An Amish Kitchen, page 25
AENTI ROSE’S REMEDIES FOR CHAPPED LIPS
Regular exfoliation will remove dead and flaking skin cells. A mixture of honey and sugar, or olive oil and sugar, provides natural moisture and exfoliation. Regular exfoliation also promotes healing. Many lip balms include honey as one of the main ingredients due to its anti-fungal and healing properties.
Aloe vera is a plant that contains vitamins and amino acids, and can be used to treat not only chapped lip, but burns and rashes as well. It also provides a good level of moisture to the area.
REMEDY FOR UNDEREYE DARK CIRCLES
Any form of cold compress can help the blood vessels around the eyes contract, thereby eliminating the dark blemishes. Cold compresses offer only temporary relief; however, they are often more than sufficient, particularly because they are so easy to apply. A person with chronic dark circles can very easily add this treatment to his or her daily facial routine.
A cold compress can be made by simply soaking a washcloth in ice water; soothing herbs can be added to the water if desired. Traditional compresses include cold, wet tea bags and raw cucumber slices. Whatever form of compress is used, it should be applied to the eyes for at least 15 minutes once or twice a day. Cold compresses can cause mild skin irritation, particularly if the person is allergic to an ingredient in the compress.
RAZOR BURN REMEDIES
There are simple home remedies for razor burn.
Dissolve two plain aspirins in warm water to make a paste to rub on razor-burned skin.
Blend a couple of fresh strawberries with a teaspoon of sour cream to apply to razor burn.
If legs are razor burned, soak in an oatmeal bath, a bath with a cup of witch hazel, a bath with crushed fresh spearmint leaves, or a bath with a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar to soothe skin irritation and refresh red, scraped skin.
Fresh avocado paste smoothed on razor burn is cooling and moisturizing.
FERN’S TEETHING REMEDY
Moms can offer large refrigerated or frozen pieces of carrot or celery, cut too large to place entirely in the mouth. Some studies claim that celery actually has numbing properties that help lessen the pain of teething.
Also, oil of cloves diluted (half and half) with water can bring some numbness and relief.
*Please beware of allowing babies to teethe on anything that they may choke on.
REMEDIES FOR BAD BREATH
Before brushing, rinse mouth with hydrogen peroxide.
Gargle with a mixture of baking soda and water.
Gargle with warm salt water.
An additional salt technique is to brush the tongue and teeth with sea salt at bedtime. Regular salt may lead to bloating. If an individual has issues with water retention, there are light salt formulations that can be substituted.
Clean your toothbrush daily and replace it every month.
Tea tree oil is a powerful disinfectant with antiseptic compounds. It can be found in a tea tree–enhanced toothpaste, or you can simply put a few drops of the oil directly on your toothbrush, either alone or with regular toothpaste.
Lavender oil can be used as a gargle. A simple wash can be made with 4 ounces of water with 10 drops of lavender oil added. Lavender helps neutralize any odor.
TREATMENTS FOR ACNE SCARS
Apply a paste of sandalwood and rose water to scars, keep on overnight, and wash off with cold water the next day (may add milk to moisturize and prevent skin dryness).
Lemon juice applied to affected area for 10 to 15 minutes reduces dark pigmentation associated with scarring.
Warm and apply honey to scars for 10 to 15 minutes, then wash off with cold water.
Apply aloe vera to scars.
ACNE TREATMENTS
Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil has antiseptic properties that can reduce acne-causing bacteria and clear acne blemishes. Tea tree oil should not be used at full strength. Instead, mix 5 percent tea tree oil with 95 percent water. You can also purchase premixed ointments from health food stores or online vendors.
White vinegar and garlic juice: Vinegar regulates pH levels in the skin, and garlic has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that kill infections and help repair skin. Use a juicer or cheesecloth to extract the juice from two cloves of garlic, and add 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Use a cotton ball to apply the mixture to affected areas. Let the vinegar and garlic sit for 2 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Steam facials: Steaming the face three times a week for 15 minutes per session can unclog pores and release oil and dirt from the skin.
Oatmeal facial: Oatmeal tones the skin, soothes irritation, and pulls impurities from the pores. Use a blender to crush oatmeal into a fine powder. Mix a little warm water into the oatmeal powder. Apply the oatmeal to the face, let it dry, and then rinse it off with warm water.
DRY SKIN REMEDIES
The most basic of all cures for dry skin is drinking plenty of water. There are many homemade remedies for maintaining skin moisture, including a mixture of organic granulated sugar, honey, and extra-virgin olive oil. Another skin treatment mixture is made of eggs, honey, olive oil, and rose water.
Natural oils—almond, avocado, bitter orange, lemon, and lime—are good for treating dry skin. Crisco vegetable shortening can also be used to treat dry skin.
TREATMENTS FOR CANKER SORES
For people afflicted with canker sores who want to take a natural approach to symptom relief, many ingredients found in the kitchen can be used. Baking soda and water can be mixed together to form a paste; when applied to the sore it can provide some pain relief.
You can also moisten a tea bag and apply it directly to the sore, causing it to be dried out by the tannic acid. Dabbing milk of magnesia onto the sore area has also been suggested as a method to relieve the pain caused by canker sore lesions.
When looking for relief in the freezer, ice is the most logical solution. This won’t make the sore go away, but it will certainly make it feel better and will numb the affected area.
MIGRAINE REMEDY *
Feverfew is probably the most popular herbal remedy for migraine headaches. Feverfew increases circulation of blood throughout the body, relieving tension left behind from a headache. Feverfew has also been used for missed menstrual cycles, stress on muscles caused by tension, and arthritis.
*If you are taking heart medications, you should DEFINITELY check with your doctor before trying this remedy.
Recipes from
A Spoonful of Love
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PROVIDED AND TESTED BY AMY CLIPSTON
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GRANOLA
¾ cup butter (or 1 ½ sticks)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons peanut butter (optional)
5 cups oatmeal
1 ¼ cups brown sugar
1 cup wheat germ or oat bran
1 cup coconut (optional)
1 teaspoon salt
1. Melt butter in saucepan and remove from heat.
2. Add vanilla and peanut butter. Mix well. Pour over dry ingredients.
3. Mix well and place in 2 shallow baking pans.
4. Bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes or until brown. Stir once or twice while baking.
BREAD
1. Combine the following and let sit for 10 minutes.
1 tablespoon yeast
½ cup warm water
2. After 10 minutes, mix in:
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons oil
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups warm water
5 cups bread flour
3. Form into a ball and let rise for 15 minutes in a warm place.
4. Punch down and let rise 15 more minutes. Repeat this step three more times.
5. After the fourth punch, shape into loaves and place in greased bread pans. Let rise to the top of the pan.
6. Bake at 400°F until golden brown. Makes 2 or 3 loaves.
SOFT PRETZELS
1 ⅛ teaspoons active dry yeast
1 ½ cups warm water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 ¼ teaspoons salt
1 cup bread flour
3 cups regular flour
1. Sprinkle yeast over warm water in mixing bowl. Stir to dissolve.
2. Add brown sugar and salt. Stir to dissolve.
3. Add flours and knead dough until smooth. Let rise for 30 minutes.
2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons baking soda
4. While dough is rising, mix 2 cups warm water with 2 tablespoons baking soda. Stir often.
5. After dough has risen, roll pieces of dough into long ropes (no more than ½ inch thick).
6. Shape into pretzels or keep in strips. Dip in baking soda solution and place on greased baking sheet. Let dough rise again.
7. Bake at 450°F for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
2–4 tablespoons melted butter
Coarse salt
8. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with coarse salt. You can also sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
MOIST BANANA BREAD
2 eggs
½ cup butter
2 tablespoons milk
½ teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup sugar
3 medium bananas, mashed
2 cups flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1. Beat together eggs, butter, milk, lemon juice, and sugar.
2. Add mashed bananas and mix.
3. Add dry ingredients and mix just until flour is moist.
4. Pour batter into greased loaf pan.
5. Bake at 350°F for 45 to 50 minutes.
SHOOFLY CUPCAKES
2 ½ cups flour
½ cup shortening
1 ½ cups light brown sugar
1 ⅛ teaspoons baking powder
1 ⅛ teaspoons baking soda
1 ½ cups boiling water
Cinnamon
1. Mix together flour, shortening, and light brown sugar.
2. Set aside 1 cup of this mixture for top of cupcakes.
3. Add remaining ingredients to above mixture. Mix well.
4. Spoon into paper cupcake cups and top with reserved mixture. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
5. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Makes 18–24 cupcakes.
PUMPKIN WHOOPIE PIES
2 egg yolks
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups cooked pumpkin
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
Pinch of nutmeg
1. Beat eggs yolks, brown sugar, and oil until smooth.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients and drop onto greased cookie sheet in 2- to 3-inch circles.
3. Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes. Cool and fill with filling.
FILLING:
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons milk
2 egg whites, unbeaten
4 tablespoons flour
1 lb powdered sugar
1 ½ cups shortening
1. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Spread between cookies.
APPLE ROLL-UPS
2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 ¼ teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons lard
¾ cup milk
4 medium apples, sliced
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
1 pint water
1 ½ cups brown sugar
1. Combine first 6 ingredients to make dough.
2. Roll out as for pie dough (¼ inch thick). Spread apples on top and sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon.
3. Roll up as for jelly roll and cut in round slices. Place slices in greased cake pan with open side up.
4. Boil together 1 pint water and 1 ½ cups brown sugar. Pour over apples slices.
5. Bake at 350°F until brown.
SCHNITZEL BEANS
4 slices bacon
3 medium onions
1 quart fresh string beans
2 cups chopped tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 cup boiling water
1. Fry bacon and then crumble.
2. Slice onions and fry until soft.
3. Cut beans into 1-inch pieces and brown slightly with onions.
4. Add bacon, tomatoes, seasonings, and boiling water.
5. Cover and cook slowly until beans are tender. Add water if necessary to make a little sauce to serve with beans.
APPLE PUDDING
6 large apples
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs
¼ cup shortening
¾ teaspoon salt
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ cup water
1. Pare and slice apples and place in greased baking dish.
2. Combine sugar and cinnamon and mix into apples.
3. In separate dish, place well-beaten eggs, shortening, and salt and mix thoroughly. Add flour, baking powder, and water. Pour over apples.
4. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
GERMAN POTATO PANCAKES
2 large potatoes, grated
2 medium onions, grated
2 eggs
½ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon pepper
1 ½ tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1 teaspoon baking powder
Butter for frying
1. Combine potatoes and onions. Add eggs.
2. Add salt, pepper, flour, parsley, and baking powder. Mix well.
3. Form into thin cakes and fry slowly in butter until browned. Makes about 8 cakes.
CHILLY DAY SOUP
1 large carrot
2 cups water
1 large onion, chopped
1 quart diced potatoes
⅓ cup macaroni
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup cooked meat (optional)
1. Chop carrot and cook in 2 cups water.
2. When carrot is partially cooked, add onion, potatoes, macaroni, salt, and pepper.
3. Add enough water to cover and cook until tender.
4. Add milk and butter and heat well. Add meat if desired.
DUTCH COUNTRY MEAT LOAF
2 cups bread crumbs
2 cups milk
2 lbs ground beef
1 lb ground pork
3 eggs
1 medium onion, chopped
Salt and pepper
1. Soak bread crumbs in milk for 2 minutes.
2. Combine meats, bread crumbs, eggs, onion, and seasonings. Mix thoroughly and shape into a loaf.
3. Place in roasting pan, add ½ inch water, and bake at 375°F for 1 ½ to 2 hours.
PEACH STRUDEL
Fresh peaches
Cinnamon and sugar
Butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
1 egg
1. Put a thick layer of peaches in bottom of buttered baking dish.
2. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Dot with lumps of butter.
3. Sift dry ingredients and then add egg. Spoon over peaches.
4. Bake at 350°F until brown.
AMISH CHICKEN AND CORN SOUP
12 cups water
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup shredded carrots
3 chicken bouillon cubes
2 cans (14 ¾ ounces each) cream-style corn
2 cups uncooked egg noodles
¼ cup butter
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1. In large pot, combine water, chicken, onion, celery, carrots, and bouillon. Bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and vegetables are tender.
3. Stir in corn, noodles, and butter; cook 10 minutes longer or until noodles are tender.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
CREAMED CELERY
3 cups diced celery
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 cup milk
½ cup water in which celery was cooked
1. Cook celery in boiling salted water until tender and then drain, saving ½ cup of the liquid.
2. When celery has cooked, make a white sauce with the other ingredients.
3. Pour sauce over cooked celery, heat, and serve.
Recipes from
A Recipe for Hope
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PROVIDED AND TESTED BY BETH WISEMAN
