The holiday season is nearly upon us. Cooks everywhere are already planning what they'll serve for Thanksgiving and Christmas, the two holidays during which I'm quite sure the most food is consumed. These cooks are probably wondering how in the world they'll ever be able to prepare all that food. Well, this year, I can help you; actually, Miller's Bakery can help you! They will take orders for your holiday delicacies to ensure your meal is a complete success (sorry, but youll have to do the turkey yourself).

I recently visited the Amish bakery, and the aroma of cookies, cinnamon rolls and other delights met me at the door. Ada Miller, like her sisters before her, manages the bakery her grandmother started nearly thirty years ago. Together with seven other employees, Ada mixes, forms, bakes, packages and sells a very delectable array of baked goods.

Here's where Miller's can help you with all that holiday baking. Wouldn't your guests just love having the choice of nine different kinds of pie? You'd be everyone's favorite relative if you put out a spread of apple, peach, Dutch apple, raisin, cherry, blueberry, red raspberry, black raspberry and, of course, pumpkin! Miller's pies come in three sizes: nine-inch, six-inch and small.

If "fry pies" whet your appetite, you can get them at Miller's in apple, peach, cherry, red raspberry, black raspberry, blueberry, lemon, peach and pineapple. I watched as the cherry fry pies were being prepared in the kitchen, and they were made one small batch at a time, with much care. In fact, everything at Miller's is lovingly handmade ... no machines!

You also may want to purchase some delicious bread for your holiday meals. At Miller's Bakery your choices are white, wheat, raisin, cinnamon raisin and iced cinnamon raisin, cream (this variety is sweeter than regular white bread) and oatmeal. Ada says they bake a lot of bread -- they use more than 300 pounds of flour every week, just for the bread!

Other baked goods available for the holidays or for just some mighty-fine eating anytime are cookies, doughnuts and cheese tarts.

Cookies are baked in twelve different varieties which include buttermilk, iced molasses, chocolate chip, peanut butter, snickerdoodles, cabin monsters (these are an oatmeal cookie chock full of chocolate chips and MMs), gingersnaps, raisin-filled, raisin oatmeal, date pinwheel, peanut butter oatmeal and sugarless oatmeal, plus raisin bars, pumpkin bars (in season) and whoopie pies. Ada told me eight different kinds of cookies are baked daily. At Christmas time only, cut-out cookies are available, as are fruitcakes. These may be ordered ahead of time.

Doughnuts and cinnamon rolls are always popular items at Miller's, whether for breakfast with coffee or tea, or anytime with a nice glass of cold cider. Varieties include cinnamon twists, apple fritters, cream sticks (in several flavors), black raspberry filled doughnuts, and cinnamon rolls. Now, I must tell you about these cinnamon rolls. They are not your run-of-the-mill, out-of-the-can type cinnamon rolls. These are he-man sized cinnamon rolls that demand a knife, fork and a big plate ... and an empty stomach!

Tea rings -- these are gigantic cinnamon rolls baked together, smothered with icing and topped with chopped nuts and maraschino cherries -- come in various sizes. These tea rings would be the perfect complement to your brunch buffet.

On Fridays and Saturdays only, dinner rolls and garden bread (with veggies) are available.

Cheese Tarts are Miller's Bakery's "signature" item. Ada's father and aunt developed the recipe many years ago, and the bakery has become known far and wide for these tarts. They are baked in eight flavors: plain cheese, black raspberry, red raspberry, cherry, blueberry, lemon, pineapple and pecan. The cheese tarts resemble a cupcake in appearance, but are wonderfully rich cream-cheese concoctions. When you visit Miller's, be sure to try these.

Actually, when you're at Miller's, you can buy something and just eat it there! A modest table and tree-stump chairs are available. Have a cup of coffee and try your favorite delicacy!

Miller's also makes its own chocolate candy. The display case of candy is right inside the front door, and when you see the size of their "haystacks" and peanut clusters you'll think you've died and gone to chocolate heaven!

The bakery takes up the middle section of the store, but two other sections offer additional items. One section contains a selection of bulk food items such as snack mixes, spices, candy, dried fruit, noodles, gelatin mixes, baking mixes, oatmeal, chocolate chips, popcorn and more.

The other part of the store is more craft oriented. Here you may purchase hand-quilted aprons, pot holders and table runners; small wooden furniture for young children or dolls, such as rocking chairs, gliders, doll high chairs and bunk beds; bird feeders; cookbooks and many other items.

Make it a point to visit Amish Country soon and visit Miller's Bakery. Give in to your sweet tooth and enjoy some of the very best baked goods around. And don't forget to place your order for the holidays. Your guests will be glad you did!

And while you're there, be sure to tell them you saw this in Amish Heartland!

Miller's Bakery, 4280 TR 356, Millersburg, OH 44654; hours: during Eastern Standard Time, Mon.-Sat., 7 a.m.-5 p.m., and during Daylight Savings Time, Mon.-Sat., 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Sun.; location: turn south onto SR 557 from US 62/OH 39, go two miles (watch for the sign on the east side of the road), turn right onto TR 356 and go 3/10 mile; bakery sits on the left, slightly below the road.

November-December 2003