So, I got this itch lately. Everything feels… complicated, you know? Work stuff, life stuff, even just the food we eat seems overdone sometimes. I was thinking back, trying to remember simpler things, and somehow Amish baking popped into my head. Heard folks talk about it – real basic ingredients, no fuss, just good stuff. Figured I’d give their desserts a shot, see if that simplicity was real.
Finding the Real Deal
First, I thought, easy, I’ll just bake something. Looked up a recipe for Shoofly Pie. Seemed simple enough on paper. Well, let me tell you, simple on paper doesn’t mean simple in my kitchen. Followed the steps, I swear I did. Ended up with something… well, let’s just say it wasn’t pie. More like a sad, crumbly puddle. Okay, plan B.
Decided I needed the real thing, made by people who actually know what they’re doing. Took some asking around. Found out there’s a market a couple hours drive away where some Amish families sell baked goods on Saturdays. So, Saturday morning, got in the car and just drove. Felt a bit like a mission.
The Taste Test
Got to the market. It was definitely different. Quieter. People selling stuff they actually made. Found the bakery stall. Man, the smell. Didn’t go crazy, just picked a few things that looked interesting:
- Whoopie Pies: Two soft chocolate cake-like cookies with a big blob of white frosting in the middle. Simple, classic.
- Shoofly Pie: Had to try the real version after my disaster. Looked sticky and dark, with a crumb topping.
- Apple Dumplings: Whole apples baked in pastry. Looked hefty.
Got back home and tried them over the next day or so. The Whoopie Pie was sweet. Like, really sweet. But good, soft, reminded me of being a kid somehow. The Shoofly Pie? Okay, now I see what it’s supposed to be like. Molasses flavor, gooey bottom, crumbly top. Definitely unique. It’s heavy stuff, though. A small slice is plenty. The Apple Dumpling was probably my favorite. Just a solid, warm, cinnamon-apple-pastry situation. Comfort food, plain and simple.
Was It Worth It?
Yeah, I think so. It wasn’t about finding the best dessert ever, you know? It was about finding something straightforward. Honest. And that’s what it felt like. No fancy swirls, no weird ingredients I couldn’t pronounce. Just butter, sugar, flour, molasses, apples. Did it solve all my ‘complicated life’ problems? Course not. But taking that drive, trying something made with care, something simple… it was a good reminder. Sometimes the basic stuff is exactly what you need. It’s heavy, it’s sweet, it’s not winning any health awards, but it felt real. And right now, that’s worth something.
