A BOOK REVIEW OF SIMPLE PLEASURES BY MARIANNE JANTZI

Are you curious about the Amish lifestyle?  Have you ever wondered what it really was like in an Amish household?  Here is the book for you, Simple Pleasures (Herald Press) written by Marianne Jantzi, a Canadian Amish wife and mother.  Marianne gives us a glimpse into her home with her husband Allan and their four children.

Marianne has a lovely writing style, very enjoyable to read, and very easy to get lost in their world.  And the best part is that this is not fiction, this is their real life!

The book is divided into eight different stories which have been developed from the author's journals.  The book ends with the telling of a full day in the life of Marianne and her family, her chores, their meals and everything they do in a typical day.  After that, as an extra bonus, Marianne includes six delicious recipes.  I definitely will try a few of those as they seem simple to make and don't include any ingredients that are hard to find.

This book was a pleasure to read and increased my knowledge of how real Amish families live and work within their communities.  I heartily recommend Simple Pleasures for all of us captivated by the Amish lifestyle.  Simple Pleasures was published on March 29, 2016.

LOVINA'S AMISH KITCHEN

Whenever I come across genuine Amish writing, I get excited.  Don't get me wrong, I still love those Amish novels!  But if you love learning more about the Amish/Mennonite people, nothing is better than getting the information first hand.  

Lovina is an Amish wife and mother, who has been writing about her family for many years and several smaller newspapers had picked up her column.  She now writes a blog post about her family's daily life and usually includes a recipe at the end.

The blog is called Lovina's Amish Kitchen and here is the link:  Lovina's Amish Kitchen

I recommend readers check out this website, which is handled by MennoMedia staff since Lovina is an Old Order Amish.  They do have a way for interested parties to send a question to Lovina, so if you have ever wondered about something in the Amish faith or lifestyle, here is your opportunity to find the answer.  Just check out the "Contact Lovina" column on the right hand side of the home page.

RECAP OF A LOVELY EASTER BRUNCH

Yesterday's Easter Brunch was a wonderful time, filled with lovely company and delicious food.  I also found out something about my family - they prefer pie over cake!  I vowed that by next year I will have perfected a pie recipe.  So to do that, I'm going to comb through my Amish recipes because we all know they make the best pies!

If anyone knows a great pie recipe, please pass it on to me and I will give it my best shot to do it justice and feature it on this blog.

The Raisin Puff cookies got rave reviews with my family.  First off, no one believed that I made the cookies myself from scratch.  After tasting them, everyone fell in love with taste, no matter if they were raisin lovers or not.  Those cookies really are so delicious plus they are different, not your run of the mill chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin, which we all have had a million times.

It was so good to see some of my nieces and nephews yesterday plus their children.  I love them so much and with their busy lives, I'm lucky to get to see them 3 or 4 times a year.

This is the pretty Easter floral arrangement that my daughter brought over.  Those are pink silk day lillies, green Easter grass, yellow rabbit Peep's, and jelly beans at the bottom.  She is so creative and clever and I love her to pieces!

I hope your Easter was peaceful, fun, and spiritually uplifting.

RELEASE DAY FOR JUST PLAIN SADIE BY AMY LILLARD

It's release day for Just Plain Sadie!!! Here's a little more about Just Plain Sadie: The Amish of Wells Landing, Oklahoma, treasure their close-knit community, and the promise of their growing families. But one young woman is struggling to choose a future that is true to both her heart and her faith… Everyone in Wells Landing has long expected Sadie Kauffman and Chris Flaud to marry--despite Sadie's telling them differently. While she loves Chris, it is more as a friend than a husband. Yet at twenty-two, the plainest girl in her group, Sadie is also the only one who is still single. Perhaps it's time to be practical and marry Chris--though he still has not asked. But when Sadie meets a kind, handsome Mennonite, it seems her prayers have been answered…  With Ezra Hein, Sadie at last feels the joy she nearly gave up on. Unfortunately, others only feel shock that she would consider marrying an outsider. To complicate matters, Chris has finally begun talking to Sadie about their future. Distressed, Sadie will have to search her heart to recognize God's marvelous gifts to her--and find the courage to accept them, challenges and all…

Copyright © 2016 Amy Lillard Author, All rights reserved.

EASTER BRUNCH RECIPES

Happy Holy Week!  Are you too also planning a big meal for your family and friends for Easter Sunday?  My family has some traditional favorites we love every Easter.  Today I will give you a few recipes that we will be making:

HASH BROWN CASSEROLE

32 ounce bag of shredded hash browns
1 cup fresh diced onions (or use frozen diced onions, thawed)
1 pint sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 stick of butter, melted
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
salt & pepper to taste
2 cups crushed potato chips

Thaw hash browns in package for 45 minutes.  Combine in a large bowl all ingredients EXCEPT the potato chips.  Pour into a 9" x 13" ungreased glass pan. Top with the crushed potato chips.  Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour.

This recipe is courtesy of my sister Janet.  She gave me this recipe probably 30 years ago and it has been a staple for our family get togethers.

Clink on the links below to find more recipes!

SAUSAGE, CHEESE & EGG CASSEROLE - Feel free to substitute a cheese other than Swiss.


RAISIN PUFF COOKIES - These cookies are not super sweet and therefore perfect on Easter when so much candy and sweets are around.

Blessings to you all, my friends, all over the world who read my simple blog. 

IT'S TIME FOR AN EASTER BRUNCH!

Well friends, the sacred occasion of Easter is almost here.  Today is Palm Sunday, we have collected our palms and listened to the Passion of Christ.  Now the most holy of weeks is upon us - and a most busy of weeks for me as I prepare to host an Easter Sunday brunch for part of my large family.

This year we will have 17 around the table, eating at noon.  Here is my menu:

Honey Baked Ham
Turkey Sausage Links
Creamy Potato Casserole
Sausage Cheese Egg Casserole
Fruit Salad
Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad
2 Coffee Cakes
Mini Muffins
Butter Lettuce and Ranch Green Salad
Deviled Eggs
Raisin Puff Cookies
Yellow Bundt Cake with Fluffy White Icing
Coffee, Mimosas, OJ, Milk, and Chocolate Milk

Fortunately for me, several of my nieces, my daughter, and my sister are bringing some of the above dishes so I don't have to cook it all!

I will give you links to some of the recipes tomorrow.  Good luck with your planning for this week and Easter Sunday.

A BOOK REVIEW OF LYDIA'S BONNET BY LILLIAN STOLTZFUS

Normally all the books that I review are for adults or at least teens, but I was recently asked to read and review Lydia's Bonnet (Eckschank Publishing) written by Lillian Stoltzfus.  This is a book for children and contains a lovely story with a lesson.  It is not heavy handed but beautifully written and is a perfect book for children or grandchildren to learn about and be introduced to the Amish lifestyle.  

Lydia's Bonnet is filled with beautiful pictures and there is a story behind those wonderful photographs!  The author, Lillian Stoltzfus has written about her mother, Lydia, and has used Lydia's own grandchildren, dressed in typical Amish clothing, as the models in the photographs to act out the story.  There are all kinds of fun facts about the Amish plus the photos also include shots of Lydia's real Amish home.

In the story, Lydia becomes jealous of her cousin's new bonnet, which is clean and smooth, with shiny new ribbons.  Lydia feels like her bonnet is ugly and shabby.  The cousins conspire to stomp on Lydia's bonnet to make it even uglier so Lydia's mother will make her a new one.

Well you know this is not going to go over too well with Lydia's mother.  Her mom finds out what actually happened to the bonnet and comes up with an appropriate punishment.

The book is nicely put together and would be such a lovely gift for any of the young people in your life.  Lydia's Bonnet is available on Amazon as either a paperback or Kindle edition.  This is definitely a book that I am putting aside for any future grandchildren in my life!  Lydia's Bonnet was published December 5, 2015.

A BOOK REVIEW OF THE FORGOTTEN RECIPE BY AMY CLIPSTON

The Forgotten Recipe (Zondervan) by Amy Clipston begins a new series called Amish Heirloom.  Oh readers, this is a delicious novel.  I was entranced by the writing and characters from page one until the end.  The epilogue is not to be missed!  Amy’s writing is so exquisite, she is able to create characters that leap off the pages and become fast friends with you.

The story begins with Amish maedel, Veronica Fisher, losing her fiancé Seth in a terrible workplace accident.  Veronica is beside herself with grief and deep sadness for the loss of the life she had thought she would have with her long time love, Seth.  Veronica finds an old recipe in the attic for raspberry pie and begins a home based business selling these delicious raspberry pies.

Meanwhile, Jason Huyard is also suffering from the loss of Seth.  Jason was Seth’s best friend at work and should have been with Seth when he fell at work.  Jason is haunted by the memories he has of Seth and their conversations.  Quite unexpectedly, Jason finds Veronica’s pie stand and falls head over heels in love with her.  But his love is tainted by his inability to tell Veronica that he knows and grieves for Seth too.  But how can a relationship survive when it is built on a secret?

The author’s strong writing style and characterizations drive this novel to new heights of excellence in the Amish genre.  Readers will love getting to know Jason, his basic decency, and all his all too human failings.  His parents and younger brother Stephen are likewise very relatable.  Another plus are the numerous delightful food descriptions of pies, cookies, and cakes.  By the end of this book, you too will be craving a slice or maybe even the whole sweet raspberry pie.

This first book in the new Amish Heirloom series sets up volume two.  There seems to be a thread woven throughout The Forgotten Recipe that will lead to the next installment, The Courtship Basket which should be out summer of 2016.  After reading The Forgotten Recipe, I can’t wait for Amy Clipston’s next book.  She is, without a doubt, one of the top quality authors of Amish romance and fiction.  The Forgotten Recipe will be published December 8, 2015.

A BOOK REVIEW OF AMISH CHRISTMAS AT NORTH STAR BY CINDY WOODSMALL, MINDY STARNS CLARK, EMILY CLARK, AMANDA FLOWER AND KATIE GANSHERT

Amish Christmas at North Star (WaterBrook Press) is a collection of four stories of love and family with a Christmastime setting in North Star, Pennsylvania.  This collection of stories was entrancing.  As I read each one, I would think, surely this is the best story of the group, but each story was unique and wonderful.  Quite literally I believe Amish Christmas at North Star may be the perfect Christmas companion.  Settle in on a chilly December day with a warm afghan, creamy hot cocoa, and this book.  Pure bliss!

The characters of these four stories come from the lives of Rebekah’s Babies.  Twenty five years ago, three baby girls and one baby boy were all delivered on the same cold and snowy winter night by Amish midwife, Rebekah Schlabach.  An old newspaper clipping of the four births is found by a young Englisher, Chase Wellington, who decides it is time to write a follow up story on the four, Anna, Eden, Savilla, and Andy.

Katie Ganshert writes the story of the baby named Anna.  No one knows where baby Anna was taken twenty five years ago.  Anna’s mother, Ruth, took Anna from Rebekah’s home before her husband or parents could come for her and Anna.  Chase is determined to find Anna and discover why she and her mother disappeared twenty five years ago.  Neither Chase nor Anna is prepared for what is uncovered.

Eden’s story is told by Amanda Flower.  Her story is one of mystery and romance.  An elderly Amish man, Isaac, who befriended Eden has died in a horrible accident or is it an accident?  Eden is looking for clues when she meets Isaac’s great nephew, Jesse.  Could Jesse have caused his uncle’s death or is he the genuine nice guy he seems to be?

Cindy Woodsmall deals with a sensitive topic in telling Savilla’s story.  Savilla has broken up with her long-time boyfriend, Kore, after she receives some devastating news.  She won’t tell Kore why they are through and he is furious.  Both Saville and Kore are thrown together to save another family and in turn receive God’s blessings above all that they could ask or think about.

And the last novella is the story of Andy written by Mindy Starns Clark and her daughter, Emily Clark.  This is a powerful tale of forgiveness and I must tell you, this one made me cry, but they were good tears!  Andy has moved to Mississippi to try to get over his breakup with his girl, Nellie.  Nellie had left the Amish community of North Star to turn English but she had a change of heart and came back after three months.  Andy feels he can’t trust Nellie ever again.  Andy’s younger brother Sam is determined to get Andy back home and back in the arms of Nellie.  How can twelve year old Sam manage all of that?

This is a power packed book, one not to be missed.  Each story is a delight and there is a sweet epilogue at the end of the fourth story to wrap everything up with a big red bow.  Amish Christmas at North Star will be available on October 20, 2015.  Get your order ready as this is one you will read over and over.

A BOOK REVIEW OF GATHER AROUND THE AMISH TABLE BY LUCY LEID

It was with great excitement that I cracked the cover of Gather Around the Amish Table (Herald Press) by Lucy Leid.  I enjoy cooking and an Amish cookbook is exactly perfect in my eyes.  This cookbook will not disappoint cooks or those who enjoy reading about the Amish!

The book is separated into sections on:

• breakfast, 
• breads and spreads, 
• soups, sandwiches, and pizza, 
• salads and pickles, 
• vegetables and side dishes, 
• meats and main dishes, 
• cakes and pies, 
• cookies, 
• desserts and candy, 
• snacks, beverages, and extras.  

The photography is beautiful.  There are photos of the recipes as well as lovely Amish scenes.  Lucy gives kitchen tips throughout the book, such as, “Just after removing homemade bread from the oven, cover the loaf in the pan with a tea towel for about 10 minutes.  The bread will then slip easily out of the pan.”  Little tips and words of wisdom are sprinkled liberally throughout the book.

Cooks will like that Lucy includes three different pie crust recipes; one does not even require you to roll the dough out with a rolling pin, the Oatmeal Pie Crust.  The difficulty level of each recipe varies.  There are plenty of simple recipes and then there are the five different doughnut recipes that intimidate me but look absolutely delicious!  I always get nervous when using yeast for some reason.

Most of the recipes start out with a little introduction of a story behind the recipe such as where the recipe came from, who they served it to, or at what time in their life they first made the recipe.  This makes the book so much more than just a cookbook.  Each recipe is a small peek inside the home of an Amish friend.

I highly recommend this charming cookbook to all who enjoy cooking as well as those who care for the Amish.  These are all tested recipes, sure to please your family and friends.  Personally I have found dozens that I want to try on my family and to give as gifts.  This is a book that will be reached for many times during the year.  Gather Around the Amish Table was published September 1, 2015.