert?”

ICYMI, Hammel lamented that our northern neighbors have a designated dessert. It’s Kuchen, a German cake, stuffed with fruit or custard filling.

Once, Hammel made the suggestion to a state senator who represented several Czech communities that, perhaps, the legislature should designate kolaches as the official state dessert. Motion failed. The state senator pointed out that the scrumptious Czech sweet bread is really a pastry, not a dessert.

Hammel offered several other suggestions: cinnamon rolls (thanks to Runza’s pairing with chili), a Tin Roof Sundae (made famous at Potter Sundry) and popcorn balls (since the state leads the nation in popcorn production).

Last week, when I posed the question to Scott, his response was simply, “What?”

So, I let the idea ruminate for a week, thinking about what dessert really screams Nebraska. Isn’t it a matter of personal choice, based on likes and experiences?

Honestly, I’d be satisfied with oostkaka, a Swedish eggless “cake” that reminds me of custard. Grandma Larson would serve it with a tangy lingonberry sauce. Definitely a Swedish tradition.

What about German Chocolate cake with homemade pecan coconut frosting? Grandma Larson’s best friend, Anna Kuhl, would make a three-layered version annually for my birthday. Not everyone enjoys coconut or pecans or chocolate.

How about homemade ice cream? We grandkids would beg Grandma and Grandpa Fields to make it when we’d visit. On special occasions, they would oblige. We’d take turns cranking the handle until the sweet treat was ready. Otherwise, they kept a healthy supply of Schwan’s ice cream (remember the BIG brown tubs) in the basement freezer. Cherry nut was Grandpa’s favorite. I liked the butter brickle and rocky road.

Today, I asked Scott to reconsider and give an answer. Today, he believes apple pie should be the top dessert. Or apple or peach crisp.

What about something with rhubarb since it seems to grow wild?

We talked about church potluck dinners and the wide variety of desserts usually on display: angel food cakes, fancy brownies, four-layered desserts oozing with pudding and whipped cream.

How can the choice be narrowed to just one? Naturally, I queried Google, which suggested the aforementioned Tin Roof Sundae, sweet corn ice cream and sweet corn cakes, which looked like a slice of cornbread cut in half, with some kind of whipped cream filling in the middle.

Can’t say I’ve ever eaten sweet corn cakes. Have you?

At the Schindler home, we still haven’t agreed on what the state dessert should be, but we’re willing to taste-test our way to find out and make suggestions to our statehouse representative.

Viva la vie desserts.