The Norske Nook - WI Landmark Diner Serves Award-Winning Pies

Half the people I talk with in Wisconsin have been to The Norske Nook in Osseo, WI. And all of these folks have eaten there more than once. Farm woman, Helen Myhre, started the smalltown diner in 1973. Her incredible, homebaked pies, cakes and pastries put her diner on the WI map. Since then, Helen's pies have won 13 blue ribbons at the National Pie Competition.

I first ate at The Norske Nook 15 years ago. I bought a signed copy of her cookbook: Farm Recipes and Food Secrets from the Norske Nook as we paid our check at the counter. And ever since, this cookbook has been my kitchen bakery bible. It's pages are worn and batter-smattered. Perhaps what I like best about Helen's recipes is that they are for good, family-style meals. Most of the recipes are straight-forward, non-fussy, and simple to prepare. They are not the overly-involved, multi-stepped recipes that I've read in gourmet food magazines like Bon Apetite. Of course those recipes are scrumptious. But like Helen, I'm raising a family and working as well as preparing nutritious, family meals. I want GOOD without the fuss. And that's exactly Helen's kind of cooking.

When I first started working at Wisconsinmade.com, a small internet company that sells products made by Wisconsin artists, I urged co-worker, Vicki, to put The Norske Nook Cookbook on our website. I'm so thankful she did. Now everyone can bake blue ribbon pies!

Yesterday I baked Helen's banana cream pie to share at the office. To see the pics and Helen's recipe go to Edible Antics - Having Fun With Food.