Mastering Amish Noodles: More Tips Inside
As we approach the heart of the Christmas season, we hope this newsletter finds you well and filled with warmth and joy. Here in the Heartland, our Amish community is bustling with preparations, and we are delighted to share another glimpse into their daily lives along with some follow-up insights on the homemade noodle recipe featured last week.
Life in our Amish community is a harmonious blend of tradition, faith, and hard work. Each day begins early, often before dawn, as families gather for breakfast and morning prayers. The Amish place a high value on community and family, and this is evident in their daily routines. From milking cows and tending to the fields to crafting beautiful handmade items, every task is performed with care and dedication.
The kitchen is the heart of the Amish home, where generations come together to prepare meals and share stories. Last week, we shared Rebecca Yoder's cherished homemade noodle recipe, and many of you had follow-up questions. Rebecca, always generous with her knowledge, provided detailed answers to help you perfect your noodle-making skills.
For those wondering about the best water temperature for noodle dough, warm or hot water works best. After kneading the dough, it should be left to set for 30 minutes to an hour, covered. When it comes to flattening the dough, shaping it into a tube and cutting it into quarter-inch strips with a sharp knife is recommended. While a pie roller can be used to roll out the strips, a manual pasta maker is quicker and more efficient.
The number of times you put the strips through the pasta maker depends on how thin you want the noodles. Typically, two or three passes, using a thinner setting each time, will achieve the desired thickness. Drying the strips is an important step, and hanging them on a clothes drying rack works well. If the strips dry before you're ready, you can put them through another setting before finishing the first pass-through.
Cutting the noodles uniformly can be done using the pasta maker's setting, but if you don't have one, you can lay the strips on top of each other and cut them as narrowly as you wish with a sharp knife. If the dough strips stick to the pasta maker, it means they haven't dried well enough. Flipping them to dry on the opposite side should help.
Weather can affect the drying time, so if you're a fast worker, choose a sunny day. If you prefer to set your own pace, a humid day might be better. Once the noodles are cut, spread them out on a clean sheet on a guest bed to dry completely, flipping them at least once. They can be stored in the deep freeze if you don't plan to use them soon.
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
This week, the scholars in the Mast family's district brought a variety of items to school to fill holiday baskets for the local widows. The baskets were filled with fresh pineapples, canned pineapple, Ritz crackers, peach jelly, graham crackers, macaroni, apples, sweetened condensed milk, envelopes, giftable Christmas cards, mini Butterfinger candy bars, butterscotch chips, and bottles of ranch dressing, among other things. The children were excited to contribute and spread some holiday cheer to those in need. It was a heartwarming effort that united the community and highlighted the spirit of giving.
The Yoder Family
The Yoder family is planning a trip to visit relatives in a community about 50 miles south for Christmas this year. Rebecca is preparing to bring pudding for the potluck lunch and snacks for the afternoon. The young folks usually play games during these gatherings. Last year, they celebrated Christmas at the Yoder's farm, where Rebecca created a homemade piñata filled with candy. The children took turns being blindfolded and striking the piñata with a broomstick. When it finally broke open, the children scrambled to collect the candy and enjoyed their sweet treats. The family is looking forward to another joyful holiday celebration.
The Gingerich Family
The Gingerich family celebrated the completion of their last basket crafted for Christmas delivery on Friday. After working tirelessly to finish as many baskets as possible by Thursday, they rewarded themselves with a day trip to Des Moines. They enjoyed a delicious lunch at Pizza Ranch, visited Bass Pro Shop, and explored a few second-hand stores. The day was filled with laughter and relaxation, providing a much-needed break from their busy schedule. The Gingerich family returned home with happy hearts and cherished memories of their special day.
"He who helps someone up a hill gets closer to the top himself."
— Amish Wisdom
