I traveled today through some of Pennsylvania’s beautiful Amish country.  This was not completely a new trek for me, but I purposely drove in parts I do not believe I have previously traveled.  Amish people fascinate those of us who are so connected with all our devices and, I admit, I drove my car along these roads with a GPS tracking my travel, my smart phone providing me with music and available to google whatever question pops into my mind, and a recorder to keep track of thoughts as they occur.  Today, I am wearing brightly colored leggings, flip flops, and three earrings in each ear.

Amish live a much simpler life, without electricity, without our devices, without our ostentation.  Their clothing is plain and does not call attention to the wearer by cut, color, or any other feature.

I do not mean to say they are a curiosity to be examined.  In some ways, I think they are to be envied as materialism is just not in their DNA.  Also, from what I have read, they are extremely loyal to each other and that trait alone is one to be applauded.  The Amish hold humility as a highly-cherished value and view pride as a threat to community harmony. Just as the Amish do not carry personal photographs or display them in homes, they do not want others to take photographs of them.

This is their belief and I understand and respect their feelings on this subject.  For that reason, any pictures of Amish people I have posted herein are strictly ones I have found online and do not show anyone’s visage.  We could all learn a little bit about humility and simplicity from them.

I was surprised to find so much traffic, and how fast people drive, even on the various side roads.  There is so much to see–buggies, farmland, cottages, barns in towns named Bird in Hand, Intercourse, and White Horse. I even saw this miniature buggy pulled by a pony being driven by a child!

I was looking for roadside stands but, sadly, where there used to be many, I only found one.  I was able to buy some plump, juicy tomatoes and rum bread that looks scrumptious.  But, I was actually looking for one specific thing…dry bottom Amish shoo-fly pie.  For novices, I explain:  Though the ingredients and rough proportions of traditional shoo-fly recipes are more or less consistent regardless of the region, depending on how the crumb and molasses components are placed in the pie shell before baking, a shoo-fly pie will fall into one of two regional styles—dry-bottom or wet-bottom.  I found out later that I was in the wrong area.

For dry-bottom pies, generally the preference among shoo-fly bakers of the Lehigh County area of Pennsylvania, a portion of the crumb mixture is mixed or alternately layered with the molasses mixture in the pie shell and the remaining crumbs are layered on top. The result is essentially a crumb-topped molasses cake (a lot like gingerbread, sans ginger and other spices), enclosed in a pie shell.

Further to the south and west, in the Lancaster County area, the preference is for wet-bottomed pies, which are made by pouring the molasses mixture into the pie shell and gently spreading the crumb mixture, in its entirety, across the surface. The baked result is quite similar to dry-bottom shoo-fly with the key exception of the thick, sticky layer of molasses goo that forms between the cakey upper portion and the crust, adding another layer of texture and interest to the pie.

Note to Causeway followers: After I return, I promise that I will make this pie for everyone to taste!

Once I finished my Amish country tour, I met my niece, Don Altemus for lunch at the Shake Shack in King of Prussia.  An incredibly pet-friendly restaurant, we each enjoyed a shackburger and shared an order of fries with bacon and cheese.  I ordered a pooch-ini for Chloe (ShackBurger® dog biscuits, peanut butter sauce and vanilla custard).

I then drove north to Warminster, PA to see my ex sister-in-law, Carol, and her grandson, Don IV (my brother Don’s grandson).  To my utter delight, Don and Carol’s son, Don III, and his wife, Rebecca also came over as did Don IV’s girlfriend, Becca.  Carol made us an absolutely delectable dinner of salmon with two different marinades and a salad.

This stop is, besides a wonderful visit with relatives, my first two-night stop.  YAY!  No driving tomorrow!