Amazon Wednesday (Plus some singing): Montezuma Community Cookbook, The Bargain, and Life on the Farm

By Kevin Williams

(This post contains affiliate links to Amazon, if you order through it I receive a commission,but I'll only recommend items I truly can vouch for)

First, though, my parents recently went to Montezuma, Georgia's Amish community and I recently wrote about it here.  I discovered the Montezuma Mennonite Annual School Auction maintains their own Facebook page and if you go to it and scroll down to the first post you will see a Facebook Live 3-minute video clip of some Amish girls singing/harmonizing (if you can ignore the car alarm in the background for the first minute).  This is a rare treat to experience the purely acapella talents of the Amish.  Click here to enjoy.  SIGH, I need to get with it, even the Amish are using Facebook Live now and I still haven't figured it out!

MONTEZUMA AMISH MENNONITE COOKBOOK:  The Montezuma, Georgia community first came on my radar when someone gave me a copy of this cookbook as a gift way back when. SIGH, the book disappeared during one of my many moves over the years,but I loved the book because it really showcased the fusion of Amish and traditional southern cooking that occurs in this settlement. And, heck, with some books for sale for 55 cents maybe I should buy one!  But it is a neat, neat church cookbook with some really good recipes and, for me, fond memories. Click here to see and order the book.

LIFE ON THE FARM:  This is a game that has been around for awhile now and it first came to many's attention when the original Amish Cook mentioned it in her column years ago.  Many Amish families play this game.  It's not a typical Monopoly knock-off, but it does incorporate elements of that game, but also many original farm angles (you have to build up your herd, for example, not build hotels).  Click here to see this game and order it from Amazon.

THE BARGAIN:   I don't read a lot of Amish fiction.  In fact, I think I've only read one Amish fiction book cover to cover and that was Stephanie Reed's book, The Bargain.  It takes place in Plain City, Ohio and is loosely based on a true story.  I think Stephanie did a great job at capturing some of the upheaval being experienced in that community during the 1960s and early 70s.  Today, scant trace of the Plain City community remains.   I really enjoyed this book and, believe me, I was skeptical going in but I ultimately stuck with the story and really came to know and bond with the characters.   Click here to see and order the book.