Vintage Recipe: Amish Banana Salad

Are you, like me, living in the middle of a heat wave? Yesterday we reached 96 degrees in this part of Indiana and the rest of the week is predicted to be just as warm. Reports are that many parts of the country are suffering equally difficult living conditions.

In short, not a good time for baking.

Instead, I suggest you try this quick, easy, delicious snack that will make you forget the misery of the sun.

Banana Salad is refreshing, light and pretty—and features several pluses:

*Ingredients already in my kitchen;

*No baking so the kitchen stays cool;

*It can be assembled in about 20 minutes (besides time for chilling);

*Healthy ingredients – fruit, peanuts, eggs, milk.

It reminded me of a luscious banana pudding!

Banana Salad is one of the dozens of recipes listed in a 1977 cookbook called ‘Leah’s Country Kitchen.’

I live near an Amish community in Berne, Indiana located in northeastern Indiana.

Several thousand Amish people in this area. They have large families and work mostly at construction, farming, and housecleaning. For many years Mom employed a young woman to clean for her. They became very close and we keep in touch with Leona’s family, even now that Mom has died.

Berne is a small town built to reflect its Swiss heritage (it was named after Bern, Switzerland by early settlers).

Among its storefronts is a thrift store I visit – Et Cetera Ecke (152 W. Main St, 260.589.2831).

This is a well-stocked, clean, friendly store that has a good selection of clothing, household goods, décor, jewelry. They donate profits to charities around the world. I focus my thrifting on places that help communities and individuals with difficult situations. They have storewide half-price sales so check it out if you’re in the area!

I’ve found many vintage items there, including the little wooden cutout here (learn more about the Amish at the end of this post).

This store also has a good selection of used books. Recently, I purchased ‘Leah’s Country Kitchen.’

Within its 96 pages are dozens of Amish recipes that would have been made by Leah and her friends and family.

The book has a light green cover and is decorated outside with hand drawings of Amish life – a windmill, horse hitched to a buggy (the means of transport for most of them), and the German words “Gute Essen” with the translation “Good Eating.” These Amish have a German heritage and many still speak it.

Inside Leah included the name of the artist – Samuel E. Wickey. Additional pencil sketches of his are included inside. They are quite good.

I should clarify. There are different types of Amish cookbooks.

Some are written by people who are not Amish but have studied that group of people and adapted their recipes. Marcia Adams produced lovely hardback cookbooks like this.

But ‘Leah’s Country Kitchen’ was actually authored by a member of the Amish community.

Leah provided this information on the inside cover about the origin of the cookbook :

In 1975 I compiled a cookbook called Koom-Esse (Come Eat). So people were asking me if I’ll put another one out. So with a lot of thinking about it and a friend, Harry George Cover said he’ll help me. So we tried our best. Hope you like it and find it useful. Although there are a lot of cookbooks, women always like a different one.

I wish to extend a Hearty Thank-You to all who so freely gave recipes and their help. Also to sister Becky for her great help with my writing etc. Much time was spent in preparing this book, but we enjoyed it. There are so many chances for mistakes in work of this kind, we tried hard to avoid them, but if any did occur, I ask for your forgiveness.

I have muscular dystrophy and this is one of my means for an income for myself. I live on a small farm with my parents, Daniel and Mary Schwartz, along Rd. 900S., close by the banks of the Wabash (near Geneva).

So wish you all a Happy Cooking, and alot of good eating.

The Author,

Leah I. Schwartz

The cookbook also contained unusual recipes, such as how to make soap, summer sausage and root beer. I may try the root beer for fun.

For now, Banana Salad is helping us get through the challenging weather. It has been a repeat since I first made it last spring.

As Leah wrote almost 50 years ago (it still applies today), I wish you ‘Gute Essen!

**

Banana Salad

2 eggs, beaten

½ c. sugar

1 T. vanilla

2 T. flour

1 c. milk

4 bananas, sliced  

1 c. salted peanuts

Few strawberries, sliced  

In saucepan combine eggs, milk and sugar, stirring often.

Add vanilla and flour. Keep stirring until everything is mixed.

Cook on medium heat until it thickens — about five minutes

Chill.

In tall sundae glasses or serving dish, place a layer of peanuts. Then cover with a layer of egg mix, bananas, strawberries. Repeat until ingredients are gone.

Top with peanuts or fruit.

Chill two hours.

Yield: 4 servings 

My Notes:

1. I used a small whisk to mix the egg and the other ingredients.
2. The amount of fruit for this recipe – and even the types of fruit (berries could be used) are flexible. Experiment!

**

Vintage Find of the Week

This small wooden cut out of a couple in a buggy is a typical scene of Amish along the highways and roads. They do not like having their photos taken (it is against their religion) so photographers who respect them refrain from doing so. They may instead show their backs or be far enough away to not focus on faces. They are a unique group of people who deserve respect.