The Amish Cook: Kindergarten comes to an end

The author, Cheryl Morey, shares personal insights into her daily life and family dynamics. She describes her morning routine, packing lunches for her husband Joe and son Benjamin, while her son Kevin is still asleep. She mentions her ongoing encouragement for her children to contribute to her column, noting her daughter Verena's recent contribution and her hope for Kevin to write again. The article then shifts to a detailed account of preparing a meal. She grilled ham and pork chops, leftovers from a pig butchered last winter, on her gas grill. She contrasts her preference for the gas grill's convenience with her husband Joe's aversion to it, explaining his preference for charcoal grilling and a past incident where he nearly started a fire with the gas grill. This anecdote highlights their differing approaches to cooking and adds a touch of humor to their domestic life. She also jokingly acknowledges that Joe doesn't typically read her columns, only learning about her written observations when others mention them to him. A significant portion of the article is dedicated to a solemn event: the funeral of her cousin Barbara's husband, Jonas, who was 56 years old and from Lagrange, Indiana. The author expresses shock at his sudden death due to a work accident. She details the family Jonas leaves behind, including his widow, twelve children (four of whom are married, with the youngest being nine), his widowed mother, seven brothers, seven sisters, and sixteen grandchildren, along with a large extended family. The funeral was exceptionally well-attended, requiring three separate buildings to accommodate all the mourners. The author reflects on her childhood connection with Jonas and Barbara, recalling that they were neighbors and attended the same school. She also mentions Jonas's sister, Katie, who was in her grade and with whom she shared many fun memories, including overnight stays for birthdays. The article notes that Katie is also a widow, her husband Randy having passed away from cancer. Due to the large crowd and long lines at the viewing and funeral, the author was only able to exchange a few words with Katie. She extends her sympathy to Cousin Barbara and her family, acknowledging the immense responsibility Barbara faces in raising her seven sons and one daughter still living at home, and offers prayers for God's guidance during this difficult time. Following the personal narrative, the article transitions to a more practical, seasonal update. The author mentions her son-in-law, Daniel Ray, trying out a new leaf blower to tackle the abundance of falling leaves. Despite his efforts and burning a large pile, more leaves continue to fall daily, illustrating the ongoing nature of autumn chores. The article concludes with a recipe for "PUMPKIN WHOOPIE PIES." The recipe provides a list of ingredients for both the cookies (brown sugar, vegetable oil, pumpkin, eggs, flour, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon, salt) and the filling (cream cheese, butter, vanilla, powdered sugar). It outlines clear, step-by-step instructions for preparation, including creaming wet ingredients, adding dry ingredients, dropping spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet, baking at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, and then mixing the filling before spreading it between two cooled cookies. The recipe yields 20 whoopie pies. The article ends with a brief biographical note about Lovina Eicher, the Old Order Amish writer behind "Lovina’s Amish Kitchen," mentioning her three cookbooks and providing contact information for readers to send letters or emails. Overall, the article weaves together personal family stories, observations on daily life, and a somber reflection on loss within the community, concluding with a practical recipe. It provides a glimpse into the author's life, highlighting both its joys and sorrows, and her connection to her extended Amish community. The content is presented in a conversational and reflective tone, characteristic of a blog post, rather than a factual news report. It balances emotional elements with everyday details and a helpful culinary contribution. The narrative touches on themes of family, community support, grief, and the simple pleasures and routines of life. The inclusion of a recipe further supports its classification as a blog, offering practical advice alongside personal reflections. #AmishLife #FamilyStories #CommunitySupport #GriefAndLoss #WorkAccident #HomeCooking #AutumnChores #PumpkinWhoopiePies

Lovina Eicher, an Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife, and mother of eight, shares insights into her family's busy week, covering garden activities, family gatherings, community events, and a recipe. Lovina describes the winding down of her gardening season, focusing on canning V-8 juice, preparing to pickle red beets, and preserving tomato chunks. She plans to make a large pot of vegetable soup for canning, utilizing mixed vegetables from her daughter Verena's wedding. The article highlights various family activities, including Lovina babysitting her three-year-old grandson, Denzel, while his parents attend appointments. Denzel's joy at spending time with his grandmother and greeting his Grandpa Joe is detailed. The Eicher family's social calendar includes attending a church council meeting, where four-week-old Brooklyn makes her first appearance. Lovina's daughter Elizabeth is hosting a Pampered Chef shower for Verena at Verena's new home, which involves Lovina's daughters helping with cleaning. Lovina's sister Verena travels to Hamilton, Indiana, to visit their sister Liz and Levi, who recently moved into a new house. Family interactions continue after church services, with Dustin, Loretta, and their children, along with Daniel, Lovina, baby Brooklyn, Daniel Ray, and Verena, visiting for popcorn and staying for supper. A humorous anecdote is shared about two-year-old Kylie's crawling and the need to childproof the house, reminding Lovina of her own children's early years. The article also touches upon Joe's efforts in training their two-year-old horse, Jett. Joe drives Jett on various roads to familiarize him with different surroundings, recounting an incident where Jett was startled by a dog and veered into a ditch, but was safely guided back onto the road. Joe takes Jett for a longer ride to Elizabeth and Tim’s house, indicating continued training and exposure. In addition to personal anecdotes, Lovina shares a recipe for Cabbage and Beef Soup, noting the abundance of cabbage during the season. The recipe calls for ground beef, garlic salt, garlic powder, chopped celery, chopped cabbage, canned kidney beans, stewed tomatoes, tomato juice, beef base, and fresh parsley. Instructions involve browning and draining the beef, then combining all ingredients (except parsley) in an 8-quart kettle, bringing it to a boil, and simmering for one hour before garnishing with parsley. Lovina also mentions her Facebook page, "Lovina’s Amish Kitchen," for more pictures. The article concludes with a brief introduction to Lovina Eicher as an Old Order Amish writer and her published cookbooks, "The Cherished Table," "The Essential Amish Cookbook," and "Amish Family Recipes." It also provides contact information for readers to send letters or email questions, noting that Lovina does not personally respond to emails. #AmishLife #FamilyActivities #Gardening #Homemaking #Cooking #Recipe #CommunityEvents #HorseTraining #LocalNews