A Lamb Shaped Cake for Easter

You still have time to order a lamb shaped cake pan, if you'd like to make this cake for Easter and still need the pan!

Last year I purchased a Nordic Ware 3-D Spring Lamb Cake Mold, to use for our Easter Cake, and it turned out so cute!  I just used a boxed pound cake mix, and made sure to grease and flour the pan really well, and thankfully had no complications removing the lamb from the pan.

Other Cake Pan Options Include:

• Wilton Standup Lamb Pan
• SCI Scandicrafts Lamb Mold 11-inch, 8-Cup 
• Kitchen Supply Small Lamb Cake Mold
• Kitchen Supply Large Lamb Cake Mold

 Lamb Cake served with Fresh Strawberries and Whipped Cream

Here are the Preparation, Baking and Decorating Instructions from NordicWare, for any of you that may have the pan, but are missing the directions:  

Preheat oven to 375˚F.  Generously grease inside of the molds (top and bottom halves) with solid vegetable shortening.   Dust with flower.  Pour prepared batter in bottom half of mold (approximately 3 cups).   Place top mold over bottom half, interlocking seams.  (Top half has vent holes to permit steam to escape.)   Place mold on cookie sheet and bake 375˚F for 45-55 minutes, or until cake tests done.  (Test with toothpick through vent hole.)  Remove mold from oven.  Cool 5 minutes.   Turn mold before standing in upright position.  Trim bottom of cake if surface is not flat.  Place a dab of icing on plate and stand mold in upright position.  Frost with fluffy icing and decorate with jelly beans, raisins, cherries, or chocolate chips for the eyes and nose.   (Best results cool cake in refrigerator or freezer before frosting, this makes a firmer surface for icing.)  To enhance this delightful cake mold, place green tinted coconut around base of lamb; add jelly beans and a colorful bow at the neck.  

* Pound cake mixes (16 oz. size) can be used in molds.  Mix per directions on package.

* If using regular cake mixes (pudding added) decrease liquid by 1/4 cup.  Use excess batter for cupcakes. 

If you end up making this cake, be sure to take pictures to share since we will be hosting another "Celebrating Easter" link up on Easter Monday!  

Recipes for April ~ Month Dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament

Since Holy Thursday, the day on which we celebrate the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion at the Last Supper, usually falls in April, the Catholic Church dedicates this month to devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.

“The Eucharist is the supreme proof of the love of Jesus.   After this, there is nothing more but Heaven.” ~ St. Peter Julian Eymard

"When you have received Him, stir up your heart to do Him homage; speak to Him about your spiritual life, gazing upon Him in your soul where He is present for your happiness; welcome Him as warmly as possible, and behave outwardly in such a way that your actions may give proof to all of His Presence." ~ St. Francis de Sales


April 11, St. Leo the Great (Trad.):

• Lion Cake (Since Leo means Lion!)
• Another Lion Cake
• Lion Cupcakes

View all recipes for St. Leo here. 

April 16th, St. Bernadette Soubirous (Trad./some places):

• 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 (Fruity Pebbles Grotto) 
• Cocoa Pebbles Grotto (pictured here) 
• Rice Krispie Treat Grotto
• Mary's Immaculate Conception (An all white dinner in her honor!)
• Our Lady of Lourdes Chicken Soup and Dumplings
• Springs at the Grotto (pictured here)

 
 

View all recipes for St. Bernadette here. 

April 16, Pope Benedict's Birthday:

• Zucchetto Cakes
• Popecakes
• Birthday Dinner for Papa Ben!
• Pope Benedict's Coat of Arms Cupcakes
• Other Uses for those St. Nicholas Cookie Cutters!
• Cupcake Toppers

 

View all recipes for the Pope Benedict XVI here. 

April 23, Saint George (New, Trad.):

• Recipes for St. George
• Cry 'God for Harry, England and St. George!'
• St. George -- A Boy's Feast Day! (Includes Dragon Taco Dip) 
• In Preparation for St. George's Day (Dragon Cake Tutorial) 
• Red Cross Crispies for St. George
• Dragon Cakes for St. George (2010 - Cake Link-Up) 

View all recipes for St. George here. 

April 25, Saint Mark (New, Trad.):

• Risi e Bisi ~ Venetian Rice and Peas
• Cupcakes for St. Mark's Feast Day
• St. Gregory's Cherries (Crisp)
• San Marco Pasta and Animal Cakes
• A Lion Cake for the Feast of St. Mark

 

 

View all recipes for St. Mark here. 

April 28, Saint Gianna Beretta Molla (New):

• Coffee & Cannolis for St. Gianna

View all recipes for St. Gianna here. 

April 29 (New) and April 30 (Trad.), Saint Catherine of Siena:

• St. Catherine of Siena - Peace Bread
• Pasta Santa Caterina
• Lily Sandwiches for Our Lady (The lily is a symbol of St. Catherine)
• Or these Mother Most Pure Calla Lily Sandwiches 
• Lily Lollipops
• Upside Down Pineapple Cake for the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena

View all recipes for St. Catherine of Siena here. 

O Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, have mercy on us.

*I am currently working on an updated post for the Easter season, and hope to have it completed soon.

100% Whole Wheat Pretzels

The following recipe was submitted by Erin, from Growing with my Girls. Thank you Erin!

This is our favorite whole grain pretzel recipe, so I thought I would share them this Lent. We have tried a few different pretzel recipes now, and some of them had a much more elastic dough, making it difficult to roll them out long enough. This dough is very kid-friendly and rolls with little difficulty! We like them for lunch on Fridays with cheddar cheese and apple slices!

Whole Grain Soft Pretzels

from Whole Foods for the Whole Family cookbook

1 T yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 T honey
1 tsp salt
3 T oil
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 egg beaten w/ 1 T water for glaze

Dissolve yeast in water with honey in a bowl until bubbly. Stir in salt and oil and 2 cups of flour. Beat until smooth, then add wheat germ and remaining flour to make soft dough. Knead until smooth and elastic. Let rise for 45-60 minutes or until doubled. Punch down and divide into 16 equal pieces. Roll into 16-inch long ropes and form into pretzel shapes. Place pretzels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let rise 20 minutes, then lower them gently into a pot of boiling water and baking soda (8 cups water and 2 T baking soda) and allow to boil about a minute, 3 pretzels at a time, if you want them to have the characteristic chewy texture. Otherwise, just glaze and bake them without boiling. Brush the glaze onto each pretzel and sprinkle with coarse salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, whatever. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Using the parchment paper has worked perfectly for us... no sticking, and easy clean-up!

My kids also like to form them into other shapes, like crosses, during Lent.

Bride's Cake with Blueberry Filling

For our feast day treat, we opted for a Bride's Cake with blueberry jam filling and white chocolate frosting. I'm not sure why it's called a bride's cake, but we liked the idea of it since Our Lady is the chaste spouse of the Holy Spirit.

Bride's Cake ~ adapted from The Cake Mix Doctor

1 package plain white cake mix

1 C. whole milk

1 stick butter, melted

3 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 C. blueberry jam

Mix together cake mix, milk, melted butter, eggs and vanilla on low speed for one minute. Scrape bowl and mix on medium speed for another 2 minutes. Pour cake batter into 2 9"inch cake pans that have been greased and floured or sprayed with non-stick spray with flour. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until cakes spring back when lightly touched. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on rack completely.

White Chocolate Frosting

6 oz. white chocolate, chopped

8oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 stick butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 1/2 C. confectioner sugar

Melt the white chocolate and allow to cool. Beat together cream cheese and butter until blended. Add cooled white chocolate and beat again until blended. Whip for one minute more or until frosting is fluffy.

You should know that this cake will not be a pure white cake and the frosting, depending on the color of your white chocolate will be a very pale yellow.

To decorate our cake, I made a stencil out of cardstock using a fancy font and wrote "Let it be done..." in blue sprinkles. It might have been easier to simply put "fiat" or "yes". If you try this, you should know that your frosting needs to be chilled, but not firm. You will get sprinkles on other parts of your cake and all over your kitchen but it looks pretty when you are finished. The cake, not necessarily your kitchen. Just add some sprinkles of your own so that the ones that got spilled look like they are supposed to be there! : ) The frosting might get roughed up when you pull the card stock stencil away. Just let it chill again and then smooth it out. Since I had some lily lollipops left over, I decided to remove them from their sticks and add them to our cake.

Happy Solemnity of the Annunciation!

Marian Blueberry ParFIAT

"Ecce ancilla Domini; fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum." ~ Luke 1:38

Here is a simple and inexpensive treat in honor of Our Blessed Mother’s Fiat (YES) and the (traditional) feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This treat can be served for breakfast, snack or dessert.  In fact, my kids would have it for dinner if dad and I let them.  We’ll see what they ask for, after all, it’s “YES” day in our home on the feast of the Annunciation.

Mary uttered this fiat in faith. In faith she entrusted herself to God without reserve and "devoted herself totally as the handmaid of the Lord to the person and work of her Son." And as the Fathers of the Church teach-she conceived this Son in her mind before she conceived him in her womb: precisely in faith! ~ Pope Ioannes Paulus II, Redemptoris Mater

White symbolizes her purity and virginity.  Blue is the color of heaven and represents Mary’s role as Queen of Heaven & Earth.

Recipe: Marian - Blueberry ParFIAT (parfait)

Prep Time: 5 Minutes  |  Cook Time: --  |  Difficulty: EASY  |  Servings: 1

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cups vanilla yogurt
• 1/2 cup blueberries (I use defrosted frozen blueberries.)
• 1/2 cup granola (I use 2 crumbled granola bars.)
• 1 tablespoon honey (optional)

PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Spoon yogurt into glass.

Spoon granola overtop.

Spoon fruit overtop.

Repeat the process.  Add honey between layers, as desired.

Baked Blueberry & Pecan Crusted French Toast

The wonderful recipe that Tiffany shared yesterday, for Annunciation Blueberry Coffee Cake, reminded me of the delicious Baked Blueberry & Pecan Crusted French Toast that I served my family last year on Easter Sunday.   It worked out nicely since I was able to make it the night before and just pop it in the oven after Mass.  It would be a great breakfast for any of the feasts of Our Lady, the color blue (blueberries in this recipe) symbolizes Mary.   

Baked Blueberry & Pecan Crusted French Toast
Adapted from All Recipes

Ingredients:

12 slices of day-old French bread
5 eggs
2 1/2 cups milk
1 cup packed brown sugar, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Directions:

Arrange bread in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. In a bowl, combine the eggs, milk, 3/4 cup brown sugar, vanilla and nutmeg; pour over bread. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.   (To make sure that the bottom didn't end up too soggy I flipped the bread over before adding the toppings and baking.) 

Sprinkle pecans over egg mixture. Combine butter and remaining sugar; drizzle over the top. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with blueberries. Bake 10 minutes longer or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

Annunciation Blueberry Oatmeal Coffee Cake

The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

March 25, 2011

"He chose the mother He had created; He created the mother He had chosen."

~St. Augustine~

Here is a recipe in honor of Mary's "Yes" to God on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. What a beautiful day to celebrate the Incarnation of Our Savior, the Word made flesh, in the womb of  His Mother.  We recall Our Lady's profound Yes to God's will..."Let it be done to me according to thy word,"  and renew our own Yes to God's will in our lives.

Annunciation Blueberry Oatmeal Coffee Cake

Adapted from Allrecipes

We chose something blueberry (and something fairly healthy) in honor of Our Blessed Mother and the color blue that represents her.  The round pan symbolizes eternity and the slices are cut in triangles to represent the trinity, fully present at the miraculous moment of the Annunciation.

1 1/3 C all-purpose flour (or substitute whole wheat flour)

3/4 C quick cooking oats

1/3 C sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 C milk

1/4 C canola oil (we substitute applesauce)

1/4 C light sour cream

1 C fresh or frozen blueberries

Streusal Topping

(I doubled this for our topping and opted out of the cinnamon)

1/4 C quick cooking oats

3 Tbsp. all purpose flour

3 Tbsp. brown sugar

2 Tbsp. butter

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon (optional)

In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients, stir; In separate bowl, combine egg, vanilla, milk, oil, and sour cream.  Add to dry ingredients and stir just until moistened.  Fold in blueberries.  Pour into a greased 9 inch round baking pan.  For the topping:  Mix oats, flour, and sugar.  Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.  Sprinkle on top of batter.  Bake at 400 degrees approximately 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clear.  If you like a little breakfast sweet (but not too sweet), and the combination of moist, crunchy, and a bit healthy, this is a coffee cake for you.  I'm taking one to my Friday bible study!

Here are the trinity slices...

We added our "Yes" to God as a good visual for our children!

Annunciation Prayer

Lord Jesus, who was kind enough to take the presence in a humble virgin,

kindly live in us and redeem us from the strong bondage of sin and death.

Lord make us good and worthy divine homes, so that you can dwell in us.

Peace be unto thee, Mother of the Sun of righteousness.

Peace be unto thee the ship full of blessings, the fruit of your virginity is blessed,

Holy Mother, please pray for us, so that we would also be holy like you in our lives.

Lord have mercy on us.  Amen.

"She (Mother Mary) is an echo of God, speaking and repeating only God.  If you say "Mary" she says "God." 

~St. Louis de Montfort~

The Winner of the Catholic Cuisine Apron is. . .

Comment #77:

Congratulations!

Please email me at catholiccuisine[at]gmail[dot]com with your shipping information, by Friday, March 25th, and I will forward it on to Catholic Embroidery.  If I don't hear from you by Friday, I will need to draw another name, so contact me soon.  I hope you enjoy your beautiful new apron!

For those of you that didn't win, you can still purchase an apron from Catholic Embroidery, or directly from any of the links in the original post or in the right sidebar.

Thank you all for your participation, as well as for all the kind comments that many of you left about Catholic Cuisine!