Gathering of Sisters Review

Gathering of Sisters: A Year With My Old Order Mennonite Family
Author: Darla Weaver
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Herald Press
ISBN-13: 978-1513803371

About the Book:

Spend a day with sisters.

Once a week Darla Weaver bundles her children into the buggy, hitches up her spirited mare, and drives six miles to the farm where she grew up. There she gathers with her four sisters and their children for a day with their mother. In Gathering of Sisters, Weaver writes about her horse-and-buggy Mennonite family and the weekly women s gatherings that keep them connected. On warm days, the children play and fish and build houses of hay in the barn. In the winter, everyone stays close to the woodstove, with puzzles and games and crocheting. No matter the weather, the Tuesday get-togethers of this Old Order Mennonite family keep them grounded and centered in their love for God and for each other,even when raising an occasional loving but knowing eyebrow at each other.

The rest of the week is full of laundry, and errands, and work that never ends. But Tuesdays is about being sisters, daughters, and mothers.

Hear straight from Amish and Mennonite people themselves as they write about their daily lives and deeply rooted faith in the Plainspoken series from Herald Press. Each book includes A Day in the Life of the Author and the author s answers to FAQs about the Amish and Mennonites.

My Thoughts

Have you ever observed a family and wished you were part of it? The type of family where they are close, seem to do everything together and are happy - truly happy? This is how I felt as I read Gathering of Sisters. I so wanted to be a part of the gathering at Darla's mom's home. To feel a part of a family that is not only family, but are also friends. They share books, chores, creative ideas, gardening, flowers, etc. They are the epitome of love and reading this book made me greatly desire what they had. My family is gone - most have either died or moved away, so there is no one to share my later years with, the way I had always envisioned it. I believe this is the part of Amish/Mennonite life that is so attractive to us - where their society hasn't broken down the way ours has.

In Gathering of Sisters, Darla Weaver takes the reader into her childhood home and family and shares her life, feelings, relationships with her siblings, children, nieces, nephews and her mother. Her accounts are honest and she tells how she's not perfect, how she doesn't really love doing everything that we assume the Amish love to do or are superior at. She gives us the gift of making the members of the Old Order alive and real and not some fantasy from the Amish romances that have become so popular.

To say I loved this book is an understatement. It not only tells about Darla's time on Tuesdays with her siblings at her mother's house, but it also combines life with Godly messages and verses. She shares how things that happen in her life remind her about Bible verses as well as how things are incorporated in God plan. This is beautifully done and doesn't sound preachy or false - but most definitely from the heart.

Along with faith, the reader will find recipes for some of the dishes that are cooked, menus that they have and a nice question and answer at the end. This book follows a year of visits with the family and as it winds down to the month of December, there is a sadness that one knows this is the end of the visit with the family.

Make sure to add this to your reading list. It will not only warm you heart, but your soul. Highly recommended!!!

About the Author

Darla Weaver is a homemaker, gardener, writer, and Old Order Mennonite living in the hills of southern Ohio. She is the author of Water My Soul and Many Lighted Windows and has written for Family Life, Ladies' Journal, Young Companion, and other magazines for Amish and Old Order Mennonite groups. Before her three children were born she also taught school. Her hobbies are gardening and writing.

I received an egalley of this book from the NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review, but instead, one that gives my honest opinion.

Creamy Rice Pudding

As I try to decide what to take with me, and what to keep, I came across a my aunt's recipe box. She was somewhat of an adventurous cook for our family. She had given me her collection after her husband died because she could never see cooking these for just herself. She had lost her passion for cooking and sadly reverted to plain and simple. No longer were the fantastic and unusual items coming from her kitchen and we no longer saw these creations at our family gatherings. She has since passed, but these recipes will always keep her alive for me. I am currently scanning all my family recipes and will pass them on to my children in their original form.

This was one recipe I had to share. I've had Rice Pudding before but this is my favorite hands down. It is easy and no precooking of the rice. All goes into a greased casserole and into the oven. There was no time given, so I stir it every so often and keep an eye on it until it is thickened to the way I like it. I have covered it and cooked it uncovered. It is very forgiving and tastes great. Unfortunately, I've never timed it, so it truly is one of those heirloom type recipes. I hope you enjoy!

 

Creamy Rice Pudding

1 quart milk

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup raw rice

1 Tablespoon butter

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup raisins

Heat oven to 325 degrees F. In a greased casserole (1-1/2 quart) combine all ingredients. Add raisins the last half  hour of baking.

For thicker pudding, increase rice to five tablespoons. 

Serves 6.

Made in America: A Modern Collection of Classic Recipes by Megan Garrelts and Colby Garrelts

Made in America
A Modern Collection of Classic Recipes
Megan Garrelts, Colby Garrelts
Andrews McMeel Publishing
ISBN: 9781449458140
Pub Date Apr 14 2015
Hardcover: 168 pages

About the Book:

An American collection of heirloom recipes from a chef's point of view designed for home cooking. Award-winning chefs Colby and Megan Garrelts present 50 handcrafted recipes passed down through generations and celebrated around American tables.

This beautiful collection of traditional American recipes is an invitation to reminisce with generations around the kitchen table. Acclaimed Kansas City chef and recipient of the 2013 James Beard award for Best Chef Midwest, Colby Garrelts and his wife, Megan, a James Beard semifinalist for Best Pastry Chef, feature their favorite library of American classics redefined by easy, chef inspired techniques, quality ingredients, and a love for regional flavors from their Midwestern roots. These recipes will soon be the classics you refer to again and again for true Americana cooking. Made in America features 50 handcrafted recipes sorted by the cooking methods commonly used in American kitchens from daybreak, to the bakeshop. Many recipes begin with a childhood memory from Colby or Megan that describes the roots and the journey of each recipe.

This heirloom collection from a modern point of view includes such as Biscuits and Gravy, Corn Fritters with Fresh Sheep's Milk Cheese, Quick Pickles, Panfried BBQ Pork Chops with Tomato Horseradish Sauce, Grilled Garlic-Thyme Kansas City Strips, Garrelts Fried Chicken, Lemon Meringue Pie, and Chocolate Butterscotch Cookies, to name a few. Suggested menus for festive America holidays such as Mother's Day, 4th of July, Back to School night, and Christmas are also included. Sidebars throughout showcase handcrafted cocktails such as the Bloody Mary, The State Fair, and the Pimm's Cup that pair well with the different recipes within. Love and pride are woven together to create this collection that will remind you of your favorite recipes that define the comforts of home.

My Thoughts:

I don't think there's anything as delicious as Southern foods and this book is filled with them - many done with added flair making these recipes extraordinary. Get ready to drool and then have an overwhelming desire to whip up a dish or two. You just can't help yourself when paging through. The photography that pairs with the recipes are beautifully done and I swear you can taste the deliciousness of each dish.

Make sure to try the Christmas Casserole. This one is better than others I've tried and my guess is because of the addition of cremini mushrooms and Gruyere cheese. Then there's the Braised Bacon with Bourbon, Raisins, Nuts and Fried Eggs... Oh man - swoon worthy for sure! The Worcestershire-Grilled Rib Eye is a must for summer grilling and of course you can't have a good Sunday dinner without Garrelts Fried Chicken! One can't forget dessert and a must to try is the Lemon Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream, Oatmeal-Cherry Cookies and don't forget the Lemon Meringue Pie!

With all this talk about the recipes contained in this book, I want - no - I NEED to stop writing about this amazing book and get to the kitchen and bake something - and FAST!!

If you haven't guessed it, you really need to add this to your cooking library - especially if you love Southern Fare. Yes, it's just that good!!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley courtesy of the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, but instead, one that gives my honest opinion.

The Digest Diet by Liz Vaccariello - Review

The Digest Diet
by Liz Vaccariello

Published by Reader's Digest

Drop a Size in 4 Days.
Eliminate Fatigue and Cravings.
Kick-start a Lifetime of Good Health!

The Digest Diet utilizes groundbreaking science and collective wisdom to help you lose weight quickly and safely -- backed by the authority of America's most trusted magazine. Join editor-in-chief Liz Vaccariello as she analyzes and condenses decades of research to unveil the surprising truth about weight loss. She reveals eye-opening and myth-busting ways to shed fat and slim down -- and puts it all into one easy-to-use plan. Read the fascinating pages and get these life-changing, health-boosting lessons:

• Beat the sneaky fat increasers that cause "fat creep"
• Enjoy amazing and delicious fat releasing foods
• Discover why fast weight loss is safe and effective
• Stop craving junk food and start craving greens
• Drop a pound or more a day for 21 days!
• Delight in the surprising fat-burning power of laughter

My Thoughts:

Every Reader's Digest book I've ever read has a stunning and colorful format that is pleasing to the reader. "The Digest Diet" is no exception. Full of gorgeous, full color photos and easy to read print, one will catch themselves leafing through and enjoying the book even before settling down for some serious reading.

"The Digest Diet" is written in a easy to understand language that doesn't talk down to the reader. I enjoyed the style immensely and also enjoyed that it doesn't accuse the reader nor does it put them down for being overweight. It addresses the problem, gives some amazing and sensible solutions and shows how to achiever exactly what the reader wants - successful drop of weight and inches.

Using "real" people, this book looks at what the diet did for them and how they used it. I found it fascinating and a great testimony. The diet is outlined well and makes it easy to use and gives many alternatives, great tasting recipes and exercises.

The diet starts off with consuming 2 shakes a day and a meal, graduates to one and two meals, then on to a sensible diet. With many recipes included, alternatives for flavor changes and information on foods and what they do, one can easily obtain success using this diet.

The recipes are delicious! I've tried quite a few and have enjoyed everyone I've tried so far. My daughter loves the shake recipe - not to slim down, but to use when she is in the mood for a good breakfast shake. I love the fact that the recipes use REAL foods and not dietetic items. No artificial sweeteners - actually nothing artificial at all!! I cannot tell you how much I LOVE that! Too many times diet recipes contain so many artificial things I will  not ingest nor ever consider feeding my family.

This is a great resource to have to lose those extra pounds/inches and not give up flavor or health for a fad. If you need to loose a couple of pounds or 100 pounds, you will find it can teach you many things about what foods to eat and what to keep away from. You can cycle through the diet or continue on eating healthy. There are so many options that makes this book something different than "just another diet book".

Add this one to your list of must reads and pick up a copy to be ready to bring the new year in with. You won't be sorry. I'm using the diet and it's working. Next on my list of things to get is "The Diet Digest Cookbook" also by Liz Vaccariello!!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Leyane at FSB Associates. I was not required to write a favorable review, but instead one that reflects my own opinion.

Canning Broccoli Soup

Broccoli Soup (middle)

Broccoli crowns were on sale at our local grocery store, so I decided to try the Broccoli Soup recipe in my Fagor "Home Canning Cookbook" to see if it would be something I'd like to stock on the shelves for this winter. I canned my first batch of 4 jars, let it stand for a few days, and then we ate it. The verdict: Everyone really liked it! In fact, the kids LOVED it and have asked for me to put up "tons" of it. LOL It's a really nice recipe, good alone, or if you want broccoli and cheese, just sprinkle some cheddar on it and let it melt - just yummy.

Broccoli Soup

1 1/2 pounds broccoli, whole
1/2 onion, peeled and chopped
1-2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons margarine or vegetable oil (I used butter)
1/4 cup uncooked white rice
5 cups vegetable or chicken broth (this came out to 3 cans 14.5 oz size)
Tabasco sauce to taste
Salt & Pepper to taste

Cut broccoli florets from the stalks. Peel stalks and slice into 1-inch pieces. Saute broccoli, onions, and garlic, in butter. In a large saucepan, combine the sauteed vegetables with the rice and broth. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer gently until vegetables are very soft. Puree soup in blender. (I used my Braun handheld and blended it in the pot). Return to stockpot and add the Tabasco, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Cook for an additional 5 minutes. Ladle into jars, leaving a 1 inch headspace. Cap and seal. Place in pressure canner with 2-3 inches of hot water (or amount recommended for your brand of pressure canner). Process for 40 minutes at 15 pounds (Fagor's HIGH setting).

Please note: There is no conversion for those at higher altitudes in this book. I'm just below 1000 ft. above sea level, so I don't have to worry about it. For those above 1000 ft. above sea level, please contact your local Cooperative Extension Office for advice on safe times and pressure settings.

Vintage Recipe Thursday: Raspberry-Filled Chocolate Chip Muffins

Vintage Recipe Thursday is meant to preserve your own original vintage family recipes, or out-of-print, copyright-free recipes from old cookbooks, magazines, newspapers or postcards.

You're invited! Get the details by clicking to the Vintage Recipe Thursday Homepage.


Our family is crazy about muffins. When I bake them, I make dozens. The gang is let loose on them and then we freeze the rest for quick snacks or to have with breakfast. This is a family favorite that has been around for years.

Raspberry-Filled Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips
1/4 cup raspberry jam

Beat , oil and egg together until well blended. Combine dry ingredients and stir into the liquid mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.


Fill muffin cups 1/3 full. Place 1 teaspoon jam on top of batter.


Top with remaining batter. Sprinkle with sugar if desired. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes.


Cool - and enjoy!!

Homemade Mixes

Homemade or from scratch foods and mixes can normally be made for a fraction of the cost of the convenience foods you find at the grocery store. Not only are they cheaper, but they are better tasting and you know what ingredients are in them. Look at a cake recipe and you can easily pronounce the ingredients. Now pick up a cake mix. Can you pronounce the ingredients - let alone know exactly what they are?

There are numerous mixes listed on the web, including some of my own favorites. Although there are lots out there, you really don't need to follow a mix recipe to make your own. Pull out your favorite cake recipe. You can mix all the dry ingredients together, put them in a baggie or other air tight container, label it, and put it away for the next time you want to make a cake. Now all you need to do is pull it out, add the wet ingredients, and your finished making a scratch cake with the ease of a mix! You can do the same with pancakes, brownies, etc. Just use your imagination.

Breakfast is usually the most rushed meal during the day, especially on weekdays. According to a report on Good Morning America this morning, store purchased cereals can contain up to 50% it's weight in sugar! It's so easy to make some wonderful homemade granola that you control the sugar and the ingredients to fit your family's needs and preferences. Maybe you like the ease of instant oatmeal. Did you know that you can just put one part quick oats to two parts milk in a bowl and microwave it - and it's done about as quickly as instant. If you like the flavors, add raisins and cinnamon, brown sugar, maple syrup, dried fruits, nuts.... the sky's the limit. Save some time by measuring out and putting a serving in a baggie with the dried fruits,nuts, & flavorings of your choice (no wet ingredients). Make enough for a week, and you'll have the ease of the packets for a fraction of the cost.

Maybe you love pancakes or waffles. On the weekend, you can cook up a batch, cool them, then stack them with a sheet of waxed paper between each one. (pancake, waxed paper, pancake, waxed paper...) then put in a container and freeze. During the week, you can pull out the amount of pancakes (or waffles) you want and just warm them up in the microwave. Waffles can be warmed in the toaster. If you have problems with the pancakes sticking together, put them single layer on a cookie sheet, then freeze for an hour or so, take them out and stack with waxed paper between each one, put in a container and freeze.

Start looking at the recipes you use most. Ask yourself if you can measure out and pack some of the ingredients ahead to save you time. Just by doing this, you'll be buying less convenience foods from the store, and making more from scratch in the same amount of time, with the wonderful taste of homemade. And the best part - you're saving money to use elsewhere!!

Homemade Granola

One way we save money is by making a lot of our own groceries. I love to bake and find it rewarding and satisfying knowing what is in the food I serve my family. My children love granola, but we found most on the market to be hard and quite substandard, so we went on a search to find a good recipe. With a lot of experimenting, we now have a recipe that we are satisfied with.



Granola

Syrup:
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup honey
Cereal:
5 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup dried milk
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
Pinch salt
1/2 cup raisins
Other on-hand ingredients ie: nuts, dried fruits, coconut, seeds, etc.

Place oatmeal in a 9" x 13" pan. Sprinkle evenly with dried milk, then salt. At this point, I usually will sprinkle 2 Tbs. flax seed meal, an even coating of each: coconut, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, chopped walnuts or pecans.** Leave the raisins out until later.

After you are satisfied with with the ingredients in your cake pan, set aside. Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix the oil, brown sugar, and honey in a small saucepan and heat until the ingredients combine. It will seem like the oil and sugar won't mix, but once it starts boiling, you will see a change - everything combines. Take off heat and pour over ingredients in cake pan. Mix well. Bake for 7 minutes, stir, then bake for another five, stir, then put back in for another 5 minutes. By now, the ingredients should be a bit browned and the syrup has been incorporated evenly.

Take from the oven and cool - mixing while cooling to prevent items from staying in one huge clump.

**Note: If I'm putting in raisins, I usually add about an equal amount of dates. If I'm using another dried fruit or berry, I'll leave out the raisins sometimes. There really is no recipe of what to add after the first four cereal ingredients - it's usually whatever I have on hand and what I think may taste good together. I like to put in as many seeds as possible, because the seeds have a powerhouse of good vitamins and minerals in them.

We have been making this granola for a good year now, tweaking it as we go - experimenting with different combinations and ingredients. Today I made our normal raisin, date and pecan granola and in the second pan I made a cherry granola which used our own dehydrated sweet cherries. The cherries were a bit of a disappointment, as they didn't have the flavor we get from dehydrating sour cherries. It was still good, but not as good as it could be. I will be making note of this.