Scenes From A Swartzentruber Amish Farm and Her Chicken "Recipe"

By Kevin Williams

When I was in southern Ohio's Amish community recently, I had the chance to pop in and visit some old friends of mine who are Swartzentruber Amish, the ultraconservative sect. Mattie Stutzman and her husband own a basket shop and sell produce from their farm outside Sinking Spring, Ohio. I was talking to Mattie about some of her favorite recipes, and their family just likes fresh oven-fried chicken the best. I asked her how she prepares it and she says the secret to flavorful chicken is soaking it overnight in salt water. 1 /4 cup salt to every gallon of water. Then the next day she fries it in flour and butter on her stove top and then bakes it. Very simple, but very flavorful.

Here are some scenes from their farmstead.