06/25/2007

The Amish Cook

A chance to concentrate on summer

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

The children are still enjoying their summer break. Before the school doors shut for the summer, there were some fun activities.

Six-year-old Loretta went with her class to the zoo, which was enjoyable for her. And Elizabeth received an award at the academic awards ceremony to mark the end of the year. So now the whole summer is ahead, and I enjoy having their help around the house.

Meanwhile, we still are all in shock over the drowning of a 32-year-old Amish man from the community where we used to live. We attended the funeral for him. We still don't have many details yet, but he left behind a wife and four children ranging in age from 4 weeks to 5 years.

Such a tragedy, but once again our Heavenly Father is warning us all that there is no certain age and that we do not have to be old to die. Again we question "why,” but we know he makes no mistakes so we need to leave it all in his hands.

The deceased would be a brother to two of our brothers-in-law on Joe's side of the family. He would also be sister Liz and Levi's brother-in-law.

So just try to live every day fully. That is what we try to do in this household, and our days have been full lately.

Yesterday I processed 21 quarts of homemade rhubarb juice concentrate. This will make for a good homemade punch to drink. All you have to do is add your favorite juices, soda or whatever else you want. My sister Emma gave me the recipe, which I really appreciate.

I am not using mine this year yet as I just planted rhubarb last fall. Meanwhile, though, our horseradish is coming along good, as is our asparagus, which we transplanted last year.

We were blessed with quite a bit of rain, which has done wonders to our newly planted grass. The grass is looking better already. It seems a person can water, it but it's not the same as when it gets rain. The garden is almost dried off and needs hoeing and weeding. We sure are enjoying the homegrown lettuce, radishes and green onions.

Our hanging plant on the front porch is still providing a home for a finch. The children are excited and can't wait to see when the eggs hatch. I remember a finch making a nest in one of my mother's flowers one year. How exciting it was for the grandchildren to see the little birdies.

Here is the recipe for rhubarb juice.

Rhubarb Juice Concentrate

• 8 lbs. rhubarb, cut up and washed
• 8 quarts water
• 2 12-oz. cans frozen orange juice concentrate
• 3 c. pineapple juice
• 4 c. sugar
• 1 3-oz. box strawberry gelatin

Combine the rhubarb and water and cook until soft. Drain and add the orange juice, pineapple, gelatin and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Put into jars and process.

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.