www.AmishStories.net

A hilltop view: Lancaster,Pa

2013-05-18T11:00:00.002-04:00

Classic Ford Tractor

2013-05-17T09:33:00.000-04:00

1950s Ford Victoria

2013-05-10T09:53:00.000-04:00

Amish Rumble Seat, Lebanon,Pa.

2013-04-29T17:50:00.000-04:00

Spring has sprung this yellow Corvette

2013-04-22T16:04:00.000-04:00

My visit with Amish buggy shop owner AARON LAPP

2012-12-21T08:41:00.000-05:00

Story by: Richard of Amish Stories.

I had no idea at the time these pictures were taken that this post would be the last one that I would be doing, so this one will be the last for Amish Stories in this original format as Amish Stories will return as a photography only blog . Always wanting to see how Amish buggies were made and never really seeing any information (in pictures) online or even in books I decided that it was time I tried getting inside one for a post on this blog.

Lapp's buggy shop is located in Lebanon county and the owner is named AARON LAPP , and I believe it may be the only Amish owned and run carriage shop in this county. Since Lebanon county is right next to Lancaster I would say most of the buggies seen on the roads in my area would be made there, so it was a pleasant surprise finding out (I talked with some of the Amish) that Lebanon had a shop. This is a family operation with AARON'S wife and son helping, so his wife does all of the sewing while his son does most of the electrical work and painting.

At the time these pictures were taken AARON'S son was finishing up Rumspringer and was about to join the Amish church, during my stay there I was very surprised in finding out that Lapp's offers among the many options "air suspension" on their buggies. AARON told me that this set-up gives its owners a better ride and handling (makes sense), but because its more expensive most of his Amish customers will stick with the tried and true method of using leaf springs.

Something that's been around for a very long time on buggies, and is also still used on many new pick-up trucks sold today like the very popular Ford F150. Enjoy folks and I hope to be back occasionally sharing my own images on Amish Stories sometime in Spring. Richard

New buggies waiting for their owners

Reminders of AARON'S rural roots

The front of Lapp's buggy shop

Some materials for making the wheels

After painting and now needing electrical work (lights)

Inside being worked on

The sewing area where AARON'S wife mostly works

Electrical parts

A view of AARON'S farm that's next to his shop

Material for the buggy tops

Wiring work being done

Different types of mirror options

A fairly simple but effective form of air suspension (I love that), a very nice option that's hardly seen!

The beginnings of an Amish buggy

Disk brakes as an option, much better than using drums!

Wheel making area

A view of how everything first started, yet still remains

As many know the Amish love these bird houses

Another look at those disk brakes

And of this really nice shot of the air ride suspension, a must have for me if I were driving a buggy myself!

So simple yet offers a lot in comfort!

AARON'S son working on a wheel

Painting area, and like the very early days of Henry Fords cars black would be the dominate color used

Conventional buggy leaf springs

Painting area

More of the parts area

Finished buggy wheels needing the steel bands,some of the Amish do use rubber. (depends on the rules of that particular church)

AARON'S clean but modest home from the back

The barn

Full view of the buggy shop

Front view of AARON'S home

Got to love those bird houses, and I bet the birds are happy staying in them!

Part of a price list of options from Lapp's, with the price of a brand new buggy starting at $6,200. With options the price of a standard buggy goes up considerably. I have seen pin striping done by hand along with fancy lights among those options desired by the Amish and old order Mennonites, and some bigger side and rear windows that were tinted.

The End

Classic ad of the week: The Sound of Music from 1966. With a recipe for Chocolate Linzer Heart cookies from Austria!

2012-12-19T04:59:00.000-05:00

1966 The Sound of Music original vintage advertisement.Winner of 5 Academy Awards. Photographed in vivid color with scene of Julie Andrews from the film.

Classic ad courtesy of www.adclassix.com

Julie Andrews Pictures

Chocolate Linzer Hearts

Julie Andrews Pictures

From Austria

Prep Time: 50 min
Start to Finish: 2 hr 30 min
Makes: 3 dozen cookies

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup hazelnuts, toasted, skinned and ground
1/2 ounce semisweet baking chocolate, finely chopped
2 1/2 cups Gold Medal all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup raspberry jam
1 ounce semisweet baking chocolate, melted

1. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, or mix with spoon. Beat in vanilla and eggs until smooth. Add remaining ingredients except jam and melted chocolate. Beat until well blended. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour (dough will be sticky).

2. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Roll one-fourth of dough at a time between pieces of waxed paper until 1/8 inch thick. (Keep remaining dough refrigerated until ready to roll.) Cut with 2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter. Cut small heart shape from center of half of the 2-inch hearts if desired. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Spread about 1/2 teaspoon raspberry jam on bottom of whole heart cookies; top with cutout heart cookie. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Let stand until chocolate is firm.

Julie Andrews Pictures

Some Images from www.Fanpik.net

Did You Know...
The linzertorte is a rich, elegant tart from Linz, Austria. The original tart has a buttery crust of ground almonds, grated lemon rind and spices. The crust is spread with a sweet layer of raspberry jam and topped with a lattice crust.

Success...
Hazelnuts, also called filberts, are easier to skin after they've been heated in a 350 degree F oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Place a handful of warm nuts in a dishtowel, fold the towel over the nuts and rub vigorously to remove skins. Repeat with remaining hazelnuts. From www.Recipegoldmine.com.

Recipe of the week: Carrot Cake

2012-12-18T04:46:00.000-05:00

Carrot Cake

Cream sugar and cooking oil. Add eggs and beat well. Sift flour, soda, salt, baking powder and cinnamon together. Add the creamed mixture. Fold in carrots and nuts. Bake at 350° F. for 1 hour in a 9" x 13" pan or layer cake pan. Cool.
Frosting:
Soften cream cheese and oleo. Blend in powdered sugar and vanilla. Add chopped nuts.

2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 cups raw carrots, ground or shredded
1½ cups cooking oil
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Frosting:
4 oz. cream cheese
1-1½ cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 stick oleo
1/4 cup chopped nuts

From mouth-watering Amish-style main dishes to kitchen dream desserts, this on has it all. Over 600 from-scratch recipes that please the appetite and are easy on the food budget. You'll get a whole section on canning and food preparation. The Amish, long known for their originality in the kitchen, share their favorites with you. This 275 page spiral bound cookbook has over 600 recipes . Cooking with the Horse & Buggy People
To order this book please go to www.Amishshop.com

Jeans very last post on Amish Stories: The goodbye

2012-12-17T08:23:00.000-05:00

Jean is old order Mennonite from New York State. Jean and her husband David and family live on a dairy farm, and travel their community using horse and buggy. She tells her story exclusively on Amish Stories.

As Christmas is coming, and this is Edward’s first in our home, we asked him how he would like it. Michael’s first Christmas with us was last year and we let him have a small Christmas Tree and lights in his room-which we usually don’t have in our home. We also wrapped presents in Christmas paper-something else we didn’t usually do. We felt we should offer the same to Edward, but that’s not what he wanted. He wants to have an Old Order Mennonite Christmas as he has never seen one before. So that is what he will get.

Already Edward, Susan and I have started making cookies and candy. Edward enjoys cooking and has recipes in his head that his grandmother gave him. None of her recipe are written down-he memorized them all. After Christmas, he and I are going to sit down and see if we can put them on paper so I can pass them along to you. We also have to figure sizes as she does like my Grandmother does-a pinch of this, a hand full of that. That has to be translated into teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, etc.

We do not have Christmas Trees, Christmas lights, Santa Claus, etc. When it gets closer to Christmas, I will put some small evergreen tree branches around, with red bows and cranberries. On Christmas Eve and evening, we might put a candle in some of the windows. We don’t put them in so many windows we can’t keep an eye on them. Also we make sure the candles are out when we go to bed.

On Christmas Eve the young folks will go singing which will include Michael and Edward. Edward sings very well, but Michael says he couldn’t carry a tune in a basket. Anyway, they will go with other young folks to peoples homes. We supply them with dishes or baskets of homemade breads, jams, candy and cookies to leave at each home. At these homes the young group does not go to our English friends, David, David Jr., Susan and I will go to and leave like gifts. When we all get home, David will read from the Bible the part from Luke on Jesus Birth.

Christmas morning starts out with David, Edward, Michael and myself fasting until dinner about noon. Michael and Edward don’t have to fast until next year, but they chose to do what David and I do. At noon, we will have our Christmas Dinner and then open our presents. We only give one or two presents on Christmas Day. We seem to give more presents on birthdays than we do at Christmas. Afterwards David reads the Bible to us and we pray. The day is spent with ourselves. As Christmas is on Tuesday this year and not Sunday as it was last year, there won’t be meeting (church service) today. Still we want the young ones to know the real reason for Christmas.

On Second Christmas, which is the day after Christmas, we will have a big family dinner at David’s parents house. It will include my family, David’s family, and Martha and Joseph’s family. Before dinner, David’s Father will read, from the Bible, Jesus Birth after which we will have prayer. We want to keep the true meaning and reason for Christmas with us. Dinner will be at noon after which we will exchange and open presents. After dinner, I am sure the children will go outside to play, the men will go into the living room and talk while us ladies clean up.

Then we will sit and talk. We will go home in time to milking cows. After our dinner-probably leftover from the noon dinner, we will spend the evening together. In the evening, David will read the crucifixion and we will pray. It may seem unusual that David reads the crucifixion on Second Christmas, but he wants us to understand that not only did Jesus come to this earth, but He gave His life for sins.

I know I left out some things we do on Christmas, but I have most of them. We try to keep family together during the Christmas Season. We want Jesus to be the most important part of our Christmas. It is also my time to say goodbye on Amish Stories. I know I gave Marilyn a hard time when she asked me if I would come on here. Amish Stories turned out to be much different and nicer than I thought it would be. I enjoyed being here.

You have been with me and my family through the good times and the testing times. I thank you all for your prayers during our fire and my operation. Thank you also for the many prayers you have given to my family. I thank Richard, for understanding the problems I may have given him, at times.

I wish him the best in his new Amish Stories. I am not just thanking for myself and family, but for Martha and Sara, too. We all wish Richard the best. It is sad to leave here as I feel you are all my friends. I wish you all God’s will. I also wish you my closing:

Be With God,

Jean

Home made recipes from Jean

Christmas Cut-Out Cookies

3/4 Cup butter or margarine

1 Cup sugar

2 Eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 Cup flour

1 teaspoon, baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Pour sugar over butter and blend. Add eggs and vanilla. Add flour with baking powder and salt. Mix well. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Roll out dough and cut with cookie cutters. Place on cookie sheet and make in the oven for 10 – 15 minutes.

Christmas Cut-Out Cookies Frosting

2 Tablespoon, Crisco

1/4 teaspoon, salt

1 3/4 cup confectioners sugar, sift if lumpy1 teaspoon Vanilla

2 Tablespoon milk

almond or peppermint extract

Mix Crisco, salt, vanilla and about 1/2 Cup sugar. Add milk, alternating with rest of sugar. With mixer- mix until smooth and cream. Divide frosting and add extract and food coloring. Frost cooked cookies.

Peanut Butter Fudge

2 Cups White sugar

1 lb. brown sugar

3/4 C. Milk

1 18 oz jar crunchy peanut better

1 7 oz. jar marshmallow creme

1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine white and brown sugar with milk.

Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients.

Mix well and pour into a greased 13” by 9” pan. Let cool and cut into squares.

My message to Jean

When I first started Amish Stories in the beginning I wanted to mainly post image's of my own Amish community and surrounding settlements here in Pennsylvania, but after first starting this blog I quickly came to a conclusion that I wanted to at least try and become something more. So I wanted to do something that I had not seen before on the internet, which was to have someone who was either Amish or old order Mennonite who was willing to share a slice of their lives with folks on the internet.

And I didn’t just want someone to just give me their story and then I would merely post what they had written and that would have pretty much been that, I wanted more interaction between the plain person and the folks reading their posts. Marilyn answered that call after seeing some of my comments on another web site that covers Amish culture, well after some waiting and me asking about this person I was told that Jean would try and write something for this blog.

So what was really supposed to be only temporary had turned into what has become over a year and a half now, and what a really beautiful experiment it was and I learned so much myself with just reading and putting together Jeans post for you guys. And I think that Jean is a very giving person with a very big heart and I would like to thank her for giving this guy from Pennsylvania her trust in publishing a glimpse of her life on this blog, and I also thank Jeans entire family for also giving me some insight and sharing with the readers here on Amish Stories about their lives.

And I'm very glad to say that what I had started will continue with Marilyn's blog "New York State Of Mind" so Jeans readers are very fortunate that Jean is still interested in telling about her old order Mennonite lifestyle on the internet.

And along the way I think I've made friends with a group of people who while very different from myself, share an understanding and trusts that transcends beliefs and culture. And in the end our uniforms and egos were left at the door to try and produce something that I hope had some meaning, and for that I am proud to have had such an opportunity. Richard

To follow Jean just click here- New York State of mind

Winter Images from Ohio's Amish settlement

2012-12-14T07:49:00.000-05:00

Images by Mary Brandenburg

Ohio farm

A serious warning: A buggy accident

School bus chicken coop

Amish school house

Another Amish school house

Swartzentruber Amish farm

Amish Church Peanut Butter Spread

3 pounds crunchy or smooth peanut butter
2 quarts light Karo syrup
2 quarts Marshmallow Creme or Marshmallow Fluff

Mix all ingredients until smooth. Add more Karo syrup if spread is too thick.

Amish Graham Strudel Cake

1 (18.25 ounce) box cake mix (any kind)
1 package graham crackers
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup confectioners' sugar
Water

Mix cake by following instructions on box.

Crush graham crackers. Add brown sugar, butter and cinnamon. Pour half of cake batter into pan, then half of the graham cracker crumbs. Pour remaining batter in, then follow with remaining crumbs. Bake at 375 degrees F until done.

Mix confectioners' sugar and water and drizzle over top of cake when done baking. Recipes from www.Recipegoldmine.com

Classic ad of the week: Santa for Coca Cola from 1955.

2012-12-12T16:42:00.000-05:00

1955 Coca Cola original vintage advertisement. Illustrated in vivid color featuring Santa enjoying the Pause That Refreshes. Image's courtesy of www.adclassix.com

This week on Jean: A new farm and home are in the planning stages for Jean and her family.

2012-12-10T10:59:00.000-05:00

Jeans very last post for Amish Stories will be on Dec 17

After Hurricane Sandy our discussion started on us building a new house. When we bought our farm from David’s parents, his parents bought a farm down the road a little way. My parents lived down the road the other way. As my brother’s and sister’s grew, and married, they moved a little further away. Then my parents moved and finally David’s parents moved. They all bought farms and moved over on the road that Martha and Joseph live on now.

To get to their farms by car is only about 15 minutes, but going by buggy takes longer. Not only that our house sits on the road and we would like a house that sits back further. When my parents came to stay with us when David had to go to the Fire Station during Hurricane Sandy-this worried David that we were not near the rest of the family. Also, we are running out of room.

We did divide Susan’s room in half and made two bedrooms from one, but still we could use more room for foster children and visitors. So we got out the old plans for the new house we were going to build and updated them. We bought property from two farmers. Part is from Martha and Joseph and the other part is from their neighbor. So we have a place for the house, barn, my greenhouses and farming. Martha, Joseph, the children, David and I like that we will be neighbors now. David’s parents, and my parents are just down the road a little way. Even a couple of my brother’s and sister’s with families live on the same road. As David and his Dad are fireman, it would be much closer to the Fire Station.

We had a real estate broker who is also a fireman, like David, come out and appraise our farm. With all the improvements we made after the fire, we would get a great deal more for the farm than we thought we would. The next thing we have to do is to get plumbing and electric put on the lot with inspection by the town. As the houses on either side of us have it, there should not be any problem.

Even though, I still wanted it all on one story, our new house will be two stories. We also are going to put on an addition, a little home attached in case my Grandparents or later, either David or my parents want to move in. I don’t know when we will start building-probably not until Spring. We would like to sell the farm, but are not going to list it. Right now, we are putting word out that it is going up for sale among the Mennonites and Amish. We would like one of them to buy it. Of course the relative we had that said he would buy it if we ever wanted to sell it-changed his mind. But, we will trust in the Lord.

So we are back to building again. We will have to pay for the cellar going in, the lumber and supplies for building the house. But our people will get together and build the house. Most will be Mennonite, but some Amish and English will come, too. The outside and the floors will be done in a day. The dividing the rooms, insulation, plumbing, electric, cupboards, porches and more will be done when we all have time. Most of the time, the interior takes longer than the outside. We are excited and nervous.

Edward and Michael are planning what they are going to do when we get into the new house. Susan is torn as we will be moving away from several of her friends, but closer to some others. We have lived by our neighbors for many years and they have become friends both Mennonite, Amish and English. It will be a bit hard moving, but we will not be that far away. so we will be able to visit.

Thought I would tell you our latest plans.

Be With God,
Jean

Mennonite Oatmeal Bread

2 cups rolled oats (preferably coarse)
2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 teaspoon sugar
2 packets yeast (about 2 tablespoon)
Chopped nuts (optional)
Raisins (optional)
About 6 cups all-purpose flour

Pour boiling water over rolled oats; stir and add molasses, salt, brown sugar and shortening. Let stand until lukewarm, then add yeast dissolved in warm water with sugar. Mix in flour until it requires muscle. Then knead a few minutes on well floured surface. Put dough in bowl; cover. Let rise 1 to 2 hours in warm, draft-free place to double its size (rolls and buns take less time to rise and bake; can make various shapes). It is risen enough if the dent stays when you press your fingers deeply into it. Nuts or raisins may be added with flour or kneaded into individual loaves. Divide into 2 loaves; let rise again until smooth and round over tops of pans, about an hour or more. Bake at 400 degrees F for 35 minutes.

Rye Bread variation:

Use half rye and half all-purpose flour and use 1/2 cup molasses as part of the liquid. Recipe from www.Recipegoldmine.com.

Martha's last post on Amish Stories: Martha talks about vacations relating to being old order Mennonite.

2012-12-07T07:47:00.003-05:00

Martha and Joseph are old order Mennonites who live on a farm in New York state with their family, and like the Amish use horse and buggy when traveling.

Martha wishes all the readers a Merry Christmas, and a healthy and Happy New Year. And thanks everyone who read her stories that was her life and journey on Amish Stories. Richard

Thought I would answer your question about long vacations across the country. Lots of times we go on vacation, we are going there for something else like a wedding, funeral, barn raising, etc. and decide to see something along the way. For example, we went to Pennsylvania for one of Joseph's cousin's weddings and while there we went to Hershey's Chocolate World.

The school usually has a senior trip for all the 8th graders. One year they went to Niagara Falls for the day and another they went to Corning Glass works. At Corning Glass Works they stayed over night and stopped at Watkins Glen Falls on the way back. As a family we don't take vacations especially when you have two adults and ten children. When we do travel we go by bus, Amtrak or driver. If a group of us are going some place we rent a driver with a van and we all go together. Our family can pretty much fill up one van. Sometimes a group of men will get together with a driver to take them some place fishing or hunting.

Also. us ladies get a van once in a while and go to Waterloo shopping or a rummage sale somewhere. As far as going across the country-it is very rare. We have never done it and don't know many who have. We don't fly because it is against our religion unless it is a emergency. Flying is considered too modern for us old order Mennonites. If someone is injured or really sick, Mercy Flight is allowed. Having been an outsider and joined the Old Order Mennonite, some things don't upset me that do Joseph. Our oldest son has a car right now. He recently took some of his friends to Niagara Falls to see Nik Wallenda walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope.

Joseph is not happy that our son has a car, but forgets that he had one at his age. Old Order Mennonite do not condone cars, but some of the teenagers have them anyway. Our son is seriously courting an Old Order Mennonite lady his age. When he proposes-he will get rid of the car and turn in his drivers license. Sometimes on weekends, after chores, they take the car somewhere on a day trip. It is rare they stay overnight like they did for Wallenda's walk. I am just glad that our son told us where he was going, why, and when he would return-some children don't. We are not allowed to ride in our son's car. It is against our religious beliefs-although I did the day of the fire at Jean's house.

I asked my son (or rather ordered him) to take me to Jean's and he did. I told our deacons about it on Sunday and they allowed it, but asked that I don't that very often. I have not done it before or since, but would if it were an emergency and that was the only car around. As Foster Parents we have had to take our Foster Children to parents, friends, Foster Children Parties, etc. and we use vans. Also because our Foster Children go to public schools we also have school activities football, baseball, basketball, etc. Sometimes these school activities are out of town.

When we get older and our children are grown up with families of their own, Joseph and I would like to go to Pinecraft in Florida for the winter, but that is a dream right now.

Be With the Lord

Martha

My message to Martha

Thank you Martha for allowing me to share a slice of your life on my blog Amish Stories, your story was both personal and honest and I will always be grateful to you for doing that. I personally enjoyed very much reading your posts and loved putting everything together for you, and I wont ever forget you. Richard

Images from one of New York States Amish communities.

2012-12-06T16:28:00.000-05:00

All Images from Tom of New York State

Amish School

New York Cheesecake

Chocolate Pecan Crust:
10 rectangular chocolate graham crackers
3/4 cup ground pecans
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 tablespoons unsalted butter (at room temperature)

Place graham crackers in large plastic food storage bag. Finely crush with rolling pin. Place in bowl. Add pecans, sugar and cinnamon; stir to mix well. Add butter; mix until well blended. Scatter crumb mixture over bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Cover with plastic wrap; press evenly over bottom and up sides of pan. Refrigerate pan until ready to use.

Filling:
32 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature)
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whole strawberries (optional)
Fresh mint sprigs (optional)

Beat cream cheese in large bowl with electric mixer or in food processor, until well blended and smooth. Gradually beat in sugar until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add lemon juice and vanilla extract; beat until blended. Pour cheese filling evenly into crust-lined pan. Bake cheesecake at 350 degrees F for 50 minutes or until the center is just set. Remove the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours or overnight.

To serve, remove side of pan. Cut into wedges. Garnish with whole strawberries and fresh mint sprigs if desired.

New York Deli Sandwich

3 ounces sliced pastrami
2 slices pumpernickel bread
2 ounces Dijon mustard
Dill pickle slices
Yellow onion slices
2 ounces sweet cole slaw

Spread Dijon mustard on both slices of pumpernickel bread. Add pastrami and top with dill pickle, yellow onion and cole slaw. New York Recipes from www.Recipegoldmine.com

Classic ad of the week: Bonanza's cast sell some cars for Chevrolet in 1967. And from 1970 the Ford Maverick Coupe.

2012-12-05T16:51:00.000-05:00

1967 Chevrolet original vintage advertisement. With celebrity endorsement by the Bonanza cast featuring Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. Photographed in black & white.

1970 Ford Maverick Coupe original vintage advertisement. Equipped with 200 cu. in. 6 cylinder engine, spoiler, whiteside wall tires with color trim rings and vinyl interior. Original MSRP started at $1,995 for the base model (left). Grabber model featured at right. Image's courtesy of www.adclassix.com

Recipes of the week

2012-12-04T18:28:00.000-05:00

Thank You Casserole

Slice potatoes into a buttered baking dish. Break up meat and mix into potatoes with soups and onion. Crumble a few potato chips over top and cover tightly. Bake at 375° F for about one hour.

5 potatoes
1 lb. hamburger
1 onion - diced
1 can vegetable soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup

This excellent collection of authentic Amish recipes will be a treasured addition to any cookbook collection. Includes Amish home remedies. 217 pages, 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", comb bound, illustrated. The Amish Way Cookbook

Crazy Chocolate Cake

Preheat oven to 350° F. Combine dry ingredients and sift into large mixing bowl. Add eggs, shortening, sour milk and boiling water. Stir until moistened. Beat until smooth Pour into greased 9x13" pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool and frost.

3 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2/3 c. shortening
1 c. sour milk
1¼ c. boiling water

Oatmeal Chocolate Cake

Pour boiling water over oatmeal. Let stand 10 minutes. Add sugar and butter. Stir till butter is melted; add rest of ingredients, except half of chocolate chips and nuts. Pour in greased 9x13" pan. Sprinkle nuts and rest of chocolate chips on top. Bake at 350° for about 40 minutes.

1¾ cups boiling water
1 cup uncooked oatmeal
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 large eggs
1¾ cups flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. cocoa
12 oz. chocolate chips
3/4 cup nuts

When Norman and Marlena Miller, along with the entire Evart, MI Amish community, set out to compile their family favorites, they did so with a song and plenty of inspirations. And that's exactly the recipe they used for Cooking With Praise. This cookbook has a delicious spread of Amish favorites: Potato Salad, Poor Man's Steak, Tator-Tot Casserole, and Oreo Pudding, to name a few. Then there are the seven sections for those who watch their diet. Then like a good cook who adds a pinch of this and a dash of that, bringing the taste to perfection, the Millers have added hymns and inspirational thoughts throughout. Cooking With Praise is ready for your table and your guests. 450 recipes. 254 pages. Spiral bound with laminated covers. Fully indexed.
Cooking With Praise.

Amish Cake

Preheat oven to 375° F. Cream butter and brown sugar. Add buttermilk, soda, flour and vanilla. Bake for about 30 minutes. Topping:
Mix above ingredients and spread over cake. Return cake to oven and bake until topping is bubbly.

1/2 c. butter
2 c. brown sugar (packed)
2 c. buttermilk or sour milk
2 tsp. soda
3 c. flour
1 tsp. vanilla Topping:
6 Tbsp. soft butter
4 Tbsp. milk
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. nuts

Chocolate Covered Cherries

Mix sugar, juice and butter thoroughly. Make small balls, press dough with thumb to make a dent to put cherry in. Fold dough over it, roll into ball again. Dip within 2 hours or centers will get soft and hard to dip. Spread cherries on towels overnight for easy work. Cherries can be cut in half and only a half used in each ball.

Amish Cereal

Mix all together and toast at 300° till golden brown.

12 cups rolled oats
6 cups coconut
6 cups wheat germ
3 cups sugar
3 tsp. salt
1 cup vegetable oil or oleo

Here's an intimate visit to the Amish home and food of 17-year-old Miriam Miller. Miriam's mom, grandma and aunts open their recipe boxes here. In addition to sharing her families favorite authentic time-tested recipes, Miriam shares childhood memories, stories, and personal details of her life as a young Amish girl. Take a walk through Miriam's life with art and stories about her home, and everyday activities. 194 pages. 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" spiral bound. Laminated cover. Double indexed.

The Mess

Fry hash browns, meat, peppers and onions in butter. When hash browns are done, add eggs. Fry until eggs are set. Serve with toast or pancakes. This is also delicious made over a campfire

1 package frozen hash browns
1 lb. Li'l Smokies or ham, cut up
peppers, optional
onions, optional
salt
pepper

Taste the old fashioned goodness of Amish style chicken, experience the delight of mouth watering apple pie. If you want authenticity - then get a piece of homemade goodness - Cooking with the Horse & Buggy People II. This 320 page spiral bound cookbook has over 600 recipes.Cooking with the Horse & Buggy People II

To order all books go to www.Amishshop.com

This week on Jean: The boys all go hunting! With recipes from country music star Dolly Parton.

2012-12-03T15:54:00.000-05:00

Hunting Season has begun. On Saturday, David, Michael, Edward, my Father, my Grandfather and David’s Father all went hunting. They remembered to milk and feed the cows. Also, they remembered to feed the horses, but they left the rest of the feedings and chores for us ladies to do. All us wives prepared breakfast for those at our houses and I made lunches for all of them.

So they all left with full stomachs and lunches for later. Edward had never been hunting before so when they divided into groups-Edward went with David. Michael went with David’s Father. My Father and Grandfather went together as my Grandfather is getting up in years and my Father wanted to keep an eye on him. Not one of them brought back a deer.

They were gone about 12 hours and might have stayed longer, but I called David, on his cell phone, to tell him someone was bringing their deer in to be cut up and packaged. Also, they were hungry. Since the place in our town has closed, David has taken on cutting up and packing deer. We slaughter and cut up some of our animals for food, so deer gives us a little extra money. The fur is sold to a man that makes gloves, shoes, etc. out of it. David had two to do that evening. We do not work on Sunday so he will not do this on Sunday. Being Sunday was the next day-they did not go hunting. Also, because Michael and Edward are in school won’t go until Friday. Men kind of planned to go on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, but we but we ladies put a stop to that.

We will be going to meeting (church) and then David’s family and my family will be for dinner at our house. So Friday is when they are all going again.

I was sort of a tomboy when I was growing up. One of the things I learned was how to use a rifle and deer hunting. David and I decided when the children are at school, David Jr. will go to my parents, and David and I are going hunting. I haven’t been hunting for a long time so Tuesday or Wednesday, we are going hunting. Since having Susan, I think I have been once or twice and I know I haven’t been since David Jr. was born. I mentioned to David how we use to go hunting. He said we will again, like we have other years, but he wasn’t kidding. I practiced shooting the rifle to get use to it again.

If we get a deer or not, it will be fun just being together, alone, doing something together. We do not kill deer just for the fun of it. Any deer we kill is for us to eat. We don’t go out to see who can get the biggest. We don’t go for trophies. We go to get food for our freezer. Right now, we don’t have any deer meat in our freezer. It would be nice to get some.

Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving.

Be With God,

Jean

Dolly Parton's Peanut Butter Pie

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
2 graham cracker crusts
1 large container Cool Whip
8 ounces cream cheese

Beat sugar, peanut butter and cream cheese in medium bowl. Stir in Cool Whip. Pour into crusts. These pies can be frozen.

Dolly Parton's Five Layer Dinner

Servings: 8

2 cups sliced potatoes
2 cups extra lean ground beef
1 cup onions, sliced
2 cups cooked tomatoes
Salt and pepper
1 green bell pepper, sliced

Layer potatoes, beef, onions and tomatoes in a 2-quart casserole. Season each layer with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with sliced green peppers. Cover and bake for 2 hours at 350 degrees F.

Dolly Parton's Cowboy Beans

1 pound ground beef
2 medium onions, chopped fine
1 small bell pepper, chopped fine
2 (16 ounce) cans pork and beans
2 cups catsup
1 teaspoon vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Brown ground beef, onions, and pepper in a 10-inch skillet. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into baking dish and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture is bubbly.

Serves 8 to 10.

Dolly Parton's Banana Pudding

1 (12 ounce) box vanilla wafer cookies
4 large firm, ripe bananas, sliced (about 1 1/2 pounds)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 cups milk
1 large egg
Yolks of 3 large eggs
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Meringue Topping:
Whites of 3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Prepare pudding: Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

In deep 2-quart casserole toss cookies and bananas to mix well; set aside.

In 2-quart saucepan combine 3/4 cup of sugar, flour and salt; using wire whisk or fork, beat in milk until blended and smooth. Bring to boil over medium-low heat; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

In small bowl beat egg and egg yolks, adding 2 or 3 tablespoons hot milk mixture. Stir egg mixture into saucepan; set over low heat; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly until mixture is hot but not boiling. Stir in butter until melted. Remove from heat; stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Pour mixture over cookies and bananas in casserole; set aside.

Prepare meringue topping: In large bowl with electric mixer at high speed, beat egg whites, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Spoon mixture over top of pudding, making sure meringue touches sides of casserole all around. Bake 15 minutes until top is golden. This is delicious! All recipes from www.recipegoldmine.com (Images of Dolly Parton from Alejo Castillo and out of focus of Flicker)

The Amish: From Plows to Profits.

2012-11-29T16:29:00.000-05:00

Story from the Amish country News.

The Amish: From Plows to Profits

As most visitors to Lancaster County quickly notice, a large number of the Amish earn a living in non-farming occupations. Amish shops selling everything from quilts to gazebos dot the countryside. What were the factors behind this shift from "plows to profits," and how is it affecting Amish culture today? The beginnings of this shift actually had something to do with farming changes among the non-Amish in the 1940’s...

Horse-drawn equipment became increasingly scarce after 1940, as more American farmers began using tractors. Consequently, several Amish mechanics opened machines shops to refurbish horse-drawn implements. By the mid-sixties it was difficult to buy horse-drawn machinery, so Amish welders and mechanics began producing component parts in order to repair horse-drawn equipment. Taking a major turn, they also began buying implements designed for tractors and adapting them for use with horses. For example, they mounted engines on hay balers that were pulled by horses instead of tractors. Thus, somewhat ironically, the Amish were nudged into business in order to preserve their horse farming in the face of a booming agribusiness enamored with tractors.

One church leader described the rise of shops in his church district from 1963 to 1993. The congregation had twenty-one working households, not counting retired persons. In 1963, the district had one shop; by 1993, this number had grown to ten, and only half of the adult men were farming.
During the explosive growth of Amish business in the 1980s, entrepreneurs moved into a wide variety of new ventures. Some opened retail stores for their own people, selling shoes, lighting fixtures, kitchen appliances, wet and dry cell batteries, hardware supplies, furniture, and all sorts of food. New firms also targeted non-Amish customers with furniture, dry goods, greenhouse products, camping gear, and building supplies. Others plied the tourist trade, selling quilts, lawn furniture, and other crafts to visitors as well as to wholesale dealers.

The transformation of Amish work was a monumental bargain between a tenacious people and the forces of a modern, rationalized social order. The Amish were willing to experiment with new occupations, products, and markets if they could control their newly created world of work. Farming remained highly regarded. Many new entrepreneurs tried to maintain the patterns and virtues of farm life in their new commercial context. Moreover, they remembered the lessons from their foray into factory employment in the seventies. And so the ethnic enterprises, burgeoning in the eighties, were located at or near home as much as possible.

No travel to far-off industrial parks would separate fathers from their families. Working at or near home preserved family values by blending spouses and children into the world of business. Parents working alongside their children could pass on the virtues of Amish life in the context of work, albeit at the edge, not the center, of the farm.

This astute compromise enabled the Amish to harness their work within an ethnic subculture. Employment within the context of kin and church reinforced Amish values, fortified the Pennsylvania German dialect, and accommodated the calendar of their holidays and celebrations. Finally, and most important, the implicit terms of the agreement enabled the Amish to work within the moral boundaries of their faith. They could now easily avoid Sunday sales, fringe benefit packages, and other dubious influences that sometimes accompany factory employment, such as blaring music, profane language, and organized labor.

The rapid rise of Amish enterprises is surely the most significant transformation in the history of the Lancaster settlement. Although few Amish-owned firms existed before 1970, within twenty years nearly a thousand shops had sprung to life. In fact, 60% of all Amish businesses have been started since 1980, and 31% have opened their doors in the last five years alone. In other words, Lancaster’s Amish community has given birth to nearly 300 enterprises in half a decade. The move toward small-business ownership has been dramatic and sharp. Each month new firms move into new markets, offer new products, develop new product lines, and increase their sales.

By the mid-nineties, the Lancaster settlement had some 1,000 Amish-owned businesses with annual sales of more than $1000. The older, more densely populated portions of the settlement, which face the greatest land and population pressures, have the most enterprises. In one district near the heart of the settlement, almost half of all Amish households own a business. On the other hand, only 13% of the households in one congregation in the more rural, southern flank of Lancaster County are involved in business.

One-third of the firms are part-time or seasonal operations. These part-time, or sideline, businesses provide extra cash throughout the year or on a seasonal basis on family farms. Two-thirds of the businesses are full-time enterprises providing regular employment and income for their owners. Some firms employ up to fifteen people, although two to six employees is more common. All totaled, Amish businesses provide nearly 2,000 full-time jobs and some 1,400 part-time or seasonal slots. The financial scope of Amish commerce varies, as well. Although many firms are small, 7% sport annual sales in excess of one million dollars.

Amish shops produce an amazing variety of products and services. "You would flip out if you knew how much product is being pumped out of these little shops," one Amishman chortled. Woodworking trades comprise the largest clustering of enterprises---furniture building, cabinet making, and storage barn and gazebo construction, as well as more general woodworking activity. Smaller wood products, such as doghouses, birdhouses, cupolas, picnic tables, and lawn furniture, also flow from Amish shops. The small storage sheds widely distributed in several states are another popular product of Amish carpentry shops. One Amish observer estimates that more than 700 "little red barns" are shipped out of the country each week during peak production. One shop makes about 4,000 storage sheds a year.

But the modern world abounds with values often at odds with cherished Amish virtues. Business ventures are indeed transforming many of the cultural sentiments that have regulated Amish life over the generations and gave birth to Amish enterprise in the first place. Personal names are appearing more frequently on business cards, in business names, and on advertising trinkets. And unlike farming, failure or success in business points much more directly to the personal ability of an entrepreneur to survive the harsh competition of the marketplace.

Entrepreneurs who straddle the worlds of tradition and modernity often feel pulled in conflicting directions. Always tempted to use more and more advanced technology, they also realize that the restraints of their culture have bestowed upon them a satisfying way of life. One successful entrepreneur, who at times has faced the censure of the church for stepping across the boundaries, summed it up this way... "Sometimes I think of leaving the church, but why should I leave when I know there are millions of people out there who would just love to have this way of life."

Lancaster’s Amish have negotiated a workable settlement with the forces of modernity. Forced to leave the farms of their past, the Amish have refused to enter the alien culture of corporate America. They have, indeed, relinquished their grip on the plow as well as on some aspects of their family-centered living, shaped by three centuries of tilling the soil. But they have yielded neither their right to manage their own time and resources nor their control of technology.

Acting in a rather judicious fashion, the Amish have held the terms and conditions of their work within the religious boundaries of their ethnic community. Their move toward entrepreneurship marks a pivotal moment in their history as a people---a most significant adjustment to the modern world. They have struck a bargain that nourishes their economic health without conceding their cultural soul---a bargain that appears to be a good one, at least for the present generation.

You may enjoy reading the entire book, from which this article was adapted….

Amish Enterprises: From Plows to Profits, by Donald B. Kraybill and Steven M. Nolt, is published by the Johns Hopkins University Press, and is available in area bookstores. Other highly recommended books written or edited by Dr. Kraybill include The Riddle of Amish Culture, The Amish and The State, The Old Order Amish: Their Enduring Way of Life, and The Amish Struggle with Modernity. Amish Country News Article by Guest Writers Donald B. Kraybill & Steven M. Nolt

Published with permission from www.Amishcountrynews.com

Amish Friendship Banana Nut Bread

1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup Amish Friendship starter
2 bananas, mashed
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Mix all ingredients together. Place in greased and sugared bread pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 50 minutes. Recipe from www.Recipegoldmine.com

Recipe of the week: Twinkies

2012-11-28T16:41:00.000-05:00

History

Twinkies were invented in Schiller Park, Illinois in 1930 by James Alexander Dewar, a baker for the Continental Baking Company. Realizing that several machines used to make cream-filled strawberry shortcake sat idle when strawberries were out of season, Dewar conceived a snack cake filled with banana cream, which he dubbed the Twinkie. He said he came up with the name when he saw a billboard in St. Louis for "Twinkle Toe Shoes".

During World War II, bananas were rationed and the company was forced to switch to vanilla cream. This change proved popular, and banana-cream Twinkies were not widely re-introduced. The original flavor was occasionally found in limited-time promotions, but the company used vanilla cream for most Twinkies. In 1988, Fruit and Cream Twinkies were introduced with a strawberry filling swirled into the cream. However, the product was soon dropped.

Vanilla's dominance over banana flavoring would be challenged in 2005, following a month-long promotion of the movie King Kong. Hostess saw its Twinkie sales rise 20 percent during the promotion, and in 2007 permanently restored the banana-cream Twinkie to its snack lineup.

Source: Wikipedia

Twinkie Shortcake

1 multi-pack of Hostess Twinkies
1 package strawberry glaze
1 pint fresh strawberries
1 container Cool Whip
1 can or bottle of chocolate syrup

Mix glaze and fresh strawberries. Place Twinkies in dessert dish. Cover Twinkies with glaze mixture. Top with Cool Whip and chocolate syrup. Cool and enjoy!

Twinkie Delight

1 box Twinkies (10)
2 small boxes instant vanilla pudding
2 or 3 bananas
1 can crushed pineapple, drained
Cool Whip
Nuts and maraschino cherries

Cut Twinkies in half and lay in a 13 x 9-inch pan with the cream side up. Mix pudding as directed and pour over Twinkies. Slice bananas over the top. Pour crushed pineapple over the bananas. Top with Cool Whip. Sprinkle with nuts and maraschino cherries. Chill at least 2 hours before serving.

Deep-Fried Twinkies

Twinkies:
6 individual Twinkies
Popsicle sticks
4 cups vegetable oil
Flour for dusting

Batter:
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Chill or freeze Twinkies for several hours or overnight.

Heat 4 cups vegetable oil in deep fryer to about 375 degrees F.

To make batter: Mix together milk, vinegar and oil.

In another bowl, blend flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk wet ingredients into dry and continue mixing until smooth. Refrigerate while oil heats. Push stick into Twinkie lengthwise, leaving about 2 inches to use as a handle, dust with flour and dip into the batter. Rotate Twinkie until batter covers entire cake. Place carefully in hot oil. The Twinkie will float, so hold it under with a utensil to ensure even browning. It should turn golden in 3 to 4 minutes. Depending on the size of your deep fryer, you might be able to fry only one at a time, two at the most.

Remove Twinkies to a paper towel and let drain. Remove stick and allow Twinkie to sit for about 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Makes 6.

Variation: Slice Twinkie into 4 pieces. Flour and batter each before frying. With this treatment, one Twinkie will serve two people if accompanied by a sauce.

Twinkie Cake

1 box Twinkie Cakes
1 carton frozen strawberries with syrup, thawed
1 container Cool Whip, thawed

Slice Twinkies in half, laying bottom half filling side up in the bottom of a cake pan, covering the entire bottom of the pan. Pour strawberries over bottom layer and place the top side of the Twinkies over berries. "Frost" the cake with Cool Whip and serve

Twinkie Pineapple Dessert

5 Twinkies, split in half lengthwise
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 1/2 cups cold milk
1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups whipped topping, divided
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Place Twinkies in an ungreased 11 x 7-inch dish. Top with pineapple; cover and set aside.

In a bowl, beat milk and pudding mix until smooth Fold in 1/2 cup whipped topping; pour over pineapple. Spread remaining whipped topping over pudding. Sprinkle with nuts. Chill until serving.

Yields 6 to 8 servings.

Twinkie Malt

2 cups milk
6 Hostess Twinkies
4 Oreo cookies
3 cups vanilla ice cream
1/3 cup milk

Blend milk and Twinkies for 5 to 10 seconds. Add Oreo cookies. Blend together. Add 3 cups vanilla ice cream. Blend until smooth. Pour in milk and enjoy. From www.Recipegoldmine.com

This week on Jean: When both Michael and Edward grow-up, who does Jean think will likely stay with the old order Mennonite church?

2012-11-26T09:23:00.000-05:00

Old order Mennonite buggies. Image from 1941

This may be a question that I answered before, but I will again-Are your siblings and your foster children continuing as Old Order Mennonites. Right now they are and I hope they will continue. With the things in the world today, no one can be sure, so we pray that they will be. David Jr. and Susan are more likely to because they are being raised Old Order Mennonite. They may have their teenage years, but because of their background, we hope will stay. But no parent can be sure of that. We know of several people who have had one of their children leave the Old Order Mennonite. Some have left to join a more modern of the world Mennonite group. Some have left to join outside religions. Some have left and are wandering and just searching.

Even though Edward has been with us for a short time, I believe he is most likely of the Foster Children to stay. He reads his bible daily-because he wants too not because he feels he has to. His grandmother brought him up in a very religious background. In his life, he has seen the outside world with the way his Mother went with drugs, and violence. We have no problem getting him to meetings (church) and he looks forward to them.

Mennonite one room school house. Image from 1942

Michael, on the other hand, had no religious training before he came here. He goes to meetings (I believe) because he has to not because he wants to. He does read his bible sometimes. But he is looking forward to when he becomes age 16 when he feels he can get his drivers license, an outside job, and do things that we don’t allow him to do. Michael came from a different family. His parents are in jail. Before that they moved from house to house and he was not treated with the love given like Edward was by his grandmother.

Michael and Edward’s ways are different. When Michael first came he was afraid that when he did something wrong, we would really come down and punish him-maybe hit him or beat him as his parents had done. Edward on the other hand, when he does something wrong he comes forth and takes whatever punishment we give. He never thinks of running away.

Michael and Edward were playing baseball where we told them not to. Edward hit a baseball through one of the windows on our greenhouse. Even though Michael has been with us for a long time, he was worried about what we would say or do. When we got home Edward came and told us what happened. He had no fear to come to us. For punishment we gave them a couple extra chores for a week and told them they couldn’t play baseball for a week. We never hit or beat any of the children.

But only the Lord knows what will happen to all the children we have and may get, in the future. We must trust in Him. We hope and pray that they will got the way of the Lord.

Be With God,

Jean

Both Edward and Michael know what I am saying here and give their permission for me to put it in.

Recipes from Jean

This Lye Soap recipe has been passed from generation to generation and now it goes to you.

Lye Soap

ALWAYS use SCRAP FATS (bacon, etc.) this way--DON'T THROW THEM OUT !!!!

Clarify waste fat by melting slowly and straining thru double cheese cloth, then add an equal amount of hot water, stir well and bring to a boil.. Remove from fire, add 1 quart cold water, stirring constantly. Set aside to cool. When firm, the clean fat will be a solid cake on top of water, readu to make soap.

Ginger Ale

2 gallons warm water

2 oz. bruised ginger root

2 lbs. sugar

2 lemons-juice only

1 tbsp cream tarter

1 yeast cake or package in cold water, 2/3 of package in the summer

Let stand in stone jar, covered for 24 hours. Strain and bottle. Bottles must be sealed tightly.

Heavenly Jam

3 lbs. ripe peaches, peeled and mashed

3 lbs granulated sugar ( can use Splenda, etc.)

2 oranges, pulp and juice but grated rind of only 1 orange

1 small bottle maraschino cherries cut fine

Combine and let stand over night the mashed peaches and sugar. In the morning add remaining ingredients and cook together for 1 hour. Put in sterilized jars and seal.

Lye Soap

ALWAYS use SCRAP FATS (bacon, etc.) this way--DON'T THROW THEM OUT !!!!

USE ONLY ENAMEL PANS. No aluminum. STIR with WOODEN spoon.

INGREDIENTS:

5 1/2 cups strained Melton fat (no oils)

2 1/2 cups SOFT OR RAINWATER

1/2 can Lye

1/4 cup liquid ammonia

1/4 cup borax

1/6 cup sugar

2 teaspoons oil of lemon (or other scent)

Add lye to soft water in quite large enamel kettle, allow to cool to lukewarm. POUR slowly into lukewarm melted fat, with slow even stirring. ADD ammonia, borax and sugar and continue stirring evenly. ADD scent and pure food color if desired.

CONTINUE stirring until like cake batter (about 20 minutes)

POUR into clean GLASS oblong containers. COVER and keep at room temperature for 24 hours. Then cut into bars.

This recipe makes 20 - 4 oz bars.

ALLOW soap to age two weeks before using.

All six of us like to go fishing, when we get the chance. We get tired of eating fish the same old ways of either just plain frying or baking so I look for different fish recipes. Here is one we enjoy:

Baked Fish with Vegetable Stuffing

Fish fillets or whole, cleaned fish

1 tomato

1 stick celery

1/2 green pepper

1 sm. onion

1 T mustard

1 T salad dressing

Chop all vegetables. Arrange half of fillets in greased baking pan. Spread with vegetables. Top with remaining fish. Brush top with mixture of mustard and dressing. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes in hot oven or until bottom layer is flaky.

Here is an fast and easy cake to make that is really chocolate cake.

Chocolate Cake

1 3 oz. package chocolate pudding mix (not instant)

1 chocolate cake mix

1 6 oz package chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Mix pudding according to box directions. Let cool. Add dry cake mix, blend and pour into 9" by 13" pan.

Sprinkle chocolate chips and nuts over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with

confectionery sugar.

Broccoli Salad

3 Tbsp vinegar

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sugar

3 heads broccoli

1 red onion

1/2 cup peanuts

1/2 cup raisins

6-7 strips bacon, fried and crumbled

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Cut broccoli and slice onion. Mix with all ingredients. Let sit in refrigerator a few hours before serving.

Horse Progress Days in Ohio: A big Amish event. Images from Mary Brandenburg

2012-11-16T10:06:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, from me to you. I will return from a break on Nov 26.Comment Moderation will be on until I get back. Richard

Images by Mary Brandenburg

This buttery and nutty chocolate confection was inspired by the nuts that fall from Ohio's famous buckeye trees. Come holiday time, they are produced (and consumed) in mass quantities in "The Buckeye State," as well as in neighboring states throughout the Midwest.

Almond Butter Buckeyes

Makes 4 dozen

Candies:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups almond butter*
3 tablespoons dark rum or 1 1/2 teaspoons rum extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
3 3/4 to 4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

Coating:
12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Candies:
In large bowl, combine butter, almond butter, rum, almond extract and confectioners' sugar using electric mixer. Dough will be smooth and firm. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm; about 30 minutes.

Coating:
Melt chocolate in shallow, microwave-safe dish. Heat 30 seconds; stir; then continue in 10-second intervals, stirring after each cook time. Chocolate should be melted and smooth.

To dip balls, insert a toothpick about 1/2 inch into the ball, dip into melted chocolate leaving a small circle of dough visible at the top, and place on parchment paper to dry until chocolate is firm. Repeat with remaining candies. Store in airtight container for up to 3 days.

*You may substitute peanut or cashew butter for almond butter; omit almond extract if you use a substitution.

White Castle Hamburger Turkey Dressing

Source: St. Petersburg Times - 9/13/2000 - Stuffing was developed at White Castle's headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, in 1987

10 White Castle hamburgers (see note)
1 1/2 cups celery, diced
1 1/4 teaspoons ground thyme
1 1/2 teaspoons ground sage
3/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
1/4 cup chicken broth

In a large mixing bowl, tear the White Castle hamburgers into pieces and add diced celery and seasonings.

Toss and add chicken broth. Toss well. Stuff cavity of turkey just before roasting.

Makes about 9 cups (enough for a 10- to 12-pound turkey). Allow 1 White Castle hamburger for each pound of turkey, which will be the equivalent of 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound.

NOTE: If hamburgers are bought in a White Castle restaurant, remove pickles. Mary Batters likes to sauté the celery before combining it with the rest of the ingredients. Both recipes from www.Recipegoldmine.com

Special recipe of the week: For Thanksgiving-5 Recipes

2012-11-14T05:24:00.000-05:00

Special Thanksgiving recipe extravaganza

Turkey Scallop

Sauté onions and green peppers in butter until tender. Add sliced mushrooms and cook 5 more minutes. Combine noodles, vegetables, turkey, and gravy in casserole dish. /top with bread crumbs and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake at 375° F. until heated through and brown on top. A good way to use up leftover turkey at holiday time.

8 oz. wide noodles, cooked, drained
1½ cups turkey, cubed and diced
2 tablespoons onion, chopped
2 tablespoons green pepper, chopped
1 pint mushrooms, sliced (fresh)
4 tablespoons butter
2 cups turkey gravy
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

All the favorites of the Belle Center Amish Community. Over 600 of today's family favorites, and even some from Grandma's kitchen. All the usual sections are here. But what makes Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread special is the appetizers, large quantity recipes (for weddings, reunions, and other special occasions) and the children's recipe section. The tips, hints, and quotes section is filled with everyday kitchen secrets. Laminated cover - Spiral bound - 263 pages.

Potato and Bread Stuffing

Put the water in a 1-quart saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the celery, onion, salt, pepper, parsley, and saffron. Boil approximately 7 minutes until the celery is clear. Lightly mix the celery mixture with the potatoes, beaten egg, bread crumbs, and milk in a large bowl. If used as a side dish, bake in a preheated 350° F. oven for 30 minutes.

½ cup water
½ cup chopped celery with leaves
¼ cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
* Pinch saffron
2 cups mashed potatoes
3 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups fresh bread cubes
1 cup milk

Betty Groffs newly revised and illustrated Country Goodness Cookbook is a virtual cornucopia of family recipes and home-spun anecdotes. This 326 page soft-cover edition has seasonal menus, common sense cooking, and microwave ideas. As an added bonus this book is autographed by the author.

Shoo Fly Pie 3

Combine molasses, water and soda and pour in pie shell. Combine flour, sugar and spices and butter, mix together to make a crumb consistency. Sprinkle over liquid in pie shell. Bake 15 minutes in hot oven at 450° F. Reduce to 375° F and bake 40 minutes

3/4 c. molasses
3/4 c. cold water
1/2 tsp. soda
1¼ c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/3 c. butter
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 unbaked pie shell

Pumpkin Pie

Mix dry ingredients. Add a little milk to egg yolks, mix well. Then add pumpkin, hot milk and cream. Add stiffly beaten egg whites last. Bake at 425° F for 10 minutes. Turn oven back to 400° F. for 20-25 minutes more. Makes 3 small pies.

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon allspice
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
pinch of salt
1¼ cups white sugar
3 eggs
1 cup cream
1½ cups pumpkin
4 cups milk

Hot Fudge Cake

Mix together in order given, and pour batter into greased cake pan. Stir together 1 cup brown sugar and 4 tablespoons cocoa. sprinkle on top of cake, then pour 1¼ cups hot water over everything. Bake at 350° F for 35 to 40 minutes. Serve while it's warm.

1 cup flour
3/4 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

Happy Thanksgiving: This week on Jean: the choice of wearing old order cloths for Michael and Edward . And Jean again discuses the topic of shunning.

2012-11-12T14:47:00.000-05:00

Home To Thanksgiving: published in 1867 by Currier and Ives.

Happy Thanksgiving from Jean and her family

I thought, this time, I would answer some of the questions that I was asked starting with their clothing. Michael and Edward dress like most of the other children in public school, when they are at school or school activities. We don’t want them to feel funny or not fit in. They wear slacks and shirts. Old Order Mennonite men wear jeans and shirts when working in the fields or casual at home. Both of the boys do dress in black slacks, jackets, hats and white shirts for our meetings (church services), when we go out together like shopping, dinner, etc.

From 1942: Earl Landis and family saying grace before Thanksgiving dinner in Neffville,Pennsylvania.

When they went to New York City, we gave them the choice what to wear and the boys decided to dress Old Order Mennonite. They wanted to all look alike. David and I really appreciated it. My health is much better, and we don’t have our Maude anymore. David, Edward and Michael make sure I don’t lift anything (I shouldn’t lift or do anything I shouldn’t do). I feel a lot better now that I did before the operation. Things are back to how they use to be. I thank you all for your prayers-they were really appreciated.

I may be repeating myself as I can’t remember if I told we now have a new to us buggy. We sold our old one and got a two seater. This way we can all fit in with room to spare. We really enjoy it when our family go places together.

I really don’t make judgment on the Amish or anyone else, but our church beliefs are different in shunning than the Amish. My opinion is that shunning a family as the Amish do would be more harm than good, but that is mine. I don’t know if I could give up my family shunning their way.

Old Order Mennonite shunning is that if someone is found to be in a position that they be shunned-they can not attend communion meetings. We still call talk with them, have meals with them, live with them, etc. I am sure that the Deacons speak with them. We really don’t have much shunning. Most of the time when the Deacons go and tell someone of a problem, it is taken care of. Again, this is my opinion, only.

Be With God. Jean

Roast Turkey with Eggplant Stuffing

Sprinkle both sides of the turkey breast lightly with salt and pepper. Peel the eggplant and slice 1/4" thick. Put eggplant, salt, onion, and water in a 2-quart saucepan. Cover and simmer about 8 minutes until tender. Drain and mash or puree in a blender. Mix with the 2 tablespoons butter, pepper, eggs, and bread crumbs. Turn into a buttered 1½ -quart casserole and sprinkle with the grated cheese, salt, and pepper. Arrange turkey breast on top of stuffing. Bake in a preheated 375° F. oven for 1 hour, basting the breast occasionally with the 1/4 cup of melted butter. Makes 4 servings.

1 (2-pound) turkey breast
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper Eggplant Stuffing:
1 medium eggplant (about 1 pound)
1½ teaspons salt
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
1 cup water
2 tablespoons melted butter
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 eggs, beaten
½ cup dry bread crumbs
¾ cup grated Cheddar cheese
¼ cup melted butter for basting

Betty Groffs newly revised and illustrated Country Goodness Cookbook is a virtual cornucopia of family recipes and home-spun anecdotes. This 326 page soft-cover edition has seasonal menus, common sense cooking, and microwave ideas. As an added bonus this book is autographed by the author. Betty Groffs Country Goodness Cookbook.

To order Betty Groffs cook book go to www.Amishshop.com
Jean returns on Nov 26 after a Thanksgiving break

Classic ad of the week: 1956 Life Magazine Cover - President Dwight D. Eisenhower. With recipes!

2012-11-07T15:02:00.000-05:00

1956 original vintage Life magazine cover only. Magazine not included. With photo of President Dwight Eisenhower at Spence Airforce Base, GA. Image courtesy of www.adclassix.com

Mamie Eisenhower's Favorite Fudge

1 2/3 cups evaporated milk
4 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups semisweet chocolate pieces
3 (4 ounce) bars sweet cooking chocolate
1 pint Marshmallow Creme
2 cups chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine milk, butter, sugar and salt. Bring to a vigorous boil, stirring often; then reduce heat and simmer 6 minutes.

Meanwhile place remaining ingredients (except pecans) in a large bowl. Gradually pour boiling syrup over the chocolate-marshmallow mixture and beat until chocolate is melted. Stir in nuts. Pour into buttered pans and store in a cool place several hours to harden before cutting in squares.

Mamie Eisenhower's Pumpkin Pie

1 baked pie shell
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 envelope Knox gelatine
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 cups cooked pumpkin
3/4 cup milk
3 egg yolks
3 egg whites
1/4 cup granulated sugar

Mix brown sugar, gelatine, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in top of double boiler. Stir in pumpkin and egg yolks; add milk. Heat over boiling water until thick. Cool until cold.

Beat egg whites with granulated sugar until firm peaks. Fold into pumpkin. Pour into pie shell. Chill.

Top with whipped cream to serve. Both recipes from www.Recipegoldmine.com

Mamie Eisenhower's Sugar Christmas Cookies

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon cream or milk

Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

Cream butter. Add sugar slowly and beat until fluffy. Stir in well beaten egg yolks and vanilla extract. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with cream. Chill for at least 1 hour or even overnight.

Roll and cut in desired shapes. Sprinkle with colored sugar before baking (or ice afterwards, when cool). Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes.

Makes 36.

An election special recipe of the week: From President Ronald Reagan & first lady Nancy Reagan.

2012-11-06T17:00:00.000-05:00

President Reagan's Favorite Macaroni and Cheese

8 ounces macaroni
1 teaspoon butter
1 egg, beaten
3 cups grated sharp cheese
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon hot water
1 cup milk

Cook macaroni in boiling water until tender; drain thoroughly. Stir in butter and egg. Add cheese reserving enough to sprinkle on top. Pour into buttered casserole.

Mix mustard and salt with hot water and add to milk. Pour over macaroni; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 45 minutes or until custard is set and top is crusty.

President Reagan's Favorite Homemade Chili

Source: As prepared by White House Executive Chef Henry Haller

1/2 cup bacon drippings
2 cups chopped onions
4 chopped garlic cloves
2 pounds coarsely ground beef
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 cups red wine (optional)
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon beef base
4 cups canned whole tomatoes, chopped
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
4 to 6 cups cooked pinto beans

Using a 1 1/2-gallon heavy pot, melt bacon drippings. When hot, sauté onions and garlic cloves. Add ground beef and chili powder. Stir until meat is well browned. Add red wine (optional). Add salt, beef base, tomatoes, bay leaf and sugar. Simmer chili meat, covered, for 20 minutes, stirring often.

Add pinto beans to the meat. Simmer chili con carne for 1 hour, covered over low heat, stirring gently from time to time. Test for flavor.

Yields 16 servings.

President Ronald Reagan's Hamburger Soup

Source: PR Newswire, March 11, 1986

2 pounds lean ground beef
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups diced onions
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 1/2 cups sliced carrots
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
10 ounces canned hominy
1 cup diced green bell pepper
3 quarts (12 cup) beef broth or water with bouillon cubes
16 ounces chopped tomato (canned or fresh)
2 cups sliced celery

Brown meat in butter in 6-quart saucepan. Add onions, garlic, carrots, celery and green pepper. Simmer 10 minutes with the pan covered.

Add beef broth or water with bouillon cubes. Add chopped tomato and pepper. Simmer soup on low heat for 35 minutes. Add hominy. Boil hamburger soup for 10 minutes more.

Makes 4 quarts.

Nancy Reagan's Pumpkin-Pecan Pie

4 eggs
2 cups pumpkin (canned or fresh)
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 unbaked (9-inch) pie shell
1 cup chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Break eggs into large bowl. Beat with wire whip. Add pumpkin, sugar, corn syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt. Stir until sugar is dissolved and ingredients are well blended. Pour into pie shell and sprinkle with pecans. Bake for 40 minutes, or until filling is set, (knife inserted in center of pie comes out clean). All recipes from www.Recipegoldmine.com