Bless my kitchen, Lord, and light it with love.

As I plan and cook

my meals, keep me ever mindful of the wonderful benefits that come
from serving my family. I pray, Lord, that my loved ones will feel
Your presence and rest content in Your grace and provision. Amen.

ji
She brings her food from afar.
She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household…
A woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
PROvERBS 31:14-15,30-31

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 Introduction

I come from a long line of good cooks, Plain

and otherwise, and many of the recipes in this
cookbook have been handed down in my family
up unexpectedly at our door, with plenty left over
for us. Oftentimes, on long winter evenings, my
mother and father would crack sacks of walnuts
for generations. Other recipes were gleaned from harvested from my grandfather’s trees, while my
friends at the Conservative Amish Mennonite sisters and I sat at the kitchen table and copied
Church that I attended. and recopied family recipes or played board games.
For as long as I can remember, the women Dad would more than likely pop a big pan of
in my family (and even some of the men) have popcorn and top it with melted butter and salt—
enjoyed time spent in the kitchen preparing meals what a treat that was! We’d talk and work and
for those we love. Some of these recipes weren’t eat, and those memories of the family gathered
written down, but instead passed down as the around the kitchen table are precious to me even
daughters worked alongside mothers, learning after many years.
by doing. Certainly, that’s how my sisters and I Family lore has it that during the Depression
learned, and by the time we were teens, we were our grandmother issued a standing invitation to
knowledgeable and efficient in the kitchen, and the extended family. Every week after church, the
we loved turning out goodies on a weekly basis. whole clan would gather at her table for a big meal.
Our cookie jar was never empty. Mama also felt Sometimes this was the only good meal some
strongly that her daughters would learn, among of the relatives could look forward to all week,
other things, how to turn out a perfect crust, and and Grandmother always made sure there were
I still love to bake pies as a result of her careful plenty of leftovers to send home with the aunts
instruction. and uncles and cousins. Because they lived on a
My mother raised four girls and one boy (who farm, my grandparents were able to be generous
is an excellent cook also), and Christmastime was in spite of the lean times. Mama said they were
especially enjoyable for us. For weeks beforehand as poor as church mice right along with every-
we’d gather daily in the kitchen and turn out all one else, but food was plentiful and they were
sorts of special baking that would find its way openhanded.
into gifts for neighbors and anyone who showed When I raised my own family—I have three
5

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 grown boys—I was so thankful that my mother sons are grown now, with wives and families of
had taught me the joys of cooking up love in the their own, and every one of them cooks. I love it
form of good food, because sometimes it seemed when one of my boys calls me up to ask me a cook-
as if I spent all my time in the kitchen. I always ing question—they may not realize it, but they
kept a large garden, and we had a small fruit have begun making memories of their own.
orchard and 53 blueberry bushes that I tended. In this fast-paced world, there are few things
We raised chickens for eggs and meat, turkeys, better than taking the time to prepare the ingre-
hogs, sheep, rabbits, and angora and milk goats. dients for a great meal and gathering the fam-
I canned anywhere from 400 to 600 jars of food ily around the table to enjoy the results. For a
each season to help see us through the winter, short while, our cares and responsibilities fade
and I froze and dehydrated many pounds of pro- into the background, and we can focus on our
duce as well. We didn’t have store-bought bread, families, delighting in the small news of the day
and while raising my children, I ground wheat and savoring the pleasure that comes from a lov-
and rolled oats to use in my bread baking. I usu- ingly prepared home-cooked meal. I hope that
ally made four loaves at a time, and one loaf was some of the recipes in this book will find a place
always made into cinnamon sugar bread, which in your kitchen, and that as you prepare your
we would take from the oven and devour on the family meals you, too, will take pleasure in the
spot. I took such joy in being able to take care of simple art of cooking for loved ones.
my family with the fruits of my labor.
The recipes you will find in this book are the Blessings!
recipes my children were raised on. Good, solid Georgia
food that “fills in the cracks,” as we like to say. My

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 BREAKFAST
TREATS

M orning comes early for the Amish.

Often rising as early as 4:30 a.m., the males in the fam-
ily head to the barn to care for the many animals usually found
on an Amish farm. There are cows to milk, horses and pigs to
feed, and eggs to gather from a flock of chickens. So much to do!
Morning chores can easily take an hour or more. It’s easy to work
up quite an appetite.
Meanwhile Mother and the girls fire up the cookstove and begin
breakfast preparations. The morning meal is important for Amish
families. It must feed them and keep them going for many hours
of steady work—the noonday meal is a long way off.
The breakfast table is also the place where the adults discuss
their plans and schedules for the day, where scholars fuel themselves
for the hours of learning ahead, and where the first silent prayer of
the day is shared by all.
Without a word, Father bows his head, and the family follows.
Again without a word, Father begins to serve himself from the
many plates and bowls on the table. Prayer time is over. Now it’s
time to dig in and eat up.
Breakfast is served!

ji
Joy comes in the morning.
PSALM 30:5

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 Lord, I thank You that Your mercies are new every morning.
What an encouragement that is! As I begin this new day,
may I be mindful of Your love for me. Help me to pass
that love on to everyone I interact with today—to my
family, friends, and strangers. Open the eyes of my heart
that I might see the needs of others. I pray, Lord, that You
will use me today to lighten someone’s load and to remind
them that You are faithful—great is Your faithfulness!

ji

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 Notes:

Amish Breakfast Casserole

BREAKFAST
TREATS
 lb. bacon, cut up
 onion, chopped
 eggs, beaten
 cups hash browns, thawed and shredded
 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
½ cups cottage cheese
¼ cups Swiss cheese, shredded

In a large skillet, brown the bacon and onion, stirring, until

bacon is crisp; drain.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients
Any housewife, no
and then stir in bacon mixture. Transfer to a greased rectangular
matter how large
baking dish and bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or
her family, can
until eggs are set. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.
always get some
time to be alone—by
doing the dishes.

Amish Breakfast Pizza

 lb. sausage
 batch biscuits, unbaked
 cup potatoes (use shredded fresh or frozen)
 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
 eggs
½ cup milk
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper

Cook the sausage until browned; drain.

Grease a jelly roll pan and pat the biscuit dough in the bottom
of pan. Spoon the sausage over the dough and then spread the
potatoes and cheese on top.
Mix together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour over the
pizza and bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until done.

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 Notes:

Amish Coffee Cake

BREAKFAST
TREATS

 cups brown sugar

 cups flour
¾ cup shortening
 tsp. baking soda
 cup hot coffee
 egg
 tsp. vanilla

Mix together the brown sugar, flour, and shortening just until
mixed; there will be lumps. Take out 1 cup of sugar and flour
mixture and set aside to be used later for a crumb topping.
Dissolve the baking soda in the hot coffee and add to the
remaining flour mixture. Add the egg and vanilla and mix
quickly; do not overmix.
Pour batter into a rectangular baking dish and sprinkle on
crumb topping.
Bake at 350° for 30 minutes; turn to 325° if top starts to get too
brown.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar or leave
plain.

Apple Cinnamon Granola

 cups rolled oats
½ cup coconut
 cup nuts, finely chopped
½ cup sesame seeds
¾ tsp. salt
 tsp. cinnamon
½ cup honey
⅓ cup oil
½ tsp. vanilla
 cup dried apples, finely cut

Combine the oats, coconut, nuts, sesame seeds, salt, and



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 Notes:
cinnamon in a large bowl. Combine the honey, oil, and vanilla
separately and then add to the first ingredients.

BREAKFAST
TREATS
Mix thoroughly. Spread out on 2 greased cookie sheets and bake
at 350° for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Cool, and then add 1 cup finely cut dried apples.
Store in tightly covered container.

Apple Fritters
 cup sifted flour
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
 T. sugar
½ cup milk
 T. oil
 well-beaten egg
 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Blend

together milk, oil, and egg. Gradually add to the dry ingredients.
Stir in apples.
Fry in butter or oil, just like you would pancakes.
Serve plain or with powdered sugar.

Apple Oatmeal
 cup rolled oats
 cups cold water
½ tsp. salt
 finely chopped apple
dash each of cinnamon and nutmeg

Combine the oats, water, and salt in a saucepan and cook 10

minutes on low heat. Then add the apple and spices and cook 5
minutes more or until apples are done to desired softness.
Serve with brown sugar, honey, or cinnamon sugar, and milk. 

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 Notes:

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Casserole

BREAKFAST
TREATS

½ lb. bacon
 slices bread
½ lb. Velveeta cheese
 eggs
 cups milk
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper

Fry bacon until crisp and then crumble into pieces.

Cut bread into cubes and place in a well-buttered 2-quart
casserole dish. Cube cheese and layer on top of bread cubes. In
a mixing bowl, beat eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour over the
bread and cheese. Sprinkle bacon pieces on top. Cover and
refrigerate overnight.
Bake covered at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until puffed up and
golden.

Basic Granola
 cups rolled oats
 cups (any combination) raw walnuts and sunflower seeds
¾ cup honey
 T. salt
¾ cup vegetable oil
½ cup water
 tsp. vanilla
 cups raisins
 cups toasted wheat germ

Mix all ingredients together except for raisins and wheat germ.
Spread in thin layer on cookie sheets or large baking pans. Bake
for 1 hour at 300°.
When cool, add the raisins and wheat germ.
You can also add coconut, dried apricots, or dried apples.
Store in airtight container. The granola will last longer if stored
 in the refrigerator.

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 Notes:

Berry Muffins

BREAKFAST
TREATS
¾ cups flour
 cup +  T. sugar, divided
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. salt
 cup milk
¼ cup butter, melted
 egg, beaten
 tsp. vanilla
 cup berries (blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, etc.)

Grease muffin pans. Preheat oven to 375°.

Stir together in a large bowl the flour, 1 cup sugar, baking
powder, cinnamon, and salt.
In another bowl stir together milk, butter, egg, and vanilla.
Add to the dry ingredients in the large bowl and stir just until
blended. Batter will be lumpy. Fold in berries.
Fill muffin cups ¾ full. Sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake for
20 minutes or until done.
Plans for marriage
are kept secret in
Amish communities.
Blackberry Syrup But one can get an
idea of who might
 cup blackberry juice
be marrying come
½ cups sugar
the autumn wedding
 T. lemon juice
season by looking at
¼ cup light Karo syrup the family garden to
Put all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to rolling boil. Boil see how much celery
one minute. Remove from heat and skim off foam. Store leftover is planted—celery is
syrup in refrigerator. an important element
of Amish weddings
and is used much the
same as bouquets of
flowers are used in
English weddings.



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 Notes:

Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

BREAKFAST
TREATS

 cup flour
 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. cinnamon
½ cup brown sugar
¾ cup rolled oats
 egg
 cup milk
¼ cup melted butter
¾ cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
sugar for sprinkling

Stir the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon together. Add
the sugar and rolled oats and mix well.
In a large bowl, beat together the egg, milk, and butter. Add dry
ingredients and stir until just moistened. Fold in blueberries.
Fill muffin tins about ⅔ full and sprinkle a bit of sugar on top of
each muffin. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until brown.

Breakfast Crunch Bars

Kids especially love  cup oatmeal
this treat. You can  cup cornmeal
also crumble the  cups whole wheat flour
crunch bars into a ½ cup sugar
bowl, add milk, and  tsp. baking powder
eat like cereal.
 tsp. soda
 tsp. salt
½ cups milk
¾ cup molasses

Mix together the dry ingredients. Then heat the milk, add the
molasses, and mix the milk mixture with the dry ingredients.
Pour into a lightly greased baking dish and bake at 350° for
25-30 minutes. Cool completely before slicing into bars or, while
still hot from the oven, eat with milk as you would cereal.


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