Daughter Elizabeth, 15, left at 6 a.m. for another day of detasseling corn. They started later than usual with the detasseling this year, but that is not surprising because everything seems to be harvesting a little later this year, including my tomatoes.
I think my tomatoes just need more sun as they don't seem to be turning red fast enough. We have been having cool weather and so far not too many hot days this summer which has slowed down their ripening.
Detasseling is mostly young people working in teams of two, walking through the rows of corn and pulling the tassels off. (Editor's note: The detasseling aids in cross-pollinating specific varieties of corn). Saturday, Elizabeth had to go do "second pull," which is the job of going through and getting the ones that are missed the first time.
Daughter Susan, 13, also signed up for detasseling this year. She was very disappointed when she found out that she would not be able to go because they had too many people. She never went before because they don't start until age 13 but was looking forward to her first job and earning money, although she has been a good help to me at home and is very good at weeding the garden.
I miss Elizabeth's help, but am glad she has a chance to work this summer.
My sister Emma's son Jacob, 9, had the misfortune of breaking his arm last week. He jumped off a hay wagon and fell landing on his elbow. The break is just above the elbow. He'll need a cast for six weeks. It is his left arm and he is right-handed so at least that makes it easier for him.
Son Joseph had his seventh birthday on Friday. We were assisting Jacob and Emma with their cleaning that day, so we had cake and ice cream for Joseph's birthday at their house. Joseph has poison ivy on his arms and legs so we are trying to get rid of that; it wasn't a great birthday gift! I would get poison ivy almost every year when I was younger and I still remember how miserable it can be.
Jacob and Emma's son Steven will have his second birthday this week. He is still doing great from his heart surgery over a year ago. He is so cute walking around here and chattering.
I am planning to pull all my winter onions this week. I always like to have them out before August. Joe also wants to start digging up our potatoes.
It looks like I will be canning pickles soon. I would like to try horseradish pickles this year. My mother always made these and would keep them in a crock in the basement. I always thought they were so good but never tried making them on my own. Since we have our own horseradish now I would like to give them a try. The pickles would last well into the winter in the crock in the basement.
I have heard always that you only use your horseradish in months with an "R" in them. Otherwise they say you shouldn't use your horseradish. I am wondering if this is because of May, June, July and August being the warmest months of the year usually.
When you work with horseradish pickles always use glass bowls or ceramic crocks to mix them in as the it will dissolve stainless steel.
Homemade Horseradish Pickles
1 c. salt
3/4 c. dried mustard
2 c. sugar
1&1/2 c. horseradish, chopped fine
Cucumbers, quartered and cut length-wise, do not remove peelings
1 gallon white vinegar
2&1/2 T. canning acid
Day 1: Put pickles in a crock or glass bowl, adding enough water to cover them and then add salt. Let sit overnight covered.
Day 2: Drain the salt water, but keep the cucumber slices in the bowl or crock. Add the rest of the listed ingredients, minus the salt.
Cover the crock and stir. Makes 3 gallons of pickles. Pickles will keep in the crock for several months.
Editors note: Home-canning and pickling should be practiced by only experienced people. For more information, check sources online or contact your local county extension agent.
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/amishcook.
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