Pride of Iowa cookies
By Kevin Williams
PRIDE OF IOWA COOKIES: This isn't an Amish cookie per se, but I have seen it show in a lot of Amish cookbooks. Not surprising because this cookie is very compatible with an Amish kitchen: very basic ingredients, not tough to make, not an overpoweringly sweet cookie. What I have found in online research is that this recipe was pushed by the Quaker Oats company which had a plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. So no shock to see that this recipe has plenty of oats in it. Click here for Patricia's Patchwork version of the recipe!
HOME JOYS: Great gardening wisdom dispensed by Gina at the Home Joys blog. Now, I will say that what she is dispensing is common sense, but, it is still good advice. Keep your garden small is one of her nuggets and, wow, I agree with that. One year Rachel and I did a massive garden and it just didn't work. A few raised beds are much more realistic for us. Click here to read Gina's post.
KATIE TROYER
Katie was born Amish and while she is no longer affiliated with the church, her upbringing has earned her trust among the Amish in Pinecraft, Florida. So Katie is a welcome presence among the Amish in Pinecraft as she makes her rounds around town on her bike, snapping photos for her website. For newbies here, Pinecraft is the Amish "winter enclave" in Florida. This is probably the last "peak week" in Pinecraft. After this week the population will gradually ebb as people head north. Two gems from Katie this week:
CAR BREAKDOWN: Love it, this may be the only time you'll see an Amish man behind the wheel of a car (also just a super example of the Pinecraft melting pot, Amish, ex-Amish, English, everyone mingles and gets along great here). Anyway, click to see this fun pictorial.
Just grabbed this photo from Google, so not the best quality....but, wow, $260,000....
ESH AUCTION: Katie has some superb photos of an auction in Pinecraft. Housing stock is in short supply in Pinecraft compared to the demand so when someone is ready to sell, there are plenty of buyers. See some scenes from this auction here. But to me more interesting than the photo is how much this house sold for: $261,000 for what is essentially a tiny bungalow. And, wow, did the sellers make a tidy profit. They bought the home in 1993 for $83.000. Wow. Click here to see Zillow details of the home.
AMISH CHOCOLATE CAKE: The Dutchcrafters blog recreated one of our recipes, which was flattering. Check out the recipe and explore the rest of their site here!
AMISH SIDE OF ME'S CARROT CAKE: Mmmmm, if carrot cake counted as a way for me to eat my veggies, I'd eat it every day! Click here for the recipe.
lois
Wichita KS has a wonderful zoo which includes heritage breeds.
I've never spent over $30 at Aldi's! Mostly go there for German treats, chocolate, wine (good and cheap).
Kevin
Yea, Rachel said there was good, cheap wine there, that'll be next on my list!
Diane Andrase
Dear Kevin, You must have been to the Milwaukee Zoo a long time ago. A new zoo opened in 1961. It is on par with the San Diego Zoo. Perhaps you should take a trip there, and update your files. They have 2 trains too; one of which is a steam train.
Kevin
Diane, to be clear, in my post I said a "Wisconsin zoo", it was not Milwaukee...never been to the Milwaukee zoo, I just didn't want to publicly name the terrible zoo because, well, I don't like to be negative online whenever I can avoid it......