Candlemas Cupcakes

For our Candlemas Luncheon this year, I modified the Candlemas Cookies and made Candlemas Cupcakes instead!  It wasn't planned, but when I realized that I had forgotten to purchase the cookies for the base of the Edible Candles, and since our little guy really doesn't like the car, I made do with what I already had in the cupboard.  They may not be quite as cute, but they sure were so much easier!   I also just used some melted white chocolate to attach the marshmallow and create the "drips" on the candles.

I then used the leftover melted white chocolate to coat some strawberries, for our "Pure Hearts" inspired by some yogurt covered strawberries I happened to see on Pinterest.   After the chocolate had hardened we cut them in half to reveal the "heart."  I made them while juggling a cranky 6 week old, and they ddn't turn out nearly as pretty as I remember, but my children loved them! 

~ Our 2012 Menu ~

Water

Pure White Punch

Pure Hearts

Piercing Swords with Cheese Cubes

Candlemas Cupcakes

Turtledove Sandwiches

Holy Simeon's Arms (Pretzels)

Anna the Prophetess Black Olives

(Here are links to our 2010 and 2011 Candlemas Celebrations.)

Happy Feast of the Presentation!

Recipes for February ~ Month Dedicated to the Holy Family

The Month of February is dedicated 

to the Holy Family.

"Nothing truly can be more salutary or efficacious for Christian families to meditate upon than the example of this Holy Family, which embraces the perfection and completeness of all domestic virtues." ~ Pope Leo XIII

February 1st, St. Brigid (Hist.):

• St. Brigid's Bread
• St. Brigid's Oaten Bread
• Irish Soda Bread
• Irish Beef and Guinness Stew
• Irish Potato Pancakes
• St. Brigid Vegetable Soup

 

February 2nd, Presentation of Our Lord (New and Trad) also known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Candlemas Day (Trad):

• Fun and Fancy Folds - Napkin Folding for Feast Days
• Candle Cake for Candlemas
• Edible Candles for Candlemas
• Candlemas Crepes
• A Light Dessert for Candlemas
• An Afternoon Tea for Candlemas

 

February 3rd, St. Blaise (New, Trad.):

• Fun and Fancy Folds - Napkin Folding for Feast Days 
• Candle Cake for Candlemas 
• Edible Candles for Candlemas
• St. Blaise's Cookies

February 5th, St. Agatha (New, Trad.):

• Saint Agatha Rolls

February 11th, Our Lady of Lourdes (New, Trad.):

• Crepes for the Feast of St. Bernadette
• Blueberry Muffins for Our Lady
• A (Blue) French Meal for Our Lady of Lourdes
• A Grotto for Our Lady  and another version
• Mary's Immaculate Conception (An all white dinner!)
• Roses for Our Lady
• Springs at the Grotto (pictured here)
• Pure Potato Soup in Honor of Our Lady
• Our Lady of Lourdes Chicken Soup and Dumplings
• Many more ideas can be found under the label for the Blessed Virgin Mary...

February 8th, St. Josephine Bakhita (New):

• St. Josephine Bakhita

February 14th, St. Valentine (Trad.):

• Strawberry Syrup for Valentine's Day
• St. Valentine's Day - A Celebration of Heroic Love
• St. Valentine's Day Treats
• I Heart Donuts
• St. Valentine's Day Cinnamon Rolls
• Nothing Says "I Love You" Like...
• St. Valentine's Oatmeal Bake

February 16th, St. Paul Shipwrecked (Malta):

• Victory Vessels

February 18th, St. Bernadette Soubirous (New, Trad.):

• Crepes for the Feast of St. Bernadette
• Blueberry Muffins for Our Lady
• A (Blue) French Meal for Our Lady of Lourdes
• A Grotto for Our Lady  
• Mary's Immaculate Conception (An all white dinner!)

February 20th Bls. Francisco Marto & Jacinta Marto (New/some places):

• October 13th - The Miracle of the Sun
• Dancing Sun Cupcakes
• Portuguese Dish for Our Lady of Fatima
• Spinning Sun Cake
• Fatima Miracle of the Sun Fruit Platter

February 22nd, Chair of St. Peter:

• Edible Chairs for the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter
• Golden Chair of St. Peter Fruit Salad
• Baked Rockfish for the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter

February 27th, St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (Trad.):

• Various suggestions for Our Lady of Sorrows

Lord Jesus Christ, who, being made subject to Mary and Joseph, didst consecrate domestic life by Thine ineffable virtues; grant that we, with the assistance of both, may be taught by the example of Thy holy Family and may attain to its everlasting fellowship. Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.

"My First Holy Communion" Party Favors

In addition to the Baptism Favors, I also made First Holy Communion Lollipop Favors for the Cake Reception following the girls' First Holy Communion and the baby's Baptism.  For these I used the Girl Communion Candy Mold (a boy version is also available), along with Lollipop sticks, white and pink candy melts.

You can see an example of how the multi-colored candies are made in this post.  I poured the melted white chocolate into the center of the mold first, let it harden in the fridge, and then finished the lollipops by filling the mold the rest of the way with the pink candy and adding the lollipop stick.   It would have been helpful to have more than one mold, but since I really couldn't make very many at a time (due to a little one who loves to be held) I made them four at a time over a three day period as I had little bits of free time.

I packaged the candy shells in Clear Treat Bags, tying them with Pink Curling Ribbon. I made similar tags to the Baptism favors, some reading "My First Holy Communion...Deo Gratias!" and some that were customized with "God Bless (Child's Name)"at the top, and the date of the First Holy Communion on the bottom.  I just used scissors to cut the circles, which really didn't take long, but I would love to purchase a 2" circle punch for the future.  I cut the 2 1/2" scalloped backgrounds using my Cricut, Winter Woodland Cartridge, and gold card stock.

Here is the link to my document for the "My First Holy Communion" tags, which I printed out onto white card stock, in case anyone would like to use them in the future:

My First Holy Communion - Girl

My First Holy Communion - Boy

I was planning on making a couple dozen Cross Lollipops as well, but ended up running out of time even thought they are quicker to make and also take less of the melted candy. These would be a great option if you need a lot of favors.

I wasn't sure how I was going to display the lollipops, and started looking for a styrofoam block.   I wasn't able to find anything, and wasn't about to spend $8-10 dollars for one from Walmart, so I ended up cutting down a shoebox (from a cute pair of new boots), to make it shallower, wrapped it in gold wrapping paper, and then punched holes in the top with a hammer and nail.  The lollipops didn't stand up completely straight, but I thought it worked well enough, especially since it didn't require purchasing any more supplies.  :)

Here are a few other First Communion Themed Candy Molds available: