THE AMISH COOK
BY LOVINA EICHER
It is a hot, humid Memorial Day afternoon as I write this. The younger children have tubs of water warming in the sun so they can have a water battle to cool off later on. Meanwhile, sons Benjamin and Joseph are taking turns mowing the grass. The girls are getting in the laundry, folding it and putting it away. My husband Joe is tilling the garden so I can put out plants later today. I have 80 tomato plants, 38 green peppers, 10 cabbage plants, and 64 hot pepper plants put out. It has been so wet and rainy this past week that only just now has the garden dried out for me to get the plants in.
I am sitting outside at my new patio table writing this column. The table is at the southeast corner of our L-shaped porch. It is a very breezy spot and feels good when the weather is so hot. Verena has her hummingbird feeder hung on the porch which really attracts the hummingbirds. I like to watch them flutter about. The feeder was a gift to Verena and watching it and caring for it has become a pastime to her since she has been getting around with the aid of crutches these days. Several weeks ago her right foot started swelling up and was very painful. We had x-rays taken and it doesn’t show a fracture. We have also had quite a few blood tests taken and they show that her CPK level is very high. She has an appointment next week at a rheumatologist and hour away from here. We are hoping they will find out what is causing her foot to swell up and be painful like this.
Thursday, June 2 it will be a year since her brain concussion. She still has post-concussions but she is able to attend school during them now. Another step to recovery that we are very thankful for. We also appreciate all the information readers have sent about this condition. We would also be glad to hear more information of any kind from readers. Doctors say Verena is a very rare case and it would be helpful to hear from others who have gone through the same ordeal.
Tuesday evening we took supper in to Jacob and Emma’s with it being a year since the passing of dear, sweet Marilyn. We thought we might cheer them and make their evening go faster. Our neighbor, Glen, then came with a flower for Jacob’s while we were there. His wife had also passed away that same spring. We invited him to stay and eat with us. The children enjoyed the balloons he made into animals for them. The children kept him busy all night. We took a potato casserole, mixed vegetables, broccoli-cauliflower salad, watermelon, and ice cream to Emma and Jacob‘s. We also took two rose bushes for them to plant in honor of Marilyn.
Saturday sister Liz, Levi and family came from Berne, Indiana to visit Emma and Jacob. They told Jacob and Emma that they would bring supper in with them. My sisters Susan, and Verena, and our family decided to go also and help with supper. Jacob and Emma were surprised to see brother Albert, Sarah Irene, and 7 children arrive also, driving in with horse and buggy from a nearby community. Albert’s live around 25 miles from here. On the menu Saturday night was grilled pork steak and hot dogs, French fries, potato-asparagus casserole, lettuce salad, watermelon, cake, chocolate chip bars, ice cream, and so forth. Alberrt’s and Levi’s all stayed at Susan and Verena’s house for the night. Although some of the children stayed at our house and at Jacob’s. In the forenoon Sunday we all enjoyed a brunch at Susan and Verena’s house. They made a big breakfast casserole for everyone Also on the menu was watermelon, muskmelon, biscuits, cheese, and cake. It was rainy evening at Jacob’s on Saturday but Sunday turned out to be nice and sunny. In the afternoon Verena and Susan grilled hamburgers for everyone before heading for home. And also on the menu were French fries, ice cream, cake, watermelon, muskmelon, and chips. The children enjoyed making s’mores over the fire pit.
Albert’s had a two hour drive back home with their buggy and horses and Levi’s had a 2-hour drive also but with a hired driver and van. The children were all tired and ready for a good night’s sleep.
This morning we slept in later than usual since no one had to leave for work or school. God’s blessings to all. Try this broccoli-cauliflower salad that I brought over to Emma and Jacob’s.
BROCCOLI-CAULFLOWER SALAD
For the salad:
1 fresh bunch broccoli, chopped
1 bunch cauliflower, chopped
1/2 cup bacon bits
2 cups grated cheese
1 small onion, diced
For the sauce:
1 cup sour cream
1 cup salad dressing
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
For the salad: Put all ingredients into a bowl and mix well until everything is tossed together evenly. For the sauce: In a separate bowl, mix sauce ingredients together and pour over salad. Toss so that sauce is distributed evenly.
Note: This is a cold salad and requires no heating.
The Amish Cook is Published on Amish Stories with permission from Oasis Newsfeatures. Richard from Amish Stories.
