This article is a part of "The Amish Cook Column", a weekly series of featuring a story & recipe from Gloria Yoder, Amish wife & mother of six from Flat Rock, Illinois
The Amish Cook
By Gloria Yoder
Wednesday was one of those days. It was after supper, the children had gone outside to play, and Joshua was extra fussy. This handsome little boy with bright blue eyes, a pet by all, was having
a rough day with teething. Wearily I glanced across the messy house, wondering just how much management I had left.
Stepping in the living room with Joshua in my arms, I glanced at the western sky and noticed a beautiful sunset. A fleeting thought crossed my mind, “What if God had sent that sunset for me?” Allowing it to drift to the back of my mind, I headed for the kitchen and met Daniel, who came in with our mail, much later in the day than we usually fetch it. Leafing through it, I pulled out two envelopes, one from a reader and the other from a dear friend, Hannah, and her family. They have personally experienced the joy of adoption, as well as a highly traumatic foster situation. Sitting in the hammock, hanging from the kitchen ceiling, gently rocking Joshua, I tore open the envelope, “Perhaps I can glean a tidbit of encouragement through this,” I told myself. I glanced over the gorgeous card, then looking up, my eyes caught sight of the sunset, which was now lined up from my perch on the hammock.
Surely it couldn’t be true! No, how could it? The sunset which had caught my attention a few minutes earlier was almost identical to the one on the card I held in my hands! In my skepticism I noticed a small pink spot right above the sun on the card, looking a bit different from the actual sunset. Then the words, “Do you want me to make that part like the card, as well?” came to my mind. “Yes Lord!” came my quick response.
“Daniel, Daniel! Come quick! You need to see this if you have a minute- that is.” Getting up from his desk in the office, he joined me. Now it was his turn to take a look, then another one. He agreed. There was no mistaking it; it looked as if a painter had simply painted tonight’s hues of blue and pink, and bright sun rays right on the card.
After a few minutes, I felt drawn to go back to the living room and take a closer look. My eyes bulged, “Daniel, come look at this- you won’t believe it- beyond the pink and blue sunset, the clouds on the card have the exact same pattern as the actual clouds!” Several minutes later a rich pink spot could be seen above the sun- just like the card. We marveled together, savoring the moment and the awesome handiwork of God. It was too rich to tell.
When the children came in from their play, I told them about it. In awe, they listened, knowing how much Mom enjoys sunsets. Sometimes they summon me to the living room as the sun sets to show me the pretty colors.
Delicious Mashed Potato Casserole
Hannah, who had sent the sunset card, used to live in our community some years ago. We enjoyed having them as neighbors and friends. She would make this amazing and delicious mashed potato casserole. The meatloaf layer was always perfectly moist and absolutely delicious. On several occasions, she served it when they hosted church services. Hannah would often bake the meatloaf the day before then cool it, and the following day, add mushroom soup and mashed potatoes.
A lot of very basic ingredients in this casserole!
The mashed potato layer is my favorite!
This is the casserole after it is all done! Pile it on your plate and enjoy!
🍲 Delicious Mashed Potato Casserole
Meat mixture
- 1 ½ pound ground beef
- ¾ cup quick oats
- 2 eggs, beaten
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ cup tomato juice
Sauce
- ½ cup catsup
- 1 tablespoon mustard,
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 (10 oz.) can Cream of mushroom
- 3 quarts mashed potatoes
- ½ pound melting cheese
📋 Instructions
- Combine meat mixture ingredients and pack into 9 by 9” pan.
- Whisk together catsup, mustard, and brown sugar.
- Next spread over meat.
- Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
- Spread mushroom soup over baked meat, layer mashed potatoes on top, next place slices of cheese over mashed potatoes and return to oven until heated through.
🥔 More Amish Mashed Potato Recipes
Amish Wedding Mashed Potatoes - Delicious!
Bacon Mashed Potatoes - Everything is better with bacon!
Mashed Potato Candy - So good!
Potato Bread Stuffing - Yep, has mashed potatoes in it!
🖨️ Full Recipe
Delicious Mashed Potato Casserole
Ingredients
Meat mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- ¾ quick oats
- 2 eggs beaten
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ cup tomato juice
Sauce
- ½ cup catsup
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Top Layer
- 1 10 ounce can cream of mushroom soup
- 3 cups mashed potatoes
- ½ pound melting cheese
Instructions
- Combine meat mixture ingredients and pack into 9 by 9”pan.
- Whisk together catsup, mustard, and brown sugar and spread over meat
- Bake at 350 for 1 hour. .
- Spread mushroom soup over baked meat, layer mashed potatoes on top, next place slices of cheese over mashed potatoes and return to 350 degree oven until heated through.
Are You sure the 3 quarts of potatoes is right? Seems like alot. Could it be 3 cups?
Yes, three cups, I will correct it, thanks for catching that typo!
Actually, I checked with Gloria, not a typo...there's a lot of meat in the recipe and she say 3 quarts is correct, but you can cut the recipe amounts to your taste.
What is melting cheese in the sauce? Velveeta or maybe grated cheddar cheese?
Also, I noticed about the potatoes. I see per previous comment that it originally said 3 quarts & you changed it to 3 cups. After which you asked Gloria & she said 3 quarts is correct. You never changed it back to 3 quarts.