Beth Wiseman's Blog, page 22

Kindle Giveaway!

Happy Monday Everyone!

Are you a 'Fan of Beth Wiseman' on Facebook?  My Facebook Fan Page has grown a lot over the past few weeks, and in appreciation, I'm going to give away a Kindle to one lucky reader who is a 'fan' on the site.  So, if you're on Facebook, please consider joining the 'Fan Page' if you haven't already.  One winner will be chosen randomly this Friday (Nov. 19) and announced here on this blog. 

The emails, cards, and constant encouragement that I get from all of you keeps me pushing toward every deadline in hopes that I will continue to be able to bring you stories through words that glorify God, entertain, and perhaps provide a bit of escapism in our busy lives. 

You do not need to comment here to be included in the drawing.  You just have to be a 'Fan of Beth Wiseman'  on Facebook, and you are automatically entered. 

And, be on the lookout for a holiday contest soon!!  xoxo

Recipe Friday -- Apple Raspberry Crisp!

Happy Friday!  This is a recipe that comes from my Amish friends in Monte Vista, Colorado.  I love any kind of 'crisp' like this, especially when it's warm and topped with vanilla icecream!   Also, did anyone else try the 'Underground Ham'?  My mother-in-law made it for us, and it is AWESOME!  Yes, it's a lot of potatoes, but not too much.  We loved it! 


APPLE RASPBERRY CRISP

10 med. apples, peeled and sliced
1 1/2 c. raspberries
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. flour
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. oatmeal
1 tsp. cinnamon
12 T. margarine

Mix apples and 1/2 cup sugar.  Spread into a greased pan.  Top with raspberries.   Mix rest of ingredients until crumbly.  Sprinkle over fruit.  Bake at 350 until bubbly, about 50 minutes.  If desired, you can add more sugar with apples.














I'm anxious to hear how this is!  A friend gave me a great recipe for a 'peach crisp'.  It is SUPER easy!  She's not Amish, but I'll ask her if I can share it!  

Hope you all have a great weekend!
 

Recipe Friday on Sunday!

Good grief!  How does Friday always seem to get away from me before I post my Friday recipe?  From now on, my wonderful assistant will be sending me a Friday morning email as a reminder not to forget! 



A while back, someone gave me an old cookbook called The Dunkard-Dutch Cookbook with nearly four hundred turn of the century Pennsylvania Dutch dishes.  What a treasure!  This book was first published in 1965, and it's fun to see how everything is just drowning in butter and lard.  Even the more current Amish cookbooks shy away from such heavy use of lard.  There are some interesting recipes in this book that I will not be trying -- i.e. baked beef heart, scrapple, pig's feet souse, head-cheese, squirrel croquettes, ox-tail soup, and fricasseed rabbit (that recipes starts out....Cut up and disjoint the rabbit). 



After much deliberation, I found an interesting recipe.  Although, I'm not sure anyone will try it.  Any takers on this one?  I've never heard of "Bird's Nest" -- have you?  It's in the desserts section of this cookbook, and I'm copying it exactly as it's written. 



Bird's Nest



Pare six or eight large applies, and remove the core by cutting from the end down into the middle, so as to leave the apple whole except where the core has been removed; place them as near together as they can stand, with the open part upward, in a deep pie dish; next make a thin batter, using one quart sweet milk, three eggs, with sufficient flour, and pour it into the dish around the apples, also filling the cavities in them; bake them in a quick oven.  Eat them with butter and sugar.



I'm not much of a baker, but what is a 'quick oven'?  And I keep giggling about "place them as near together as they can stand."  I'm picturing all these little apples saying, "Hey, not too close.  Move over!" 



Let me know if anyone tries this!  Hope everyone has a great week! 

Recipe Friday -- Chili Cornbread Salad!

Well, I don't know how another Friday slipped by without me posting a recipe!  Sorry AGAIN that it's late.  I've never had anything quite like this next offering.  Looks yummy!  This is another recipe from Amish friends in the San Luis Valley in Colorado.  Enjoy!





Chili Cornbread Salad



1 (8 1/2 oz.) cornbread muffin mix

1 (4 oz.) can green chilies

1/8 tsp. cumin

1/8 tsp. oregano

1 c. salad dressing

1 c. sour cream

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

2 (15 oz.) pinto beans

2 (15 oz) whole corn

1/2 c. chopped onion

3 diced tomatoes

1 c. diced green pepper

1-2 c. crumbled bacon



Prepare cornbread as directed on package.  Or make your own.  Stir in chilies, cumin, and oregano.  Spread into a 9 x 13-inch pan.  Bake at 400 until done.  Cool.  Mix sour cream, salad dressing, and Ranch mix.  Spread over crust.  Top with beans, corn, onion, tomatoes, pepper, and bacon.  Sprinkle with 2 cups shredded cheese.  Olives can be put over top if desired.  Delicious!  Can be made a day in advance.

Recipe Friday -- Underground Ham!

Oops...somehow Friday slipped away from me before I posted 'Recipe Friday' -- so, here it is...a little late.  I am using this recipe in the book I am working on now, so my editor will want me to 'test' it.  Hoping one of you will!    This looks like a good one!  Enjoy!



Underground Ham



4 c. diced ham

4 T. butter

1/2 c. onions

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 to 2 c. Velveeta cheese

1 c. milk

4 qt. mashed potatoes

1 pt. sour cream

browned and cumbled bacon



Combine ham, butter, onions, and Worcestershire sauce.  Heat until onions are soft.   Put in bottom of roaster.  In saucepan, heat soup, 1 cup milk, and cheese.  Heat until cheese melts.  Place over top of ham mixture.  Mash potatoes, add sour cream.  Put potatoes on top of ham mixture.  Top with cumbled bacon.  Bake 20 minutes.  (Sorry, recipe doesn't say what temp!...I'm guessing 350)



Compliments of Old Order Amish friends in the San Luis Valley in Colorado! 



Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Healing Hearts by Beth Wiseman

My publisher just sent me the cover for Healing Hearts -- all novellas that I wrote in one collection.  The first two stories were previously published in An Amish Christmas and An Amish Gathering.  The third story will be in An Amish Love, scheduled for release in Dec. 2010, and it will also reappear in this collection. 



I LOVE this cover!  This is Leah from A Change of Heart (novella in An Amish Gathering).  What do you think?











Releasing July 2011!

5-Book Giveaway! Seek Me With All Your Heart by Beth Wiseman

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!



I want to pass along an opportunity to win an autographed copy of Seek Me With All Your Heart, book #1 in the Land of Canaan series.  'Free Book Friday' will give away 5 copies on Friday, Oct. 22. Click the link below.  You must sign up on the left sidebar for a chance to win, not just leave a comment.  There is also an exclusive interview I gave on the site. 



FREE BOOK FRIDAY!



Good luck!! 

Recipe Friday --Pumpkin Whoopie Pies!

Happy Friday!  I'm late posting this because I was trying to find a recipe that made sense and didn't appear to need revisions.  As I've mentioned before, some of the recipes from my Amish friends are a little sketchy, often not mentioning how long to cook/bake or at what temperature.  I typed in an entire recipe, only to decide that it wasn't making sense to me.  But I don't claim to be an expert baker, so it might have just been me!  But it's fall...and another pumpkin recipe seemed in order!  This one came from the Amish in the San Luis Valley in Colorado.  Any takers?  Someone want to try this one? 



Pumpkin Whoopie Pies



2 c. brown sugar

1 c. oil

1 c. pumpkin

3 c. flour

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder



Filling:



2 beaten eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. Crisco

2 c. powdered sugar



Cream together sugar and oil.  Add eggs and pumpkin.  Add dry ingredients and mix well.   Bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes.  Mix together filling and spread between two cookies. 



OH DEAR -- I've typed another recipe exactly as it was given to me, and now I'm wondering....how big should the cookies be?  Greased or non-greased pan?  How many does it make?  HOPING someone will try this out and report back! 



It's beautiful weather here in Texas!  Hope it's beautiful where you are! 

TWO WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Wow!  What a contest.  You gals (and guys!) made me cry with all these super sweet comments.  I am touched beyond words.  Thank you SO much for all the kindness you show me on a daily basis.  I wish, wish, wish that I could give every single one of you a book.  Maybe some day!  BUT, I am glad to be able to give away two copies of Seek Me With All Your Heart today.  This was a random drawing from all the wonderful comments left under the post on Monday.  I am truly blessed to have such wonderful readers and friends.  Thank you, again. 



AND THE WINNERS ARE:





TEDDY COLTHARP  AND DEBBIE SMITH!  (please email me at author@bethwiseman.net with your address -- Congrats!)

Recipe Friday -- Lazy Wife's Dinner!

Happy Friday!



This week's recipe looks like a fun one...easy and yummy!  And, of course...I'm all about anything that has CHEESE in it! 



Thanks to those of you who tried some of the recipes and particularly for clearing up some of the details...which are sometimes a little sketchy coming from my Amish friends. 



FOR THOSE WHO ARE WONDERING...I will be announcing the winners of two copies of Seek Me With All Your Heart shortly! 



So...who is going to try this recipe and report back to us? 





Lazy Wife's Dinner



1 can cream of celery soup (or cream of mushroom soup)

1 cup macaroni, uncooked

1 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups frozen vegetables of your choice

1/2 lb. Velveeta (or American cheese)

1 cup diced potatoes

1 cup diced carrots

1 cup meat of your choice, cooked and chopped into bite-sized pieces

3 T. chopped onion



Mix all the ingredients together and pour into a 9" x 13" baking pan.  Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours.



Enjoy!