Kerr Kathleen - The Amish Baking Cookbook

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS EUGENE, OREGON All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible. Cover by Dugan Design Group, Bloomington, Minnesota Cover photo Dugan Design Group; Cover illustration weknow / Fotolia THE AMISH BAKING COOKBOOK Copyright 2014 by Georgia Varozza and Kathleen Kerr Published by Harvest House Publishers Eugene, Oregon 97402 www.harvesthousepublishers.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Varozza, Georgia The Amish baking cookbook / Georgia Varozza and Kathleen Kerr. pages cm Includes index. ISBN 978-0-7369-5538-6 (pbk.) ISBN 978-0-7369-5539-3 (eBook) 1. Baking. 2.

Amish cooking. I. Kerr, Kathleen, II. Title. TX763.V37 2014 641.5'66dc23 2013043569 All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherwithout the prior written permission of the publisher.

The authorized purchaser has been granted a nontransferable, nonexclusive, and noncommercial right to access and view this electronic publication, and purchaser agrees to do so only in accordance with the terms of use under which it was purchased or transmitted. Participation in or encouragement of piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of authors and publishers rights is strictly prohibited. To Martha Edith Stickney and Anne Elizabeth Schmidt, who taught me to bake hugs and prayers into everything, and to Carolyn Martha Kerr with anticipation K.K. To my beloved crew, in order of appearanceWalker, Travis, Logan, Sara, Crystalynn, Audrey, Asher, Easton, and Alexis G.V . As for me and my house, we will serve the L ORD . J OSHUA 24:15 CONTENTS T he Swiss Brethren were a group of faithful men and women who broke from the Catholic and Protestant state churches during the Protestant Reformation in 1525.

Derisively called Anabaptists, meaning rebaptizers, many were hunted down and martyred for their beliefs, beginning in 1527 with the public execution of Felix Manz. To escape this persecution, they migrated from Switzerland to Alsace (now part of France), and there they experienced a division in 1693. Bishop Jacob Ammann (from whom the Amish derive their group name) felt the people were becoming lax and called for stricter rules, including shunning (the practice by which a person who falls into sin is banned from associating with baptized believers in any way until such time as he or she publicly repents and is accepted back into the fold). The followers who did not believe in shunning became known as Mennonites (so named after the Dutch bishop Menno Simons). During the 1700s, the Amish were forced to relocate many times due to unsympathetic rulers. In about 1727, the first Amish immigrants arrived in America, and during the 1800s, immigration increased.

A number of communities sprang up in America as well as in Canada. Today there are no Amish communities left in Europe, but in North America, Amish congregations flourish. The Amish prefer a rural existence and retain many old customsthus the use of horse and buggy for transportation, their distinctive dress, and large gardens that help to feed their families. They are also well versed in the Scripture verses that help to define their faith: Nonconformity and separation of church and state: Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2). And also, Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:17). Nonresistance and refusal to serve in the military: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also (Matthew 5:39).

And also, If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18). No photos of faces: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth (Exodus 20:4). Mutual aid and refusal of insurance or Social Security benefits: But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8). Rejection of oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is Gods throneBut let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil (Matthew 5:34, 37). Prayer coverings: But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head (1 Corinthians 11:5). House church: God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands (Acts 17:24).

Adult baptism: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). Despite our modern proclivity for moving around and assimilating into the broader culture, the Amish and Mennonites, on the other hand, have been able to maintain their distinct group identity. Their growth is robust, and they cling to their way of life. They do make changes to their rules and traditions over the years, but they go about it in a slow and thoughtful manner. Their overarching desire as they interact with the broader society is to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (1 Timothy 2:2). T heres probably nothing that speaks to the comforts of home quite like the yeasty aroma of just-baked bread, the sweet richness of fresh-from-the-oven cookies, or the tart and fruity goodness of a well-made pie.

It wasnt that many years ago that if you desired a sweet treat, you made it from scratch. And with so many folks living in rural areas, the ingredients for a baked treat were in ample supplygrain to grind into flour came from the surrounding fields; milk, cream, and butter came from the cows in the barn; and eggs were gathered fresh daily from the flock of chickens just steps from the farmhouse back door. But as more and more people moved off the farms and into the cities, cooking habits changed. For many folks, it became convenient to run down to the local grocery and buy food already made, boxed, and ready to go. But there were holdoutswomen (and some men!) who enjoyed baking for their loved ones and refused to go the way of modernity. My mother was one such woman.

Every day she fed seven people three hearty and nutritious mealsand not one was made from processed food. It was always homemade from scratch. Sunday was our big food day, and dinner was always more elaborate than our weekday fare. Best of all were the Sunday desserts. This was the day Mama reserved for such delicacies as layer cakes, pies of all kinds, or deep-fried doughnuts or fattigman. I have fond memories of coming home from school in the afternoons to my mothers greeting, cheerful smile, and some kind of freshly baked treat warm from the oven.

Oh, the delicious smells that emanated from our kitchen! Most often she made cookies, but part of the fun was guessing, with only our noses to guide us, what was in store for our afternoon snack. Mama would pour each of us a tall glass of milk and then encourage us to eat up and take the edge off until dinner. We didnt need to be asked twice! We hope you enjoy these recipes. There is much to choose from. Some of the recipes are quick and easy to prepare while others require more time and patience. But all of them are great tasting.

Make something special for your family today. Enjoy that moment when your loved ones eyes light up with gladness when they see what you have made with your hands and served from your heart. Georgia Varozza Kathleen Kerr I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. J OHN 6:35 B aking a moist, beautifully textured loaf of bread is the quintessential homemaking skill for Amish women and non-Amish alike. There is nothing to compare to the experience of taking your first bite of warm, homemade bread fresh from the oven. In our house, the heels are greatly covetedwe consider them chewy, fragrant, buttered bliss.