Almost Amish
Page 18
For filling:
2–4 Tbs. soft butter
1/2 c. sugar mixed with 3 Tbs. cinnamon
Mix all ingredients except filling. Knead. Place in greased bowl, cover, and allow to rise until double. (Or use “dough only” setting on your bread maker.) Divide into halves.
Knead again, adding additional flour if too sticky, then roll out on floured surface into two rectangles, about 3/4-inch thick. Spread dough with thin coat of soft butter. Sprinkle dough liberally with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Roll long edge into a log.
Place logs on baking sheets that have been coated with nonstick spray. Allow to rise, uncovered, in warm place until double. Bake in preheated oven (350°) for 12–15 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when tapped. Do not overcook. If desired, lightly rub top of logs with butter and sprinkle with additional cinnamon-sugar mixture. Best if served warm, but finger-lickin’ good anytime.
Soups
Soup is my go-to meal both for weeknight dinners and for feeding a crowd. These foolproof recipes serve 4–6 (depending on whether you have teenage boys in the household!) but can easily be doubled or tripled. If desired, adapt for (or keep warm in) a slow cooker—so you can prepare earlier in the day and not be frazzled at mealtime.
My Best Mushroom Soup
I have never had this soup turn out less than spectacular. For a special treat, mix in some shiitake or oyster mushrooms with the domestic mushrooms. When we lived in Wilmore, Kentucky, a neighbor grew and sold exotic mushrooms on a small scale and kept me supplied. Talk about local—and fresh!
4 Tbs. butter, divided
1 c. chopped onion
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 lb. mushrooms, sliced—use several varieties, if available
1 Tbs. minced fresh dill weed, or 1 tsp. dried
2 c. chicken or vegetable broth, divided
1 Tbs. tamari (or soy) sauce
1 Tbs. sweet Hungarian paprika (or regular paprika)
3 Tbs. all-purpose flour
1 c. milk
2 tsp. lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
For garnish: 1/2 c. sour cream plus extra dill weed
In a medium saucepan, sauté onion in 2 Tbs. butter until translucent. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Add mushrooms, dill weed, 1/2 c. broth, tamari sauce, and paprika. Cover saucepan and simmer for 15 minutes.
Heat remaining 2 Tbs. butter in a soup pot. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring, until the mixture bubbles. Add milk and whisk vigorously to blend well. Return to moderate heat and continue to whisk until sauce is thickened and smooth, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the mushroom mixture and remaining broth. Cover pot and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
Just before serving, add lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Garnish each bowl with a generous spoonful of sour cream and a sprinkle of extra dill weed.
Creamy Potato Soup
This is my richest soup—always a winner. Best served with a simple salad, as opposites attract!
3 Tbs. butter
1 c. chopped onion
1 tsp. minced garlic
2 large potatoes, well scrubbed and coarsely chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
3 c. chicken or vegetable stock
1 tsp. dried dill weed, or 2 tsp. fresh
4 oz. cream cheese
11/2 c. milk
1 c. grated sharp cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: chopped fresh parsley or chives for garnish
In soup pot, sauté onion and garlic in butter until the onion is translucent. Add potatoes and carrot and sauté for 5 minutes longer. Add stock and dill weed and simmer until all vegetables are tender.
Puree cream cheese and half of vegetable mixture in blender until smooth. Return to soup pot and stir in milk and grated cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish each bowl with fresh parsley or chives, if available—the green adds a welcome burst of color!
For Fish Chowder: Add 1/2 c. clam juice along with stock, substitute 1/8 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning for the dill, and substitute 2 c. cooked, cubed fish or 1 c. chopped clams for the cheese.
Curried Lentil Soup
I adapted this soup from a curried lentil recipe my friend (and fabulous cook!) Bethany shared with me. Cheap, easy, filling, and delicious—the perfect food quadrilateral! Adjust the seasoning for your family’s palate, but if you are expecting guests, err on the side of mild and provide extra hot sauce at the table. Our family prefers Sriracha sauce (a.k.a “rooster sauce,” because of the image on the bottle), which is inexpensive and available at most Asian markets and larger grocery stores. But beware, a tiny dab goes a long way!
11/2 c. dried lentils (Brown lentils are okay, but if you can find yellow, orange, or green lentils, they are well worth the extra expense.)
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. sea salt
5 c. chicken or vegetable broth
1/4 c. butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1–2 tsp. curry powder (to taste)
2 Tbs. lemon juice
3 c. cooked rice (brown or white), optional
Optional garnishes: hot sauce, grated cheese, and sour cream or plain yogurt
Combine first four ingredients and bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes. Remove bay leaf.
While the lentils cook, sauté onion and garlic in butter until translucent, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with the 1/4 tsp. sea salt and add the curry powder. Cook 3 minutes longer. Mix onion mixture and lemon juice into lentils.
For a more filling meal, serve the lentil soup over hot rice. Provide hot sauce, grated cheese, and sour cream or plain yogurt, to add as desired.
Wedding Soup (Italian Meatball Soup with Orzo)
This is one of Matthew’s favorite soups and incredibly easy to make! I prepare this for guests only if I know we don’t have any vegetarians at the table—it is a very hearty soup and especially filling when extra broth is sopped up with fresh bread.
2 Tbs. butter
3/4 c. diced onion
1 c. diced carrots
5 c. chicken broth
1 beef bouillon cube
1 c. dried orzo
30 cooked meatballs, freshly made or frozen
Total of 1 tsp. dried or 2 tsp. fresh Italian herbs (such as basil, oregano, and parsley)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 c. diced spinach or other fresh greens
Optional: grated Parmesan cheese
In a soup pot, sauté onion and carrots in butter until soft, about 10 minutes. Add broth and bouillon cube and continue cooking 10 minutes more.
Meanwhile, in a separate pot, cook orzo according to package directions until firm, about 6 minutes. When onion and carrots are tender, add meatballs, Italian herbs, and cooked, drained orzo. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Stir in diced greens and cook for one minute longer. Spoon into bowls and offer optional grated Parmesan cheese at the table.
Note: If you plan to have leftovers, add orzo to each bowl rather than to the soup pot. Orzo expands, so it will soak up all the broth overnight.
Tortellini Soup
This recipe is the holy grail for the gourmet in a hurry—an elegant meal, with almost no mess or hassle! When your family and guests compliment you, just say “thank you” and leave it at that.
4 c. (about 3 pkg.) fresh wild mushroom tortellini or ravioli (or substitute another favorite fresh tortellini/ravioli, found in the refrigerated pasta section of the grocery store)
5 c. chicken or vegetable broth
4 firm plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 c. five-cheese spaghetti sauce (I prefer Bertolli brand.)
Total of 1 tsp. dried or 2 tsp. fresh Italian herbs (such as basil, oregano, and parsley)
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional garnish: shredded Parmesan cheese and additional fresh, chopped herbs
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nbsp; Mix broth, chopped tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, and herbs in soup pot. Bring to vigorous boil. Add tortellini and cook 4–5 minutes until al dente. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Garnish with fresh herbs, if available, and serve with shredded Parmesan cheese.
Note: Pasta will get mushy if kept in soup stock overnight. However, this recipe is so simple you can always make a fresh batch!
Cream of Whatever Soup
Consider this soup your chance to be creative with whatever vegetables are in season. Fresh croutons will make this soup a feast: cube some leftover bread and toast in a hot pan with plenty of oil, minced garlic, and chopped parsley. Float croutons on top of soup just before serving.
3 c. broccoli, asparagus, or other in-season vegetable—cooked and drained
3 Tbs. butter
1 tsp. minced garlic
3 Tbs. all-purpose flour
1 c. milk
2 c. chicken or vegetable broth
11/2 c. grated Muenster, Swiss, or cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp. dried dill weed or 2 tsp. fresh
Melt butter in soup pot, cook garlic for one minute, then add flour. Stir over medium heat until mixture bubbles. Slowly whisk in milk and broth; cook until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.
Add grated cheese and stir until melted and smooth. Place cooked vegetable in a blender and add sauce; process to desired consistency. Add salt, pepper, and dill to taste.
If soup is too thick (or you have more mouths to feed), thin with additional milk and/or broth. Serve hot, topped with fresh croutons.
Salads
Salads in our house are inspired by the season—based on what is plentiful in the garden and farmers’ market. Be creative! Besides the usual vegetables, consider these toppings to add substance and color to your salads:
• Sliced strawberries, diced avocado, and goat cheese (chèvre)
• Blueberries and feta cheese
• Dried cranberries, blue cheese, and pecans (Clark’s favorite)
• Mandarin oranges and slivered almonds
• Cold (briefly steamed) broccoli and cauliflower florets and shredded Parmesan
• Diced apples (or slightly under-ripe pears), walnuts, and grated extra-sharp cheddar
• Cold steamed asparagus tips and grated Gouda or baby Swiss
• Golden raisins and cashews
• Small cubes of fresh mozzarella and roasted or sun-dried tomatoes
• Drained artichoke hearts (diced), homemade croutons, and shredded Parmesan
• Grilled chicken or salmon. See my favorite marinade below.
Chicken or Salmon Marinade
Mix 1 part canola oil and one part soy sauce. Add salt, pepper, minced garlic, and dried dill to taste. Marinate chicken or salmon for at least 20 minutes, turning once.
Nancy’s Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
I nearly always serve salad with homemade dressing. This is my tried-and-true recipe, but feel free to personalize it with different vinegars and flavorings.
1/2 c. olive oil
1/3 c. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. honey
1/2 tsp. dried dill weed
Salt and pepper to taste
Place all ingredients in tightly covered jar and shake well.
Additional Resources
Interested in learning more about the Almost Amish life? Here are a few recommended resources for further exploration:
• For practical applications and downloadable tip sheets, visit www.blessedearth.org/resources.
• My favorite website for learning more about the Amish is http://www.etown.edu/centers/young-center/. This link takes you to Elizabethtown College’s Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies.
• For an interested layperson, the most thorough book for studying this subject is Amish Society, by John A. Hostetler (The Johns Hopkins University Press). Professor Hostetler was the former director of the Elizabethtown Young Center.
• If you watch just one movie about the Amish, I recommend Amish Grace. It may not have Hollywood high-budget production value, but the story of forgiveness under the most horrific circumstances is so compelling that I would list it among the top ten most-moving films.
• The Mennonite More-with-Less Cookbook and Living More with Less guidebook are much beloved resources in many households, including ours. I was blown away (and more than a little humbled) when asked to write the introduction to the thirtieth anniversary edition. Consider this an unabashed plug for my Mennonite (and, as Matthew says, “Mostly Mennonite”) friends around the globe!
• If you are fortunate enough to have an Amish community near you, plan a fun and educational day trip. Or, if you are visiting the mid-Atlantic region, include a visit to the epicenter of Amish culture, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Slow down. Visit some local businesses. Spend time in the surrounding countryside. Seeing is believing, and believing will help you see!
• The best way to embark on any journey is with the support of friends. Use the discussion guide that follows in your church’s small group or with a circle of like-minded neighbors. Wherever you are along the Almost Amish journey, encourage one another, and know that I am with you in spirit, cheering you along every step of the way!
Questions for Further Thought or Discussion
Introduction
1. Nancy and her husband had a transformational conversation while enjoying God’s creation on a starlit night. Describe a time when you felt close to God while out in nature.
2. This conversation eventually led Nancy and her family to significantly simplify their lives. What are some things you could do to reduce your ecological footprint or simplify your life?
3. Which of the Amish principles would you most want to try incorporating into your life? Why?
Chapter 1
1. In what ways can pride be manifested in our homes?
2. Jesus’ call to us is to follow him and leave everything behind. While we might not be prepared to do this all at once, what could some first steps look like?
3. Nancy says that the Amish way is to buy only what is truly needed. What would some of these items be for you? Name some items that you only think you need.
4. What are some ways you could “invite all to your table,” opening your home to others?
5. How does your home reflect your values?
Chapter 2
1. Nancy writes, “Technology serves as a tool and does not rule as a master.” Is this true for you? Why or why not?
2. In what ways can “opting out” affect your life?
3. Has technology supplanted God in any sense in your heart and your affections? Explain.
4. Of the five tips Nancy gives for making conscious choices about technology (turn off your cell phone, limit/eliminate TV, cut back on computer games, reduce incoming e-mail, and approach social media with caution), which would be hardest for you and/or your family? Why?
Chapter 3
1. How would you answer the questions Nancy poses under “Money Matters”? Are you surprised by your responses?
2. In what ways is Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.’s fear that people are becoming more concerned with “making a living than making a life” represented in your workweek? In what ways could you improve on this?
3. If you honestly adhered to the biblical statement “God owns everything”, how might your thinking about finances be affected?
Chapter 4
1. In what ways are you showing your appreciation for God’s creation? How does your love for creation show in your love for God?
2. Nancy gives six ways to abide in God in his natural world (grow a garden, pack a picnic, pick up trash, plant a tree, work outdoors, and play outdoors). Which do you think would be the hardest and which the easiest to include in your daily life?
3. If you took Nancy’s advice and spent more time in nature, in what ways might your relationship with God be affected?
Chapter 5
1. Nancy asks, “What does a holistic approach to simplicity involve?” How would you answer this question?
2. If you were to cut back on the two kinds of stuff that inhibit simplicity (the stuff that fills your house and the stuff that fills your calendars), which would be more difficult?
3. Do you have a network of neighbors? Why or why not?
Chapter 6
1. Nancy writes, “Service is the agent through which we act out our love for God and for one another”. How is this evident in your life?
2. In what ways do you see God’s service to you? In what ways are you serving God?
3. Is there anything you are withholding from God that you can see is becoming an idol in your life?
4. Are you serving God by giving him your firstfruits? Why or why not?
Chapter 7
1. Are the Amish guidelines for security (tradition, stability, sense of place) missing from your life? In what ways could you incorporate these ideals?
2. Of the three storm stories Nancy describes, which do you identify with the most? Explain.
3. What traditions do you have with your family? What traditions could you weave back into your life to build security in your family?
4. In what ways could you reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ, especially when it might be inconvenient or costly?
Chapter 8
1. How has new technology replaced human contact in your life? In what ways can this be changed?
2. What might be the challenges of buying primarily from local businesses? How can some of these challenges be overcome?
3. Of the ways Nancy provides to have fun building community, in which do you think you are most likely to participate?
4. What are some of the potential benefits of taking an active part in your community?
Chapter 9
1. Nancy writes that a common theme in Amish tradition is harmony. What are some specific ways you could help increase harmony in your family life?
2. Which of the five Almost Amish actions (stay close geographically, share family meals, respect gender roles, give kids chores, and keep the Sabbath) would be the easiest to add to your family life? Which would be the most difficult? Why?
3. How do you think that keeping the Sabbath might affect the other six days of the week? How might it affect your relationship with God?