DUTCHLAND FOODS GROCERY STORE, MARION, NY - WHAT'S OUT FRONT ???

I hadn't' been by the Dutchland Foods Grocery Store in Marion, New York in a while and thought I would go by.  We have had this store on before as it was grocery store gas station that sat vacant for many years until the Weaverland Mennonite family took it over, renovated it. and opened it as Dutchland Foods Grocery Store.

When I drove by this time, in addition to their groceries, , they had these beautiful wooden items for sale that are Mennonite and / or Amish made.  I thought you might enjoy seeing them.

DYNNAMAE N MAKES GRANDMOTHER OLIVE'S RASPBERRY & BLUEBERRY CAKES

I thank Dynnamae n for sending us pictures of Grandmother Olive's Raspberry Cake Recipe we had on last week.  Dynnamae n also decided to make the same recipe with blueberries.  She used a 9 inch square pan instead of the 9 x 13 that Grandmother used. Dynnamae n also lined her pans with parchment paper.   She baked the cake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes instead of using 375. When done, the cake was 1.5 inches deep.   Her drizzle was lemon flavored as it goes well with berries.  Dynnamae n says this recipe is a keeper.

When baking any of Jean's or Grandmother Olive's or Anna's recipes, if you could snap a picture or two to send to us, I would be glad to put them on here.  It would let others know what the recipe looks like.  If you send pictures and don't want your name on here, let me know and I will not put it on.  My e-mail is lincolnlady1121@yahoo.com

JEAN'S HOMEMADE SOFT DRINK RECIPES

I know that I put one of these on here before.  All of them I put on Amish Stories a few years ago.  Seeing we have new people, I thought it was time to put them on again especially at this warm time of year.  

RASPBERRY SHRUB

3 quarts mashed raspberries
1 quart vinegar (good vinegar)
sugar

Pour vinegar over the raspberries and let stand 24 hours.  To each pint of liquid add 3/4 lb. sugar.  Boil for about 1/2 hour.  Remove from heat and skim clear, then in sterilized bottles, seal tightly, and keep in cool place.  When wanting a drink add 1 tbsp to 8 oz glass of cold water.

GINGER ALE

2 gal warm water
2 oz bruised ginger root
2 lbs sugar
2 lemons - juice only
1 tbsp cream tarter
1 yeast cake or pkg in cold weather, 2/3 of pkg in summer

Mix together and let stand in stone jar, covered for 24 hours.  Strain and bottle.  Bottles must be sealed tightly.

SWITCHEL (Haymakers)

1 gallon water
2 cups sugar
1 cup vinegar
1 tsp ginger

Stir the ingredients together well and mix with water.  Then keep cool.  NOTE: Try using one cup sugar.  Some recipes call for molasses (1 cup instead of sugar).

This thirst-quenching drink is made for the men working in the fields.  Easy to make and surprising refreshing.

I also have some homemade wine recipes, but I don't know if you would be interested.
Jean

ANNA ANSWERS GIFT QUESTION

I am here to answer a questions about what sort of gift to an Old Order Mennonite Lady.  I am surprised she didn't take the morning glory seeds.  I would have even if I didn't have a place for them.  Sure I could find someone who would like them.

It is not a good idea to give them anything that they sell at their vegetable / baked food stand.  Especially baked goods.  Ladies, myself included, get the wrong notion sometimes.  Like if you brought baked goods, she might think you thought your baked goods were better than hers.  I know that's not your thought, but that is how some of us ladies are.  If you wanted to bake something, I would suggest a casserole that she could eat when she gets home from work.  But, unless you know her personally, I think that is to big a gift for what she gave you.

The sachet would be nice.  Only things you have to worry about those is if people have allergies or someone doesn't like the smell.  Elmer does not like sachets or plants that have a heavy smell in the house.  I say they sort of air the house.  Elmer says they smell up the house.  He was very happy when I got the greenhouse and got some of the plants out of the house.  Like I said, also allergies are problems, especially this time of year.  But I do think a sachet would be a nice gift.  I would like it even despite what Elmer says.

Thing that might be nice to buy is a stationery.  I don't mean the fancy that comes in boxes.  I am talking about the pads that you can get in Walmart, Dollar General, Family Dollar or Dollar Tree.  They have pretty pictures of flowers, or designs or animals, etc. on the top.  Both Amish and Old Order Mennonite write letters a lot.  We don't use computers.  Sometimes you can sets with paper, matching envelopes and pens all in one.  Those are nice too, but depending on the price.

Also, I think just giving her a thank you card would be nice.  Just the thank you card.  You could write a little note telling her how much you appreciate her giving you the flowers seeds and maybe tell how they were coming along.  I think she would appreciate that the most.

I hope that what I wrote has given you some ideas.

Also folks, please keep the questions coming in.  Elmer and I like suggestions on what to put in our posts.

Trust God's Wisdom
Anna

NOTE;
Anna has the patience of Job with me.  She gave me this post this morning and I don't know how I did it, but I deleted it by mistake.  Anna was so kind to give me the post all over again.  This time I set it to come on before she gave it to me, so I wouldn't do it again.
Marilyn

ELMER ANSWERS QUESTIONS

Thought I would answer some questions you asked.  By the way, I am getting low on your questions, so please feel free to ask more.  Not just of me, but Jean, and Anna, too.  The only way we know what you are interested in is by your questions.  That said, let me answer some.

Are we allowed to use electric for lighting, refrigeration, etc. ?  No.  We have gas for our refrigerator.  Most of our food items that have to be frozen go over to David and Jean's as they have electric and a freezer business in one of their barns.

In our refrigerator freezer, we keep what foods we need for a week or so.  The rest is over at David and Jean's.  When we need our food from David and Jean's, we can go over and get it out of our freezer drawers over there.  Most of the time, we call them first to make sure it is convenient for them.  We don't go on the Lord's Day unless it is an emergency.

Our hot water heater is also run on gas.  The stove in our kitchen is a wood burning stove.  We also have a wood burning furnace or heater.  Also, we have a gas furnance to heat the house.  We don't use the gas furnance unless it gets real cold.  Anna and I usually use the wood burning furnace or heater when it gets cooler. But sometimes, I don't care what they say, the wood furnace or heater doesn't heat the place enough.  So we use the gas.

Sometimes if Anna is using the wood burning stove and we have the wood furnace on it heats the house.  But in the deep winter, in the evening, Anna is done with stove, that heater won't heat enough, so we turn the gas furnace on.

As far as lighting the house.  Some of our lamps are battery operated, some are on propane and we have some on gas. The standing lamps in our house are propane.  We had a few gas lights put in when we had the house built,  Most of the lamps we carry room to room are battery operated.

Again, as I have said before, this is our Old Order Amish group.  Some Old Order Amish do not allow gas.

Someone asked how do young folks obtain drivers license without parents knowing it?  Or do they just buy a car and drive it without a license?

New York State has become stricter on getting license plates for a car.  So the young folks usually buy a car from someone that has plates on it.  Of course they don't think about if they are stopped or in an accident.

In this state your parents have to sign for your license until you are 18.  Yes, many young folks drive cars without a license.

Now you have to have proof of insurance when you go to get the license plates.  Some young folks get insurance, which is against our beliefs, get the plates and take the insurance off the car. You also have to show your drivers license when you go to get plates so whoever gets the plates must have a drivers license.  It is getting harder to do now days because if you don't have insurance on the car, New York State can revoke your plates and drivers license.  Still some people get away with it.  Of course, if you don't have a license, they can't revoke something you don't have.

There are still young folks that figure out how to do it.  They don't realize how dangerous it is or think it won't happen to them.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer

AMISH BAKED GOODS ROADSIDE STAND, LYONS, NEW YORK

This baked goods roadside stand, I have had on in previous years.  As usual, I asked if I could take pictures and they had a discussion.  I told them, I didn't want to do anything they didn't want me to or went against their religious beliefs.  They decided it was okay.  I discussed with Elmer and he said to put the pictures on.  So this may be the last year, I take pictures of this roadside stand.  I told them pictures or not, I would still come and buy from them because their baked goods are so delicious. Anyway, I purchased two whoopie pies from them.  I would have bought more, but I knew I was going to another roadside stand and I like to buy something from each one that lets me take pictures.

BUGS AND FLOWERS

My neighbor was taking pictures of bugs, so just for heck of it, I had to see what kind of job our camera would do.  I think our camera did a great job. It's hard to get bugs to hold still.   My favorite is the last picture - which happened to be one of the first I took.