SIGH, I thought this issue in Cambria County, Pennsylvania had been settled and solved. Apparently not.  Click here to read the latest developments in a standoff between a group of Amish people and the local government overly how to properly dispose of raw sewage. 

Ugh...The New Year is usually a time of reflection and renewal and perhaps a time to tackle one's health.  The reflection and renewal parts I think I've got down.  The "health" part really is tough to do while working on a baking book.  Recipes have to be tasted and tested.  Lovina and I have basically divided up the book's recipes for testing.  At HER house she has 10 mouths to make quick work of anything she tries.  At MY house I have me - and Rachel which can pack on pounds quickly, hence, my reference to being a blimp.  This morning I whipped up homemade banana muffins and a batch of molasses/coffee cookies.  The banana muffins were really good, I actually saved several for breakfasts throughout this week.  The rest went to my mother's workplace, as did the two dozen molasses cookies.  Dozens of employees can sample the stuff and it keeps it out of my hands (and mouth).  Still, I'm having to taste each item, sample different versions, sample batter.  All of this as my weight hits an all-time high (anyone watch Oprah on Monday?). Some on this site have started a diet and exercise support group, which I need to join.  Feel free to check it out at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/diet_buddies/. 

I did buy an Ipod nano yesterday.  I've been an avid runner for most of my adult life but about 5 months ago just up and up quit....I was burned out, needed a break....I love to run to music and I am going to load my nano with my favorite running songs and start pounding the pavement tomorrow....Meanwhile, tonight it's cornmeal pie, Indiana brown sugar pie, and butterscotch pie.  Sheesh.  I will share one recipe with you, the coffee-molasses cookies, see below:

 CAPTION: I got the green-colored Ipod COFFEE MOLASSES COOKIES 

3 /4 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs, beaten

1 cup molasses

4 cups flour

3 /4 cup strong, cold coffee

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda 

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons ginger

1 /2 teaspoon cloves Preheat oven to 350.  In a large bowl, mix all of the above ingredients until you get a thick batter. Drop by teaspoon onto a greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 10 -15 minutes.  Makes about 7 dozen.

A few things in this story surprised me....but maybe I'm in just too nit-picky of a mood today, so I'll just let the story speak for itself.  Kudos to the Canadian for building a thriving business.

Tomorrow, January 6, is known in many Amish communities as "Old Christmas".   Otherwise known as the Epiphany, this date goes unmarked in many places today.  But it used to be a much bigger deal.  My Presbyterian church offers a short service tomorrow to mark the end of the traditional 12 days of Christmas.   Like so many things among the Amish,  observance of the day varies. For instance, among the Amish in Berne, Indiana, the day passes uneventfully with work and school as usual. Just 120 miles away, however, the day is solemnly observed by the Amish in northern Indiana.  Factories, which employ large numbers of Amish, shutter for the day and schools close in places. Families stay home and fast and pray.  Now I'm not going to say where this is (only to say I am NOT referring to Lovina's husband), but in one Midwestern Amish community I have been made aware of something that just seems like a flagrant "civil rights" violation. I'm not an attorney, so maybe the term is "religious rights", but this just seemed illegal...maybe it's not....I don't know.  A few Amish men working at a factory were told by the non-Amish owners that if they didn't show up for work tomorrow, they'd "be fired."  Wow.  Unfortunately, the economy is so horrendous right now that these Amish men are simply grateful to have work so they aren't not going to dare rock the boat with their bosses. They plan to show up at work tomorrow as usual.  And because I sympathize with their desire to keep their jobs in this lousy economic environment, I'm giving bare minimum information.  But aren't employers REQUIRED to allow employees time off for religious observances?  I may be wrong.....I'd be curious if anyone else knows the ins and outs of this......