A ROBIN IS HERE !!!!

My Mom always use to say if you see a robin, spring was just around the corner.  Sometimes she was right.  And sometimes she wasn't.  Anyway here are some robin photos which I hope bring spring to you.  I don't have a camera with a great zoom , but I hope you can see the robin.

NEXT WEEK THE EASTER RECIPES WILL START.  THEY WILL GO FROM APRIL 12th TO AND INCLUDING APRIL 19th.  ON THE DAYS OF OUR REGULAR POSTS, THE RECIPE WILL BE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. \\

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MAPLE VIEW MENNONITE MEETING HOUSE (CHURCH) OUTHOUSE

When I went to take the pictures of the Maple View Mennonite Meeting House, I HAD to go to the restroom.  They had two of those brick buildings one said ladies and the other said gentlemen.  Seeing that this was way out in the country, I didn't think they would be open, but thank heavens they were. First unusual thing is that they do not have running water.  Second of all, the restroom is spotless, so someone must come and check on them and clean them.  There were three stalls and each one has a place for you to go potty.  The third unusual thing is on top of the toilet paper is a small shelf, I guess you would call it, with ladies hankies on them.  Each of the stalls has them.  Men and Ladies restrooms have them.  The ladies have pretty ones like the last picture, the men's are plain white.  When you come out of the ladies stall, there is some hand cleaning spray for your hands on a counter, paper towels to wipe your hands on and there was even a new paper baby diaper there.

I took one of the ladies hankies as you can see.  After I got home, I thought that was stealing and called Jean telling her what I did and asked her if I should take it back or send them some money for it.  Jean told me that I didn't do anything wrong - that's what they are there for.  It is a gift from the Mennonites to those that use their restroom.  It's their way of letting people know that God cares and so do they.  She said if you go into their Old Order Mennonite Meeting House outhouse, you will find them in there.  I did correctly in taking only one.  Seeing I collect hankies, Jean said if I really want to thank them - the next time I go out that way, take one of my hankies and leave it where you wash your hands.

The hankie is not handmade, but I still like it very much.  To me that is a very special hankie for my collection and I will take one out there, the next time I go.

So I thought you might enjoy seeing what a Mennonite Meeting House Outhouse looks like.

FORT HOOD, TEXAS

LAST NIGHT I HEARD ABOUT THE TRAGEDY AT FORT HOOD, TEXAS.  IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD, A SOLDIER KILLED 4 PEOPLE INCLUDING HIMSELF AND INJURED 16 PEOPLE.  THAT IS THE TOLL AS I MAKE UP THIS POST.  IT MAY CHANGE.

I ASK THAT WE REMEMBER AND PRAY FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN KILLED, THOSE THAT ARE IN THE HOSPITAL OR OUT,  THAT WERE INJURED,   THEIR FAMILIES AND TO ALL SOLDIERS AT FT, HOOD.

ALSO, PRAY FOR THE FAMILY OF THE MAN THAT DID THIS.  HE WAS MARRIED AND HAD A FAMILY.

THANK YOU,
MARILYN
JEAN, DAVID AND FAMILY
MARTHA, BISHOP JOSEPH AND FAMILY
ELMER, ANNA AND FAMILY

MARTHA'S - BLUEBERRY COFFEE CAKE

MARTHA'S BLUEBERRY COFFEE CAKE

2/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. liquid shortening
1 egg
1/2 c. milk
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. blueberries
1 c. nuts (optional)

Beat together sugar, shortening and egg.  Sift baking powder, salt, flour and add alternately with milk.  Add blueberries and nuts (if desired).  Pour into 9 inch square pan.

TOPPING

1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter
nuts (optional)

Spread on cake and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.


Okay folks, I need your help.  Coming up  with recipes wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.  Like Jean, I have lots of recipes.  What would you be interested in?  Is there any recipe you are looking for?  Do you have a special recipes you would like share?

God Bless You,
Martha

GRANDMOTHER OLIVE IS BACK ON CANNING BEEF AND VEAL

I am not going into how the animals are slaughtered, but I am going into the fact that we use as much of the beef as we can.  Parts that you may consider throwing out can be great meat to eat.  For example cow lips and cheeks would be great for hamburger or sausage.  Pancreas (sweetbread) is considered a delicacy in many gourmet restaurants.  Heart, liver and kidneys are really the most nutrition parts and shouldn't be thrown out. I am going to tell you the basic way to can meats.  If you want a special way that I don't mention, you will have to ask and I will put it on a future post.  Again, as I did in the last post, recommend that you get a book on canning meat as my memory isn't as good as it use to be 40, 50, years ago.

There are two kinds of pressure canners - the dial-gauge and the weighed gauge.  My information is on the dial-gauge because that is what Jean and I own.  If you have a weighed gauge pressure canner the process time is different.  Altitudes also can make a difference in process time.  So what I am telling you for my area, may be different from yours, that is why I recommend you buy a book or take one out at your library.

NOTE: When I say 75 minutes per pint of 11 pounds of pressure or quarts at 90 minutes for 11 pounds of pressure,

For meat that you have cut-up into stripes, cubes or chunks:

Hot Pack: Cook meat by roasting, stewing or browning in a small amount of fat - slowly - until rare (145 degrees),  With your bimetallic food thermometer check to make sure the meat is as done as you would like it.  Pack the hot meat in the glass jars, loosely.  Spare 1 inch at the top of the jars.  If you like, you can add 1/3 teaspoon of salt to each pint or 1 teaspoon to each quart.  Then cover meat with boiling meat juice, broth or tomato juice.  If needed add boiling water.  Still leave 1 inch at the top of the jars.  Put cans in pressure canner.  For my area process time should be 75 minutes per pint for 11 pounds pressure of hot pack per pint and 90 minutes per quart..

Cold Pack: Cut meat as you would for hot pack.  Put the raw meat into the glass jars loosely, again leaving 1 inch space at the top.  If you want to add salt - add 1/2 teaspoon per pint and 1 teaspoon per quart.  Put sealed jars into pressure canner.  For my area process time would be 75 minutes per pint for 11 pounds and 90 minutes per quart.

Ground Meat

Do not grind fresh meat with scraps.  Make sure you use fresh, clean, cold meat.  Also don't use lumps of fat in the meat.  You may add 1 teaspoon of salt per pound of ground meat, if you wish.  Mix well.  Only use hot pack for ground meat.You can make ground meat into fairly thin patties or about 2-inch balls or into cans without breaking it up.  Start by cooking meat until it is lightly brown.  From drippings, skim off any fat.  DO NOT use fat for canning.  If canning meat without shaping - just saute until brown and drain fat off. Leaving 1 inch at the top of the jar, pack patties, balls or unshaped meat into glass jars.  Then cover meat with boiling meat juice, broth, or tomato juice leaving 1 inch at the top of jars.  Check jar lids, then put into pressure canner at 75 minutes for pints of 11 pounds or 90 minutes for quarts of 11 pounds.

Sausage

Sausage changes flavor in canning and storage so use seasoning sparingly and measure spices, onion and garlic carefully.  Do not use sage as it makes canned sausage bitter. Make sausage meat into patties.  If making cased sausage cut into 3 or 4 inch links.  Cook and pack meat as for ground meat, place in pressure canner using 75 minutes per mint or 90 minutes per quart of 11 pounds  pressure canner.

Veal

Veal is the meat of calves.  Calf meat or Veal does not have the fat on it that beef meat does.  Veal or calf meat is processed just like previous beef in canning.

I hope this helps you in considering canning meat.  Next week, I will do the post on pork.  I am trying to keep this as easy as possible, but I have been doing it for years and what I think simple, you might think complicated, if you have never done it before.

Follow God,
Olive

MARTHA ANSWERS MORE OF YOUR QUESTIONS

Today, I am answering more questions that you have asked starting with making coffins.  Yes, it is hard when making a coffin for someone especially a child or someone young.  It is sad, but then we must look at the other side of the passing as their time is done on this earth.  We hope that they are with the Lord in a better world.

Someone else asked if the casket is placed in the ground without a vault?  No, when the coffin is made, a wooden vault is also made.  The casket is lowered into the wooden vault.  We do not look at the casket or vault as protection.  Our Bishop says at the funeral: "Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust you shall return."  That is why, after the Bishop prays, we all put a hand full of dirt on top of the vault to remind us of from where we came and where our physical body will go.  We do not try to preserve or protect  what it is in the ground.  It is our soul we are most concerned about not our body.

How do the caskets get taken to the cemetery at a funeral?  Some of the Amish and Old Order Mennonites have a buggy just for that.  You can open the back and slide the coffin in and slide it back out at the cemetery.  Some use a open back wagon but today most of us have a funeral parlor car hearse to lead with the casket and we follow in our horse and buggies.

Someone asked about an interview with Joseph and myself about their roles in church leadership.  I don't know what you mean.  Do you mean what we do?  How the church is ruled?

You know what really upsets me is the novels out that make the Bishop sound like a terrible person.  They make the Bishop sound like if he lifted his hand lightening would strike.  That he is a mean heartless person.
Each Bishop is a human being just like we are and like all humans have a different personalities.

The Bishop's job is to help people not make their lives miserable.  People are not to be afraid when the Bishop shows up at their door.  We hope that they are glad to see Joseph when he comes to their house not afraid of him.  Usually they know Joseph is coming in advance because he calls first.  Even when Joseph shows up, it does not mean it is church business.  It  could be school business, how someone is feeling if they are sick or just to say hello.

Now some Bishops are stricter than Joseph, but that is their personality.  Some Bishops are not as strict as Joseph, but that it their personality.  It is a big job to be Bishop and the Bishop needs help of all the people in our meetings.  What he needs the most from people is prayer for God's guidance and wisdom so he knows how to handle the problems that come up.

I didn't mean to go on so, but after reading a couple novels and how mean the Bishop was, I got wondering if people believed what was written.

If all goes well, Elmer will be back next week.  I hope I answered your questions.  If you have more, please ask.

Be With the Lord,
Martha

NOTE:  I GOT A CALL FROM JEAN THIS MORNING.  SHE ASKED IF WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THE RECIPE A DAY FOR EASTER THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR.  WOULD YOU LIKE THAT?  ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL RECIPES YOU WOULD LIKE?  LET ME KNOW SO I CAN TELL JEAN.

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, EAST PALMYRA, NY

Seventh Day Adventist has services on Saturday rather than on Sunday.  I wasn't able to get any history on this church.  I do like the message that they have out front.