Amish Cook at Home Review and Recipe

PUB DATE: November 2008

Thank You to Tammie at Andrews McMeel for sending me this great cookbook. I couldn’t wait for this to come in. I love it. Isn’t the cover pretty?

I am in awe of the Amish community, their way of life and how they are able to shun modern technology to life a plain and simple life.

Amish Cook at Home is a great cookbook. The recipes in the book are all structured around the four seasons of the year which influences Amish life and cooking. All the recipes are based on what they have access to in each season. The even preserve vegetables etc for the off season months.

The book also talks about the history and culture. There are stories about the Old Order days and glimpses into how they prepare for weddings, funerals and tax time. Yes the Amish pay there taxes. Lovina talks about the holidays and how they celebrate them such as Mother’s Day (some Amish observe it and others don’t. They give their mothers plants or poems. Nothing fancy.)Easter is observed but Halloween isn’t. The kids don’t go trick or treating. With Christmas the Amish don’t recognize Santa Claus. The children know its make believe.

The pictures in the book are beautiful from the children’s drawings to scenery to animals to the various rooms in a house etc. Its a well crafted book. One that will be treasured and used always.

There is over 100 recipes in the book and to date I have made Parmesan chicken (which was really good and simple to make) Easy Baked Whole chicken, fresh ground beef supper (this has been Michael’s favorite dish to date and I have made it numerous times with changes added to the recipe) poor man’s steak, and farmer’s breakfast.

What I love about the recipes in the book is that its things most of us have in our cupboards and pantry already. No fancy ingredients that you have to go store to store in search of. They are healthy and nutritious at the same time.

If you would like to buy the book you can go to Andrews McMeels site and order it.

RECIPE: Fresh Ground Beef Supper

1 pound of ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 pound of tomatoes diced
1/2 cup white long grain rice
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350.

In a large skillet brown the beef. Drain grease and add onion and bell pepper. Stir in tomatoes, rice, chili powder, salt, and pepper and heat thoroughly.

Pour the mixture into a greased 8 cup casserole dish. Cover and bake for 50 minutes. Sprinkle the cheese evenly on top and bake uncovered for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and casserole is bubbling.

My notes: Since making this recipe the first time I have made it once without the cheese and it was good. I have also added more bell peppers and mushrooms to the recipe and it still tasted the same. I also discovered that greasing the casserole dish made for easy clean up. Enjoy.