Do you like to cook? How about garden? What about reading a cookbook that has gardening tips, cooking tips, and Amish information. There really is a book like that out there. Wanda Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Harvest Cookbook is by far my favorite of all of her Amish cookbooks. However, I do love them all and her books. The cover of the book says : “Over 240 recipes for using and preserving the bounty of the land” and shows fresh produce, canned, and Amish at work. It is a delightful, eye catching cover. The cookbook itself is spiral which makes it easy to use. It will open flat for easy reading when using. Sprinkled with pictures, scripture and tips this cookbook is a treasure.
Divided into seven recipe sections, the book begins with a chapter entitled “Reflections on the Amish Family Garden”. This is like having a chat with an Amish friend about gardening. Next is a chapter “Advice from Amish Gardeners,” which I found very interesting. Egg shell booster, when to plant, how to fertilize and with what, and how to block weeds are a few of the many tips given. Then it discusses how to deal with garden bugs, diseases, harvesting, and how to take care of yourself. There are remedies for poison ivy, sore throats, sunburns, and others. So much information and we haven’t even gotten to a recipe yet.
The recipes are divided into the usual categories: salads, soups, main dishes, sides, desserts, snacks and extras, ending with preserving the harvest. An index of the Amish contributors is next, an index of recipes by section, and finally an index by key ingredients. You should be able to easily find recipes using one of these.
I found this to be a treasure trove of recipes. Some were extremely different like “Dandelion Gravy” or “Green Tomato Bars” made with finely chopped green tomatoes and blueberries. Others were familiar such as “Seasoned Potato Wedges,” “Zucchini Bars,” or “Fresh Peach Pie” and sounded like I needed to try that recipe now. (Too bad I had no peaches.) See what you think:
Author Brunstetter has put together a great cookbook. If you are a novice cook or chef, master gardener of acres or container deck gardener, you will enjoy all 208 pages of this fantastic book. The pictures are beautiful, the recipes delicious and tips helpful. There happen to be 243 recipes and 62 garden tips from over 150 contributors in this book. It will make you want to garden and cook.
I thoroughly enjoyed this gem of a book and would highly recommend it. It is certainly up there on my gift giving list. For a shower, birthday, new home, or Christmas this would be a perfect gift. Are you in a cooking or garden club? This book is for you. This is definitely a buy one for a gift and one for yourself cookbook. I rated it 5 out of 5 stars but would love to rate it higher. Yes, it’s that good!
“There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God”. Ecc. 2:24
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