Revived Recipe: Strawberry Banana Deep Dish Pie
Reporter John Oliva travels back to 1925 to recreate the long-lost dish.
Oh my goodness! 3 days left until my daughter Lovina and Daniel’s wedding. Everything is starting to go well but I am afraid that I have forgotten something again. I am sure that I have forgotten, but how lucky I am to have such a good friend as Ruth. She helped me so much this time too.
She speaks for me when my mind is racing while shopping. This is the fourth time she has helped me with my shopping. She even helped with Irvin and Susan’s wedding. I can never repay her for all she has done for me. I want her to know that she is so appreciated. I know that when the last grocery cart is unloaded, she will be as relieved as I am.
On Saturday, all of the prep stations, coolers, crockery, tables, and various other items for the wedding arrived. The tables were in a new barn so it took some time to set them up and figure out exactly how best to do them.
A lot of last minute work was completed, including a 30′ x 60′ tent being pitched, the barn being cleaned, fencing being trimmed, and tables being set for 324. We are so grateful for all the help we received.
I toasted 40 loaves of bread for the dressing.
The weather is really hot. It’s going to be in the 90s every day this week. Wow! We’re going to need a lot of ice for this wedding. It’s really helpful to have a big walk-in cooler to fit all of our food in.
Shade is appreciated when washing dishes and peeling potatoes.
Today, my boys will be putting up another 20′ x 30′ tent for the dishwasher to wash dishes. They will also be able to peel potatoes (400 lbs) under the tent. There is lots of shade, which will help keep them cool. Tomorrow, we will have 500 lbs of chickens ready to harvest. They need to be carved and seasoned by Friday. My son-in-law, Daniel’s brother, and nephews will be helping with grilling the chicken. My husband, Joe, wants to start grilling the chicken early Friday morning. He says he will start between 3:30 and 4am, but I’m not sure if that will happen. We’ll see.
Today the head chef will be coming in to get everything ready for the 20+ ladies who will be coming in on Wednesday to help prepare food for the wedding, and on Thursday another 20+ ladies will be coming in to help bake pies, breads, etc. The head chefs are my sister Emma and my niece Elizabeth.
I have to boil some chicken and make broth today because I don’t have any chicken broth and I need 20 quarts for the dressing.
Sister Verena was with us today. There is so much going on around us that it’s hard to concentrate. This column will be a little shorter than usual. My friend Ruth will take over next week. She will also share lots of pictures from the wedding preparations.
This week I’m sharing recipes from my latest cookbook, The Cherished Table. See you next time – God Bless!
Strawberry Butter
6 fresh strawberries, stems removed and at room temperature
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened to room temperature
¾ cup powdered sugar
Chop the strawberries and place in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and powdered sugar with a whisk, pastry blender, or hand mixer until well combined. If desired, add more powdered sugar until desired sweetness is reached. You should get about 2 cups.
This is sometimes served at spring weddings, when strawberries are in season, and this combination takes the place of strawberry jam and butter.
Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, an Old Order Amish author, cook, wife, and mother of eight. Her three cookbooks, “The Cherished Table,” “The Essential Amish Cookbook,” and “Amish Family Recipes,” are available at any bookstore. Readers may write to Eicher at Lovina’s Amish Kitchen, PO Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (please include a stamped self-addressed envelope for return correspondence) or email her at 1-800-448-4480. LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org Your message will be passed on to her and she will read it. She will not reply to emails personally.