Each Wednesday throughout National Ice Cream Month, we’ll take a closer look at a part of our home, Lancaster County. This week’s “Taste of Lancaster County” entry is about our Amish neighbors. Each Wednesday, we’ll also give away a Lancaster County prize to one commenter chosen at random. Good luck!
Drive through the country roads of Lancaster County and you will most likely come upon a horse and buggy clip clopping down the road. The horse and buggy is a familiar sight and sound to those of us living in Lancaster County; but for the thousands of visitors to the area the horse and buggy serves as a glimpse into the lifestyle and practices of a group of people called the Amish. Because of its large concentration of Amish, Lancaster County has become synonymous with Amish cooking, crafts, furniture, and amazing quilts.
The Amish are an Anabaptist religious group closely related to the Mennonites and Brethren. The Lancaster County Amish are easily identifiable because of the plain, often homemade clothes that they wear. They customarily shun usage of modern amenities such as TV, electricity, and automobiles. Despite the fact that they don’t have telephones (or maybe because of that) they often have incredibly close-knit communities in which the local children all attend a one-room schoolhouse. The Amish moved to America from the border of Switzerland and Germany to escape religious persecution in the early 1700’s. They often speak Pennsylvania Dutch, a German Dialect common to Lancaster County. While there are a number of Amish Settlements across the United States, Lancaster County has the second largest settlement of them in the world.
This week’s Lancaster County prize is a package that contains a few samplings from the Amish community, including a Pennsylvania Dutch Cookbook and a Lancaster County Calendar (among other items). We’ll choose one comment at random from this post to receive the gift! We hope the items will give you a glimpse into the simple lives of our neighbors, so the next time you pick up a bowl of Turkey Hill ice cream, you can sit back and let your mind wander off to what life is like in Lancaster County.
Tags: amish, ice cream, lancaster county, pennsylvania, turkey hill
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If you’ve got a technical question about the ice cream making process or some other inquiry about the nuances of America’s favorite treat, chances are Ernie has the answer. He might not be able to answer all questions, but he’ll try his best and some may be featured on the Ice Cream Journal.
We moved here to Lancaster almost 14yr ago from NY after many visits…When asked why, my husband immediately responds, “Have you ever heard of Turkey Hill Ice Cream?”…his favorite Neapolitan, mine,
Butter Pecan/Chocolate….
I wonder how many calories are in a years supply of ice cream. If it’s Turkey Hill, it’s worth it!
I’ve always admired and respected the Amish community. The integrity and compassion shown by those individuals is something we should ALL strive to achieve. PS – Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup is my favorite!!!!!
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I have always wanted to go to lancaster county be/c I dont live so far away, but at least the Amish come to all of our farmers markets, so I am able to get a taste of them if nothing else
As a kid we lived in Garrett County Maryland and we had an Amish community nearby in Grantsville, MD. It was one of my favorite places to visit as a kid and we would usually dine at a restaurant which only served Amish food. The picture above really brings back some memories. Sometimes I think we should get back to some of the simpler ways of living.
Happy Fourth of July to you Turkey Hill! Thank you for all you do!! It’s the best!
I have only visited Amish country once but your description makes it sound like a wonderful way of life. Family is extremely important to me and the pressures of our lifestyle sometimes make family togetherness a challenge.
When my family and I first visited Lancaster many, many years ago, we saw lots of “Turkey Hill” signs. We weren’t familiar with Turkey Hill because it was not available in NY. Now, years later, we find it in our supermarket and are we ever glad!
We have been going to pa. for many years now even when it was a dry state. now we take the grandkids to see all the beautiful sites. That was the only place to get the turkey hill Ice crean. Now we can have it anytime anyplace we want.
I have not been to Lancaster PA but reading this article and of course, eating Turkey Hill Ice Cream really makes me want to visit!!
My daughter and I just visited Lancaster on her school trip. We went to an Amish farm and saw what they wore and how they lived. She was so amazed by everything. We can’t wait to go back. Also, Turkey Hill ice cream is our favorite!
Some of the best B&b’s are located in Lancaster County!
We love going to see the fine hand made furniture!
we love the large farms , they also have the nicest looking cows. just like the large turkey hill cow
I love to visit Lancaster for all of the handmade crafts and local food products!
I love Turkey Hill Ice Cream!
I find the Amish so fascinating. It is amazing how they have maintained their simple way of life through so many generations in the midst of all the hustle and bustle in the world around them.
just tryed the Junior Mint ice cream. Great!
David M
turkey hill has the best ice cream around
they take pride in it
There is not a flavor I don’t like!!!
Do any of the Amish work for Turkey Hill, providing milk?
Turkey Hill is by far the best tasting
ice cream I’ve ever tasted. Thank You
Turkey Hill.
I have been going to the Amish country every year with my family since I was 5 years old….the tradition continues, I am now 32 married with 2 children, and have not missed a year yet. Our trip only lasts 3 days, but it is so relaxing and slow paced. It has been built up so much since I was a kid, still so much fun. I would love to visit turkey hill for a tour, any plans to open to the public?
The Amish can never cease to amaze. Thanks for such a wonderful article!
I have tremendous respect for the work ethic and religious devotion of the Amish.The citizens of Lancaster County are fortunate to have such good neighbors.I’m a pro-life Catholic who admires those who live by Christian values.
Being a Lancaster County Native (not saying how long,,,but remember Turkey Point before Turkey Hill Ice Tea
… the Amish have always been our Neighbors & Friends… and a constant reminder of a gentler time.
I cannot imagine my Life without these Folks & of Course My Favorite Ice Cream…..Turkey Hill !!!
I found your article about the Amish quite timely. The rest of the country could learn something from their way of life. Imagine if more people went to horse and buggy or the one room community school house. Neighbors helping neighbors raise a barn and just getting together.
I love Turkey Hill!!!!!!
It was Turkey Hill Day at the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday the 6th, and my friend of 43 years and I decided to have some scrumptious ice cream on this muggy day. I reminded her how messy a cone of ice cream can be, but she insisted in eating her chocolate-vanilla swirled treat out of a waffle cone. She spent the better part of a half hour leaning over a trash receptacle at the game, while streams of Turkey Hill ice cream seeped out of crevices all around the cone, dripping onto her hands and khaki slacks. I thoroughly enjoyed my Turkey Hill ice cream out of a small replica of a Phillies hat, used as a cup. Just a word to the wise…if you have the choice of bowl or cone, go for the bowl!
You may pay a little more, but it’s well worth it.
My favorite place in Lancaster is the Leola Produce Auction. To see the Horses bringing in the wagon loads of melons and sweet corn and flowers all arrainged so pretty.
I have lived in Lancaster county all my life. I was raised on a farm and we always made home made ice cream. The only ice cream I purchase is Turkey Hill. Lancaster County is a beautiful place to live.
It is really thoughtful for such a reputable company to really get in touch w/ their customers by interacting with them through various blogs. The area sounds facinating and a great appreciation for the community and their heritage is well displayed here. Great facts! Kudos to the cookbook giveway too.
The Amish are good,caring,God-fearing,family-oriented people.They live out their Christian convictions.I believe in the sanctity of and the right to life.The right to life can be found in our nation’s Declaration of Independence.This right is encoded in the natural law.The vast majority of true Christians believe that God has granted all human beings the right to life.This includes the unborn babies.
I have never been to the Lancaster area, but hopefully we can plan a day trip there for sometime this summer. Any suggestions?
Saturday I will be in Lancaster County attending a concert. Can’t wait. For anyone who has never been to Lancaster County, try it,you will like it. I know I do.
I never have been to Lancaster. It looks beautiful. It looks like a great vacation spot.
Also A few years back we were at Edaville Railroad in Mass. There was a stand handing out samples of Turkey hill ice cream. Nothing better than Turkey Hill on a hot summer day. They gave us a cow shirt.How nice of you Thanks a bunch.
I love ice cream!!!!!!
I awoke from a nightmare dream
That I spent a whole day without ice cream!
We live in silcon Vally- California. Our 1st desire is to INDULGE IN TURKEY HILL ICE CREAM when we visit our family in Lancaster.
My favorite is Philadephia Vanilla Ice Cream.
YOU’LL COME TO CALIFORNIA- WE WANT YOUR ICE CREAM HERE.
I love Lancaster County but have never visited Lititz. I would like to go there during their annual crafts fair. When I think of celebrating Lititz with ice cream I dream of ice cream with pretzel pieces, chocolate, and some rainbow colored sprinkles. Now that I know there is chocolate in Lititz I will be sure to drop by.
Wow, the last time I visited Lancaster was when I was a kid in the 1960’s, and I’m ashamed to say the only thing I remember about it was that my cousin got his hand caught in the coke bottle vending machine at the motel. Okay, giving away my age here. I guess we didn’t know about Turkey Hill icecream to make it a memorable vacation! If I went back at least now I would have something to remember!
The ice cream sandwich, a “Light Recipe”-
A nice tasty treat for you and for me.
It’s the Turkey Hill brand, so creamy and sweet-
Six to a box, and it can’t be beat!
There’s also the “Sundae” on top of the “Cone”-
With chocolate and nuts, in a brown-waffled scone-
It’s filled with vanilla and deep fudgy swirls-
There perfect for parents, for boys and for girls!
Love the Turkey Hill varieties!