Beth Wiseman's Blog, page 19

Attention Nook and Kindle Users!

Happy Saturday Everyone!

I just wanted to pass on some news for the Nook and Kindle Users!  Plain Promise--book #3 in the Daughters of the Promise series--is on sale at both Amazon and Barnes and Noble for $1.99.  

I'm hard at work on my first women's contemporary--Need You Now.  In case you missed the cover, here it is!  It should be available for pre-order soon.  I love this cover!  I'll be sharing more about the story as soon as I can.  Right now, my publisher has me keeping it 'hush, hush'.

  

Have a wonderful, blessed weekend!
Beth 

Recipe Friday, June 3, 2011 Amish Egg Noodles

I've never tried my hand at making home-made noodles, but this recipe looks like it might not be as intimidating as I thought: 

Amish Egg Noodles
Serves/Makes: 4    |   Difficulty Level: 3    |   Ready In: > 2 hrs

Ingredients:
3 eggs
2 cups flour (approximately)
1/2 teaspoon salt
beef or chicken stock

Directions:
Beat eggs until frothy. Add flour and stir until of dough texture. Knead until smooth. Turn into floured cutting board. Roll dough turning often until thin. Let noodle dough dry 45 minutes, then turn and dry another 1/2 hour.

Cut into noodles. Drop into boiling beef or chicken stock. Reduce heat and cook at rolling boil for about 20 minutes. As the noodles boil, begin their own gravy. Season to taste.

Nutrition:
per serving: 283 calories, 4g fat, 48g carbohydrates, 11g protein.
Thanks to:  CDKitchen www.cdkitchen.com< http: href?>

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And here's something else fun you can do with this recipe

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recipewordfind.php?rezid=6621&rmid=6415&KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=410&width=680

 

Recipe Friday May 27th - Amish Breakfast Casserole

When I have a houseful overnight, I like to have a casserole ready to pop in the oven for breakfast.  Here's one I just found that has lots and lots of cheese.  I think this will become a new family favorite!  And for those of you who are currently on Weight Watchers along with me, I bet we could modify this some to lower the points.  Turkey bacon and reduced-fat cheese.    Right now, it's at 7 PointsPlus, but I bet we could get those points down some.  And it's high in protein.   

Amish Breakfast Casserole

 
"We enjoyed a hearty breakfast bake during a visit to an Amish inn," recalls Beth Notaro of Kokomo, Indiana. "When I asked for the recipe, one of the ladies told me the ingredients right off the top of her head. I modified it to create this version my family loves. Try breakfast sausage in place of bacon."




12 ServingsPrep: 15 min. Bake: 35 min. + standing

 
Ingredients

1 pound sliced bacon, diced
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
6 eggs, lightly beaten
4 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1-1/2 cups (12 ounces) 4% cottage cheese
1-1/4 cups shredded Swiss cheese

Directions

In a large skillet, cook bacon and onion until bacon is crisp; drain.
In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; stir in bacon
mixture. Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish.

Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a knife
inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes
before cutting. Yield: 12 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 piece) equals 273 calories, 18 g fat (10 g saturated fat), 153 mg cholesterol, 477 mg sodium, 8 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 18 g protein.



Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and please remember to honor all the men and women who serve our country to keep it safe and such a wonderful place to live.  We owe them so much. 
Blessings,
Beth


Thanks to:  http:www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Amish-Bre...

Recipe Friday May 20th Amish Strawberry Jam

It's strawberry season once again.  Strawberries seem so much better this time of year and they are certainly priced more reasonably.  Here's a recipe honoring one of the characters in An Amish Love, a novella collection by  me Kathleen Fuller and Kelly Long.  Ellie Chupp made jams and jellies that were sold at Yoder's Pantry which was a recurring theme in each of the three stories. 


Garden Strawberry Jam Recipe

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Ingredients: 

1 tbsp hot water
 
1/2 tsp lemon juice
 
1/2 tsp white vinegar
 
4 cups strawberries, hulled
 
3 cups sugar

Directions:
In a saucepan, bring to a boil water, lemon juice and vinegar.
Add strawberries.
Cover.
Remove from heat.
Macerate 2 minutes.
Add sugar.
Bring back to a boil.
Over moderate heat, cook 20 minutes or so.

Have a great weekend!  I'm looking forward to taking the weekend off and hanging out with friends. 
Blessings to all,
Beth



Thanks to:  http://www.ifood.tv/network/amish_strawberry_jam/recipes/2

Recipe Friday May 13th- Steamed Crackers

Here's something a little different than typical fare in our household.  Sometimes we need to produce a quick, yet stick-to-the-ribs meal and still offer a little variety for our families. 
Some Amish Cooks make their own crackers, but this recipe calls for pre-packaged, boxed and store bought saltines.  Sometimes steamed crackers are a main course;sometimes they are a side dish in Amish homes.  They may have gotten their start during the Depression years. 
I hope you'll let me know if you try this and what you think.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Steamed or Stewed Crackers
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1/4 -1/2 lb. (about  50-60) saltine crackers      
2 1/2 cups milk
2 Tbs. butter or margarine
3/4 cup milk

Butter the bottom and sides of a 1 1/2 quart casserole.  Layer dry crackers in the casserole dish.  Heat the 21/2 cups milk to scalding.  Pour over crackers.  Cover casserole and let stand at least 5 minutes, checking once to  make sure the crackers are in the milk.  Just before serving, heat the butter until browned.   Add 3/4 cups milk and warm it.  Then pour over the crackers.  
Makes 4-5 servings. 

Variations:
1.  Mix pieces of cooked pink salmon with the crackers as they are layered into the casserole.  Proceed with recipe.
2.  Mix small pieces of cooked chicken with the crackers as they are layered into the casserole.  Prcceed with recipe.
3.  While crackers are standing, prepare 4 fried eggs in skillet.  When crackers are finished serve onto 4 dinner plates.  Top each with a fried egg. 

Thanks to The Best of Amish Cooking by Phyllis Pellman Good

Help Us Choose the Cover for My Next Book!

Hi Everyone! 

I'm busy at work on Need You Now, scheduled for release in Spring 2011.  My publisher has graciously allowed me to put the three cover options to a vote!  This is my first non-Amish novel -- women's fiction.  My heroine is 38-years old, but her 16-year-old daughter also has a big part in the book. 

Which cover would be most appealing to you, make you want to pick up the book?  VOTING CLOSES AT 5 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY.  Thank you for helping us! 

OPTION #1:



OPTION #2:



OPTION #3:

"Experience the Life of the Old Order Amish....."

 
National Travel and Tourism Week is May 7-15, 2011. Tourism has a major economic impact in Amish communities as many families supplement their income with tourism related activities.  The title above is from just one of the many tours I see offered on the web. 
If you have an interest in the Amish way of life, you should try to visit and see it first hand.  A google search will bring up a wide assortment of interesting tours.  You can ride in an authentic Amish buggy, have a meal in an Amish home, make purchases at an Amish market, visit a bakery or basket or fabric shop.  See all the elements you read about in the books you love.   


Speaking of travelling.... I'll be travelling to Katy, Texas on Saturday, May 14th.  (I don't venture too far from home these days with 4 books out this year)
I'll be at the Katy Lifeway Christian Store from 11 am to 1 pm for their Sping Fiction event.
Price Plaza 20230 Katy Freeway Katy, TX 77449. Phone: 281-829-2200 
Stop by for a chat, book signed or bookmark if you can!

Recipe Friday - May 6th Amish Coffee Cake

For those of us who are fortunate to be able to vist with Mom on Mother's Day,  here's a bake and take recipe that sounds good and also quick to put together.   Enjoy!

AMISH COFFEE CAKE
2 c. light brown sugar
2 c. flour
3/4 c. shortening
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. hot coffee
1 tsp. soda

Mix sugar, flour and shortening until lumpy. Do not mix until creamy. Take
out 1 cup for topping. Dissolve soda in hot coffee and add to the flour
mixture. Also add egg and vanilla. Spread on sheet pan 9x12x2 inch and
sprinkle on topping.
This is a thin batter. Bake at 325-350 degrees approximately 30 minutes.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar after baked.

Thanks to:  http://fajita.biz/2010/11/fast-and-easy-amish-coffee-cake/ 

Recipe Friday - April 22nd Armenian Omelets

Do the Amish celebrate Easter?  Yes, but......

Although eggs are sometimes painted and children may be given a basket of candy, Easter bunnies do not visit Amish homes. These sacred holidays revolve around religious customs, family gatherings, and quiet festivities rather than commercial trinkets and  worldly hubbub. They will attend church service as usual and serve a simple meal.   Here's a simple brunch dish that can be made ahead of time and served cold or room temp.

Wishing you a blessed Easter and the fellowship of friends and family.

 

Armenian Easter Omelets

  Combine the parsley, scallions, beaten eggs, salt, pepper, and garlic in a large bowl. Place a generous amount of olive oil in a heavy skillet and heat. Drop the mixture by tablespoonful into the hot oil. Fry approx. 4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove the omelets from the heat and put on paper towels to cool. Continue to make omelets, adding more olive oil as needed. Serve cold on a platter or dish.

16 small (2"-3") omelets

4 c. finely chopped parsley
4 c. finely chopped scallions
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1½ t. salt
several dashes freshly ground pepper
1 clove garlic, crushed and minced
1 c. olive oil for frying

Thanks to:  http://www.amishshop.com

Plain Proposal Crossword Answer Key

Here's the answer key for last week's Plain Proposal Crossword Puzzle.  How did you do?  Too easy?  Too hard?  Which questions stumped you?  
I hope you have a great week!

 

Plain Proposal
Beth Wiseman

Clues taken from book #5 in the Daughters of the Promise Series, Plain Proposal by Beth Wiseman

1 A





2 T

3 B

4 P







B


5 C


O

U

I







N

6 T
H
E
B
U
D
G
E
T







E


I


R

G

T




7 J
O
U
R
N
A
L


I

Y

S










D


S



B










R


T

8 B
L
U
E









E


S



R



9 P

10 F
I
S
H
I
N
11 G





G



O

A





U





H



L

M

12 T



S








13 R
E
C
I
P
E















L

X















Y

A

















S

Across

6.

Rebecca reads (2 words)

7.

Shelby's pink book

8.

Miriam's eye color

10.

Activity at Zook farm

13.

Saul's peace offering to Rebecca

Down

1.

Miriam's father's cousin

2.

Rebecca hosts supper for

3.

Transportation means

4.

Saul's job offer city

5.

Miriam loves to work with

9.

Jesse's gift to Shelby

10.

Shelby likes most

11.

Fisher mule

12.

Shelby arrived from