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 degree. 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 provide the beef were daughter Lovina's special friends Danielle, Daniel Ray, Dustin, and 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. her sister Emma, daughters and daughter-in-law; My daughters and I are planning to go. 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. They were put on a swing.
Our dinner guests were Dustin, Loretta, and their sons. daughters Elizabeth, Tim, and their four children. Daniel. Daniel Ray. and Joseph's special friend, Grace.
Daniel and his daughter Lovina made campfire stew in a kettle over the campfire. Not having to make dinner at home was very helpful. The stew used fresh beef chunks and was very delicious. I'm sharing a campfire stew recipe for the first time in about 4 years. It's also in my cookbook, The Essential Amish Cookbook.
God bless you all!
The author of Lovina's Amish Kitchen Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish author, cook, wife, and mother of eight children. Her two cookbooks, The Essential Amish Cookbook and Amish Family Recipes, are available wherever books are sold. 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.
