The Amish Cook By LOVINA EICHER Daughter Verena,11, and son Benjamin, 9, went back to school today. This is their first day back since their tonsil surgeries. I hope they will be able to survive the day at school. They are still a little weak and doctor's orders are for another week of no running or jumping. This has proven to be a difficult task for Benjamin. Yesterday he asked if he could just ride his bike for a little bit, but I didn't let him. Our weekend ended up being extra busy. Friday evening, sister Emma, Jacob and family brought in supper for us. What a treat! Verena and Benjamin were glad for some company. They are used to seeing Jacob's children in school everyday so the cousins were excited to play together again. Saturday morning Joe and I and our four youngest children went to the benefit breakfast. The proceeds from the benefit were to go to a local family who recently lost all of their belongings in a house fire.

The house went into flames only a few minutes after everyone exited the house. How thankful that everyone was safe. I have a hard time grasping the feeling of how it would be to lose all your belongings and having to start all over.

Joe's Uncle Solomon and Uncle and Aunt Jake and Mary from Ohio were in the community to visit with Joe's Dad. We ended up going to Joe's sisters Mary Ann's house to have supper with them all. Uncle Solomon and Joe's Dad then came to our house Saturday evening for bed and breakfast. For breakfast on Sunday morning, we had fried eggs, potatoes, bacon, toast, cheese, coffee, grape juice, coffee, pie and cake. Our son Benjamin always likes when Uncle Solomon comes to visit. He likes to tease and pick on Solomon.

After they left, we ended up going to Jacob and Emma's house for lunch. Daughters Elizabeth and Susan biked while the rest of us took the buggy. It was a very nice temperature, going up to the lower 50s. Joe and Jacob even grilled the meat outside. It makes me wish even more for spring to be here soon. I need to be patient and accept the weather God sends, though. With the warmer weather most of our snow has melted which brings in a lot of muddy boots and coats. We don't have sidewalks yet so that makes it worse when the snow melts.

It has now been two years since we moved into our new home. It is hard to believe it has been that long already. Next month it will be 5 years since we made the move to Michigan from Indiana. Where did all the time go?

Elizabeth and I plan to do laundry this morning. The sun is out and it looks like another beautiful day. We plan to hang the clothes outside to dry. That will be refreshing to dry them outside again! Lots of Amish doing their butchering this time of year. With all the fresh beef around I thought I'd share this delicious recipe for homemade meatballs.

Homemade Meat Balls

1 pound of ground beef

1 egg

1 cup cracker crumbs

1 teaspoon salt

1/ 4 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon finely chopped onions

Sauce:

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 /4 cup catsup

1 / 8 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon mustard

Preheat oven to 400. In a large mixing bowl, combine meat, egg, 3 /4 cups cracker crumbs, salt, pepper, onions, and mix well. Mix together sauce ingredients. Add half of this to meat mixture and mix well. Shape into balls and place in 3-inch muffin cups and then place in a 9 X 13 cake pan. Top meatballs with remaining sauce and sprinkle with reserved cracker crumbs. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes.

To learn more about Amish cooking and culture or about Lovina's family, log on to amishcookonline.com. "The Amish Cook at Home", Lovina's new cookbook, is available at all Borders and Barnes & Noble bookstores.

To send letters to Lovina, mail to: Oasis Newsfeatures, PO BOX 2144, Middletown, Ohio 45042.

For more information about The Amish Cook column or to participate in the online discussion boards, visit amishcookonline.com. which specializes in preparing home Letters to Lovina can be sent by postal mail to: Oasis Newsfeatures, PO Box 2144, Middletown, Ohio 45042.

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