Taste of Pinecraft: Sherry Gore interview and 5-book giveaway
Sherry Gore is a national scribe for The Budget, editor of The Pinecraft Pauper, and columnist for the Amish magazine Ladies Journal.
Sherry is also a mother of three residing in Sarasota, Florida, home to Pinecraft, a well-known community of Amish and Mennonites.
Sherry has written an especially neat cookbook called Taste of Pinecraft: Glimpses of Sarasota, Florida’s Amish Culture and Kitchens, a tribute to the area’s culinary heritage. It is one of the most entertaining cook books I’ve come across.
I’ve been looking forward to getting the behind-the-scenes on Sherry’s book and community for some time now.
Today we’ve got an interview with Sherry, which I think you’ll enjoy. We’ve also got a 5-book giveaway of Taste of Pinecraft.
Taste of Pinecraft 5-book giveaway: How to win a copy
The rules for this contest are simple. This is an Amish America subscriber contest.
If you are subscribed to Amish America, you are entered–just let me know that you are by leaving a comment on this post. Your comment can be an observation, a question, or just “Hey, count me in, I’m a subscriber”.
If you are not a subscriber yet, you can do that here.
What being a subscriber means is you will get email updates in your inbox whenever new posts go up on Amish America (usually a few times a week). That’s it, no spam, and you can opt out at anytime. Once you sign up, just leave a comment on this post letting know you did.
The contest ends in one week’s time, on Monday, November 8th.
On Monday I’ll also select the 5 winners at random from the comments, and announce them on the blog.
Taste of Pinecraft interview with Sherry Gore
Amish America: Your cookbook, Taste of Pinecraft, is more than just a collection of recipes. In it you share observations on Pinecraft, many of them excerpted from your writings for The Budget.
Sherry Gore: Some people travel the world in search of extraordinary subjects to write about, I found them in my own backyard, so to speak. Kids, dogs, and old folks. Originally, I set out to compile recipes from Pinecrafters for a local cookbook to be given as sort of a souvenir gift – I have many such treasured books from my own travels. To give folks a real feel of life here in Sarasota, I went a few steps further and began to add pieces I had written over several years for The Budget.
“Letters from home” in the National Edition of the paper has been keeping Amish and Mennonites (scattered wide across the world) connected for over 100 years. Through these “letters” we tell of daily happenings in our churches, homes, and neighborhoods.
In my cookbook, I included a broad range of happenings. Like the time Eleanor Miller dumped an entire plate of spaghetti on a customer’s lap while working her first shift as a waitress. And how Kris Knepp shared of his courtship days at a dinner in the home of one of our ministers. “With Rebecca going off to the Dominican Republic for two years rather than one, Kris told us, “If Jacob waited seven years for the wrong girl, then I can wait two years for the right one.“ Rebecca’s father said to him, “You know, I do have an older daughter.”
And then there are the fish stories. Lots of them. All true, of course.
You can also find a bit of Pinecraft history, and historical moments taking place today, like records of births, and wedding announcements, and ordinations of ministers.
Also found in Taste of Pinecraft are stories of death, and tragedy. My younger sister’s life was taken last December, and I wrote some in The Budget of different acts of kindness from folks in the community, just soon after. And upon returning from the funeral for nine in Burkesville, Kentucky, I wrote a 10-page account of the accident on March 26, 2010 that claimed the lives of our close friends, the Eshes. It too, was one of the more difficult pieces I’ve ever written.
Bro. John Esh was a regular visitor to Pinecraft every January. He preached in our churches, visited old friends, and made new ones. He also attended the Haiti Benefit Auction with his wife, Sadie. Their daughter, Anna Lynn, had worked at Overholt’s produce, a hub of sorts in the community.
The Pinecraft Pauper made its debut just around the time Taste of Pinecraft was completed, so I was fortunate enough to have been able to include stories from it as well.
AA: Reading your descriptions, you get the idea that this is a fun place to be. Is that the case? Are Pinecrafters really all that cheery, and why (I’m assuming it has something to do with the sun, and maybe all the vitamin C in the air) ?
Sherry Gore: I haven’t been everywhere, but in my travels throughout America this has to be one of the merriest. Imagine leaving the north to spend the winter months in a sun-kissed environment with no burdensome snow to shovel, no cows to milk, and no alarm going off at 4:00am. That alone would make anybody happy.
But throw in white sandy beaches, mild temps, a gulf beach sunset, salt-water fishing, shuffleboard games that last till dusk, nightly volleyball games and never-ending visiting just makes winter all the more sweeter. Pinecraft is laid back. Even a mere week here seems to jolt some folks out of their sternness and puts them in a more relaxed mode.
Who can stay grumpy, when there’s pie to be had at Yoder’s Restaurant? Or the buffet at Troyer’s Dutch Heritage Restaurant? And don’t forget the friendly folks that make a living down here, year-round. One host/cashier, Brent, likes to tell people where to sit, and then ask them how they enjoyed overeating.
The sun seems to have an effect on snowbirds of all ages. Often, you’ll see girls step off the Pioneer Trails bus wearing bullet-proof stockings and their black everyday shoes. A week or two later these same girls climb back aboard the bus heading north wearing flip flops.
As to your question, are they all cheery in Pinecraft? There’s a sourpuss in every crowd, maybe more. We have two.
AA: Another question on Pinecraft: what makes this community so unique? And what’s the deal with the tricycles?
Sherry Gore: With the exception of the radar-laden Sarasota County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol officer’s horses, we’re basically horse-less. The only buggy in town sits in the courtyard at Yoder’s Restaurant, mostly for photo opportunities. The most common mode of transportation are these three-wheelers. Drivers are hired of course for doctors appt. etc, and some use golf carts, but you’ll see most folks get around the village on the broad-seated trikes.
Thomas Peachey, a minister of the Amish Church, has been known to many as “The Flying Dutchman.” His faster-than-necessary motorized trike took him many miles from home everyday to his store, where he makes his famous Big Olaf Ice-cream.
On a return trip to Pinecraft recently, his axle broke sending him and the bike into oncoming traffic. Thomas was hit by a truck and suffered a severe leg injury. As in all other aspects of his life, he took the incident in stride. His motorized bike is totaled so Thomas has been reduced to riding a rather adventure-free version of a three-wheeler; one that goes about five mph in a good wind. “Well, Sherry, I suppose you’ll have to change my name now. Perhaps to something along the lines of “The pedaling Dutchman.”
There’s a great many good ideas drummed up in Pinecraft, too. Some months back, Sam Peachey shared his version on the latest news on the oil spill: BP officials have announced they will lower a giant Amish hat over the gusher. A spokesperson said they are very optimistic this plan will work. An Amish hat is used to control wild, out-of-control hair. There is no reason it would not have the same effect on oil.”
AA: There are a lot of cookbooks out there. What does yours have that others don’t?
Sherry Gore: Embarrassing moments, directions on how to cook an alligator, how not to catch a mouse, an inside look at the #1 Amish snowbird capitol of the world, and the answer to life‘s biggest question. This is not your Grandmother’s cookbook.
And here’s one reader’s take on it: “A regular recipe book has just recipes. Your special book cannot just be considered a “recipe” book. It is entertaining, heart wrenching, comical and enlightening as well as educational. You can make a recipe and while you are waiting for it to cook/bake, you can read a story or more and the time goes by faster. Before you know it, you are ready to eat.” ~ Monique Wood
Amish America: I’m not a cook. Things can get ugly in my kitchen. Which recipes should someone like me try out first?
Sherry Gore: That depends. Are you looking for a get-me-to-the-table-quick kind of meal? The Florida Avocado Egg Scramble is easy. Five ingredients, five minutes, and it’s on the table.
Don’t mind waiting? Try Rebecca Fisher’s Sour Kraut- three ingredients and a six week interim. It’s somebody’s favorite.
Numerous recipes are no-fail classics, like easy Barbecue Meatballs and Vera Kipfer’s Pan-fried Chicken; she’s been a Pinecraft resident for 54 years.
Other dishes, like the Grilled-lime Fish Fillet (a reader favorite), or Fried Alligator Nuggets, call for a little pre-kitchen adventure, both easily had in Sarasota.
AA: And which are your personal favorites?
Sherry Gore: Esther Souder’s recipe for Coquina Soup epitomizes Florida living, but it was the story she told of growing up in Pinecraft and trekking to the beach with her family that captured me.
Another favorite can be found in the Pie section. Amish Henry Detweiler (there’s three fellows in town with the same name, somebody had to get a nickname) was holding an auction on Graber Street to disperse Gary Eash’s worldly goods. Across the road, Fannie Kay Yoder had made her Chocolate Cream Pie and was selling it by the slice.
In the midst of the auction, the Pioneer Trails bus arrived at the Tourist Church parking lot filled to the brim with pale-faced northerners itching for some Florida sunshine. That crowd seeing the crowd on the opposite end of Graber Street came down to see what was shaking. While Gary may have owned some hard-to-find items of interest, I’m more inclined to think it was Fannie’s pie that made the crowd swell.
AA: In addition to being a national scribe for The Budget, you are also a writer for The Pinecraft Pauper, which I’d have to describe as a local paper of mirth and a bit of mischief (the good, fun kind of mischief of course). Really, reading through some issues your founder Daniel sent me, I found myself audibly laughing. It takes a lot to do that. Tell us a little about the PP.
Sherry Gore: Our village paper, the first of its kind, was launched by Daniel Fisher and Leon Hostetler to provide a creative outlet for the Amish. It certainly has a Florida feel to it. Since the maiden issue of the PP several folks have jumped on board.
While most of the writers are local, some send their carefully type-written pages via snail-mail. Steven Fisher, a young farm boy in PA, began his literary debut last winter by sharing his observations on birds, a topic of great interest to many plain folks. This year, Steven has takes a more journal-type approach and is broadened his scope to include an array of wildlife happenings on his wooded 100 year-old farm in his nostalgic writings.
The wide variety of readers we have took me by surprise In addition to quite a few Old Order Amish folks, there’s a Kentucky Derby race horse owner, two New York Times best-selling authors, and at least one professor included in the list of subscribers.
With five books of my own scheduled to be released by Christmas 2012, I recently sent word to Moby Dick, a rather witty and satire-filled fellow, explaining my lack-of-time dilemma. He’s agreed to continue answering questions sent to the Editor.
One feature tells of notable Pinecraft Facts:
“The smallest house in the village, found on Shrock Street, measures 8 x 12 with 96 sq. ft. It belongs to Katie Troyer, one of Pinecraft’s little people.
The largest house, also on Shrock Street, has an astounding 6,000 sq. ft. We don’t know who’s moving in, but one fellow claimed who ever it is must be fat. At least in the wallet.”
AA: In Taste of Pinecraft, you mention “the world’s only Amish-owned Post Office”. The Amish are getting into the postal business? I thought Uncle Sam had that market locked down.
Sherry Gore: This tiny, frumpy building and it’s parking-lot-for four, houses more than just mail. Sitting across the road from Big Olaf Ice-cream is one of the distribution boxes for the Pinecraft Pauper. Outside, on the east wall is the famous bulletin board. Here you can advertise for an up-coming benefit supper, find a job, announce your woes of not finding a job, or disperse a litter of kittens. If your lucky, you can find someone to do your ironing. Senator Lisa Carlton did that once. It was a good job; one I rather enjoyed.
Inside the post office you’ll find gems written on bits of pink paper and taped to the walls – words of wisdom, such as “You can’t stumble when you’re on your knees.”
What you won’t find are computers; not even a hand-held debit card machine. Postal clerk Magdalena Graber uses a small calculator. Receipts are hand-written and hand-stamped. Mark Shrock works the winter season. Expect to stay longer if you ask him a question regarding current politics. But never quote him.
AA: So if I pay a visit to Pinecraft, what do I need to do while I’m there? Anyone I need to watch out for?
Sherry Gore: Eat. First go get your fill of home-cooking Amish-style at one of the two restaurants. We must be doing something right. Recently, 600 people came to Pinecraft, for liver and onions. Then go rent yourself a three-wheeler on Kruppa Ave. They’re only $4 per day. You’re better off taking the long route so by the time you pedal your way to the Pinecraft Park you’ll be ready for shuffleboard, marbles, loafing, or for the youngie, volleyball. And don’t leave without sitting down with Amish Henry, at least once. And watch out for Becky Fisher. She’s 81, and caught a burglar recently.
AA: Let us know how to get a copy of Taste of Pinecraft, and how one might get ahold of The Pinecraft Pauper too while you’re at it.
Sherry Gore: You can find Taste of Pinecraft in many Amish and Mennonite stores across the country, but those living outside a plain community can order a copy on my website at www.SherryGorebooks.com. Subscriptions for 8 bi-weekly issues from Dec.-April to the PP can be ordered by sending $11 to Pinecraft Village Publishers PO BOX 50231 Sarasota, FL 34232. You can also find us on Facebook.
Read more on Florida Amish, or find Amish furniture-Florida.
Photo credits: Northern Arrivals- Sherry Gore; Amish Tricycles-Bruce Stambaugh; Pinecraft Pauper box- Sherry Gore
Never heard there were Amish in Florida. Very interesting. Please enter me in the drawing for the book. Thanks.
Great interview with Sherry! I’m a subscriber. 🙂
Great interview – do count me in.
I really enjoy all of these articles, they are sooooo interesting and please enter me in the contest, I would love to win, just like everyone else ;~))
Thank You
count me in
I’m a subscriber! Count me in for sure ~
would like to visit
would love to have book
I have had you on my google reader for a long time, but now I’m subscribed 🙂
Interesting interview and I’m sure the cookbook is too.
I’m a subscriber, count me in.
I love being a subcriber to your site.. you have super tips and information I would never have known about the Amish if not for you.. thank you so much and God bless you.. I love the Amish, I am originally from Indiana and have been to the Amish Village in Berne, IN and love them , they are so friendly and gracious… I can’t wait for your next post..
We have visited Amish Communities for yrs, Ohio, Penn, MO, Il, In, but havent ventured south. Hope to someday
Very interesting article! Please enter me in the cookbook giveaway. Thank you.
“Hey, count me in, I’m a subscriber”. Grew up in Amish country in W. PA., closest Amish community now is 4 hrs away, Nashville area. Start every day with my cup of coffee and the “Amish America”. Keep up the great work educating people.
since i just moved from florida to penn last month, and being a reg visitor to pinecraft, i must have missed this little pinecraft paper. it must be fairly new for sure. sarasota is a wonderful place to relax, shop, and eat, and it just happens to be where pinecraft is. its a very small town if you can call it a town, and if you really want to see as many amish/mennonites as possible, then go there around nov,dec,jan. january being the best month really for seeing amish snow birds.when i was last there, i noticed that they did some cosmetic work on the amish church, so it went from older looking wood sided house, to a fresh yet almost historic looking stone building. when i first saw it, i could swear i was in penn or ohio, so they did a very nice job on it. i first started going to pinecraft in 1989, so ive been seeing more and more plain folks coming down to pinecraft through the years. i used to take i-75 south to fruitville road in sarasota. if anyone is interested, i can give them more info on how to get there, but im sure alot of folks on here have a gps system in thier cars. my favorite reastaurant in pinecraft is yoders, i think its the best one, it was started in 1975 so its the oldest one in town. if you go down to pinecraft, you have to pay a visit to troyers restaurant even if its only for thier wonderful bakery, they also have a very neat gift shop. i used to eat lunch at troyers, then id go over to yoders for dinner. i wanted to hit both places before i headed back home. there are no motels directly in little pinecraft, but you can rent a room in whats called appartments. they are not fancy, but atleast you can stay in town and experience more of the local feel. if you expect to stay in a room there in dec or jan thats going to be very tough, you will be competing with the snow birds who go there at that time. i hope this was alittle help to someone……….. richard lancaster/lebanon pa
Sherry Gore … she never ceases to amaze, entertain and educate … a true gift from God!
I just subscribed, Thanks
Love the site, I’m subscribed, please enter me!!
I thought I was a subscriber to Amish America, but found out I wasn’t. I am now!!! Love the article and will someday visit Pinecraft.
Amish in Florida? Blow my mind and count me in that drawing.
Great post! I’m already a subscriber, and I’d like to enter the drawing:) Thank you.
How I love reading your posts on the Amish. I was raised not far from Shipshewanna, Ind. We still travel each year 12 hours just to enjoy the ambience of that precious town, and eat and shop of course. Please enter me into the 5 book giveaway.
Cont me in!! I would love to win this book. I subcribed!!
Oh yes, count me in on the giveaway. I am a subscriber and receive new updates. I love anything that has to do with Amish. Reading Amish books are my favorite books to read.
I have followed Sherry Gore for several years on a site she had for Jacinda her daughter who is ill, praying for her and Sherry both. Jacinda still could use all the prayers she can get as she suffers greatly from the several problems she has had. I have laughed with Sherry and cried with her too, wishing at times to hug her right through the computer and give her a shoulder to lean on.
I was so happy to see she wrote a cookbook. If I win this one it will go to the local library so that more people can read it. I already purchased one for me and my daughter. We enjoyed the recipes as much as all the letters, and articles that were included in the book. If you win one you are truly in for a wonderful treat.
My appologies of my spelling. I must still be half a sleep LOL.
It is wonderful to have more information on Amish around the USA. I would love to know if there are any communities in or near Montreal, Quebec, CANADA.
thanks.
Just love the idea that after a lifetime of wishing to have contact with the Amish Sherry, Gore has made my dream come true….My Grandmother took us to Anna Maria Island as children to collect the little Coquinas to make soup….What a sweet memory. Thanks Sherry for making me feel special. Permelia.
enter me in the drawing for the cookbook…
The interview was a delight to read. I am a subscriber. Enter me too.
The pics are great. My favorite is Sherry with Daniel.
Count me in, I would love to win this book. I also enjoy Amish America very much!!!!
Bought the recipe book for my daughter, and would love a copy for myself!
I love following Sherry on facebook. Fabulous interview! Would love to win one of Sherry’s books. I have wanted one for ages!!
Hi. I just subscribed. Thanks for all the info that you regularly post. I enjoyed the interview. I’d love to win the “Taste of Pinecraft.”
I am a subscriber. I have Sherry’s Taste of PineCraft Cookbook, I also receive “The Budget” from Ohio, and I am subscribed to Ladies Journal. I would enjoy winning one of the Amish Book Give Away Contests.
I am also a friend on Facebook with Sherry and I enjoy her comments.
Blessings to all!
I loved the interview and would love to be included in the drawing. Thank you very much! 🙂
Would like to enter the drawing for the cookbook.
Thanks
Great interview! I’m a subscriber, count me in! It would be a great addition to my cookbook library!
Great interview! Sounds like a wonderful place to vacation. Count me in on the drawing please.
PLEASE enter me in this drawing!! Sherry & I met (although never in person) several years ago thru some unfortunate events. I am so blessed to know her & feel honored to call her “my friend”. Best of Luck to you Sherry….you’ve come a long way baby!! ((((HUGS))))
Absolutely loved the interview! Sherry is such a fascinating and wonderful person, and I love all her tales. Including the stories she tells of Daniel Boone, her orphaned raccoon. Every time she posts, my day gets a little brighter. Thanks for all the info, including how to subscribe to the Pinecraft Pauper!! Love your blog. I have been a subscriber for quite some time, and look forward to it every time I see it in my inbox!!
yes! count me in please!
Just found this website today.
Count me in!
Please count me in on this fantastic giveaway! I am a subscriber! =)
I have wanted Sherry’s cookbook for some time now, so I am praying that I might win one of the five being given away. I am a subscriber of Amish America and also a Facebook friend of Sherry’s. She is very sweet. Thanks and God bless.
I’d love to win a book…God bless!
I just enrolled. Please enter me in the contest!
Enjoyed your interview with Sherry. Would love to win a book.
I loved the interview. I seen in one of the pictures that the girls sitting on the beach they had short sleeves on there dresses. I was wondering, do other districts in the U.S. allow women to wear short sleeves when it gets hot out? Please enter me in Taste of Pinecraft giveaway.
I just became a subscriber. Please enter me in the drawing for a free cookbook.
I lived in Pinecraft for some of my growing up years. Since I’m now a “snowbird”, my husband and I prefer staying in Pinecraft (when possible) when we’re down there visiting. It’s the meeting place for most of what we want to do–whether it’s eating, visiting friends, driving by the Pinecraft Park to see what’s going on, etc.
I learned about Amish America through Sherry’s Facebook page just recently.