The Amish Cook by LOVINA EICHER A friend of ours took our children to the nearby lake for another swimming lesson. Most of the days have been too cool this summer. A few of our children can swim now. We really appreciate the time this lady is taking to teach them. Knowing how to swim is so important especially if they are out on the boat doing a lot fishing. We do make the children wear life-jackets when they are out on the boat. After the children came home from swimming, my husband Joe took our three boys fishing. While they were gone the girls baked a chocolate cake for Benjamin and I grilled pork chops. We also had ice cream along with the cake after they came back from fishing. Benjamin enjoyed his 10th birthday, which fell on July 14. They caught some bass, perch, and bluegill, which made for a nice "present." The children and I helped Joe get the fish filleted before we ate. I am not too good at filleting fish yet but I am starting to get the hang of it more.

July 15 Joe and I have been married 16 years. Time goes way too fast but we have had many blessings in these 16 years. This is now Monday morning and our neighbor is mowing our hay. This is our second cutting. It is a cool morning again so it makes it easier on the four big Belgian horses pulling the mower. Our neighbors Steve and Lila invited us over for a pizza supper on Friday evening. Steve has been working with Joe for the last 4 and 1 /2 years. They were going to make pizza on the grill, but it looked like rain so Lila just made it in the house. Her homemade pizza and bread sticks were very delicious.

After we ate we all walked back to their pond, farther back on their property. It is very nice and relaxing back there. Joe and Steve played kickball with all the children. Steve and Lila have four boys. Lila and I visited and cleaned away the dishes while they played. We arrived back home around 10:30 p.m. after an enjoyable evening.

We went to Jacob and Emma's house last night for supper in honor of her 36th birthday. Barbecued chicken and campfire stew were on the menu along with cake and ice cream. July 18 would have been my mother's 73 birthday. It is always a time when we reflect back on our memories of her. Meanwhile, son Joseph is counting the days until his 7th birthday on July 24. He told me this morning, "Mom we only have to sleep four more times before my birthday!"

This is a very easy zucchini casserole, a good way to use up your zucchinis and makes an easy, quick meal. Zucchinis are plentiful in the garden right now.

Zucchini And Carrot Casserole

1 cup baking mix (Bisquick can be used)

3 eggs

1 /2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup shredded carrots

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

3 cups shredded zucchini

1 small onion, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients together and put into an 8 X 8 baking pan, greased. Bake at 350 for 35 to 45 minutes.

All softcover editions of Amish Cook titles are now available for ordering through Amazon.com, with sale prices on the titles through July 31. The titles include The Best of the Amish Cook series, The Amish Cook's Treasury, and the Amish Cook's Family Favorites & Facts. For more information or to order through Amazon, visit amishcookonline and click "cookbook sale." Any backorders will continue to be filled through Oasis Newsfeatures.

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