How Awesome Is This Photo???

So over the weekend I took Tyler and Zachary to a friend's birthday party at Kissing Bridge Ski Resort.  On the our way through from Ellicottville to Glenwood, 

we stopped in Springville to have lunch. In the parking lot we noticed the Amish had parked their horse and buggy to go grocery shopping at Tops! I just loved this! 

I took pictures with no disrespect because as you can see there were no Amish folks in the buggy. Although when I was done taking a few photos of the horse, the Amish gentleman who was clearly the owner was walking out of the store with a cart full of groceries. Just awesome!

By the way, Cattaragus County is home to hundreds of Amish families. One of our favorite things to do is take a car ride through the Amish Trail for the day. The route is so beautiful and scenic and it truly takes you back in time. I love stopping at their homes and picking up freshly made baked goods. They always greet visitors at their homes with a huge smile and such enthusiasm. They also produce a variety of handcrafted furniture, quilts, toys, leather and iron works. A few years back we purchased an 8 person classic style picnic table. It weighs a ton but solid and sturdy enough to last us the next 100 years. If you are looking for something unique, educational and fun to do, take your family through the Enchanted Mountains Amish Trail in Cattaragus County. For more information click here on Amish Trail. They also have some great recipes on the Amish Trail site. I can't wait to try the Amish Whoopie Pie! Salute to the Amish Community!

Here's our Amish made picnic table

Amish Whoopie Pie Recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
4 cups flour
1 cup baking cocoa
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
1 cup sour milk
2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup hot water

Directions:
1. Cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs. 
2. Sift together flour, cocoa, and salt.
3. Add to creamed mixture alternately with sour milk.
4. Add the vanilla and dissolve soda in hot water and add last. Mix well.
5. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes.
6. Make sandwiches from 2 cookies filled with the Whoopie Pie Filling.