Mennonite Girls Can Cook

Theme based off book Mennonite Girls Can Cook.
Two ladies we home with a free copy.

Our second WISK event was held last night. "Mennonite Girls Can Cook" was a fun event with almost 100 women and young ladies.

I had the privilege of being the official taste tester for the demos, with the exception of those odd sort of ladies, Edna and Helga. It's refreshing to know that Oprah is not Mennonite, however.  The cream puffs are officially a two bit dessert. Very delicious Jannette! Trudy, thank you for the crunch, not hard peppercorns... I mean peppernuts.

I also had the privilege of introducing Russian-Ukrainian Mennonite to a Swiss-German Mennonite treat - Whoopie Pies! MMMmmmm.

For those born after 2000, the gals got to take home a custom-made apron designed last night by ladies from different decades. The night was also highlighted by Kim Thiessen singing not one, but four songs. (Thanks, Kim, for your spontaneity.)

Pictures are forthcoming. Below are some of the recipes used.
Thanks ladies for another fun night!

Kate Jansen, Megan Enns, Alice Unrau
waiting patiently for their turn to speak

Cream Puffs by Jannette Neufeld
1 cup water
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup flour
4 eggs

Heat oven to 400F. Heat water and margarine to rolling boil.
Stir in flour. Stir vigorously over low heat about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat. Beat in eggs. Continue beating until smooth. Drop onto cookie sheet. A large star tip and icing bag can also be used to drop puffs. Bake 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350F and back 25 minutes (until golden brown).

Filling: In mixing bowl blend 1 package of instant vanilla pudding and 1 cup milk,on low speed. Add 2 cups chilled whipping cream. Beat until soft peaks form. Use icing bag to fill "puff." Or cut puffs in half to create a sandwich.

photo taken from tastykitchen.com

Crisp Peppernuts by Trudy Epp
1 cup butter (margarine)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 Tbs syrup
2 tsp soda
3 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp clover
1 1/2 tsp oil of anise, or ground anise
1/2 tsp allspice
1/8 tsp white pepper

Cream butter and sugar until creamy, add egg one at a time. Add syrup. Blend the dry ingredients and mix. From here, spice it a bit or add more flour to have dough quite stiff. Roll into ropes, store in fridge or freezer. Cut them thin. Bake 350/375F for 7 minutes. DON'T LEAVE THE KITCHEN.


Whoopie Pies by June Miller
Aunt Ruby's ancient Mennonite secret recipe.

photo from thekitchn.com

4 cups flour (sifted)
2 cups white sugar
1 cup cocoa (sifted)
1 cup shortening
1 cup sour milk (ore buttermilk)
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
Mix and beat well. Add to dough last: 1 cup hot water mixed with 2 tsp soda.
Drop by spoonful on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Filling:
2 egg whites
4 Tbl flour
1 cup Crisco
2 cups powdered sugar
Mix together. Add more powdered sugar to thicken. When cookies have cooled. Create sandwich with two cookies and filling.