The Essential Amish Cookbook: Lovina Eicher Answers Your Questions (& Shares 3 Recipes)
Lovina Eicher is an Amish mother of eight and author of the Lovina’s Amish Kitchen column (and formerly the Amish Cook column). She 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.
A note on The Essential Amish Cookbook
Just a quick note before we get to your questions. I have been reading through the cookbook the past several days. It has beautiful photos and a lot of recipes that look delicious.
Lovina typically adds a comment at the end of each recipe, either a helpful hint – for instance, what you can substitute if you’re missing an ingredient, general tips and suggestions, or something personal, e.g., like about how her family likes the dish.
Here are a few examples:
The first year I had a garden, I planted twelve zucchini plants. I had more zucchini than I knew what to do with! The next year I planted two plants and they both died, so I didn’t have any zucchini that year. So goes life with zucchini.
This is our favorite cheese ball. We always made it when I was growing up. We like it with a variety of crackers.
Potato salad is popular in the Amish community. It can be served at weddings, funerals, reunions, and picnics. At home we would eat potato salad on bread for sandwiches.
Some of the recipe names are plain and descriptive.
You’ll find a lot of classics, like Meat Loaf, Bread and Butter Pickles, Church Peanut Butter Spread, Plain Apple Pie, and Breakfast Casserole.
Others are quite creatively named, suggesting surprising ingredients or other innovations.
Here are some of my favorites (meaning names, not going by taste, as I haven’t tried these – yet):
Lazy Day Lasagna
Hobo Suppers
Outrageous Chocolate Chip Cookies
Stay-Crisp Coleslaw
Refrigerator Rolls
Poor Man’s Steak
Amish Wedding Nothings (aka Knee Patches)
And some of the recipes are simply surprising in their combination of ingredients. For example:
Buttermilk Cookies with Glazed Maple Nut Frosting (And Bacon Bits)
Zucchini Chocolate Chip Bread
Banana Whoopie Pies
Peanut Butter Cracker Fudge
On to your questions now. And I think it’s time for me to go grab a bite.
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.
Update: Lovina Eicher’s Essential Amish Cookbook Winner (Plus 3 Recipes)
We’ve got a winner of The Essential Amish Cookbook following the Q-and-A giveaway with author Lovina Eicher.
But first, here are 3 of Lovina’s recipes for you – a main dish, a salad, and something sweet. Thanks to Herald Press for letting us reprint them here.
3 Recipes from The Essential Amish Cookbook
Want to test-drive a few of Lovina’s dishes?
Here are three recipes you can try, along with the additional notes from Lovina that she adds to each recipe in the book.
Hobo Suppers
- 10 red potatoes, unpeeled and cut into chunks
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cups carrots, sliced
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 1 (16-ounce) package smoky links, cut into pieces; or 1 pound smoked sausage, cut into pieces
- Salt and pepper, as desired
- Cheese, sliced
Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
In a bowl, mix all the ingredients together except the cheese. Divide the mixture into the amount you want for each serving, placing individual servings on sheets of aluminum foil. Fold foil over, wrapping tight, and set on grill for 10 minutes on each side.
Open up foil; if potatoes are soft, add a slice of cheese. (If potatoes need more time to cook, close pouches and return to grill before adding cheese.) Re-wrap and grill a few more minutes until cheese is melted.
Alternatively, can be cooked in oven at 400°F for 10 minutes, then turned over and cooked for 10 additional minutes. Check doneness of potatoes before adding cheese.
—
Hobo Suppers make a great dinner when it’s hot outside and I don’t want to heat up the kitchen. I gather the onions and green bell peppers right out of my garden and we head to the grill. The children help assemble these suppers wrapped in foil.
From The Essential Amish Cookbook by Lovina Eicher. ©2017 Herald Press. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Amish Macaroni Salad
- 3 cup cooked macaroni
- 1/2 cup carrots, chopped
- 1/2 cup celery, chopped
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
- 1 cup whipped salad dressing
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Mix macaroni, carrots, celery, and onion in a big bowl until evenly combined. In a separate bowl, mix mustard, whipped salad dressing, vinegar, salt, sugar, milk, and salt and pepper. Combine with macaroni mixture and toss until thoroughly mixed. Refrigerate and serve.
—
This is one of my husband, Joe’s, favorite salads. I like to add chopped hard-cooked eggs sometimes. We usually have plenty of eggs, as we have our own laying hens.
From The Essential Amish Cookbook by Lovina Eicher. ©2017 Herald Press. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Caramel Pecan Rolls
- 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 package) active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup warm water (110°F-115°F)
- 1 1/4 cup milk
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 5 cups bread flour, divided
Filling
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Topping
- 3/4 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
Caramel sauce
- 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup heavy cream or evaporated milk
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Heat milk to lukewarm; pour into a mixing bowl, along with the yeast liquid. Add melted butter, granulated sugar, and salt. Add beaten eggs. Add 3 cups flour and beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Add remaining 2 cups flour and stir to combine. Remove from mixing bowl and knead until soft and smooth, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 45 minutes).
Prepare filling ingredients: Set out 1/4 cup butter to soften. Combine granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl; reserve. Separately, prepare topping: Stir all the topping ingredients together; reserve.
Make caramel sauce: In a small saucepan, bring the brown sugar, butter, and cream to a boil. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Pour into a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle reserved topping on top.
Once dough has doubled in size, cut in half and roll each half into a 12 x 15-inch rectangle. Spread with softened 1/4 cup butter. Sprinkle reserved cinnamon sugar over butter. Roll up dough from one long side; pinch seams and turn ends under. Cut each roll into six slices. Place slices in pan, cut side down. Cover and let rise in a warm place until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool 1 minutes; invert onto a serving platter.
—
If you like pecans, you will like these rolls. Some of our children like nuts, and some don’t care for them at all.
From The Essential Amish Cookbook by Lovina Eicher. ©2017 Herald Press. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Essential Amish Cookbook Winner
I used random.org to draw a winner from your entries. The lucky winner is:
Comment #92, Susan Campbell
Congrats Susan. Email me your shipping address (ewesner(at)gmail(dot)com) and I’ll pass that to Herald Press so they can send you your cookbook.
If you didn’t win, you can find links to get the cookbook here.
Ice cream recipe
Lovina, I was wondering if you would have any recipes for homemade Amish ice cream? The kind you had to cook first, then cool before putting in the ice cream maker. The cook book I had from Wines burg, OH finally fell apart and I can’t seem to find another with such recipes. Bless you for your efforts.
Hello from Pennsylvania
I’m a woodstove cook a good portion of the year and would enjoy a new cookbook to add some new recipes to try. (I understand the book is not specifically for cook on a woodstove, it would still make a nice addition.) Mach’s guut Lovina, schoff net zu hardt!!
Hi I was wondering if you have a recipe for Grape concord pie ?? I recived a recipe from a Amish lady some time back from Cheerie Creek in Broton NY I’ve missed place this recipe an the lady has sence passed away ” I would be very great full if I could get one from you ?
Since I love to cook and bake, this cookbook would be a wonderful addition to my kitchen. I know my family will enjoy the recipes, as much as, me making them.
Most common spices used
What are the most common spices that you use?
Marvelous Muffin Ideas
I am finding more time to bake and am looking for different muffin recipes to try. Do you have any Amish favorites?
Would love to learn how to cook moe like the Amish.
Interesting
I love to cook PA DUTCH, which has a lot of similar flair as the Amish way. Keep those recipes coming, love to try new things!
Amish family decendant
My dad was born in Cross Fork PA and from a large Amish family. A notation in his family bible shows Amish ancestors dating back to 1709. I have always enjoyed my childhood meals and would appreciate any recipe of old cooking. I am the last of my dad’s family and really desire to pass his family tradition to my grandchildren.
Cookbook Giveaway
Would enjoy having a cookbook of Amish recipes. Would like to cook the comfort foods that the Amish are known for. Thanks for the chance.
entry on give away
I love reading about the Amish and the way of life and I like it because it is so simple of a life .I also like all your cookbooks and sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be Amish.
Looks great!
I am really looking forward to this!
Love Amish recipes
My husband loves to cook and I love to bake. This cookbook would be great.
Cookbook
would be thrilled to win this cookbook. Love to cook and am so fascinated by the Amish lifestyle and their traditions, cooking methods, etc.
amish potato salad
We bought some at the store. I wonder if it’s really an amish recipe? I could taste the vinegar. Reminded me of german food.
Love lovina
Loved her interview
Love lovina
Sounds lIke really good cookbook I wondered what fresh spices or herbs does she like ?
This book looks so unique I would love to try to
Cook from it
This is a first of hearing about you….that you have a cookbook, blog etc. I love my childhood memories of visiting PA and buying food from the Amish.
Cookbook
Would love the privilege to be entered to win the Cookbook! Thank you so much!
Food Restrictions
Is there any food the Amish cannot eat?
I love Amish cookbooks, it helps when you don’t know how to cook that good.
Awesome giveaway
When I read a Amish book, I’m always amazed at the cooking they do, I don’t know how they do it. Plus all the hard work, would love trying recipes from the cookbook.
The cookbook
As I am reading all the Amish love stories I can find, I would like to have recipes for all the good dishes I read about in the stories.
Cookbook giveaway
Would love to have a copy of these awesome recipes!
Funny Cake
Lovina,
Does your cookbook have a recipe for Funny Cake? I grew up on it and miss my mother’s. Thanks! B
Cookbook
I love to read about the Amish. They seam to have such a peaceful life. I would love to win your cookbook. Thanks
Cookbook
This cookbook sounds divine. I really would like to try some of these recipes. As a child I remember traveling to Pennsylvania in the summer.We stopped at farmers markets to sample delicious foods. This contest gives the opportunity to try a taste of Amish home cooking.
Cookbook
Hi Lovina. I live in east central Wisconsin,have some Amish familes that live around here. In fact recently,they had annual Haystack dinner benefit! That bakery!Yummy! I have
some Amish cookbooks from around Wisconsin,would love to include yours!! Interesting post!
Recipe Creation
Do you enjoy ‘creating’ new recipes or do you pretty much use those passed down from family and given by friends? Also, if you do ‘create’ do you get into any other ethnic styles??
Cookbook Giveaway
I have such love and respect for the Amish and the way they live; it would be a blessing to win your cookbook!!
Cookbook
this cookbook sounds awesome and would make a great addition to my collection.
One of my favorite things to do is visit Lancaster County Amish country. We try to stay away from the more commercial aspects of the area and like to tour the back roads and see all the farms and neat homesteads. It inspires me!
Looks great
I would love to learn more about cooking and baking the Amish way.
Love cooking
I love to cook and I have collected quit a few Amish cookbooks. Spending time in the kitchen is my happy place.
Recently my husband has been diagnosed with diabetes and I wish advanced MS. Weve both been told to lose weight.Is it possible to cook Amish yet still be low carb?
Pennsylvania Amish
Coming from a Pennsylvania Dutch background (but not Amish), I grew up with the delicious food. However, my aunt who raised me, didn’t usually write her recipes down, so this cookbook would be great in recreating those wonderful dishes. By the way, Lovina, have you ever visited our local Amish community in Indiana county, PA?
Lemon Meringue Pie
I hope that your cookbook has a recipe for lemon meringue pie. I’m from Appalachia and my mama used to make the best lemon meringue pie in this world. I have tried several recipes but never found one that tasted like mama’s, and said to say mama passed away several years ago and all the recipes that I had burned in my home in 1995
Desert
What is one of your Favorite Desert Recipe. I collect cookbooks and would love to get an Amish cookbook.
Hog Head Cheese
How do you make Head cheese?
Thank you
I love your blog and thank you for sharing so much insight into the Amish life.
Win a cookbook
I love the Amish and read everything I can about them. Just love your peaceful, quiet, and simple life. I love to cook and bake and do have several Amish cookbooks. I would love to add your cookbook o my collection.
Thank you and God bless!❤️
Win a cookbook
I love the Amish and read everything I can about them. Just love your peaceful, quiet, and simple life. I would love to add your cookbook o my collection.
Thank you and God bless!❤️
Win a cookbook
I love the Amish and read everything I can about them, your peaceful, quiet, and simple life. I would love to add your cookbook to my collection.
Thank you and God bless!❤️
Giveaway
I love cookbooks and this looks like a great cookbook!! Thank you!
A Blessing
Hi Lovina,
I am not Amish, but growing up in the Arthur, Illinois area has resulted in a special affinity to the Amish. My faith has carried me to this point. I have purchased all of your cookbooks with great success with trying each recipe. So it would be a true blessing to win a copy of this one. In all honesty, if I don’t win one, I will make every effort to purchase one. Thank you again for sharing the Amish way, and sharing your life with us all.
Terry
About giveaway
Hi my name is Elizabeth Butler and I just wanted to say that I like to read all of your cookbooks out there and I also am very interested in the amish I would like to learn more.Thank you and God Bless
What a treat!!
I totally enjoy reading Amish America. I’m unable to travel or I would love visiting different Amish communities. Winning the cookbook would help me learn more about the food and culture that has become very dear to my heart.
Amish Cookbooks
Hello. This cookbook giveaway is AWESOME! I am from Mississippi.
Love Amish cooking.
I have lived in Lancaster County for five years. The people are wonderful and I love the food.
Headcheese from scratch
I want to know how to make head cheese from scratch and also lye soap for laundry. I lived with my grandparents until 10 then my parents took me from Amish life to Florida. I was going back to Ohio when I turned 16 but grandmother passed. I never experienced Rumspringer and now I’m 67 a little too old. Lol
How are you?
Hello Lovina,
How are you and your family doing during this pandemic? I hope and pray that the Amish communities are safe from it and everyone remains healthy. God bless everyone with a beautiful Christmas and New Year.