Favorite Amish Thanksgiving Recipes

As the crisp Autumn air settles in and most of the leaves have fallen, we hope this newsletter finds you well and in good spirits. Here in the Heartland, our Amish community is bustling with the activities of the season, and we are delighted to share a glimpse of Amish daily life with you.

The kitchen is the heart of Amish homes, especially during this time of year. The kitchens are filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread, pies, and other delicious treats. The Amish take pride in their cooking traditions, and their recipes have been passed down through generations, each one a testament to their love for simple, wholesome food.

This week, we are excited to share six Amish recipes that our readers specifically requested. We had a large response to our request for recipe ideas in last week's newsletter, and we are thrilled to include some of them here. We apologize that we couldn't feature all the recipes this week, but we will try to include the other requested recipes over the following weeks and months.

CAKE DOUGHNUTSFrom the Kitchen of Mrs. John J. Yoder 4 egg yolks or 2 whole eggs 1 c. sugar 2 Tbsp. shortening 3/4 c. thick buttermilk 3 1/2 c. flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Beat egg yolks or eggs well. Beat in sugar and shortening. Stir in milk. Blend dry ingredients. Beat until smooth. Roll out 1/3-inch thick on generously sprinkled floured board. Cut dough with doughnut cutter and fry in oil, 3 to 4-inches deep, at 370° to 380°. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Drain. Serve plain, sugared or glazed.

Chocolate Glaze For Doughnuts: 1 sq. (1 oz.) baking chocolate, melted 1/2 tsp. vanilla 2 1/2 c. confectioners sugar about 1/4 c. milk

Add melted chocolate and vanilla to powdered sugar. Beat well. Stir in milk, mixing until smooth and of glaze consistency.

CARAMEL ROLL ME UPS From the Kitchen of Annie Yoder 2 cans biscuits

Filling: 1 (8 oz.) cream cheese 2 Tbsp. soft butter 1/4 c. powdered sugar

Topping: 1 c. brown sugar 1/2 c. pancake syrup 4 Tbsp. melted butter 1/2 c. nuts

Mix topping and place in bottom of a 9 x 13-inch pan. Combine filling ingredients and mix well. Flatten biscuits into oval shape. Place 1 tablespoon cheese filling on center of biscuits and roll to make sausage shape. Pinch seam closed. Place in baking dish, seam side down. Bake until golden brown and invert pan on platter to serve.

DELICIOUS CHILI SOUP From the Kitchen of Mrs. Sam Kauffman 2 large onions 1 lb. hamburger 1 tsp. chili powder 2 qt. (4 c.) tomato juice 1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste 3 (15-16 oz.) cans kidney beans (drained) 1 c. brown sugar salt pepper

Put onions in skillet and fry, then add hamburger until browned. Drain hamburger then put in a large saucepan with all the rest of the ingredients. Heat to boiling. Salt and pepper to taste.

MINI MAGIC MEATBALLS From the Kitchen of Mrs. Lewis Mast 1 lb. ground beef 2 c. bread in small bits and pieces 1 pkg. dry onion soup 1 slightly beaten egg 1 Tbsp. parsley flakes

Mix all ingredients and form into 3/4 inch balls (about the size of a quarter). Place in a baking dish and bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until brown and cooked through.

Magic Sauce: 1/3 c. lemon juice 1/3 c. ketchup 1/2 c. grape jelly

Baste with Magic Sauce or pour over meatballs before baking.

1 (8 oz.) cream cheese (softened) 1 (2 lb.) Velveeta cheese 1/2 Tbsp. minced onion 3 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 2 1/2 c. milk (or until the right thickness) onion salt garlic salt celery salt hickory smoked salt bacon or imitation bacon bits

Create a cheese sauce by heating 2 cups of milk and melting Velveeta cheese in it. Add remaining milk until the right thickness. Remove from heat and add the rest of the ingredients except the bacon and cream cheese. Let cool. Mix bacon and softened cream cheese. Mix cheese sauce into cream cheese mixture a little at a time. Use salts as desired.

2 HOUR BREAD From the Kitchen of Mrs. William Troyer 1st Mixture: 1 1/2 c. boiling or hot water 1/2 c. brown sugar 1/2 c. vegetable oil 2 tsp. salt

Yeast Mixture: 2 Tbsp. sugar 2 Tbsp. yeast 1 1/2 c. warm water (105° to 115°)

Plus 2 eggs, beaten 7 1/2 c. flour (mostly white, some brown is optional)

Mix 1st mixture of water, sugar, vegetable oil and salt. Let cool. Add eggs and 1 cup flour. Beat well. For yeast mixture add sugar to warm water and sprinkle yeast on top. Let yeast mixture stand for 5 to 10 minutes. After the yeast mixture foams up, add the yeast mixture and another cup flour to the 1st mixture. Beat again. Add remaining flour (approximately 5 1/2 cups) until the dough is not sticky. Put in a greased bowl. Punch down 3 times, 15 minutes apart. Put in bread pans. Let rise. Bake in a 375° oven for 20-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Makes 4 small or 3 large loaves.

Stories from Our Amish Basket Weavers

Here are a few happenings the families dedicated to weaving the beautiful baskets featured on AmishBaskets.com have shared with us this week.

The Mast Family

Phineas and Rosa continued their trip down memory lane this week, sharing stories from their youth. Rosa recounted a charming tale about her little sister, who was just six years old at the time. One day, while the older sisters were at school, their father asked the little one to deliver a note to the neighbors. He walked with her part of the way until she could see the buildings. On her return, she got lost in a patch of tall weeds and began to cry. Her father found her frantically thrashing about and gently guided her back, teaching her that sometimes, simply stepping back can give you a clearer view.

The Yoder Family

The Yoder family is finally recovering from a bout of flu that swept through their household. This week, the Yoder girls spent two days at Levi's family home, preparing for his funeral. Their oldest daughter had to leave unexpectedly for a maid job out of state after the birth of a cousin. Despite her absence, the rest of the Yoder girls worked tirelessly, cleaning the house and cooking for the funeral. Their efforts brought comfort to Levi's family during a difficult time.

The Gingerich Family

The Gingerich family and the entire community were deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of Levi, a respected member of the community and a close friend of the Gingerich family. Levi, who would have turned 50 on December 1st, spent his final weeks in the hospital. He leaves behind a wife and 12 children. The community came together to honor his memory, with an assembly line fixing over a thousand sandwiches for the funeral, which saw over a thousand guests. Cooks prepared noodles and coffee, while salads and desserts were contributed by various community members.

Amish Wisdom Overheard in the Community:

The wife who drives from the backseat isn't any worse than the husband who cooks from the dinner table.

Discover the Magic of Amish Baskets: Your Ultimate Gift Guide for 2024!

Finding the perfect gift can be a challenge, especially for those who seem to have everything. This year, surprise your loved ones with a unique and heartfelt gift from our exclusive Amish Country Gift Guide.

Each Amish basket is a masterpiece, crafted with love and skill by Old Order Amish families. These are not just baskets; they're pieces of American heritage designed to last for generations. When you give an Amish basket, you're sharing a story of dedication and timeless beauty.

For Friends: Impress your friends with a beautifully crafted Amish basket, perfect for entertaining or showcasing handmade craftsmanship. Explore Gifts for Friends

For Women: Add warmth and tradition to any home with our decorative Amish baskets, ideal for the special women in your life. Shop Gifts for Women

For Men: Our Amish Comfort collection blends comfort with timeless craftsmanship, making it a wonderful gift for men. Discover Gifts for Men

For Bakers: Delight bakers with our kitchen baskets, perfect for serving freshly baked goods with rustic charm. Find Gifts for Bakers

For Daughters and Granddaughters: Our smaller, decorative baskets are charming gifts for daughters and granddaughters, ideal for storing jewelry or keepsakes. Browse Gifts for Daughters

For Sewers: Our sewing baskets are both functional and beautiful, perfect for organizing sewing essentials. Check out Gifts for Sewers

For Home Decor Enthusiasts: Our decorative wall baskets and table centerpieces add rustic elegance to any room. Explore Gifts for Decorators

For Knitters and Crocheters: Yarn enthusiasts will love our knitting and crochet baskets, keeping yarn and projects organized in style. Shop Gifts for Knitters

With the holiday season approaching, now is the perfect time to find that special gift. We have a limited supply available, so don't miss out! Plus, enjoy 20% off on everything in our collection. It's the perfect opportunity to bring a touch of Amish tradition to your loved ones' homes.

Spotlight on Customer Favorites!

We are always delighted to receive photos of our beautiful Amish baskets from our wonderful customers. Sharing these moments brings us immense joy and a sense of connection with each of you.

This Week's Feature: Large Toy & Storage Basket

"We were delighted to receive our 'throw blanket' basket before the celebration of the birth of our Savior. The craftsmanship is outstanding and we are doubly glad that we bought the custom lid for it at the same time (we have a puppy that likes our throw blankets almost as much as our family enjoys them). The website was easy to negotiate and our choice of product jumped out right at us. The looks of the basket fit perfectly in our family room and we wish the family of weavers the very best in all endeavors in the New Year." - Randy B. (✔ Verified Buyer)

Large Toy & Storage Basket

We sincerely appreciate Randy's heartfelt review and the charming photo of his Large Toy & Storage Basket. Seeing our baskets becoming treasured additions to your homes is incredibly rewarding. Your praise for our craftsmanship is significant to us. Thank you, Randy, for sharing your happiness and making our baskets a part of your lovely home.

"The wife who drives from the backseat isn't any worse than the husband who cooks from the dinner table."

— Amish Wisdom