Who wouldn’t love a good book for Christmas? Wonder no more about what to get your friends and loved ones—just find the closest description below and away you go!

*Disclaimer: Of course, we can’t guarantee someone will love their gift. But seriously, what’s not to love, right? We hope you enjoy browsing this fun Christmas gift-giving guide. Who knows? You might even find a little treat for yourself, too! Just click the image or one of the links below it to find a site where you can purchase a copy of the book.

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1. For the foodie who wants some “yum” with their fiction, we recommend…Made with Love by Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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2. For the Amish fiction lover who’s read it all and wants something new, we recommend…My Brother’s Crown by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould!

(Note: This story is about another Protestant group called the Huguenots. Learn more about the similarities and differences between the Amish and the Huguenots in this article by Leslie Gould!)

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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3. For the friend who needs to believe in miracles this Christmas, we recommend…Anna’s Healing by Vannetta Chapman!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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4. For the ebook aficionado who loves sweet novellas, we recommend…Amish Christmas Memories by Jerry S. Eicher, Mary Ellis, and Murray Pura!

(Note: This is an ebook-only collection of three previously published Amish Christmas novellas titled Susanna’s Christmas Wish, Sarah’s Christmas Miracle, and An Amish Family Christmas.)

Kindle | Nook | Christianbook

P.S. Did you know you can gift ebooks via email? Read this article to see how to gift a Kindle book from Amazon.com.

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5. For the teacher or student who knows the value of a good education, we recommend…An Unexpected Match by Gayle Roper!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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6. For the incurable romantic who likes a lot of drama with the sweet, we recommend…Miriam and the Stranger by Jerry S. Eicher!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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7. For the loved one who has always dreamed of living the simple life, we recommend…My Life as an Amish Wife by Lena Yoder!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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8. For the curious soul with lots of questions about Amish culture, we recommend…Plain Answers about the Amish Life by Mindy Starns Clark!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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9. For the one who wants to be inspired in her faith, we recommend…The Amish Book of Prayers for Women by Esther Stoll!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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10. For the cook who knows the way to your heart, we recommend…99 Favorite Amish Recipes by Georgia Varozza!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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Bonus: For the child or grandchild who shares your love of the Amish, we recommend…Blossoms on the Roof by Rebecca Martin!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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Happy Christmas shopping!

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Esther Stoll, Gayle Roper, Georgia Varozza, Jerry Eicher, Lena Yoder, Leslie Gould, Mary Ellis, Mindy Starns Clark, Murray Pura, Sherry Gore, Tricia Goyer, Vannetta Chapman by Amber | AmishReader.com
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“But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12 ɴʟᴛ

My mother had her own version of that particular Scripture: Stop tooting your own horn. And her favorite: The less said about one’s self, the better.

The immortal maxims of my late mother still ring in my ears today, making me smile. The problem is Mom was a stay-at-home housewife, not a published author. How does a Christian balance being humble with the necessity of self-promotion, essential in many careers? Not only writers, but musicians, dancers, actors, salespeople, public speakers, sports figures and—of course—politicians must do quite a bit of horn-tooting to stay in the game. Often this type of marketing is not only expected, but required in the fine print of contracts. When I struggle with the dilemma of promotion vs. setting oneself above others, I take a lesson from the Amish.

After studying their culture for years, I learned the Amish are reluctant to draw attention to themselves or their accomplishments. In my most recent Amish book, A Plain Man, Caleb struggles upon his return to his family after a five-year rumschpringe. Caleb must not only give up his electric tools, English clothing, and pickup truck, but also his need to take credit for personal achievements. In Cleveland at the carpenters’ union hall, Caleb had to make sure everyone knew about his superior abilities. He needed to stay above his peers. But among the Amish, everyone works together without any one man or woman getting the glory. Now Caleb must find a balance between using the skills God gave him and humbling himself in the community and before his Lord.

As an author, I too must walk a tightrope between not puffing myself up and spreading the word when I release a new book about God’s infinite grace, mercy, and love. If the Lord continues to put words into my head, I will weave them into gentle stories about the Amish or romances about strong women in history. But I must never forget: It’s not about me. It’s all by His hand and for His glory.

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Mary Ellis has written twelve bestselling novels set in the Amish community. Before “retiring” to write full-time, Mary taught middle school and worked as a sales rep for Hershey Chocolate. She has enjoyed a lifelong passion for American history and is an active member of the local historical society. She has recently finished several romances set during the Civil War and is currently working on a series of mysteries titled “Secrets of the South.” The Last Heiress is her latest release. She can be found on the web at www.maryellis.net or on Facebook.

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Devotions, Mary Ellis by Amber | AmishReader.com
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We’re celebrating a sweet and simple Christmas here at AmishReader.com with a series of fun author interviews! Join some of your favorite Amish authors as they share happy reminiscences of Christmases past, interesting information on the Amish approach to the holiday, and fascinating lists of Christmas/book favorites. Find a cozy place by the fire or looking out on the wintry weather, prepare a mug of hot chocolate, and enjoy Part 3 of this special 3-part interview…

Featured Books:

• Christmas at Pebble Creek by Vannetta Chapman (FREE short story ebook)
• Sarah’s Christmas Miracle by Mary Ellis ($3.99 in ebook format through 1/6/2015)
• An Amish Family Christmas by Murray Pura ($3.99 in ebook format through 1/6/2015)

Welcome back, Vannetta, Mary, and Murray! Today, we’d like to know which one you’d choose out of two Christmas-themed options…

1. White Christmas or a sunny holiday?

• Vannetta: Well, I live in Texas so I usually have SUNNY, but I wouldn’t mind WHITE.

• Mary: Since I’ve lived in northern Ohio my whole life, I would pick a sunny holiday. I believe I’ve only had one once or twice!!

• Murray: White Christmas with tall evergreens and mountains.

Mary Ellis preparing for a draft-horse-drawn sleigh ride in Ohio’s Amish country

2. Riding in a horse-drawn sleigh or sledding downhill?

• Vannetta: Sleigh. Definitely sleigh.

• Mary: Definitely a horse-drawn sleigh. I’ve only done this once, but I loved it! I get too cold and wet while sledding.

• Murray: A sleigh ride is Christmas magic.

3. Lots of presents or one meaningful gift?

• Vannetta: One gift.

• Mary: Lots of small, inexpensive, practical gifts like socks, tablets, pens, or candy. I love opening presents.

• Murray: Too many gifts spoil the event. So a sock and one meaningful gift.

4. Big family dinner or a nice restaurant?

• Vannetta: Big family dinner – that way the dog is allowed to come.

• Mary: If we can get away, then a big dinner with out-of-town family in Kentucky or Texas.

• Murray: Family dinner for sure. There’s nothing like relaxing at home instead of not-really-relaxing at a restaurant.

Mary Ellis’s barn in the winter

5. Home for Christmas or traveling elsewhere?

• Vannetta: Home. I like to be snuggled on the couch with a fire blazing, my dog lying next to me, and holding a good book with everyone around me doing the same.

• Mary: Usually we travel for both Easter and Thanksgiving, so we’re home just the two of us for Christmas.

• Murray: Home is where the people are so if it means travel, fine, so long as road conditions or sky conditions permit, and the trip itself can be a happy part of the celebration, not a huge stress.

Thank you Vannetta, Mary, and Murray for joining us this week and helping us to celebrate Christmas here on AmishReader.com!

Giveaway!

Amish readers, share your choices for all 5 of the either/or scenarios (listed above) in the comments section to enter to win a paperback copy of An Amish Family Christmas by Murray Pura!

Fine print: Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only, and participants must be 18 years old or older to enter. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed on Friday, December 26th. This giveaway is in no way sponsored by or affiliated with Facebook, WordPress, or Twitter.

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Authors, Mary Ellis, Murray Pura, Vannetta Chapman by Amber | AmishReader.com
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We’re celebrating a sweet and simple Christmas here at AmishReader.com with a series of fun author interviews! Join some of your favorite Amish authors as they share happy reminiscences of Christmases past, interesting information on the Amish approach to the holiday, and fascinating lists of Christmas/book favorites. Find a cozy place by the fire or looking out on the wintry weather, prepare a mug of hot chocolate, and enjoy Part 2 of this special 3-part interview…

(Mary Ellis is pictured left)

Featured Books:

• Christmas at Pebble Creek by Vannetta Chapman (FREE short story ebook)
• Sarah’s Christmas Miracle by Mary Ellis ($3.99 in ebook format through 1/6/2015)
• An Amish Family Christmas by Murray Pura ($3.99 in ebook format through 1/6/2015)

Welcome back, Vannetta, Mary, and Murray! Today, we’re talking favorites.

Please name your favorite…

Amish Christmas recipe

• Vannetta: A yellow cake with homemade chocolate icing.

• Mary: My favorite Amish recipe is the Christmas cake recipe in the back of Sarah’s Christmas Miracle. It contains a pound of butter, a cup of yellow raisins, and 3 cups of chopped pecans. What’s not to like?

• Murray: Oh, I have one that can turn Christmas upside down it’s so good: a 30-day Amish Friendship Cake that includes pecans, walnuts, coconut, peaches, pineapple, cherries, raisins, vanilla, and brandy. Once the 30 days of preparation are completed, and the cake is finally baked to a golden brown, any Amish within a hundred miles will be knocking at your door and asking for a slice, bitte. The recipe is too long to include here, but if you write me via Harvest House I can provide it. Mind you, it will have to be for a late-January cake at this point, but that’s all right; it will help you beat the post-Christmas blues and the long winter doldrums.

Character in your story

• Vannetta: Grace.

• Mary: My heroine, Sarah, is my favorite. She’s complex and confused, as we all are at times, but she’s kind and has a heart for Jesus.

• Murray: Micah, the young man who is estranged from the Amish community after returning from a tour of duty as a medic in Afghanistan. He keeps his cool, fosters love, submits to the shunning, and is ready to help and bless the community despite the harshness of his situation.

Christmas tradition

• Vannetta: Opening one gift with our children on Christmas Eve.

• Mary: Traveling to downtown Cleveland to see the lights and attend services at the Old Stone Church on Public Square. I go with my husband now that my mom is gone.

• Murray: The Christmas Eve Box. Into it goes a selection of gifts that may be opened Christmas Eve. There are beverages to drink and the glasses to drink from; things to eat like specialty cheese and crackers and cold cuts, as well as a cutting board to prepare food on; a Bible and a book to read out loud. Everything you want to eat or drink or do on Christmas Eve is sealed in a beautiful box – either a decorated cardboard one or, in our case, an attractive chest handmade from knotty pine.

Element of your cover

• Vannetta: I love the green bow on the cover! The book looks like it’s been gift-wrapped!

• Mary: I love the model selected to be my Sarah. She’s so sweet and earnest looking.

• Murray: I love the use of burgundy and black on the cover; it’s a very pleasant color mix, in particular the young woman’s black cape contrasting with her maroon or burgundy dress.

Line from your story

• Vannetta: “Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if we’d all ridden together, if the buggy I was in had turned left instead of right. But as mamm says, it’s best not to wonder over what-if’s. We did turn right as the sun was slipping toward the horizon, and my life was never the same.”

• Mary: “Sometimes a person didn’t appreciate the goodness the Lord has bestowed until it was almost gone.”

• Murray: “My Lord, so much has changed for the better, and yet for the great change to come so much had to be lost—our pride, our hardness of heart, our tradition, our unwillingness to bend, our reluctance to think something we did not understand could be from you. It has not been easy. It has not been without pain. But neither has it been without its own special glory. And it has been your doing.”

Join us tomorrow (December 18th) for Part 3 of this interview with Vannetta, Mary, and Murray, as we talk about some either/or scenarios!

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Authors, Mary Ellis, Murray Pura, Vannetta Chapman by Amber | AmishReader.com
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We’re celebrating a sweet and simple Christmas here at AmishReader.com with a series of fun author interviews! Join some of your favorite Amish authors as they share happy reminiscences of Christmases past, interesting thoughts on the Amish approach to the holiday, and fascinating lists of Christmas/book favorites. Find a cozy place by the fire or looking out on the wintry weather, prepare a mug of hot chocolate, and enjoy Part 1 of this special 3-part interview…

Featured Books:

• Christmas at Pebble Creek by Vannetta Chapman (FREE short story ebook)
• Sarah’s Christmas Miracle by Mary Ellis ($3.99 in ebook format through 1/6/2015)
• An Amish Family Christmas by Murray Pura ($3.99 in ebook format through 1/6/2015)

AmishReader: Welcome, Vannetta, Mary, and Murray! Wonderful to have you here with us this week before Christmas. Tell us, what did you find most challenging about writing a story set during the Christmas season? Most fun?

• Vannetta: I live in Texas – so sometimes it’s hard to remember exactly what all of that snow and cold weather feels like. Christmas at Pebble Creek is set in Wisconsin, and they certainly have their share of winter weather. I did spend three years as a child living in Connecticut, so it was fun to pull out those pictures, look at the snow and mittens and sleds, and remember.

• Mary: The Old Order Amish celebrate the holiday differently than us, and not all districts celebrate the same way. I had the responsibility to “get it right,” at least for my specific community. The essence of the holiday season makes it fun, no matter what your denomination.

• Murray: You have to write the story well before Christmas occurs, so getting in a “Christmas mood,” and writing in that mood for several weeks and months, isn’t always easy. On the other hand, the process fixes your mind on a time of year that is normally quite pleasant, so it becomes a series of “feel good” writing sessions for the most part.

Amish schoolroom in Wisconsin (Courtesy of Vannetta Chapman)

 AmishReader: Please share one of your favorite Christmas memories. Did it have any bearing on your story?

• Vannetta: The story opens with Grace (the little girl from A Promise for Miriam) grown and now teaching school—they’ve just had the Christmas program and are about to have a short Christmas break. I have many good memories of Christmas from my childhood, but this story brought back memories from my teaching days. I loved teaching, and I especially liked the anticipation and fun during the days preceding Christmas break. I would read stories to my high school students—maybe O. Henry’s Gift of the Magi or Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Most students have seen cartoon renditions of these classics, but when they read the original story they understand why they became a classic. Some of my favorite Christmas memories are of sitting in a classroom, with 30 students around me, hanging on to every word I read and not wanting to leave when the bell rang. We had a lot of fun with snacks and decorations too! I try to put this love for teaching and reading into my stories.

• Mary: One of my favorite memories is riding the bus with my mom downtown to see the beautiful lights and displays on Cleveland’s Public Square. We couldn’t afford to shop in the fancy department stores, but we would ride the escalator to see the decorations on every floor. My Amish character, Sarah, takes a trip to Cleveland from Winesburg and experiences what I did as a child.

• Murray: I used to love to sit in the dark and look at the tree when it was all lit up. We had random blinking lights on the tree as well and, as a boy, I never got tired of watching them. However an Amish Christmas celebration is a different affair in many respects so my fondness for gazing at the tree in the dark never made it into my story.

Vannetta, Shelley, and Amy in Shipshewana

AmishReader: Have you ever visited Amish country during the holidays? What do you especially love about how the Amish celebrate Christmas?

• Vannetta: I have! I had the pleasure of being asked to lead the Christmas parade in Shipshewana, Indiana with Shelley Shephard Gray and Amy Clipston. That was a very special experience. We were put in a sleigh with beautiful horses, a lighted harness, and a warm blanket across our laps. It felt like we were in a fairy tale!

• Mary: I have visited Holmes and Wayne Counties in Ohio, several times during the holidays. I love how they concentrate on friends, family, and most of all, the Lord during this holy season. Englischers put too much importance on the commercial aspect of the season.

• Murray: I have not been in Amish country during the holidays – though Amish country has greatly expanded over the last decade and now there are five locations in nearby Montana – but I have read quite a bit about it. I would have to say I most admire the simplicity of their celebration and the absence of mass commercialization. Their Christmas is very worship-centered and family-centered.

Join us tomorrow (December 17th) for Part 2 of this interview with Vannetta, Mary, and Murray, as we talk about more Christmas favorites!

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Authors, Mary Ellis, Murray Pura, Vannetta Chapman by Amber | AmishReader.com
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My New Beginnings series follows the lives of three sisters who lose their parents in a devastating house fire. I have been intrigued by the exodus of Old Order Amish out of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and to a lesser extent, Holmes and Wayne Counties, Ohio. The Amish are searching for lower taxes, fewer tourists, and more plentiful but cheaper farmland. My fictional sisters go in search of love and fresh starts. Although I live within an hour of the largest population of Amish in the country, I learned that a writer should visit the area she plans to write about, especially when it comes to Amish fiction.

For book one, Living in Harmony, which won the Lime Award for Excellence in Amish Fiction for 2012, I traveled to Maine. For book two, Love Comes to Paradise, which won the 2013 Lime Award, I traveled to central Missouri to research the Amish who live in tornado alley and thereby have to deal with some rather erratic weather patterns. For my third and final book in the series, A Little Bit of Charm, I headed south into famous Bluegrass Country…

I studied the Old Order Mennonites of Casey and Barren Counties, Kentucky as research for A Little Bit of Charm. I traipsed up and down back roads looking for horses and buggies and for those who prefer a slower pace of life. I stayed at the home of my best friend in Somerset and took her granddaughters along to keep me company. During Amish interviews, the girls received a priceless education that surpassed anything found in textbooks. And having them along opened plenty of doors and lowered people’s defenses. Who could resist three adorable kids?

My heroine is Rachel King, who has watched both of her older sisters find happiness with husbands who adore them. Rachel yearns for a job and a little romance in her life—not necessarily in that order. Her Old Order Mennonite cousin lives near a Thoroughbred stable in Kentucky, and working around beautiful horses has always been Rachel’s dream. She moves to the quaint town of Charm to make a home with Sarah and her husband, Isaac. When a job at Twelve Elms Stables opens up unexpectedly, it seems as though God has answered Rachel’s heartfelt prayers.

When she meets Jake Brady, one of the owners of Twelve Elms, her life becomes complicated. He’s attractive and charming, and his interest in her is flattering. But he’s also English as well as her boss. And Rachel worries that Jake’s trust in God isn’t central to his life in the way it should be. When Amish men she meets at church and singings start pursuing her, Rachel has important decisions to make. What does a young woman do when her heart puts her faith in jeopardy?

While writing A Little Bit of Charm, I found my characters growing and changing almost of their own accord. And as any hard-working writer will attest, when your characters wish to make your job a tad easier, you go ahead and let them.

Mary Ellis grew up near the Amish and fell in love with them. She has now written ten bestselling novels set in their communities. When not writing, she enjoys gardening, bicycling, and swimming. Before “retiring” to write full-time, Mary taught school and worked as a sales rep for Hershey Chocolate. She can be found on the web at www.maryellis.net or on Facebook.

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Mary Ellis by Amber | AmishReader.com
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A Plain Man by Mary Ellis (April 2014)

About the Book:

Bestselling author Mary Ellis offers an engaging new standalone Amish romance about a prodigal seeking to find his way home.

Though Caleb Beachy lived in the Englisch world for some years, he is a Plain man at heart. When he decides to return to the Amish lifestyle, he moves back home and goes to work for his father. Soon these two strong-willed men find themselves at odds. Caleb discovers there’s more to embracing his faith and reconnecting with the community than merely driving a horse and buggy and giving up Levis.

Josie Yoder was just a girl when he left. All grown up now, she gives Caleb hope for the future. She soothes his frayed temper and is determined to remind him that while his faith may have wavered, God never left his side. Caleb is tempted to return Josie’s feelings, but the choices he made while away are a heavy burden on his conscience. Will past mistakes end up destroying their fledgling romance? Or will she be able to break through the wall around his heart?

A Plain Man is more than just a sweet romance centered in Amish beliefs. It’s the ever-fresh story of a wounded heart finding joy, health, and healing in God’s infinite grace.

Purchase the book on Amazon

Question for You: What does home mean to you?

Giveaway!

Leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win a paperback copy of this book!

Fine print: Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only, and participants must be 18 years old or older to enter. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed on Tuesday, October 21st. This giveaway is in no way sponsored by or affiliated with Facebook, WordPress, or Twitter. 

P.S. You can learn more about the setting of the book and watch the trailer in Mary Ellis’s latest post spotlighting Shreve and Fredericksburg, Ohio.

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Mary Ellis by Amber | AmishReader.com
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When readers and tourists alike think of Ohio’s Amish country, they usually think of Sugarcreek, Walnut Creek, and Berlin. But I cherish some of the lesser-known small towns like Shreve and Fredericksburg, the setting for my latest release, A Plain Man. Located in the heart of Wayne County, these two towns are loaded with Amish buggies in a far less “touristy” atmosphere.

Every time I’m in Shreve I dine at Des Dutch Essenhaus, where the food is cooked and served by Mennonite and Amish women, and plenty of Amish-made crafts are for sale in the gift shop. My friends Diane and Rex Dye own the lovely Christian Homestead Bookstore loaded with both fiction and non-fiction, along with a fine assortment of homeschool materials. Be sure to also stop in at the hardware store while in town for a selection of gadgets not found in your local big-box store.

In Fredericksburg you’ll find the end-of-the-line of a wonderful bike trail, converted from an old rail line from Cleveland to Millersburg. I’ve sent many friends down to Hotel Millersburg to spend the night and then ride up to Fredericksburg through the rural countryside. Besides exercising Englischers, you’ll see plenty of Plain folks, both walking and riding the trail for a safe transportation lane. Also in Fredericksburg, look for the tiny, historic jailhouse. Once I found the door unlocked so I moseyed in, sat on the one cot in the one cell, and pretended I’d been arrested for disturbing the peace on a Saturday night. Although the wife of the mayor or sheriff no longer delivers home-cooked meals to the sole inmate, you still can savor a place where time has stood still.

In my story, A Plain Man, Caleb Beachy returns to the quiet serenity of Wayne County to heal his emotional wounds and rebuild his relationship with God. For myself, I reconnect with the slow, the simple, and the straightforward every time I visit Shreve and Fredericksburg, Ohio.

Mary Ellis has written twelve bestselling novels set in the Amish community. Before “retiring” to write full-time, Mary taught school and worked as a sales rep for Hershey Chocolate. Living in Harmony, book one of her last series, won the 2012 Lime Award for Excellence in Amish Fiction. Love Comes to Paradise won the 2013 Lime Award. Her current release is A Plain Man. She can be found on the web at
www.maryellis.net or on Facebook.

Photos of Ohio Amish country courtesy of Mary Ellis.

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Authors, Mary Ellis by Amber | AmishReader.com
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Kentucky Cornbread by Nannie Bray

This comes from my best friend, who was taught by her mother, Nannie Bray,
a lifelong Kentucky resident. It is a procedure, not a recipe. As unbelievable as it may seem, her mom never owned a cookbook, or an official measuring cup or spoon. Nevertheless, everyone loved her cornbread.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Use a tablespoon and put two scoops of lard in a 10 inch iron skillet and place in over while it is preheating. (Mom always used lard, but I have found that shortening works fine and is easier on my heart and mind.) Meanwhile, she used her cupped right hand as a measuring cup. In a mixing pot or bowl, put 2 heaping cups of corn meal mix, 1 heaping cup of self-rising flour, one generous pinch of salt, and mix with the right hand. (She never used a spoon to mix.) Get the buttermilk ready on the counter. Remove the iron skillet from the over. Make sure that all the lard is melted. Roll the lard all around the skillet and up half way on the sides. Pour the extra in the cornmeal and flour mixture. Make sure that 1/4 inch of oil remains in the skillet. Put the skillet back in the oven to get really, really hot. Mix the cornbread mixture up by adding some buttermilk. Stir with the right hand and add buttermilk until it is a thick mixture, but can still be poured with a little help from the hand.

Take the skillet out, the lard might be ‘smoking’ a little, but you can see the swirls from the heat. Pour the cornbread mixture (should sizzle when it hits the oil), scrap the bowl with the hand and put in hot oven. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the bread is firm to the touch in the middle. This makes for a crunchy crust on sides and bottom. If there is any left overs, it will not be the crust, and will not be thrown out. Leftovers will be used for the infamous Kentucky cereal, AKA Cornbread and Milk!

Filed under: Amish Fiction, Authors, Mary Ellis, Recipes by Mary
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While writing A Little Bit of Charm, I asked Kentucky resident, Linda Hitchcock, to supply me with a traditional pie recipe. This is Chess Pie by her aunt, Peg Hersman Triplett. Linda told me this pie is a Kentucky favorite! Many versions of Chess Pie exist, some with cream or milk, some with flour in place of cornmeal. Still others add lemon in place of vanilla and eliminate the vinegar. Some even add chocolate, although Linda feels her Aunt Peg’s is the best! This recipe came from her mother, (Linda’s grandmother) who died in 1933.The origins are murky but it has been suggested the recipes originated in England, were brought to the Virginia Colony and then to Kentucky where they became popular. The pies are usually served at room temperature and don’t need embellishment, although whipped cream is nice. They are stored at room temperature~ and were probably held in pie safes in previous eras. Chess pie is made with ingredients readily available on a farm, quickly assembled and easily doubled or tripled for a large family. Enjoy!

1 (9”) unbaked pastry shell, homemade or favorite store bought

1 stick, 1/2 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 eggs, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons cornmeal

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter, stir in sugar, add cornmeal, beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well, and add vinegar and vanilla. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes until set and lightly brown on top.

Filed under: Authors, Mary Ellis, Recipes by Mary
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