Today our goal was to drive through the Amish country of northern Indiana, the largest concentration of Amish in the country, and to end up in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We decided to make a course change. Hey, you gotta be flexible in these things. I had been looking at our maps and thinking about where we were going and how close things were. I knew my wife had never been to West Virginia before. I calculated that if we drove back to our starting point, Columbus, Ohio a day early, we would have time to drive to West Virginia and pick up a state she didn't have yet. It was only a 1 1/2 hour drive from Columbus! I bounced the idea off her and then she started looking at the maps and doing some thinking, too. Before long she was onboard with the idea and on the cell phone canceling reservations and getting new ones in the places we'd now be going. It did mean canceling my plans to stop in Ann Arbor, Michigan for a couple of days. I had planned to see some of the Henry Ford attractions in the Detroit area.An hour or so later, we had changed our plans and were set on the new course. But before we could head for our ultimate travel 
goal for the day, we needed to head into M
ichigan, a state I still hadn't been to. So we set sail. First stop east of Michigan City was South Bend, Indiana, home of Notre Dame University. We stopped and walked around the campus. It was one of the most beautiful universities I have ever seen.
goal for the day, we needed to head into M
ichigan, a state I still hadn't been to. So we set sail. First stop east of Michigan City was South Bend, Indiana, home of Notre Dame University. We stopped and walked around the campus. It was one of the most beautiful universities I have ever seen.After leaving the campus we headed north towards the Michigan border only 10 miles away. We crossed the border and headed east along the southern border on a two lane country road. We stopped at a road-side fruit stand and bought a basket of delicious Michigan cherries. After about 40 minutes of driving through Michigan we turned south and recrossed the border into Indiana. So much for Michigan. Everything I'd read about Michigan told me that the best part was up in northern Michigan anyway. So maybe next time. For now we were headed for Amish country. I have long had a
deep respect for this people and the simple but hard life they have choosen to lead as a part of their religious beliefs. They refuse to own a motor vehicle of any kind. They travel instead by horse and buggie or bicycle. They are generally farmers and plow their fields not by a tractor, but by horse power. They are well known for their beautiful furniture as well. As we drove along the two-lane roads we noticed many of them traveling along in their black buggies drawn by a single horse and other Amish in their fields plowing with the help only of a horse drawn plow.
deep respect for this people and the simple but hard life they have choosen to lead as a part of their religious beliefs. They refuse to own a motor vehicle of any kind. They travel instead by horse and buggie or bicycle. They are generally farmers and plow their fields not by a tractor, but by horse power. They are well known for their beautiful furniture as well. As we drove along the two-lane roads we noticed many of them traveling along in their black buggies drawn by a single horse and other Amish in their fields plowing with the help only of a horse drawn plow.We stopped in Middlebury, Indiana at an Amish-style restaurant called Essenhaus which is German for eating house. Amish food tends to be rib-sticking simple
home-cooking. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, fried chicken, wonderful baked goods. The kind of food you'd want to eat if you were working very hard all day long as they do. Many of us know these foods as comfort foods--the kind of food our mothers or grandmothers fixed. We sat down to a hearty lunch that included homemade rolls. On the table were two squeeze bottles. One had a delicious apple butter and the other Amish peanut butter. I really got excited with the Amish peanut butter. We bought a jar of it on the way out. Yummy! Here we are at lunch at Essenhaus. I looked up the recipe on-line so now when I run out I know how to make more! Try it yourself.
home-cooking. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, fried chicken, wonderful baked goods. The kind of food you'd want to eat if you were working very hard all day long as they do. Many of us know these foods as comfort foods--the kind of food our mothers or grandmothers fixed. We sat down to a hearty lunch that included homemade rolls. On the table were two squeeze bottles. One had a delicious apple butter and the other Amish peanut butter. I really got excited with the Amish peanut butter. We bought a jar of it on the way out. Yummy! Here we are at lunch at Essenhaus. I looked up the recipe on-line so now when I run out I know how to make more! Try it yourself.AMISH PEANUT BUTTER Recipe
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup Marshmallow Creme
1 cup light corn syrup
In a mixing bowl, stir all the ingredients together until combined. Place in a covered container. Store in refrigerator. Bring to room temperature to serve as a bread spread or ice cream topper. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
Though my experience in a new state (Michigan) was short lived it did give us the time we needed to get closer to our next stop which would be Wheeling, West Virginia. For today though, we drove on as far as Marion, Ohio and stopped for the night.
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