The Amish Cook By LOVINA EICHER The children were out of bed on my first try this morning. All I had to do was tell them there was snow on the ground outside. Everything looks so nice covered with snow. It is still snowing and it sure lifts a person's spirits. Last week was rainy weather, so this is so much nicer and prettier than muddy dreariness. Benjamin, 9, and Joseph, 6, got out their little shovels and said they will go make a path to the school bus for the girls. There wasn't that much snow to shovel but it made them feel proud to be doing their sisters a favor. With the snow it also made it easier to track the deer. Joe made his first lucky shot this morning getting a doe. A friend is also bringing us a deer, so it looks like we will be busy cutting up deer meat this week. Joe likes to eat the tenderloins and I'd like to make some deer bologna. Joe doesn't have work for three weeks so he should have plenty of time to get some more hunting done. Sure does help stretch the meat supply in this house to have some deer.

We have surgery scheduled for son Benjamin on December 5 to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. Benjamin won't be able to run or jump for two weeks. This will be so hard for this active little boy. He just can't wait to make his first snowman. I hope we do get enough snow for him to make one before the surgery. For myself we have enough snow already. Lovina and Kevin wanted help getting all bundled up to go outside. They wanted to watch Joe skin the deer. I ended up watching myself for awhile almost forgetting that this column still is not done.

Daughter Elizabeth, 14, is doing her math lessons. It is pretty quiet in here with the children outside. I don't want to let them outside too long as it is only 32 outside. I am imagine this winter, though, 32 degrees will seem warm when the temperature goes lower yet. Meanwhile, I have laundry to get up from the wash-lines in the basement. We washed clothes on Saturday and hung them up in the basement since it was raining. Now they are ready to be brought up, folded and put away. This can sometimes take a few hours with a family of 10. It seems like in the winter months there aren't too many days when clothes aren't hanging in the basement. I'm thankful for having a warm place for the clothes to dry, though.

Deer meat will be on the menu in the weeks ahead. This is a recipe that I want to try tonight or tomorrow with our fresh deer meat.

Deer Steaks

With Pan-gravy

1 /4 cup plus 3 tablespoons all purpose-flour, divided

3 /4 teaspoons black pepper

1 /2 teaspoon salt

1 /4 teaspoon paprika

4 boneless venison loin steaks, 4 ounces each and 3 /4 to 1 inch thick

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 3 /4 cup milk

In a shallow dish combine flour, salt, and paprika. Dredge steaks in flour mixture to coat. In 12-inch non-stick skillet melt butter over medium heat. Add steaks. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until browned turning steaks over once. Remove from steaks from skillet and keep warm.

In small mixing bowl combine milk and remaining 3 tablespoons of flour. Stir until smooth. Whisk mixture into drippings in skillet. Cook over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until gravy bubbles, stirring constantly. Cook for 1 minute longer stirring constantly. Season to taste with salt and pepper, serve gravy over steaks and enjoy!

Q&A for Amish Cook Rescue

Question: The FriendClub has been promoted all year, why does the Amish Cook column still need to be "rescued."?

Answer: Unlike all the government bail-outs of various companies lately, a "reader rescue" of The Amish Cook is far cheaper, more fun, and easier to understand. This has been a tough, transition year for The Amish Cook column as I've struggled to shift away from an economic model that just didn't work to one that does. The future foundation for the column will be based on cookbooks available in bookstores, like our new release, "The Amish Cook at Home." Unfortunately, this takes awhile to get up and running. And in a classic "darkest before the dawn "metaphor we still have extraordinary economic challenges before the stability of 2009 arrives, ones that could endanger the column just before things get much better. The fact that readers have supported the column this year despite the ferocious economic headwinds is extraordinary and Lovina and I will always be grateful.

Question: Will joining The Friend Club now assure the column's continuity?

Answer: YES. People who joined earlier this year were making a leap of faith, and we could not have made it this far without them. In the beginning, the column's fate was uncertain. Now we know that it would only take another 250 - 500 Friend Club members to put this column on sound ground in 2009. This is the equivalent to 6 or 7 new members in each participating market.

Question: Does Lovina benefit directly from the "rescue?"

Answer: Absolutely. She's paid out of the rescue as are the administrative costs of keeping the column going, such as filling any backorders.

The main benefit of joining the Amish Cook Friend Club NOWis to ensure the column's continuity, but a few items of appreciation will be sent to readers who join. To join: ONE-YEAR SILVER $25; name card, signed 8 by 10 color photo of the Eicher's horse and buggy or meal-time scene. ONE YEAR GOLD $50; all of the above, plus a quarterly newsletter, "The Amish Cook Extra," with family favorite recipes, color photos of Lovina's home, stories and Amish information. EDITOR'S CIRCLE $75 or more; All of the above, plus a happy birthday card from Lovina sent to the home of one loved one per year . Memberships can be sent to: Oasis Newsfeatures, P.O. Box 2144, Middletown, 45042. Readers can also join with credit card by calling 1-877-571-4112. Please note if your membership is for a Christmas gift.

To join The Amish Cook Friend Club: ONE-YEAR SILVER $25; name card, signed 8 by 10 color photo of the Eicher's horse and buggy or meal-time scene. Free access to any paid products at amishcookonline.com. ONE YEAR GOLD $50; all of the above, plus a quarterly newsletter, "The Amish Cook Extra," with family favorite recipes, color photos of Lovina's home, stories and Amish information. EDITOR'S CIRCLE $75; All of the above, plus a happy birthday card from Lovina sent to the home of one loved one per year and an invitation to the editor's picnic next spring with the Eichers in attendance. Memberships must be received by November 15 to receive invitation to picnic. Memberships can be sent to: Oasis Newsfeatures, P.O. Box 2144, Middletown, 45042. Readers can also join with credit card by calling 1-877-571-4112 24 hours, 7 days. Please note if your membership is for a Christmas gift

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