The Amish Cook By LOVINA EICHER Editor's Note: Seven of Lovina's eight children are down with strep throat this week making her unavailable to write. So this is the second to last in a year-long installment by the Amish Cook's editor about the behind-the-scenes work to keep the column going. Ten years ago, I was unwisely driving my car on a flooded rural Indiana road in a rainstorm. As my car inched through deeper water towards dry pavement just 20 feet away, the engine sputtered to a stop. I felt trapped and nervous by the rising water. It probably wasn't more than knee deep so I could easily leave my car behind and slosh to land. But then a bearded Amish man on his buggy came out of seemingly nowhere, parked his horse at the water's edge, pulled out a thick strap of some sort, and tied it between my car bumper and his buggy. Without a word, he climbed back into in his buggy and urged his muscular horse onward. My car slowly rolled out of the swampy muck and onto dry dirt road. The unidentified Amish man then promptly unhitched my car from his buggy, climbed back behind the reins and melted into the Indiana countryside before I could scarcely utter a "thank you."

I've never forgotten the incident and it's a good metaphor for life. Sometimes help arrives on the wings of an unannounced angel, other times, however, one has to ask for assistance before the water rises too high.

Like my car on that afternoon so many years ago, The Amish Cook column has been surrounded by slowly rising water for sometime. Do I continue to try to slog through myself or do I ask for help? It's a question I've thought long and hard about. Despite my embarrassment about having to ask readers to help the column, earlier this year, we created the Amish Cook Friend Club to just that. Since then, however, some readers who missed the introductory column and have asked me "why?" Most newspapers pay under $10 a week for The Amish Cook. Newspapers, however, aren't the bad guy, they are just paying the market rate for a syndicated feature. But the Amish Cook is unique in that it is like a one-screen movie theater. Tickets (newspaper revenue) pays some of the bills, but it's the popcorn and soda that really save the day. The Friend Club is the "popcorn and soda and it would not take many more members joining to ensure this column's long-term future.

I received an inspirational email from an Amish Cook reader last week that said simply: "Just remember something, your column has survived this long so you must be doing something right, and with God's good grace it will continue....Keep on plugging" So, I will, at least a little longer. I'm just trying to decide where this column's future is. It seems like readers really want it to continue and it's difficult to ignore that. So I thought it would be worth a final push to rescue The Amish Cook. Lovina and I discussed, however, that we want to give back to those readers who've really given so much. People who join by Oct 31, or have joined, at the "editor's circle" level will receive an invitation to an "Editor's picnic" next spring in a central location, probably, Indiana or Ohio (if enough readers from places like Kansas, Iowa, and Arkansas join then we'll have separate picnics in central locations in those areas) Lovina, Joe, and the children will attend and we'll all have a chance to meet and mingle, enjoy some good food, and to thank readers.

Details for enrolling in The Amish Cook Friend Club: ONE-YEAR SILVER $25; name card, signed 8 by 10 color photo of the Eicher's horse and buggy or meal-time scene. Free access to any paid products at amishcookonline.com. ONE YEAR GOLD $50; all of the above, plus a quarterly newsletter, "The Amish Cook Extra," with family favorite recipes, color photos of Lovina's home, stories and Amish information. EDITOR'S CIRCLE $75; All of the above, plus a happy birthday card from Lovina sent to the home of one loved one per year. ANGEL'S CLUB: People can set their own membership amount above $75 and receive all of the above, plus a special thank you from Lovina. Memberships can be sent to: Oasis Newsfeatures, P.O. Box 2144, Middletown, 45042. Readers can also join with credit card by calling 1- 24 hours, 7 days. Please note if your membership is for a Christmas gift.

Meanwhile, try this easy recipe for the "peanut butter spread" Lovina serves at church.

Amish Cook's

Church Spread

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup marshmallow crème

1 cup light corn syrup

In a mixing bowl, stir all the ingredients together till combined. Place in a covered container. Store in refrigerator. Bring to room temperature to serve as a bread spread or ice cream topper