Dane Good Balls: Feel Good Foods Gluten-Free Buttermilk Pancake Balls with Shaun and Kristen (Ep. 61)
We get into the company's origin story, the surprisingly deep history of the pancake ball, and whether the Danish really deserve credit for this. What exactly is an æbleskiver? And did Vikings seriously cook them in their dented shields?
In the news: the Ajinomoto/Trader Joe's glass recall keeps growing. The source has been identified, and sufferin' succotash it's the carrots! Also: a Norwegian man once brought his grandfather's frozen body to Colorado. "Tuff shed," you say? Well, the town threw a festival about it.
Plus: the gluten-free tax is real, the sog factor is realer, a serving size of two balls is a joke, Shaun brings a brand new game called Tip of the Iceberg, and that's just the—well, that's just the start of what we get into.
WATCH THIS EPISODE
FROST BITES
The Gluten-Free Tax Is Real: Kristen dropped some truth this week: gluten-free food is expensive. A bag of about 12 Feel Good Foods Pancake Balls runs about $8 to $10 at most stores. By comparison, a bag of 60-80 frozen mini pancakes could cost around $5 to $7. For those who aren’t quick at math like we are (carry the 35) that's a lot more pancakes for less money. And the premium exists across almost every gluten-free product category, which means people with celiac disease routinely pay significantly more just to eat safely. The silver lining, if you can call it that: in the U.S., gluten-free food purchased for medical reasons may qualify as a tax-deductible expense. Talk to your accountant, not your podcast hosts.
What Exactly Is an Æbleskiver?: Feel Good markets these as Danish-style, and that's not just a vibe—these are made in Denmark and based on æbleskiver, a traditional Danish pancake ball whose origins are murky enough that Vikings get some of the credit. Whether or not that's true, the name itself tells a story: æbleskiver literally means "apple slices," a nod to early versions that contained a slice of apple in the center. In Denmark they're traditionally served dusted with powdered sugar and dipped in raspberry jam. Maybe we’d get a little less sog that way.
Sufferin' Succotash: Thinking we knew our cartoons, we attributed "sufferin' succotash" to Yosemite Sam. We weren’t actually wrong, because they both say it, but it was actually Sylvester the Cat's catchphrase first, delivered in his signature lisp. Yosemite Sam is the one who says "varmint" and "dagnabbit." (And that might be what Darren mutters under his breath sometimes too.) The Bros regret the error. Sylvester does not accept their apology.
Two Trygves Walk Into a Podcast: This episode features not one but two Norwegians named Trygve. One is Tryg Siverson, co-founder of Feel Good Foods—Tryg being short for Trygve, a Norwegian name derived from the Old Norse word tryggr, meaning "trustworthy." The second is Trygve Bauge, the man who brought his dead frozen grandfather from Norway to Colorado in 1993 inspiring an annual festival that still runs every March. Two Trygves. One episode. Zero planning ahead.
There are a few other gluten-free products in the freezer aisle—mozzarella sticks, dumplings, mac and cheese bites, pizza rolls, and more. What should we try next?
Your support means the world to us and keeps our freezer stocked. Every tip and donation helps us discover more frozen finds, cover production costs and improvements, and continue bringing you weekly episodes. Thank you for being part of Froze Nation!
And if you like us, RATE US WHERE YOU LISTEN—and TELL YOUR FRIENDS!
Fro yo' later!
Sufferin' Succotash: Thinking we knew our cartoons, we attributed "sufferin' succotash" to Yosemite Sam. We weren’t actually wrong, because they both say it, but it was actually Sylvester the Cat's catchphrase first, delivered in his signature lisp. Yosemite Sam is the one who says "varmint" and "dagnabbit." (And that might be what Darren mutters under his breath sometimes too.) The Bros regret the error. Sylvester does not accept their apology.
Two Trygves Walk Into a Podcast: This episode features not one but two Norwegians named Trygve. One is Tryg Siverson, co-founder of Feel Good Foods—Tryg being short for Trygve, a Norwegian name derived from the Old Norse word tryggr, meaning "trustworthy." The second is Trygve Bauge, the man who brought his dead frozen grandfather from Norway to Colorado in 1993 inspiring an annual festival that still runs every March. Two Trygves. One episode. Zero planning ahead.
YOUR COLD CUTS
What would you dip your pancake balls in? Maple syrup (hey there, Sawmill Sugarworks), powdered sugar, chocolate chips? Kristen had some strong opinions this week, and we want yours. Drop us a line at frozebrospod@gmail.comThere are a few other gluten-free products in the freezer aisle—mozzarella sticks, dumplings, mac and cheese bites, pizza rolls, and more. What should we try next?
ENJOYING THE POD?
BUY US A COLD ONEYour support means the world to us and keeps our freezer stocked. Every tip and donation helps us discover more frozen finds, cover production costs and improvements, and continue bringing you weekly episodes. Thank you for being part of Froze Nation!
And if you like us, RATE US WHERE YOU LISTEN—and TELL YOUR FRIENDS!
Fro yo' later!
