My yearly trip to Ohio means sitting on the veranda of The Ashery with a full tummy and a full heart. I observe the Amish buggies speeding by on a lovely spring afternoon with the drivers graciously raising their hand, calling out “hello” to the English strangers.
The Ashery secret is out, a unique bulk grocery store with soup mixes, delectable dips, fresh spices and grains and a meat counter with the freshness common to this Swiss-German culture. This once small storefront expands with each of my visits. I plan to browse hungry with delicious sample offerings to equal a hearty lunch and today was no exception. Their marketing scheme is pure genius because one taste of a soup or dip, and you struggle to leave without taking one of their mixes home in the hopes of replicating the dish. None of these delicious finds are available online. At a recent dinner party, I brought the Ashery’s Pumpkin Pie Dip served with the suggested ginger cookies. Immediately, the guests barrage me with requests for the recipe. The truth is I am clueless to its secret ingredients. Apart from making this trip to The Ashery every year, the mix is shrouded in secrecy. In my quest to find the recipe, I approach my cousin’s Amish daughter who works behind the scenes at The Ashery. She is no help. These mixes arrive ready to distribute. In a day when all things can be purchased over the world wide web,The Ashery has a corner on keeping their supply chain local. So, I make my yearly trek to Ohio
Amish country for a supply of all The Ashery goodness.
Life Lights 