Tracy Fredrychowski's Blog, page 6
December 28, 2020
I know the plans I have for you …devotional
“I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.” — Jeremiah 29:11
Anna Mae pulled her chair close to the fire and covered her legs with the lap quilt her niece Emma gave her for Christmas. The vibrant blue and yellow-flowered pattern brought a smile to her face on the cold January morning. Winter set into Sugarcreek with the onslaught of last week’s storm, and with spring still months away, and she looked for something to wash the blues away.
Her garden, covered with two feet of snow, left little hope of warm weather, but the pages in the seed catalog she was looking through helped her dream of spring days. A flood of memories lingered on her bottom eyelashes, and she wiped them away before they dropped to the colored pages. In the twenty years since her husband died, the beginning of the year always left her longing for years gone by.
A time when they dug in the warm spring soil, a time when her knees didn’t stop her from planting flowers, and a time when her children still needed her. The letter from her schwester caught her eye, and she traded the magazine for Maryanne’s familiar handwriting. Her note, filled with updates about her family in Mt Hope, also included a few words that lightened the heaviness in her heart.
“I know this time of the year is especially hard for you, so I wanted to remind you to take comfort in knowing that Gott is in control, and He is with you even on the darkest days. If you’re having trouble seeing the good in your life, look for one thing to smile about each day. It will remind you of the blessings you’ve already been given.”
She folded the letter, put it back in the pretty pink envelope, and held it close to her chest and thought. “I’ll start right here. Thank you for blessing me with a schwester who always knows exactly what I need to hear.”
Photo by Jim Fisher
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December 7, 2020
Amish Ginger Crinkles
As a small child, I have fond memories of coming in from a long afternoon of sled riding to one of my mom’s warm ginger snap cookies. She’d make us a cup of decadent milk tea, and we’d warm our tummies up with their sweet and spicy flavor.
If you love good old-fashion ginger snaps, you’ll love these Amish Ginger Crinkle cookies. With a fair amount of ginger and a pinch of cayenne pepper, these are sure to bring a flood of memories back to those long cold winters of your childhood.
PrintGinger CrinklesA crispy gingersnapCourse DessertPrep Time 10 minutesCook Time 15 minutesServings 24 cookiesIngredients3/4 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)1 cup sugar1/4 cup brown sugar1/3 cup molasses1 large egg1/2 tsp salt2 tsp baking soda1 tbsp ground ginger1 tsp cinnamon1/4 tsp ground cloves1 pinch cayenne pepper2 1/4 cups flour1/2 cup sugar for rollingInstructionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie pans with parchment paper.Cream butter, 1 cup of sugar, and brown sugaruntil creamy. Add molasses and egg until combined. Add salt, baking soda,ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and cayenne pepper. Mix thoroughly. Add flour untilcombined. Using a cookie scoop, measure out balls androll in ½ cup of sugar. These cookies spread out, so leave plenty of room onthe sheet. (I only put 6 balls per sheet, and it gave them plenty of room tobake.) Bake for 15 minutes. Leave on the sheet pan for about 5 minutes beforemoving to a wire rack. Makes 24 cookies. The post Amish Ginger Crinkles appeared first on Tracy Fredrychowski, Author.
Childlike Faith Devotional
Sarah stood at the stove, stirring the sugary syrup she’d use to pour over the bowl of popped corn waiting on the table. Her mind was racing in a hundred directions. She still needed to finish the dolls she was making for the girls, she’d promised to make her famous Ginger Crinkles cookies, and Matthew’s new shirt needed to be sewn. A stack of Christmas cards arrived in the mail that morning, and she still hadn’t found time to reply to the ones that came yesterday.
Just as she moved the hot liquid to the back of the stove, Emily and Hailey came barreling in from outside. The dark-haired twins wasted no time in throwing their mittens and bonnets on the table, knocking the bowl of popcorn to the floor.
“Girls! Look what you’ve done. I spent all morning popping that corn.”
Her tone was an octave higher than she usually used with her six-year-old daughters and their faces showed their shock.
“Sorry. We’re so excited to tell you what happened in school today!”
Both girls dropped to the floor to clean up the spill, and Sarah knelt to help. Emily grabbed a handful of popcorn, stuffed it in her mouth, and spoke in a muffled tone, “Rebecca and Samantha have the chicken-pox. Taking a second to swallow, she continued, Hailey and I get to be the angels in the Christmas program next week.”
Hailey pulled the bowl closer and used both hands to pick up a mountain of white kernels. “Miss Mary said if we can memorize all of our lines by Monday, she’ll give us a candy cane and let us help her decorate for the program.”
The excitement in the girls’ voices softened Sarah’s frustration as she sat on her heels to listen more intently. “I’d say a candy cane would be a good incentive to practice hard this weekend.”
Emily crossed her legs and rested her chin in her hands, and longingly said, “I just love Christmas.”
“Me too,” Hailey said, copying her schwesters posture.
Emily nibbled on another kernel.” We get to wear white robes and tell the shepherds of baby Jesus’ birth.”
Sarah pulled the girls close and kissed the top of their heads as they continued to share their enthusiasm. Suddenly the list she stressed about all morning meant nothing, as she marveled at their Christmas delight. It’s precisely the reminder she needed about the childlike faith Jesus calls us to have.
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-4
Photo by Jim Fisher
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October 15, 2020
Christmas Comes Early in Amish Country
Me too! Here are some of the season’s exciting offerings. These
Amish Christmas titles are sure to get you in the mood for the festive days ahead.
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June 30, 2020
Love Blooms at the Apple Blossom Inn is a Sweet Treat
Maggie Fisher stood on the porch, potholders in hand looking through the glass of the wood-fired double oven. The sheltered porch did little to stop the Central Wisconsin wind from sending clouds of powdered snow up under her skirt. The outdoor kitchen her Datt built five years ago was a welcomed relief to the summer heat but did little to warm her in the coldest months of the year.
A soft glow was starting to peek its way above the horizon, and it wouldn’t be long before the first of their regular Friday customers began to make their way up the long winding driveway that led to their in-home bakery. Her oldest bruder was already clearing the snow from the driveway, and Hannah, her youngest schwester, was busy putting whipped frosting between layers of chocolate hand pies. Maggie smiled as she thought how it took the whole family to make sure the bakery opened by eight every morning, except Sundays, of course.
Cracking the oven door just far enough to see if the edges of the sugar cookies were the perfect golden brown, she reached in and lightly touched her finger in the center of the cookie checking if they were done. Glancing up at the timer, she rarely used. A longing filled her heart as she remembered how her Mamm had joked about neither of them needing a timer; they both instinctively knew something was done by how it smelled. She couldn’t explain it, and neither could her Mamm, that was before she died two years earlier. After placing the hot cookie trays on the bakers rack near the door, it would only take a few minutes before they were cooled and ready to frost.
Hearing the squeak of the rusty hinges, she turned her head in the direction of Hannah’s voice.
“Datt is headed out to the barn and said he wants to talk to you when you’re caught up. I can take those if you want.” Hannah said as she reached for one of the trays.
“The barn, why would he want me to go there? He knows I need to finish these cookies. The shop opens in less than an hour. Oh, help!”
Pulling her heavy black coat tighter around her middle, she walked down the steps and tucked her chin close to her chest, bracing herself against the wind that whipped across the open yard.
The pungent odor of manure mixed with the sweet smell of hay tickled her nose as soon as she pushed the heavy steel door open. Steam rose from the nostrils of the full uttered Brown Swiss cows that lined either side of the barn. Milking all forty cows twice a day by hand, her Datt and bruders worked filling ten-gallon milk cans that lined the milk house wall. Every ounce, except the little he let her keep, to make cheese and butter for the bakery, was sold to the cheese factory in town.
Walking to where her Datt sat with his head rested on the side of a cow, she waited until he stood to empty his bucket before she spoke.
“Hannah said you wanted to see me.”
Carrying the silver bucket with him, he motioned his head in the direction of the milk house and didn’t say a word but expected her to follow. Once inside the clean small cinder block addition, he poured the bucket of fresh milk through the filtered lined bucket in the stainless steel sink.
“Shut the door,” he said in a gruff voice.
Waiting patiently for him to get to his point, she tried not to seem aggravated that he had interrupted her baking. He was a man of few words, and she knew all too well not to rush him.
Turning to face her, he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back on the sink and asked.
“You’ll be twenty-four next month, right?”
“I suppose so, why?”
Picking up the towel that hung over the edge of the sink, he said.
“It’s time you find a husband.”
Shocked by his comment, it took her a few seconds to fully comprehend what he said before she answered. “What for?”
“What do you mean, what for? I’m sure your Mamm had that talk with you a long time ago.”
Not typically prone to embarrassment, she couldn’t help but blush at her Datt’s mention of the ‘talk.’
“I know that,” she said in a hushed tone. “I mean, why do you think I need a husband now? There’s too much to do around here to worry about such things.”
Standing up straight and turning to check on the milk that was trickling through the layers of cheesecloth, he said. “My point exactly. As long as you’re busy taking care of this family, you won’t make time to start one of your own.”
“But I don’t mind. I love baking, and I wouldn’t dream of letting Mamm’s bakery business go.”
With a stern voice, he answered.
“Hannah is more than capable of taking over the bakery, so I’m sending you to your aunts in Pennsylvania.
“To Willow Springs?” she said in a louder than respectable tone.
“You leave on the Greyhound first thing Monday morning. A driver will take you to the bus station, and your Great Aunts will secure a driver to pick you up in New Castle. You should arrive late Tuesday afternoon.”
Trying to control the heaviness creeping up in her chest, she decided to soften her tone before she continued. “But Datt, what on earth am I going to do in Willow Springs? I don’t know anyone there, and all I know about Aunt Teena and Lizzie is they’re spinsters. If they couldn’t find a husband there, what makes you think I will?”
“Not sure you will. Especially since you’ve chased every boy within twenty miles of this place away with your sharp tongue. I’m figuring if I send you to a new town, your reputation might not follow you, and there might be some fellow willing to give you a try.”
“Datt, how can you say such things?”
“Can you prove me wrong?”
Not answering his question, but pleading with him, she said. “But you need me around here.”
“As I said, Hannah is plenty old enough, and I’ll be chasing her off this farm as well someday.”
Lowering herself to a milking stool near the door, she propped her elbows on her knees and rested her chin in her palms. Looking up at him, she said. “You can’t be serious.”
“Look, I promised your Mamm I wouldn’t expect you to fill her shoes forever. It’s been two years now; it’s time.”
Shifting his weight and running his hand through his brown and white speckled beard, he said. “You have a job waiting for you at the Apple Blossom Inn.”
Pouring the filtered milk in the waiting can, he secured the lid, picked up the empty bucket, and headed toward the door. Stopping only long enough to say. “You have many wonderful qualities, but your eagerness to always have the last word …well, that might take a special kind of man.”
Letting his words sink in, he paused in the doorway to add. “For sure and certain, you won’t find him here in Tomah.”
As if she was frozen to the stool, Maggie didn’t move even after her Datt had long gone. Thinking to herself, she thought. How can he send me off to live in a strange town, with people I barely know, it’s plain crazy! The last thing I need right now is a husband.
The way she saw it, he didn’t hold much hope of her finding a suitable mate in her community. All of her friends were already married with children of their own, but she was hardly spinster material. Or was she?
Find it on Amazon
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March 26, 2020
Maggie’s Blueberry Crumb Muffins
Excerpt “Love Blooms at the Apple Blossom Inn” – Releases May 2020
The sun was just starting to light Willow Springs as Maggie walked the half of mile to the Apple Blossom Inn. Overnight, winter left four or five inches of heavy snow on the ground, and she took the time to stomp off the snow from her boots before she made her way through the back entrance of the Inn. Hanging her coat on the hook by the door and changing from her boots to her black shoes, Maggie tied a pink apron around her waist and went to find Mrs. Sorensen. The clock on the wall chimed seven as she made her way down the hallway.
Softly knocking on the office door, she waited for Mrs. Sorensen to look up and acknowledge her before she entered.
In an agitated tone, Mrs. Sorensen said. “We have a problem. Amanda sent word she’s not feeling well and won’t be coming into work today. I need you to fill in for her in the kitchen. Normally she is in the kitchen by six, and it’s already seven. I trust you can pull something together quickly?”
Tapping the end of her pencil on the desk in front of her, Mrs. Sorensen continued. “I like to have a pot of coffee and some sort of pastry on the buffet in the dining room for those guests who rise early. Mr. Waldorf and his wife normally come down by eight and sit in the parlor to read the paper. That should be your first concern.”
With a sureness in her voice, Maggie answered. “That won’t be a problem; I can get something together quickly.”
“Good, then get to it.” Mrs. Sorensen answered in a dismissing tone.
Trying to hide the smile that was making its way to her lips, Maggie turned and headed to the kitchen. Glancing at the clock once again, she noted she had fifty-five minutes. Not enough time for anything that involved yeast, but she’d have enough time for muffins. Opening the refrigerator and taking inventory of what she had to work with, she pulled out blueberries and a carton of sour cream. Popping one of them in her mouth to check for sweetness, she quickly pulled the rest of the ingredients from the cupboard and got to work making blueberry crumb muffins. She’d have just enough time to get them out of the oven and on a platter for their guests to enjoy.
After mixing the batter and placing the filled tin in the oven, a soft knock on the kitchen door drew her attention away from the stove and to the visitor standing in the doorway.
In an apologetic tone, Henry said. “I know it’s early, but I was hoping I could get a cup of coffee. I didn’t see any in the dining room and was hoping you might have a pot going in here.”
Brushing flour from her hands, she looked toward the coffee pot on the counter and said. “Oh my, I completely forgot. The cook is sick today, and I am filling in for her. Let me get it made, and I’ll bring a cup to you as soon as it’s done.”
Walking over to the restaurant-style coffee pot, she glared at its shiny buttons, hoping she could figure it out. Mumbling to herself, she said. “That is if I can figure this thing out.”
Not realizing she said it loud enough for him to hear, she was startled when he walked up beside her and said. “My sister runs a coffee shop back home. I can show you how it works if you want.”
Without saying a word, she listened intently as he described where she added the coffee grounds, water, and what setting she needed to choose. Leaning in closer and whispering in a hushed tone, he asked. “Do you want to know the secret to good coffee?”
Tilting her head and waiting anxiously for his secret, she said. “Sure.”
“It’s salt.”
In a questioning tone, she asked.“Salt?”
Watching as he reached for the salt grinder from the counter, he turned the knob just two quick times over the basket of fresh coffee grounds before sliding the basket back in its place on the top of the machine.
Handing her the salt shaker, he said. “A pinch or two of salt will take the bitterness out of coffee.”
Without waiting for her to answer, he turned and left the kitchen. Not moving from the coffee pot, she watched as the hot water started to flow down through the grounds and into the waiting pot below. He did it again. He left her speechless and filled her stomach with butterflies. He left her wanting to know more about what brought him to Willow Springs and how long he’d be staying.
Peeking in the glass door of the oven, she checked on the muffins before turning her attention to what she could make for breakfast. Every room at the Inn was full, and she would need to prepare a meal for all ten guests before nine o’clock. That didn’t leave her much time. An egg and sausage casserole and fresh fruit would have to do on such short notice.
As the last of the watered filtered through the coffee grounds, she found a serving pot to fill as she waited for the muffins to finish baking. Silently hoping Henry was in the parlor or dining room, she smoothed out her apron and made sure her hair was tightly confined under her kapp before delivering the fresh coffee. Setting the pot on the buffet she listened for any signs of movement in the parlor, she peered around the doorway, hoping to catch a glimpse of Henry before returning to the kitchen.
Sitting in the far corner in a wing back chair that flanked the fireplace, he sat with an open bible on his lap. His head bowed, and his eyes closed. Not wanting to disturb him, she felt a rush of warmth fill her cheeks as she secretly watched him. Backing away without him noticing she had invaded his private time, she bumped right into Mr. Waldorf as he came down the stairs.
Quickly jumping when she felt herself bump into him, she let out a small gasp when she turned around.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to startle you,” the older gentleman said as he reached out his hand to steady her stumble.
“No, I’m sorry I wasn’t watching what I was doing.” Making her way back to the dining room, she pointed to the coffee on the buffet. “I made a fresh pot, and I’ll bring hot water for Mrs. Waldorf’s tea in a few minutes. Muffins are in the oven, and I’ll bring them out as soon as they are done.”
The warm smell of blueberries and sugar-filled her nose as she opened the oven to check on the muffins. Like always, she could tell by just smelling them they were done. The sugar and butter crumble she added to the top of each muffin had nicely browned, and small bubbles of blueberry syrup could be seen making their way through the topping. “Perfect,” she said to herself as she pulled the muffin tin from the oven.
Letting them cool in their tin for a few minutes, she kept busy looking for the perfect platter to serve them on. Mrs. Sorensen kept the Inn’s kitchen stocked with plenty of serving platters, and she even found a pretty white paper lace liner to add to the tray to add a touch of class to the simple muffins. As she waited for the muffins to cool, she poured herself a cup of coffee to see if Henry’s tip made a difference. She much preferred tea over coffee mainly due to its bitterness, but she wanted to taste it just the same. Adding a splash of cream to her cup, she savored its taste as she swirled the hot liquid around in her mouth, waiting for the bitterness. “Well, I’ll be she said out loud. He might have something here.”
Adding the muffins to the tray, she carried them to the dining room only to find Henry and Mr. Waldorf sitting at the table.
Mr. Waldorf spoke up as soon as she entered the room. “Whatever you’ve been baking in there sure smells good. You’re making this old guy’s stomach rumble.”
“I’m sure they won’t be as good as what comes from your bakery, but I hope you’ll enjoy them just the same,” she said as she carried the tray to them, holding it out so they could each take one.
“Now, young lady, you let me be the judge of that,” Mr. Waldorf said as he took a muffin from the tray. “If they’re half as good as this coffee, I’ll be pleased. “Not sure what you did differently from the coffee that was served yesterday, but keep on doing it.”
Looking over at Henry to see if he would share their secret, he smiled and winked her way.
Holding the tray out to Henry, she waited as he took one and watched as he held it up to his nose to smell it before he took a bite. For some reason, she held her breath, waiting for his reaction to the man-size bite he took.
It was Mr. Waldorf who spoke up first.
“Maggie, did you make these muffins?”
“Yes, sir. Are they not to your liking,” she asked in a nervous voice.
“Quite the opposite. They’re wonderful. Where did you learn to bake like this?”
Before she had a chance to answer, she heard the familiar click of Mrs. Sorensen’s heels on the hallway floor and quickly excused herself from the dining room.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying them, and I can tell you about my baking another time. I need to get back to the kitchen before Mrs. Sorensen finds me in here.”
PrintMaggie’s Blueberry Crumb MuffinsJumbo, cake-like muffins with a sugary crumb toppingCourse BreakfastKeyword Amish recipe, blueberry muffinPrep Time 10 minutesCook Time 18 minutesServings 12Ingredients2 cups all-purpose flour3 tsp baking powder1/2 tsp salt2 large eggs1 cup sugar1 cup sour cream1/2 cup vegetable oil2 tsp vanilla extract2 cups fresh or frozen blueberriesCrumb Topping1 cup all-purpose flour2/3 cup sugar1 stick melted butterInstructionsPreheat oven to 375F degrees and spray or grease a 12cupcake tin generously and set aside.In a small bowl, make the crumb topping. Whisk togetherflour and sugar, add melted butter and stir with a fork until crumbly and setaside.In a large bowl, make the muffin mix by stirring togetherflour, baking powder, salt, and set aside.In a medium bowl, mix eggs and granulated sugar untilcombined. Mix in sour cream, oil, and vanilla.Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix everythingtogether by hand mix only long enough to thoroughly combine all ingredients. Donot over mix batter. Fill each muffin tin ¾ full. Gently push six or seven blueberries on the top of each tinand then sprinkle the crumb topping on each muffin. Bake about 18-20 minutes or until the toothpick inserted inthe center comes out clean.Cool for 5 minutes in the pan before removing muffins and ona wire rack to cool completely. The post Maggie’s Blueberry Crumb Muffins appeared first on Tracy Fredrychowski, Author.
