Amish Country News October 2013 by Amish Country News

Immerse Yourself in the Amish Story WITNESS the spectacular story of “Jacob’s Choice” told with Disney-like Special Effects in the Amish Experience Theater.

TOUR the magnificent and rarely seen Amish Farmlands with a certified tour guide in air-conditioned comfort onboard one of our 14 passenger shuttles.

EXPLORE the Amish Country Homestead, the region’s only officially designated Heritage Site Old Order Amish home.

SATISFY yourself that you’re making the most from your Amish Experience… • RECEIVE a free Amish buggy ride at Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides with your purchase of a guided Amish Farmland Tour or one of our Combination Packages, with this coupon. • SAVE with our Super Saver Package, which includes “Jacob’s Choice,” the Amish Country Homestead Tour, and the 90 minute Amish Farmlands Tour, autographed Amish cookbook and free Amish Buggy Ride with this coupon. • Since 1959, the Amish Experience has been the area’s first, and still foremost, interpretive source of Amish Culture. • Begin your Experience by purchasing tickets at the Amish Experience Theater Box Office at Plain & Fancy Farm, calling us, or visiting our website. Designated a Heritage Site by the Lancaster County Planning Commission

FREE BUGGY RIDE, TOO!

Receive a voucher for a free “Cookie Run Buggy Ride” just a few steps away at Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides with the purchase of a regularly priced Supersaver, Theater/House Combo, or Amish Farmlands Tour. One voucher for each adult or child ticket purchased with this coupon. Not valid with any other offer or with group tours. Offer expires 10/31/13. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. BUGAN

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717.768.8400 Ext. 210

For GPS: 3121 Old Philadelphia Pike • Ronks, PA

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Open 7 Days a Week

DUTCH HAVEN W hile driving along Route 30 in Lancaster County, you may see both familiar and unexpected sights. Certainly the Plain folk and their horse and buggy transportation will seem a step back in time. But one unique and unmistakable landmark is the Dutch Haven windmill. Its revolving arms have been drawing thousands of visitors each week ever since it first opened as a restaurant back in 1946. And while hungry visitors could satisfy themselves on any number of Penn Dutch specialties, it was Dutch Haven’s shoo fly pie that put it on the map…and in the record books as “America’s Best Shoo Fly Pie.”

This is undisputedly Amish Country’s most famous dessert, and all you have to do is walk through the door at Dutch Haven to be offered a sample taste of this amazing treat, warmed and topped with whipped cream, just as it was served in the restaurant all those years ago.

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Made with a secret recipe, some 40,000 pies are sold in the store or shipped via UPS all over the USA. Indeed, so popular and delicious are the pies that some faithful customers have been buying them for over 50 years!

The pie that was featured in TIME magazine still plays a feature role at Dutch Haven. But the windmill building is now home to an amazing selection of over 10,000 items. One of the area’s best selections of primitive Amish furniture includes

Souvenirs

corner cupboards, pie safes, chests, and shelves. Woodcrafts, souvenirs and collectibles of all kinds fill the former dining rooms. Also on the shopper’s menu would be everything from spice mats and Amish dolls to jams, jellies, and local honey. Who can resist buying a T-shirt, or maybe a bonnet or Amish felt hat. If you grow tired looking at all of the Dutch Haven gift items, relax in one of the Troutman Rocking Chairs, from the oldest rocking chair company in America. Also deserving of a trip home in your car are the colorful and decorative hex signs, a perfect reminder of a visit to Dutch Country.

Dutch Haven’s shopping hours are Sun.-Thurs. 9am-7pm, Fri. & Sat. 9am-9pm. For more information about this Lancaster County landmark, call (717) 687-0111 or visit dutchhaven.com. A visit to Dutch Haven, “the place that made shoo fly pie famous,” will make your trip to Amish Country even more memorable…and tasty!

Hex Signs AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 3

When It’s Zook’s, “Tastes Just Like Chicken” Takes On A Whole New Meaning! at a local farmers market. In addition to other fresh meats and cheeses, they sold freshly prepared chickens. Her challenge was to find a way to turn the surplus fresh chicken that didn’t sell at market into a profit.

by Clinton Martin

astes Just Like Chicken, to me, is a phrase too often misused. People might say it to describe a dish that didn’t live up to the hype, or even one they don’t like. But, for those folks who throw around the phrase “Tastes Like Chicken,” I’m betting they have yet to taste chicken in its most pure state. For, when one exclaims “Tastes JUST Like Chicken” after savoring a mouthful of tender, juicy, perfectly baked, lightly seasoned chicken, the compliment is a credit not only to the kitchen that served it, but to the fact that indeed truly excellent chicken should taste like, well, chicken! I’m talking about chicken without artificial flavors, additives or anything else to hide the taste of the pure chicken at its best. In Amish Country, that chicken refrain is sung by choruses of locals and visitors alike. Surely by now you’re curious about the source of this chicken of all chickens. Let me tell you...it’s the plain, yet unmistakably singular “bake house” known as Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies. Haven’t heard of Zook’s before? OK, I’ll assume you’re from out of town and like many first-time visitors to Amish Country simply have yet to discover this grand little gem. In truth, the Zook’s story is still largely untold. To tell the tale, it all started in 1997 in a little corner of Amish Country with a resourceful Amish woman, busily experimenting with a new chicken pot-pie recipe she had been thinking about for some time. She and her husband, like many of their Plain-dressed friends and neighbors, ran a side business, in addition to farming, as a source of supplemental income. Their “sideline” happened to be running a stand

Her solution? Chicken pot pies. Only instead of the stew-like crust-less pot pie widely known and enjoyed locally, she prepared her pot pie as plump and juicy chicken pieces encased in homebaked crispy crust meat pies. Her pies were fully portable, kept well, and could be easily heated up at home. She christened the fledgling business Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies. From the very beginning, the pies were appreciated, even coveted, by those who tried them. By 2001 the business had grown, one pie at a time, to the point that the business had become a small stand-alone USDA inspected kitchen built on the side of Grandma's home, employing a staff of two. In 2007, her husband passed away. Left with running the business on her own, she determined that it was time to retire, and so passed along the family business to the next generation. That would be Rose Anna (daughter) and Leroy (son-in-law) King. (Read in the box to the right, Leroy’s delightful story in his own words of his introduction to Rose Anna and the pies.) Leroy and Rose Anna nurtured the steady growth of the family business, continuing to bake the increasingly popular chicken pies and sending them home with satisfied repeat customers in ever growing numbers. At first, Leroy worked full time outside the bakery, but it soon became clear the business was ready for, and indeed needed him full time. In 2010, they took the huge step of building a fully stocked two-story bakery, complete with a floor-to-ceiling oven that could bake dozens of pies at a time. A staff of 17 employees now works diligently mixing, baking, and boxing up the true-to-the-original-recipe pies. The business expanded further with the introduction of a brand new meat pie, filling their baked delights with tender beef. The recipe had undergone a few rounds of “R&D” in Grandma’s kitchen before it was ready to assume the Zook’s name. But when the beef pies hit the shelves alongside their chicken cousins, the feedback was instant and positive, with customers most often taking one of each home. It wasn’t long before Grandma’s stove was commandeered again for some further

Zook's Homemade Chicken Pies Store Hours: Weekdays 8am-5pm

4 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com Saturdays 8am-4pm, Closed Sunday

creativity, as the larger bake house had attracted not only new customers, but also a curious salesman from a local butcher shop. He had stopped in to see the new Zook’s, and upon observing the busy bakers sifting, stirring, and shaping the fresh ingredients into tasty chicken and beef pies, he knew he had an idea for them. His butcher shop was renowned locally for quality pork products, and he was sure that some good old-fashioned country sausage would make a pretty good meat pie, too. Leroy and Rose Anna liked the idea, and after many prototype pies and potential flavor profiles, they approved their third meat pie variety, a locally inspired sausage pie. The reviews are in, and Zook’s shoppers are now adding the bluelabeled sausage pie boxes to take home to their freezers. While the baking activity is predominantly performed by the women at Zook’s, Leroy is known to don an apron now and then, especially when a big order comes in. That is, if he can pull away from his desk and the mounting paperwork that resides there, along with the challenges of assuring the chicken, beef, and sausage pies are baked not only to the demanding Zook’s standards, but at the same time, unfailingly to all USDA specifications. The hard work of the family has certainly paid off as consumers of Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies continue to grow in number year after year. What started out as a local Best Kept Secret now calls as its own, customers from virtually every State in the US and even a few international visitors as well. (Leroy recalls a family of Australians stocking the fridge of their RV for a long trek across the Country.)

The History of Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies by Leroy King

So, what is it about Zook’s Meat Pies that has fueled this steady growth and expansion? It is all about the flavor. Everything is made from scratch. Raw ingredients -- flour, milk, and a few other country kitchen standbys (I couldn’t give away the whole recipe, even if I knew it, of course!) arrive in sacks, and the cooks faithfully marry and mix to create the crust. To be sure, there are no frozen from-the-box crusts at Zook’s! As a “seasoned” veteran myself, I can tell you that the golden brown flaky crust is both delicious to eat and fun to watch gently warm in the oven. Leroy does recommend using an oven to heat the pies for the dinner table, as a microwave (while still an option without the aluminum pie plate) doesn’t give that grand crisped edge on the crust (or the amazing aroma) like a good dose of convection. After the crust has been rolled out and tucked into a little pie tin, the filling comes next. Whether it is the Chicken, Beef, or Sausage Pies, the cooks are sure to sprinkle in generous cuts of moist and juicy meat, not ground up but purposefully left in perfectly sized chunks of savory protein. The vegetables that are swiftly swirled in with the meats include potatoes, carrots, celery and a few others. Holding it all together is a not-too-salty, not-too-plain, gravy made with natural broth produced from the in-house meats. Fans of the pies agree that Zook’s loads in plenty of meat, never resorting to packing most of the pie with the veggies and gravy. The nomenclature “meat pie” is definitely fitting.

e all have had th All the pies come in various sizes, ose unforgettable moments when th world seems to com so you can feed the family, or just e e to a screeching ha m om lt, time stops for a en t, an d years later, maybe yourself. Most days of the week ev en fo r the rest of your life, will recall where both fresh and frozen pies are you were, what yo you u were doing and were with at that pr available so you can pick up one who you ecise time. for today and one to stow away However, as you we ll know, it is not alw for later. Zook’s Homemade ays an event that af the whole nation th fects at causes a reactio Chicken Pies welcomes visitors n like this. We als experience more o pr can iv ate un to their retail shop, which is an forgettable momen moment for me wa ts. One such s the day I first tas annex on the side of the bake ted a Zook’s Hom Chicken Pie. I rem emade ember it like it wa house (there is a glass window to s yesterday, even th took place almost ou gh it 17 ye ars ago. I was wo observe the fascinating goingsMarket in Newtow rking at the Farmer n, PA., and had not ’s on). Parking is available, been feeling well th when a lovely youn at day, g co-worker came although visitors in cars are up to me and said sh chicken pie that I ab e had a asked not to park in front of solutely needed to taste. “No thanks,” “I do n’t fe el well, I’m not hu I said. the hitching posts, which are ngry and quite fra just doesn’t sound nkly, chicken pie reserved for customers in good right now at all.” horse-drawn buggies. Yes, the Well, knowing that sh e ha d so m e exceptionally go buggy parking is often filled! hands and probably od food in her havi The store is open Monday old saying, “The wa ng heard from her PA Dutch heritage the y to a man’s heart is th through Saturday, closed she pleaded until rough his stomach,” I ag re ed to take a bite. On Sundays, religious holidays world screeched to e bite did it! The a halt, time stood and October 11th for St. still and well, you picture. I looked get the at this young lady an Michael’s Day. d said “WOW! Th good. Where can I at is get some more?” Zook’s Homemade Chicken Turns out her fam ily had started mak Pies is located at 3194 ing use up chicken th ey had left over fro these pies as a way to Harvest Drive, Ronks PA m market. And th only the first of m is was any pies that she and can be reached by has served me, th menu now include ough the phone at 717-768-0239. s not only chicken but beef pies and, recently, sausage From Route 340 (the Old more pies as well. You see, I mar ried that lad y a fe w ye Philadelphia Pike) turn ars later, and alm yo ung ost seven years ag blessed with the op o we were onto south on Old Leacock portunity to take ov er the family’s mea making business. Road, which is between the t pieold Presbyterian Church and the Mount Hope Wine & Beer Gallery. After about one mile, you’ll come to Harvest Drive. Turn right, and Zook’s markets. If your local market has yet to discover is immediately off to your left. If for some Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies, you’ll be doing reason you absolutely can’t make it to Zook’s yourself and the market a favor when you politely in person, the pies are available at over 70 farm request they add Zook’s to the “menu.”

Real review from real customers

“Pleases the Pickiest!” ... “I brought home a beef pie to try and, not unexpectedly, my picky teen turned up her nose. After baking, I more or less forced her to try a small piece for dinner. She slunk back to the stove for more and more. We all agreed it was delicious! So savory and full of all natural ingredients. The crust is flaky and perfect. Another pie we ate was slightly more doughy, but when 2013pie • Amish Newsit•as 5 you are making homemade, you will have these variations. I turned AmishNews.com a friend on to• October the chicken and Country he loved well. We’re hooked! I love that there are different sizes.” —Courtesy of TripAdvisor.com

HALF-STITCHED --- FULLY REALIZED by Brad Igou

STITCHED novel and the musical it spawned, however, do mark something of a departure.

Author Wanda Brunstetter with the cast of HALF-STITCHED: THE MUSICAL at the Bird-in-Hand Stage.

mish romance novels have been flying off shelves and internet sites for years now. Their popularity made it almost a certainty that some would be dramatized. Michael Landon, Jr. has already filmed two of the three novels in Beverly Lewis’ trilogy SHUNNING/CONFESSION/RECKONING, which was also made into a musical that played here at the Bird-in-Hand Stage earlier this year. Currently, the latest offering in the “Amish fiction turned musical” phenomenon, Wanda Brunstetter’s HALF-STITCHED: THE MUSICAL, may still be enjoyed through November 30th at the same Bird-in-Hand Stage. While following the book fairly closely, the songs by composer/director Wally Nason take this delightful story to a whole other level. Wanda Brunstetter is one of the first and foremost writers of Amish fiction. Her HALF-

Rather than a romance anchored in the Amish community, here we have a story about a motley collection of characters who have enrolled in a quilting class taught by an Amish widow. The motivation for each being there is very different… Pam Johnston, far less sophisticated than she believes herself to be, arrives to class first with sarcastic husband Stuart in tow. It is quite clear that he doesn’t want to be there. It’s equally obvious that her superiority complex toward him and everyone else leaves him cold. Pam’s ten-words-a-second ode to punctuality, “Never Late” is in stark contrast to Stuart’s declaration delivered with deadpan humor, “I Wanna Die.” Ruby Lee Williams is an African American minister’s wife dealing with unfounded rumors and whisperings of the congregation. Her Gospel number “The Last Word” brings down the house in Act One, while her Act Two’s “Stained Glass” reveals the inner suffering beneath her confident façade. Jan Sweet is a “biker guy” just out of the slammer whose wife deserted him taking their daughter with her. As he continues his search for them, he’s dealing with a lot emotionally, including the need to declare his masculinity

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n. f o r F u w. e p i c e al co ’s R chanic Kenny g a me m. a kin Ice Cre by mil pie Pie Start f Whoo o l. ia le p c r e am comm Add a s wn TV . your o reezer f in Star in lk . in a wa e e f r f p o s l ng Coo m-killi h a ger it w p o T

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6 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

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difficult to reconcile with his name, in the number “Jan the Man.” Paul Ramirez is Hispanic, just back from Afghanistan, haunted by war experiences brought disturbingly to life in the jarring “One More Step.” He’s struggling to find inner peace through his love for his wife and daughter. Final class member, Star, is the most reluctant quilter... no interest whatsoever! Abandoned by her father, her rebellious personna is physically evident in her Goth posture, clothing, hair, and make-up. “Falling Star” lays bare her tortured soul, during a revelation in a dramatic plot twist in the climax to Act Two. Stepping into this emotional maelstrom is the Amish widow, Emma Yoder, with an assist by Lamar Miller, a master quilter who is also widowed. It is apparent to everyone in the class (and the audience) that these two just need a little encouragement to get together. Neither is portrayed as the wise problem solver or psychoanalyst, but rather as quiet listeners, applying the lessons of quilting to help heal their students’ wounds. revealed in the upbeat song “Rags to Stitches.”

HALF-STITCHED appeals to a broad audience, including those not “into” Amish romance novels. I found myself laughing both at and with the characters and was continually surprised at how much humor there was throughout the show. However, beneath the comedic surface are compelling characters whose lives we can all identify with. As the show turns more dramatic, the humor and music remain nearby to carry the audience along. The finale of Act One and, for me, the high point of the show is the number “This I Know,” where the men sing a powerful anthem to fatherhood and opportunities lost and found. Searing yet inspirational, by the time the lights go up for intermission, all those seated within my eyesight were dabbing their eyes.

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I hate musicals where the actors can’t sing. These actors not only make for a fine ensemble cast, they take the stage with uniformly good voices. Here the melodic numbers and thoughtful lyrics are interpreted by exceptional singers who have totally committed themselves to their characters. Just like Emma, we come to love them all in spite of their flaws. Ostensibly while some are there to repair damaged quilts, and others to create their own original designs, each sees in the quilts, and their lives, both “A Second Chance” and a “Common Thread.”

(Pam), Kevin McDaniel (Stuart), Kendra Lynn Lucas (Ruby Lee), Daniel Stargel (Jan), Rachel Stargel (Emma), Joshua Lehman (Lamar), Brittany Church (Star), and Mickey Bahr (Paul).

I feel compelled to give a rousing shout-out to this cast, whom you’ll enjoy meeting personally as they bid adieu to their exiting audience. By name and by character, they are Jennifer Smith

If you enjoy good musical theater, I heartily recommend HALF-STITCHED. And what better place to see an Amish musical set in Birdin-Hand than (where else?) Bird-in-Hand!

a Kahn Lucas Outlet

Tickets are available with or without the extensive and tasty smorgasbord (a whole other article) in the restaurant, where you can also dine a la carte. Call 800-790-4069 or visit online at www.EnjoyBIHStage.com to join Emma and her students for a truly enjoyable evening of musical theater.

Holiday Sparkles & Smiles

Adorn your little angel in new holiday fashions.

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off holiday dresses

Dollie & Me shop at Park City Center

Expires 10/31/13. Valid on full-priced merchandise. Excludes clearance, dolls & accessories. PP1013

Rockvale Outlet: 35 South Willowdale Drive, Suite 1818 Lancaster, PA 17602 • 717.396.7860

Gettysburg Outlet: 1863 Gettysburg Village Drive, Suite 680 Gettysburg, PA 17325 • 717.398.2717 AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 7

Strasburg - A Town of Trains & Heritage

As early as 1716, when the first wagon was used for hauling goods, the path became known as the Conestoga Road, and the wagons that traveled them eventually became known as Conestoga Wagons. Main Street Strasburg was developed during the next half century as traffic on this road increased considerably and the first log houses appeared in the village about 1733. Strasburg continued to flourish in the 18th century primarily because of its location along

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Strasburg, named for the city in France, was actually “founded” by a Frenchman, Pierre Bezaillion, who traded with the Delaware Indians. The story goes he came to the area in 1693, as French fur traders opened up the first path through this area from Philadelphia to the Susquehanna River.

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ll aboard! Strasburg is a destination all its own in Dutch Country, home to many well known attractions. To name just a few --- the Strasburg Rail Road, Living Waters Theatre, Ghost Tours of Lancaster, Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, National Toy Train Museum, and the Choo Choo Barn. But you may not know much about the interesting history of "Train Town."

the major wagon routes between Philadelphia, Lancaster, and the Susquehanna River. As Strasburg flourished, so did its neighbor to the east, Philadelphia. The commercial interests of Philadelphia pressured the State Legislature to improve the transportation network into their city. As a result, a series of canals along with the Philadelphia and Columbia Rail Roads were constructed. Strasburg residents became alarmed at the possibility of losing their commercial position and there soon emerged a charter for the Strasburg Rail Road to construct a rail line connecting Strasburg with the Philadelphia and Columbia Rail Road main line near Paradise. Finally in the 1850’s, trains were hauling freight and passengers. About 100 years later, business had dwindled, and a severe storm in 1957 destroyed much of

8 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

Families get out and play at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm where October is the height of harvest season.

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the track. It seemed the SRR had reached the end of the line. To the rescue came a group of local train enthusiasts who began bringing the SRR back to life in a totally new way. They added passenger cars and buildings, and today’s Strasburg Rail Road was born, destined to become one of Dutch Country’s top attractions.

Seats are limited, so pre-purchase tickets at StrasburgRailRoad.com *Must be 21 or older to ride in First-Class Car during Wine & Cheese Train.

Rt. 741 East, Strasburg, PA • 717-687-7522 • StrasburgRailRoad.com Appropriately enough, the State decided to build an expanded Rail Road Museum of Pennsylvania across the street, the ideal place to preserve the history of railroading in Pennsylvania. With the other train attractions nearby, it’s little wonder that Strasburg has earned the title of Train Town!

2000

Pounds of chicken cooked weekly at Plain & Fancy Farm Restaurant.

Gigantic Model Train Layout For generations, our family has been bringing realistic detail and creative animation to our layout – expanding the artistry of model railroading and captivating visitors of all ages. • Huge layout –1,700 sq.ft. • 22 operating model trains • Over 150 hand-created, animated figures and details • See many local landmarks...in miniature

Visit Traintown, U.S.A.® at: choochoobarn.com • 717-687-7911 Route 741 East, 226 Gap Road, Strasburg, PA Just two blocks from the Strasburg Rail Road. Look for the train on the roof!

AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 9

Fans of Beef Get to Know Iron Horse Inn by Clinton Martin

This is Lancaster County, PA... •PA Dutch Recipes •Modern Flavors •Made-To-Order Grill •Soup, Salad, Gourmet Bread & Potato Bar •World Famous Desserts •Menu Options •Smorgasbord Dining •On-site Bakery •Cozy Inn •Boutiques •Country Shops •Outdoor Market •Walking Trails & Gardens •Fishing Pond •And More!

he typical corporate-chain, nationally identical steak houses can certainly be found in Amish Country. But, none of them have that special “feel” of the Amish Countryside. So, when you get that craving for an extremely well prepared all-American steak, dine where we locals do, which would include an evening at the Iron Horse Inn in Strasburg. Named after those giant steam locomotives that made the town famous, the Inn makes no secret that it’s located in the heart of Amish Country’s train-centric village of Strasburg.

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Not valid Holidays, on Family Style Dining, or on parties of 8 or more. Please show coupon. No other discounts apply. Exp 01/31/2014. ACN13

Colorful, fresh, and artistic dishes are a signature of the Iron Horse Inn. Now, the kitchen at the Iron Horse turns out some fine seafood entrees, and certainly wonderful chicken and pasta dishes, but when I go to the Inn, I’ve pre-fixed my menu to the beef selections, and specifically, the delectable certified Angus prime rib. The prime rib is available every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It is a slow-cooked, herb-encrusted certified Angus served over mashed potatoes with a fresh sautéed vegetable (whatever might be in season), and finished with Au Jus and a side of horseradish cream sauce. There’s just nothing quite like it. New this year, on the fourth Friday of every month, the Iron Horse offers live entertainment in the Conestoga Room, so time your visit right, and you can enjoy not only the well-worthwaiting-for certified Angus prime rib dinner and a fine glass of wine or a great German beer, but you’ll also be treated to some local musical talent.

800-827-8635 Dining • Shopping • Lodging

Rt 896 240 Hartman Bridge Road Ronks, PA 17572 • hersheyfarm.com 10 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

Don’t be surprised if you end up going back on Saturday or Sunday for another dose or two of Iron Horse dining. I’ve certainly done two-on-a-weekend before. Call (866) 6666362 for reservations. The Inn is located at 135 East Main Street and is open daily except Tuesdays.

Backroads Bus Tour Embark upon a 90-minute guided farmland tour, off the beaten path and along scenic countryside in Lancaster County, PA. • A behind-the-scenes look at Amish life • Unique stops and shops • Breathtaking views and beautiful countryside

Route 896, Strasburg, PA 17579 717-687-8511 TheAmishVillage.net GPS: 199 Hartman Bridge Road, Ronks, PA 17572

3,300 Square feet of shopping space at Brickerville Antiques.

Visit us online at AmishNews.com where you'll find archived issues, Brad Igou's continuing Amish Series, recipes from past dining issues and lots more!

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AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 11

Jake’s Country Trading Post...Going the Extra Yard for Your Lawn! by Clinton Martin

all, fax email or tweet Ponce de Leon -the Fountain of Youth has been found! I saw it myself with my very own eyes on a recent visit to Jake’s Country Trading Post. Really? Well, not exactly. However, I did happen to discover a most grand variety of garden ponds, fountains, water features, and classic statues. You see, Jake’s Country Trading Post is as much an outdoor store as it is an indoor purveyor of great country shopping. The retail “floor” for much of this unique store is just, quite simply, old-fashioned Mother Earth. Here the store’s front lawn is where I prefer to peruse, never failing to discover interesting I’dlike-to-haves including wrought iron decorations, lawn ornaments, plenty of planters and other vessels necessary for anyone with a green thumb, CCAF-4.9375x3.375-Amish Co News Oct '13 and of course outdoor furniture and patio needs.

I especially am fond of the outdoor fountains designed to resemble traditional hand-pumps drawing water into rustic barrels. They are completely self-contained, continuously running systems that look slightly weathered and oldfashioned. Designed to work unfailingly for years, one of these beauties should be gracing my front yard, and likely will come next Spring. I’ve even thought of setting one up in conjunction with a fish pond, which they also sell at Jake’s (everything but the fish, that is). Think about your own outdoor decorative dream. Make it reality with a visit to Jake’s Country Trading Post, located at 2954 Lincoln Highway East, Gordonville PA, 17529. For more information, call at 717-687-8980, or visit www. JakesCTP.com.

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VillageGreens.com OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Please Call For Hours

The Only 23 Hole Golf Course in Lancaster County

12 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

For Tickets and Info: 717-768-8400 Ext. 210 AmishExperience.com Follow in the footsteps of Harrison Ford! WITNESS the beauty of Lancaster County!

Plain & Fancy Farm Aaron & Jessica's Buggy Rides Amish Country Homestead Amish Country Tours Amish Experience Theater Amish View Inn & Suites Plain & Fancy Restaurant

Kauffman’s Fruit Farm & Market

Mt. Hope Wine Gallery

Bird-in-Han

IRIS

HTO

HARVEST DRIVE Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies

LEACOCK RD

CHURCH RD

Bird-In-Hand Farmers Market Bird-In-Hand Family Inn & Restaurant

N. HARVEST DR.

Leacock Coleman Center

Ruthie’s

MONTEREY RD WEAVERTOWN RD

RONKS RD

Bird-In-Hand Bake Shop

RONKS RD

GIBBONS RD

340 Abe’s Buggy Rides

f the many unique village names that dot the Amish Country map, one of the more interesting is Bird-in-Hand. William Penn, an English Quaker, had founded the colony of Penn’s Woods, and settlers began arriving from Europe in the early 1700’s, moving westward from Philadelphia. The trip by stagecoach, or Conestoga wagon with freight and merchandise, lasted several days. Inns were built every few miles, identified with signs held by an iron pole or attached to the side of the building. The reason for the signs was so that they could be understood by all nationalities. Further, since many teamsters or wagoneers were poorly educated they could not read. Given orders to stop at a certain inn, they were able to do so by recognizing the artwork on the signboard.

BEECHDALE RD

Welcome to the Village of Bird-in-Hand 340 Leacock Coleman Center To Gordonville Bookstore

& Guest House

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Fall Colors and a Preview of the Holidays are now in stock at the Old Candle Barn in Intercourse. The legend of the naming of Bird-in-Hand dates to the time when the Old Philadelphia Pike was being laid out. By 1734, surveyors at McNabb’s Hotel were discussing whether they should stay at their present location or return to Lancaster to spend the night. One of them said, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” The sign in front of the inn, which became known as the Bird-inHand Inn, is known to have once "portrayed a man with a bird in his hand and a bush nearby, in which two birds were perched." Variations of this sign appear throughout the town today. McNabb’s Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1851. By the following year, a three-story hotel was built to replace it. More recently, it was Bitzer’s Hotel before becoming the present Village Inn of Bird-in-Hand, a beautiful bed and breakfast property. The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County states that the existing brick building “may be one of the few 19th century inns in the context of a small town in Lancaster County, which survives with a high degree of architectural integrity.” It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When referring to their bird in hand symbol, some residents say that the bird nestled in the human hand indicates friendship, comfort, and hospitality, all of which you’ll discover in this perfectly delightful little village of shops, farmers markets and eateries.

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AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 13

14 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

Making Whoopie... Pies, That Is! by Brad Igou

he staff at AMISH COUNTRY NEWS decided to have some fun. We put out a selection of fresh whoopie pies from our favorite restaurants and bake shops, and each of us tasted one, without knowing where

they came from (for our wine-drinking friends, a horizontal tasting, if you will). Following are our “taste sensations” of the pies and where you can find them …

Bird-in-Hand Bakery (Rt.340) If you like peanut butter, you will really like this whoopie. As you start to unwrap the whoopie, the smell of peanut butter is the first thing you notice. Soft, creamy peanut nestled between two very moist chocolate cakes. When you take a bite, there is so much peanut butter it shoots out the sides. -Dawn Hershey Farm (Rt. 896)

I immediately noticed a freshly baked vanilla cake smell with a

hint of coconut. The icing was not the heavy filling found in many whoopies, but expertly whipped into a delicate, frothy confection. This delightful yellow cake coconut pie has done the near impossible, converting a chocolate lover to claim this as one of the best whoopie pies ever! -Sherri Continued on Page 16

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AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 15

Sept. 10-Nov. 30 Join the Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club in a delightful, musical journey of self-discovery, healing and renewed wholeness. In an entertaining tale only New York Times bestselling author Wanda Brunstetter could spin, these unlikely quilters bind together like scraps of fabric stitched under the loving guidance of Amish widow Emma Yoder.

2760 Old Philadelphia Pike (Route 340) Bird-in-Hand • (717) 768-1500

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Homemade Apple Cider

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Alternative to High-Sugar Jams & Jellies

Whoopie Pies (Continued from Page 15)

Bird-in-Hand Bakery (Rt.340) This was a red velvet cake whoopie pie. The cake portion was thick and tasty. The delicious filling within was sweet and creamy. -Anna

fluffy and balanced. The peanut butter flavor complimented rather than overwhelmed the allimportant cocoa base. In a word…delectable. -Clinton

Good 'N Plenty (Rt. 896) I tasted the choco-

Dutch Haven Here’s something different from the traditional whoopie. Sugary icing liberally applied betwixt two freshly baked thick oatmeal Continued on Page 25

late & peanut butter whoopie pie. The chocolate cake portion was rich, moist, and soft. The icing, to which the peanut butter flavor was added, was

16 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

Dutchland Quilt Patch Ruthie’s

Miller’s Smorgasbord

RONKS RD.

Welcome to Our Paradise PARADISE

Dutch Haven Jake’s Country Trading Post

LINCOLN HWY. EAST Killer Hats

isitors to Lancaster from the east on RT 30 travel through Paradise, which celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2012. The town’s story traces back to Europe over 300 years ago, to the area of the Palatinate in Germany where Protestants had settled following the declaration of King Louis XIV that all Protestants in France would be persecuted. Fearing a French invasion, many accepted the invitation to settle in the New World in William Penn’s colony of Penn’s Woods. By 1712, they had secured land in Lancaster’s Pequea Valley as the area’s first white people, living peaceably with local Indians.

741

Strasburg Rd.

S. Vintage Rd.

Historic Revere Tavern

To Wolf Rock Furniture To National Christmas Center Rainbow Cackleberry Dinner Theatre Farm Antique Mall

The origins of RT 30, also known as “Lincoln Highway,” date back to Lancaster’s Colonial days when the frontier county needed a highway to connect it with the provincial capital of Philadelphia. The first road that was constructed is now RT 340, still referred to as the “Old Philadelphia Pike.” Soon, it was apparent that this road was insufficient to handle the increasing traffic, and in 1790, a commission to survey a new route was created. Since the cost was too much for the state to undertake, the company charged with building it was given the power to demand “reasonable” tolls from users. Investors received dividends earned from tolls collected along the gates of the turnpike. (As the toll was paid, the gate or “pike” was turned, hence the term “turnpike”). The Act described the construction of the highway, which was to be a bed of small crushed stones on top with, rather than dirt, larger stones underneath to prevent carriage wheels from cutting into the soil. This revolutionary system of road construction is credited to a John McAdam, whose name became the term for paved or “macadam” roads. The "Lincoln Highway" (RT 30) opened in 1795 as the first long-distance, hard surfaced road in the country. Taverns and stagecoach stops grew up along the turnpike for weary travelers. Of these, the Revere Tavern, dating back to 1740 and originally called the

“Sign of the Spread Eagle”, still proudly stands today. In 1841, the tavern became the residence of Reverend Edward V. Buchanan and his wife Eliza Foster Buchanan. Eliza was the sister of Stephen Foster, whose immortal songs will always be a part of Americana. Foster not only penned music at the tavern, but sent many of his manuscripts to Eliza, also a talented musician, for her approval. On the banks of the Pequea Creek, Eliza and Stephen played many of Stephen’s 200 songs, including “Way Down Upon the Swanee River” and “Oh, Susanna.” Wherever you happen to call “paradise,” we hope that a little bit of our own Paradise won’t do you any harm!

AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 17

Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall Special to Amish Country News

ooking for an experience, not just another antique mall? Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall is home to 26,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles, items such as furniture, glassware, sterling silver, advertising, jewelry, toys and much more displayed by over 125 dealers. For the nostalgic shopper, housed inside the antique mall is an Old Time General Store, full of vintage barber shop, ice cream parlor, hardware and drugstore memorabilia which will take you back to the Mom & Pop stores of years ago. Not Just Baskets, located next door to the Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall, carries a huge selection of

baskets, quilts, luxury gifts and everyday items to choose from. You can fill a basket with any assortment of treats from pottery to spice mixes, quilts to candles, cookbooks

Only Minutes Away From Everything Amish Country Has To Offer! to spa items – and have it all wrapped up in cellophane in a beautiful basket for a perfect gift. Or gather pet treats, dip and spice mixes and PA Dutch candies for your family, friends – even yourself.

Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall is located at 3371 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, on Route 30, only minutes away from everywhere and everything Amish Country has to offer.

With $15.00 purchase or more and this coupon. Only at: Not Just Baskets Limit one coupon per purchase. (Expires 10/31/13.)

18 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 19

(717) 687-8980 • www.jakesctp.com

On Route 30 in Paradise • 2954 Lincoln Highway East

with $20.00 purchase or more and this coupon. Limit one coupon per family. (Expires 10/31/13) Cookbook valued at 2.00.

FREE COOKBOOK

When the Name Says It All... Good ‘N Plenty Restaurant by Clinton Martin

f there ever was a temple to taste, a shrine for those who dine, or a memorial to mastication in Amish Country it would have to be Good ‘N Plenty Restaurant. One of the area’s earliest Amish-style restaurants dating back to the days when visitors first discovered Lancaster County, Good ‘N Plenty has all the tradition and history that you’d expect from a local landmark. The original farmhouse that was to become Good ‘N Plenty was built in 1871. Nearly 100 years later in 1969, Christ (pronounced Chris with a “T” on the end) and Dolly Lapp turned the historic structure into a restaurant with seating for 114. The name Good ‘N Plenty came easily, as it described perfectly the experience DINING ROOM • BEDROOM • LIVING ROOM

style. craftsmanship. durability. JUST A FEW OF THE OUTSTANDING QUALITIES YOU’LL FIND.

3533 Lincoln Highway East Kinzers, PA 17535

717.442.8990

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Good ‘N Plenty’s first dining room in the original farmhouse is an ideal setting for family–style dinners. diners could expect. The Lapps began serving all-you-care-to-eat, family-style meals featuring Pennsylvania Dutch specialties. and the people came, and never stopped coming. Today, nearly 50 years later and after a few expansions, the restaurant now accommodates up to 600 guests. The original, tried-and-true and downright famous from-scratch recipes are still offered daily to those who wish to “eat themselves full.” Yet, an off-the-menu table service option is also offered, providing the opportunity to match the size of the meal with the size of the appetite. However, if you’d like my recommendation, plan to save up some calories, then go to Good ‘N Plenty leaving, just this once, your diet at the door. The all-you-care-to-eat family-style meal is one of those Amish Country rites of passage you simply have to experience. In addition to family style and menu dining, Good ‘N Plenty offers takeout, plus an award winning bake shop where the tantalizing smells are exceeded only by the joy of eating the often still oven-warmed delights. Did I mention the expansive GNP gift shop? In truth, anticipating the shopping season that is so closely approaching ‘round the corner, a visit to Good ‘N Plenty might just be equally enjoyable for the food, and all the great shopping. From my vantage point, Good ‘N Plenty’s incredible variety of merchandise nearly warrants its own building. I do love browsing the aisles! You’ll find books and cookbooks from local authors, beautiful jewelry, purses and totes, wall hangings and framed artwork, hand crafted items, toys, kitchenware, candles, lotions and soaps. You can either take your purchases with you, or Good ‘N Plenty will happily ship to your home. I really hope you make Good ‘N Plenty a must-do stop during your time with us in Amish Country. Easy to find on Route 896, north of Route 30 and just south of Route 340, Good ‘N Plenty is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30am to 8:00pm, and Sundays seasonally from 11:30am to 5:00pm. Call 717-394-7111 for reservations. Happy Dining!

20 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

Music and education were important to the Moravians. In fact, the Lititz schoolhouse erected in 1746 marked the beginnings of what was to be Linden Hall, the oldest continuously operating residence school for girls in the United States.

AV E

Free Parking Welcome Center Train Station

Lititz Springs Park

772

To Lancaster and

MAIN ST.

Free Parking

Lititz Historical Foundation

501

Moravian Church Square

Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery

LOCUST ST.

WATER ST.

LITITZ

CEDAR ST.

LIN

501

CEDAR ST.

Brickerville Antiques

N. BROAD ST.

The Lititz story is tied to that of the Moravian faith in Bohemia. As was the case with other persecuted religious groups in Europe, many Moravians sought freedom in the New World, arriving in the early 1700’s, with settlements in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. In 1755 the town actually took the name Lititz, the German spelling for Lidice, where European reformers had taken refuge in the 15th century.

TO BRICKERVILLE:

772

ORANGE STREET

S. BROAD ST.

here really is no place quite like Lititz, and visitors should plan time there while in Amish Country.

N. STURGIS LANE (Parking)

Historic Lititz • A Hometown Treasure

For one hundred years, Moravian church members were the only people permitted to live in the town. It was not until 1855 that nonMoravians were allowed to own their own homes. The complex of buildings comprising the Moravian congregation is well worth seeing, particularly the church built in 1787. One name is linked forever with the history of Lititz --- Julius Sturgis. It was Julius Sturgis who opened the first commercial pretzel bakery in the New World in Lititz. The year was 1861, and the site at 219 East Main Street is on the National Register of Historic Places. A tour of the bakery, still in operation, is unlike any other and well worth your time. Just recently, Lititz won Budget Travel's 2013 "Coolest Small Town in America" competition.

Had Adam Only Known... He Never Would Have Eaten That Apple! by Brad Igou

t’s Johnny Appleseed’s favorite time of the year - when apples are in abundance, as are apple related dishes. Apples have always been an important part of Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, with folks here continually coming up with ways to serve, preserve and enjoy apples all year long. In the early days, the custom of drying sliced apples led to some unique dishes that have stood the test of time (See, Adam, that Apple would have been just as good months later.) In fact, dried apple slices (apple snitz or schnitz) are still used to make snitz pies, commonly served after Amish church services.

A less frequently seen dish, but one which I enjoyed growing up, is “schnitz un knepp.” The latter consists of dough dumplings cooked with home-cured ham. Our family secret in preparing snitz is to allow the slices to soak in water overnight. Any discussion of apple snitz must include “lattwaerrich,” or apple butter. This delicious spread for bread and toast came from the Palatinate area of Germany, where prunes and pears were also used. Here, the traditional way of making apple butter was in large copper kettles filled with apple cider. Apple snitz was added to the mix with the kettle stirred continuously with

long wooden paddles to prevent sticking to the bottom. In addition to the traditional apple pie, another local favorite is apple dumplings. Noted historian John Joseph Stoudt states Continued on Page 29

AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 21

Dutch Haven, A Classic…and Certified Cool! by Clinton Martin

Visitors to Dutch Haven are greeted with a sample of the bakery's sought after shoo-fly pie.

f you’ve ever flipped through a copy of AMISH COUNTRY NEWS before, you’ve undoubtedly seen the swinging arms of Dutch Haven’s bakery and store beckoning you in for a free taste of Amish Country’s famous Shoo-Fly Pie. Now, there’s shoo-fly pie, and there’s shoo-fly pie! Dutch Haven’s happens to be credited with baking up “America’s Favorite Shoo-Fly Pie” in publications as renowned as TIME Magazine.

dollop of whipped cream, there are many who would look at you and just say, “Duh!” Others might say that you just might have bragging rights to the strongest “will power” in Amish Country! However, we’ve discovered yet one more reason to visit Dutch Haven now that STREET SCENES Magazine has taken pen in hand to extol the sweet treats and shopping delights that await under those iconic turning windmill arms.

For those of you who somehow have yet to set foot inside Dutch Haven, and never tasted a free fork-full of Dutch Haven’s warm, sweet, gooey delicious Shoo-Fly Pie, topped with a

STREET SCENE, produced by the National Street Rod Association, recently published a guide to road-side attractions, eateries, and boutiques in Lancaster and the surrounding countryside. Much like the popular “Diners, Drive-Ins…” show on TV, this editorial piece sought out the coolest, most classic American stops along the region’s best road-trippin’ and cruisin’ routes.

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As anyone who’s traveled the “Lincoln Highway” coming or going into Lancaster County knows, you simply can’t miss Dutch Haven along Route 30 east surrounded by our bucolic Amish countryside. So when the hotroddin’ editors of STREET SCENE happened to cruise by Dutch Haven, they stopped in for a visit. They noted (kinda doing my job for me), “Since 1946, Dutch Haven has been famous for America’s Best Shoo-Fly Pie and today it’s still produced from the original recipe. Come in for a free sample of pie, or for a hand-rolled soft pretzel and homemade Amish root beer. All baking is done on the premises and they specialize in shipping pies and other delectables. The souvenir store features Amish pine furniture, souvenirs, jams and jellies, and other arts and crafts.” In addition, in August Dutch Haven was selected as one of “The Ten Best Offbeat Sites in Pennsylvania Dutch Country” by Huffington Post writer Malerie YolenCohen. She extols that “Dutch Haven sells more Shoo-fly Pie than all other bakeries in Lancaster combined. Why? Because it's awesome. Forget what you think about that gooey, tooth-hurting-sweet stuff you thought was Shoo-fly pie. No nuts, fruit, or dairy, these pies can stay on your counter for two weeks and in your fridge another two.” It appears Dutch Haven is now not only America’s favorite source for Shoo-Fly Pie, but is also certified cool, classic, and offbeat by the people who’d know. So, my suggestion -- put your diet on hold, throw your “will power” in the back seat for an hour, and drive on over (no hot rod needed) to Dutch Haven to try (and, my guess, buy) a pie. You can even ship pies to anyone on your “nice list” too .

Going Dutch --- My Dream Meal by Brad Igou

with some crunchy hard pretzels, perhaps from America’s first (1861), and therefore oldest pretzel bakery, Julius Sturgis in Lititz. And what goes better with pretzels or wine than some delicious cheese, particularly the varieties from Groffdale Meadows Dairy and September Farm Cheese, where they have just opened an expansive, beautiful new store well worth a visit. Now we are ready to move on to…

The First Course Visitors might find their “Dream Dutch Meal” with a visit to the Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market.

riting an article about food can be a daunting task. To begin with, you can’t say too much without devouring the subject matter you are writing about…and that can put on some calories, and some inches midriff! Plus, there is so much to choose from. Entire books have been written about relishes, desserts, etc.

No local table would be complete without some homemade bread. But I am serving up something a little different in the form of a loaf of cheese bread, toasted with butter. I think the Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop on Gibbons Road makes the best cheese bread, hands down, and I make regular special trips there to buy a loaf of that “cheddary” delight.

For this issue of AMISH COUNTRY NEWS, I decided to create my “Dutch Dream Meal,” choosing staples familiar to locals and readily available to visitors. I’ll also let you know where you can find my menu items. I make no guarantees as to whether this is a well-balanced menu representing all the proper food groups. You have been warned!

Intercourse Canning Company welcomes visitors to sample their many spreads and mixes with a friendly "try it before you buy it" philosophy. More traditionally, you’d simply have a loaf of white or wheat bread, with some delicious fruit jams or jellies, or maybe even some peanut butter "schmier" (church spread made from peanut butter, marshmallow creme, sugar and corn syrup), so popular after Amish church worship services. I stock up frequently at the Intercourse Canning Company. A little cottage cheese with a dab of apple butter on top makes another nice starter. For my salad, I’d take some spinach and homegrown tomatoes topped with hot bacon dressing, something you’ll find at several of our more traditional restaurants, including Miller's Smorgasbord and Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant.

September Farm Cheese is creating new flavors every day now that they’ve moved into their brand new, larger location.

To Begin A little snacking is in order before we get to the regular courses. How about a nice cold beer from the Rumspringa Brewing Company, or perhaps a wine from Mount Hope Estate & Winery, along

Since the crusty chicken pie is a meal in itself, with more chicken than vegetables, I will supplement this dish with some fresh corn on the cob and just-hulled lima beans, both dripping with butter and sprinkled lightly with salt. I have my local farms where I like to go for corn and lima beans when in season. Reading this in the autumn, you may need to substitute some dried corn or baked cabbage and cheese casserole, a specialty I enjoy at Miller’s Smorgasbord.

Dessert

And then there is the matter of personal taste. Some people may love a food that someone else hates. For me, a perfect example is cup cheese. Never liked it; never will. Finally, how does one come up with different and memorable ways of describing our many unique PA Dutch foods?

The Chef at Miller’s Smorgasbord is always ready with something seasonally inspired.

The Main Course Today I am going to keep the main meal fairly simple, really simple in fact. I’m just going to go with a 6-inch Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pie. (Otherwise, being of good PA German background, I should probably be eating pork and sauerkraut but, as I’m not a big fan, I’ll continue to “reserve” it only for the traditional New Year’s Day meal.)

In some circles, this might be considered the main course. In my home growing up, you simply could not have only ONE dessert. But before attacking the sweet stuff, I’d enjoy a juicy peach or apple from Kauffman’s Fruit Farm. (They make their own apple cider there too, delicious hot or cold.)

Whoopie Pies are a popular dessert in the home or on the farm. I have so many favorite desserts that you may as well call this course my “dessert smorgasbord.” A fan of shoo-fly pie and whoopie pies, I’d be sure to have some from Dutch Haven and Hershey Farm (home of the Annual Whoopie Pie Festival) respectively. But in keeping with the autumn season, one of Bird-in-Hand Bakery’s pumpkin pies (also served at their restaurant) would be fitting, and filling. I’d probably then relax with a root beer float. You can usually find some homemade root beer at the Countryside Road Stand (also great for homemade soft pretzels). Then all you need is a scoop or two of Turkey Hill vanilla ice cream. Now that’s heaven!

AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 23

I recently discovered that the Intercourse Pretzel Factory makes several kinds of chocolate covered pretzels. You should try those dunked in caramel followed by a second dunking in milk chocolate, with white chocolate drizzled on top. I must stop now before it’s too late! Finally, I might just settle down on the couch and watch one of my favorite movies, WITNESS, with Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis (there's even a WITNESS Movie Tour offered by the Amish Experience.) I’ll be sure to have several flavors of the latest snack revelation, at least for me --- Emma’s Gourmet Popcorn. I’d probably stick to the popcorn drizzled with peanut butter and chocolate. So many flavors, so little time! Maybe I’ll make that a double feature!

For those visiting the area, you have quite an array of restaurants to choose from where you may sample many of the foods on my menu. For more traditional fare, try our family-style restaurants, the most famous being Plain & Fancy and Good ’N Plenty. Smorgasbord enthusiasts usually head to Birdin-Hand Family Restaurant, Hershey Farm, or Miller’s Smorgasbord. All also offer a la carte or modified smorgasbord options, such as soup and salad bars only. For fine dining, the Revere Tavern, or Iron Horse Inn are good bets, as is Union Barrel Works for those who enjoy creative menu options with their handcrafted beer.

Finally, one of the best Sunday brunches you will find anywhere, and I do mean anywhere, is at the Eden Resort, but you’ll probably need to call ahead for a reservation as it doesn’t take long for prime seating times to fill. Many of these businesses have websites where you can order online; perhaps your best plan if you’re in a hurry or want to dine in front of your HDTV watching a game. But, for most of you, there’s nothing that beats a trip to Amish Country, exploring the back roads, and enjoying the endless selection of foods available…from snacks and desserts to fresh produce and meats. So stock up, pick up a cookbook, invite your friends over, and treat them to a “wonderful gute” meal of PA Dutch delights, where you’ll encourage each guest to “eat yourself full.”

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Price: $20.00 includes shipping and handling. Call 717.768.8400 ext. 211 with your Visa or Master Card. Specify quantity and size: small, medium, large, x-large, xx-large, or xxx-large. Online: AmishExperience.com. In person: Amish Experience Theater at Plain & Fancy Farm, RT 340 between Bird-In-Hand and Intercourse.

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24 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

Music, Lighting & Supernatural Adamsburry Holiday Craft Show October 12 & 13 • 8am-4pm Special Section! BOTH DAYS!

October 5 & 6 - Pepsi, Coke & Advertising October 19 & 20 Tobacco, Beer,Tavern & Pewter SEASON FINALE! October 26 & 27 - Animal Collectibles & Memorabilia Special themes or shows every weekend. GPS: 607 Willow St. • Reinholds, PA 17569

Aimee & Daria’s Doll Outlet is a Must for Enthusiasts by Clinton Martin

hances are you weren’t in Amish Country this past July, and thus missed out on one of our most interesting events. But, worry not, rumor has it an encore is being planned. What’s all the fuss about? Why it’s the much-anticipated Doll Party at Aimee & Daria’s Doll Outlet! Aimee & Daria’s is the largest doll-themed store within 1,000 miles of Lancaster, filled with shelves displaying over 5,000 dolls, not to mention doll clothing, furniture, accessories, and literature.

Whoopie Pies

(Continued from Page 16) cookies... It’s really like a giant Oreo, with the delightful substitution of oatmeal for chocolate cookies! Whoopie pie purists may scoff, but this whoopie makes for one very sweet treat. -Brad

With a long-recognized expertise and reputation among doll enthusiasts, Aimee & Daria’s enjoys the kind of clout needed to throw what is truly a can’t-miss doll party. The famous Spanish doll designer, Richard Cerda of Berenguer Dolls, personally visits the shop during the party signing collectible birth certificates for babies purchased from Aimee & Daria’s. To see pictures from the event, and learn about all that is involved, just visit Aimee & Daria’s Facebook page. If you want to visit Aimee & Daria’s today, there are plenty of reasons to do so. Quite simply this is one unique store that you can only see here in Amish Country. Don’t want to take our nice change from the usual chocolate variety. It had a rich natural red color with a soft and sweet cream filling. It’s the whoopie I’d like my friends to think I baked. The reddish cake and white filling would be my pick at Christmas time! -Shannon

Smorgasbord (Rt. 30) This is Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop (Gibbons Miller's the classic, traditional chocolate whoopie pie Road) I tasted the red velvet whoopie pie, a with white icing. Here chocolate is the main

word for it? Trust the most recent review from TripAdvisor.com, which really paints a picture of what to expect from A&D: We visited here because our 8-year-old wanted to add to the wardrobe for her American Girl doll, but did not have enough money in her allowance to buy even one outfit directly from the company. We were amazed to see the amount of dolls, doll items, and variety of dolls that are housed in this building! We spent about an hour there, just to look around at all of the things displayed, which is well organized and displayed with thought and care. We couldn’t help but smile at the nursery that they have set up, and we heard other people there comment about how sweet and unusual it is! It was hard for our daughter to make up her Continued on Page 47

ingredient with extra large firm cakes. There is an excellent ratio of cake to icing. I know this big, yummy pie would also be perfect to eat frozen! -Brad We really own the Whoopie Pie here in Amish Country. Go out and do your own taste tests. You’ll see some great countryside and bite into some whoopies that just won't be duplicated anywhere else.

AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 25

AMISH SERIES 2013 AMISH TECH: Plain Meets Modern Part 6

by Brad Igou

In our Amish series this year, we have been looking at how rapidly changing technology is impacting the Amish way of life. The Amish view each new technology as one they might accept, adapt, adjust, limit or prohibit. New or modern is not necessarily a negative for the Amish, but rather they look at how their lives, community and values are potentially impacted. Can they control the technology, or will the technology control them? As we engage in this discussion, it’s appropriate to reflect on how these same technologies are impacting the rest of us.

the internet is bringing more change to the way we think, act, and live. It is changing all the old patterns of behavior. It will bring more change than anything else has since the invention of the printing press. It is important to remember that nobody regulates hardly anything that gets put on the internet. You can post and view nearly anything you want. In the past with radio and television, the government had certain standards for things you could or could not show and say. Over the years this deteriorated. And now with the internet you can do nearly as you please. And yet there is nothing on the internet that has not been with humans for thousands of years ever since the dawn of time. Humans have always been sinful, violent and lustful.

n this installment, I have chosen to reprint a particularly poignant portion of a talk given by a Lancaster County Old Order Amish man to a local youth group. You can easily imagine the heavy heart this man brought to his words as he posed, to him, what he saw as the risks to his community, friends and family involved with today’s smart phones and Internet. We appreciate the kind permission of the speaker and Erik Wesner to share this with you. Erik is the author of SUCCESS MADE SIMPLE: AN INSIDE LOOK AT WHY AMISH BUSINESSES SURVIVE and FIFTY FASCINATING AMISH FACTS. He also maintains a popular website that is an excellent resource on Amish culture. If you want to dig deeper into the world of the Amish, visit his website AmishAmerica.com. Erik provides this background information... If you ask Amish people, youth issues are among the main concerns in many settlements, so much so that families may move halfway across the country to provide a better situation for their children. Some Amish don’t face as much of an issue concerning the smartphone and internet. This is Lancaster County,

The Amish don’t always view new technology negatively, but the increasingly complex issue of cell phone usage has many Amish concerned. however, where Amish tend to have a closer relationship with a higher level of technology than many. This talk was shared with me by the speaker, a father of six, who has given permission for it to be shared here. It was originally given to a group of about 150 Amish individuals, half youth, half parents. It may not represent every Amish person’s thoughts, but I think it’s safe to say most would sympathize with this man’s words.

The difference here today is that the cell phone and the internet bring all this together in one little device. You hold the whole world in your hand and you can put it in your pocket. And anymore there is not much difference between a so-called smart phone and a more innocent looking flip phone. This all makes the development of compulsive behaviors and bad habits so very much easier and so much more likely. A young Mennonite boy I worked with said that you say things to people online you never would to their face. I asked a young girl I work with if this would be fair and true to say. She said, “Oh yes, very definitely that is true.”

***** I would like to move to cell phones. Some think they are no good and we shouldn’t have anything to do with them. Others feel a little different than that. There are parts that are good and even to a degree sometimes necessary. I am not here to take sides. I don’t have a cell phone nowadays. I used to work at a place where they had cell phones and computers and I know the basics on how to use them. However, this we can all agree on I think. There is a lot of distraction and trash on the internet. And it is one of the most complicated and difficult issues the Plain people have ever dealt with. I want to touch a little on the nature and dangers of the internet. English people as well say that

26 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

Technology decisions regarding lighting are relatively easy, such as this set-up seen at an Amish farm near Strasburg. One thing is certain. It will take strong and good character to guard your hearts and minds and keep them undamaged. But the good news is this... Overcoming temptation and bad habits is what builds character. But this issue goes deeper. I believe that the issue is with us and our nature as much as with the things we use and have. We often think temptation is all around us, but

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Organized youth activities are often seen as a way to underscore the Amish community’s ideals in a positive way. still the Bible says vile things come from the heart. Temptation starts in your mind maybe more than in your circumstances. I think this is why certain things tempt some people more than it does others.

The Personal Encounter So Many Seek… But So Few Experience! Limited to 14 People

What gets your attention gets you. And the side we give attention to and feed is the side that wins. The question again is this: Does being addicted to the internet, which is very self-indulgent, bring us together or pull us apart? Studies show social media tends to isolate. Our choices will make a big difference not only for us and our children but also for all future generations. The choices are ours and we will have to live with them. It takes true humility to admit our weakness and to seek help. It also takes true humility to be a help to others. We really need each other. We need family and friends and church to encourage and influence each other and to be good examples. This life is a struggle as long as we live. But with the good Lord’s grace we can all do better.

On the Farm

Visit an Amish farm at milking time

At Work

Talk with an Amish craftsman

At Home

Visit with Amish at home

V.I.P. stands for “Visit In Person,” for you will have the unique opportunity to meet three of our Amish neighbors. Traveling in a comfortable shuttle bus, this exclusive tour is limited to 14 people to allow more personal contact, as we visit the Amish on the farm, at work, and at home. Stop 1: Amish Farm at Milking Time. Observe the milking process. Discover “Amish electricity” as you learn that the Amish do not milk cows by hand.

Stop 2: Amish “Cottage Industry.” As land for farming shrinks, more Amish turn to home businesses to balance work and family. We may visit a carriage-maker, carpetloom shop, soap-maker, or cheese-maker for a personal talk and presentation. Stop 3: Visit An Amish Home. We’ll go to the home of one of our Amish neighbors for friendly conversation…a chance to sit, chat, and visit the Amish way. It's not surprising that strangers soon become friends.

Tours from the Amish Experience Theater at Plain & Fancy Farm RT 340, between Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse.

Many Amish elders value face-toface communication as their "social network," although the community's youth have in some cases adopted online versions.

Departs 5:00PM Monday - Saturday June 10 through October Advance Reservations Recommended Call: 717-768-8400, Ext.210 Online: AmishExperience.com In Person: The Amish Experience Theater 3121 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505 AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 27

About the Cover Art By Freiman Stoltzfus by Brad Igou

e asked popular local artist Freiman Stoltzfus to create an original oil painting for our cover story on Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies. Freiman confessed that he loves Zook’s pies and was thrilled when

his mother served them to the family when he was young. He wanted to portray the dynamics and warmth of the kitchen he remembers growing up, the heartbeat of every Amish home. Since this would be our October cover, Freiman

added the hint of autumn leaves through the window. Freiman Stoltzfus is a Lancaster County native born into an Amish-Mennonite family. The youngest of six children, his talent was encouraged early in his original art depicting the Amish community. He began expanding his subject matter and artistic horizons through several trips abroad, including time living in Italy and France, where the churches and museums greatly influenced his work. He is noted for his unique use of form, geometric shapes, and color in various mediums. His intriguing exhibition themed around clocks may be seen this month in his downtown Lancaster

gallery at 142 North Prince Street, where his work is available for purchase. View more at www.FreimanStoltzfus.com. Freiman told us that, “I was raised in a rural Pennsylvania community where the ‘image’ was rejected, replaced by the power of word and deed. My desire is to produce work that is more than pigment on canvas, but a deep expression of beauty, memory, and hope. It’s my hope that through my work I can show viewers a pure and true look at the things and places I love.”

28 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

Had Adam Only Known

(Continued from Page 21) that “compared to the English, Penn Dutch cooks were poor pudding makers. Rather, they disguised fruit in many ways. Dumplings were much favored, combining the German tradition of the dumpling with the love of the fruit.” Today, you’ll find apple dumplings in season at bakeshops and roadside stands. The apples are peeled and cored, wrapped in thick dough, and baked. They are best served warm with milk or ice cream. Some enjoy them for breakfast, while others find them a hearty dessert or snack later in the day. Apple dumplings have long been a signature dessert at Plain & Fancy Farm Restaurant on RT 340 between Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse. Finally, let us not forget apple cider. There are several orchards that “press” cider using their own apples, so it won’t ever get any fresher. My favorite comes from Kauffman’s Fruit Farm & Market, just west of Plain and Fancy, and is delicious ice cold or piping hot with a cinnamon stick on a cool autumn eve. So whether you decide to buy or pick some apples to take home, or simply want a delicious apple dessert when dining out, you should have no problem making “an apple a day” a tasty part of your autumn menu.

AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 29

From the Horse's Mouth Part 2 Interview by Brad Igou

EDITOR’S NOTE: In our September issue we did the first-ever interview with one of the horses at Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides. The unbridled enthusiastic response from readers and horses alike, along with more questions, prompted us to conduct a second interview with “Aaron.” So we once again hoofed it on over to the stables at Plain & Fancy Farm on Route 340 between Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse after Aaron’s last buggy run for the day. Brad: In our first interview, you said that American Saddlebred or American Standardbred are the breeds of horses best suited for pulling carriages. Why is that? Aaron: It has to do with being the right size. American Saddlebreds are for show driving, Standardbreds for stamina and speed. Brad: I’ve heard that horses can be pacers or trotters or both? Can you explain what that means? Aaron: Pacers like me lift both of our feet on the same side off the ground at the same time, so we have a kind of side-to-side swaying motion. The Trotter lifts alternate feet. It’s true that some horses switch back and forth, but that’s not desirable in a carriage horse. You can get an uncomfortable ride, a little like shifting gears at the wrong time when driving one of those cars of yours! Brad: Is there any special training required for a horse to pull the carriages? How do you get accustomed to cars and trucks whizzing by? Aaron: We have to be “road safe” of course. But like anything else, it’s largely just a matter of getting used to it through experience and repetition. I’ve even seen some farmers that tie a new horse to the fence next to a busy road so it will start to get used to the noise and traffic.

Aaron: We could be pulling carriages for as many as 20 years. And the oldest horse is my friend “Tank” over there at the ripe old age of 23. He got that name because he’s so big! Brad: Sounds like you’re feeling your oats today! What and how much food and water do you consume in a day? Aaron: Just like you humans, it depends on size. I’d say on average I eat about 35 pounds of hay, and drink five to ten gallons of water. Of course, that’s not anywhere near what those cows drink! Brad: Do horses sleep lying down? Aaron: It’s funny you asked me that. Of course we do, but we also sleep standing up. We sleep about two and a half to three hours a day, and lock our legs when we do. And we tend to sleep longer in the summer than in the winter. By the way, did you know we horses have been domesticated for over 5,000 years, that chariot racing was the first Olympic sport in 680 B.C., and that there are estimated to be over 60 million horses and 300 breeds in the world. Brad: That’s fascinating. Have any other horse facts for me? Aaron: Well I’d guess even some of our drivers don’t know this… We have bigger eyes than any other mammal that lives on land. Because my eyes are on the side of my head, I am capable of seeing nearly 360 degrees at one time. We also have 16 muscles in each ear, so we can rotate our ears 180 degrees. Brad: After all these years, I bet you have some interesting stories to tell. Care to share one or two with me?

Aaron: That’s an easy one to answer. I usually go along at around six or seven miles per hour, so you can really enjoy the scenery at that pace.

Aaron: The stories I remember often have to do with folks from the big city. One day I overheard a little boy pointing out a horse lying in the field, and he asked his mother whether the horse was sleeping or going to lay his eggs. That’s just wrong in so many ways! We’ve actually had some people come back from a ride asking about all those black and white horses. I guess they’d just never seen a real live cow before!

Brad: How many years might a horse do rides? Who’s the oldest in your stable?

Brad: What are some of the favorite stops on the different tours?

Brad: What speed is average on a carriage ride?

30 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

Aaron: My favorite stops personally are the watering trough, the feed bag, and the cookie table! But if you are asking about stops on our rides, visitors always seem to enjoy the cookie run, where they pass through a real Amish farm and can buy some cookies and root beer. Folks also like one of our longer tours to an Amish farm where we watch cows being milked. We have several different routes and lengths of tours, so I never get bored. And I do love the autumn scenery during the harvest season. Brad: I sometimes see buses parked over here. Do you do buggy rides for large groups? Aaron: Do we ever! We get groups literally from all over the world, from Europe to Japan to countries in Africa. We just had a group here from the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. Even the Chinese ambassador was along, followed by a special car just in case something happened that required him to hurry back to D.C. Anyway, I think we had about 150 people. A “surprise bus” really gets our hearts pumping, which means a lot since our hearts weigh about nine pounds! We give them a run for their money! Brad: Up until meeting you, the only talking horse I ever knew of was Mr. Ed on TV in the 1960’s. Did you ever hear of him? Aaron: Actually, I have. He was a golden palomino. They say he learned an amazing number of tricks for his role, including answering a telephone, opening doors, writing notes with a pencil, and unplugging a light. But he was also a bit of a “prima donna,” and would occasionally have a fit of temper, stand stock still, wheezing and refusing to move. You’ll never see me do that. Well, almost never, but, to confess, a late dinner call does drive me buggy! Brad: Thanks, Aaron. These interviews have once again given AMISH COUNTRY NEWS a leg up on the competition.

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The Amish Experience at Plain & Fancy Farm hosted staff and families of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. on August 31, 2013. The Ambassador, Tiankai Cui, is seen here with his wife in the driver's seat with Miriam of Aaron & Jessica's Buggy Rides. Photo credit: Sherri Patko

Amish Country News October Events Sampler Now Through November Wanda Brunstetter’s HALF-STITCHED: THE MUSICAL Bird-in-Hand Stage Now Through November Wine & Cheese Train Strasburg Rail Road Now Through October 27 Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire Mount Hope Estate & Winery Now Through October 26 FOX ON THE FAIRWAY Rainbow Dinner Theatre

Now Through October 26 WITNESS Movie Covered Bridge Tours Amish Experience at Plain & Fancy Farm Now Through October 25 Amish Visit-In-Person Tours Amish Experience at Plain & Fancy Farm Now Through October 5 MENOPAUSE: THE MUSICAL October 10 to November 9 HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre

32 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

October 5 & 6 Lancaster Fall Art Walk Streets of Lancaster City October 12 &13 Trick or Treat Turkey Hill Experience October 12 Chocolate for Charity Streets of Lititz October 20 Great Train Robbery Strasburg Rail Road October 30 – November 10 Poe Evermore Mount Hope Estate & Winery

Bargain Hunters and Antique Dealers Agree...Renninger’s is a Must by Clinton Martin

PA. For those of the paper map persuasion, take Route 222 North from Lancaster, exiting at the sign for the PA Turnpike. Turn left at the light at the bottom of the exit ramp, and then right onto

Route 272, heading north. In less than two miles, look for all the activity at Renninger’s off to your left.

Renningers has finely aged antiques but also provides funky finds from the fifties and beyond for collectors and enthusiasts

very Sunday at 5:00 AM, weather permitting, Renninger’s Antique Market in Adamstown hosts an outdoor everything and anything marketplace. Flashlights are standard equipment, equally as important as an open-minded shopping list when arriving this early. Dealer after dealer looks forward to the pre-dawn set up to meet the first wave of shoppers. The pace can seem a little frenzied at first, but the action is scintillating and fun. People scurry from table to table looking for the next great bargain. Seasoned antique shoppers can be seen haggling and competing for sought-after finds. For them, the motto has always been, “Don’t hesitate! If you really like something, buy it. Chances are it won’t be there when you come back!”

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After the sun peeps over the horizon, many shoppers move into the massive indoor portion of the market. It’s not only a good excuse for a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, but there’s seemingly endless shopping awaiting. Dealers line the isles with merchandise of all sorts including antique furniture, collectibles, jewelry, glass, china, art, and plenty of vintage items. The indoor market is open from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm every Sunday rain or shine.

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AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 33

AMISH FARMLANDS • “WITNESS” MOVIE • VISIT-IN-PERSON

Tours Since 1959

Amish Farmlands Tour

Journey along back country roads, deep into the Amish Farmlands to discover sights rarely seen. Under the watchful eye of your guide, you’ll gain insights into the “how” and “why” of an everchanging culture, and see at-themoment activities of the Amish. If you’ve seen the Amish portrayed on the Discovery Channel’s “Reality” TV Show, and you wonder what really is true and not true about the Amish, this is the tour you can’t afford to miss! We’ll debunk myths about the Amish and provide accurate, respectful, and authentic information, just like we have been for over 50 years. Plus, now through October 31, 2013 we’ll provide each guest who purchases the Amish Farmlands Tour, or one of our combination packages, with a voucher for a free buggy ride at Aaron & Jessica’s.

“Witness” Movie Tour

Visit-in-Person Tour

Harrison Ford in the movie WITNESS lived as an Amishman on this Amish farm. Our exclusive tour is your only chance to visit the farm, hear legendary tales of the filming, and take photos inside the barn and summer kitchen of this picturesque property seen on movie screens by millions. Marvel at the historic covered bridges we cross making our way through unexplored parts of Amish Country.

Rare is the opportunity to meet with Amish families willing to share their traditions and beliefs with you. In a group whose size is never more than 14, this is the only Amish Tour to be designated an official “Heritage Tour” by the County. Visit an Amish farm at milking time, stop at a Cottage Industry, and finally gather round a living room in an Amish home for an informal conversation with the family.

Duration: 2 1/2 hours. Sat Only 4:30pm.

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Duration: 1 1/2 hours. Mon-Sat, 10am, 12pm, 2pm & 4pm. Sun 10am, 12pm & 2pm.

FREE AMISH BUGGY RIDE

One voucher for each adult or child ticket purchased with

coupon. Not valid with any other offer or with group 34 • Amish Country News • Octoberthis 2013 • AmishNews.com tours. Offer expires 10/31/13. Coupon must be presented

at time of purchase.

BUGAN

at Plain & Fancy Farm 3121 Old Philadelphia Pike, Rte. 340 Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505-0414 Purchase advance tickets:

(717) 768-8400 Ext.210 AmishExperience.com

Plain & Fancy — Farm to Table Since 1959 Where It All Began Over 50 years ago, Plain & Fancy Farm opened to provide delicious, authentic Amish meals to visitors from all over the world, the first family-style restaurant in Lancaster County. Since then, Plain & Fancy Farm has become not only a PA Dutch culinary delight, but has also added fun and interesting attractions such as the Amish Experience, Amish Country Tours, the Amish Country Homestead, and Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides. The onsite Country Store offers excellent country shopping, and the newest addition to the property, Amish View Inn & Suites, welcomes visitors with luxurious lodging amidst all that Plain & Fancy has to offer.

A Lancaster Original Amos, Ben, Manny and Elmer are some of the Amish farmers who supply Plain & Fancy Farm Restaurant with the farm-fresh produce it serves on a daily basis. Depending on the season, sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelon, cabbage, broccoli, squash, peppers and onions are all sourced from farms within a horseand-buggy’s drive. These neighbors, and the neighbors before them, have helped Plain & Fancy Farm Restaurant go “from farm to table” for over 50 years. The restaurant is AAA recommended, a PA Preferred and ServSafe award winner, and the Pennsylvania recipient of USA Today’s Great Plate Award.

The Amish Farm Feast Plain & Fancy Farm Restaurant is best known as Lancaster County’s original family-style restaurant. The all-you-can-eat Amish Farm Feast includes your entrees, side dishes, starters, desserts and beverages. Enjoy fried chicken, roast beef, chicken pot pie, baked sausage, real mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, green and yellow string beans, dried sweet corn, chow chow, cole slaw, raisin bread, rolls and apple butter, lemonade, iced tea, hot tea, coffee, sour cream apple crumb pie, shoo-fly pie and vanilla ice cream. It was this very meal that drew Man Vs. Food’s Adam Richman to Amish Country, who went behind the scenes in the Plain & Fancy kitchen for one of his popular show’s episodes.

The New “ala carte” Menu The restaurant also offers a new ala carte menu featuring mouth-watering appetizers, signature soups and salads, charbroiled burgers and sandwiches, and made-fromscratch entrees and platters. The ala carte

menu is also a great value with daily specials starting at $10 or less.

AmishView Inn & Suites

While you’re at Plain & Fancy Farm, you’re invited to stroll up and visit AmishView Inn & Find books, DVDs, candles, souvenirs and Suites, a classically beautiful hotel that features local handcrafts, and more. Explore The elegant accommodations and incredible views. Country Store’s collection of traditional Amish If time permits, a front desk representative can clothing, straw hats, bonnets, toys and dolls, provide you with a quick tour of the hotel. The and discover new treasures to adorn your indoor pool, fitness center, arcade, whirlpools kitchen and home. You’ll find seasonal items and fireplaces make AmishView perfect for an as well as Christmas decorations, available intimate getaway, family vacation, or corporate year round. The store also features Kauffman's retreat. Complimentary hot country breakfast, Fruit Farm jams and jellies, bakery fresh items wireless internet, HBO, DVD players, special from Miller’s Bakery, and Plain & Fancy chow amenities and kitchenettes come with every AmishNews.com room. • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 35 chow and apple butter.

The Country Store

Welcome to Intercourse PA INTERCOURSE Dutchland Quilt Patch

772

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Ruthie’s

340

Esh Handmade Quilts

Intercourse Pretzel Intercourse Canning Co.

HARVEST DRIVE

erhaps no other town in the entire country can claim its fame on just one simple thing --- its name. Harrison Ford drove a buggy past the road sign on a memorable visit in the Hollywood blockbuster hit of the movie "Witness." For years people have postmarked “Intercourse” on envelopes, and the jokes from visitors who travel through Bird-in-Hand to Intercourse are endless. There are several theories for the name, but that which we find most plausible follows. Around 1730, the Old Provincial Highway (now Route 340) was laid out to connect Philadelphia with Lancaster. Conestoga wagons hauled freight back and forth between the two cities. Providing rest for travelers and horses, taverns sprouted along the way, becoming centers for news, gossip, and commerce. The construction of a log tavern in 1754 at the intersection of Newport Road and the Highway took “Cross Keys” as its name.

QUEEN RD.

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It remained such until 1814, when the name was changed to Intercourse as part of a failed real estate scheme of a Mr. George Brungard, who had acquired 48 acres of nearby land and attempted to lay out a town site and divide it into sections for sale by a lottery, advertising “151 handsome building lots of $250 each to be drawn for by number.” Renaming the town made sense, as intercourse had a common usage referring to the pleasant mutual fellowship and frequent intermingling which were so common in the informal atmosphere of the quiet country village. Over time, Brungard’s scheme begat others. As recently as 1971, an enterprising soul tried to take advantage of the town’s name by selling deeds for one-inch square plots of Intercourse to visitors. Creative, but nonetheless a failure. By 1880, Intercourse had a population of 280 with a post office that actually moved among stores or restaurants as owners hoped visits by residents would increase their business.

36 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

The local stagecoach service started around 1898 as “a single horse conveyance similar to a market wagon, with a roll-up curtain and double set of seats.” When the stagecoach driver knew of passengers beforehand, their comfort on cold days was added to with the placement of hot bricks heated in the oven, and wrapped in newspaper to preserve their warmth. As the days of the dirt road drew to a close, so too did the stagecoach era. In 1923 a transit company was organized and bus service initiated to and from Lancaster. While “many of the Amish residents of the area were eager to see the line started, they did not want to invest in stock of the Company. Instead they bought books of tickets which were really prepaid bus

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fares.” Enough money was raised to buy a Mack Auto Bus for $6,800. It held 25 passengers and even had solid rubber tires! Today Intercourse has been recognized as a “foodie” town by the PA Dutch Visitor’s Bureau. You'll soon discover why walking the streets of this tiny hamlet is an absolute mustvisit for everyone.

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4134 Old Philadelphia Pike 2 Miles East of Intercourse on Rt. 340

717-768-3818 Hours: Monday - Saturday 9-5

www.countryknives.com AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 37

All Reader Foodies... Tell Us Your Stories and Spend a Night or Two in Luxury! by Brad Igou

s part of our annual October Food & Dining issue, we decided to encourage our readers to share with us a special meal, memory, or recipe relating to an Amish Country dining or food related experience. Maybe you chatted with a farmer at a roadside stand, or enjoyed a memorable meal in a local restaurant, or went home and prepared a meal using a local cookbook recipe. Perhaps you want to rave about a local food staple you took pleasure in… that shoo fly pie to die for, or the chicken corn soup you so often crave. Tell us about it. Please keep your entry to 250 words or less and submit to editor@amishnews.com with “Reader Contest” in the subject line. Or write us at PO Box 414, Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505. Deadline is November 8, 2013.

Silverstone offers nine luxurious, individually appointed guest rooms with marble tiled private baths, and full gourmet breakfasts. Built in 1750 on 15 acres of farmland, this gorgeous B&B is a perfect retreat for romance, history, elegance, serenity and privacy in the heart of Amish Country. To whet your appetite even more, visit SilverstoneInn.com.

So, here’s your chance to recall a happy food memory, put it to your finest prose, and, who knows, maybe you’ll be spending a glorious night or two at Silverstone. We’re quite sure that your memory bank will be fuller when you recall and share your foodie story on your way to a B&B stay to remember!

Surely you’ll want to return to Amish Country to take in the sights and feast once again on our foods. The First Place Winner will receive a $200 gift certificate (valid through 2014) towards a stay at one of our favorite bed and breakfast inns, the historic Silverstone Inn & Suites, plus two tickets for the Amish Experience SuperSaver tour. This package includes “Jacob’s Choice” at the Amish Experience Theater, a tour of the Old Order Amish Country Homestead, and a 14-passenger shuttle tour of the Amish farmlands. Our Second Place Winner will receive a $200 gift certificate redeemable for a stay at the Inn.

co m

ZOOK’S FABRICS IN THE VILLAGE

38 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

br tF a

-T sn at

A Simply Irresistible Celebration of 16 Years of Canning!

on l

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Limit one coupon per family. Cannot be combined with any other offer. May not be used on sale items and not valid on mail orders. Offer ends 12/31/13.

13 Center Street Intercourse, PA 717-768-0156 IntercourseCanning.com

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At Intercourse Canning Company

Mon-Sat 8am-5pm

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(717) 768-8153 3535 Old Phila. Pike

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(717) 336-2664

Sauder’s Fabrics

681 South Muddy Creek Rd. Denver, PA 17517

Enjoy An Authentic Lancaster County Dining Experience.

Good ’N Plenty Restaurant is proud to serve a unique dining experience since 1969. At Good ’N Plenty, we are pleased to offer our guests family style dining, menu dining, a takeout program, an award-winning bake shop and an extensive gift shop. At Good ’N Plenty Restaurant, we have something for everyone. We offer three ways for guests to enjoy our delicious food.

Family Style Dining

Our traditional all you can eat family style dining is our most popular dining option. Guests are seated at large tables, often with other restaurant guests and all the food is brought to the table by our experienced and friendly servers.

Menu Dining

Our menu dining option is perfect for guests with a smaller appetite who would like to dine at individual tables. In addition to all the Pennsylvania Dutch favorites, our menu features fresh-made soups, garden-fresh salads and made-to-order sandwiches.

Take-Out

Good ’N Plenty’s takeout program is ideal for busy people who want a delicious meal in a hurry. Place your take out order and we will have a tasty meal waiting for you.

Stop By Our Bakery & Gift Shop

Our world famous Good ’N Plenty bakery, located on the lower level, is filled with traditional PA Dutch favorites, seasonal treats and award-winning delights. Customers near and far comment on the incredible variety available at the Good ’N Plenty Gift Shop with something for everyone!

Serving Monday – Saturday 11:30 AM - 8:00 PM

11:30 AM - 5:00 PM on Sundays (Seasonally)

Rt 896, Smoketown 717-394-7111 goodnplenty.com

The Finest In Local Farm Market Shopping

MARKET OPEN ON DAYS MARKED

Route 340, Bird In Hand, PA • 717-393-9674 AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 39

Welcome to New Holland • Blue Ball

Riehl’s Quilts & Crafts E. EBY ROAD

RD.

NVILLE VO G A

Groffdale Meadows Dairy

MAIN STREET Witmer’s Quilt Shop Emma’s Popcorn

Country Lane Quilt Shop

To Ephrata 322

897 23 RANCK AVE.

S. GROFFDALE RD.

N. GROFFDALE RD.

LEOLA

NEW HOLLAND

RAILROAD AVE.

Smucker’s Quilts

HILL RD. / WALLACE RD.

BLUE BALL

Country Home Blue Furniture Ridge Furniture

To September Farm Cheese

he instability in Europe in the late 1600’s spawned and nurtured the pioneer interest in the deep forest lands of Pennsylvania — 60 miles inland from Philadelphia. In 1681 William Penn received his 40,000 square-mile land grant to settle King Charles’ debt to his father. Himself a Quaker, Penn had experienced religious persecution firsthand, and decided to establish his American colony based on complete religious freedom.

This entire century had been one of continued misery for the peasants of the Palatinate (western Germany). The Thirty Years War had raged across the area with barbaric ruthlessness. The peasant inhabitants fled to nearby Holland for refuge. And within a decade of the end of that conflict, King Louis XIV of France started a new religious war in the same general area. These Palatinate peasants were exhausted by war’s desolation, and were ripe for a new start. Traveling land agents for William Penn’s new colony found listening ears. In addition to religious freedom and a peaceful existence, Penn offered cheap land. The stated price was 100 English pounds for 5,000 acres. (At today’s rate exchange, this would be less than $.04 an acre). By the year 1702, a goodly number of Palatinates had immigrated to Pennsylvania, and Queen Anne, newly reigning in England, was delighted that Penn was colonizing his immense grant without drawing off the population of Britain. The area today called New Holland was practically covered by virgin forests—sturdy timbers of oak, ash, chestnut, and walnut. By 1728, William Penn had been dead for 10 years and his American colony, called Pennsylvania, was being administered by a proprietary governor while the sale of land was formalized by patent deeds. In 1802, when a post office was established and an official name was necessary, there was no objection to naming the town New Holland. These grateful people remembered how extremely kind the inhabitants of Holland were to them, and the assistance that included funds to cover the cost of the refugee German immigrants’ ocean voyage. This was no small matter when the alternative was indentured service for a period of years. For adults, indenture frequently meant four to seven years of labor without pay. Minors served until their 21st birthday. But still, William Penn’s Quaker Pennsylvania was liberation compared to the Europe they fled seeking freedom of religion, assembly and speech for all, hopefully, none of which we take for granted today.

40 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

AMISH RECIPE: Good Food & Family Values by Joyce Hershey

Editor’s Note: A few years ago, Joyce Hershey, then a tour guide for Amish Country Tours, wrote an article for us that will be new for most readers today. It seemed fitting that the AMISH COUNTRY NEWS Annual Food & Dining Issue look at the way food and family blend together in the Amish world. As you read the article, you will also come across the names of many typical foods to be found on the table and in restaurants here. We hope this will kindle your own fond memories of food and family.

eddings, frolics, and church services all have one thing in common in the Amish world. There are special foods for each occasion. Snitz pie, made from dried apples, is often served at Amish church services. Amish “roast” (bread filling with pieces of chicken or turkey, and gravy) is served for the wedding feast along with creamed celery, mashed potatoes, and numerous

other dishes. A picnic or frolic means a table spread with chunks of cheese and relishes, such as chow chow and pickled red beets. Most people have heard stories of the large meals served to hundreds of people at Amish barn raisings and weddings. With over 300 people at a wedding, it is not uncommon to need gallons of mashed potatoes and gravy, many quarts of coleslaw and applesauce, many pies, and

hundreds of doughnuts. Good food and family values are the recipe for Amish meals both large and small.

Eating at Home

Unlike many families today, the entire Amish family sits together to eat at least two of the three meals each day. After the milking is done, and Continued on Page 42

AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 41

before the children leave for school or an off-thefarm job, the family gathers for breakfast. This might consist of eggs, fried potatoes, fried mush or scrapple. They often finish with cereal topped with fruit. Cooked oatmeal could also be served. For farm families, fresh milk is always available to pour over fruit or cereal. Cold cereal is bought in bulk and might be eaten as a snack before retiring at night. Most Amish women do not spend lots of time cooking creatively. Their cooking is often done “on the run,” as they have other chores around the house or may even help in the fields or in the barn. The garden and lawn all require lots of attention during the summer, so the recipes are very basic. The large meal at noon might consist of meat and gravy, mashed potatoes made with lots of butter, noodles, and a vegetable served with either browned butter or melted butter as a garnish. Applesauce is served with the main course as a salad.

Chicken Pot Pie Chicken pot pie is another dish that can be prepared while doing other chores. The chicken is cooked earlier and then the potatoes are added along with a few chunks of carrots and celery to simmer for about one hour. The pot pie noodles are added as the final step and then cooked another 20 minutes. Amish women prefer to make their own pot pie noodles by combining one cup of flour and one egg. The egg is dropped in a hole made in the flour and mixed with a fork. Just enough water or milk is added with a half teaspoon of salt to make a stiff dough. Some women add a dash of baking powder. This is rolled very thin and cut into squares to be added to the boiling stew. If they are in a hurry, they will resort to storebought noodles. Noodles can also be added to

beef stew. The meat in an Amish home is usually cut rather small and served in stew or gravy, and meat loaf is very popular.

Treats from the Garden Annie, an Amish mother of six, said that she really appreciates the “treats” from the garden to round out her supper or “snack.” These treats from the garden are usually watermelon, cantaloupe, or fresh tomatoes. Cheese and pretzels would also be on the table. Ice cream would be an appropriate dessert, although this may not always be available. To be Pennsylvania Dutch is to enjoy a salty pretzel with your ice cream. In the hot summer months, the afternoon meal might consist of cold sandwiches of bologna and cheese. As an alternative to sandwiches, many Amish have “bread soup.” This is simply homemade bread torn into pieces in a soup bowl, with fresh fruit over top and fresh milk poured over it. If fresh fruit is not available, they could use some of those canned peaches or pears stored in the cellar.

Picnics Gas grills have made an impact on Amish cooking. Chicken has always been a staple meat, and now many Amish prepare barbecue chicken for a picnic, family gathering, or even to sell to tourists. This could even complement a “corn roast.” The corn is left in the husk and steamed on an outdoor fireplace over a wood fire, with lots of butter available to put on the corn. A salad would also be served at a picnic. This is prepared on a large platter with layers of lettuce, shredded carrots, onions, tomatoes and cheese, topped with dressing. Fresh garden vegetables are readily available.

Visit th e Farm!

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Free Samples Every Day! Hundreds of Flavors! • Amazing melt in your mouth popcorn tossed with delicious all natural flavors • Popcorn morsels, popcorn bars, popcorn snack pizzas, and plenty of party favors too • From sweet and sour, to savory and salty, we have a popcorn variety for you

9:00am to 5:00pm Daily. Closed Sundays.

261 Hill Road, New Holland PA, 17557

717-354-8064

Great as GIFTS!

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42 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

Expires November 2, 2013

More Than One Dessert Desserts are always popular at gatherings. Banana pudding, vanilla cornstarch, caramel pudding, as well as cracker pudding are all well received. Layered desserts with fruits like peaches or pineapple with Jell-O are often seen. When entertaining, four or five desserts at one meal would not be uncommon. Finally, shoo-fly pie is a staple that can be served for any meal of the day, including breakfast!

Christmas Goodies Christmas is the time for the family to spend those long winter days making candies and cookies for the holidays. Many pounds of coating chocolate are bought at the local store to be melted down for Christmas candies and cookies. One favorite is made by applying a layer of peanut butter to a graham cracker, topping it with another cracker, and dipping it in melted chocolate. These are then placed on wax paper to harden and dry. Caution: if the finished cookies are not well hidden, they will disappear quickly. The Amish remind us of the simple joys of gathering the family together for special times. To have a good time, the Amish do not need food that is exotic or expensive. Celebrating together as a family is a trait of the Amish that we can carry into our own homes.

13 Years Strong!

isitors to Lancaster County love to experience the serenity of days gone by.

Part of this experience includes the delicious foods of the area and the handcrafted products of furniture artisans, including the still very much in demand Amish furniture. One place that offers both is the world famous Shady Maple complex. When Shady Maple Smorgasbord moved into a larger building across the parking lot a decade ago, the former restaurant building became home to one of the largest and best furniture stores in the area, Country Home Furniture. The store is now celebrating its 13th anniversary in business. According to management, "We like to think we're helping to preserve a little piece of America's furniture making history. Our craftsmen are steeped in tradition. They deeply care about their work." On two floors and 30,000 square feet of selling space in their retail store, you will find eight manufacturers of Americanmade sofas and recliners, made in North Carolina, Ohio and Mississippi, in addition to over 30 manufacturers of solid wood dining, bedroom, office, occasional and entertainment… and the area's largest selection of Amish furniture. The hardwood pieces come from American handcrafters and Amish builders in Ohio, Indiana and right here in Lancaster County. With hundreds of stylish products in traditional, transitional, modern and country looks on the floor, there is something for everyone. Unlike other stores where your only choices are what you see, at Country Home Furniture, you can have a hand in every facet of your design. That's the beauty of shopping there. Customers love the flexibility of having a piece made for them by selecting the wood, stain, hardware and fabric. If beautiful, quality, brand new, solid wood, American handcrafted furniture are important to you, then you owe it to yourself to explore Country Home Furniture. As they like to say, it's "worth the drive to the countryside" to come see the craftsmanship first hand, then enjoy your meal at Shady Maple Smorgasbord - two great things that make Lancaster County famous. Country Home Furniture is open Monday and Friday 10-7, Tuesday through Thursday 10-5, and Saturdays 9-5. The entire complex at Shady Maple is closed on Sundays.

For more information, call 717-354-2329, go online to www.chfs1.com or email sales@chfs1.com. GPS address is 1352 Main Street, East Earl Township, PA. 2 • Amish Country News • Spring 2013 • AmishNews.com

AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 43

A Pan and a Pint at Union Barrel Works by Clinton Martin

'm sure you agree that there's something liberating about ducking out of the office early on a Friday afternoon. Such were my fortunes on an early September Friday afternoon that were captured with my visit to Union Barrel Works. I bellied up to the bar, a beautiful solid-wood oldschool wrap-around dispensary of delicious beer, ordered my icy cold beverage, a just-released Apricot Wheat, and selected my go-to bar bite, the Stuffed Portobello Cap. The hearty and mini-skillet sized Portobello mushroom cap comes topped with caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, and UBW's exclusive house-made beer cheese. In a word, it is a forkand-knife required, fully satisfying full-mouth experience. I would have ordered up another and made a meal out of it, but I had only stopped in for a quick visit, not a lengthy repose, so seconds were reserved for the beer. The Apricot Wheat was proving very popular and the hint of apricot puree lingering on the palate gives you plenty of reason for a follow-up sip. Many around me were ordering it, so if UBW happens to be out of it when you arrive, might I suggest the equally delicious Blonde Bock. The

Blonde is a strong bock, deriving its name from its movie-star hair color. You've heard of a blonde bombshell? Well this is the beer's version. It has a smooth, malty flavor, yet is delightfully balanced with a touch of hops. The taste is decidedly less sweet than a traditional Mai Bock. Now should you be lucky enough to score a pint of the Apricot Wheat, prepare yourself for the best-smelling tumbler of brew that you've ever

SEPTEMBER FARM CHEESE Where Award-Winning Cheese is Made & Sold

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Open Year Round * Mon-Fri 7:30-6:30 * Sat 7:30-5 * Closed Sundays 5287 Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook, PA 19344 * (610) 273-3552 SeptemberFarmCheese.com 44 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

passed by your nose on the way to your lips. The taste doesn't let you down! Union Barrel Works is open daily except Mondays, and is located at the intersection of Church Street and Reamstown Road in the tiny village of Reamstown. Some GPS units recognize “Stevens” as the town name. Visit unionbarrelworks.com or call 717-335-7837 for more information.

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AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 45

Plain & Fancy Farm’s Family-Style Feast Draws Celebrity Accolades by Clinton Martin

Travel Channel’s Adam Richman is seen smiling before turning to enjoy Plain & Fancy Farm’s feast with his crew and newfound friends. The all-you-care-to-eat meal is brought from the kitchen, platter after platter, to be passed around the table as you would for a Thanksgiving dinner.

f you don’t spend a good portion of your day thinking about food, you’re in the minority in America today. From TV and its celebrity chefs to magazines, government policy to international economics, we all seem to be talking about food. In Amish Country, we might not be on the cutting edge of culinary cable TV, or driving the debate on the latest Farm Bill, but we do know a thing or two about gathering around the dining room table. A traditional Amish Country farmer’s meal can seem typical, even every-day to those born and raised here. But for those who come to spend hard-earned vacation time as visitors, the two or three meats, at least as many sides, delicious warm rolls and apple butter, pickled relishes and mixes, desserts a plenty and good old-fashioned sweet tea, lemonade, and of course a steaming cup of coffee to finish it all off comprise an allyou-care-to-eat feast of epic proportions.

Rather than concentrating on how much fried chicken Adam could eat in 30 minutes, “MVF Nation” sought out the great American feast-atmospheres. Where the food came plentiful, it wasn’t necessarily about jamming as much as possible down someone’s gullet, but rather about eating well, eating plenty, and as we say in Amish Country, “eating yourself full.” In an episode that first aired on November 16, 2011, the Travel Channel featured four restaurants that, in their opinion, embodied the ultimate feasts from coast to coast. Plain & Fancy Farm Restaurant was selected for a number of reasons, but perhaps what drew Adam and the rest of the Travel Channel production team the most was the “farm to table” way of life which has long been the mantra at Plain and Fancy.

The traditional feast at Plain & Fancy has become a culinary rite of passage in Amish Country.

In fact, it was this very image, family and friends, even complete strangers, gathering around a table spread wide with delicious, bottomless dishes, feasting and talking, supping and chatting that captured the attention of one of America’s celebrity big-eaters.

While it might be a little easier to source raw ingredients locally when all the neighbors bordering your restaurant are farmers, Plain & Fancy still must remain focused on selecting only the best ingredients for their time-tested recipes, the best-of-the-best, if you will. Longtime chef at Plain & Fancy, Steve Hassel, took Adam behind the scenes to don an apron, roll up his sleeves, and help prepare the traditional feast.

Adam Richman, who bills himself as holding just about every job there is in the culinary industry throughout his career, had become famous for his “Man vs. Food” series on the Travel Channel. Known more for gut-busting or hot-sauce searing eating challenges, the series took on a new vision when it became Travel Channel’s “Man vs. Food Nation.”

The feast includes starters (tossed salad, chow-chow, iced raisin bread, rolls, butter and apple butter), sides (fresh homemade mashed potatoes, brown buttered noodles, dried sweet corn, vegetable medley), entrees (fried chicken, sliced roast beef, chicken pot pie, baked sausage), desserts (vanilla ice cream, sour cream apple crumb pie, shoo-fly pie) and

46 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

beverages (iced tea, sweet tea, lemonade, hot tea, coffee and water). Adam had already spent at least 12 hours in the Plain & Fancy kitchen, interviewing people, meeting visitors, and he and his team were down-right hungry. In the end, they concentrated on preparing the most famous Plain & Fancy dish, and what had become their highly anticipated golden fried chicken. The chicken itself comes from a local poultry farm that’s far from being the least expensive option around, but does provide what Plain & Fancy, and tens of thousands of diners, profess to be the best. From there, the process is simple. But, as with many simple things, doing a common thing uncommonly well is a much more difficult matter. The fried chicken at Plain & Fancy is cooked at a higher temperature than what you could ever achieve at home, and is fried in a vacuum sealed vessel, which ensures the chicken is golden and luxuriously crispy on the outside, while remaining tender, juicy and delectable on the inside. At about 9:00pm that evening, the feast was ready, the table fully prepared. Adam acted as the host, welcoming his production crew, the Plain & Fancy staff, and a few fortunate visitors who happened to be there at the time, to a fabulous feast of traditional Pa Dutch foods. This on-the-spot culinary moment makes for great TV, of course. If you happened to miss it all, the experience is “re-run” daily at Plain & Fancy – without the cameras, lights, and makeup. The traditional feast at Plain & Fancy has become a culinary rite of passage in Amish Country. Hungry travelers have walked away sated and satisfied since 1959 when Plain and Fancy opened as the first family-style PA Dutch restaurant in Amish Country. Said another way, for over 50 years Thanksgiving Dinner has been served daily from Plain & Fancy’s Farm’s kitchen with one fowl (turkey) swapped out for another (chicken). Plain & Fancy Farm is also the home to the Amish Experience Theater, Amish Country Shuttle Van Tours, the Amish Country Homestead, Amish View Inn & Suites, and Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides. This destination icon is located along Route 340 halfway between the villages of Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse. For GPS directions, use 3121 Old Philadelphia Pike, Ronks PA, 17572. For convenient call-ahead seating, you can call 717-768-4411. For group reservations of 20 or more, call 1-800-555-2303 ext. 221. Do arrive hungry!

Our Advertisers

An (S) after the name denotes Open Sunday

ATTRACTIONS Aaron & Jessica's Buggy Rides (S)............30, 52 Abe's Buggy Rides................................................ 15 Amish Country Homestead (S)...........................2 Amish Country Tours (S)................. 2, 12, 27, 34 Amish Experience Theater (S).............................2 Amish Village (S).................................................. 11 Cherry Crest Adventure Farm............................ 12 Choo Choo Barn (S)...............................................9 Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre (S)...................... 33 Dutch Haven (S)......................................................3 Ghost Tour.............................................................. 12 Hershey’s Chocolate World (S)........................ 44 Intercourse Pretzel Factory................................ 37 Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery.............................. 21 Mennonite Information Center........................ 28 National Christmas Center (S).......................... 20 National Toy Train Museum (S)........................ 11 Oregon Dairy Corn Maze (S)................................6 PA Renaissance Faire (S).................................... 31 Rainbow Dinner Theatre (S)............................. 33 Refreshing Canopy Ziplines Tour (S).............. 22 Strasburg Rail Road (S)..........................................9 Turkey Hill Experience (S).....................................6 Verdant View Farm............................................... 11 Village Greens Mini Golf (S).............................. 12 Waters Edge Mini Golf......................................... 15

Country Creations....................................................8 Country Home Furniture.................................... 43 Country Houseware Stores................................ 42 Country Knives...................................................... 37 Country Lane Quilts............................................. 13 Countryside Road Stand..................................... 13 Dutchland Quilt Patch......................................... 37 Esh Handmade Quilts......................................... 36 Esh Valley Quilts.................................................... 17 Freiman Stoltzfus Gallery.................................... 51 Gish's Furniture & Amish Heirlooms .............. 28 Gordonville Bookstore........................................ 15 J & B Quilts and Crafts............................................8 Jake's Country Trading Post (S)........................ 19

Kahn Lucas Outlet (S)............................................7 Killer Hats (S)......................................................... 17 Lapp’s Quilts & Crafts.............................................9 Leacock Coleman Center................................... 32 Li’l Country Store & Miniature Horse Farm.....................................8 Obie's Country Store............................................ 41 Old Candle Barn................................................... 37 Omar & Sylvia Petersheim's Quilts & Fabrics... 13 Renninger's Antique Market (S)....................... 24 Riehl's Quilts & Crafts.......................................... 14 Ruthie's.................................................................... 15 Sauder's Fabrics..................................................... 38 Sam's Man Cave.................................................... 29 Shupp's Grove....................................................... 24 Smucker's Quilts................................................... 41 Witmer Quilt Shop................................................ 41 Wolf Rock Furniture.............................................. 20 Zook's Fabric Store............................................... 38

What's Coming Up for the Holidays?

rom mega-outlets to small boutique and specialty shops, and everything in between, this is the season when visitors fill their hearts with memories and their homes, as well as their cars, with gifts by checking off holiday lists in our Winter Wonderland of gift-buying opportunities. “Tis also the season for special events and holiday themed attractions. With our editorials literally providing readers the A to Z of Amish Country holiday shopping, the Holiday issue serves as a treasure map to great finds and seasonal activities throughout the region.

LET'S EAT Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop..................................... 16 Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord...................................................... 16 Emma's Gourmet Popcorn................................ 42 Good 'N Plenty (S)............................................... 39 Groffdale Meadows Dairy.................................. 41 Hershey Farm Restaurant and Inn (S)............ 10 Intercourse Canning Company (S).................. 38 Intercourse Village Olde Mill Restaurant....... 36 Iron Horse Inn (S)...................................................9 Kauffman's Fruit Farm......................................... 16 Miller's Smorgasbord (S).................................... 29 Mount Hope Wine & Beer Gallery (S)............ 45 Plain & Fancy Farm (S)........................................ 35 Revere Tavern (S)................................................. 17 September Farm Cheese.................................... 44 Union Barrel Works (S)....................................... 44 Zook's Homemade Chicken Pies........................4

LODGING Country Inn of Lancaster (S)............................. 32 Flory's Cottages & Camping (S)........................ 32 Fulton Steamboat Inn (S).................................. 31

SHOPPING Aimee & Daria's Doll Outlet (S)..........................7 Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market........................... 39 Blue Ridge Furniture............................................ 40 Brickerville Antiques (S)..................................... 22 Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall (S)................. 18

Dead line:

Calling All Photo g

December 31st,

2013

raphers!

2013 Amish Co untry News Ph oto Contest

Ours is one of the most photographed areas in the world. With so much beauty and variety around us, it’s no wonder! If you think you’ve got a great photo, why not send it to us? The winner will recieve free tour and attraction tickets. In addition, you will see your photo in the pages of Amish Country News! Other prizes will also go to the first, second, and third runners-up.

To enter, send photos in .jpg or .tiff format to: editor@amishnews.com (Please put “2013 photo contest” in the subject line)

Aimee & Daria's

All submitted photos become the property of Amish Country News and the Amish Experience. Photos may also be used in upcoming issues, in other publications, and/or for other promotional purposes. Photos will be judged on quality, color, subject matter, etc. Keep in mind that these photos are for publication, cannot be returned, and should depict a scene, aspect, event, or activity typical to Lancaster or the Pennsylvania Dutch Country region. DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: December 31st, 2013 We will accept photos via email, and request that no more than 10 photos by the same person be submitted, so pick your best! Each photo submitted should contain the name, address, phone # and email address of the photographer, so they can be contacted. Any details on the location, date, or subject matter of the photograph should be included.

(Continued from Page 25) mind when it came to choosing outfits, as they are reasonably priced and thus she was able to afford two of them! There is a room full of locally handmade clothing, which is pretty and durable, and easy to see through the packaging. The owners didn’t seem to mind at all that we took our time in making

our decision, nor did they seem to mind the volume of little kids that were stepping around, touching the items that they could reach. I know that we’ll be back when it is time to shop for doll items again! Aimee & Daria’s Doll Outlet is located at 2682 Lincoln Highway East (Route 30), Ronks PA, 17572. Reach the ladies at 717687-8118 or aimee@dolloutlet.com.

AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 47

To Hershey

Zipline Canopy Tour Refreshing Mtn.

422 322

Mount Gretna

To Hershey’s Chocolate World

Brickerville

117 Exit 266

PA Turnpike

419

Brickerville Antiques, and Specialty Shops

Mount Hope Estate & Winery (Wine Tasting Daily) PA Renaissance Faire (August 3-October 27) PaRenFaire.com

322

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Best Western Eden Resort

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Freiman Stoltzfus Gallery

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462

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222

48 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

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AmishNews.com • October 2013 • Amish Country News • 49

October 2013 COVER STORY

“Good Times for a Good Cause”

Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies..............................4

FEATURE ARTICLES

Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides............................30 About the Cover....................................................28 Adam’s Apples.....................................................21 Aimee & Daria’s Doll Outlet................................25 Amish Recipe: Food and Family.............................41 Dutch Haven........................................................22 Going Dutch Dream Meal......................................23 Good ‘N Plenty.....................................................20 Review: HALF-STITCHED: The Musical.................6 Iron Horse Inn......................................................10 Jake’s Country Trading Post..................................12 Plain & Fancy ..............................................35, 46 Renninger’s .........................................................33 Silverstone Inn Reader’s Contest ..........................38 Union Barrel Works .............................................44 Whoopie Pie Taste Test .......................................15

REGULAR FEATURES

Brad Igou’s Amish Series .....................................26 Dutch Haven Lancaster Landmark ..........................3 Event Sampler .....................................................32 Publisher’s Message ............................................50

AREA MAP & GUIDES

Amish Country Map ........................................48-49 Bird-in-Hand ..................................................13-16 Intercourse .....................................................36-38 Lititz/Brickerville ............................................21-22 New Holland/Blue Ball ....................................40-43 Paradise .........................................................17-20 Strasburg .........................................................8-12

by Brad Igou

Benefit Sales are popular among the Amish, but English visitors are certainly welcome to become part of the worthy cause. folks were busy trying to keep up with the unending line for French fries.

n May of this year, the White Horse Fire Company on Route 340, east of Intercourse held its annual auction to benefit the Central PA Ronald McDonald Houses. Many locals, including Amish, have used the Ronald McDonald Houses when their children were hospitalized with serious medical issues. Weeks beforehand, families and businesses were encouraged to donate items. Signaling the imminence of the event, two large tents were erected to host the auction. Inside the Fire Company, the three fire trucks were moved outside so that the entire interior could be filled with tables and chairs. People converged on foot, by car, and in horse and buggy. Cars and buggies were directed to parking in the field across the road. A sign admonished “No media or photographs.”

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Published by Dutchland Tours Inc. Brad Igou • Editor-in-Chief

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Clinton Martin (717) 768-8400 ext. 217. 500,000 copies distributed annually by subscription, and at over 400 motels, information centers and businesses in PA Dutch Country. Copyright ©2013. All contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without prior approval of the publisher.

Earlier in the day, charcoal had been fired up for the chicken BBQ, and now women in the hall kitchen were carefully preparing the menu for the chicken dinners --- $6 each --- chicken leg, cole slaw, potatoes, whoopie pie, and drink. Other volunteers were busy making subs or ham and cheese sandwiches, sometimes struggling to keep up with the demand. After all, if you are an Amish mom with seven children, those sandwiches looked good to the entire family and would disappear quickly once they reached home! In another corner, baked goods were on sale. I couldn’t take my eyes off the cherry-raspberry pie. At another table, the delightful weather made the soft ice cream even more tempting--vanilla and raspberry, by the cone or dish. A young married couple manned the coffee table, with your choice of hot or iced, with or without whipped cream. Outside, a handful of young

50 • Amish Country News • October 2013 • AmishNews.com

On the north side of the hall, children were playing games for prizes, while teenagers on the east side competed in a friendly contest of volleyball, the girls in bright pastel dresses. Here and there other Amish teens were chatting on their cell phones. Little kids were running behind Mom trying not to get lost in the bustling maze of people. Those attending were largely local, and it seemed the majority of the volunteers were Amish and Mennonite. Most volunteer fire companies here are a true mix of our rural populace, all trained in fighting fires and, it certainly appears, running successful fund-raising dinners, benefit auctions, and “mud sales.” If you are nearby during one of the autumn events, by all means go. Some dates are chosen to coincide with holiday weekends, as these folks know that visitors will surely be around, making excellent auction “bidders”. That’s certainly the case with the many quilts regularly auctioned off, as I witnessed visitors from New York go up against a couple from New Jersey for a prized beauty. You’ll rub shoulders with locals, eat some great food, and support a good cause. You will need to resist the urge to take photos, so turn off your “media” and turn on your senses. Buy a dinner, sit down, and just people-watch for a while. The organization is impressive, the activity hectic at times, and the sense of fun and good spirits palpable. Most of the auction items are donated, as is everyone’s time. Many local businesses give both food and auction items. Businesses, farmers, and local homeowners never forget that they or their friends or families may some day be in need of the volunteer firemen. Beyond being volunteers, these farmers, fathers, sons, and businessmen, and their supportive wives and children are all our local heroes. They would humbly tell you otherwise saying they are merely doing what their neighbors and friends would do for them. To me, however, heroes all are they, and it’s always my pleasure, in so many ways, to support their efforts.

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