Oh my! Three days left until daughter Lovina and Daniel’s wedding. Everything is starting to fall into place, but once again, I feel nervous that I might have forgotten something. I’m sure I have, but how fortunate I am to have a good friend like Ruth. She’s been so helpful once again. When we are shopping, and my brain seems to fog up, she is my thinker. This is the fourth wedding she has helped me shop for; plus, she also helped with Ervin and Susan’s wedding. I can never repay her for all she has done. I hope she knows she is very much appreciated. She will be as relieved as I am once that last carload of groceries is unloaded.
On Saturday, the wedding cook kitchen, cooler, dishes, tables, and miscellaneous items all arrived. It took a while to set up and figure out exactly how it will work best because we have the tables set up in the new barn.
The 30 x 60-foot tent was put up, barn cleaned, fence rows trimmed, tables set for 324 people, and more—so many last-minute jobs were completed. We appreciated all the help we had.
Forty loaves of bread were toasted for the dressing.
The weather has been really hot. Every day this week is going to be in the 90s. Whew! It’s going to take a lot of ice for this wedding. How thankful I am for the big walk-in cooler for all the food.
Today, the boys will put up another 20 x 30-foot tent for the dish washers to wash dishes under. Also, potatoes (400 pounds) can be peeled under the tent. We have a lot of shade from trees, which helps keep it cooler as well.
Tomorrow, our 500 pounds of chicken will be ready to be picked up. That will have to be cut up and seasoned for Friday. We have our sons-in-law, Daniel’s brothers, and some nephews that will help grill the chicken. My husband Joe wants to get started grilling chicken early Friday morning. He says 3:30–4 a.m., but I’m not so sure that will happen. We will see!
Today, my head cooks come to organize everything for the more than 20 women who are coming Wednesday to help with food preparation for the wedding. Thursday, another 20 plus women will come to help bake pies, bread, and more. My head cooks are sister Emma and niece Elizabeth.
I don’t have any chicken broth, so we need to cook some chicken for broth today. I need 20 quarts of broth for the dressing.
Sister Verena also came along today. I am having a hard time concentrating with all that is going on around me. This column will be a little shorter than usual. Next week, my friend Ruth plans to fill in for me and write the column. She will also have a lot of pictures to share of the wedding prep.
This week, I’m sharing a recipe from my newest cookbook The Cherished Table. Until next time… God bless!
Strawberry Butter
6 large fresh strawberries, hulled and at room temperature
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened to room temperature
3/4 cup powdered sugar
Chop strawberries and put into a medium bowl, then add butter and powdered sugar and blend well with a whisk, pastry blender, or hand mixer. If needed, add more powdered sugar to taste to reach a spreading consistency that is at your desired sweetness. Makes about 2 cups. This is sometimes served at spring weddings when strawberries are in season. The combination replaces strawberry jam and butter.
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.
Congratulations on your daughter wedding god bless
All the best to you all on this happy occasion. May blessings abound you all.
Congratulations to Lovina and Daniel!
And I thought planning two weddings for 125 people was challenging enough.
🙃
Wow! Sounds like an amazing time. I love the fact that so many people help with the wedding. So silly that people spend thousands of dollars on a wedding.
Dear Lovina,
I’ve been reading your column for years in The Times Reporter from New Philadelphia and always wondered why you peel potatoes when most of the vitamins are the skins.
I finely convinced my wife of that 60 years ago.
Love your columns and best of luck to you and your whole family.
Wife and I visit Amish country in Holmes Country weekly or more.
George Rickenbrode
Thinking of you and your family. What a privilege to have all of that help for the wedding. God bless the new family. Thank you for sharing with us!
What a wonderful wedding of all to help prepare. I have never gotten over to Holmes Co. It is a trop love to take. Sounds like work of doing was in good hands. I imagine this,as I have did by myself for over 280 people at several ones. several times. As I was a bit younger too. I have peeled over 50lb of potatoe for potatoe salad,each time. my mom and sister in law made the cakes. Along making dresses and completely remade 2 wedding dress of which making a flower girls dress that was not fitted until day before. it fits too. I think back how did I do all this and cherish each one. As yours sounds wonderful also. Seems we all managed and to help with this was a joy,Alice. We remembered the great times. As a stork has slowed me down now,just keep trying to do on a smaller scale. Your adventure sounds wonderful.
Many blessings to you all. I pray for the newly married couple that God would always be at the center of their marriage and that they would lean on him forever. I pray continued blessings over their marriage and home.