BY GLORIA YODER

The Amish Cook

“How do you do it?” you ask. I know our culture is dramatically not the same as the majority of you. I enjoy your questions about our lifestyle and even more about our belief system.

If you ask about the Amish lifestyle, I can only speak for our community. There are more different types of Amish than I even know about.

Chuckling, I find myself thinking that placing all Amish in the same boat may be like putting all non-Amish in the same boat. Funny. No, wherever you go, you’ll find more people than you can count, with more belief systems than you can shake a stick at.

So now what? How do I know that what I am living is the best way? How do I know that I am on the right path for my life?

Questions, gnawing questions. So if there is a here-after, we certainly don’t want to miss the perfect bliss of being with the Lord. So talking about Amish people, you know those people you second glance, as they drive into a Walmart parking lot with their horse and black buggy and walk into the store with a long line of children, the ladies all wearing long dresses with bonnets covering their hair?

The Amish novels say the Amish have good cooks, never fight, and have close family ties.

But still, as I write, I feel a deep knot within.

Give me a moment, and I’ll explain. Of the thousands of denominations out there, there is no other I’d rather spend community living with than those around me, but still, the knot within remains.

I love my family, enjoy my church friends, and consider them my brothers and sisters. We enjoy our pony and the countless drives we’ve enjoyed on perfect evenings as wisps of hair from the children on my lap blow back into my face.

Yes, I honestly love being Amish; still, in the depth of my heart, there is something much deeper than the title “Amish” which has been given to us. This is what I’m feeling: without Jesus, it would be nothing.

So, even with a blessed heritage, if it wouldn’t be for the blood of Jesus, our lifestyle would be no good. I love the Lord with my whole heart. Without Him, I would be lost, like totally helpless.

Yet honestly, I face times when I begin to focus on responsibilities and forget how safe and loved I am by the one who gave His life so that I can live in the freedom of heart. Like Daniel always says, “His provision will not do a thing for us until we claim it.” Praise God, as I bow in His presence in repentance and receive His gift of absolute provision, my sights are cleared; I again get up and love life because He loves me.

In all this, God has sent many dear friends, including many of you who are not Amish, who have been such a blessing to us. No matter what church you do or don’t go to, you matter. As you seek the Lord and pour your hearts into studying the Scriptures, you’ll be blessed more than you’ll ever know.

So back to the Amish lifestyle, we have chosen it, not because it’s the only way to live, but we value its practical applications to various  principles of the Bible.

These incredible gluten-free brownies have been enjoyed multiple times over the last weeks since I canned all those beans. No one will ever guess beans to be the secret ingredient! Our children are not used to eating lots of sugary foods, they enjoy it plain, or for an extra treat, I’ll occasionally frost it with any type of frosting.

Gluten-free brownies

2 cups black beans, cooked and drained

¼ cup pumpkin

6 tablespoons cocoa

¼ cup butter, softened

4 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ cup Xylitol

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon Stevia powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon instant coffee

Blend cooked beans (hot or cold) in a blender, add wet ingredients, blend until smooth.

Add remaining ingredients, blend until mixed well then pour into a greased 9 by 13 inch pan.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Cool. Refrigerate leftovers in airtight container.