• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Amish 365
  • About
  • Amish Recipes
  • Amish Culture
  • Amish Marketplace
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Amish Recipes
  • Amish Culture
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Amish Recipes
    • Amish Culture
    • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » The Plain Columns » The Amish Cook Column

    The Amish Cook: Gloria Serves Up Busy Wife Potatoes

    Published: Feb 16, 2015 · Updated: Feb 16, 2015 by Kevin Williams | 3 Comments

    BUSY WIFE POTATOES

    THE AMISH COOK

    BY GLORIA YODER

    The winter flu bugs have been doing their share in our community these last days. Seemingly the children are the ones to get the brunt of it: poor dears!
    As I write I’m holding 3 month old Austin in hopes that he’ll be able to sleep a while longer. He’s been fighting a cough and cold. Thankfully he hasn’t been running a fever like Julia has. She’s had a rough time in conquering it. Gradually, bit by bit, she’s getting better again and has the spark in her eyes returning. I missed her jabbering when she was so miserable. I love having a little girl to chat with throughout the day and having her involved with my work. I find it challenging to balance caring for my sick ones and staying on top of housework. They certainly deserve lots of extra love and attention when they’re not feeling well.
    After Austin’s birth a reader who sent a card wrote something that I’ve thought about many times. It said something like this: “remember if Austin and Julia want attention, take a deep breath and remember how lucky you are.” Yes, I’m truly lucky.
    My mother and sisters have done a wonderful job in helping me by babysitting, making food for us, washing dishes, or whatever needs to be done. Of course, my husband Daniel also does a wonderful job in helping with the children.
    I have a pink little book marker pasted on one of my cupboards in the kitchen that has inspired me many times. This is what it says: “So glad I’m a Christian Mom. I can do everything though Christ, who gives me strength” (Phil 4:13)
    Yes, I do love being a “stay at home mom” even though it does have its challenges. But, you know isn’t life challenging for anybody, regardless of what we’re doing? My heart goes out to mothers who have to return back to work soon after the birth of their babies. I know I would terribly miss my little ones and really there’s nothing else I’d rather do than stay home and care for my family.

    Busy Wife Potatoes

    Potatoes are a mainstay in the Maine Amish settlements.

    Julia’s day was brightened when our dear friend and neighbor, Marie, stopped by and dropped off some toys for Julia to play with. Her face lit up when she saw the attractive assortment. There was a white little cradle had a doll and blanket snuggled in it along with several other toys and books. And, yes, I should have mentioned the doll even had a pacifier that fits in its mouth, a rather big thing to Julia! How brainy and thoughtful it was of Marie to think of doing this for Julia. She certainly wouldn’t have had to, yet it brightened our day so much. It was an excellent motivator for me to think out of the box and add sunshine to others’ lives.
    With sick ones in the house it can be challenging to do enough cooking and baking. One dish that’s very simple is “Lazy Wife Potatoes.” Sounds easy, doesn’t it? This time I’d like to change its name to “Busy Wife Potatoes.” For those of us who are busy, that’ll sound a bit better when our husband asks “what’s for dinner?” “Busy wife” just sounds so much more noble than “lazy wife”, right?
    These potatoes can be served several ways. For us it is all depends on how busy (or lazy) I am and what I happen to have on hand.
    BUSY WIFE POTATOES
    Scrub or peel potatoes (1 large potato per person)
    Cut in half
    Put approximately 1” water In a kettle
    Add potatoes, cover and simmer until soft.
    The cooking time will vary on the size and amount of your potatoes (approximately 25 minutes for 5 potatoes)
    Mash them with a fork on your plates. Sprinkle with salt, pepper or whatever seasoning you wish. Spread with butter and sour cream, cream cheese (softened) ranch dressing or barbecue sauce.
    Very simple, very tasty. I love dip and sauces so I like having a variety. Sweet Vidalia onion and sweet and sour sauce are a few of my favorites to eat with potatoes.
    If time allows I like serving these potatoes with cheese sauce and deerburger or sauce with a barbecue sauce and pizza sauce mixture. Perhaps I can add these recipes in a future letter
    Best wishes to all!

    « Amish in the News: Raymond the Amish Comic Interview, Simply Amish, Choice Books, Amish Play, and Bizarre Incident...
    Amish Business Profile: Village Cupboard »

    About Kevin Williams

    Hi, my name is Kevin Williams and I am owner of Oasis Newsfeatures and editor of The Amish Cook newspaper column.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Irene

      February 16, 2015 at 2:30 pm

      where is the recipe for Busy Wife Potatoes??

      Reply
      • Kevin

        February 16, 2015 at 4:05 pm

        Irene, it is at the end of the column. I didn't put it in typical "recipe card" format because it really reads as a set of instructions more than anything, but it is there!:) - Kevin

        Reply
    2. Irene

      February 16, 2015 at 6:29 pm

      Thanks Kevin...silly me...I was looking for something entirely different....and yes, they sound easy and wonderful!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Kevin Williams - The Amish Editor Amish Cook Column

    Hi There, I'm Kevin!

    Welcome to Amish365, where I share my knowledge of Amish cooking and culture! I’ve spent almost three decades exploring Amish settlements and kitchens from Maine to Montana and almost everywhere in between. I’ll occasionally throw in stories of my travels, journalism adventures (I’m a Pulitzer prize-nominated journalist), fascination with grocery stores and Kmarts, and much more!

    More about me →

    Latest Amish Recipes

    • 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Amish Church
    • The Amish Cook - Potato Ranch Casserole
    • 5 Amish Springtime Farmhouse Recipes
    • Delicious Amish Ham Meatballs
      Delicious Amish Ham Meatballs
    dutchcrafters

    Download The "Almost Amish" Ebook

    Footer

    Footer

    About

    • About The Amish Editor
    • Download "Almost Amish" Ebook
    • Amish Communities
    • Amish Marketplace

    Contact

    • Work With Us
    • Contact

    *As a member of various affiliate programs I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2000 - 2020 Amish 365 | Powered by Touch The Road