07/09/2007

The Amish Cook

There's lots to celebrate in July

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

I am writing this column while daughters Elizabeth and Susan are making us a breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast. I need to get this in today's mail, so they are taking up the task of preparing the morning meal.

It is nice to have them home from school during the summer. We plan to do a lot of laundry and general weekly cleaning today. We'd also like to go over to the old house and do some cleanup.

We were blessed with a very welcome rain last night. Everything was really dry, but now looks so refreshed this morning. It has cooled off a little, giving us a break from the upper 90-degree temperatures. The high humidity has caused 22-month-old Kevin's asthma to fire up. We are giving him treatments, and it seems to give him relief. Kevin slept good through the night but had a very miserable day yesterday.

Tomorrow my husband Joe starts an eight-day vacation from his job. We are all glad to have him home, and no schedule to follow will be a nice change.

Saturday we plan to attend the Coblentz reunion in Indiana. We haven't been to the annual reunion for three years. It will be enjoyable to see my uncles, aunts and cousins again.

Dad came from a family of 13 and he was the second oldest, so there are always lots to visit with. Dad and Mom will be greatly missed as will two of our aunts. Life goes on and we must accept the changes that our heavenly father sends, although it's hard at times.

July is a month of birthdays in this household. On Sunday, July 1, daughter Loretta turned age 7. She and our son, Benjamin, will both be age 7 until he turns 8 on July 14. Then on July 24, Joseph turns 5.

Our garden seems to be doing well despite the dry season so far. We are now enjoying potatoes, peas, zucchinis, hot peppers and a few cucumbers. Radishes are pretty well over with for the year and red beets are nice sized already.

The five oldest children plan to take two weeks of swimming lessons in July. I am glad if they learn how to swim, especially after the death of the Amish man by drowning a few weeks ago in our old Indiana community.

We heard that sister Leah and Paul's oldest son, Ben, age 24, is in the hospital with pancreatitis. Haven't heard if he could come home yet or not. Sure hope he has a speedy recovery.

On a more exciting note, we also heard the news of brother Amos and Nancy's oldest daughter Susan's wedding that will be held on July 26. So this will be a busy month.

A reader shared this zucchini recipe with me, which I'll share since zucchinis are starting in.

Zucchini Beef Bake

• 3 medium zucchinis, sliced
• 1 c. sliced mushrooms
• 2 T. oil
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 2 c. tomato sauce
• 1/2 t. oregano
• 1/2 t. basil
• 1/2 t. salt
• 2 c. shredded cheese

Saute zucchini and mushrooms in oil until tender. In separate skillet, cook ground beef, onion and green pepper. Drain. Stir in tomato sauce and seasonings.

Layer half each of zucchini mixture in a lightly greased 13-by-9-inch inch pan. Spoon half of ground beef mixture over vegetables. Sprinkle with half of cheese. Repeat layers of veggies and ground beef. Bake uncovered at 350° for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake an additional five to seven minutes.

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.