Life Regained (An Amish Friendship Series Book 1)
Page 17
Leaning over, he planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
“What was that for?”she asked, a blush covering her cheeks.
“For being you.”
As he walked toward the kitchen, Elizabeth couldn’t help but turn to watch him.
She had spent the Christmas holiday in West Virginia, cleaning out everything—cabinets, closets, dressers—before she sold the house. As she expected, Ryan had tried to talk her out of moving to Ohio and Sophia merely asked her if she needed to see someone“just to talk to a bit.”But Elizabeth had stood her ground.
Moving to Ohio was the first decision she had made on her own in years, a decision that had focused one hundred percent on her and her needs. She had returned from her stay at the Troyers’farm a new woman. Gone was the Elizabeth who wallowed in self-pity and worried about others, putting their needs before her own. They were adults, she reminded herself, and didn’t need constant mothering.
In hindsight, she remembered feeling scared, worried that she was moving for the wrong reasons. Oh, she knew that she had feelings for Carl but she didn’t want to move strictly for that reason.
The deciding factor had been the wonderful memories she had from her four weeks living at the cottage. Her friendship with Mary was one that she suspected God had orchestrated. The simple life of the Amish appealed to her and she wanted to keep that feeling of peace and happiness in her life.
The house finally sold and Elizabeth had waited to move until the end of March, hoping to avoid any more snowstorms. She wanted to arrive in time to watch the bare trees slowly bear new buds and the brown, empty field sprout new crops that were planted by the farmers.
Her children threw her a going-away dinner. Elizabeth hadn’t wanted them to make a fuss, but they didn’t listen to her. For once, she was glad. Reverend White showed up as did a few of her church friends, each with kind words and promises to write to her at her new home in Mount Hope, Ohio.
“You’ll write back, too, right?”
Elizabeth had laughed when one of her friends asked her that question.“They have post offices out there, I promise,”she responded.
The next day when she left, before the sun had risen in the sky, she felt like a new person with each mile that passed. The weight of the world lifted from her shoulders and she found herself both excited and frightened in an adventurous sort of way.
That first night, she shared the evening meal with the Troyers. She was thankful that Carl wasn’t invited. She didn’t want this mid-life move to be misconstrued. No promises, he had told her. She was going to hold him to that.
But the next day, when she went for her early morning walk, he was waiting for her at the clearing in the woods with a thermos of coffee and a warm hug. They didn’t speak as they walked, enjoying the sounds of birds in the trees, chirping as they flew through the woods.
“You’re smiling,”he said when he came back through the kitchen doors, carrying two bowls of soup.
“Am I?”She reached for the soup but he shook his head.“I’ll take them.”
“I think I can handle this,”he said, glancing at the clock.“You’ve been here all day. I can close up if you want to take off.”
She sighed. She was looking forward to a quiet evening at home. She would read a book and maybe write a few letters to her friends in Nottingham. Then, she’d sit outside in the rocking chair, watching as the sun set over the hill behind the farm.
“I might just take you up on that.”
He hesitated before walking away.“Mind if I stop by later for some coffee?”
Another smile.“That would be lovely.”
Over the past two months, they had developed a routine, one that Elizabeth liked very much, especially since Carl did not intrude on her privacy. During the week, she worked at the diner in the late afternoons until closing. She liked to meet new people and interact with the customers. Besides, it got her out of the house.
On Saturdays, she stayed at the cottage, either catching up on her own chores or helping Mary with hers. In the evening, Carl would stop by to pick her up for dinner at a nearby restaurant or to see a movie. And on Sundays, she attended his church service on the other side of Berlin.
Now, with the weather turning nicer, he had taken to stopping by in the evenings, only once or twice during the week, for a short visit and a cup of coffee. He never lingered long, but his presence was soothing, a nice way to end the day in the company of a man she was coming to care for in a way she would never have thought possible just twelve short months prior.
Leaving the diner, she glanced at the sky. There were no clouds. She smiled to herself as she walked to her car. It would be a beautiful sunset this evening. She could already see the colors in her mind: reds, orange, purple, and blues. With a nice cup of coffee, sitting in the rocking chair with Carl beside her in what she had come to think of as“his”chair, she couldn’t think of a happier ending to the day.
By the time he arrived, the sun was already touching the tips of the trees. Elizabeth was waiting for him, a carafe of coffee on the small wooden table between their chairs. He laughed when he saw her sitting there, a thin quilt over her lap as the air always cooled when the sun wasn’t high in the sky.
He took the mug of coffee she offered as he sat in his chair, sipping it before lifting his eyes to look at the sky.
“It’s beautiful tonight, isn’t it?”
She nodded, but didn’t speak. She didn’t want to break the peace of the moment.
In the distance, the cows mooed, wandering in the fields for the evening. With the warmer weather, John let the stay out at night which actually helped cut down on chores in the morning since they had less mucking to do. Elizabeth liked watching them in the pasture, their heads dipped down to graze on the grass as they wandered.
When the sky changed to a color of dark orange and deep purples, the sun having disappeared behind the horizon, Carl sighed and set down his mug.
“Lizzy,”he said.“The weekend is almost here.”
She sipped her coffee.“Yes it is.”
“I was thinking that we might take a nice drive on Saturday. There’s an auction in the neighboring county and a spring festival. Thought it might be fun to spend the day there.”
She was silent for a moment. A year ago, where had she been? Nottingham, West Virginia…mourning the death of her husband and loss of her future. It had been a journey, one that had taken several turns that she never could have anticipated. The one thing that she had taken from the events of the past twelve months was that she was stronger than she had ever imagined.
Carl leaned over and touched her arm.“What do you say, Lizzy? Would you like to do that with me?”
In the darkness of the Ohio sunset, Elizabeth felt her heart jump at his touch. It warmed her skin. With a smile, she leaned over and reached out, pressing her palm against his cheek. She felt him press against her, a gesture that furthered her happiness.
“For you, Carl,”she whispered.“Anything.”
RECIPES
Mary’s Zucchini Nut Bread
Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1 cup canola oil
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups shredded zucchini (about 2 medium)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease two 8x4-in. loaf pans. In a large bowl, beat sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla until well blended. In another bowl, whisk flour, salt, baking soda, lemon peel, cinnamon and baking powder; gradually beat into sugar mixture, mixing just until moistened. Stir in zucchini and walnuts.
2. Transfer to prepared pans. Bake 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minute
s before removing from pans to wire racks to cool.
Carl’s Apple Cobbler
Ingredients:
Apple Filling
5 cups tart apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled and sliced
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces
Topping
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 egg, beaten
cinnamon sugar for topping, optional
Directions:
1. Heat the oven to 375°.
2. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan.
3. Combine the sliced apples, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon salt, vanilla and water. Turn into the prepared baking pan. Dot apples with the pieces of butter.
4. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the beaten egg and softened butter and beat until blended. Using a tablespoon, drop batter evenly over the apple mixture. If desired, sprinkle the batter with a cinnamon sugar mixture.
5. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the apples are tender and crust is golden brown. Serve warm with cream or a scoop of ice cream.
Elizabeth’s Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups cooked pumpkin
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Prepare pie crust by mixing together the flour and salt. Cut shortening into flour, add 1 tablespoon water to mixture at a time. Mix dough and repeat until dough is moist enough to hold together.
With lightly floured hands shape dough into a ball. On a lightly floured board roll dough out to 1/8 inch thickness. With a sharp knife, cut dough 1 1/2 inch larger than the upside down 8 to 9 inch pie pan. Gently roll the dough around the rolling pin and transfer it right side up on to the pie pan. Unroll, ease dough into the bottom of the pie pan.
In a large bowl with mixer speed on medium, beat pumpkin with evaporated milk, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt. Mix well. Pour into a prepared crust. Bake 40 minutes or until when a knife is inserted 1 inch from the edge comes out clean.
Friendship Bread Starter
Used in several recipes.
Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 ounce warm water
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
Directions
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add 1 tablespoon sugar, vinegar, salt, flour, and milk in a non-metal bowl and stir with a non-metal spoon until creamy.
Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place for two days to ferment. (Or put it in a large Ziploc bag and close it tight) It will become bubbly and have a sour odor. Do not place in refrigerator.
On second day, third day, and fourth day: stir.
On fifth day, add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk, and stir. On sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth day: stir. On tenth day add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Reserve 1 cup starter; pour remaining starter, 1 cup each, into 3 containers to give away to friends if desired. Starter is enough for 8 loaves.
Katie’s Friendship Bread
Ingredients
1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter (see previous recipe)
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 eggs
1 cup white sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 8 or 9 inch loaf pans.
Mix 1 cup of the starter, oil, baking powder, eggs, 1 cup of the sugar, 2 cups of the flour, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, vanilla, and chopped nuts. Stir in the baking soda just before pouring the batter into the prepared pans.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Bananas, dates, or raisins can be added for variety.
*Always save 1 cup of starter for your next cakes, then start with day 2 of the starter instructions instead of having to start a new starter each time.
Susan’s Snickerdoodle Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
4 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup cinnamon
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add in wet ingredients.
3. Mix in rest of ingredients except the last sugar and cinnamon.
4. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon.
5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
6. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture.
7. Place them 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.
8. Bake 10 minutes.
9. Remove from cookie sheet to cool on a wire rack.
The dough is a tad sticky but rolls really well into balls. If you want a crunchy cookie, bake an extra 3-5 minutes.
Sue Ann’s Ground Cherry Pie
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups peeled ground cherries
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoons water
1 -2 pie shells
Topping for pie:
3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons white or brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter cold
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Wash cherries and place in shell.
Mix brown sugar and 1 tbsp flour and sprinkle over.
Sprinkle water over top.
Mix topping ingredients until crumbly and sprinkle over pie.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes then 375 degrees for 25 minutes.
BOOK PREVIEW
The Divine Secrets of the Whoopie Pie Sisters
By Sarah Price & Whoopie Pie Pam
The Dock
Sitting on the dock, a sense of relaxation washed over Leah as she let her eyes wander nonchalantly over the water. It was crystal clear and completely calm, the serene glasslike surface barely marred by the occasional ripple caused by a dragon fly fluttering down to dip its legs into the water, from the edge of a water lily. The sun had already begun its nightly descent over the hill, right behind the Millers’family farm, its orange glow from the perfectly shaped orb casting glittering embers all across the pond. A bird flew overhead, heading toward the woods that bordered the large farm property. It disappeared into the sea of green leaves that clung to the branches, motionless in this breezeless late summer evening.
Leah sighed and returned her attention back to the pond, contemplating that it wouldn’t be long before the surface would turn into a crystal sheet of ice. It was only late August and she knew that she shouldn’t be already thinking about winter, but she so dreaded that season
: cold, gray, dark. No, Leah thought to herself. Winter was not her favorite time of year, that was for sure and certain!
But, as her grossmammi had always pointed out,“You have to go through winter before you can get to spring!”Wise advice from an even wiser woman, Leah thought. If only Grossmammi Maggie was still around. Leah could sure use her advice and her wisdom right now.
Instead, Leah felt alone. Even more than alone; lonely. Whenever such feelings overcame her, feelings of worry and fear, she would escape the craziness of her home, even if only for a few moments, to sit on the dock, her bare feet dipped into the cool water as she reflected on the problems at hand. After all, this pond had always been her favorite spot; her place to find solace and to recapture her spirit. And of late, Leah Mast needed a lot of that.
As she watched two little sparrows play in the branches of a nearby weeping willow, Leah found herself smiling. Thatwas a peaceful moment, she reckoned, one that gave her a sense of tranquility after a long and stressful day. Oh, how Leah loved these sparrows, always thinking of the Bible verse that stated God even took care of the little sparrow! They were her favorite bird and observing them always made her realize that there was more to life than met the eye. Watching those little birds flit and flutter through the branches always made her wonder why life couldn’t be that simple for humans. Their play was as innocent as that of a newborn baby.
Leah began to shiver. She wasn’t sure if it were the cool northern wind that was now blowing an evening chill through her bones or the acknowledgement that her family’s lives were a mess. From the day that they each entered the world, Leah had felt a responsibility for her siblings. And more so, two years ago, when their parents were killed in a car accident while on their way to a cousin’s wedding in Pennsylvania. Leaving behind the family business, her parents had also left Leah with something else to tend to: their two youngest kinner[1]. Even today, that was not easy for a young woman of 34 years who already had her own growing family of seven children.