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Wooden Spoon

Authentic Danish Delights
from Gitte's Cookbook
By Story and Photos by Elaine Revelle
thewoodenspoon@Juno.com

The longer I know Brigette “Gitte” Pedersen, the more impressed I am.
A true Dane, born in Fyn (about 20 kilometers from Odense), Gitte has remained close to her Danish roots. As owner of the Iron Art Gift shop since the early 90s, wife and busy mom Gitte has more energy than any three people I know.
Her parents, Gerda and the late Arne Larsen, arrived in Victoria Canada in 1957 with their three children in tow. In addition to Gitte, the Larsen family included brother Uffe (Jack) and sister Jette.

Years ago I learned that Arne had promised Gerda that “after five years in America” she could make the decision whether or not to return to Denmark. When the time was up, Gerda chose Denmark and the Larsen family started packing for “home.” With papers in order, bags packed and the gas tank filled, they climbed into their car for a tour of California before heading east.
	While visiting friends in the small northern California town of Willits, they were encouraged to “stop and see Solvang.” Well, not only did they stop and see, they stayed! The three kids attended local schools, married and still live in the Santa Ynez Valley. Gitte, after Solvang Elementary School, was graduated from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School and went on to attend Santa Barbara Business College and computer school.
“I worked as a computer operator for a medical billing office in Santa Barbara,” she said, adding that they used the old IBM punch cards. “They made really pretty wreathes by folding and stapling,” she said, giving me a glimpse of her early creative side. Gitte married Steven Pedersen, another “local” Dane, in 1971 and the couple moved to Berkeley where he attended graduate school.“I worked for Blue Cross in Oakland,”she added. By 1973 the newlyweds had moved back to Solvang and she took a job at Thumbelina Needlework where she “finished”needlework projects for customers. In those days, Thumbelina was located on the south side of Copenhagen Drive, next door to the Red Viking Restaurant. By 1975 Gitte’s mother Gerda had purchased the yardage part of Thumbelina and set up shop in the same location as Gerda’s Yardage. Gitte continued her finishing work, but soon laid down her scissors and thimble to work along side her mom. “Mom and I worked well together, never had any disagreements that I remember,” she said. However by 1991 Gerda was ready to scale down a little and started working part time.

That same year, Steven’s parents’ store, Iron Art, became available. Started by the elder Pedersens in 1950, two years after emigrating from Copenhagen, the shop had enjoyed a long tenure amongst Solvang’s gift stores. Originally located on Alisal Road at the intersection of Copenhagen Drive, Iron Art moved to its present spot in 1965.
The younger Pedersens purchased the shop and by 1993 had combined it with Gerda’s Yardage. Although the yardage portion of the business has been phased out, the shop still offers a wonderful selection of Danish lace curtains with numerous patterns and motifs from which to choose. Although busy with the shop, Gitte volunteers for and is a board member at the Bethania Lutheran Church pre– and after school care programs. “I was recruited one day by program originator Bernice Dotz,” Gitte said, adding that “we only had 12 children then, but now enrollment has grown to 140 with a long waiting list.” Today husband Steven is retired from law enforcement and fills his days with volunteer and yard work. The Pedersens are proud parents to two children: daughter Kirsten is married and lives and works in the Valley, while their son Matthew is pursuing his goal to become a teacher. When the talk turned to food, Gitte admitted that she likes all foods, “except,” she said, “fish with bones.” She likes to cook, she says, “when I can take my time doing it. We remodeled the kitchen and put in a small TV, I like being able to keep up with the news and food shows,” she added. “I do Thanksgiving for the family and enjoy spending the day in the kitchen. I start with pumpkin pies, pumpkin cheesecake and then move on to the stuffing, turkey and red cabbage.” It all sounds good. Travel too is high on the favorites list. “I go to the gift show in Denmark each February with my sister-in-law Marianne Larsen (Gaveasken) and to the Minneapolis and Los Angeles shows as well.” The Pedersens’ travels also take them to Hawaii. “I love Kauai,” she said. Add all this to her love of sewing and you can see that Gitte enjoys her life and her work. “I spend a lot of time here because I really enjoy what I do and I enjoy my shop,” she admitted. When we got down to recipes, Gitte shared some of her favorites. Gerda’s hamburgrryg (wish I had asked her how to pronounce that one) is a traditional Danish dish, one we always have for Easter. The citronfromage, a light refreshing dessert, is from Steven’s aunt Esther Knudsen. “A fantastic cook who used to work in a school cafeteria in Miami,” Gitte said, adding that Tove’s pork tenderloin is a more contemporary recipe. “She found it in a magazine,” Gitte explained. So for a real Danish shopping experience, step into Iron Art. Check out the curtains, tea sets, antique and new copper and brass cookware and accessories, collectable plates and other décor items. And thanks to Gitte for making time in her busy schedule for a visit with The Wooden Spoon. Do try a couple of the following Danish dishes, they are delicious.
GERDA’S HAMBURGRRY(glazed smoked pork loin) 1 smoked pork loin (available at local markets) brown sugar mustard orange juice Ask butcher to cut loin from bone and tie back together. Place loin in pan and add water to depth of two inches.	Cover tightly and roast in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes. When warmed through, mix rest of ingredients to a thick paste and spread on top of meat. Increase oven temperature to 375 degrees and roast for another 15 to 20 minutes or until sugar mixture is melted and bubbling. Served with al dente cauliflower, carrots, beans, peas or other vegetables. Also good served with creamed spinach or kale and potatoes.
MOSTER (AUNT) TOVE’S PORK TENDERLOIN 2 pork tenderloins butter for browning 1 or 2 finely chopped onions rind of one orange juice of two oranges 1/2 cup white wine 1 can diced tomatoes 2 bay leaves	1 bunch parsley salt and pepper to taste Brown meat in butter and place in roasting pan. Brown onions, then add next five ingredients and bring to a boil. Pour over meat and sprinkle with coarsely chopped parsley. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 3 minutes. Serve over rice.
AUNT ESTHER’S CINTROFROMAGE 5 eggs, separated 1/3 cup sugar 1 package unsweetened gelatin juice of two lemons zested rind of two lemons 2 1/2 pint cartons whipping cream chocolate pieces or maraschino cherries (optional)	Dissolve gelatin in two tablespoons hot water. Beat egg yolks with sugar until light and fluffy. Add melted gelatin, lemon juice and rind. Refrigerate mixture. Separately beat the egg whites and whipping cream. When lemon mixture begins to set, fold in egg whites. Reserve enough whipped cream to decorate top of citrofromage. Fold rest of whipped cream into lemon mixture and top with reserved cream. Decorate with chocolate pieces or maraschino cherries if desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve.