08/20/2007

The Amish Cook

The summer days are just flying by

By Lovina Eicher
The Amish Cook
Read past Amish Cook columns here

Our thoughts are in Holmes County, Ohio, as today the funeral is being held for Joe's 58-year-old Aunt Ruth. We regret that we were unable to attend. Our thoughts and sympathy, though, are directed that way this morning.

Again, such an event is a reminder to us that God is in control. We do not know what lies ahead in the unknown future, but with God as our guide it is easier to go on.

Daughter Elizabeth is still at Jacob and Emma's helping out. She plans to come home tonight, which we are all excited about. We miss her here at home, although I was glad to let her help Emma after the birth of her new baby boy. Our children love to go visit baby Steven and would love to be there with him all the time.

Daughter Susan and I made a big batch of homemade salsa this afternoon. We also made some hot sauce. Then we made a batch of peach jam. Susan also made a peach cobbler to go along with our supper tonight.

The "Quik Chef” from Tupperware really helped in chopping all the vegetables for our salsa. We had run out of our salsa, so was glad to have some more. I would like to make quite a few more batches. It's great to stock up on for the winter, which will be here before we know it.

I also need to process some more homemade "V-8 juice.” We enjoy that for breakfast. I put in jalapeno for a spicier flavor.

We have had rain every day this week. We are so thankful for it because it is much needed.

Everything was looking so dry. Now our grass looks greener. Also our hay field looks more promising for a third cutting of hay. Hay seems scarce this year because of the dry weather. Garden plants are doing better. They had been withering in the hot sun and from the dryness.

Another finch has a nest in one of my hanging wave petunia plants on my porch. The four little birdies hatched a couple of days ago. The finch must think my porch flowers are a good, safe place for her nests.

With the canning season starting, I need to make a trip into town for canning supplies. I did 11 quarts of dill pickles and some hot peppers yesterday. Now I'd like to do red beets once the garden dries up. We dug up most of our potatoes before the rain but still have a few to dig up yet. We didn't get a very good crop this year.

Try this recipe to use up some of those fresh peaches this time of year:

Creamy Peach Pie

• 1 c. sugar
• 1/2 c., flour
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1/2 t. cinnamon
• 2 c. half and half
• 6-8 c. fresh, sliced peaches or 1 (29-oz. can) sliced peaches, drained
• 1 9&1/2-inch pie shell

Combine sugar, flour, salt and cinnamon. Blend. Add to peaches and toss to coat. Add half and half and mix. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 45 minutes at 350° or until it sets. Cool completely. Apples can also be substituted for peaches.

(Editor's update: After Lovina wrote and mailed in this column, her 9-year-old daughter, Verena, took a nasty fall while playing outside at Emma's. She spent a night in the hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion and fractured sinus. Verena was released from the hospital but further tests and doctors visits are planned.)

Lovina Eicher is Old Order Amish. She hand-writes this column from her home in southern Michigan. Anyone with cultural or cooking questions can send them to: Lovina Eicher, The Amish Cook, P.O. Box 2144, Middletown, OH 45042. Read all of her columns online at www.record-eagle.com/columns/amish.