Tips for keeping fresh vegetables and fruits clean

   We received quite a few inches of snow over the weekend. We had to take the buggy through some good-sized snow drifts on our way to church. My husband Joe and sons Benjamin and Joseph stayed home while the five girls, Kevin, and I went to church. Joe is still not feeling well so I didn't want him out in the cold. Benjamin, 9, and Joseph, 6, felt proud to come in to tell us they made a path through the snow to our buggy. It made us smile because it was so narrow we had to put one foot in front of the other. I guess they meant well and wanted to do us a favor.

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

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.  

This is a quiet Sunday forenoon. Joe and six of the children went to church. I was unable to go as I was still recuperating from being sick all week. I ended up going to the doctor and found out I had inner ear and sinus infection and strep throat. I feel a lot better now but my ears still hurt. I didn't want to go out into the cold wind yet so I stayed home. Hopefully in a few more days my ears will feel better, too. Daughter Verena, 10, and Joseph, 6, stayed home with me. They helped me wash the breakfast dishes and sweep the floors while the others were away. Joseph has a cold so I thought it would be better for him to stay home also.

It is 7 a.m. and the school-age children have left for the day. Kevin is still eating his breakfast and Lovina, 4, is still in bed. Meanwhile, 14-year-old daughter Elizabeth is beginning her school lessons for the day. The gaslights make the house feel nice and cozy with the temperatures in the lower forties outside. We are still just relying on the gaslights for heat. With the temperatures dipping lower and lower lately, though, I wouldn't be surprised if we have to start the coal-stove soon.

 Another week is beginning and it looks like a rather busy one ahead. Tonight we plan to put in our fourth cutting of hay. I hope it will make enough to get us through the winter. Meanwhile, we now have two tons of hard coal in the basement but we will still need another two or three tons. It all depends on how cold it will be in the months ahead. We haven't started our coalstove yet and hopefully we won't have to for another couple of weeks. It was very warm and beautiful last week.

 Editor's Note: Seven of Lovina's eight children are down with strep throat this week making her unavailable to write.  So this is the second to last in a year-long installment by the Amish Cook's editor about the behind-the-scenes work to keep the column going.
By Kevin Williams

The smoked paprika in this beef stew adds no real heat, just deep, smoky notes that go well with the beef and potatoes. The cider and ginger add subtle sweet notes.
    Most stews call for tougher cuts of meat, which tenderize during long simmers. This version saves time by using a better, more tender cut of beef. If you’d rather let it simmer for a while, switch to a more traditional stew meat.

This week will bring us to the end of September and to the start of October. These summer months went by so fast and now early signs of autumn are seen all over. Leaves are starting to change color which will make for some beautiful scenery in a few weeks. I love seeing leaves change color. Gardens are emptying fast as well. Also cooler mornings make us think of the upcoming winter months. We are hoping to get our fourth cutting of hay this week.

 This has been a busy time in the Eicher household! For starters, we attended the wedding of niece Mary Jane and Amos on Thursday in Indiana. This is brother Amos and Nancy's third daughter to get married. After having a daughter getting married the last three summers they should be in good practice by now.