The Amish Cook

By LOVINA EICHER

The past week flew by with the Memorial Day holiday shortening the work week. How hard to believe that 2012 is almost half over! Thursday evening was son Kevin’s kindergarten’s graduation which also makes us see that time does not stands still. The youngest of our eight children is now ready for first grade. And our oldest Elizabeth will be 18 next week. The older we get the faster time seems to go.

On Memorial Day, Joe and I, our eight children, Elizabeth’s friend, Timothy, and Susan’s friend Mose all spent the day in Berne, Indiana. Leah and Paul had our annual family gathering there. The family seems to increase in size every year and there is a new family member or two at least every time. If I counted right we are a total of 84 now. There is always something missing though: our dear parents. How proud they would be to see all their grandchildren and great-grandchildren now. A few of brother Albert’s sons were unable to attend but otherwise everyone else was present. Paul and Leah’s oldest son Ben and family traveled from Wisconsin to attend the gathering and spent a week visiting with his parents. Paul and Leah were happy to see them having not seen them this year yet. As always there was plenty of food to eat. Leah prepared the hot food and the rest was brought in. I am not sure if I can remember all the food that was there but on the menu was mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, barbecued chicken, mixed vegetables, veggies and dip, sliced cheese, taco salad, overnight salad, various cakes, and puddings, cookies, fresh mixed fruit, and homemade pies: oatmeal, cherry, pumpkin, and rhubarb-custard. Outdoor games were played after dinner. Also visiting and singing were done. Everyone brought snacks to eat before everyone started for home. We stopped in to visit with Joe’s sister Ruth and Chris before heading back to Michigan. We arrived back home safe and sound around 8 p.m.

Friday evening Joe and I headed back to Berne, Indiana with a van load from this area for a viewing. How saddened the community was to hear of the death of a 16-year-old boy in an accident at work. We knew the family so we decided to go along. This boy’s mother died of cancer around 5 years ago. May God help the grieving family through yet another trial.

An update on our house: the drywall is all mudded and ready for the sealer. After the sealer it will be ready for us to paint and put the flooring down. It will sure be nice once the children can sleep in their bedrooms again. Joseph, 9, said this morning that he misses his bedroom. We are still waiting for the windows to come. Benjamin and Joseph were excited to each receive three new pants that a girl in our church sewed for them. How thoughtful and helpful that is. Thanks to my good friend Ruth I now have three nice flower baskets of impatients hanging on our front porch. They were a birthday gift to me. I do not have a green thumb when it comes to flowers so thanks to daughter Elizabeth for taking care of them. I don’t have any problem taking care of the garden but flowers do not do well for me. I think the main reason is I forget to water them daily.

The children have only today, tomorrow, and a half a day to finish up their school term. It will be nice to have them off for summer break. We hope to be able to go to the U-pick strawberry fields to pick strawberries. A lady in our church who always orders peaches for the church women said her supplier is reporting the Michigan peaches were all frozen out this year. She is going to try to find a new out of state supplier. But I may have to do without this year if they are too expensive.

Meanwhile, try this delicious dessert!

Marble Squares

1-1/4 cup brown sugar
1-1/4 cup white sugar
1-1/4 cup margarine
1-1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 -1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup nuts
3/4 cups chocolate chips

Cream sugar, margarine, eggs, and vanilla. Add flour, soda, baking powder, and salt. Spread into a greased 15x10x1-inch jellyroll pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Put in oven for 1 minute. Take out and marblize with knife. Sprinkle nuts. Bake 20 minutes at 350.

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