The Comfort Food of "Simple People" Soothes the Modern Soul

What can possibly smell better than buttery soft pretzels baking in an oven and wafting into the air in a confined space? Is there anything on earth that makes a better sandwich than sweet bologna on a soft roll with honey mustard? Can processed American cheese beat the clean, fresh taste of home-made cheddar or alpine Swiss from a local farm with well-bred cattle? And, where can you go for good and wholesome dishes like dried corn, cauliflower au gratin, green bean casserole and barbecued chicken, turkey and duck? The answer is: an Amish market offering Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine.

Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine reflects influences of the Pennsylvania Dutch's German heritage, agrarian society, and rejection of rapid change.

The Amish are a religious group who find their heritage in the Protestant Reformation. Generally, the Amish reside in close-knit communities in 47 states of the United States as well as Ontario, Canada. The largest concentrations of Amish in the United States are in Holmes County, Ohio, LaGrange County, Indiana, and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. If you happen to live near any of these areas, you are sure to be in driving range of an Amish Market, selling a variety of home grown and home-made produce and comfort foods guaranteed to satisfy anyone with a love of creamy casseroles, hearty soups and stews, smoked meats and a variety of entrees and side dishes based on the sweet and sour cooking bias of German immigrants.

The average size Amish family is seven or eight persons, so they have many mouths to feed. The typical Pennsylvania Dutch table setting during a meal often includes side dishes or "relishes" 7 of which are sweet and the other 7 which are sour. Such items have include items like Red Beet Eggs, which is a standard "sour" to things like cinnamon bread, or bread and butter pickles which would be a sweet, in addition to the regular side dishes and main course offered by a Pennsylvania Dutch Family style meal.

Many of the foods offered to the public at an Amish Market represent the above “7 sweets and 7 sours” typically served to families at an Amish Homestead. Granted, they are “simple people”, who don’t prepare such a magnificent feat each and every night. And, it is also true that some of the recipes made for the public are romanticized concoctions made especially for the American palate. But, it is all good and usually available at an Amish Market, which by the way are always closed on Sundays – the Amish/Christian day of worship.

When we are not visiting Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Betsy and I get our Pennsylvania Dutch cooking from the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers Market 4437 Rt. 27 in Princeton, NJ. It is only open Thursday, Friday and Saturdays.

The market is made up of individual merchants that include: Beiler’s Dairy and Meats, Smoker’s Deli, Stoltzfus’ Poultry, King’s Salads and Jellies, Stoltzfus’ Fresh Pretzels, Fisher’s Bakery, K&R Lunch Counter, R&B Produce and Juice, Mom’s Candy Corner and B&L Woodworks. The prices for everything are reasonable and the choices, plentiful. There is also more than adequate on-site parking, if you go.

Here is what another customer had to say about this place:

“Omgggg pretzels with cheese steaks in it are just the beginning. They have amazing steak cuts (and other meats) that are $10 which make a good $50 steaks. The Delmonico’s, rib eyes, and filets are just out of the world. With a candy sections with everything you would imagine. They also have pies, cookies, baked goods, over 30 types of cream cheese, ready-made desserts, smoothies and milkshakes on site, different types of butter honey.....racks of ribs that are amazing and chicken in the back that is already prepped. Just bring cash (some of the stands don't accept credit) and enjoy the end of your week! They are open thurs-sat! :)”

Now, for those of you who cannot get to or find an Amish Market in their area, here is a tried, true and easy Pennsylvania Dutch recipe you can make at home – Shoo-Fly Pie:

Ingredients:

1 (9 inch) pie shell, 1 cup of molasses, 3/4 cup of hot water, 3/4 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 egg, beaten, 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup of shortening.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. To Make Bottom Layer: In a medium bowl combine molasses, hot water, and baking soda. Stir well. Whisk in beaten egg. Pour mixture into pie shell.
3. To Make Crumb Topping: In a medium bowl combine flour and brown sugar. Mix well, then cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle on top of molasses layer.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Lower temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake an additional 30 minutes.

If you have never been exposed to Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, you are in for a real treat. “Schmecks”, (Tastes so good)!