Monday, Dec. 10, was daughter Verena's birthday. She was excited because she made cupcakes to take to school and treat her classmates.
But then school was canceled due to slick roads and she was disappointed that she couldn't go. I told her that she could still take them the next day.
The younger children are all bundled up except 2-year-old Kevin and are having fun sliding down the nearby hill with their sleds. The sleds really slide nicely on this ice and snow.
Last Sunday brother Amos, Nancy and children and their two married daughters came for the day. Along with them were brother Albert, Sarah Irene and family and our sisters Susan, Verena, Emma and Jacob's family. We ended up with about 50 people here for dinner. Joe grilled chicken for everyone and we also made mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and peas. Everyone also brought a dish to share, so we had salads and quite a few desserts.
It turned out to be a rainy day, so we stayed indoors and played games in the afternoon. During the visit, I got to meet my new great-niece Lisa. This is brother Amos' first grandchild. This would be Amos' daughter Elizabeth's baby, who was born Sept. 18.
We celebrated Verena's birthday on Saturday because we thought she'd be in school today. We fried some deer steak for her birthday. She is the one out of all our children whot likes deer meat the best. I fried it like a "poor man's steak," which means I fried it down a little and added cream of mushroom soup and baked it. We also had french fries and ice cream and cake to celebrate.
My condolences go out to the three Amish widows who lost their husbands in a van crash last week here in Michigan. They will go through some trying times raising their young children by themselves. May God give them the strength to go on. A person wonders why so many young husbands were taken, but it helps to know that God makes no mistakes and that he has a plan for each of us in life.
Our sympathy also goes to the family of Joe's great-uncle Solomon Schwartz. We could not make it to the funeral, but our thoughts were with them just the same.
Our rat terrier dog, Frisco, had four puppies on Friday. Joe fixed a place for her in the pole barn where there is some heat. Joe was afraid in would be too cold for the little puppies without a special spot fixed up for them.
Yesterday we had church services at our neighbor's house. And we all planned for the annual Christmas potluck supper in two weeks. This is something our church does each year. They pass around a tablet while us women are at the table and we all write what we will bring. Then they make sure we have enough of everything.
I am bringing an "overnight salad." As the name suggests, you should make the salad the night before. Here is the recipe:
Overnight Salad
6 to 8 c. shredded head of lettuce
1 to 2 c. crumbled cauliflower
8 oz. frozen peas (quantity to your taste)
1/4 c. onion
1/4 c. carrots to your taste
8 oz. cheese to your taste
8 crumbled strips of crispy bacon
1 c. salad dressing (Miracle Whip would work well here)
1/2 c. sugar
In a large bowl, cut and mix together the lettuce, cauliflower, peas, onions and carrots. Stir together salad dressing and sugar and put on top. Add bacon bits and cheese last.
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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