Plain and Happy Living: Amish Recipes and Remedies

Five hundred years ago, it was illegal to own a Bible written in any language other than the dead language of Latin. But the invention of the printing press created a vibrant black market in vernacular Bibles in Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, - thus the Reformation was born. Out of this came a group of Bible readers called the Anabaptists (again baptized) from which the Amish emerged along with the Hutterites and Mennonites, who in time took their beliefs and philosophy of nonviolence to North America. The Native Americans found the Amish to be friendly and not warlike as the English were. Hence, the Amish learned of many native plants and herbs, and how to grow them. Emma Byler is Amish. Her father taught her the Native American foods and herbal medicines such as golden seal for a sore throat. He and the Amish community also taught her Amish Biblical wisdom. Her subsequent life experience taught her the rest: she raised ten kids on her own beginning at age 33 after her husband died. "We had to make do with what we had", she wrote. Through the years, she recollected the home remedies she had learned and wrote them down; she also wrote down recipes and even an occasional memo of a memorable event. As her writings grew, she found an empty shoe box to keep them in while she kept writing and adding to her library. One day an anthropologist, Peter Gail, met the now 70-some year old Amish woman and learned of her library. Seeing the treasure there in recipes, Native American home remedies, homemade household goods, food preservation, and decorative knot-tying, Dr. Gail helped her to compile this book. The food list for a 200 guest wedding dinner alone is worth the price of this book. In addition, Mrs. Byler shares her Amish wisdom brightened by a wonderful sense of humor honed by her faith in God and many life experiences. She offers much food for thought in addition to her recipes for many foods - a delightful chairside companion!

Mr. Gail and Emma byler have done a fine job helping us remember all those skills that our grandparents grew up with. Today, with everything brought to us at a supermarket, we have lost much of the knowledge that was common sense years ago. This book lets us in on some of that knowledge that has been forgotten in this fast paced world of today!!