It's true that the weather has been mild for the past few weeks. Bringing the spring heat! It's finally March. It seems very difficult to understand that this year has already entered his third month of 2024.
Last week, I spent the day with my daughter Susan at Irvin's house. Susan and I painted the bathroom and entry area of the pole barn. There they host church services. After I finished painting, I washed some of her canning jars and placed them on the new shelves Irvin had built for them. Their house doesn't have a basement, so Irvin built a shelf in the entrance room of the pole barn. During the cold season, enough heat is kept there so that the cans do not freeze. Battery packs for solar power generation are also stored here.
Irvin's father is still in the hospital, and if I understand correctly, he can open his eyes and move his arms and legs to some extent. He has a long road ahead of him, so let's keep him and his family in our prayers.
Irvin and Susan's four older children came here on Saturday night and remained here until Sunday night. Irvin and Susan spent the entire day Sunday at the hospital with their father and family. The children worked very hard for us. Her daughter Verena and her special friend Daniel Ray followed the children Saturday night and brought them home again Sunday evening.
I cut up a whole piece of beef on Saturday. Half of it was for a friend and I wanted them to cut different types of steaks, so it took even longer. Helping with the beef were daughter Lovina's special friends Daniel, Daniel Ray, and Dustin and his daughter Loretta. You will also need to slice the steak and grind the hamburger from half the beef. I only have a few pints of beef chunks left, so I'm glad I can eat more. It's also great that you can put steaks and hamburgers in the freezer. I have two freezers, but one is empty, so I wish it had more meat in it.
Our plan for tomorrow is to help Susan clean again in preparation for the church service. Sister Verena, Sister Emma and her daughters and her daughter-in-law, my daughters, and I are all going. I have to do a lot for Susan. Irvin will be 4 months old next week. He is happy smiling and mocking until Susan wants to finish his work. Then he makes a fuss. He looks out for his five older siblings. He is such a cute baby and has the most sparkling blue eyes. Very valuable!
Sunday was a beautiful day with temperatures reaching 70 degrees. The children had fun playing outside with Verena and Daniel Ray. I had them put me on a swing or something.
Our dinner guests were Dustin and Loretta, their son, daughter Elizabeth, Tim, and their four children, Daniel, Daniel Ray, and Joesph's special friend Grace.
Daniel and his daughter Lovina made campfire stew in a kettle over the campfire. This saved me from having to make dinner at home, which was a huge relief. The stew used fresh beef chunks and was very delicious. It's been about 4 years since I made a campfire stew recipe, so I thought I'd share it. It's also in my cookbook, The Essential Amish Cookbook.
God bless you all!
campfire stew
2 C. Beef stew meat (can be cut into pieces instead of roasted meat)
4 C. Peeled and diced red potatoes without peeling.
2 C. Cut the green beans into small pieces.
1 onion (used to flavor the soup, remove before serving)
4-5 beef bouillon cubes
1 ton.garlic powder
salt and pepper taste
Place the beef chunks in a kettle (or large pot), add enough water to cover, bring to a boil, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the potatoes, green beans, and onions, and add enough water to cover the vegetables. Add the broth. Simmer until vegetables and meat are tender. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Remove onions if desired.
Lovina's Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, an Old Order Amish author, cook, wife, and mother of eight children. Readers may write to Eicher at Lovina's Amish Kitchen, PO Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for return). Or email her at LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org and her message will be passed to her to read. She does not respond to her emails personally.
