By Kevin Williams
Flipping through Amish cookbooks can be an interesting culinary and anthropological experience.  But sometimes I come across a recipe that just has me scratching my head.
Recipes come into Amish culture the same way they do to all of us. Okay, well, not Pinterest, but friends and family. Â Some of the recipes are obviously not Amish. Â Watergate Salad has its origins at the infamous Watergate Hotel but has become a favorite among the Amish. Â I was flipping through an Amish cookbook earlier today and it has a recipe for "Nieman Marcas" cookies. Â Yes, the store's name is spelled wrong in the book. Â Neiman Marcus, anyone? Â This cookie recipe has its origins in an email chain letter (remember those?) that was once popular. Â You can get the recipe and backstory here.
Most oddly named recipes in more modern Amish cookbooks I can go online and usually trace the origins. Â But I'm stumped at this recipe for "Red Man Brownies." Â There's nothing online remotely close to that. Â It's a very basic brownie, it doesn't call for a half cup of snuff as I had sort of feared when I saw the title. Â The recipe was submitted to a small Amish family cookbook by an Ivan Coblentz. Â How did they come to be called "red man?" Â Is it a politically incorrect reference to Native Americans? Â Tobacco? Â Sun burn? Â Does anyone know or have any theories?
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 /2 cup margarine
- 1 /2 cup flour
- 1 cup nuts
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 tablespoons cocoa
- Beat eggs, sugar, and margarine.
- Add dry ingredients and nuts.
- Bake at 350 until done.
- Make a double batch for a 9 X 13 pan.
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