Cookbook Reviews...Cooking From Quilt Country

Marcia Adams had a PBS program Cooking from Quilt Country, a 13-part series in 1989 and 1990 – I watched as much of it as I could and was impressed by her food knowledge, (and the fact that her demonstration kitchen was equipped with not one but two food processors – fairly new in the US at the time) but even more because the recipes reflected much of the traditional cooking I remembered from our own family.  
Colmar, Alsace-Lorraine
Myrna showed me the book related to the series – and after reading it – yes, it is good enough to actually read – I realized why she was printing Grandma’s recipes.  The Amish community in Indiana that she based the book and series on immigrated from Alsace-Lorraine in France–our mother's families emigrated from Colmar in Alsace Lorraine in the 1870’s.
Marcia points out that many of those recipes are still served in homes and restaurants in France – almost identical to the Amish recipes in this book.  They are actually classic French country cooking.  
This book is almost worth owning simply because of the beautiful photographs and descriptions of Amish life.  If there is a flaw in this book, it is that there are plenty of photos; just not of the recipes themselves. 
I have purchased Marcia Adams’ later Midwestern cookbooks, but none are as good as this first, wonderful cookbook.  
It is like having our Grandmother write down those recipes we remembered that she made without a recipe!  Actually, both of us have made a number of the dishes in this book without a written recipe most of our lives.
We had no trouble finding plenty of favorite recipes to share from this book, and in fact we have already shared some recipes that are similar to ones in this book like Noodles with Cracker Crumbs Both of us make that recipe like the Amish do – without Marcia Adams’ changes - and it's one of our family's favorites.  Actually, we had to seriously negotiate to see who would get which favorite recipe to make! 

Here are some of the recipes from this book.

Meringue Topping

Rhubarb Conserve

Ham Loaf

Coleslaw with Peanuts

Escalloped Potatoes  Our family's favorite!

Orange Beets with Sauce

Velvet Custard Pie

Whipped Cream Topping

Homemade Breakfast Sausage

Apple Cake

Buttermilk Bread

Sour Cream Raisin Pie

Oatmeal Cinnamon Bread

Blueberry Streusel Cake

Baked Rice Pudding

German Potato Salad

Amish Fruit Cake

Amish Apple Pie

10 comments:

  1. I would like to start by saying I read your blog everyday and just love it! I was tickled to see you feature this cookbook today......I have a copy and really enjoy it. It is a beautiful book, just like you describe. One of my family's favorite meals is the sausage gravy over bisquits recipe from this book. You will have to try it....it is delicious and so simple.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This really is a nice cookbook, I haven't found a recipe in it that we didn't like. Do you have any of her other ones? I thought this was the best of them and watched the TV show all the while it was on our local PBS stations.

      Delete
    2. I have to agree about the pie, I have made it and think it is one of the better buttermilk pies I have made.

      Delete
    3. Have you tried the breakfast sausage recipe in the links above? It is seasoned perfectly, and I use it to make the sausage gravy and biscuit recipe.

      Delete
    4. I haven't tried the breakfast sausage recipe yet.....but I am certainly going to give it a try........along with many of the others you suggested. Now I'm hungry!

      Delete
  2. I'm not sure how I forgot to mention this in my first comment, but the buttermilk pie recipe in this cookbook is divine!! Also a family favorite!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Apple Cake! I have an old German Apple Cake recipe that I haven't made in years. I'll have to look this one over. I'd like to make one this weekend, but doubtful I'll have time. It's fun seeing the books!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Nadine, The cake is good, all of her recipes are good. If you like custard pie that is in my opinion the best recipe I have made from the book.
    Though it is hard to pick just one. Glad you are enjoying the books.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I found this book in a used bookstore a couple of years ago & love it. The recipes are good (& many good unusual recipes) but it is also comforting to just read & look at the pictures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you found it and like it, it is one of our favorites as you can see. The pictures are beautiful aren't they.

      Delete

Hi...we'd love to hear from you.
Comments are moderated before appearing...Thanks.