By Kevin Williams
Time for our perusal of Amazon to see what, if anything, Plain is capturing our attention this week from our affiliate links. Several interesting things to share, so let's start out with something tasty:
SHOOFLY PIE MIX: This is awesome because if you are intimidated by making a completely from scratch shoofly pie, this is sort of a middle-ground....you can instead make it from a box. The mix touts:
- Everything you need to make a shoofly pie (except the pie crust).
- Syrup Included.
- A Pennsylvania Dutch favorite.
So, if you want to try making some yourself, you can buy the mix here.
WANDA BRUNSTETTER'S SCRATCH COOKBOOK: My favorite Amish cookbooks are the small "church cookbooks", the older, the better. Older cookbooks, in my opinion, usually have the most authentic, unvarnished recipes that serve as culinary time capsules. But if anyone could deliver a more modern take on Amish cooking and its scratch culture, it would be Wanda Brunstetter. Here is a description of the book:
Over 270 recipes are organized into traditional categories from main dishes and sides to desserts and snacks. Also included are kitchen tips and stories about growing up around an Amish kitchen. Encased in a lay-flat binding and presented in full color, home cooks of all ages will be delighted to add this cookbook to their collections.
WHOOPIE PIES: I've seen whoopie pies sold online before, but, holy cow, these look like super-stuffed pies that you might want to try! These come from the Hershey Farm Bakery in Lancaster County and can be shipped directly to you. Here is some more information:
- Here are a few tips to help you savor every bite. Whoopie Pie Care: Recommend freezing immediately if not serving same day for optimal freshness. To thaw, leave wrapped and set out about 1-2 hours before serving. Whoopie pies don’t need to be refrigerated and can last about a week, if refrigerated they can last for a couple of weeks, but may not be as moist. If frozen, they will last for months.
- Based on Pennsylvania history, Amish women invented the whoopie pie. The women would drop excess cake batter into mounds and bake them. They would then take two of the mounds and sandwich them together with a creamy frosting. The name is believed to have come from the Amish children who would yell “Whoopie!” when they would find these pastries in their school lunch boxes.
You can order and indulge in some of these beauties here!
AMISH CHOCOLATE CHURCH PEANUT BUTTER SPREAD: What is better than Amish church peanut butter spread? CHOCOLATE church peanut butter spread! Make my Scherger's Kettle in Shipshewana, Indiana, here are some serving suggestions:
Spread on toast, biscuits, pancakes, heat and pour on ice cream or eat with a spoon right out of the jar.
ORIOLE FEEDER: Orioles are a gorgeous "mango-colored" bird that are attracted to fruity feeders. JMX, which sells a variety of authentic Amish-made furniture, has this feeder. What a fun Christmas gift for the bird-lover in your family. Here is more about it:
- ECO-FRIENDLY AND DURABLE: Made from poly recycled plastic from post consumer waste, this outdoor bird feeder is crafted to never split, crack or fade.
- LOW MAINTENANCE: Easy to clean and refill with a removable jelly or seed jars. Simply refill the jars and attached orange halves, sit back and enjoy as the orioles visit your backyard.
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