FFG ~ Gooseberry Patch and Learning from the Amish

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I am a book addict.  One of those people who simply must have something to read every time she sits down.  I inherited the trait from my Daddy, to be sure.  He's a voracious reader, also. 

One type of book that isn't always a "curl up on the couch with a good book" kind of book is a cookbook.  Nonetheless, I love cookbooks, too.  This trait I inherited from my Mom, who began her married life knowing little about cooking (my Daddy took her first meal, prepared for him on their honeymoon, and buried it out in the woods). By the time I was old enough to eat anything, Mom was preparing true gourmet fare, and she still does.

A couple of years ago, I took FlyLady up on her cookbook clearout advice, and put a bunch of my rarely-if-ever-used cookbooks in a garage sale (after I copied the one or two recipes I liked, of course!).  This is what I still have on my shelves (and yes, I have added several new ones since the sell-off!):

These are in my kitchen, they're used most often (lots of Gooseberry Patch, as you can see!)

This is a shelf in my "library" closet...there are a few more cookbooks scattered about the house!

But today, I am honored to announce that I am part of one of my favorite cookbook lines...the Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks!!!  You may have noticed the new button that graces my sidebar:

Yep, my Broccoli Casserole recipe made it into the Gooseberry Patch "Homemade Christmas" Cookbook!  I got a free copy of the book as a "thank you," too!  How much fun is that???  Here is my recipe:

Holiday Broccoli Casserole

10 oz. pkg. frozen chopped broccoli, cooked and drained

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup milk (I use 2%)

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cuup shredded Cheddar cheese

10-3/4 oz. can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 cup zweiback toast, crumbled

2 Tbl. butter, melted

Place broccoli in a greased shallow 8" X 8" baking pan.  Stir together egg, milk, mayonnaise, cheese, and soup; pour over broccoli.  Combine toast crumbs and butter; sprinkle evenly over casserole.  Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Serves 6.

This was my 3rd recipe that I sent them...it's easy, and fun, and if they use yours, you'll get a copy of the cookbook for free!  Dig up your favorites and give it a try! (Find the button below on my sidebar and click it to link over to the Gooseberry Patch recipe-sharing page.)

In other news, I finished reading my last FREE Jane Austin book on my Kindle a couple of days ago (they're free to download if you have a Kindle, which I do because my dh and sons gave me one for Christmas last year), and was wondering what else I could read on the electronic contraption.  I've been revisiting some older posts of mine involving our time in Amish Ohio, so I put in a search for "Amish" in the Kindle Store.  I ended up downloading a wonderful, absolutely delightful little book by Suzanne Woods Fisher titled, "Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World."  Here is the description from Amazon.com:

Of all the gifts that Jesus left us, his peace is most elusive. We long for it in our homes, in our relationships, in our life situations. One place we can look and see "living peace" is in the lives of the Amish. But you don't have to become Amish to bring these simple, practical ways of living into your own life--and make personal peace a reality. Organized around five central themes in Amish life, each section will include real-life stories, callouts of Amish proverbs, and interesting facts about Amish communities. Each section will also contain questions for reflection and action--things you can do in your own life that "make for peace."

In one day, I am already halfway through this book, and it's been such a breath of fresh air!  There is so much that I love about the Amish, and it's been exciting to read the way this author takes that which is so magnetic to us about their lives and boil it down to principles which can be applied to the modern "English" lifestyle.  I am seriously thinking of following through with the life changes suggested in each section and blogging them here.  I gotta think on this one! Oh, while you wait, you can browse inside the book at Amazon, here.  With that said, I'll bid you a Friday FarmGirl at Heart "adieu"...until next week!

Enjoy your broccoli casserole!

Here's how to join the fun:

1) Grab an FFG (Friday FarmGirls) Button for your blog and post it in your sidebar so others can join with you. I have 3 styles you can choose from, and you can get code HERE.

2) Write your post and publish it on Friday...be sure to put your FFG Button at the top of your post, and link it to my blog ( http://www.illinoislori.blogspot.com/ ) so your friends will know where to come to join in each week.

3) Add your name and the URL of your post to the "Mister Linky" provided at the end of my post each week.

4) Leave me a comment, and visit the blogs of the other participants listed and leave them comments as well. If you visit and leave comments, you'll be visited and receive comments...it's as simple as that!