Hello everyone! We've finally made our move from Ohio to Arkansas. It was pretty smooth--the main problems we've had is with our computers. My laptop broke and can't be fixed, not without paying more money than it's worth. I've had intermittent internet service for the past week, which is why I'm posting late on my husband's computer. But I'm glad to be back here on Amish Hearts--I've missed all of you!

My family has come full circle--sixteen years ago we moved from Arkansas to Ohio, and now we're back. We did happen to pick the hottest week on record in Arkansas to move, so its been interesting, and very, very hot! I had forgotten how hot the summers get here in the south, but I'm being reminded every day. It's been great to be back home, but I miss Ohio a lot too.

Before we left Ohio, my husband and I made a visit to Amish country. We wanted to have something of Ohio here in our home, and we purchased some Amish furniture from Schlabach furniture in Apple Creek. We've dealt with them in the past and have been very happy with their service and the quality of their products, so if you're ever in Holmes County and want to do some furniture shopping I recommend visiting them. Here's my favorite piece we purchased, an island that also functions as our kitchen table:





I particularly like the tilework they did on the top of the island. Now when we sit down to eat as a family I'm reminded of the Amish and Ohio.

I've been getting used to the new house and finding my way around the kitchen. I'm still not sure if I have everything put away in the most efficient way possible, so I know I'll be moving things around until I find a system that works. But I have done a little baking since we moved here, and I made a loaf of wonderful banana bread from one of my Amish cookbooks, A Taste of Home. I bought this cookbook back in 1995, and when I was last in Holmes County two weeks before we moved, I saw that the cookbook was still in several stores. It's a great cookbook, one I go to quite often.

As with many of the recipes in the cookbook, the preparation instructions are really sketchy. In this case, its merely "Pour into a greased 9" x 5" loaf pan and back at 350 for 1 hour or until done." I'm including the instructions that I used to prepare the bread. Enjoy!

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or oleo
2 eggs
4 bananas, mashed
2 cups flour
1 tsp. soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup nutmeats (I excluded the nuts in my loaf)

Cream together the sugar and butter. Add the eggs and mashed bananas, beat together well. In a separate bowl combine flour, soda, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients, beat until thoroughly blended. Stir in nuts. Pour into greased pan, and bake.

'Til next time,
Kathleen