Planning a traditional Amish company meal had been fun. The girls especially enjoyed the part when we sat down to plan the dessert menu for it. Just the thought of all those sweets in the house almost gave me a sugar overload.
With some negotiating we all came to the agreement that we really didn't need the full special dessert menu and we crossed off the pudding and lemon bars from the list, but stuck with the rest with the plans to freeze the leftover cookies and bars.
When Saturday arrived it didn't take long to get the weekly cleaning done and then pull out the old Amish cookbooks to begin the baking. We had settled on two kinds of cookies a 'Trash' cookie which is much better than what the name would suggest, and Pineapple cookies. One of my favorites that we hadn't made for quite a while.
By evening we were exhausted, the refrigerator was packed with things, while the cakes, cookies, bars, and pies were all arranged as neatly and temptingly as possible on the one end of the counter top. The girls refused to even taste anything until it would be served the next evening, but Kenneth and Steven weren't shackled with any of that and both enjoyed a few of the Trash cookies.
Sunday evening arrived and we cooked up a big meal. The desserts barely got touched and after supper instead of being able to have a quick clean up and then getting to read or enjoy a fun hobby we were stuck in the kitchen cleaning up and taking care of left overs for a long time. Rosie Mae and Sharon both agreed that while experiencing preparing a real Amish company meal it was something they really have no desire to repeat.
Last evening I pulled a Ziploc bag of pineapple cookies out of the freezer for our dessert for supper. Kenneth politely declined to have one.
"Are you full?" I asked. somewhat amazed that we had finally managed to fill up our hungry teenager.
"You don't have any other dessert?" he asked hopefully.
"You don't like pineapple cookies?" I asked.
"I don't like pineapple in anything," he said.
Wait ... what???? How did I never realize that before? It made me suddenly question my mothering abilities. I mean, surely somewhere in the past seventeen years I should have picked up that he doesn't like pineapples. Am I not as in tune with my children as I thought I was?
I'm fine with our children never wanting to experience another Amish company meal, but to not like pineapples? How is that even possible? I thought of our traditional Thanksgiving pudding, the Hawaiian fajitas I make, the fruit salads, and many other things. I'm just a little sad as I make plans to adjust some of my menus and recipes to not include pineapples. I'm still going to make Thanksgiving pudding though, and if he doesn't like it, it just means I get to have more.
I love pineapples! Can't imagine not liking them. :)
ReplyDeleteMe, too! I really like it, but my sister was violently allergic to it, poor soul.
ReplyDeleteI gave each of our girls one thing they didn't have to eat. They could 'pass the peas', but that didn't mean I wouldn't fix them.
I read your post about Amish company dinners to my husband, and we were both overwhelmed even THINKING about the amount of work it would take to produce one. I think it would take our entire church working together to put together a meal that elaborate! I'm so amazed that you could do that in an Amish family!!
ReplyDeletePineapples - not liking pineapples??? Wow! :)
How fun! But what a lot of work! I think it was great that you gave your girls that experience. I can't imagine doing that much work for one meal. Thanksgiving is bad enough. :-). I know a few people who don't like pineapples, but I love them. Maybe his taste will change as he gets older.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Betsy
Pat yourself on the back, Mom! You raised a non-complainer! : ) ...Although there are certainly ways to let your mom know you don't like a food without complaining! I deal with these things by making the offensive element an add-on at the table. It's tomatoes around here. I love them, but there is a side of my family that beyond HATES them. Oh well! Do you ever wonder why God didn't give us all the same taste buds? I mean, why not just have everything taste good to everyone? If only carrots didn't taste like orange dirt to me!
ReplyDeleteSo what was the full menu for an Amish meal? I grew up Mennonite and my mom often cooked a big company dinner but this sounds a good deal more involved than that!
ReplyDeleteYes, it does seem very odd that in 17 years you didn't realize that your son doesn't like pineapples. My daughter is six, and I know she doesn't like pineapples. Although she does like the pineapple whip from Dole Plantation.
ReplyDelete