Pasties, the U.P. Treat

Most of us that reside in or used to reside in Michigan are familiar with the pasty. It is a staple of Michigan's Upper Peninsula popularized by Finnish miners working in the copper mines. When traveling the U.P. (or Yoop, as some refer to it) you can't pass through the tiniest of towns without seeing a sign offering up fresh homemade pasties. Until recently, there has never really been another food product to tag along with the pasty phenomenon. Wheat Carlson, from Munising, is working on changing that. He and his business partners have developed some pasty products that include – the Fudgie Pastie, a pillow shaped like a pasty, and “Toivo and Eino's Finnish Really Secret Pasty Sauce."

I have had pasties topped with gravy, sour cream, and once with nothing at all. Some folks prefer ketchup on their pasty, I haven't tried that one. I am looking forward to trying the pasty sauce. The sauce is thicker than ketchup and a bit spicy, but not hot. It is said to taste great on other foods such as french fries and hamburgers in addition to pasties.

You can order the pasty sauce online as well as t-shirts and other pasty-themed products at PastyPower.com.