It’s one thing to grow up knowing about the Holland in Michigan…but it’s quite a different story to end up as a cookbook author…in HOLLAND! (As in The Netherlands.)
Peepaw’s cousin, Marye Maarsen, is living a life that would make a great movie.
In 1966 Marye went to Aalsmeer, The Netherlands as a one-year volunteer from her small-town Mennonite church near Pidgeon, Michigan. And while she was there, she fell in love with a “real Dutchman” named Jan. As Marye says…she went for a year…and never left.
Click here to get an idea of the beautiful place Marye and Jan call home…
They married. They had a family. And Marye’s lived there ever since…now fifty years!
Like many Dutch landowners, Jan was a partner in his family’s flower nursery. And Marye loves to cook…and to write. (She studied Art and English Literature in college.)
Several years ago she was approached to write a cookbook highlighting the Amish and Mennonite recipes she grew up with in America. That task was hard enough…but the measurements and the text of this book had to be written in Dutch!
So husband Jan and Marye set out together to accomplish this task that had to be completed on a very tight schedule to allow publishing by a specific date.
Mission Accomplished!
Even though her book has been on shelves for several years now, she is still being asked to travel around Holland, giving “book talks”, signing copies of her books…and even providing tastes from some of the recipes printed in her cookbook.
I wish I could be a fly on the wall at one of her book signings…even though I wouldn’t understand one word of her talk since I’m sure she is speaking Dutch…NOT English!
I’m guessing her audiences are enjoying her food…AND her tales of growing up in rural America.
So congratulations, Marye! You have found a unique way to honor YOUR ancestors…and the recipes they shared with you so many years ago.
Cooking is a wonderful way to bring understanding and to bridge the differences between countries.
Maybe our world leaders should try COOKING TOGETHER.
Just a thought…
This cookbook has brought a lot of special experiences and I have indeed gone all over giving talks about the book itself and the background of the receipes in the book. I have also been invited to speak at several libraries. The libraries uually have a wide selection of amish novels. Personally I get a bit upset about some of the authors of these books. I have to be a bit diplomatic about what I say so I try to give some hints as to how to read the “amish” novels.
I love to cook myself and read cook books like a novel and then I make whatever comes into my head and it is usually a one time thing. Here in Holland now we have a wide variety of things to chose from which wasn’t the case 50 yrs ago when I first came.
I wish you the best as you follow your path of giving us great ideas in preparing our daily food..
Take care marye
Thank you so much for your comments Marye! I am so happy to share your story with my readers. I would love to be able to watch you cook some of your wonderful recipes…right there in your cozy kitchen! (And I would be first in line to sample the finished dishes!!) Keep me posted on your book tour and your speaking engagements!
All the Best…
Meemaw and Peepaw
Loved reading this!!! -what a neat history!!
Thanks Linda! Marye is full of stories…and she’s an amazing photographer too!