Tag Archives: Amos Coblentz

Breakfast, Side Dishes

Birthdays, Mother’s Day, and Wednesday with daughters: all good

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First of all, daughter Lovina will be 14 tomorrow, May 18. A happy birthday to her!

Also, happy 25th birthday today, May 17, to my niece Elizabeth. We are invited to her parents (sister Liz and husband Levi) on Saturday for a surprise birthday party for Elizabeth. With so much gardening and spring work it doesn’t look like we will make it. Elizabeth is married to Samuel and has two little children LaRose and Samuel Lee.

I want to add a paragraph that was omitted from my last column. While visiting family we also stopped in to visit with sister Liz and Levi. Their daughter Rosa and her husband Menno have living quarters in the new building beside the house. They have a little boy named Jeremiah. Daughter Susan and baby Jennifer were with us. Susan and Rosa hadn’t seen each other’s babies yet. Always nice to catch up on the little ones. They grow so fast and are so precious!

Daughter Loretta and special friend Dustin enjoyed the wedding in Andover, Ohio, last week. They (Dustin’s family and Loretta) traveled up to Niagara Falls and enjoyed seeing the beautiful sights. It was Loretta’s first time to see New York (even before I did—smile). They had a nice time and arrived safely back in Michigan on Friday evening.

Verena gave this beautiful candle/plaque to Lovina for Mother’s Day, in memory of Lovina’s brother, Amos Coblentz.

Sunday was Mother’s Day. So I hope all mothers had a nice day, spending it with family! My mother passed away in 2002 unexpectedly. I still miss her so much. I have many precious memories of her. I started penning this column in 2002 after her sudden passing. She wrote it for eleven years. Rest in peace dear mother—you will always stay close in our hearts. The good example she left makes me want to always try and do my best!

My children all came home for a brunch on Mother’s Day. We had bacon, ham (fresh ham on the grill), eggs, potatoes, sausage gravy, toast, jelly, butter, coffee, milk, and juice. Also rhubarb custard pie and peanut butter swirl bars. Spending time with family is always precious to me. Timothy and Elizabeth left early afternoon as his brother’s family was coming to their house for supper. Mose and Susan were here for an early supper of fried chicken.

Yesterday, daughters Elizabeth and Susan came here for the day. Usually every Wednesday they come home for the day. Daughter Verena, 20, started working for nephew Emanul several weeks ago. She works in the office doing a lot of secretarial work for his woodworking business. She works four days a week and has Wednesdays off. She is glad to be home on the day her little nieces are here to entertain.

Yesterday was such a nice day we decided to head to town. We took three buggies and horses. Elizabeth, Susan, and baby Jennifer went with Elizabeth’s buggy and horse. Verena, Abigail, and I went with our buggy and our horse, Mighty. Loretta, Joseph, and Lovina followed with our other buggy and our horse Midnight. We did some shopping and decided to eat at a family restaurant. Little Abigail had so much fun. Daughter Lovina was glad for a break from her school work. After we were back home Joseph, 15, mowed our yard. The girls took Abigail down to the nearby lake and let her walk in the water. She didn’t want to leave. Around 5:00 p.m. Elizabeth and Susan headed for home. The girls made an easy supper of BLT sandwiches and we also had leftover tater tot casserole from the evening before. It was an enjoyable day!

Nephew Henry is home today and also was yesterday. He hurt his foot at work and it is really swollen and painful. He went to the doctor yesterday and they took an x-ray at the hospital. He should find out the results today. I hope it is not broken. He is using a pair of crutches we had and is keeping ice packs on it.

It looks like we are going to have another beautiful day! Laundry and planting more garden is on the list for today. God bless all of you!

I will share this recipe for baked French toast. We make this a lot. Its easy and you can put it in the oven. We love maple syrup on ours.

Baked French Toast

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons corn syrup
10–12 slices bread
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
6 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Bring brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup just to a boil and then pour into the bottom of a 9×13-inch glass pan. Top with two layers of bread. Mix the sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle on top of the bread. Then beat together eggs, milk, and vanilla and pour over the bread. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Do not overbake or syrup on the bottom will get hard.

 

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife and mother of eight. She is the co-author of three cookbooks; her newest cookbook, The Essential Amish Cookbook, is available from 800-245-7894. Readers can write to Eicher at PO Box 1689, South Holland, IL 60473 (please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply) or at LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org.

 

 

 

Breads and Muffins, Desserts

Family spreads out, barn needs fixing

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Family spreads out, barn needs fixing

The last few days have been warmer and we sure enjoyed the sunshine! Now this morning it rained, but the sun is out again.

Son Joseph is harnessing our horse Mighty, so I can take the buggy to a garage sale. The sale is being held by a neighboring Amish family. They’re selling clothes, so I thought I might be fortunate and find some, to save time in sewing. Fabric seems to go up in price so it pays to buy garage-sale-priced clothes.

Last Thursday we attended the wedding reception of niece Lisa and Matthew in Berne, Indiana. It was cold and rainy. We arrived there about 2 p.m. I helped fill the peanut butter pies so my job was pretty easy.

On the menu were mashed potatoes, gravy, chicken, noodles, dressing, mixed vegetables, grilled sausage links homemade bread, butter, and strawberry jam. Desserts were tapioca pudding and angel food cake topped with a mixture of whipped topping, cream cheese, and strawberry glaze, as well as pecan, cherry and peanut butter pies. “Nothings” [pastries] lined the tables on plates, a tradition in that area.

My brother Amos was raising hogs to make fresh sausage for this wedding meal; after he died, his sons Ben and Sam took over butchering the hogs to make the sausage. We enjoyed seeing the family but there was an empty spot without brother Amos there. It just doesn’t seem possible that Amos isn’t here anymore. We must accept God’s plan, but I can understand why it’s hard for Nancy (Amos’s wife) to go on. The wedding reception especially made us miss Amos even more.

We arrived back home that night around 11:30 p.m. It was a short night as we had to be up by 3 a.m. for Joe to leave for work at 3:45.

On Friday evening, Timothy, Elizabeth, Abigail, Mose, Susan, Jennifer, and Loretta’ special friend Dustin joined us for supper. We played games afterwards.

Saturday morning early, my husband Joe and I went to Menards to get lumber to rebuild part of our haymow. It was getting weak from all the hay and needed more support. Joe also is making more space for hay. Our barn is old so it always needs some fixing up somewhere, but I guess it still works. Joe and the boys would like to build a few more horse stalls in there and move the chickens to a coop outside the barn. Dustin, nephew Henry, sons Benjamin and Joseph, and husband Joe worked on the haymow the rest of the day. They accomplished quite a bit.

Later, Dustin and Loretta, and daughter Verena left for a friend’s house for supper. Henry and Benjamin went to a birthday supper as well. Daughter Lovina was helping at Mose and Susan’s house and stayed the night. Lovina then came to church with them on Sunday. So that left just four of us home for supper: Joe, Joseph, Kevin and me. We had grilled cheese sandwiches and fried eggs, an easy meal.

A few families from church took supper in to Mose and Susan’s on Sunday evening. They wanted to visit after Jennifer was born but didn’t get around to it sooner. I left Lovina go home from church with Susan and Mose to help her with Jennifer. Susan was glad for Lovina’s help. Saturday afternoon and evening, Jennifer was being fussy, which makes it hard for Susan to get much done. The baby loves having her gums rubbed. At three months old, I really hope she isn’t pushing through teeth already.

Yesterday Elizabeth and Susan and their little girls came for the day. Our breakfast was biscuits and gravy. For lunch we had leftover Tater Tot casserole from the night before. The girls took Abigail outside in the afternoon. It was so nice and she enjoyed being outdoors again.

I’m eager to get outside myself and look for dandelion greens. These warm days should be bringing them up. Rhubarb is peeping through and so are spring flowers. I think I’m having a bout of spring fever.

Take care and God’s blessings to all!

Pecan Pie Muffins

Ingredients:
1 cup packed brown sugar
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 cups chopped pecans
2/3 cup butter, softened
2 eggs, beaten

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line mini or regular muffin pan with liners. Mix brown sugar, flour, and chopped pecans. Stir. Add eggs and butter until combined. Spoon batter in muffin cups about ½ full. Bake for 12 minutes for mini, or 16 minutes for regular size muffins.

Desserts

Lovina’s brother “didn’t know a stranger”

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Lovina’s brother “didn’t know a stranger”

So much sadness has been brought to our family since I last penned this column. God has once again reminded us that one does not have to be old to die.

A week ago, January 31, my sister-in-law, Nancy tried to wake up my oldest brother Amos. Life had fled—Amos was only 56 years old.

He left behind 10 children and 15 grandchildren and his wife of 34 years. Here are the details: Susan is married to Joe and they have seven children: Nancy, Susan, Joe, Steven, Amos, Lyle and Barbara Ann. Elizabeth and Paul have three children: Lisa, Amanda and Amos. Mary Jane and Amos have three children: Amos, Marvin and Mary Jane. Ben and Lovina have a daughter Leanna. Arlene is married to Robert. Marlene is married to Chris (Arlene and Marlene are twins). Lovina and Benjamin have a daughter Kristine. Lisa is married to Matthew. Laura, age 16, has a special friend, Enos. Samuel is 14 and in eighth grade.

Amos was a great brother to me. He had many friends. Amos never met a stranger. Five years ago in January, Amos was in an accident on his way to work not very far from our house. Two of my cousins were killed in this accident and Amos’s life was spared. The driver taking them to work hit a patch of black ice and rolled the van numerous times. Amos was treated and released at our local hospital.

My sisters Verena, Susan, Emma, and brother Albert and wife Sarah Irene, all gathered at the hospital to be with Amos since his family was so far away yet. We brought Amos to my house and visited together until Amos’s wife Nancy and their children came to pick him up. We felt so fortunate to still have our brother. Every January since, I think back to the widows my two cousins left behind and their families. Last Wednesday morning right after my husband Joe left for work, we received the shocking news that brother Amos wouldn’t wake up.

A special gift from Lovina’s brother, Amos, to daughter Verena.

Amos had let our daughter Verena pick out a Yorkie puppy and he wanted to just give it to her since she has no income. Verena talked with Amos a few weeks before his death and he wanted her to wait until January 31 to pick up the puppy. Little did we realize that he would be gone that day. That day Verena came in and told me that Amos is on the phone (our phone is in an out building) and had asked if he could talk to me. Amos would use the driver’s phone to call while he was on their way home from work. Amos and I talked for a long time. (He had a few hours drive to and from work.) That time I didn’t think I had to talk with him, is so precious to me now. Those were the last words I talked with Amos. I will forever treasure that phone call.

Viewing visitation was Thursday, February 1 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. We traveled the two hours back and forth every day. On Saturday the funeral services were at 9:00 a.m. It was a cold day for a funeral. The first evening more than one thousand friends and family walked through. Such support is a blessing to the family. The community outdid themselves with bringing food for the meals. So many lent a hand to help.

This past Tuesday, Joe and I and daughter Verena, Mose, Susan and Baby Jennifer traveled to Berne (Ind.) and visited with Nancy and the children. Her son Ben, daughter Mary Jane and three children, daughter Lisa and Laura and Sam were also there. Sam made sure Verena could take her puppy (who she named Ruby) home after the funeral. Verena will have a very nice memory of her Uncle Amos and always remember his kindness in giving her the puppy.

Brother Amos also trained our horse, Mighty, and he is a good safe horse. I am glad we have a horse Amos trained to remember him by also. Mighty is our “Old Faithful.” I like taking him to town as I trust him around the traffic.

Quite a few from our community traveled the over 100 miles to the visitation of Amos. We appreciate all the family and friends that took time to come and show their support. May God reward them for their kindness. Rest in peace, brother Amos. You will forever be missed.

Now tomorrow, on a happier note, I look forward to meet and have a visit to our house from one of my editors from MennoMedia. Safe travels, Amy Gingerich!

Butterscotch Pie

1/2 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons boiling water
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon soda

Combine brown sugar, boiling water, butter, salt and vanilla. When mixture begins to boil, add soda. Boil until syrup forms a hard ball in cold water.

1 egg yolk
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup boiling water
1 baked pie shell
Whipped cream

Combine egg yolk, flour and sugar; slowly add boiling water. Add to syrup mixture and bring to a boil. When filling is cooled, beat with spoon until fluffy. Pour into baked pie shell. Top with whipped cream.

 

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife and mother of eight. She is the co-author of three cookbooks; her newest cookbook, The Essential Amish Cookbook, is available from 800-245-7894. Readers can write to Eicher at PO Box 1689, South Holland, IL 60473 (please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply) or at LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org.