Amish in the News: More Ben's Pretzels, Amish Rebuilding, Mohjy, Turkey Syrup, and More!

By Kevin Williams

We have a full slate of stories in today's Amish in the News from delicious to dangerous, so let's get right into it.

Ben's soft pretzels - yum!

BEN'S PRETZELS:  Wow, I can't wait until this chain comes to my corner of Ohio and it is supposed to at some point in the next year or so.  I've written about this pretzel chain before, but it was founded by an Amish man who sold these pretzels at a farmer's market using his homemade recipe.  Some non-Amish entrepreneurs were captivated by the taste and decided to go into business with him.   The chain does not shy away from its Amish roots, complete with an Amish man in the logo and menu items like "buggy bites."  Many Amish simply wouldn't market their "Amishness" in that way, but, to each their own.  I'm certainly not making a judgment.  The chain has been quite successful and has been growing.   I'm hoping one comes to the Meijer in my hometown (but probably not, we can't seem to support any decent chains).

AMISH AND MENNONITES IN MISSISSIPPI:  This is a rather garden variety story about Amish and Mennonites coming to Mississippi to help rebuild an area after a storm.  Very selfless youth coming to aid others, which is great!  I was sort of taken aback by the photos with the story, I'm wondering if the reporter explained to them that the photos would be in the newspaper.  Or maybe the reporter just wasn't very familiar with Amish custom. The photos just seemed a little "posed" which is unusual for Amish and Mennonites, but these are younger people who maybe are just letting loose a little. Click here to read the article and see the photos.

MOHJY:  Anyone heard of this Pennsylvania Dutch dish before? I have not. Click here to read about Mohjy.

TURKEY SYRUP?  I've never heard of this either, but it sounds interesting and apparently is an old Pennsylvania Dutch favorite.  I've not run into in any Amish kitchens before, but it sounds interesting! Click here to read more.

AMISH WORK CREW IN PENNSYLVANIA: An interesting photo package about the Amish building a pavilion in Pennsylania.  Click here.

STATE TROOPER PLOWS INTO AMISH BUGGY:  Thank Heavens no one was seriously injured in this freak accident in northern Indiana's Amish country.  Must have been scary for all involved. Click here to read more.

SARA MILLER'S AMISH CORNER:  Sara Miller is an Amish woman in the Geauga County Amish settlement who writes a monthly piece for the local paper, it's a very chatty, breezy style heavy on local flavor, reads like an entry out of the Amish newspaper, The Budget. Click here to read Sara's entry.

OFF-TOPIC:  What beverage may determine the future of Coke and Pepsi? Click here to find out.