Unbeknownst to many folks outside the Amish Mennonite population in America, Pinecraft, Florida--a village tucked away in the heart of Sarasota--is the vacation paradise of the Plain People. Unlike any other Plain community in the world, this village is a virtual melting pot of Amish and Mennonites from around the world, intermingled with people, like author Sherry Gore's family, who live there year-round.
Gore has put together a cookbook that represents the people who make Pinecraft unique. With hundreds of easy-to-prepare recipes, 16 full-color photographs and black-and-white photographs throughout, this cookbook includes traditional favorites such as Sweet Potato Sweet Mash and Mrs. Byler's Glazed Donuts, as well as Florida favorites including Fried Alligator Nuggets, Grilled Lime Fish Fillets, and Strawberry Mango Smoothies. Interspersed with the recipes are true-life stories about births, engagements, weddings, deaths, funerals, celebrations, wildlife encounters, and accidents told through years of Sherry's Letters from Home column published in The Budget, the Amish newspaper. This delightful cookbook offers readers a faith-based, family-focused perspective of the simple way of life of the Plain People. It is truly a breath of fresh air from Sarasota, Florida!
Simply Delicious Amish Cooking is as interesting a book to read as it is a cookbook. Sherry Gore of Pinecraft, Florida has compiled a wonderful, easy to use cookbook with recipes gleaned from family and friends. It's very much like an old-time church or community cookbook. Interspersed with the recipes are thoughts and anecdotes and true life tidbits from those who have shared recipes.
I love the spiral binding that allows the book to truly lay flat, but also has ease of turning.
Some recipes, not all, have serving sizes. I wish every recipe did. There are no photos for each recipe although there are a couple of color plates with selected recipe photos. The index is nice with categories for meals: Appetizers, Main Dish, Desserts, etc. It is also indexed by main ingredients: poultry, beef, pasta, etc.
This is isn't a cookbook for healthy or clean eaters, but it is a down home cookbook. Chances are most ingredients are already in your pantry. The recipes aren't fancy and they're written by experienced cooks, so some instructions may seem lacking in detail.
I baked Lisa's Brown Bread which was fantastic and makes the most delicious toast. I also made the Hand-Breaded Pork Chops and Creamy Country Gravy, which also received rave reviews from my husband.
Thanks to BookSneeze for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Sherry Gore here. You can purchase your own copy here
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