The Amish Cook from Oasis Newsfeatures

AmishCookTV subscribers should have received a short video visit to Joe Eicher's hunting tent.  Lovina has written about it several times in her column recently.  If anyone has any comments to share, I've started this thread.

I've talked before about the Mennonite settlements in Mexico (some people refer to them as "colonies", but I just don't think that's an accurate term).   The Mennonite enclaves south of the Rio Grande are interesting in that they've maintained many of their core traditions, while still absorbing the culture and flavors around them.  This BBC piece talks about how the drug trade has intruded on Mennonite quietude, but the article also gives good insight in general into their settlements.  Click here for a very interesting read.

Beginning in the early 1970s, far rural NW Montana has seen an influx of Amish.  Originally, the Amish that moved to Big Sky country were a very conservative group seeking to cast away the ways of their more progressive brethren out east.   This first Amish community was established outside the small town of Rexford. Over the generations, though, this settlement has grown and evolved.  New Amish settlements have since cropped up in Montana. one (at St. Igantius) is even on an Indian reservation.   The Amish have also become involved with the surrounding non-Amish community. For instance, there are benefit auctions open to the public that help fund the Amish schools.  And I also know that groups of Amish have split off to form their own churches, usually these splits are caused by various ideological divides that can't be bridged.    But this short article in a NW Montana newspaper had me scratching my head:

The third annual Thanksgiving Eve community worship invites all to its multi-denominational event at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby.This year’s worship is being planned by Christ Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church and the Amish Community Church who invite people of all denominations to join together in giving thanks to God.

The service of prayer, song and scripture will be led by lay leaders and pastors of the Presbyterian, Amish and Lutheran churches.

The Rev. Steven Benson of Christ Lutheran Church calls the service “a rare opportunity to reach beyond our smaller faith communities and join with others in thanksgiving for God's many blessings in our personal lives, our community and our churches.”  Refreshments and fellowship will follow the worship service.

First of all, Old Order Amish worship interaction with other churches is extremely unusual.  But I don't know whether this article is even referring to a typical Old Order Amish group, the wording of "Amish Community Church" leads me to believe it is something entirely different.  But what?    On the off chance we have any site visitors from around Libby, could you tell us a little bit about the "Amish Community Church?"   It sounds like a split-off...and either way, it sounds interesting.....

Well, this is kind of cool.  I got a note on Friday informing me that our new book, The Amish Cook's Baking Book has been nominated for a Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.  That sounds cool and neat, although I am not sure if, like, 1000 books are nominated, or 10...but either way, it's an honor, and I don't think it's like a 1000.  I had to chuckle at one line in the email: "As a nominee you are welcome at the Paris Cookbook Fair in February 12-15, 2010."  I am sure I am welcome in Paris, but I doubt anyone is going to pick up the plane fare!  Anyway, award winners will be announced in December, wouldn't that be cool to be the winner in our category?  Stay tuned.....

Hutterite-raised turkeys are always in demand in states with colonies, because they are farm-raised, grain-fed, and free to roam on the range.  I'd love to visit one of these operations for an AmishCookTV segment next year.   But, for now, you'll have to be content to just read about it.   The struggling economy made some Hutterites believe that demand for their top-flight birds would be down this year, but, not so.  I think people like to splurge on Thanksgiving even if they are cutting back at other times.  Click here to read about the Hutterite birds....