Welcome to the What Did You Read This Month? Book Review Link-y, a monthly sharing link-up for books! Books of all kinds, romance, suspense, DIY, and my personal favorite, cookbooks! Personally I couldn't be happier that books are once again, back in fashion!
And a great way to keep them front and center is to share a review of what you have read, if and how you enjoyed it, and if you would recommend that book to a friend! Oh and a story or two of how you came to own or stumbled upon the book would also be fun...because the human connection to a book is just as important! Since books are for everyone, let's all enjoy them, once again!
The What Did You Read This Month? Book Review Link-y will start on the first Wednesday of each month!
Which means it will be a month long opportunity to be a part of the fun. It is hosted by yours truly at Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household along with Estelle at Homemade On A Weeknight! After linking up your own review, do be sure to take a look at some of the other reviews that were shared. Because you just might find your next good read...plus it is a lot of fun to support other readers. Reading, like travel is the one area where you can (and will) spend money, only to be so much richer for doing so!
Why am I happy to be a part of this monthly event?
Let's see, reading has always been important t me. And something I have always enjoyed. First as a child visiting the library each week (hello Little House books!), then as a parent and later a grandparent (Good Night Moon!) and always as a cook in my own kitchen. Cookbooks in particular have played a large part in recipe development and as a means to widen my own somewhat limited food horizons! While I might not get to Spain or Germany on a vacation, through a recipe, I can cook the foods enjoyed there! Books have even helped me, teach myself to knit! Books are often my first resource for most things, such as how fix a leaking pipe, or even plant a garden.
Turns out, books have always been a part of my life's journey!
Welcome to the What Did You Read This Month Book Review Link-up for: June 2026
What am I sharing this month?
The Amish Cook's Anniversary Book.
By: Lovina Eicher with Kevin Williams
Copyright 2010 by Lovina Eicher with Kevin Williams
This book is 20 years of family, hard work, observations and happiness. Twenty years of the work preformed everyday with pride, love of family and for many in the family, a job worked in town, to help support the family. Elizabeth Coblenz began writing a column for an Amish Newspaper in 1991. When she unexpectedly passed away her daughter Lovina Eicher took over that task. This book, The Amish Cook's Anniversary Book is from the last 10 years Elizabeth wrote the column and the first 10 years after Lovina took over.
There are a few recipes, but my interest is in the mother/daughter story. The task was taken up seamlessly by Lovina, who credits her husband for rocking their babies when needed to get the column done. And while that seems just like the house down the street, do keep in mind, that, there is no electric stove to quickly cook dinner on. No light switch for the lamp. No computer, radio or water heater. But dinner still needs to be made, dishes still need to be washed and babies still need to be cared for, as the day turns to night.
Or that when you butcher a cow, you immediately spend the time needed to can 109 quarts of beef, because there is no freezer for storage. Or that all your clothes are made at home. And traditionally each child in the family when married is gifted four handmade quilts for the new couple's home. Errands in town require you to hitch your horse up to your buggy. Or that it is your turn to host Sunday services and you must clean your home from top to bottom, and arrange tables and food for all to be comfortable when services are over.
Many hand make light work, as the saying goes, but I have to say, this only works because of the love each has for the other, in this family! Because along the way there is great joy with grandchildren being born (at one point there were 8 granddaughter's named Elizabeth to honor her!). And there is also great sorrow with a granddaughter dying very suddenly. But through it all, the work goes on, and thankfully, so does the love that keeps them together.
I am a bit of a slow reader, and have reached the part where Lovina takes over the column after Elizabeth's passing. Along the way each column has a brief commentary from Kevin Williams who has been their editor from day one. I generally read in the evenings, and some days I have more time than other days. But I will be on the look out for The Amish Cook, The Amish Cook at Home, and The Amish Cook's Baking Book. I am thoroughly enjoying this book!
UPDATE 06.22.2026
Yes, I did (finally!) finish this book last night! I learned a great deal about the Amish from this book. For instance, there are basic rules that all Amish follow, such as no, electricity in the home. No gasoline powered vehicles or types of transportation can be owned or operated by Amish. But they can and do pay for the services of being driven long distances or even for an emergency by a van driver.
When Lovina and her family moved to Michigan to be near her husband's family (after her mother Elizabeth passed) the rules for that Amish community were not as strict. While the electricity and gas powered vehicle rules were in place, it was permissible to have gas lighting in the home. No more kerosene or oil lamps to take care of! As well as a propane water heater for laundry, bathing and dishes. As well as a propane refrigerator and freezer. No more large ice chests to keep food cold, as well as drain and clean as needed.
Growing, foraging (deer hunting and fishing) and grocery shopping for 12 people was a daily job! I have no doubt that the relaxed rules in Michigan made that job a lot easier. And yes, they grocery shopped by horse and buggy. On the same roads that are used by cars, which was quite a learning curve for Loving and her family. Mending was an ongoing task. As was sewing new clothes. Washing was easier with the hot water heater, but still no dryer, everything was hung out to dry and then ironed if too wrinkled coming off the lines. I page by page, grew to respect this way of life more and more! I plan on finding Lovina's cookbooks and offering them in future book review link-ups!
My pick from last months What Did You Read This Month Linky?
And now meet your Librarians!
Meet your book nook crew aka the Librarians!
| Melynda | Blog | |||
| Estelle | Blog |
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Oh that does sound like so much more than a cookbook. What a lovely and sweet story.
ReplyDeleteJoanne, it is so touching to read about this dedicated and loving family. I think I work hard, but WOW, these women are powerhouses!
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