A few days ago I finished writing Book 2 in my Amish Cooking Class series. This novel, about an Amish woman who teaches cooking classes in her home, is called “The Blessing.” Several recipes that Heidi Troyer teaches her students are included in the book. My husband and I have eaten many meals in our Amish friends’ homes, and we’ve never been disappointed. There’s no doubt in my mind–most Amish women are excellent cooks. Several Amish friends have shared recipes with me, like the one below. Do you have a favorite recipe you like to fix for family or friends? Feel free to tell about it or share the recipe here.

Stuffed Green Pepper Soup

1/2 cup green peppers, chopped
1 pound ground beef, browned
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons
Parmesan cheese
1 pint tomato juice
2/3 cup rice, cooked
1/8 – 1/4 cup brown sugar, or to taste

Combine all the ingredients in a large saucepan and cook until the peppers are done.

My fascination with quilts began when my mother gave me the old patchwork quilt her mother had made over 85 years ago. Since my maternal grandmother died 6 years before I was born, I never got to meet her. The only link I had to my grandmother was the patchwork quilt.
As a young girl, I would sit on my mother’s bed and study the quilt. I loved touching the oddly shaped velveteen patches, scattered among the colorful cotton and wool pieces of material.
My mother told me that each patch represented a piece of clothing someone in her family had worn. I used to imagine myself sitting on my grandmother’s lap, with the quilt draped over us. What would she have said to me? How would her hugs have felt?
When my daughter got married, I passed my grandmother’s quilt on to her, and someday she’ll pass it on to one of her daughters. Although none of us has had the privilege of meeting Grandma Thiel, her legacy lives on through her beautiful patchwork quilt.
My love for quilts is evident throughout our home. I have several full-sized Amish quilts, as well as some quilted wall hangings, pillows, table runners, and potholders. Whenever I look at any of these quilted items, I think about the labor of love that went into making them, and it gives me a sense of joy and peace.
I’ve mentioned quilts in several of my books. It’s my hope that after reading one of my quilt-themed novels, my readers will not only gain a better understanding of the Amish way of life, but will realize the effort that goes into the making of a treasured Amish quilt.
Have you been given a family heirloom? What special meaning does it hold for you?

Having visited the Hawaiian Islands several times, and setting my co-authored novel, The Hawaiian Quilt there, I’ve learned how the Hawaiian people have many similarities to my Amish friends. The Hawaiian people I’ve met are deeply spiritual. They also have strong family ties and values. They enjoy nature and spending time outdoors. For the most part, their emphasis is not on worldly things, but appreciating the simple way of life.

Personally, I would rather spend a quiet day at the beach, or outdoors where it’s green and lush, then go shopping at a crowded mall. I get more excited about finding a pretty shell on the sand than buying an new item of clothing or some trinket I don’t really need. I can relate well to people who like the simple things in life that God created for our enjoyment, because that’s where my heart lies as well.

Are there other groups of people who live similar to the Plain People? What are some similarities between you and the Amish?