The Tradition of Amish Noodle Making

As we approach the peak of the holiday season, we hope this newsletter finds you well and filled with the warmth and joy that this special time of year brings. Here in the Heartland, our Amish community is bustling with preparations for Christmas, and we are delighted to share another special family recipe with you this week.

Rebecca Yoder has graciously shared her family's homemade noodle recipe. This simple recipe has been passed down through generations, and we are excited to bring it to you in Rebecca's own words.

Rebecca learned the art of noodle making from her grandmother in the cozy kitchen of their family home. Even before she started school, Rebecca had already been helping her grandmother mix the dough and roll out the noodles. These early memories are filled with the comforting scents of flour and eggs and the sound of laughter as they worked together.

As Rebecca grew older, she made noodles with her mother and sisters. The kitchen became a place of bonding and shared experiences, where stories were told and traditions were upheld. After Rebecca married and started her own family, she adjusted the size of the recipe down and then back up over the years to accommodate her growing household. Each time she makes noodles, she feels deeply connected to her heritage and the generations of women before her.

This week, we invite you to try Rebecca's homemade noodle recipe. It's a fantastic way to bring a piece of Amish tradition into your own home, especially during the Christmas season. The recipe is simple, and we hope it brings you as much joy as it has brought to Rebecca's family.

1 dozen whole eggs 1 dozen egg yolks 1 cup hot water ½ cup vegetable oil 15 cups flour

Beat the eggs, add water and oil, and mix. Put all the flour in before kneading. Mix in what flour you can, then let it set for ½ hour, covered. Knead well again, cover, and let it set while you get your pasta maker set up. Now knead your dough again and slice it into 4 equal pieces. Shape into tubes and slice into ¼" pieces with a sharp knife. Put through the pasta maker on setting 1. Hang on a clothes rack (across 2 rungs) to dry, then put through the pasta maker again on setting 4. Dry again on the clothes dryer, then put through on setting 6 on your pasta maker. Dry again. After they are dried and you put them through the pasta maker to cut into noodles, put them on a clean bedsheet to dry for at least 3 days. Turn them over at least once. You may store them in the freezer if you wish.

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

The Mast family has worked tirelessly this week to craft as many baskets as possible. With the final shipping day for Christmas orders here, it's been all hands on deck. Rosa, known for her delicious homemade recipes, prepared a hearty stew early in the week, which has warmed everyone's hearts and served as quick, convenient leftovers. The younger children have also stepped up, helping with extra chores to ensure everything is kept in order for the next day's work. The Masts are grateful for the support they receive from their customers and are determined to make this holiday season special for everyone.

The Yoder Family

The Yoder family has been just as busy, focusing on crafting baskets for the holiday season. On Sunday, they attended church, finding solace and strength in their faith. After church, the family enjoyed a quiet afternoon together, taking a break from their hectic schedule. David took the opportunity to read to their children from a cherished Bible storybook they purchased when their oldest child was born. The book includes the Christmas story, and they have a tradition of reading all the stories in the book throughout the month of December. The children listen intently as David shares each of the timeless tales.

The Gingerich Family

The Gingerich family has also been hard at work, crafting baskets during the final push before Christmas. They have put in extra hours to ensure as many orders are fulfilled as possible. Despite the busy schedule, the Gingerichs made time for a family game night on Wednesday, playing board games and enjoying each other's company. The children, excited for the upcoming holiday, also helped with weaving baskets after school each night this week, learning valuable skills along the way.

"You shouldn't worry if you don't know all the answers—you probably won't be asked all the questions."

— Amish Wisdom