A Gardening Secret Learned from the Amish: Article by Georgia Varozza

99 Favorite Amish Home RemediesThen God said,
“I give you every seed-bearing plant
on the face of the whole earth
and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.
They will be yours for food.”
—GENESIS 1:29

Epsom salt works for more than soothing the aches and pains from sore muscles—it’s a workhorse in the garden too!

Years ago when I attended a conservative Amish Mennonite church, I went to an elderly church member’s home for a visit. I couldn’t help but notice that her flower beds were exceptionally beautiful, and her rosebushes were particularly stunning. I asked what her secret was for such beauty and she told me about Epsom salt. Here is what I learned:

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Epsom salt is a naturally occurring mineral mixture of magnesium and sulfate. You can buy Epsom salt in grocery stores and drugstores, and a box or bag is very inexpensive. A few dollars spent now will last you a good while, and once you begin using it, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.

What that dear lady told me allGeorgia Varozza Gardening Post Pic 1 those years ago was to sprinkle a small handful of Epsom salt around the base of my rosebushes and then pour a bottle of red wine around each bush once spring growth started. (Use the cheapest red wine you can find—the roses won’t care!)

I took her advice and was amazed at how happily my roses responded. I’ve been doing it ever since, although now I don’t use the wine because my frugal nature is such that I don’t like to spend the money. Instead, I sprinkle a couple of tablespoonfuls around the base of each rosebush about three times each summer growing season, and they respond well.

Georgia Varozza Gardening Post Pic 2

Here are some other uses for Epsom salt in the garden:

– Before planting your vegetable garden in the spring, scratch in one cup of Epsom salt for every 100 square feet of planting area.

– Mix one tablespoon of Epsom salt for every foot of plant height in a watering can for all your veggies except sage and use the solution to water your plants; repeat as often as every two weeks.

– Tomatoes, peppers, and fruit trees and plants will often thrive with a foliar spray made using 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt to every gallon of water. You can use this spray as often as every two weeks, but I figure I’m doing well if I get to it three times during the season. If your soil is lacking in magnesium and/or sulfur, you’ll notice that your fruits and veggies taste sweeter and are bigger than their non-sprayed neighbors.

– When transplanting veggies or when planting a new rosebush in your garden, scratch a spoonful or two into the bottom of the hole, making sure that a layer of dirt covers the Epsom salt so the tender roots don’t directly touch the salt.

By the way, Epsom salt will dissolve much easier if you use warm water instead of cold water straight from the hose. Before using the mixture, set the watering can aside in the shade until the water has cooled.

Georgia Varozza Gardening Post Pic 3

Being frugal by nature, Epsom salt has found a permanent place in my home, and I hope you’ll find it useful too. And with gardening season just about upon us, this is the perfect time to get to a local store and buy your “garden success in a bag”!

Blessings and happy gardening,
Georgia

Learn how to live the simple life with more great ideas for healthcare, home, and yard in 99 Favorite Amish Home Remedies!

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Georgia VarozzaGeorgia Varozza, author of the popular Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook (more than 70,000 copies sold), enjoys teaching people how to prepare and preserve healthy foods, live simply, and get the most from what they have. She works in publishing and lives in a small Oregon community. Visit her online at www.georgiaplainandsimple.blogspot.com.

 

Recipe: Caramel Chocolate Cookies

’Tis the season for Christmas sweets! So we asked our Facebook fans to vote for a cookie recipe they’d want to try from The Amish Baking Cookbook:

  1. Caramel Chocolate Cookies
  2. Cream Cheese Snowballs
  3. Molasses Crinkles

The winner is…Caramel Chocolate Cookies!

You’ll find the recipe below, as well as on our Facebook page and Pinterest recipes board. And if you want to bake up some more delicious sweets this season, be sure to check out The Amish Baking Cookbook by Georgia Varozza!

Caramel Chocolate Cookies - Amish Baking Cookbook - edited 2

 

The Fun and Fabulous Christmas Gift-Giving Guide for Amish Fans

Who wouldn’t love a good book for Christmas? Wonder no more about what to get your friends and loved ones—just find the closest description below and away you go!

*Disclaimer: Of course, we can’t guarantee someone will love their gift. But seriously, what’s not to love, right? We hope you enjoy browsing this fun Christmas gift-giving guide. Who knows? You might even find a little treat for yourself, too! Just click the image or one of the links below it to find a site where you can purchase a copy of the book.

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Amish Reader Gift Guide 1

1. For the foodie who wants some “yum” with their fiction, we recommend…Made with Love by Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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Amish Reader Gift Guide 2

2. For the Amish fiction lover who’s read it all and wants something new, we recommend…My Brother’s Crown by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould!

(Note: This story is about another Protestant group called the Huguenots. Learn more about the similarities and differences between the Amish and the Huguenots in this article by Leslie Gould!)

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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Amish Reader Gift Guide 3

3. For the friend who needs to believe in miracles this Christmas, we recommend…Anna’s Healing by Vannetta Chapman!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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Amish Reader Gift Guide 4

4. For the ebook aficionado who loves sweet novellas, we recommend…Amish Christmas Memories by Jerry S. Eicher, Mary Ellis, and Murray Pura!

(Note: This is an ebook-only collection of three previously published Amish Christmas novellas titled Susanna’s Christmas Wish, Sarah’s Christmas Miracle, and An Amish Family Christmas.)

Kindle | Nook | Christianbook

P.S. Did you know you can gift ebooks via email? Read this article to see how to gift a Kindle book from Amazon.com.

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Amish Reader Gift Guide 5

5. For the teacher or student who knows the value of a good education, we recommend…An Unexpected Match by Gayle Roper!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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Amish Reader Gift Guide 6

6. For the incurable romantic who likes a lot of drama with the sweet, we recommend…Miriam and the Stranger by Jerry S. Eicher!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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Amish Reader Gift Guide 7

7. For the loved one who has always dreamed of living the simple life, we recommend…My Life as an Amish Wife by Lena Yoder!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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Amish Reader Gift Guide 8

8. For the curious soul with lots of questions about Amish culture, we recommend…Plain Answers about the Amish Life by Mindy Starns Clark!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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Amish Reader Gift Guide 9

9. For the one who wants to be inspired in her faith, we recommend…The Amish Book of Prayers for Women by Esther Stoll!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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Amish Reader Gift Guide 10

10. For the cook who knows the way to your heart, we recommend…99 Favorite Amish Recipes by Georgia Varozza!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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Amish Reader Gift Guide 11

Bonus: For the child or grandchild who shares your love of the Amish, we recommend…Blossoms on the Roof by Rebecca Martin!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Harvest House

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Happy Christmas shopping!

 

Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe: Ham, Potato, and Apple Pie

Article by Georgia Varozza

A great part of celebrating Thanksgiving is all the delicious food. I love when my family sits down to enjoy the feast I’ve prepared. And since I love to cook, there’s always more food than we can possibly eat. (And believe me, we give it our best try.) The happy result? Thanksgiving leftovers!

Many families—mine included—have a ham and a turkey at Thanksgiving. There are many recipes out there for leftover turkey, but not as many, it seems, for leftover ham. So I’m going to share a recipe with you here that might just help. Easy. Delicious. Perfect for a cool fall day.

Ham, Potatoe, and Apple Pie

Ham, Potato, and Apple Pie

  • 1 lb. potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (about 3 good-sized potatoes)
  • ½ tsp. dried sage (I usually use a bit more)
  • ½ tsp. ground nutmeg (I usually use a bit less)
  • 3 cups diced, cooked ham
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
  • 1-2 cooking apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
  • 1¼ cups chicken broth
  • pastry for single crust pie

Preheat oven to 425º. Butter a deep dish pie dish (the kind you would use for a pot pie).

Layer potatoes in the bottom of the buttered dish. Season with a bit of pepper if desired, and some of the sage and nutmeg. Next, layer the ham, then the onion, and last of all the apples. Pour broth over the layers and then finish by sprinkling on the remaining sage and nutmeg and a bit more pepper if desired. (Note that you don’t need to add any salt because the ham and broth are salty enough.)

Roll out pastry and make several slashes with a knife or use a decorative cutter so steam can escape while baking. Fit pastry over pie, sealing and fluting the pastry to the edge of the dish.

Bake at 425º for 10 minutes and then turn down temperature to 350º and bake for about 40-45 minutes longer or until the pastry is golden. The juices will be thin like broth, which is unusual for pot pies.

Now the only thing left to do is enjoy!

Ham, Potatoe, and Apple Pie Serving

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Georgia Varozza, author of the popular Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook (more than 70,000 copies sold) and 99 Favorite Amish Recipes, enjoys teaching people how to prepare and preserve healthy foods, live simply, and get the most from what they have. Visit her online and discover more recipes at www.georgiaplainandsimple.blogspot.com.

 

Recipe: Pumpkin Pancakes

We hope you’re enjoying a lovely autumn so far!

On Tuesday we asked our Facebook fans to vote for a warm breakfast recipe they’d like to try this season:

  1. Amish Apea Cake
  2. Baked Oatmeal
  3. Pumpkin Pancakes

The winner is…Pumpkin Pancakes!

You’ll find the winning recipe below, as well as on our Facebook page and Pinterest recipes board. And if you want to discover even more delicious recipes, don’t miss the new cookbook 99 Favorite Amish Recipes by Georgia Varozza!

Pumpkin Pancakes - 99 Favorite Amish Recipes

 

Recipe: Potato Chip Chicken Casserole

Happy first day of autumn, dear Amish readers!

On Monday we asked our Facebook fans to vote for a hearty meal recipe they’d like to try to celebrate the change of seasons:

  1. Dutch Meat Loaf
  2. Farmer’s Soup
  3. Potato Chip Chicken Casserole

The winner is…Farmer’s Soup!

However, it was a pretty close race between Farmer’s Soup and Potato Chip Chicken Casserole, so we want to offer both recipes to you! You can find the recipe for Farmer’s Soup on our Facebook and Pinterest pages. Below, you’ll find the recipe for Potato Chip Chicken Casserole.

If you want to try the Dutch Meat Loaf or discover even more delicious recipes, don’t miss the new cookbook, 99 Favorite Amish Recipes by Georgia Varozza!

 

The Truth About Authentic Amish Homemade Macaroni and Cheese (with Recipe!)

Amish cooks are fond of using Velveeta cheese because it’s shelf stable. And it makes sense when a household lacks refrigeration, because Velveeta can be stored on pantry shelves right alongside all the home-canned fruits and vegetables that Amish women process to feed their families over the winter months. So, even though it doesn’t seem “Amish” or “old-fashioned,” Velveeta cheese is a staple in many homes. (Although, with the advent of propane or gas-powered refrigerators, using Velveeta is more for taste than it used to be.)

The recipe I’m going to share with you today is one that I got years ago from an Amish Mennonite friend, but I’ve changed it—instead of using Velveeta cheese I now use cheddar cheese, which I think tastes much better. But if you like Velveeta, feel free to substitute—use 2 cups Velveeta cheese, cut into small cubes. It might take longer to fully melt into the cheese sauce, so turn the heat to low and keep stirring until completely melted.

One more note: This recipe easily serves 8-12 people, so feel free to cut the recipe in half (in fact, that’s what I did for the photos that accompany this post) and bake it in an 8 x 8-inch baking dish instead.

Mac and Cheese Recipe Pic 3 - Georgia Varozza

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

½ cup Panko crumbs (you can substitute bread crumbs if you don’t have Panko)
½ cup (1 stick) butter, divided
4 cups uncooked elbow macaroni noodles
¼ cup flour
3 cups whole milk
1½ tsp. dry mustard
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper

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Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter and, in a small bowl and using a fork, mix melted butter with the Panko crumbs, mixing until completely incorporated; set aside for now.

Cook macaroni according to package directions—don’t overcook! Drain noodles.

While the noodles are cooking you can make the cheese sauce as follows:

Using 2 tablespoons of the butter (which has been softened to room temperature for easy spreading), grease the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish; set aside for now.

In a large pot, melt ¼ cup (½ stick) butter over medium-low heat and then sprinkle in the flour, whisking as you do so. Turn the heat to about medium (or a wee bit higher) and cook the roux, whisking all the while, for 1 minute. Pour in the milk, whisking while you pour. Add the mustard, salt, and pepper and continue whisking until the roux boils and thickens slightly. Reduce the heat to your lowest setting, add the cheese, and stir to melt.

Combine the cheese sauce and cooked macaroni noodles; mix gently but thoroughly.

Mac and Cheese Recipe Collage - Georgia VarozzaNote: You can eat the macaroni as is, but I like the Panko crumbs on top, so if you’re in agreement, read on.

Pour the macaroni and cheese into the buttered baking dish. Top with the buttered Panko crumbs and then broil until the Panko crumbs are lightly browned. You can also refrigerate the macaroni and cheese and heat later. When ready to bake, remove from the refrigerator, cover with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 350º oven about 25 minutes or until bubbly. You can finish by removing the foil and placing it under the broiler until the crumb topping turns light brown and crisps up.

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Mac and Cheese Recipe Pic 2 - Georgia VarozzaThis is a very kid-friendly dish, but adults like it too. Whenever I make my homemade macaroni and cheese I’m sure to get compliments on the meal. And with the topping of Panko crumbs, deliciously golden and crisp, it’s a dish you can even serve company!

Enjoy and may you and your loved ones be richly blessed today and always.

Georgia Varozza, author of the popular Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook (nearly 60,000 copies sold), enjoys teaching people how to prepare and preserve healthy foods, live simply, and get the most from what they have. She works in publishing and lives in a small Oregon community. Visit her online at www.georgiaplainandsimple.blogspot.com.

 

Recipe: Lemon Blondies

On Wednesday our Facebook fans were asked to vote for the recipe they’d prefer out of three options. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner (as in, tomorrow!), this month’s recipe options featured sweet desserts you can make for loved ones (and yourself, of course!):

  1. Angel Food Cake (with chocolate sauce)
  2. Lemon Blondies (with glaze)
  3. White Chocolate Raspberry Torte

And the winner is…Lemon Blondies! Yum, yum!

Enjoy this recipe from The Amish Baking Cookbook by Georgia Varozza and Kathleen Kerr:

Lemon Blondies - Amish Baking Cookbook

 

What sweet treat do you traditionally indulge in for this special holiday?

Living a Simple Life by Georgia Varozza

What the Amish Can Teach Us About the Simple LifeGodliness with contentment is great gain.
1 ᴛɪᴍᴏᴛʜʏ 6:6

With 2015 just beginning, it’s the perfect time to make resolutions and commit to positive change for the coming year. Now, I’m not going to suggest that you buy a gym membership or drastically change your diet and eat nothing but raw vegetables. And I’m certainly not going to give you a list of “20 Ways to Do More in Less Time.” Those kinds of resolutions often fall by the wayside, and then we are left feeling stressed by the seeming failure and resentful that we couldn’t make those lofty new goals stick.

What I’d like to suggest instead is that you and your family embark on a simpler lifestyle—however you choose to define that. Because who of us wouldn’t want to slow down and really savor each moment instead of feeling the need to continually rush around in order to get it all done?

Reasons for Living a Simple Life

  • Getting Our Priorities in Order. If we were to list the most important things in life, it’s doubtful that material possessions would top that list. Instead, we would probably list intangibles like “more time with my family,” “a meaningful ministry,” or even “regular, guilt-free time for myself.” By prioritizing, we will have the ability to fashion the kind of satisfying life that addresses what’s important to us and gives us a sense of purpose.
  • Encouraging Family Life—The Gift of Time. Give your family the best of what you have to offer in terms of time and energy, and develop good relationships with those around you. You can accrue wonderful memories over the years as a result of simple, everyday activities. Remember: Each day has the potential and power to be memorable and special. When we free up time in our day to be with our family, we get to fill those hours with whatever sparks our individual and collective interests. Work together. Play together. Worship together. Time is precious!
  • Reduce Stress—Spend Less. First Timothy 6:10 tells us that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” When we choose to eschew some of life’s extravagances, we’ll find some of our stress melting away. We won’t spend as much time fretting about making ends meet because our ends are closer together. And deciding to live with less stuff also means those possessions won’t be demanding our constant attention to use it, clean it, maintain it, or pay for it. Relief!
  • Stewardship. When we satisfy every whim and desire, that abundance makes it easy to forget that all we have comes from God’s hand. We run the risk of believing that it’s our hands that have provided our abundance. But the Bible tells us otherwise: “The Lᴏʀᴅ sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts” (1 Samuel 2:7). Psalm 24:1 states, “The earth is the Lᴏʀᴅ’s, and everything in it.” So as we manage our households, we’re really managing what belongs to the Lord. Now, if what we produce is really God’s, then it stands to reason that we can be generous with His supply and give freely and joyfully to those in need. After all, it’s not as if God will ever run short. Our task is to be good stewards of His stores, sharing with those in need and being grateful for what we are blessed to have.
  • Spiritual Blessings. As we go about the business of daily living, we can develop contemplative spirits because we notice again and again the providential hand of God. We can draw close to Him wherever and however we choose to live. Remember that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). Joy is sure to follow!

Want to learn more about embracing a simple life? Check out What the Amish Can Teach Us About the Simple Life: Homespun Hints for Family Gatherings, Spending Less, and Sharing Your Bounty.

Georgia VarozzaGeorgia Varozza, author of the popular Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook (nearly 60,000 copies sold), enjoys teaching people how to prepare and preserve healthy foods, live simply, and get the most from what they have. She works in publishing and lives in a small Oregon community. Visit her online at www.georgiaplainandsimple.blogspot.com.