The Amish Cook from Oasis Newsfeatures

I was making myself a sandwich for lunch when I noticed something that made me do a double-take.  So, I grabbed my cell phone camera and snapped the photo above. There is a problem with this photo.  Well, scratch that, the photo itself is fine, but something IN the photo is not.  Can anyone tell me what the problem is?  If no one figures it out, I'll tell you later today or tomorrow.

No, it's not cool just because I'm in it, I think the piece gives great perspective into the art of Amish and Mennonite baking.  I am looking forward to being on the Live at 9 Show in Memphis on Tuesday.  Anyway, click here to read the article about our baking book and Tennessee's plain settlements.

I have been striving to make amishcookonline as multi-media as possible.  I know videos have been well-received here, but I also think there is a place for audio.  We discuss so many different Amish/Mennonite/Hutterite related news stories here and so many of you ask such good questions!  Wouldn't it be great if we could actually talk to some of those involved in the stories we discuss?  That is what this new feature aims to do.  Admittedly, I doubt I'll be interviewing many Amish (since most don't use phones, or at least probably wouldn't want to be interviewed).  But I can talk to many academics, experts, and ordinary people involved in the lives of "plain people."

Our first newsmaker is an insightful interview.  We've been discussing the controversy surrounding allegedly improper disposal of waste by a group of Amish in western Pennnsylvania all year long.

Joining us for our first "Newsmaker Line" interview is Dave Beyer, the attorney representing the Swartzentruber Amish at the center of the dispute.  To be fair, I will try to contact someone from the government/muncipality in the weeks head. You do have to have a media player/speakers. Click below to play.  Enjoy!  And what did you think about his comments?

Bummer, not the best photo by any means...I took the photo from my phone just before I went onto the set of "Good Morning, Cincinnati" this morning on the Fox affiliate.  I was going on to promote our new book, The Amish Cook's Baking Book.  I was planning to make a buttermilk pie and a "pat a pan" pie crust...and I sort of made them, but hosts Sheila Gray and Rob Williams gamely pitched in and ended up making most of the pie for me while I gave them the step by step instructions.   I couldn't do the baking demos without the help of my wife, Rachel, who gets everything all measured out and the set decorations prepared for me.  The segments are often so short, this morning's was about 3 minutes...it is very difficult to make a pie in 3 minutes.  It's always interesting to see the inner-workings of a network newscast.   It's a definite beehive of activity.  Next week, it'll be off to Arkansas, Memphis, and Chicago for more of the same.   Anyone around northeastern Indiana....Lovina and I will be doing a book-signing at "The Party Shop" (no, it is not a liquor store as the name sounds, it's a Hallmark shop) in Warsaw, Indiana at noon this Saturday....  

This is our discussion thread for AmishCookTV subscribers.  What did you think of the documentary: Inside the Swartzentruber Amish?  AmishCookTV subscribers should have received it this morning via email!