UPDATE: This giveaway is now over. The winner was chosen using Random.org and has been contacted via email. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Today’s post was put together by my dear Amish-Mennonite friend, Sherry Gore. I know you will enjoy this sneak peek into her fun personality and her beautiful magazine, Cooking & Such: Adventures in Plain Living. For more information on Sherry and the exciting things going on in her life, please visit www.SherryGore.com or find her on Facebook.
-Cindy
When you hear the word autumn, you probably don’t envision Gulf breezes, palm trees, and hibiscus flowers in full bloom. But even in my tropical village of Pinecraft (in the heart of Sarasota, Florida), autumn is as distinct a season as it is for folks in the north. While we don’t have the spectacular changing colors on the trees or a crispness to the air that people enjoy elsewhere in the country, there are other telltale signs of fall. Each year in October you’ll find Amish girls outside the Der Dutchman Restaurant, planting a bed of perennials. And the Pioneer Trails bus, the most common form of transportation of the Amish to Sarasota, increases its run from biweekly to weekly since many Amish come for the season. What fun it is to run into our snowbird friends while biking through the village! Some come down for a week to prepare their houses for the winter. (They usually return around Thanksgiving or Christmas, then stay right up to the week before Easter.) The restaurant at Yoder’s Amish Village exchanges its summer menu for one filled with everybody’s favorite treat: pumpkin! There’s hot-off-the-griddle pumpkin pancakes, a decadent pumpkin cheesecake, and one of my favorites, pumpkin cream pie!
Each of these indications of autumn brings a smile to my face every year. What’s a harbinger of autumn for you?
Here’s a delicious recipe I’d like to share with you. It’s featured in the latest issue of Cooking & Such: Adventures in Plain Living magazine. Can’t you just picture yourself in sweater weather sharing a plate of freshly made apple cider doughnuts with your family? It will definitely feel like autumn, no matter where you are!
Old-fashioned Apple Cider Doughnuts
1 cup apple cider
4 Tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for the work surface
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Glaze:
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 Tablespoons apple cider
Sugar topping (pictured):
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Doughnuts:
Boil the apple cider in a small saucepan until it is reduced to 1/4 cup (about 20 to 30 minutes). Set aside to cool. Beat the butter with your mixer, adding in the sugar. Next, add eggs, one at a time, until well mixed. Add buttermilk and concentrated cider. Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in another bowl. Add these to liquid ingredients; mix just enough to combine.
Transfer dough to lightly floured parchment or waxed paper and sprinkle the doughnuts with flour. Turn the dough over onto a cookie sheet and sprinkle the tops with flour.
Roll the dough until it is about 1/2 inch thick. Use more flour if dough is still sticky.
Put the dough in the freezer until it is slightly hardened, about 20 minutes.
Glaze:
While the cut doughnut shapes are in the refrigerator, make the glaze by whisking together the confectioners’ sugar and the cider until the mixture is smooth. Set aside.
Using a 3-inch doughnut cutter, cut out the doughnut shapes.
Put the cut doughnuts and doughnut holes onto a second cookie sheet.
Refrigerate the doughnuts for 20 to 30 minutes.
Put enough oil or shortening into a deep pan to fill it 3 inches; heat the oil to 350 degrees.
Fry several doughnuts at a time, turning once or twice, until golden brown and cooked through; about 1 minute per side. Watch them carefully; they burn quickly.
Remove the doughnuts with metal tongs or a slotted spoon and set on paper towels to drain. While still warm, shake a few at a time in a paper bag containing cinnamon-sugar OR pour the glaze over them. Place on cooling rack or dowel rod.
Sherry Gore is the author of Taste of Pinecraft: Glimpses of Sarasota, Florida’s Amish Culture and Kitchens. She’s appeared in one documentary for National Geographic Channel and is working with the same crew to develop a second. Sherry is the editor of Cooking & Such: Adventures in Plain Living magazine and The Pinecraft Pauper, and a contributing writer for the national edition of The Budget and Cindy Woodsmall’s blog. She is a member of a Beachy Amish-Mennonite church and makes her home in Sarasota with her family.
Click here to visit Sherry Gore’s website.
Click here to learn more about Cooking & Such: Adventures in Plain Living magazine and/or to order a subscription.
Giveaway
If you would like to enter for a chance to win a copy of the fall issue of Cooking & Such: Adventures in Plain Living, simply leave a comment at the bottom of this post on my website.
If you are reading this anywhere other than my website, such as on Facebook, in an email, or on Goodreads, please hop on over to my website by clicking this link (http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/2012/10/16/autumn-pinecraft/) and leave a comment at the bottom of my post to enter the giveaway. Only comments left on my website will be entered into the giveaway. (It’s just too hard to track down all the comments left in various places, and that means it’s too easy to miss some of the comments.)
The deadline for this giveaway is Monday, October 22, 2012, at noon. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be contacted privately, as well as announced on next week’s post.
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I would love this it looks like something I would really enjoy & those donuts really sound delicious.
Thanks for a chance at the drawing.
Vicki
I think I would really enjoy this book.
i would love to win a copy. I started reading your books and i can not get enough.
Would love to win a copy ~ thanks for the chance!
Love to win a copy of cooking & such, or any other giveaways, hooked on anything Amish!
It’s a vacation from my reality’s
They look delicious. I have never made doughnuts – but, I have eaten many over the years:) I’d like to give these a try. I would love to win a copy of the magazine too. Thank you
These doughnuts sound delicious! I would love to win a copy of “Cooking and Such.”
Looking forward to making Sherry’s doughnuts. She is such a sweet gal and I would love to win her cookbook.
would love to win, need all the help i can get cooking.
The magazine looks awesome & I have been wa
nting Sherrys cookbook for some time.
I would love to see a copy of Sherry Gore’s magazine. It always looks so good when I see a copy on Facebook.
sounds like a great doughnut and magazine!
This has to be a great fall issue! Would Love to win! Thanks!
I would love to win a copy of this magazine. Where can I subscribe to it. I couldn’t find it at the grocery store. I hope I win!
Thanks for asking! You can subscribe to Cooking & Such by going to this website: http://www.sherrygore.com/book/cookingandsuch.htm
Wow those doughnuts sound amazing!!! Would LOVE to win this!!!!
I would love to win, I also want to try those doughnuts they look so good.
This looks like a great cook took to have.
pat B.
Love to win this!
Love your books. Please enter me in you contest.
Michelle
4conti@oh.rr.com
Thank you for the blessing of your encouraging and uplifting writing. It’s so wonderful to get a glimpse into your life. I love seeing all the beautiful pictures you post on facebook, and hearing more about the way of having a godly, simple life that I long for. By the way, I’d also really love to get a copy of your cooking magazine!!! (;
God bless you!
Would love to win the Cooking and Such Cookbook – the cover is so very Colorful !!!! The apple – cider donuts look so GOOD, ready to eat right off the page.
Love everything about fall! Please enter me in your contest.
Love apple cider donuts. I tied making some last year. They were pretty good. There are a few farms in my area that make and sell them.
I would love to learn some new recipes!!!!
Julie Gould
thanks for the recipes
enter me please
I love this publication. Thank you for the contest. Blessings to you and Sherry
I would love to have a copy of Cooking and Stuff.
Patricia sissy51@suddenlink.net
I love anything with Cinnamon!
The doughnuts look good!
I am always looking for great new recipes to try.
Sherry painted a beautiful picture of a fall day in Sarasota! Makes me want to go for a visit. Thanks for chance to win.
Wow! Those doughnuts sound great!!!
Wonderful or should I say a “Wunderbaar” recipe. I think I will try this one and add it to my collection of Amish recipes. I love to cook these as they are more flavorful and wholesome than many of the recipes today.
I would love to have this. My passion is cooking. Always looking to try new things!
Love homemade donuts!
Cindy– you have the BEST contests ! Please count me in this one………… Thanx !
YUM-O. Donuts for dinner!! I’d love to win a copy of the book
How enlighting, I have visited Amish Country for many years during October and it is so wonderful, now I find I have one near by as I live not far from Sarasota, so now I am planning a trip there as I was unable to go north this year for fall, looking forward to new adventure and checking it out, Happy Fall everyone.
How exciting! I hope you enjoy your trip.
Wow! The donuts looks really good. I’ll have to try them sometime. Thanks for sharing.
These donuts really look yummy! Would love to win this book.
This recipe sounds WONDERFUL-Just might make a batch this weekend. Made the chicken stuffing casserole-a new family favorite-thank you so much for sharing this with all of us!!
Those donuts sound yummy!
I love Pinecraft! My parents lived just a few miles from there for over 20 years. I would so enjoy this cookbook and my 90 year old mom would love the magazine as she would feel like she is home. The picture of the cookbook tell a story to me….good friends, good foods and games….this is what mom and dad loved many an evening!
How fun! Thanks for sharing this family connection with me.
I love fall and that recipe looks delish!!!
The recipe looks yummy!!!!
I live in Vermont and the fall here is just beautiful!!!! I love apple cider donuts so thanks for the receipe. I would really enjoy getting a copy of Cooking & Such. Thanks!
yum – sounds delicious! Thanks for giving us a glimpse into Amish life in Florida
Oh my, these donuts look delectable! I love the look of the magazine too. I would love to win a copy
jeanne.doyon@gmail.com
It is great how you offer Miss Sherry’s Magazine and she is offering your book, I can wait to read both.
Would love to have this book, looks like lots of fun.
Would love to win this book. I have always enjoyed reading your books ! Have a blessed day
This would be very nice to win.
What a wonderful , exciting opportunity. Those donuts look absolutely delicious. Thank you.
I would love a chance to win. I always enjoy reading about the Amish lifestyle and trying new recipies. Please enter me for a chance to win.
I enjoyed reading Sherry Gore tell what Amish fall is in their community. Here in Missouri, leaves are changing and all shops have pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn displayed. Also this is the start of fun quilting. Cooler weather gives the feeling of quilting. Please enter me in drawing to win Sherry Gore magazine.
Thank you
That sounds like such a cozy and fun atmosphere!
I thank you for sharing your traditions and wondrrful stories w/all of us. I would love to have a copy of your magazine.
Would love to win a copy of Sherry’s magazine!
I cannot wait to try these donuts!! Thank you Cindy and Sherry!!! Love you both! Donna
Would love a chance to win this book and try the delicous receipes in them and even share them with our Bible Study group our our church meals we have monthly.
Thank you for the opportunity to win- I’ve been hankering to see any copy of this magazine for awhile!
This is all good reading.
I would love to read a Cooking & Such magazine. The donuts sound delicious.
I love your contests almost as much as your books! Like everyone else, I would love to win a copy of this book. Thanks for the opportunity. Blessings.
Thank you, Kathy!
Would love to win a copy of Cooking & Such……Thanks.
Thank you for this opportunity at possibly winning a copy of the fall issue of Cooking & Such!!!!!!!
I would love to win a copy of Cooking & Such
As ALWAYS thanks for the opportunity to win a great gift….fall issue, I’m sure it’s a treat….yay!!! I love Sherry’s recipes and her website as well!! Thanks again Cindy!!
I would love to win this cook book.
I would love to win this contest
I’d love to win!!!!!
I would love to win! Can’t wait to make the doughnuts!!
Apple anything gets me in the mood for fall. The canner has been rocking here w/ apple pie filling, apple sauce, and apple butter, but apple cider doughnuts! Oh, my. Thanks for sharing and what an a great looking magazine.
I love Sherry Gore. My Dad used to make us homemade donuts – because when I was growing up you could not buy them in stores. Please enter me in contest.
Would love to visit Pinecraft and would love to win a copy of this magazine. Those doughnuts sound very delish! I’m visiting my mom right now helping her recover from surgery and I’m sure she would love them! Thanks for the opportunity…Linda M.
The apple cider doughnuts must be delicious! Yum. Do you know the approximate yield?
Good question, Margaret! It should make about 10-12 servings.
I would LOVE to win a copy of this magazine. I have looked for it in book stores along with other stores, I guess you can only get it by subscription.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
I would love to win the copy…those doughnuts look yummy!!!!!
What a wonderful magazine! Absolutely love, love, love it!
I would really love to win this book! While I was in New Wilmington, PA. last year, I saw Amish women making these donuts at the farmer’s market, and I want to do that too! I’m in the process of becoming Amish, actually, by myself, here in Santa Cruz, CA. There are no Amish around here. They only come to visit, sometimes. But I want to start a settlement here. It’s nice to know there’s one in Florida, too. I’ve heard of Beachy Amish before.
please enter me in the contest for “Cooking & Such.”
What a fun recipe! I will definitely be trying these! Love autumn!
This donut recipe sounds so yummy! When my non-Amish/Mennonite grandmother passed away I regretted not getting my favorite recipes from her. One day at the public library I saw an Amish cookbook and upon opening it I found the same recipes that my grandmother made, such as rivel soup, slippy flapjacks and my favorite of favorites, milk pie!!! I also cooked those same recipes for my family…My daughters still remember the milk pie
What a special memory, Valeria! Thanks for sharing that with me.
I have been wanting a copy of this magazine every since Sherry started it.I just can’t afford to subscribe right now.Please enter me.Thanks…
I hope I get a chance to try out other recipes if I win this book .When you think of apples it reminds me of a crisp morning in the mountains and autumn is in the air
love to be entered in this wonderful giveaway thanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
I would love to have this book and try some of the recipes.I can’t wait to try those apple cider donuts!When you think of apples I think of the a crisp morning in mountains in autumn.
Thank you for the opportunity to win this lovely cooking issue.
Blessings!
~Pat in New Hampshire
I love this magazine! Would love to win!
I’d love to win this-sounds great!
I can’t wait to try those Apple Cider Donuts! My mouth is watering already. Reminds me of when we were small and mommy used to make donuts and let us shake them in a bag with powdered sugar or cinnamon. Yummy.
I am so ready to cook especially f I win a new book!! he he heh
Wow, these look wonderful. I love to cook and bake, but have never made doughnuts! I am definitely gonna try these…they look so ‘autumn’. Angie in Illinois angadair at nwcable dot net
I love donuts. I’ll have to try this recipe.
i remember in the early 80′s when my grandma got a donut maker and we looked so fwd to a treat .if she was to tired we would walk down to dunkin donuts now we do not have dunkin here anymore i miss them and my my grandma and her donuts
will try this nummy donut recipe
thank you
Thanks for sharing this story about your grandma, Vickie! I hope you enjoy this recipe, especially since it means something special to you.