3 comments about Amish-Country Cookbook, 2nd Edition (Volume 4).

1. This book is great, has many easy recipies with ingredients you have at your home. A+++



2. Not only is this cookbook filled with lots of simple and easy to make recipes, but the anecdotes and quotes that fill it are wonderful. My grandmother didn't put it down until she had read the entire book that night!



3. This is one of the best cookbooks around! The recipes are simple and very delicious. Most of the ingredients are probably already in your cupboard. The best thing about this cookbook is that it has a large variety of recipes to choose from. This book also includes unique, yet profound sayings which are filled with wisdom and laughter. Out of all the cookbooks I own, I love this one the best! It's the one I grab when I don't feel like going grocery shopping for a hundred small items that I will never use again. If you have to choose just one cookbook for your life...choose this one!

No comments about Who Are the Anabaptists: Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites.

1 comments about Making Peace With Conflict: Practical Skills for Conflict Transformation.

1. The Mennonite Conciliation Service's well-practiced manual provides a practical system of conflict mediation for use in one-on-one and group conflict mediation. The book assumes a Mennonite Christian perspective on why and how we seek to resolve conflict in our lives. The system is somewhat complicated, so I would urge you not to just dive in and assume you can solve people's problems on your own. However, taken in conjunction with some practical experience and guidance, or as an addition to conflict training on your own, this manual will help you to solve conflict without resorting to win or lose situations.

5 comments about Amish of Illinois' Heartland, The.

1. Wow! Rebecca Mabry has taken time to study the CURRENT Amish community and smashes many of the widely held beliefs. For example, no longer do most Amish depend on farm income to support their families; instead, they are woodworkers. Sensitive to cultural issues, tender in portraying individuals, and comprehensive in its approach, this is the best book on the Amish culture that I've seen in the last decade. Add to that Mabry's fine writing and this is the new standard on the topic. Stunning photos.
   If you want to know what the Twenty-First century Amish are like (instead of the Twentieth century Amish), read this book. Recommended for middle grade and high school classrooms, as well as a great read for any adult.



2. 
   This book takes you straight to Amish country and into the homes and hearts of the people who live there. Chances are, anything you ever wanted to know about the Amish - weddings, funerals, religious beliefs, schooling, clothing and much more - are included in "The Amish of Illinois' Heartland."
   Breathtaking photos illustrate just how different the Amish are from what they call the "English" - but show they're thriving as a separate society.
   By the end of this easy-to-read book, you'll feel like you know the Amish personally.



3. This singular and sensitive exploration of the Amish culture is beautifully-written and photographed. It's a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered what life is like in this religious community that continues to live in the world, yet be not of the world. Readers will enjoy a journey into the hearts, minds, homes and businesses of the Amish Community in the Illinois' Heartland, and emerge feeling peaceful and whole themselves.
   Ruth Siburt,
   Children's Writer



4. I sit and read this wonderful book and honestly feel you will never get a better understanding of the life of the Amish. Rebecca Mabry has put her heart and soul into this book and it shows. She brings these wonderful people to life and shows how they live each day and continue with their lifestyle among the hustle and bustle of day to day living. I think the rest of us could learn some valuable lessons from the Amish. Don't hestitate when it comes to buying this book, you will love it and send it out as a present, your friends will love you for it.



5. I have lived in central Illinois most of my life and often pass through
   the Amish area, seeing only part of the picture of their lives and wanting
   to know more. Rebecca Mabry, through beautifully written words, and Vanda
   Bidwell, with her sensitive photographs, have filled in the missing parts
   of the picture with this superb book. The Amish faith, which places
   priority on faith in God and the importance of family, is an inspiration
   to us all. I highly recommend it to anyone who would like to know more
   about a fascinating and admirable people.
   -- Cindy Pringle

1 comments about Mennonite Handbook.

1. This book is a hoot. It also contains a lot of valuable facts and information. Recommend

2 comments about Cookbook from Amish Kitchens: Cakes (Cookbooks from Amish Kitchens).

1. I have most of the books in this series and love them all. These little books make great gifts. I bake one of the cakes and package the cake and the book together for a fun Birthday gift. No one has ever complained and everyone loves the cake.



2. I have all of these adorable little 'Cook Books from Amish Kitchens', and have really enjoyed them. The are very small and simple... the complete opposite of a coffee-table/display-style cookbooks we see most often today. This is a thin pamphlet with matte paper and does not include interior photos of any recipes (excluding the cover). The text is in a handwritten-style font and clearly explained. The recipes are very homey with basic ingredients and techniques; nothing fancy. Simple, delicious recipes in a simple, small booklet. RECOMMENDED.

2 comments about The Puzzles of Amish Life (People's Place Book No. 10).

1. Our private guide n the Amish country recommended this book - and I read it after returning home to New York. Prof. Kraybill really tied all the threads for me - how the Amish choose to live the way they do, what are the pleasures and limitations of their society, how it maintains and governs itself. A short book written in an sophisticated but absolutely lucid, clear, and interesting language. Thank you!



2. This is the best non fiction book ever written. This describes the practice of traditional Amish- no school, no cars, no computers, no blowdryers, no electricity no TVs. Canned food, what do you think that is? The Amish are not a joke- they have multi million dollar farms. A branch of them sold out and started marketing it at African Americans. It was founded in the 1800s by Jacob Amman. The use of narcotics is pretty much encouraged. It says that when you want something you want it right here right now. I was wondering why my grandpa and other people in town rode a scooter well they're. The dune buggy was supposed to represent the intellectually childlike. College is taboo and they quit school after 8th grade, seldom attending public school. They are on social security, don't join the military and have no technology. The car is going to date them really bad it was invented in the 1920s and the phone invented in 1873. THis is a philosophy and religion I could relate to 100 percent. Most farmers are Amish. I loved it.

3 comments about Cast a Blue Shadow (Ohio Amish Mystery Series #4).

1. This book is sub-titled An Ohio Amish Mystery and is set amid the rolling hills of Holmes County, Ohio. Holmes County and vicinity hosts the largest Amish settlement in the world and Paul L. Gaus knows this area well.

   Michael Brandon, the main character in this and Gaus's other books, takes on the academic community in his fictional Millersburg College. Along with Brandon are other familiar characters from Gaus's previous book, notably Pastor Calvin Troyer and Sheriff Bruce Robertson as well as an expanded role for Brandon's wife Carolyn.

   A rich Holmes County widow has died after a meeting with members of Millersburg College faculty in which she had announced her intention to change the way she donated money to the college. It appears to be murder and motives abound. Brandon is invited to join the investigation because he is familiar with the principals involved as well as being a lifelong friend of Sheriff Robertson.

   The author has learned to put together a good story in which he brings all the pieces together just right. Gaus is not an unabashed cheerleader for the Amish, idealizing their lives, but portrays real people with their own peculiar problems. In fact, it is possible to read this book without really thinking of the Amish as a group. This is a good mystery that keeps you wanting to come back for more.




2. I have to say I love his Books. The one complaint I have here is with the lack of Autumn lol. We need a Novel set in the Fall.
   But aside from that it was great. I would also like to see the character of Sonny Favor developed in a future book. Perhaps a contrast of Martha Lehams future life to that of Sonny's..



3. If there is any mystery in this book, it isn't in the extreme characters that were so one-dimensional and stereotyped that the reader can anticipate what they will say next with great accuracy. The money-hungry mother, rebellious lesbian daughter, and meek son were so cliché that one could hardly muster any interest in what might happen next, let alone form any attachment to their various unfortunate situations. Also disappointing were the faulty and lax details regarding the Amish and Mennonite cultures, such as the background story of Martha (most Amish don't switch to Mennonite that easily, even over a perceived "disgrace" such as her's) and other subtleties that do not ring with authenticity. A tremendous suspension of belief would be needed to find this novel even remotely enjoyable.

5 comments about Upstairs the Peasants Are Revolting: More Family Life in a Farmhouse.

1. This is a great follow up to Ordinary Days, Smuckers 1st book. I read them both in a few weeks, I loved that the 'chapters' were short stories, easy to read alone, so that when I was interupted for a few days from my reading, I could get right back into it. A great gift for a loved one or yourself, the perfect pick-me-up, I laughed out loud!



2. As a busy Mom of all boys, I have (far too often) fallen into my bed at night, simply worn out from the days trials. I keep this book on my nightstand for just such evenings. Smuckers writing is humorous, honest, and warm. It isn't easy to be cheerful and
   encouraging without coming across saccharinly sweet but this author does it, with ease. I like to give this book (or her first, Ordinary Days) to mothers at baby showers, especially. When life is full and your time (or attention!) is short...this book is a little B12 shot of joy.



3. Dorcas Smucker has a refreshing voice, as she describes her gratitude for the crisp bite of an apple, the beauty of daffodils growing freely, the frustrations of a year in which mice seem to multiply out of nowhere, the care she took to choose Christmas gifts that would convey the feeling of being "special, loved, and included, like someone who really mattered."
   
   I especially enjoyed the essays relating to her marriage, her discussion of the give-and-take of the relationship and how the "feeling" of love sometimes comes and goes but the practice of love should remain solid. Or, as she quotes her husband: You'd think we'd have everything figured out after 18 years. God has blessed me with a wife who is committed to making our marriage work, but we are still discovering the mysteries of love and sacrifice and commitment and how they make a relationship work.
   
   Dorcas grew up in the Amish community, but she and her family are now Mennonites and she describes her struggles to make the right decisions. "Is it okay to buy a fast-food meal if it means more time with a friend? If having a garden means I don't have time to teach vacation Bible school, which do I choose? Is making my own food always better than buying it? Am I insisting on doing things the slow and old-fashioned way long after it becomes pointless?"
   
   Ultimately, the question seems to be, "Was it worth it?" and her answer comes through clearly, "Yes, yes, it was."
   
   Likewise, time spent reading this book was worth it. I highly recommend it.



4. Love this book & this author. I can SO relate to her experiences, and I'm jealous I'm not brillant enough to write this stuff myself!
   Especially enjoy the Chapter "Escapes for Mom". You go, girl!



5. I'm giving 5 stars! Dorcas Smucker is an excellent author, honest and optimistic. I appreciate how she has her book set up so that each chapter is different/not necessarily related to the last. This is great for people who aren't total bookworms and don't sit for hours reading at a time. You can just pick up where you left off without worrying about remembering a whole lot of missing pieces of the background of the story. All in all, a very good read! And congratulations, Dorcas!

5 comments about Mennonite Country-Style Recipes & Kitchen Secrets.

1. This is a very helpful and resourceful book, that must be in every kictchen. I received this book as a gift from my mother-in-law, and have used it constantly over the years.
   There are excellent recipes, hints and tips. I would highly recommend this book to all those who are in the kitchen. Everyone can learn something from this book, young or old, new cook or experienced. You will not be sorry you've purchased it. I would not be without mine.



2. I made a casserole that looked pretty tasty before it went in the oven. When it came out, it didn't turn out so well. It was also very high in calories.

   I thought all the recipes in this book were going to be from scratch. Dutch country cooking is like that. This books uses cans of soup and other means to complete the recipes. Also, you can't eat this food every night. It will give you a heart attack.

   I'm willing to give this book another try, but I think I'll stick to some of my other books. Don't buy this book if you are expecting traditional Mennonite cooking, that's not what this book is!!




3. For the beginner to the expert, this book is full of tips and aids to make anyone a "down home country cook."



4. This book was given to me before marriage and I have worn out one hardback and am now using a spiral. I did not know much about baking or cooking and so each section has helps and teaches the difference in using pans(for example - glass vs. aluminum pans). We lived in foreign countries for the first 8 years of our married life and it was so helpful when I couldn't find an ingredient or couldn't find a product(for example - Maple syrup). This book is the number 1 book that I refer to before planning meals or getting ideas. Since then, I have purchased several for family and friends and they love it too.



5. This is my all time favorite cookbook. I bake a lot and this has awesome pie, cake and cookie recipes. Also has great tips, I read the book cover to cover. A must for any Virginian or anyone who loves the Shenandoah Valley!