Looking out the window from my kitchen table the world looks so pure and white. We received quite a few more inches of snow during the night. I was expecting the children to maybe have a school delay since the roads were all so slippery. But the buses went on time and all six lively children went out the door for school at 7 a.m., leaving 15-year-old Elizabeth and 4-year-old Kevin home with me.
Five-year-old Lovina sure has surprised me. She was never much of a morning person, but she is always eager to go on the bus in the morning. She still looks up to Joseph, 7, her big brother, as she has always done. Lovina is willing to learn and sometimes irritates Joseph in guessing how to say a word before he does. It keeps him on the ball and makes him want to keep doing his best.
(Editor's note: While Amish children in Lovina's settlement generally attend public schools, this varies from place to place. In some Amish communities the children attend parochial schools.)
After I get this column written I would like to cut out and sew some more clothes. I have material that I gave to the children as Christmas gifts because I didn't get it sewed before Christmas. So I put the material in a clear bag and told them I would sew it for them as a gift and they were excited. So now I am trying my best to do that before I start with beef and pork butchering, which will be coming up soon.
I used to think when the children were younger that as they got older the housework would slow down, but there is still always laundry, cooking, cleaning and sewing to do.
Joe had work off from the factory Jan. 6 and we kept the children home from school. This was in honor of "Old Christmas," or the Epiphany. The Amish community where we lived in Indiana doesn't honor this day but this settlement and others around here do. We want to support that even if we were not used to it.
Old Christmas was an enjoyable day spent together and some good family time. In the afternoon some of the children went sledding with our pony, Stormy. The sled slid really nice, giving Stormy somewhat of a break in pulling.
In the afternoon, Joe and I and some of the children played a game called "Fish On." We received this board game as a Christmas gift from my editor Kevin and his wife Rachel. It is a fun and interesting game in which you can see who can catch the most pounds of fish first. It can get very exciting toward the end of the game.
Speaking of fishing, Joe is planning to go ice fishing again Saturday. He is having so much fun with it that I am even eager about getting to try my luck at it sometime. This makes Joe smile because I always told him it wouldn't be worth it to go ice-fishing because it would be too cold. With the ice shanties, tents and portable propane heaters, however, it seems it can be quite comfortable.
We need to do laundry but a part on the washing machine wringer broke. Joe is going to see if he can stop and get a new part today.
Last night, Elizabeth attended a surprise party for one of her friends, who turned 16. I was glad once she was home safely as the roads weren't in very good condition. Elizabeth made peanut butter swirl bars to take along as a snack. They are a favorite around here and don't seem to last long.
These bars are very pretty with their dark chocolate swirls throughout. The dessert is a sweet treat to any lunch-bucket meal!
Delicious Peanut Butter Swirl Bars
1 c. peanut butter, smooth
2/3 c. butter, softened
1&1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
1&1/2 c. sugar
4 eggs
4 t. vanilla extract
2 c. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
12-oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch pan and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the peanut butter, butter, brown sugar and sugar until well blended and smooth. Make sure any lumps of brown sugar are dissolved. Then add the eggs and vanilla. Mix until smooth and creamy and thoroughly blended.
Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix thoroughly until the batter is once again smooth and creamy. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the batter and put into the oven for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and, using a butter knife, swirl the chocolate chips through the dough.
Bake for 40 more minutes. Remove from the oven. The bars are done when a butter knife inserted into the center comes out clean (some chocolate may stick to the knife).
Let cool for an hour and cut into bars. Makes 2 dozen brownies.
Lovina Eicher is Old Order Amish. She hand-writes this column from her home in southern Michigan. Anyone with cultural or cooking questions can send them to: Lovina Eicher, The Amish Cook, P.O. Box 2144, Middletown, OH 45042. Read all of her columns online at www.record-eagle.com/amishcook.
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