Due to blizzard conditions in the Midwest, mail could not get through and, as best we can figure, Lovina Eicher's column was delayed this week.
So, as editor, I'm just going to throw everything Eicher and Amish-related into one column and catch up on some reader questions. We'll be back on track next week.
UPDATE: Lovina's nephew Steven had heart surgery on March 3. Doctors worked to repair two tiny holes in his heart. The surgery was a success and little Steven was expected to be home by the following weekend and making a full recovery. Emma and Jacob are thankful for all the nice notes and prayers sent their way by readers.
YODELING: The Eicher family yodeling is no longer available online. However, to the many readers who wanted to hear the yodeling but could not access it online, I am temporarily making the yodeling available over the telephone at a cost of $3. The mini-concert, which includes Lovina, her husband and children, will be available through March 31. Payment can be made by check or credit card. Call (877) 571-4112.
AMISH FACT: Wisconsin is experiencing the fastest growth in Amish population of any state. Amish are attracted to the state's plentiful land with reasonable prices. There are now Old Order Amish living in 22 states. Recently, Colorado and New Mexico have had their first Old Order communities established. Ohio has the largest concentration of Amish (followed by Pennsylvania).
AMISH FACT: The Amish are permitted to seek "modern medicine." There is no official church position on this issue, which leaves it up to individual preferences. Some Amish are very comfortable with hospitals, X-rays and modern pharmaceuticals. Other Amish rely on local herbalists, while still others travel to Mexico in hopes of finding a less expensive alternative since they are not permitted to accept medical insurance.
AMISH FACT: The Amish are part of the same Anabaptist religion that includes the Hutterites and Mennonites. The Hutterites, mainly in Montana and the Dakotas, live communally, sharing all assets and land.
UPDATE: To readers who have inquired, "The Amish Cook at Home" book will not be available until late summer. To inquire on back-ordered cookbook sets, please call (877) 583-2059
Lastly, a reader in Weyers Cave, Va., asked for a hearty, but easy, casserole recipe. Try this:
Six-Layer Casserole
2 c. sliced potatoes
2 c. sliced carrots
2 c. ground beef
2&1/2 t. salt
2 c. chopped celery
1 c. sliced onions
2 c. canned tomatoes
1/2 t. pepper
In a two-quart casserole dish, make a layer of each ingredient. Season each layer to your taste. Bake two hours at 350 degrees until done.
Lovina Eicher, who normally writes The Amish Cook column, 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/amishcook.
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