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Amish Recipe: Baked Oatmeal or Cookies for Breakfast

Jessica Nunemaker — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Amish Recipes: Baked Oatmeal

Looking for a great Amish recipe? Amish Baked Oatmeal is Kid #1′s most favorite breakfast food. If he got his way, we would eat this every single day.

Amish Recipe: Baked Oatmeal

I love it because it’s versatile–and because it smells like cookies while it’s baking! Think of it as your base to play with! Throw on fresh or dried fruit for a change of pace.

Nothing tastes better on a chilly morning, Summer or Winter! You know my Wheat Germ obsession–throw in 1/2 cup of that, too, if you want.

Amish Baked Oatmeal Ingredients

3 Cups Oats
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Butter or Margarine, Melted
1 Cup Milk
2 Eggs
2 teaspoon Baking Powder
3-4 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
Dash of Cinnamon (Optional)
Fruit to Top (Optional)

How To Make Amish Baked Oatmeal

This is so easy to whip up. Ready? Preheat oven to 350*.

Melt butter.

Meanwhile, combine oats and brown sugar. Add in Milk, Eggs, and melted Butter. Mix well.

Add in Vanilla, Baking Power, and Cinnamon (if using).

Pour into greased 13 x 9 dish and bake 25-30 minutes. You know it’s done when edges are lightly browned, pull away from side, and it doesn’t look so wet.

This can be assembled the night before and baked the following morning to make breakfast super easy! I know, it’s nothing special to look at but–it’s so good!

See more photos of this Amish Recipe: Baked Oatmeal and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

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Rossville, Indiana Flour Mill Bakery: Bakery, Bulk Foods, and Cheese

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:30:32 +0000

Flour Mill Bakery in Rossville, Indiana

The Flour Mill Bakery in Rossville, Indiana is in the middle of nowhere. You won’t believe how we managed to find this hidden gem!

Flour Mill Bakery in Rossville, Indiana

On our way to Cutler, Indiana, the Nunemaker Family Circus flew by a small sign that said “Bakery” with an arrow pointing down a random road to nowhere.

We turned around, went down “Bob’s Road” (to steal a line from Twister), made a turn or two, and there it was. In the middle of a bunch of farmland and a scattering of homes, we found the Flour Mill Bakery.

Inside Flour Mill Bakery

I opened the door to a magical place. Bulk food in plain packaging, fresh bakery items lined the walls. The women looked very Amish-like–until one lady answered her ringing cellphone.

While I was taking pictures of this awesome Indiana bakery, Hubs learned that the Flour Mill Bakery is run by German Baptists. The lady had the maiden name of Nunemaker! Small world, eh?

Spices, seasoning, flours, baking things, sprinkles, and CHEESE–they fit a whole lot of bulk goods in a relatively small space.

This was the start of our little Indiana adventure so we only left with a loaf of honey wheat bread, a container of sprinkles, a package of lemon cookies, and a sprinkled donut for the kid. If we had known we would have brought a cooler and taken home a hunk of Provolone but anyway…

We broke into the cookies in the car even though I don’t think it was even 9 AM our time! It was so worth it. You know by now that I love soft cookies and lemon (remember my yummy Lemon Ginger Cookies?) and these were full of lemony goodness with just a blip of lemony icing on the top.

From Black Raspberry Pie to Butterscotch Meringue Pie, even Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Caramel Apple Pie, and something called Sugar Cream Pie–they’ve got it!

To Boldly Go

Rossville, Indiana Flour Mill Bakery: Bread

Apparently Sugar Cream Pie is the State Pie of Indiana. How did I not know that?

Seems like little Indiana has a new mission–seek out the elusive Sugar Cream State Pie and find the best!

The Flour Mill Bakery has such a great assortment of goods. Middle of nowhere or not, in the word’s of Ah-nold, I will be back!

See more Flour Mill Bakery, Rossville, and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Flour Mill Bakery, Bulk Foods, and Cheese
6580 W Co Rd 800 N
Rossville, Indiana 46065
765.379.9995
Sunday and Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 8 AM – 3 PM
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 7 AM – 4 PM
Saturday: 7 AM – 3 PM

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Mark This Date Down in History! It’s little Indiana’s Special Day!

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 23:25:28 +0000

There's nothing better than an Indiana Spring!

Heidy ho neighbor – and welcome! Today is a very special day! It’s little Indiana’s SITs Day! For those of you who don’t know, SITs, or The Secret is in the Sauce, is a blog recognition and comment support site. It’s a great way to network – and discover awesome blogs!

Whomever says a small town is boring just doesn’t know where to go! Check out these posts about everything small town – and enjoy the best of little. Indiana is the crossroads of America – maybe some day you’ll find yourself driving through – and you’ll need to know where to stop along the way!

You can dig into actual Indiana towns, mom and pop restaurants, family owned bed and breakfasts – even recipes — by using the categories down the sidebar, but for this one? I’m keeping it simple.

Plain and Simple: Old Order Amish in Nappanee, Indiana

Small Towns: What to Know Before You Go!

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Four Tips to Remember When Knee Deep in Amish Country

Jessica Nunemaker — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:30:11 +0000

Nappanee, Bremen, Shipshewana, Goshen, Middlebury…these are just a few of the little places that boast an Amish population. If you have never been around the Old Order Amish before, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Nappanee, Indiana: Amish Buggy

Camera Shy – Old Order Amish don’t like to be photographed, period. While picture taking isn’t exactly against their religion, posing for a camera most definitely is. Horses, buggy’s, farms, homes, barns, wash drying on the line–all those items are fair game. Just try to keep Amish faces out of it.

Hold Your Horses! — Slow down there, buckaroo. You’re in Amish country now. While Amish horses are used to sharing the road, it just makes sense to avoid tailgating, speeding, and using the car horn around Amish buggies.

It’s Impolite To Stare – Yes, the sight of a sober black carriage clip-clopping down a car -filled street in a small Indiana town is jarring. Yes, the Amish dress differently, but keep in mind that they are still people, too. You wouldn’t like being continually gawked at so don’t expect them to jump for joy, either.

If You Can’t Say Anything Nice… — Don’t play the part of the obnoxious tourist! Asking intrusive questions is not a way to make friends, no matter who you are. The Old Order Amish people are not there for your enjoyment; they are going about their daily business just like the rest of us.

Keep off the Grass — Don’t be a pest. Unless a home advertises honey, baked goods, woodworking, and the like, don’t even think about stepping onto someone’s property, no matter how perfect a picture you think you can take. Trespassing is still trespassing no matter what your beliefs, so just. Don’t. Do it.

Elkhart County

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Plain and Simple: Old Order Amish in Nappanee, Indiana

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:30:22 +0000

Early in the morning, our new friend pulled up to the Victorian Guest House Bed and Breakfast to pick us up for a personal tour of the Old Order Amish homes and businesses in Nappanee, Indiana.

Old Order Amish in Nappanee, Indiana

Nappanee, Indiana: Amish School

In Nappanee, Indiana and beyond, each Amish settlement is broken up into districts. The bishop in each district decides on the rules for the Amish people that live there.

For instance, the Amish in Nappanee, Indiana would have different rules to follow than the Amish communities in Ohio or Pennsylvania–even differing from the town right next door.

All Old Order Amish do have a few things in common: No cars, no posing for photos after you have been baptized, and no ornamentation or buttons.

Interestingly enough, the Bishop isn’t voted in. When a new Bishop is needed, after the death of the previous Bishop, eight Amish men will each choose one Bible. Whomever takes the one with a slip of paper inside of it is the new Bishop…for life!

Old Order Amish Schools

As you can see from the photo, the Amish here have their own schools. Much like their homes, Amish schools don’t even possess shutters, which is considered “too fancy.” You can see they do have playground equipment like swings, teeter-totters, and slides. I was kind of surprised by that.

The schools are usually run by two teachers. Amish students attend up to 8th grade but when they turn 16 their education is considered complete. Even if they want to, they are not allowed to continue on in their education. Old Order Amish do not believe in higher education.

Plain and Fancy

Nappanee, Indiana: Amish Cemetery

Once upon a time, the Old Order Amish in Nappanee weren’t allowed to have rugs, pictures, or even curtains. But judging from the whisper of fabric peeking out of many windows, the current Bishop has allowed curtains. He will decide what color curtains are allowed.

Our guide let us in on the fact that the Bishop here had also allowed photos of the kids. While grandparents don’t have entire walls covered in them, they do have one or two images of their grandchildren.

Even Amish cemeteries stick to the “less is best” ideal. Located every few miles, no one headstone stands out over the rest. Names and dates are the only things on the tombstone. No flowers, wreaths, or anything of that sort. It is uniform and very, very tidy.

Old Order Amish and Church

Every other weekend, one Amish family will have church and furnish lunch for the members of the district (here, in Nappanee, there are 33 Amish families).

They sing a cappella, conduct the service in High German, and after the three hour service–they share lunch. No work is done on Sunday except for feeding the animals. All meal preparation for the Sunday church service is done the day before.

At the end of the lunch, whomever is going to host church the next time will take the white supply wagon back with them.

Amish Farms

All the farmers have giant workhorses. These massive animals have shaggy patches near their hooves and are quite tall. They work in groups of eight, making two trips up and down the field. Then that team will rest while the farmer switches them out for a fresh team.

You can imagine how long it would take to get a field completed without using a tractor!

Phone Home?

Nappanee, Indiana: Amish Horse and Buggy

When you toodle around Elkhart County, you may notice little buildings at the bottom of every driveway. These are actually phone booths! No, they aren’t for chatty Amish teens–the phone inside is used only in case of an emergency.

Bad things can happen to anyone and the Amish do take advantage of a few modern conveniences when it comes to protecting their own.

Amish Horse and Buggy

The Amish in this small Indiana town ride bikes everywhere–unless they are heading into town, in which case they hook up the horse and buggy.

Apparently, (so says my source) these Amish treat their buggy like many non-Amish men, or “English” as they call it, like to treat their cars: With pride! The insides might have plush velvet and are very comfortable (not to mention expensive).

It can be quite a culture shock the first time you see someone so plainly dressed. But even the Nappanee, Indiana Amish like to hit yard sales on Thursdays and Fridays, eat out at the local pizza joint, get groceries, and use the Laundromat! Sounds a lot like you and me, don’t you think?

See more Nappanee, Indiana images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Nappanee, Indiana in Elkhart County

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Nappanee, Indiana: Aged to Perfection

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:30:53 +0000

Nappanee, Indiana is an amazing small town. Charming and well-kept, it’s small town living at its best!

Downtown Nappanee, Indiana

Nappanee, Indiana Downtown

Arriving into town after dark, this small Indiana town was all aglow. I fell in love! Bricked streets, a brightly lit downtown, and many old, wonderful buildings…just fantastic.

We enjoyed walking around downtown and peeking in all the shop windows. All the stores were long since closed for the night. What a fun selection!

Small Town Trust

We met a very nice woman in town who volunteered to take us around Nappanee in the morning and give us an up close and personal tour of the Old Order Amish area.

Only in a small town would someone offer to cart around a couple of strangers and not think twice about it. How amazing is that?

The next morning she picked us up from The Victorian Guest House.We saw so much!

There’s more to the Indiana Amish than horse and buggy. We toured an Amish General Store full of bulk foods, bakery items, and cheese, as well as Amish schools and homes.

We learned so much about the Amish in the area from someone who actually knows the families! It was a real eye-opener. I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Almost Famous

Nappanee actually has a few claims to fame for such a small town. For starters, as you may have figured out already, Nappanee has a large Old Order Amish population. It’s the biggest in Indiana, don’t'cha know.

It’s also the largest producer of RV’s (that’s Recreation Vehicles for all you city folk) and kitchen cabinets. little Indiana could so use one of those!

Location, Location, Location

With such great little shops in downtown Nappanee and the Amish businesses dotting the area it makes a great place to play. We can’t wait until we have the chance to return!

Find more Nappanee, Indiana images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Nappanee, Indiana in Elkhart County

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little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

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Indiana Bed and Breakfast: The Victorian Guest House

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:30:47 +0000

From the instant I saw The Victorian Guest House in Nappanee, Indiana, I was giddy with excitement. I couldn’t wait to get inside and see it!

Nappanee, Indiana Bed and Breakfast

Nappanee, Indiana: Victorian Guest House Bed and Breakfast

Gabled and turreted, we somehow managed to drive right by this very large Indiana bed and breakfast. Oops. My navigating skills may leave something to be desired.

Anyway, from the outside, The Victorian Guest House was absolutely beautiful…and pink. Very, very pink.

Our Room at The Victorian Guest House

Lovely etched glass doors led into an entryway with fantastically gorgeous woodwork along an impressive staircase. Our room was at the top of the stairs: The Coppes Suite.

Why did we choose to stay in this room? I think the picture above easily explains it.

The tub was that huge. Original to the house and in excellent condition, it is capable of holding 65 gallons of water with plenty of room for two. I totally felt like a Princess.

Exploring the Inn

Nappanee, Indiana: The Victorian Guest House Dining Room

We made our way downstairs to check out what was offered in the dining room. What a room that was!

There was a massive amount of woodwork here as well as an incredible carved table and chairs. My photos just do NOT do it justice.

I picked through numerous teas while hubs ponied up for a cold pop (or soda as he says) from the mini-fridge.

Breakfast the next morning started with a pear comfit, an egg casserole that I’m pretty sure I have made myself at home, and a generous slice of Milk Chocolate Bundt Cake.

The Victorian Guest House is in a terrific location. Right in the quaint Indiana town of Nappanee, hubs and I could easily ditch the car, walk around, and make our way back without getting lost and confused about how to get back.

Victorian Beauty

It is a wonderful home and definitely worth checking out. They just don’t make them like they used to!

Find more pictures in Nappanee, Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Victorian Guest House
302 East Market Street
Nappanee, Indiana 46560
574.773.4383

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Get into Something Good: Middlebury, Indiana

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:30:58 +0000

Experience the good old days…today. With a slogan like that, you get that idea that Middlebury, Indiana has it together. Cute as a button and about as small, this little place is absolutely adorable.

Downtown Middlebury, Indiana

Middlebury, Indiana

We stayed at The Country Victorian Bed and Breakfast. Easy to find and right downtown, this was super convenient.

Unfortunately, I lost two rolls of film I had used on Middlebury (and even part of Nappanee and Monticello. Ugh.). Yes, I am still in mourning over the great shots that are most likely gone forever.

Downtown Middlebury Restaurants

While generally bumming around the town, we saw several options for dinner, including Middlebury’s well-known and super touristy Das Dutchmen.

Based on Lisa’s recommendation, innkeeper of a great Indiana bed and breakfast, The Country Victorian Inn,we went to the nearby Culinary Treasures.

We ate what is one of the best meals we have ever had in a small town so far (beating many pricey big city meals as well). No kidding! I sincerely wish we had had room for dessert.

Indiana Antiques

There’s more than just food in Middlebury! This Indiana town had a bunch of antique shops some of which were even open on Sunday. Hooray!

Of course, we completely ran out of time (it was a very leisurely breakfast and we did have to get back and pick up the kid from grandpa and grandma’s house) so we didn’t get to actually go inside anywhere!

They looked wonderful, too! These are great Indiana antique shops and not just flea market type places. You can bet that’s on the list for next time!

Things to Do in Middlebury, Indiana

Middlebury, Indiana: Windmill and Tulips

We both really enjoyed Middlebury. There is so much to do in the area as a whole that I think it would be very hard to get bored.

We’ve heard there are more than 75 antique, specialty, and crafty shops all found within a 10 minute drive.

It’s a shopper’s paradise–and you don’t even have to fight any traffic.

Find other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Middlebury, Indiana in Elkhart County

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It’s SO rare that I will ever use someone’s photos here (definitely not something I hope to ever have to do again) but in this case? I can’t use my own! Images courtesy of Flickr, Mark Bajek.

little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

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Get Your Kicks (Or, at Least, a Decent Meal) at Route 10 Bar and Grill

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:30:38 +0000

North Judson, Indiana and I’m hungry! Do I stop random strangers on the street to ask for restaurant recommendations? You betcha! Really, it’s the best way to figure out where to go — and even what to order! So, based off a young man’s suggestion who said “everything is good at Route 10,” it should be easy to guess where we ventured next.

Right on the main road, there is one entrance directly to the bar and one for family dining so, with the kid in tow, we headed to family dining.

Very, very small…I don’t think there were even 15 tables, maybe not even 12, but business at the Route 10 Bar and Grill was absolutely steady. Surrounded by mostly Chicago-land sport memorabilia (go Bears!), large, wall-mounted flat screen TV, and a big fish tank in the corner, the kid had plenty to look at, and I could see why a young, high school to college-aged guy would dig the atmosphere. Added bonus: the waitress was really nice and not only talked to the kid, she actually pointed out various fish, etc. in the tank, making a friend out of him for life, I do believe.

Of course, I had to check out the restrooms, and when I turned the corner, there was a very large group of Amish teens! I walked right past the (very tidy) restroom I was so surprised. One of the Amish ladies nicely pointed it out to me. Oops.

Hubby and I both ordered the Philly Steak Sandwich, fries, and potato salad (I hate when we do that!) and the kid got a hot dog, fries, and a little cup of Jell-o. Everyone was pleased with their order, and, after peeking at the bikers next to us…Whew! Those mile-high burgers looked fantastic! Next time – I’m getting a burger!

For dessert: well, I was hoping for some yummy pie, but all they happened to have left was Turtle Cheesecake. I just wasn’t feeling it, and since I wasn’t exactly hungry anyway, I passed.

Overall: We were satisfied but it might be a good idea to call ahead if there are members under 21 in your group, just to make sure there is enough room for everyone.

Route 10 Bar and Grill
613 West Talmer Avenue
North Judson IN 46366
574.896.5555

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