The Celebration is the perfect conclusion for The Amish Cooking Class series. Heidi Troyer and her husband Lyle finally have two foster children to love and care for and Heidi is once again given a chance to share her cooking skills with "Englishers" but this time the students in her cooking class are children. As Heidi observes her students she prays for them and their families and her quiet, non-judgemental manner and the Bible scriptures shared on her recipe cards make Heidi Troyer a very powerful witness. I think that this is one reason that Brunstetter's Amish fiction is so appealing to readers. She has the ability to create characters that you would like to know personally, she stresses the forgiving and loving nature of the Amish community and she shows just how appealing the Amish lifestyle can be when compared to our hectic, sometimes frantic lives.

There have been many characters who have been a part of the three Amish Cooking classes and it is only fitting that this final book lets us learn how their lives have changed and how they are now doing. The Celebration is a poignant and inspirational story and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys Christian fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. ( )

Amish Cooking Class (The Celebration, final book)
The Celebration by Wanda Brunstetter is the final book in her Amish Cooking Class series. What struck me from the first pages and chapters of The Celebration, is that this is a book is very relatable in today’s “modern” world. The participants in Heidi Troyer’s cooking class are children this time around, because Heidi hopes that by holding a class for children, the two children she is currently fostering might engage more, and come out of their shells. The English children who make up this class come from every walk of life that we are accustomed to in today’s world including: a brother and sister with parents who are separated; a tween with an attitude; a young, motherless child, being raised by his widowed father; a single parent raising an adopted daughter; and lastly, a family that some might consider ‘from the other side of the tracks’. As a reader, you reap the benefits of Ms. Brunstetter’s heartwarming fiction and unsurpassed imagery. When she writes about Heidi’s anticipation at sharing a picnic with her family, your mouth waters, and regardless of the weather outside, you want to go on a picnic, too! Each dish that the cooking class prepares is brought to life through wonder descriptions that tickle your sense of taste and smell! Each recipe used in the cooking class is featured at the end of the book, as are discussion questions about the book, which is a nice addition for a deeper reader’s experience. As usual, Ms. Brunstetter’s stories leave me feeling complete, satisfied, and whole, but The Celebration takes it to a deeper level. As Heidi her husband Lyle contemplate adopting their foster children, we see healing take place in Heidi’s heart, regarding the very real possibility of never giving birth herself. Healing, in one form or another, takes places throughout this book. If I had to pick one theme that runs, it through The Celebration, it would be perseverance. Each character in this book is facing some sort of issue, or challenge. While at first glance, that might seem depressing, in actuality, it’s real life. We all face challenges, each and every day. Some big, some little. In The Celebration, we watch these characters face their challenges, while Ms. Brunstetter realistically portrays their journey through them; we travel with them through the peaks and valleys as they forge ahead, and don’t give up. In the end, there are very real and very hopeful results for each character. I was sorry when this book ended, because I wanted to see their stories go on, and gather together with them at Heidi and Lyle’s place for one more cooking class. That, to me, is the mark of exceptional writing, and a story well told. I was provided a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and impartial review. ( )

The Celebration by Wanda Brunstetter is the third book in The Amish Cooking Class series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first two books in this lovely, heartwarming series. I found the book to be well-written and to have a nice pace. I was immediately drawn into the story and I did not want to stop reading. I stayed up very late to finish this marvelous book. Heidi is such a sweet woman with a big heart. The author created characters that are very real. They have problems in their lives that readers can relate to. The scripture provided on the back of the recipe cards plus the behavior they witness in the Troyer home guides each of them. They begin to question their lives and make changes. Some of the themes present in Amish Cooking Class – The Celebration are forgiveness, grace, love, friendship, prayer, trusting God, family, helping others and learning from our mistakes. We all make mistakes (sometimes the same one over and over). The trick is to learn from them. Amish Cooking Class – The Celebration is my favorite book in the series. I enjoyed reading each of them, but this one is special. The children added another element to the story. Your heart will go out to the families especially the Kimball’s. This is one of those books that will tug at your heartstrings as well as provide you with moments of laughter. The ending was delightful. Ms. Brunstetter did a fabulous job of wrapping up the various storylines and providing readers with a joyous conclusion. ( )

The Celebration, An Amish Cooking Class by Wanda E. Brunstetter.

It gets emotional but a good read.
Heidi is Amish and teaching young children how to cook and bake. It is my second time to read it and one I won a few years ago.

There are problems with the families of each of the children who have come to the class. Heidi and her husband, Lyle, have two foster children, a brother and a sister whose parents died in a car crash. Heidi is unable to have children but she and her husband want to adopt them.
She has six classes and the reader can read and watch the children and parents grown and learn.
After each class, the children take home the recipes that that have a BIble verse on each one.
There are chickens also in the book that are part of learning or as the Amish call them, hinkel.
The book is about God, prayers love, caring, friendship, family, death, heartbreaks, learning, and taking care of others.
I gave it a 5 star rating.
The opinions are my own.

One recipe I want to make this week:

"Surprise Muffins
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup cooking oil
2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Strawberry or blueberry jam

Grease bottom of 12 muffin cups or use paper baking cups. In medium bowl, beat egg with fork. Stir in milk and oil. Blend flour and other dry ingredients until mixture is moistened. Batter may be a bit lumpy. Do not overmix. Fill muffin cups half full of batter. Drop scant teaspoon of jam in center of batter in each muffin cup. Add more batter to fill cup so it's two-thirds full. Bake at 400* (F) for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Muffins will have gently rounded and pebbled tops. Loosen from pan immediately and remove with spatula. Serve warm or cold. Makes 12 muffins. Discovering the jelly inside the baked muffin is the surprise."

Leona Olson ( )

The Celebration is enjoyable. I like that you get to meet all the families and it rotational. It not with only one family and I like that. I like how Wanda does that with this book and series.



I like Hedi Toyer and how we see how she has struggled. We alway see how she reaches out to other children and their parents along the way as she is trying to help her foster children adjust and get to know other children.



We meet the Velma and her family. We also see the other families and meet them. Will they all heal over this Amish food and cooking class. Then gain they may form friendships they did not know will happen.



The one thing I noticed that I wish was different was that it gave us more of the children point of view more. It was a cooking class for children. I was hoping that would let see the children point of view along with the parents point of view.



The plot is done well. Wanda Brunstetter as done herself well with this book. I know this is the third book in the series. I want to read the other two hopefully soon. I would recommend any of Wanda’s books to read. This is good. This one is unique to me and have yet to see and Amish author do it the way she as. ( )