Lovina's Amish Kitchen: Enjoy the first tastes of spring
We are having cooler weather again this week. On Monday it was rainy, and yesterday was cloudy. At least today the sun is shining at times.
Son Joseph, 18, is home today. He has been busy outside cleaning the yard and filling in dirt on the low spots before we roll the yard.
Chef Joe Trama is the fourth chef featured in the 2020 Region Patio Pitmasters. Video by John Luke. Interview by Eloise Valadez.
We had success with our garage sale last week, but we still have some things left. I want to take it to a thrift store, or the free store, or give it to someone who can use it. It was time consuming to have the sale but makes more space now in my storage areas.
Our rhubarb is plentiful, so I have made quite a few rhubarb custard pies. We are also enjoying asparagus from the garden.
My husband Joe planted some more vegetables in the garden on Saturday: lettuce, radishes, peas and corn.
Sunday is Mother’s Day, so I wish all mothers out there a Happy Mother’s Day. I am blessed to have 8 wonderful children who call me Mother: Elizabeth, 26, Susan, 25, Verena, 23, Benjamin, 21, Loretta, 20, Joseph, 18, Lovina, 16 and Kevin, 15. I thank God for their love, and I hope I will always be a good example to them. It takes daily prayers to raise a family. I also have 5 precious grandchildren who call me Grandma: Abigail, 4, Jennifer, 3, Timothy (T.J.), 2, Ryan, 21 months and Allison, 16 months.
Father’s Day will be hard on daughter Susan, to have two little children who won’t have a father to give their love to. Mose would buy a flower for the children to give to Susan on Mother’s Day. May God continue to guide her and comfort her. Let us remind ourselves that God makes no mistakes.
On Sunday we had communion services at our neighbors’ home. Daughter Susan and children and sister Verena were here for the night on Saturday and went to church with us.
Ryan was so excited to have a little black hat to wear to church. When we came to church, he thought he could wear it during the service, so it took a little persuading to get him to hang it up until afterward.
Sister Verena and daughter Susan and children stayed overnight again Sunday night. When Ryan woke up Monday morning Joe had left for work already. Ryan went to our bedroom, to Joe’s side of the bed, asking where Grandpa was. I told him he was working. He then pointed to the cabinet on the wall where Joe keeps his hat and asked for Joe’s hat. He thought he should have both his and Grandpa’s hat, but I told Ryan we need to leave it there for when we go to church again. Such sweet little angels. What do they have to see in the future?
Coming Sunday, ride along with Specialist Dyer as he patrols LaPorte.
I answered all the reader mail now. I want to again thank everyone for their support and encouragement. It is all greatly appreciated. May God bless all of you!
I will share the recipe for asparagus shepherd’s pie this week for those of you who love asparagus. We had asparagus last night just fried in butter.
Take care. Until next week…God bless.
Asparagus Shepherd’s Pie
6 medium potatoes, diced
1-2 pounds hamburger
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of chicken or asparagus soup
1 pound fresh asparagus, cut in pieces
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2-1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
DIRECTIONS: Boil potatoes in water until tender. Brown hamburger with onion and garlic; drain grease. Stir in soup and pour into a greased 2-quart baking dish. Cook asparagus in small amount of water until crisp and tender, about 3-4 minutes. Drain and layer over beef mixture. Drain the potatoes and mash, adding milk, butter, and salt. Spread mashed potatoes over asparagus and sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Where to grab wings in the Region
Bridge’s Scoreboard
Bridge’s Scoreboard in downtown Griffith is the prototypical sports bar, filled with decades of memorabilia and many televisions. It’s a chill place to gather after beer league softball or to watch the game. One of its specialties is its humongous jumbo wings, which come in 5-piece, 10-piece, 25-piece or 50-piece servings.
Sauces options include mild, HOT, garlic chili, BBQ garlic Parmesan, southwest Ranch, teriyaki, Carribbean, honey mustard, naked and honey BBQ, as well as your choice of blue cheese or Ranch for dipping.
Bridge’s Scoreboard
Where: 121 N Griffith Blvd, Griffith
Phone: (219) 924-2206
Website: bridgesscoreboard.com
Harold’s Chicken Shack
Harold’s Chicken Shack is a South Side Chicago classic with many Northwest Indiana locations, including in Hammond, Dyer, Gary, Griffith and Merrillville. Most of the locations are no-frills takeout joints that will make your tastebuds sing like a church choir. Harold’s serves whole chicken wings, fried to order with crispy golden fries and creamy coleslaw. Dip ’em in the mild sauce.
Where: 1994 Grant St, Gary
Phone: (219) 949-7599
Where: 6158 Indianapolis Blvd, Hammond
Phone: (219) 803-2885
Where: 101 Joliet St, Dyer
Phone: (219) 515-6475
Where: 1095 E Ridge Rd, Griffith
Phone: (219) 838-5355
Where: 6690 Broadway, Merrillville
Phone: (219) 455-6188
Where: 110 E 11th St, Michigan City
Phone: (219) 221-6621
Where: 3224 Ridge Rd, Lansing
Phone: (708) 474-2000
Where 1559 Sibley Blvd, Calumet City
Phone: (708) 933-0496
Where: 1036 E 162nd St, South Holland
Phone: (708) 669-1010
Website: www.haroldschickenscorp.com
18th Street Brewery
18th Street Brewery in downtown Hammond serves up incredible barbecue, including brined and smoked wings that sing on the tongue. Simply divine.
18th Street Brewery
Where: 5417 Oakley Ave, Hammond
Phone: (219) 803-0820
Website: 18thstreetbrewery.com
Bombers BBQ
The aviation-themed Bomber’s BBQ, a hipster haven in Munster, is acclaimed for its high-quality slow-cooked meats and its smoked wings are no exception.
Bomber’s BBQ
435 Ridge Rd Ste f, Munster
Phone: (219) 836-2662
Website: bombersbbq.com
Romano’s
Romano’s is known as the home of the hoagie for its iconic ham hoagies and claims to be Northwest Indiana’s first pizzeria.
The restaurant has many great appetizers like cheddar cheese cubes, fried zucchini, tomato bread and mac and cheese wedges. You can get an order of seven bone-in wings with your choice or Ranch, hot, honey mustard, BBQ and garlic Parmesan.
Romano’s
Where: 1927 W Glen Park Ave, Griffith, IN 46319
Phone: (219) 838-1731
Website: romanospizza53.com
Square Roots
Square Roots promises handcrafted dining on the historic Crown Point courthouse square. Its shareables includes brisket nachos, fireside elote dip, bang bang shrimp, cheese curbs, poutine, and giant stone-fired pretzels.
One can get a order of eight signature smoked wings with a fancy presentation on a white plate and a sprinkling of sliced scallions and sesame seeds. The crispy wings are tossed in your choice of Buffalo, Garlic Parmesan, Habanero Jerk, Bama White BBQ, or House BBQ.
Square Roots
Where: 108 N Main St, Crown Point
Phone: (219) 310-8322
Where: squarerootscp.com
Bulldog Brewery
Bulldog Brewery in downtown Whiting serves up many fine craft beers like Standard Diamonds Cream Ale, Industrial Harbor IPA, Roby Red Ale, Downtime Wheat and Shore Sighted IPA. You can get orders of six, 12 or 24 wings with sauces like Asian BBQ, Caribbean Jerk, BBQ, Buffalo, Sweet Habanero, Tropical Rum, Mango Habanero, Garlic Parmesan, or Kentucky Gold.
Bulldog Brewery
Where: 1409 119th St, Whiting
Phone: (219) 655-5284
Visit: bulldogbrewingco.com
Asian Kitchen
Asian Kitchen serves up a variety of Vietnamese, Chinese and other Asian cuisine, including a mean Bahn Mi. Don’t sleep on the wings, which come with your choice of Saigon, Honey Chili or Crazy Jack Sauce.
Asian Kitchen
Where: 6412a Calumet Ave in Hammond
Phone: (219) 803-0074
Website: asiankitchenin.com
Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop
Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop is a popular soul food restaurant that was a favorite of former President Barack Obama when he lived in Hyde Park. The Lansing eatery serves up Étouffée, gumbo, jambalaya, fried catfish, fried green tomato and other southern and Cajun fare. The Dixie wings are fantastic. They come with a choice of mild, atomic, authentic Jamaican jerk, peach-glazed or BBQ sauce. You can buy them by the pound or get them as an entree with two sides.
Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop
Where: 17940 Torrence Ave, Lansing, IL 60438
Phone: (708) 474-1378
Website: dixie.kitchen
Smokin’ E’s BBQ
Smokin’ E’s BBQ, a takeout joint in Lake Station, has a host of barbecue trophies in the window. It slow-cooks all its meat the traditional way over wood out back. Its smoked wings may be among the tastiest you’ve ever tried.
Smokin’ E’s BBQ
Where: 2401 Central Ave, Lake Station, IN 46405
Phone: (219) 654-4141
Doc’s
Please come back Doc’s BBQ, please come back soon. The Dyer restaurant closed temporarily because of the coronavirus pandemic. That’s a pity because in addition to some of the most tender brisket and fall-off-the-bone ribs in the Region, the Northwest Indiana-based barbecue chain has some of the best brined and smoked wings that explode with wood-fired flavor. Start off game day with Doc’s and you’ll end up in a meat coma.
Where: 1420 B, Calumet Ave
Phone: (219) 262-3627
Visit: docsbbq.net
Region Ale
Region Ale Taphouse & Eatery offers jumbo wings in either 8-piece or 12-piece options, as well as vegetarian wings in 6-piece or 10-piece servings. Sauces include Buffalo, BBQ, Asian, Nashville Hot, Sriracha Honey, Lemon Pepper and Garlic Parmesan. The wings are big and meaty and elegantly seasoned. Make sure to ask for Blue Cheese if that’s what you prefer.
Where: 1080 US-41, Schererville
Phone: (219) 322-2337
Visit: regionaletaphouse.com
Tropic Island Jerk Chicken
Tropic Island Jerk Chicken brings the heat with its traditional Jamaican cuisine, including its spicy jerk wings that light up one’s palate.
Where: 8000 Calumet Ave, Munster
Phone: (219) 333-5375
Boss Fight
Buffalo is not unlike the Calumet Region: it’s got a Ford plant, harsh winters, a hard-working populace and some historic buildings that are a little worse for wear. The city at the eastern end of the Great Lakes region is also the home of the Buffalo wing, which was invented as a late-night snack in a local sports bar. You should swing by Anchor Bar anytime you visit the area to see Niagara Falls, the impressive collection of Art Deco architecture, nearby Toronto or whatever else. Anchor Bar is a total tourist trap adorned with license plates from around the country, but it also has some of the biggest and juiciest wings you’ll ever eat.
Where: Anchor Bar
Address: 1047 Main St, Buffalo, NY
Phone: (716) 883-1134
Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife, and mother of eight. Her newest cookbook, “Amish Family Recipes,” is available wherever books are sold. Readers can write to Eicher at PO Box 1689, South Holland, IL 60473 (please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply); or email LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org and your message will be passed on to her to read. She does not personally respond to emails.
Published at Wed, 12 May 2021 18:00:00 +0000
Article source: https://www.nwitimes.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/lovinas-amish-kitchen-enjoy-the-first-tastes-of-spring/article_0c5af049-e574-5953-ac12-8626055b2c32.html