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Finnish Cultural Association
Farmington Hills, Michigan |
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The pasty (pronounced "pass-tee") was introduced to the Upper Peninsula during the nineteenth century by Cornish mining families who immigrated to Michigan’s copper- and iron-mining regions. This portable turnover of pie-like crust filled with meat, potatoes, rutabagas, and onions--a complete meal in itself--was carried underground and often reheated by placing it in a miner’s shovel that was held over a candle flame. The pasty became popular throughout the ethnically diverse Upper Peninsula and today is a regional specialty. Forgetting pasty’s origin, some even say pasty is the U.P.’s contribution to American cuisine. Many members of the Finnish Cultural Association resettled in southeast Michigan from the Upper Peninsula, where they still maintain close ties. Twice a year the Association’s pasty sale is a very popular fundraiser, and the making of this offers this regional treat is demonstrated at the National Folk Festival. |
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