OUR NEW LAUNDRY WASHER & DRYER USE CREDIT CARDS

All apartment residents were issued a credit card for the washers and dryers.  In the laundry room is a machine where you put the credit card in one slot and the amount of money you want on credit card in another slot.  You push a button and the amount of money goes on your credit card.  We got new washers and dryers in both of the buildings.  You put your laundry with detergent  in the washer and put your credit card in the slot. The amount of money that is on your credit card shows.  You select which way you want your laundry done.  Then the machine tells you to pull the credit card out. Make sure the top of the washer is closed. Then it lights up to tell you how long it will take to wash the clothes.  When the machine is done 0 lights up and it shuts off.  You take the clothes out of the washer and put them in the dryer.  You go through the same thing with the credit on the dryer.  When the dryer is done - your clothes are dry and you are all done.  This sure beats using all the quarters we had to use before.

This is another of the pictures I have had on since December,  2012.  Like I said I think I should get them on posts here.  There is one last picture that was with this group that you might not like to see.

CANAL TOWN HORSE PARADE

As I promised, here is our Canal Town Horse Parade.  It is not very large.  It used to be much larger, but over the years it has gotten smaller and smaller.  I think it is still a great parade to see.  Hope you enjoy it.

OLD ORDER MENNONITE FARM AND BUGGYS

I remember taking these pictures because this is where the lady sent her dog out at me.  Always I stand along side of the road and never on anyone's property.  She was inside the house and saw me taking pictures so she sent her dog out.  It was a good size dog so I got in the car and drove off.

so

BASIC TOMATO SAUCE - DIABETIC FROM JEAN

BASIC TOMATO SAUCE

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 lb extra lean ground beef
1 (12 ounce ) can tomato paste (or home made)
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes (or fresh)
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black group pepper

In a sauce pan add olive oil, over medium-high,  heat brown ground beef.

Add tomato paste, water and broth, stir until tomato past is fully blended with water and broth.

Add the remaining ingredients, garlic, herbs and spices.

Simmer tomato sauce for 1 hour.

OPTIONS:
meatballs instead of ground meat
vegetables (peppers, onions, mushrooms)
vegetarian sauce
ground turkey meatballs or pieces of turkey or chicken
Italian sausage

NUTRITION FACTS

Serving Size 3/4 cup
Calories 180
Cholesterol 40mg       13%
Sodium 410mg            18%
Total Carbohydrate 14g  5%


Jean and I got talking about having one Wednesday of diabetic recipes a month.  How does that sound? The other three weeks will have other recipes.

SUE ANN'S AMISH AND MENNONITE RECIPES

I had a cookbook, borrowed from a friend, a long time ago, and I copied only the pages that interested me. I don't know when the cookbook was published, but I have a date marked, when I tried my first recipe, as 1982 !

The title page I copied, so I would remember the book:

               From Amish and Mennonite Kitchens

by: Phyllis Pellman Good, and Rachel Thomas Pellman

I have used these recipes over and over again, for all these years, and I think you will like them too.

                                 STEAMED BREAD DUMPLINGS

Make your favorite white bread dough. When ready to be baked (after the kneading and rising times), take part of the dough and form bun size balls. Place in a buttered baking dish ( about 2" deep), and steam over boiling water for 30 mins.

Serve hot with fruit and milk.

[ this is so easy to do! Use a large pot that the baking dish just sits on top of, and use the pot lid to cover the baking dish, keep the heat at med high]

                                CELERY SEED DRESSING

1 c sugar

2 t dry mustard

2 t paprika

2 t salt

1/2 c vinegar ( your choice, I use cider a lot)

2 c salad oil ( I use Canola Oil)

2 t celery seed

1 T grated onion ( optional)

Combine first 5 ingredients and mix well. Add the oil in slowly and beat well. Stir in onion and celery seed. Let sit over night in fridge.

[ this makes 28 oz., which is a lot for 2 people. I cut the recipe in half, and the dressing lasts us a little over a week. It will not spoil.]

Use a whisk to mix this up....mix each time before pouring, as the spices and sugar will settle.

                               RED WINE- MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE

2 T red wine vinegar ( balsamic works too)

1 T lemon juice

2 t dijon style mustard

1 t finely minced onion or shallot

1/2 t sugar

1/8 t ground black pepper

3 T extra virgin olive oil, ( I use Canola oil)

combine first 6 ingredients in a bowl and mix well, slowly add the oil, and mix well. Use a whisk. Store in fridge.

                           CORN PIE

Pastry for a 2 crust , deep dish, pie ( can use store bought)

3 c fresh corn off the cob ( I have used frozen before, thawed)

1 1/2 c raw, peeled, diced potatoes

3 hard boiled eggs, diced

salt and pepper to taste

several slices of uncooked bacon, cut into 1" pieces

milk

Line casserole or deep dish pie plate with one pastry

combine corn, potatoes, and eggs- pour into the pastry crust. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Add enough milk to just cover the vegetables.

Place pieces of sliced bacon on top, all around.

Cover with top pastry, pinch edges together to seal, make a few small air vents with a knife.

BAKE- 425 degrees- 30- 40 mins., when crust is browned and milk is bubbly throughout.

                            BAKED CARROTS and APPLES

4 c carrots, cut into 1/2 " pieces

3 c apples, peeled, cored, sliced

2 T butter or margarine

1/4 c honey

paprika

Steam carrots until tender, drain. Stir in apples and honey.

Turn into a buttered casserole. dot with butter.

cover and bake, 350 degrees, 50 mins.

Stir, sprinkle with paprika.

Bake an additional 10 mins, uncovered.

[when you steam the carrots, be sure to do them JUST to tender, not over done, or you will have carrot mush!]

These are easy, and fun recipes to make, especially for the winter months. I hope you enjoy them as much as we have all these years.

JEAN'S MEETINGS HAS A NEW BISHOP

For a Bishop to step down from his position in our meetings (church) is unusual but not unheard of.  Most of the time a Bishop keeps his position until he passes (dies).

We knew our Bishop had cancer and has been treated for it for the past few years.  Rumors of his possible  stepping down had been heard.  On this Sunday, after meeting it was asked that all who were not baptized in the meetings to please step outside the building.  It was then that he told us that in addition to his cancer he just recently found out that he had the first stages of dementia.  Do to his age (80) and his health, he would be stepping down.  We were asked to pray during the coming week, not only for himself, but for who we felt God would want to replace him as Bishop.  Our Bishop said he was doing so at this time as he did not feel that he could do our meetings and give God the service that should be done.  He would also, as long as he retained his mind, be able to help or advise, if wanted, his knowledge to help the new Bishop take over.  And, as we are, he was curious, as to who God would chose for our next Bishop.

Our Bishop is the head of our meetings (church).  He does not only weddings, baptism, meeting services and funerals, he also handles all the finances, people's problems, shunning, - just about everything.  When a boy is baptized, he is considered a man.  One of the teachings for a boy's baptism is that if he is chosen Bishop, deacon or minister - it is for life.   Even though our Bishop stepped down, he is still a Bishop until the day he passes.

Most men do not look forward to being selected Bishop.  The meetings and service for God come first, your family, farm, and all else comes second.  As Bishop, God comes first.  Although the deacons, and ministers help, it is the Bishop that makes all final decisions.  Some things, we vote for in meetings, but most are Bishop made.  Once they are elected, the weight falls on them.  It is an honor, but it is also the heavy weight.  The Bishop does not receive any pay for the position.  

During the week, we prayed and discussed who we thought the Lord was leading for this position.  Although Michael and Edward are not baptized yet and can not vote, we asked who they thought. Of course, rumors were going around about who should be selected.

After meeting the next Sunday, again all not baptized were ask to please step outside. One by one we went into the council room and told our Bishop and deacons who we thought the Lord wanted.  Once everyone had gone though, there had been 10 men selected.  Bishop came out to the front and named those that were selected.  David and Martha's husband, Joseph, were two of the selected.  This number had to be brought down to six, so again we went in one by one and voted.  When that was done the Bishop and deacons selected the six with the highest votes.  Again, David and Joseph were in the group.

Six bibles were brought out, the Bishop prayed and a small slip of paper with a bible quote was put in one of the bibles.  The Bishop mixed the bibles.  The deacons mixed the bibles and those who were selected could mix the bibles.  One by one the men chose a bible and sat down at the front table and one by one opened the bibles.

I remember Martha saying Joseph wouldn't be chosen because he had married a Englisher.  I reminded Martha, she had converted, but she said she still felt he wouldn't be chosen.  The man with the fourth bible was David,  The other three had opened with no paper.  David opened his - there was no paper.  We found Martha was wrong in her statement because when Joseph opened the bible, the paper came out.  He is our new Bishop.

Joseph was sort of in shock and Martha had tears.  The weight had fallen on him and his family.  Our previous Bishop  said "The Lord has spoken." and kissed Joseph on each cheek, then shook his hand.  All the men shook his hand and the ladies shook Martha's, who was also in shock.  When the door was opened to all the people outside, Joseph was standing in the door way, to let the others know he is the Bishop.

Slowly it has sunk in.  As our Bishop he doesn't wear any special clothes, or jewelry or anything.  He dresses as he did before. Nothing is added to his house or buggy to know he is Bishop.    He is glad that our previous Bishop is here to give him guidance and help.  The family has accepted his position. I am sure that Martha will write a post about this later on, but she asked me to do it this time.

We welcome Bishop Joseph.

Be With God,
Jean

P.S.
Jean's church does not have stain glass windows like the above in her church.  I just thought it would be well with this post.

JEAN'S GRANDMOTHER OLIVE IS COMING NEXT MONDAY.

CANAL TOWN DAYS CAR SHOW

These are just some of the cars that were at the car show today.  The top 1954 Ford belongs to a friend of mine.  Her Dad bought that for her, used, back in 1966 so she could use it to go back and forth to school and her job after school.  We also had fun with it during the summer of 1966 and during 1967.  When she went to college her Dad sold it as they weren't allowed cars at her college the first two years you are there.  After graduation, she got a job, married and every anniversary, birthday, Christmas, etc. when asked what she wanted she said her 1954 Ford.  After a long and hard search, her husband found her 1954 Ford and gave it to her as a gift.  That was over 30 years ago and she still has the car today - she still has her husband, too. The Ford Roaster reminds me of one my brother use to have.  Of course, I have a Ford Mustang on here, Richard.  I have a lot more cars from the show, so I thought I would save them and when the white stuff season comes but them on to remind what we have to look forward to in the summer.