Apples

Apples.

Caramel Apples.

Baked Apples.

Applesauce.

Apple Butter.

Apple Cider.

Apple Cake.

Apple Cookies.

Oatmeal Apple Cookies.

Apple Dumplings.

Apple Cobbler.

Apple Pie.

Apple Cream Pie.

Sour Cream Apple Pie.

Dutch Apple Pie.

Shoestring Apple Pie.

Apple Pancakes.

Pork and Apple Stew.

Grilled Cheese & Apple Sandwiches.

Apples. That's what we've been up to the last few weeks. How about you? Oh, and the children really like eating the Grilled Cheese and Apple Sandwiches for breakfast or a snack.

It probably isn't very "Amish", but it is so simple and easy, you should try it.

My mom used to make these for our breakfast every Fall.

Grilled Cheese & Apple Sandwiches

Bread

Butter

Swiss Cheese (or any white cheese)

Thin Slices of peeled apples

Cinnamon & Sugar mixture.

For each sandwich: Butter one side of two slices of bread. Place one slice of bread, buttered side down, on hot skillet. Place a slice of cheese on top of bread, followed by a few thin apple slices, and sprinkle with Cinnamon-Sugar. Top with the second slice of bread (Buttered side up). Use spatula to carefully turn sandwich over, grilling both sides until cheese is melted and bread is lightly toasted. Eat warm! Yum!

We have made this with Jack cheese, provolone, farmer cheese and butter cheese. They are all good. I hope you give it a try!

God Bless,
Rebekah

Fishing Trip

Jacob took the older boys on a fishing trip this weekend. He says the lake they are going to usually has lots of trout, so that is what I am counting on. I don't know why, but when I think of summer nights, I always think of fish for supper with some lovely string beans from the garden, and berries and cream for dessert. Mmmm... I can't wait for them to come home.

I don't really have a recipe for my fish fry, but here's what I start with, adding more or less as I go. Also, I may add a few other spices, just depending on what I have on hand.

Fish Fry:
1 C cornmeal
2 tbsp seasoned salt
1/2 tsp chili powder, more or less
2 tsp paprika
salt and pepper to taste

Mix dry ingredients together. Take each fish fillet and quickly brush with milk and then coat in fry mix. Fry in hot oil in pan. Drain on paper towel.

Buttered String Beans:
Snap ends off string beans and then wash and pat dry.
Steam string beans as usual, leaving slightly crisp. In large frying pan melt 1/2 stick butter and add a little garlic. Saute garlic. Add beans and stir-fry, adding salt to taste.


God Bless,
Rebekah

Snitz Pie

Some of you have requested my Snitz Pie recipe. These are both good recipes. I prefer the second one because I think lends a little more flavor. Try them and see which one suits you best.

Aunt Clara's Snitz Pie

1 qt. dried apple slices
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Double Pie Crust

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover dried apples with water and soak overnight. Cook apples in water over low heat until soft. Mash apples along with the juice they were cooked in. Add sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Put in unbaked pie crust and add top crust. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then at 375 degrees for 35 minutes or until done.


Mommie's Sunday Snitz Pie

3 c Dried apples
2 1/4 c Warm water
1 ts Lemon extract
2/3 c Brown sugar
Double crust, unbaked

Soak apples in the warm water. Cook over low heat until soft. Mash apples and add lemon and sugar. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Cover with top crust. Seal edges. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes; then at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve warm.

God Bless,
Rebekah

Getting Ready For Church

This next week will be a busy one for me as we will have church at our house a week from Sunday. Bunny said I should explain about our church, since many of you might not know how the Amish do.

Amish church services are held every other Sunday. We are divided geographically by where we live into church districts. Since church services are held in homes, not in church buildings, each family normally hosts church about once, maybe twice a year. Currently our district has 25 families. We will have about 150 people here for church.

In order to prepare, I need to wash walls, wash floors and all baseboards. I need to clean all of the curtains and wash all of the windows. The bathroom needs a good scrub down as does the kitchen. The furniture needs to be arranged to make room for tables and extra benches. This is all in addition to our regular chores. Two of my sisters and three of my cousins will come to help me this coming week.

We will have to move the buggies out from the garage and give it a good scrub-down too. A typical Amish garage is much larger than an English garage or carriage house. Bunny says it would be like a 4 or 5 car garage, whatever that means. Anyway, Jacob built the new garage last year and made it big enough so we could hold church there when it was our turn. This is where the benches will go for the church service. Then following that, we will move some tables in and have a light lunch. Some with small babies and children will eat in the house while most will stay out in the garage (buggy barn).

Lunch is usually a simple light meal so that it can be prepared ahead of time. We will probably have the usual bologna or lunch meat, breads, traditional "Amish Peanut Butter Spread", jams including apple butter, cheese, pickles, pickled red beets, cookies and probably some snitz pies.

Here is the recipe for the Amish Peanut Butter Spread if interested:

1 C light Karo syrup
½ C peanut butter
¼ C marshmallow crème


Mix all ingredients until smooth. Store in airtight container. May refrigerate; let sit at room temperature a few minutes before using for sandwiches.


God Bless,
Rebekah