Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook

This book will pull you in with sweet memories of gatherings of Amish families. The contributors share a number of recipes used through the years in their family and community. The reader is drawn back in time when families shared a meal together, celebrated sharing food, gathered to celebrate life and accomplishments, to build each other up.

A few recipes were shared in this sample of the book to be released in June. In exchange for an honest review, Balbour Publishing and NetGalley provided me with an ARC to experience this amazing collection. No longer will the mass production of food from stores look the same. Through the pages of this book of memories, the reader can see the large containers used to mix the potato salad, the orange drink, the wedding fruit. You can almost smell the aromas of the foods cooking, see the colorful tables set for friends, and long to taste just a sampling from the spread that laid before them.

Tradition. Simple foods. Fellowship. Rejoicing. Along with the work of the women, the service of the men and the thankfulness the community shared are evident in the pages of this book. Take me back to the simpler times. The times when sharing foods was as important as saying "you are special to me." When reading this book, be sure to notice the names of those sharing recipes - A true Amish heritage is evident. Well done Ms Brunsetter.

This is a lovely book. I am privileged to give an honest review.
I am not any way Amish or related to Amish, but I like the idea of their cooking ways, simple and nourishing.
This book as many many recipes that can be a wonderful addition to any household's menu.

I am looking forward to trying many recipes, especially the Pies.
Very colourful and great information for everything related to the Amish cooking style.

I have collected a few of Wanda Brunstetter cookbooks over the years. As they’ve always been a handy resource for good, simple recipes, I was thrilled to be able to review a sample of this cookbook.
As usual, the recipes used sound fantastic. The blurbs she includes about Amish gatherings and her tips for celebration are well received. I in particular was exited to try her recipe for Apple Bread and it was a hit. Very well received by my family.
This cookbook would be a welcome addition to any cooks library.

Loved the sample of recipes that was showed in this book. I am looking forward to reading, review, and making some of the recipes. Thank you for offering a sampling of the recipes.

Wanda Brunstetter has cookbooks down to an art! Each one is perfectly planned with lots of added interesting information as well as delicious and easy recipes to serve to family and friends. I made the breakfast haystacks for the family this weekend...huge hit! Another absolutely favorite section...Cooking for a Crowd! Wow, will these come in handy for church picnics this summer. I can't wait to see the rest of the book!

As a member of a large family who gather often, my most used recipe books are those that give me a broad choice of easy to assemble recipes using everyday pantry items. This cookbook hits all of those high notes plus you have the added plus of Wanda Brunstetter's backstory on the recipes. This book has already given our group some new favorites and added the author's friends to ours. Take an afternoon and browse this cookbook. You'll earmark many dishes to try.

I love cookbooks and I love Amish food, so I had to have this. I have several of Wanda's wonderful cookbooks. This was such a nice one. It had a nice collection from drinks to main course dishes and they were so very appetizing. I can't wait to try them out. I love Wanda's big gathering recipes and the wonderful pictures.

I need to get the whole book now. It looks wonderful and I know I will get lots of use from the tips and recipes.

I received a Sample book from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Full of comfort food sure to please your family and friends, this little cookbook is a fun and helpful add to anyone's kitchen! I was immediately drawn to "Amish" in the title and was delighted to see many from scratch and simple goodies to try out from their culture. I was a little confused if some were pure Amish recipes because of the store-bought ingredients used, but I didn't mind. I'm especially excited to try out the different kind of homemade rolls! The practical tips sprinkled in for preparing certain dishes or for bringing them to a crowd also provided little nuggets of wisdom great for new homemakers like myself.

The Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook by Wanda Brunstetter is a wonderful cookbook if you are looking for recipes to make for a large group. This cookbook contains not only recipes, but also tips, stories, advice. Some of the tips sections are; planning ahead, transporting food, and cooking at the site of the event. Each of these have a bullet point list of great advice on how to make things easier and more efficient.The recipes contain a wonderful mix of; beverages, snacks, breads and rolls, salads, side dishes, main dishes and desserts.

So no matter what type of gathering you are preparing for, Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook will give you plenty of options to choose from. Some of my favorites are: Fried Pies, Easy Fruit Salad, Breakfast Haystack, Banana Nut Cake and Warm Bacon Dip.

One of the most interesting recipes I found in this cookbook was for Coffee Concentrate. Taking a large can of coffee and turning it into a concentrated liquid form that you can use at the event to make the coffee faster. The interesting thing that I found, is that this coffee concentrate can also be made for the home user! You can freeze small containers and enjoy it, hot or cold, at home. There is also a recipe for tea concentrate in the same section and is a huge help for big events as well as enjoying at home.

You will want to check out this cookbook for all of your future gatherings with friends for family. It helps make the food end of the event easy to handle with the help of some friends, so that you can enjoy the event as well!

What a tasty sampling you selected. Wanda Brunstetter never fails to cook up some amazingly tasty treats. I can't wait to dig my teeth into the complete cookbook!

There’s some delicious-looking recipes in the sample from Wanda Brunstetter’s latest cookbook. The author adds her personal touch with notes about meals and events with the Amish, I’ll be looking forward to purchasing this cookbook and putting it to use.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I can not wait to try one of the recipes from Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook: Over 200 Recipes for Carry-In Favorites with Tips for Making the Most of the Occasion. This cookbook has easy to follow instructions with vibrant colored pictures.
Five Stars.

This cookbook is great! Many different recipes to try and helpful hints for around the kitchen. I would suggest this book to anyone who likes to cook and wants to try something different.

I loved this Amish Cookbook! This is NOT your typical, no picture, same old recipes, Amish cookbook!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it has more pictures than most Amish cookbooks, lots of recipes I haven't seen before, and a nice touch in one of the chapters, bulk cooking recipes! Helpful hints, Notes, suggestions and a very well written cookbook with irresistible recipes! An easy 5 stars, and one of the very few Amish books that have received this many stars out of me, in a- good - long time! Delicious!

I get my love of cooking and cookbook collecting from my grandmother. One of her favorite cookbooks to purchase was Amish cookbooks and I have quite a collection. So when I saw this cookbook, I had to take a peek!

Even though this a just a sampler, you get a lovely variety of simple home-style recipes that reminds you of recipes past down from friends and family. I liked the look of this cookbook and won’t hesitate to purchase it when it releases to add to my overflowing collection of cookbooks. This one will be taken off the shelf frequently!

Personally, I love cookbooks and trying new recipes. We were having a family gathering and this was the perfect time to try something new. I made the baked macaroni and cheese and the apple bread. Super easy and delicious recipes.

This would be a great gift for a new bride, college student or just anyone who enjoys cooking. This little sampler make me anxious for the actual full book. I will be purchasing this for myself and family members.

I received a copy from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. All opinions stated here are my own.

I received a sample of Wanda Brunstetter's Amish Friends Gathering Cookbook. I loved it! It has great selection of recipes, some for large parties, and numerous stories. This is an easy read and truly enjoyable. I can't wait for the book to come out and continue the family stories.
I was given an ARC of the sample by NetGalley for an honest review.

5 Stars: 5/5 star rating
Anyone who has ever tasted Amish cooking and enjoyed it as I do will love this cookbook. Amish's lives are centered are family and gathering together and food is always involved. Even if it's just a cup of tea or coffee and a piece of pie around the kitchen table, the Amish love to eat and cook.
This book has a variety of recipes which are generally simple enough for a beginning to seasoned cook to follow.
Wanda E. Brunstetter is a friend to Amish in many communities in United States and has access to many recipes to share in this delicious cookbook!

I received a digital sample of this cookbook from netgalley and Barbour Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

I am anxiously awaiting the full version to be released this Saturday as I want to make a few of the dishes. I love the addition of helpful tips. A few I read and wondered to myself, “why didn’t I think of that?”

This is the perfect cookbook for the home cook who loves to cook down home good food for large crowds.

I received a complimentary copy from Barbour House Publishing through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

I am not one to always use a cookbook but I do love to collect and read them. However, I love this one. It offers Amish recipes and stories to go with them. Wanda Brunstetter has written Amish fiction and cookbooks for many years. She has a way of bringing them to life. I really enjoyed this cookbook and look forward to trying these recipes.
I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

If you enjoy reading Amish fiction and have wondered what it would be like to try your hand at making some of the delicious sounding food on their tables, look no more. Wanda E Brunstetter's Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook is filled with over 200 delightful recipes. We love potlucks and this wonderful collection of recipes has earned its keep on the cookbook shelf. A lovely tea concentrate to prepare and freeze for a summer gathering is one I liked trying. Or, how about a nice bowl of Sweet Cheddar Popcorn, a nice switch from that bag in the microwave! I recommend this cookbook for anyone who loves to cook and try new, and not so new recipes.

Amish cookbook, but contains recipes I've not found in other Amish cookbooks. I am going to try the Apple Bread this fall when I get back from apple picking! Although I'll never (I don't think...) make potato salad for 150 people (but you never know!) I am grateful there is one that offers amounts- 42 cups of cubes potatoes! Wow! This book is a real treat with photos of some foods. I bet they will look great in color!

This was a lovely magnification of the Amish community and how they gather together, along with the food that they share. I've always been enamored when it comes to the Amish and always jump at the chance to try any recipes that they share. I had a fantastic time taking all the recipes included in this new cookbook in and even set some time aside to try the ones that immediately caught my eye. I love a good drink, the Frozen Pear Slush jumped out at me because I love pears and it didn't disappoint. It was tasty and a recipe I'm sure to use again. I enjoy doing party style foods so I'm always looking for easy yet tasteful recipes to add to my collection. I've done a similar Tortilla Roll like the one listed but had to give this one a try because the ingredients were different from what I've used before. I can say I look forward to using it at a baby shower I will be hosting at the beginning of next month. Blackberries are my favorite fruit so when I saw the Blackberry Gelatin Salad I new I had to give it a go, being from the South I can say we love our "salads" so I'm happy to have a new one to try out on my family. There are so many recipes I look forward to taking on, the different cheesecakes, the Mini Key Lime Tarts, and the Brown Sugar Dumplings; to name a few. I adored reading the stories before each section and love the way the author put this wonderful cookbook together!!!

**I received a complimentary sample for consideration, all thoughts are 100% my own.

First and foremost, it is important to note that this review is based upon a sample received and not the full cookbook. That being said, I enjoyed what I saw so much, that the full cookbook has most certainly been added to my wish list.

I love a good cookbook. In fact, I have quite a collection of them that I use frequently. Some of my favorites are those that are not merely by one person, but those that feature a compilation of recipes from various sources. For me these are the best for two reasons. The first being that they tend to have a wider variety of styles, flavors, etc. Being by different individuals, they seem to just offer a lot more options to choose from. The second reason is that I find these type of cookbooks feature recipes that have been tried and trusted by REAL people--- not chefs, but at home cooks and bakers like myself. That's not to say they're always simple... I just personally feel like I know that these recipes are those that have some family history to them. I absolutely love that. This cookbook offers not only a wide variety of recipes that are perfect for church cookouts, family gatherings and more... but also lots of helpful tips and tricks for the occasion too. All of this is great, but more than anything I enjoyed the stories within as well. Food is such a staple in family celebrations, and one that is embedded in our memories so I love reading more about those memories within. It is more than JUST a cookbook.


I was drawn to this book having read Amish fiction by Wanda E. Brunstetter in the past. The stories and the recipes within are going to be a great addition for anyone who is already a fan of her novels, or truly just anyone who loves a good ol' fashioned cookbook. It is certainly a welcome addition to my own collection, and one I know I will be turning to time and time again.

I love Amish food. My grandmother was descended from the Pennsylvania Dutch so the recipes are near and dear to my heart. I have one other of Wanda Brunstetter 's Amish cookbooks and find the recipes easy to follow and delicious. In this sample the recipe for Apple Bread is worth buying the book. Yum!

Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook is a new cookbook for weddings, parties, and other social gatherings. Released 1st June 2019 by Barbour on their Shiloh Run imprint, it's 224 pages and available in spiral bound format.

The eARC provided was a 48 pages sample with recipes for (non-alcoholic)drinks, salads, desserts, main- and side-dishes, and helpful tips for cooking for a crowd, streamlining serving, and cleaning up.

The photography is appealing and warm and emphasizes the comfort and simplicity of good food with good friends and family. The typography and layout are homey, with recipes presented individually, organized by section.

Many of these recipes will be familiar to cooks who have had family recipes handed down for generations. The recipes all have ingredients listed in American standard measurements only. The written directions are clear and easy to follow. There is no nutritional information given for the sample recipes, and the contributors names are listed for each. I was surprised (and pleased) to see that some of the recipes included convenience ingredients. Also many of these recipes have large yields, perfect for parties, reunions, gatherings, etc.

There is a strong theme of Christian fellowship and worship and the important role that food plays in the social and religious structure of believers.

Five stars. (With the assumption that the rest of the recipes and book quality are to the same standard as the sample provided).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I voluntarily read a SAMPLE of this book provided by the publisher via Netgalley and I offer my honest opinion in response.
The recipes vary in servings from potluck/family sized casseroles to salads that serve over 350. I liked the variety from beverages to main dishes. I thought it was helpful that many gave instructions for make-ahead dishes or components. I love this type of compilation cookbook with recipes from Amish and Mennonite communities throughout the US. I've already recommended it to my friends who collect this type of cookbook or who are fans of this author.

I loved the collection of recipes in this book.
They look and sound so yummy and I loved the adjustments at the end of the book for bigger crowds. That's something I have always struggled with when going to bigger gatherings. The stories wove in are special to, its like looking at other peoples memories and being right there when it happened. I truly enjoyed this book and have purchase a physical copy as well.
I volunteered to read this book from Barbour Publishing in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed with in are my own.