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Introduction

Amish and Mennonite food is often thought of as good oldfashioned, stick-to-your-ribs comfort food. But beyond the delicious, hearty taste, the food seems to offer something to nourish the soul. The recipes, handed down through generations, come from a time when families were closely connected to their land, raising, growing, and harvesting everything they consumed. The dishes are a reflection of the Amish and Mennonite culture, highlighting their European and agricultural heritage and the strong bonds of family and community that are such an important part of Amish and Mennonite life. The food is grown out of hard work and is made with love. To understand what is so special about Amish and Mennonite food, it is helpful to know more about the culture.

A Very Brief History of Amish, Mennonites, and Anabaptism

The Amish and the Mennonites are part of a religious group whose members are found throughout the United States, Canada, and many other countries. The Mennonite church began in Switzerland in the early sixteenth century during the time following the Protestant Reformation of Martin Luther, maintaining two central beliefs. First, they rejected infant baptism, believing a Christian community should be made of adults who could knowingly and voluntarily confess their faith and choose to be baptized. Second, they believed the church should be a separate entity from the state.

In Amish communities, spring brings the arrival of “mud sales”—no further explanation needed as seen above. Occurring when fields are still too wet to till, “mud sales” are great social events for the Amish, other local farmers, and the plucky tourist or city dweller.

When members of this Swiss group confessed their faith and baptized each other, they earned the name Anabaptizers or re-baptizers. At the time, these beliefs and actions were extremely radical, and many Anabaptists were heavily persecuted and their leaders killed. When persecution in Europe became too great, many members fled to the New World. In 1683, German-speaking immigrants established a Mennonite community in Pennsylvania, and during the next several decades, Mennonites continued to move west, establishing a presence throughout the country. Those who remained in Europe moved into Prussia (Poland) and then to the south of Russia at the invitation of Catherine the Great. The many European wars of the 1800s and the Russian Revolution of the early 1900s caused many to move to the United States, Canada, and even South America. Nonresistance and pacifism are critical in Amish and Mennonites faith.

The Amish and Mennonites, although part of the same religious group, sometimes differ in their fundamental beliefs about dress, their connection to mainstream society, and other similar religious and cultural matters. The Old-Order Amish follow the most conservative teachings, striving to maintain a pure, simple lifestyle. They separate themselves from the rest of the world to strengthen their beliefs and values, living without creature comforts like electricity, running water, and cars.

The Amish choose to dress simply, in a manner they believe is called for in Scripture. Women wear head coverings and do not cut their hair. All Amish clothing, both men’s and women’s, is made of solid colors and lacks adornments like buttons. This style of dress is meant to maintain simplicity and modesty in a world where glamour and immodesty can be highly emphasized.

Beyond their dress, the Amish are known for their policy of nonviolence and nonresistance, a belief that comes directly from the Biblical message to turn the other cheek. They also believe in community and communal support. The Amish feel it is their responsibility, and no one else’s, to support and assist members of their faith. As a result, the Amish do not accept any aid or welfare from the government or other organizations, choosing instead to depend on those around them for aid.

While the Amish strictly adhere to and follow these beliefs, their practices are not typical of the larger, lessconservative segment of the Mennonite church. Most Mennonites have immersed themselves in modern society, living in houses with electricity and driving cars to and from work. What makes modern believers Mennonites is their continued adherence to the values of the Swiss reformers. Mennonites today still recognize the importance of maintaining a separation between church and state and believe that decisions about baptism, as well as church membership, should be made when adults.

Along with their religious beliefs, the Mennonites have maintained much of their European cultural heritage. Many Amish communities continue to speak a form of German most commonly known as Pennsylvania Dutch. But by far, the most well-known aspect of the heritage is the food. These dishes typically have a strong connection to the European countries in which group members lived. They were widely scattered, and their food is equally varied, reflecting culinary tastes from countries such as Switzerland, Germany, Russia, Prussia, Hungary, and many more.

These recipes also demonstrate the agricultural heritage of the group. Most Amish and Mennonite families were farmers, and all of their food was produced from what they could raise and grow on the farm. Ingredients lists for the dishes in this book often call for garden produce, fresh meats, and dairy products. This close connection to the land and the ingredients seems to make these recipes that much more special. You can gain a sense of the hours of hard labor that went into growing and preparing the food and the satisfaction and accomplishment felt when sitting down at the table after a good day’s work.

It is not unexpected to come across an unusual or surprising ingredient, as many recipes were developed with what was readily available. Substitutions and variations are typical; if one ingredient was not on hand, recipes were adapted to work with what was accessible at the time. For the most part, recipes were not written down, and there was no measuring involved. Cooks added ingredients as they saw fit until they were satisfied with the result, meaning each recipe in this book has a little something special added to it by each person who made it.

Beyond reflecting a European and agricultural heritage, Amish and Mennonite food highlights a community culture. Food is used to bring people together at events such as barn raisings or quilting bees and to support relief efforts by organizations such as Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Many of the recipes in this book were collected from relief sales held by MCC and were used to raise funds to support those in need around the world.

This book is a collection of favorite traditional recipes gathered from the Amish and Mennonite community, passed down from generation to generation, made with love, and meant to be shared. We hope they bring you comfort and fond memories as you enjoy them with your family and friends.

—Enjoy!

How This Book Came To Be

The recipes in our three previous Amish and Mennonite cookbooks (Treasured Mennonite Recipes, More Treasured Mennonite Recipes, and Treasured Amish & Mennonite Recipes) were collected beginning in 1992 from Mennonite and Amish homes across North America. The first book celebrated the success of the “relief sale” tradition—community fundraisers that Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) has held for more than 40 years.

Several years ago, I went through these recipes, updating as needed, and whittling down or expanding the number of selections (I found we had far too many recipes for certain foods and were missing a few common Amish-Mennonite dishes).

I hope you will find it to be a cookbook you use often, and one that inspires you both creatively and in your spirit.

Charitable Giving

As a former elementary school teacher, I have a special place in my heart for helping children wherever they may live. MCC projects are well-managed and practical ways to help others.

Mennonite Central Committee is probably the most common and popular donation choice for Amish and Mennonite church members of all types, from conservative to modern.

In addition to giving copies of this book to MCC for use in fundraising, 10% of the sales of this book by the publisher are donated to MCC and designated for projects to relieve poverty, develop food security and agricultural projects, and to promote self-sufficiency in lower income countries.

The three previous cookbooks I published have generated more than $175,000 in income for Mennonite Central Committee.

Thanks for buying the book! I hope you have as much fun reading and cooking for your family as I did creating it.