Day 9 and we are still giving books away. Today we are giving away Sarah Price’s, The Amish Cookie Club. What’s a mother to do when one of her kinner is outspoken, fired from yet another job, and her sharp tongue not only scares off customers, but potential husbands too? I really enjoyed this book and hope you will too.

An Amish mother has a huge role. Not only is she in charge of running a household, but she must be and excellent manager. She is the head cook, seamstress, and gardener. A garden is essential to the family since Amish tend to grow and raise most of their food. She preserves food, cleans, tends to the yard, and is responsible for her children. She isn’t limited to indoors like most imagine. She also helps with barn chores, sells homemade products, and even helps in the harvesting of crops. She is an amazing woman and still finds the time to teach her daughters the skills of running a household so they in turn are fully prepared to run a home of their own someday. The outside world may see the submissive Amish woman as weak or even suppressed but in the changing tides of our world, Amish women have built businesses, nurtured whole communities, and though she might defer to her husband’s decision making in public, most Amish husbands do inquire her thoughts and advice in his decision making. She is highly respected within her community and supportive of other women as well. She is surrounded by generations of females, all with the same faith, purpose, and support.

The Amish wife wears many hats, or kapps, for a better word. Did you know Amish women never cut their hair? They generally wear it in a braid or bun on the back of their head concealed with a small white cap, or kapp, called a covering. Coverings vary depending on the district in which they live. The size of the covering varies but the strings and how they are worn are similar. An Amish woman can never be seen outside her home without her covering. Typically when leaving the home or attending church she will wear a stiff black bonnet over her covering.  On days when kapps are being cleaned or a chore is a potential messy one, a kerchief is worn to represent as a head covering. In many Old Order communities, married women are represented by the black of their coverings, whereas unwed women wear a white head covering.

One of the first recipes I ever exchanged with an Amish friend was granola bars. Considering the Amish mother packs a lunch for each of her children, her spouse, and older children still at home but working off the farm, these are a quick and handy fill-me-up food. They are delicious and the recipe can always be built upon to suit your own dietary needs. We call them Graber bars, named after the family who gifted us this recipe.

Graber Bars.

20 pz. Mini marshmallows

3 cups of quick oats

¼ cup of honey

6 cups of rice crispies

¼ cup of peanut butter

1 cup of graham cracker crumbs

¼ cup cooking oil (Which I omit and use coconut oil instead)

1 cup shredded coconut

½ cup of butter

1 cup chocolate chips

(Optional: dried fruits, nuts, and pistachios)

In a large bowl mix oats, rice crispies, graham cracker crumbs, coconut, and chocolate chips. In a sauce pan, melt marshmallows with butter. Add oil, honey, peanut butter. Pour warm mixture over dry and gently, but quickly stir together evenly. Pour into desired cookie sheet, lightly buttered or lined with parchment paper. Press into pan and let cool.

Yesterday’s giveaway surpassed my expectations and I want to take this time to thank all of you for participating. We had countless entries, over fifty shares across varies sites, and even reached twitter. The winner of Mountains of Grace was fifteen on our entry list. Congratulations, Sherry Curtis Hamilton, you were our number fifteen. For all of you who entered, don’t be disappointed. I may or may not have been given a second copy of this book. 🙂