Last week, daughter Verena hosted a Tupperware bridal shower here for daughter Lovina. We had a great turnout with well over 20 ladies. It was quite interesting, and we served everyone lunch after the party. Verena and I made the casseroles, but the rest was brought in by my sisters, nieces, and daughters. That really helped, and I appreciated it very much.

Lovina was able to pick out quite a bit of free Tupperware to put in her kitchen.

It is always fun to get together and to visit afterward. Sisters Verena and Emma, nieces Elizabeth and Emma, nephew Benjamin’s wife Crystal, and my daughters stayed for the rest of the day. Emma’s grandchildren got off the bus here with ours. It’s always exciting for the children when they can all get off at the same place.

We don’t see Emma and her family as often since our church was divided, and they are in the other district, so a day like that is precious.

Wesley Benjamin came here for the first time with his mother Crystal. He is six weeks old today, and he sure has won a lot of hearts already. He’s so sweet and has a head full of black hair. His deceased Grandpa Jacob would be so excited if he were still here to have a grandson living across the driveway from them. God had other plans, which we will understand someday. In August, it was three years since Sister Emma was widowed. She does very good, but I know she hides a lot of her sorrow.

I also had a voicemail last week from my sister-in-law Sarah Irene. She was having a lonely day without her husband (dear brother Albert). Let us pray for the lonely widows and widowers out there. It can’t be easy to go on alone. Daughter Susan has a special feeling for all that have lost a partner. She knows the hurt and pain they feel. I remember the hurt she went through, and all I could do was pray and be there for her. Life does go on, and Susan is remarried to Ervin (who also knows the feeling of loss from losing his first wife Sarah); they are a blended family with six sweet children. They will celebrate two years of marriage on December 30. Ervin Jay Jr. will be a year old on November 14. He sure is a lot of fun to have around. He has the sweetest smile.

On Sunday, we had a surprise visit from Uncle Joe, Aunt Betty, cousin Brian, and his daughter Eva. They were here visiting for several hours.

Daughter Elizabeth, Tim, and children came here after church services. Daughter Loretta, Dustin, and sons were here for brunch. Son Joseph and Grace came later in the afternoon.

Tim and Elizabeth’s family, Dustin and Loretta’s family, and Joseph and Grace were our supper guests. On the menu was barbequed meatballs, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and cheese. For dessert, we had cookies and ice cream.

Daughter Verena had a bad weekend when her eyes suffered from cornea erosion. She gets this problem every once in awhile from a scratch she got in her eyes years ago. Usually only one will hurt, but this time they both gave her a problem. It is so hard when there aren’t any emergency eye doctors, and she has to wait it out until Monday.

Yesterday, she was able to go see an eye doctor and finally get relief for her eyes.

I will share a recipe for Biscuit Casserole that was in my family cookbook. Daughter Verena and Loretta tried it one night for our supper. They used crescent rolls instead of biscuits. We doubled the recipe and used a 9 x 13-inch pan to bake it in. It was very good! Enjoy!

God bless!

Biscuit Casserole
1 1/2 pounds hamburger
1 small onion, chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tube ready made biscuits or homemade biscuits
seasoning of your choice

Brown hamburger and onion in a skillet. Mix in mushroom soup, cream cheese, ketchup, and seasoning (to your taste). Pour in a baking dish and top with biscuits. Bake uncovered at 350°F for 20 minutes or until biscuits are thoroughly baked.

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife, and mother of eight. Her three cookbooks, The Cherished Table, The Essential Amish Cookbook, and Amish Family Recipes, are available wherever books are sold. Readers can write to Eicher at Lovina’s Amish Kitchen, PO Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply); or email  [email protected] and your message will be passed on to her to read. She does not personally respond to emails.