Lovina Eicher Answers Your Questions (Essential Amish Cookbook Giveaway)
Lovina Eicher answers your questions in today’s post. Lovina is the author of The Essential Amish Cookbook and the Lovina’s Amish Kitchen column.
To enter to win a copy of The Essential Amish Cookbook, just leave a comment on this post.
I’ll draw a random winner and post it next week.
Lovina apologizes for not being able to get to all the questions (life as an Amish mom is busy!) but thanks to everyone who submitted one. I added some of my own questions at the end. I hope you enjoy.
Lovina Eicher Answers Your Questions
Michael Sparks: When it comes to cooking, what season do you enjoy cooking the most and why?
Lovina Eicher: I like summertime cooking best. It’s easier and cheaper, because there’s the garden to go to for a lot of ingredients.
Erin: Maybe Lovina has already answered this, but I’d like to hear more about cooking for a big group.
Lovina: The ladies in our church help each other with baking when we host church services. For weddings, we have recipes that we share with each other. Working together makes things much easier.
AJ: I wonder if calf liver with onions in gravy is a traditional Amish food? What about stuffed pig belly? What about goose or duck?
Lovina: Beef liver and onions are eaten by a lot of Amish families, but I am not sure whether that dish would be called “traditional.” Personally, I don’t care for liver and onions at all, so my family doesn’t get them too often! My children agree with me, but my husband does like it.
Pat M: We live around the Arthur/Arcola Illinois area. We’ve purchased numerous baked goods over the years from Amish bakers and have noticed they all seem to be stingy with spices. For example cinnamon anything; i.e. rolls… hardly ever have much cinnamon in them; especially compared to how most of we English prepare them. Do the foods Amish make for sale to the public often differ from what they make for themselves at home?
Lovina: Not in our area. We cook and bake just the same at home as we do for things we sell. Some cooks are just better at it than others. I love cinnamon and vanilla, and I will put extra in my foods sometimes. Maybe it’s just that community.
Carol J: I have always wondered HOW the Amish gals and children can get their feet clean, after going barefoot, most of the time?
Lovina: I grew up being barefooted most of the summer when a young girl at home. Now I’m sold on Crocs, and due to fallen arches, I can’t go barefooted for long anymore. As far as cleaning feet—hot water and soap go a long way!
TiaB: I’d be interested in knowing what an average two week meal “diary” looks like at Lovina’s house.
Lovina: Never the same and too much time to write out—sorry! Check out my cookbook.
Mary Turner: I have noticed that the Amish recipes use lots of onions, I can’t eat onions, will the recipes be ok without them?
Lovina: You could use onion salt or some other similar seasoning. Another idea would be to leave an onion whole in soups and take it out before serving.
Additional Questions
Which dish(es) are your family’s favorites?
Lovina: Hard question—we have lots of favorites. Favorite breakfast: eggs, fried potatoes, bacon and toast. Other meals: meat—beef, pork, chicken, fish—we love it all. Fresh veggies out of the garden, various soups and casseroles. We like a variety, so it’s hard to choose a favorite. And each family member has a different favorite!
What was the hardest part about doing this book?
Lovina: 1) Time—there is just so much extra time with raising a family. 2) Meeting deadlines.
What was the best part about doing this book?
Lovina: When it finally went to press. 😊
Which is your favorite dish to make? Least favorite?
Lovina: My favorite thing to make is bread or rolls. My least favorite would be something I don’t like to eat, such as sweet potato casserole.
How do you write your column?
Lovina: I write my column with pen and paper. Some columns I can write in 15 minutes while others I need to just get away from everything so that I can think. I write every Wednesday or Thursday.
What are some interesting things you have heard from readers of your column over the years?
Lovina: A lot tell me they consider us like friends or family due to “hearing” from us every week. Reader mail has held lots of encouragement for me!
Here’s more on The Essential Amish Cookbook. You can find the book via several retailers at this link.
Yum
Thank you for taking the time to answer questions. This book sounds so yummy. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.
I would enjoy a new cookbook. It’s been awhile. I enjoy visiting the Amish community in Hazleton, Iowa. I have also found some of the baked items there to contain a lighter amount of spices than I use. Enjoyed this post!
Does the Amish farmer ever use any fertilizer, round up, or other chemicals on their farm? Do you buy any ingredients from the stores or are you self sufficient from your own farms?
Diane I don’t know that Lovina will be able to answer follow-ups here but I can just jump in and say that the majority of Amish farmers are conventional farmers, meaning they use fertilizers, pesticides, etc. There is an organic farming movement among the Amish and that has grown in popularity but it is still a minority.
As far as self-sufficiency among the Amish, I would hazard to guess that Lovina does get things from the store, as few if any Amish are really self sufficient. We had a good post on that topic written by an Amishman here a few years back:
https://amishamerica.com/how-self-sufficient-are-the-amish/
https://amishamerica.com/do-amish-use-pesticides/
Love Amish Cooking
I don’t care for fancy food. I like plain cooking. Like the Amish cook. Would love to get a cookbook with Amish recipes in it.
Longtime Fan
I’ve been reading Lovina’s column for over 13 years. I love hearing about her life and family. I also love the recipes that come at the end of the column.
Pen & Paper Sounds Refreshing!
I love that you still embrace writing and the lost art of good penmanship. As a necessity in the English world on the job, I have seen my penmanship deteriorate over the years as a result of relying on computers and texting. Thanks for sharing insights into the Amish world!
Thanks
Love reading the columns. Learning about Amish cooking, baking, and general every day things.
Shoo fly pie
Was hoping for a really easy shoo fly pie recipe….Lovina, you are a delight
Liver For Supper
Try pork livers onions and buttered noodles,you might like it. Also, pickled chicken livers are an excellent side dish with any meal.
Garden full of good things
garden is full of squash and cucumbers, I made bread and butter pickles and put squash in to. Do you have a receipt for bread and butter pickles? Donna
Love reading your posts
Thank you for answering our questions.
Interesting and knowledgable
I found Lovina’s information very good. I have an Amish I acquired many years ago and use it today. I Like make foods from scratch and not from a box. I have always admired the Amish for their cooking and work ethics.
Custardy corn bake.
I would love the recipe that you make a corn custard…whether with fresh or frozen corn kernels I wish to make. Fluffy & delectable. I know I need eggs….but I can’t find satisfying recipe. I made it years ago and I’m pretty sure I used corn starch. And I think I used frozen corn…but not sure how to put it all together anymore.
Can hardly wait to see your book
This sounds like a very good Amish cook book, I can hardly wait to see your cook book. I don’t really like to cook and I don’t cook fancy as far as I can tell Amish cooking is just that good food not fancy, we are looking to have more variety in our meals.
Amish Cooking
I would like to learn more about Amish recipes
and cooking.
I have always enjoyed learning about the Amish ways. Seem like such good people. Amish cookbooks are some of the best.
I have always enjoyed learning about the Amish ways. Seem like such good people. Amish cookbooks are some of the best!
Amish Cookbook
I absolutely love cooking and baking with Amish recipes. I enjoy the old ways of working with recipes, everything always seems to taste better. I hope to win a copy of this cookbook. Thank you for the chance to win.
Great article
We are new to the Lancaster, Pa and love the food here.
Pot pies
What is the
Origin of the thick noodles used on chicken pot pie and ham pot pie?
Beverages
What is the beverage at brakefast and dinner do you drink black iced tea, coffee?
Entry for Cookbook Drawing
Hello, Lovina. I very much look forward to each of your newsletters. I feel sometimes as though I am right there visiting with you. Blessings on you and your family!
Cookbook and community
I love the questions that were asked and loved reading the answers. The cookbook sounds good.
Cookbook Giveaway
I have been a huge fan of Lovina’s columns for many years and have several of her other cookbooks. I would love to have her newest one also!
Lovina Eicher Answers Your Questions (Essential Amish Cookbook Giveway)
I like the traditional old fashioned way of cooking without the complication of too many unnecessary ingredients.
Mmmmm
All those questions about food made me humgry!
Amish Cooking
When participating in a Road Scholar program in southern Michigan comparing Amish and Mennonite cultures, we ate a little Amish food at a family’s place in or near Shipshewana, Indiana. The meats, hot side dishes, cold salads, and desserts were delicious! I loved baked oatmeal for breakfast. We made noodles that we could bring home in a Ziploc bag and cook after we returned home.
Thank you Lovina for taking time to answer questions. I love Q&A’s!!
Grandma's Amish ties.
My Grandparents grew up near Spring Lake and Mount Pleasant Michigan. I know there were Amish ties, but not sure when they left, or how far back. My Grandparents spoke fluent German, and did many things like I see so many Amish that I have become acquainted with in my life. One of her dishes, she said was from Amish heritage, was Oxtail and Homemade Egg Noodles. I miss her cooking.
Answers
Love learning more and more about the life of the Amish.
Love Amish cooking!
I would be thrilled to try new recipes. I love to cook and bake. My husband like the plain cooking recipes. He’s not into the fancy stuff and I have to agree with him! Thanks!
New Cook Book - Recipe
Which recipe in your new cookbook are you especially excited about? I’m sure it is probably hard to choose just one.
Bread baking
When I was 10, my aunt taught me to make Irish soda bread which was very popular in our family. It uses baking soda and buttermilk for leavening instead of yeast. Sometimes raisins are added. The first loaf I made by myself would not come out of the pan! We had to soak it in water in the sink to pry it out. It was like a brick! Luckily I never had that problem again.
COOKBOOK
I know that I am a long-time reader and former reader of your mother’s column. Enjoy both and hope that you continue for many years yet.
COOKBOOK
Erik, I left a comment just a bit ago and now cannot see it. I don’t want to do a double post….are you able to see my comment? I’ve refreshed several times….sometimes I can’t see ANY of the comments but when I can I’m not able to see mine. Just a fb glitch most likely.
No problem Loretta, your first comment came through, you are entered. We just count the one comment as far as entries though you are free to comment as much as you like.
what is your favorite dessert to make? I love reading all about the Amish, and most of the recipes are wonderful, thank you for taking your time to let us into your life, have a wonderful day!
Wonderful Blog
I was browsing your blog and it looks wonderful. I’m glad I came across it. I already have a list of recipes to try.
Cookbooks
I had no idea you already had so many books. I was inspired to buy 2 of the older ones and hoping to win this one! Thank you for what you do.
Good luck!
Best of luck with cookbook sales. I think this is a wonderful look into Amish culture!
Loving all things Amish
As a devout reader of any and all things about the Amish, I cannot fathom how I missed Lovina’s book. Oh well, that will be my next best read. I love cookbooks and I love all things Amish, what a great combination.
Thank you
Thank you so much for sharing your recipes with us and for taking the time to answer some of our questions. ☺️
Lovina Eicher Answers Your Questioms {Essential Amish Cookbook Giveaway}
I enjoy making Amish recipes as they are fun to make and taste delicious. I enjoy reading your emails.
Enjoy collecting Amish cookbooks
I look forward to adding this new cookbook to my collection which I share with my Amish neighbors here in the Cashton, Wisconsin community. My neighbor Lester Ellen Mullet and her daughters regularly check to see if I have a new cookbook to share.
Made from Scratch Recipes
I love recipes that have been handed down from mother to daughter for generations. I have an entire binder filled with hand-written recipes that I’ve collected one at a time, over the years. Thank you for taking time to answer these questions!
How are y'all commenting if you can't use computers
I’m not amish but I want this cookbook. I am terrible at cooking and only eat microwaved beans and macaroni (typically at different times). I am trying to better myself through diet and lifestyle, so this book would be great for me. This website blows my mind though. How can you post to this as a member of the amish community?
“What’s cookin’ good lookin’?” – people in the kitchen with me after I win this dang cookbook.
You know what it is.
Lovina was sent the questions, and then she replied as she typically writes her columns, by letter. This was then transcribed by Lovina’s editor and passed along by email to me. That’s how this post came to be 🙂
But, some Amish do use computers, for example in a workplace. They won’t own them at home, but there is some limited use. Not all Amish groups would sanction this however.
I love simple food.
I’m from Germany and live in Florida now and my Grandma an Mother alway made dinner out of whatever was around.
I can do the same now, not as good but close enough to feed my family.
I’d love to have the cookbook to give me new ideas.
Thanks
Thank you
I appreciate hearing from Lovina, and I’d love a chance to receive her cookbook, too.
Amish Country
Every time I am in Amish country a peace slips over me, To grow up living the Amish lifestyle is truly a blessing from God. Learning everything I can about the Amish a plus would be trying my hand at some Amish meals!
To Got be the Glory,
Lisa Maikranz
Thank you
Thank you for sharing and answering questions to teach us more of your ways. I am from Canada and hope I can still be apart of the giveaway draw!!
Love too cook
I always love to see different dishes but I love the dishes y’all make because everything is from scratch.