THEÂ AMISHÂ COOK
BY LOVINA EICHER
I hope everyone had a blessed and healthy Christmas Day.  I've been struck with the same flu that has been going around this household.  Hopefully I'll be on the mend soon.  With Joe off this week and the kids home from school, the house has been full.  We've had snow and cold the past few days, perfect weather for some soups or stews.  Thought I'd share recipes for a couple of our favorites this week!
 WINTER'S DAY SOUP
1 T. vegetable oil
2 medium yellow onions (chopped)
3 cloves garlic
5 c. homemade chicken broth
2 t. Worcestershire sauce
4 T. flour
1 medium head cauliflower (chopped)
1 medium bunch broccoli (chopped)
3 medium potatoes (diced)
2 c. heavy cream
2 c. grated extra sharp cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
In a large pot, heat the oil and add the onions and cook for five minutes. Add the garlic and cook for one minute. Add the chicken stock, Worcestershire sauce and vegetables and simmer gently for approximately 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir flour with a little soup broth and add mixture along with the cream to the broth, stirring through. Add cheese a little at a time, stirring until completely melted. Enjoy with thick sliced bread.
AMISH BEEF STEW
3 cups cubed beef
1 onion
8 large cut potatoes
2 cups cut carrots
2 cups cut celery
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup margarine
Salt to taste
Brown beef and onion in flour. Put into pot. Heat on low for two hours. Add vegetables and 1 cup tomato juice. Continue cooking for one or two more hours
Barb Wright
I hope the Eicher's are soon on the mend! I agree with Lovina,it has been great soup weather. I made a big pot of ham and bean soup just a couple days ago!
Wendy P
I have to laugh - Lovina's "Winter Soup" is almost exactly what I made for lunch a couple of days ago - only I used up some rutabagas instead of potatoes, and a stick blender to mush it all up. Yummy.
A note for Kevin - none of the links in the email got me to the column page - I had to click on the "Amish Cook Column" button and navigate here. That's the second time it's happened.
JAN
I love lovina. i walk one mile every wednesday to get the paper just to read her article.I have every column her mother and lovina wrote.I would love to know what happen to her two sisters? they used to be there at there home all the time now we never hear about them any more. what happened to them?