Lancaster County Amish Cornmeal Mush Recipes

LANCASTER COUNTY, AMISH CORNMEAL MUSH

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together.
• Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Cover& simmer 10-20 minutes (LOW heat).
• Pour into a loaf pan.
• Cool and then cut into thin pieces.
• Fry till golden brown on both sides.

CORNMEAL MUSH BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Boil 4 cups water. Dissolve cornmeal in 1 ½ cup cold water (if using cracked corn, skip this step and add it to total amount of water). Add cornmeal mixture to boiling water, stirring constantly. When it begins to thicken simmer for approximately 30 minutes, stirring often.
• Add butter, sour cream, cheese and spices, mixing very well, but slowly. Pour into uttered 8 x 8" casserole.
• Bake for 50-60 minutes.

CORNMEAL MUSH

Steps:

• Bring to a boil in a heavy saucepan or top of a double boiler 3 cups of water.
• Combine cornmeal, 1 cup cold water, flour and salt and stir into the boiling water.
• Stir constantly while mush thickens. A wire wisk works well at this point.
• Reduce heat to very low, cover and continue cooking for 20-30 minutes.
• Eat hot from the kettle with milk and sugar, or butter and sugar, jam is good too.
• Or, pour into a loaf pan to cool an set.
• Slice, dust with flour if desired, and fry in a well-greased skillet.

CORNMEAL MUSH

Steps:

• Combine 2 1/2 cup water and salt in small saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Mix cornmeal with remaining water in a small bowl.
• Add cornmeal mixture slowly to boiling water, stirring constantly.
• Reduce heat to low; cook stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until mixture is thickened.

CORNMEAL MUSH

Steps:

• Place some water into a soup bowl and set aside.
• Place the two cups of water into a pan (I use a heavy pan to even out the heat).
• Measure the cornmeal and then spoon some of the water from the pan into the measuring cup.
• Use the spoon to allow the water to seep down into the cornmeal fully wetting it.
• Once fully wet, put heat under the pan and start spooning the wet cornmeal into the pan, stirring constantly to avoid clumping (for some reason attempting to simply put the dry cornmeal into the water directly tends to cause clumping).
• Use water from the pan to rinse out the measuring cup and set aside.
• Stir the water and cornmeal mix constantly while heating (this is important to avoid both clumping and burning).
• Stir and simmer the mixture until it thickens to the point where it requires a bit of help from the spoon to pour out of the pan.
• Immediately remove from heat, quickly empty the water from the soup bowl into the measuring cup and then pour/spoon the cornmeal mixture into the soup bowl (the water in the soup bowl will help in removing the set mush later).
• Dip a small spoon into the water in the measuring cup and use the bowl of the spoon to smooth and even the surface of the cornmeal mixture; use the tip of the spoon to go around the edge of the mixture and make it
• Set the bowl aside overnight to allow the mixture to set (I don't cover it, but if leaving it set more than overnight you might want to consider covering with cheesecloth).
• To use the mush, overturn the soup bowl onto a cutting board (shake a little if needed to release the mush).
• Cut into 1/4-inch slices (more or less to taste).
• Depending on consistency you may have to use a big knife to make the basic cut and a small knife dragged along the side of the big knife to release the mush from the big knife without breaking it.
• Fry these slices at 350-degrees on both sides in butter/margarine until a slight golden crust forms.
• If you use a griddle, while cooking you can place the plate under the griddle to warm it.
• Place on a plate and cover the mush with your favorite fruit jam (fig jam works well if you can get it and I also like my homemade strawberry jam; but most fruit jams will work just fine).

AMISH SUGAR COOKIES, LANCASTER COUNTY - THE REAL DEAL!

Steps:

• Mix oil& sugar.
• Add beaten eggs& mix well.
• Mix together dry ingredients, then add to above mixture alternately with evaporated milk.
• Add vanilla.
• Drop onto cookie sheets, and sprinkle w/ crumb mixture.
• Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.
• THESE SEEM TO HAVE THE BEST TEXTURE WHEN STIRRED (MIXED) BY HAND (WHISK), VERSUS AN ELECTRIC MIXER.

MAMALIGA CU BRANZA (CORNMEAL MUSH WITH CHEESE)

Steps:

• To prepare the Mamaliga, mix the cornmeal,and salt together with 1 1/2 c cold water and set it aside to soften.
• Bring 4 cups water to a hard boil.
• Add the cornmeal mixture to the boiling water, stirring constantly.
• When the Mamaliga begins to thicken, cover, and cook over lower heat, for about 30 minutes, stirring periodically; do not allow Mamaliga to burn. Now you are ready for the cheese.
• Divide the butter into 3 equal parts.
• Divide the grated cheese into two equal parts.
• Divide the cooked cornmeal into two equal parts.
• To a casserole dish, add 1/3 of the butter and 1/2 of the cooked cornmeal.
• Add an additional 1/3 of the butter, and 1/2 of the grated cheese.
• Add second 1/2 of the cooked cornmeal, butter and cheese.
• Top with the sour cream.
• Bake 1 hour at 350°F.