By Kevin Williams
Time to once again take our weekly whirl through the world of Amazon and see what, if anything, Amish is in the cards. Some interesting and delicious stuff this week:
Man, does it get any better than this?
AMISH REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE: The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is one of life's most glorious taste sensations, in my view. So infusing sweet fudge with Reese's, mmmm....amazing. So try this batch of fudge in time for Easter from the Amish Buggy.
SUNSHINE AND SHADOW: I have talked about this book before, entitled "Sunshine and Shadow: Our Seven Years in Honduras" by Joseph Stoll. This is an incredible book that details the trials and tribulations a group of ambitious Amish from North America experienced when trying to start a settlement from scratch in Honduras. The writing is a very good and there are some cautionary tales in there for everyone when talking about how the settlement finally unraveled. And just crazy to think of these Amish traveling, in the late 60s and early 70s, to Honduras from the USA by bus. It'd be crazy to think about today. Periodically I see copies of this out of print book for sale, there are two that I see on Amazon now for $35. Kind of pricey, but it is a thick hardcover book that really is a great read for anyone interested in the Amish or small group dynamics or Central America. Check it out here.
GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN: This book was written by late Amish philosopher, Elmo Stoll. My copy was given to me by his widow whom I met in Maine. Amazon describes the book as: The best of Elmo Stoll's "Views and Values" columns published in Family Life, over a 22 year period. Short stories, devotionals and inspirations from nature all combine to make this a valuable book. I will say that while I found the book tedious at times, it really does have a lot of worthwhile spiritual and human insight. Elmo Stoll was a visionary (and sometimes controversial) among the Amish who advocated the creation of "Christian communities" that would sort of blend the communal nature of Hutterite living with the rugged individualism of the Amish. Check out the book here.
ONE POUND OF COBLENTZ CHOCOLATE: Man, this would be a good Easter gift for someone (me). The Coblentz Chocolate Company is a confectionery located in the heart of Ohio's Amish country run by candymakers that have their roots firmly in the Amish community. I've been to their chocolate store on a couple of occasions and I'm sure I'll go back. Good stuff and you can get some here.
TOMATO JAM: Not sure about this, although this is a popular recipe in Amish Country: Tomato Jam. What do you do with it? The Amazon description says "spread it on a toast." I wouldn't think a peanut butter and tomato jam sandwich would be very good....I'm not sure about this, but if you want to check it out Amazon describes it as: Two 10-oz. jars of Tomato Jam, direct from Kitchen Kettle Village in Amish Country, Pennsylvania. Kitchen Kettle Foods, Inc. is in the heart of Lancaster County Amish County where they've been "Cannin' and jammin' with the finest ingredients since 1954." You'll love the taste of this unique jam on toast, English muffins and in your favorite recipes! Okay, so if you are brave enough to try it, click here.
Nana
A bag vs a sack---how about further back in time and into the country as people called them a poke. I suppose because they poked stuff into it. Also probably the origin of a "pig in a poke". I still occasionally hear the term. I call my living room centerpiece a couch and my grandma called hers a davenport. Time and locale I guess. grocery cart or a grocery buggy?
Kevin
Interesting, didn't know that about poke. My Aunt called her sofa a davenport, that's a term you never hear today...
Vickie
Mom used to make tomato jam years ago. We put on toast and ate it at breakfast with bacon. After all, tomatoes are fruit ????!
Kevin
Hmmmm, well, BLT is popular, I guess tomato jam would just be a variation on that!