Read The Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook Online
Authors: Georgia Varozza
The Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook (38 page)
For Each Packet
1 T. dried chives
½ tsp. dill weed
1 tsp. garlic salt
½ tsp. paprika
Combine all ingredients until well blended. Place the mixture onto a 6-inch square of aluminum foil and fold over to make airtight. Make a number of these packets at one time; place packets in an airtight container or storage bag. Use within 6 months.
To Use
1 packet Vegetable Dip Mix
1 T. lemon juice
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
Combine all ingredients. Chill well before serving.
2 cups instant nonfat dry milk
1 cup flour
2 tsp. salt
1 cup butter
In a large bowl, combine the dry milk, flour, and salt. Mix well. Add the butter and work with a pastry cutter until the butter has been well incorporated and the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Lightly pack in an airtight container or large plastic storage bags. Store in refrigerator. Date the container and use within 2 months.
Basic White Sauce
¼-½ cup White Sauce Mix (depending on how thin you want the finished sauce to be)
1 cup cold water or milk
salt and pepper to taste
In a small saucepan, combine the White Sauce Mix and water or milk. Cook, stirring, over low heat, until smooth and thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Variations: You can substitute tomato juice or broth for the water. To make a cheese sauce, add ¾ cup shredded Cheddar or Velveeta cheese when mixture thickens and stir until cheese is melted
.
Many Amish in a community have the same first and last names, so in order to distinguish who exactly they are referring to, they make extensive use of nicknames. You might hear names such as “Jake’s Suzie,” “Chicken Elam,” or “Butter Mose.”
SUBSTITUTIONS AND MEASUREMENTS
Substitutions
| 1 tsp. baking powder | ⅓ tsp. baking soda plus ½ tsp. cream of tartar or ¼ tsp. baking soda plus ⅓ cup sour milk |
| 1 T. cornstarch | 2 T. flour |
| 2 T. tapioca | 3 T. flour |
| 2 egg yolks | 1 whole egg |
| 1 cup fresh milk | ½ cup evaporated milk plus ½ cup water or ⅓ cup dry milk plus 1 cup water |
| 1 cup sour milk | 1 cup buttermilk or yogurt or 1 ⅓ T. vinegar or lemon juice plus milk to make 1 cup |
| 1 cup sour cream | 1 cup plain yogurt |
| 1 cup sugar | ¾ cup honey, molasses, or corn syrup; reduce liquid in recipe by ¼ cup, add ¼ tsp. baking soda, and reduce oven temperature by 25°. |
| 1 cup brown sugar | Mix together 1 cup white sugar with 2 T. molasses |
| 1 square unsweetened chocolate | 3 T. cocoa |
Substituting Measurements
3 tsp. = 1 T.
2 T. =
⅛
cup
4 T. = ¼ cup
8 T. = ½ cup
16 T. = 1 cup
5 T. + 1 tsp. =
⅓
cup
12 T. = ¾ cup
4 oz. = ½ cup
8 oz. = 1 cup
16 oz. = 1 lb.
1 oz. = 2 T. fat/liquid
2 cups fat = 1 lb.
2 cups = 1 pint
2 cups sugar = 1 lb.
⅝
cup = ½ cup + 2 T.
⅞
cup = ¾ cup + 2 T.
1 oz. butter = 2 T.
1 lb. butter = 2 cups or 4 sticks
1 pint = 2 cups
2 pints = 1 quart
1 quart = 4 cups
dash = less than 1/8 tsp.
pinch = as much as can be taken between tip of finger and thumb
Approximate Measurements
1 lemon makes 3 T. juice
1 lemon makes 1 tsp. grated peel
1 orange makes
⅓
cup juice
1 orange makes 2 tsp. grated peel
1 medium chopped onion makes ½ cup
1 lb. unshelled walnuts makes 1½-1¾ cups shelled
1 lb. unshelled almonds makes ¾-1 cup shelled
8-10 egg whites make 1 cup
12-14 egg yolks make 1 cup
1 lb. shredded cheese make 4 cups
1 cup unwhipped cream makes 2 cups whipped
4 oz. (1-1¼ cups) uncooked macaroni make 2 cups cooked
7 oz. spaghetti make 4 cups cooked
4 oz. (1½-2 cups) uncooked noodles make 2 cups cooked
Commercial Container Sizes
If you want to substitute your home-canned or frozen foods in recipes that call for commercially canned or frozen foods, use this chart to help determine the quantity needed
.
6 oz. = ¾ cup
8 oz. = 1 cup
10½ oz. = 1¼ cups
14½-oz. can evaporated milk = 1
⅔
cups
15-oz. can sweetened condensed milk = 1
⅓
cups
15½ oz. = 1¾ cups
46 oz. (juices and fruit drinks) = 5¾ cups
10-oz. box of frozen vegetables = 2 cups
20-oz. bag of frozen vegetables = 4 cups
Lehman’s
One Lehman Circle
P.O. Box 270
Kidron, OH 44636
888-438-5346
Lehman’s supplies the Amish and others with a wide variety of items for those who live without electricity or prefer a more self-sufficient lifestyle. You can ask for a paper catalog to be sent to your home for a small fee (it’s worth the price) or you can go online to browse and shop. Lehman’s has about everything you could wish for—lanterns (including a large selection of Aladdin lamps and all replacement parts), non-electric kitchen appliances and gadgets, canning utensils, barn and farm supplies, wood-burning cookstoves, propane refrigerators, wash day supplies, sewing machines, furniture and toys, garden implements—if you can think of it, they probably have it or have access to a supplier.
The Budget
P.O. Box 249
Sugarcreek, OH 44681
330-852-4634
Known as the “Amish Newspaper,”
The Budget
has been around since 1890. The national edition, published weekly, is filled with letters sent in by Amish and Mennonite “scribes” who relay the news of interest from their communities. Because telephones aren’t a part of everyday life for many Amish families,
The Budget
is a handy way to keep abreast of events in surrounding, and sometimes far-flung, communities where they often have extended family. Even if you’re not Amish or Mennonite,
The Budget
is good reading.
Chupp’s Herbs & Fabrics
27539 Londick Road
Burr Oak, MI 49030
269-659-3950
Chupp’s sells dietary supplements, shoes, fabrics, Mutza suits, hats and gloves, toys and games, wagons, hand-powered small kitchen appliances, and much more.
You can call or write for a free catalog. More than 100 pages are jam-packed with products and testimonials, many from satisfied Amish customers. Makes for interesting reading.
Gohn Brothers
P.O. Box 1110
105 S. Main Street
Middlebury, IN 46540
800-595-0031
Gohn Brothers has been around for more than 100 years and sells Amish and Plain clothing and footwear (including old-fashioned high-topped shoes), books and games, sewing and quilting fabric, needles and accessories, and black Amish bonnets. You can call or write and ask for their free catalog.
Anabaptist Bookstore
875 N. Pacific Hwy.
Woodburn, OR 97071
This bookstore has an excellent website that carries many resources from Amish and Conservative Mennonite publishers—many of whom do not have a web presence. There are books on family and marriage, victorious living, youth and adult fiction, Bibles and study aids, and the complete education curriculum from Rod and Staff and Christian Light publishers. There are also a cappella music tapes and CDs for sale featuring Mennonite quartets, quintets, and choirs.
Ball Corporation
Every few years, the Ball Corporation puts out a new edition of their
Blue Book
, which is one of the best resources for home preserving, whether you want to can, freeze, or dehydrate your foods. This handy book is also chock-full of excellent recipes and ideas. If you only ever have one book on preserving, this is the one to get. An added bonus is that the book is quite inexpensive. The 100
th
Anniversary edition (1909–2009) sells for $6.99 at my local store. No kitchen should be without a copy—it’s just that good.
Mennonite Relief Sales
Mennonite Central Committee
704 Main Street
P.O. Box 500
Akron, PA 17501
You can contact the MCC for a current listing of Mennonite Relief Sales that are held annually in most states and Canadian provinces.
While this is not specifically Amish, the Mennonite Relief Sales are so much fun to attend that it’s worth going to at least once if there is one near your area. The sales are organized locally by volunteers from Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches, so each location has its own flavor. Begun in the 1950s, the Relief Sales are designed to raise money to help the less fortunate throughout the world.
You will find many items for sale, including beautiful handmade quilts, which the Relief Sales are especially known for, as well as furniture, needlework, pottery, woodwork, and paintings. Antiques and other quality used items are also sold. And then there’s the food: thousands of pies, cookies, cakes, breads, and rolls are baked; home-preserved jams, jellies, pickles, and relishes line the food booths.
The proceeds are donated directly to the Mennonite Central Committee, which uses the funds to provide food and other necessities to war-torn or famine-stricken areas around the globe. Many thousands of visitors attend the Relief Sales each year—a good time for a good cause.
GEORGIA VAROZZA
has worked in the publishing field for more than 20 years as a journalist, editor and writer. As a certified Master Food Preserver, she has taught many people in her community how to safely preserve their family’s foods. Georgia’s family comes from a Plain background, and many of the recipes she shares are family favorites.
