The Amish Cook

By KEVIN WILLIAMS

Another rainy Monday which will put laundry off until tomorrow. The rain will do a lot of good for the garden, though. We planted radishes, lettuce, peas, onions, and corn last week. Our potatoes are up that Joe planted awhile back. I hope we can get the rest of the garden planted this week once it dries up.

I need to go get some more seed and vegetable plants. We are still enjoying asparagus, rhubarb, and green winter onions. Our asparagus didn’t do as well this year. A friend gave us starts for winter onions a few years ago. They are doing very well. Every year on or around my birthday he would bring me a batch of onions because he knew I liked them.

Church services will be held here at our home in six weeks. We will be doing a lot of cleaning in the weeks ahead.

Weddings are still in full swing. Daughters Elizabeth and Susan had two to attend this week. Usually the youth who aren’t family or don’t have a part in the wedding don’t attend the service but are invited for a 7 p.m. supper and singing at most of the weddings in the community. There are a quite a few more May weddings coming up.

We also have some new babies in our church district. They are so sweet and innocent and such a blessing from God. It was exciting to hear the news about another set of twin boys born to a family in our church. They were named Jesse and Jared. Another set, Lyndon and Lanette are around 7 months old now. All the babies in church never lack attention. It seems they grow so fast. Recently Joe’s sister Loretta and Henry were blessed with another daughter, Marava Joy. We are looking forward to getting acquainted with our new niece.

Uncle Joe and Aunt Betty paid us a short visit one afternoon last week. Plans were to have supper at my brother Albert’s in a nearby community.

Our thoughts and prayers are with sister Liz, Levi, and family and also Levi’s extended family. Levi’s 62-year-old mother passed away suddenly on Saturday. It was a shock to the family and everyone. God has not promised us how long our stay on earth is. May we all be prepared for Him when our time does come. I know from experience what this family will go through not having their parents anymore. Levi’s Dad died suddenly in 2006. Joe and I would like to go to the visitation one evening which will be at sister Liz and Levi’s home. The funeral will also be there. My youngest sister, Susan, will be 36 this week on the 10th. So happy birthday wishes to her.

Jacob and Emma’s son Benjamin will be 10 on May 12. He is very excited about this birthday because now in church he can sit with the big boys instead of with his Dad. Usually when the boys and girls turn 10 they can sit with the older children instead of with their parents. Son Joseph will be 10 in July and he is looking forward to that. I guess it makes them feel older when they don’t have to sit beside their parents. And it also makes us parents feel older and not so happy about seeing them get older. Time does not stand still so let us make the best of our time. God’s blessings to all.

Rhubarb Crumble

1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup oatmeal
1 cup butter
4 cups diced rhubarb, raw
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla
Red food coloring optional

Mix the first four ingredients until crumbled. Press half of the mixture into a 9 X 13 inch baking dish. Layer rhubarb on top of the mixture in the baking dish. In a pan cook the sugar, water, cornstarch, and vanilla over low heat until clear. Add a little red food coloring for color if you like. Pour over rhubarb and then top with other half of crumbs. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

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