A Golden Chalice Cake

I wasn't sent the actual directions on how to make this cake, but perhaps it can provide some inspiration!  It was created and submitted by Victoria, from Designer Pastry, to celebrate the arrival of their new Pastor and Parochial Vicar.   Thank you Victoria!

Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, Tridentine Rite in Richmond, VA celebrated the arrival of their new Pastor Father Robert Novokowsky, FSSP and new Parochial Vicar Father Rudolph Grega, FSSP on Sunday, August 14th, Vigil Feast of the Assumption. The order, the Fraternity of Saint Peter was recently assigned by Bishop DiLorenzo of the Richmond Diocese to take care of Saint Joseph’s parish in Richmond. There was a parish potluck with many tasty dishes. Parishioners who own local bakery Designer Pastry custom designed a two foot tall 3D sculpted golden Chalice cake to commemorate the occasion. Families presented their new priests with well wishes and a spiritual bouquet card filled with promises of prayers, hours of adoration, Mass intentions, rosaries, Divine Mercy chaplets and more. The children of the parish presented their new spiritual fathers with gifts of cute pictures they colored of saints, rosary mysteries and Pope Benedict XVI. A good time was had by parishioners and priests alike.

A Patron of Students Back-to-School Treat!

I just finished posting this over at Shower of Roses, but decided that it was appropriate for here at Catholic Cuisine as well! 

You may have already seen this CUTE idea already, but when I ran across it for the first time last week, I knew I had to adapt them for our children, as an added treat to the Schultütes they receive on their first day of school.   The idea was originally from the September 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes.

These are basically just Rolos covered in two colors of scrapbook paper, some foil, and a Hershey's kiss on the end.

To make your own:

• 3 1/2 " x 4 1/2 " yellow cardstock

• pinking shears 
• 3 1/2" x 1/2" pink cardstock
• 1" circles pink cardstock
• 3 1/2" x 3/8" aluminum foil
• Rolos and Hershey kisses
• adhesive - I used my Ultra Low Temp Glue Gun 

Trim one short end of the yellow cardstock with pinking sheers (zigzag edge scissors), and score every 1/4" lengthwise.  Wrap around the Rolos and adhere.  Next, wrap the pink cardstock at the opposite end, adding the pink circle to cover the exposed end of the Rolos.  Cover the seam between the yellow and pink paper with the strip of aluminum foil.  Add a Hershey Kiss to the top and you're done!  They are super easy to make and turn out adorable.

After I was done making the pencils, I decided to add a tags with little invocations to the various Patrons of Students, choosing a different saint for each of my children.  I punched a hole in the top of the tag and attached them with some ribbon.  You can download my document here.

Note:  For those of you that would like to make this, but don't happen to have any pink or yellow cardstock on hand, here is a printable version of the wrapper that I created!

Whether your children will be studying at home or at a school, I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed year!

A Prayer for Students by St. Thomas Aquinas

Creator of all things, true source of light and wisdom, origin of all being,
graciously let a ray of your light penetrate the darkness of my understanding.

Take from me the double darkness in which I have been born,
an obscurity of sin and ignorance.

Give me a keen understanding, a retentive memory, 
and the ability to grasp things correctly and fundamentally.

Grant me the talent of being exact in my explanations
and the ability to express myself with thoroughness and charm.

Point out the beginning, direct the progress, and help in the completion.
I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Assumption Cupcakes

These beautiful "Assumption Cupcakes" were made in honor of the upcoming feast of the Assumption, and submitted by a new Catholic in upstate New York, Lisanne Jensen.  Thank you for sharing Lisanne, and welcome to the Church!

You can find additional recipes and ideas for the feast of the Assumption in the archives!

Poor Clares Solemn Vow Cross Cookies

For the Feast of Saint Clare, we made these cookies.

The cookies are sugar cookies cut into crosses using this rolled sugar cookie recipe, decorated with chocolate brown icing (recipe below) to match the habit of the Poor Clares. With white icing, we piped one of the four vows that the sisters take when they profess their Solemn Vows:

poverty
chastity
obedience
enclosure

We are fortunate to have the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration in town, and it was a special treat to visit them on their special feast and bring them these cookies.

Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting
(family recipe - this is the base which I often double or triple for most cakes)

1 stick salted butter or margarine

4-6 tbsp cocoa - I often add more and only use Hershey's not Nestle

melt above on stove on low to low-medium heat

pour melted cocoa mixture into mixing bowl and add

1 box powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

6 tbsp milk (sometimes I don't add all the milk, just depends on my mood and consistency)

mix until creamy

"Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me."

- St. Clare of Assisi

Saint Clare, Pray for Us.

St. Lawrence Grill Cakes

 

"Sheltered under the name of Jesus Christ, I do not fear these pains, for they do not last long." ~ St. Lawrence

Saint Lawrence 
Deacon & Martyr 
August 10 ~ New & Traditional Calendar

Surrounded by this ill-favored company, the prefect thus addressed the valiant Deacon: "Sacrifice to the gods, or else the whole night long shall be witness of your torments." "My night has no darkness," answered St. Laurence, "and all things are full of light to me." They struck him on the mouth with stones, but he smiled and said: "I give Thee thanks, O Christ."
Then an iron bed or gridiron with three bars was brought in and the Saint was stripped of his garments and extended upon it while burning coals were placed beneath it. As they were holding him down with iron forks,
St. Laurence said: "I offer myself as a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweetness." The executioners continually stirred up the fire and brought fresh coals, while they still held him down with their forks. Then the Saint said: "Learn, unhappy man, how great is the power of my God; for your burning coals give me refreshment, but they will be your eternal punishment. I call Thee, O Lord, to witness: when I was accused, I did not deny Thee; when I was questioned, I confessed Thee, O Christ; on the red-hot coals I gave Thee thanks." And with his countenance radiant with heavenly beauty, he continued: "Yea, I give Thee thanks, O Lord Jesus Christ, for that Thou hast deigned to strengthen me." He then raised his eyes to his judge, and said: "See, this side is well roasted; turn me on the other and eat." Then continuing his canticle of praise to God: "I give Thee thanks, O Lord, that I have merited to enter into Thy dwelling-place." As he was on the point of death, he remembered the Church. The thought of the eternal Rome gave him fresh strength, and he breathed forth this ecstatic prayer: "O Christ, only God, O Splendor, O Power of the Father, O Maker of Heaven and earth and builder of this city’s walls! Thou hast placed Rome’s scepter high over all; Thou hast willed to subject the world to it, in order to unite under one law the nations which differ in manners, customs, language, genius, and sacrifice. Behold the whole human race has submitted to its empire, and all discord and dissensions disappear in its unity. Remember Thy purpose: Thou didst will to bind the immense universe together into one Christian Kingdom. O Christ, for the sake of Thy Romans, make this city Christian; for to it Thou gavest the charge of leading all the rest to sacred unity. All its members in every place are united—a very type of Thy Kingdom; the conquered universe has bowed before it. Oh! may its royal head be bowed in turn! Send Thy Gabriel and bid him heal the blindness of the sons of Iulus that they may know the true God. I see a prince who is to come—an Emperor who is a servant of God. He will not suffer Rome to remain a slave; he will close the temples and fasten them with bolts forever."
Thus he prayed, and with these last words he breathed forth his soul. Some noble Romans who had been conquered to Christ by the Martyr’s admirable boldness, removed his body: the love of the Most High God had suddenly filled their hearts and dispelled their former errors. From that day the worship of the infamous gods grew cold; few people went now to the temples, but hastened to the altars of Christ. Thus St. Laurence, going unarmed to the battle, had wounded the enemy with his own sword.  ~ Abbot Gueranger, The Liturgical Year

~~~

St. Lawrence is considered one of the most famous martyrs and a powerful witness for Catholic Christians.  He is also the namesake for Dad and Dragonfly.

Baby G - 86 days old.

We celebrated last year’s feast day with these yummy cupcakes—grill cakes.

The cupcakes are semi-homemade.  We added 1 Tbsp of brown sugar and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon to a boxed vanilla cake mix.

We added black food coloring to the butter cream frosting for the grill and charcoal.  (I generally make a full batch of frosting and use it for the following (traditional) feast days, St. Philomena (8/11) and St. Clare (8/12).  For this step, you could use gel food coloring instead of the dyed frosting.
The following sweets were used for the barbeque.

Kebabs - Slice a  caramel cream and red, yellow, and green Jelly Bellies (or any other candy fruit slices).  Place sliced candies on a toothpick (skewer)
Pork chop - Mold caramel cream candy.  Using a toothpick, add black food coloring.
Hot dogs - Apply black frosting/food coloring with a toothpick to the Hot Tamales.

Inspiration for these cupcakes was found here.

~~~

"Who would not gladly burn one hour with St. Lawrence, to escape the fire of hell?" ~ St. Augustine

Recipes for August ~ Month Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

The month of August is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Immaculate Heart is often venerated together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Just as the Sacred Heart represents Christ's love for mankind, the Immaculate Heart represents the Blessed Virgin's desire to lead all people to Christ.

August ~ Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

• O Sacred Heart - How Sweet are Thee
• Immaculate Heart Cake and other ideas from the archives

August 4, Feast of St. John Vianney (New):

• St. John Vianney's Feast Day

August 4, St. Dominic (Trad.):

• Memorial of St. Dominic, August 8
• Raise a Glass to St. Dominic!

August 8, St. Dominic (New): (See August 4)

August 8, St. John Vianney (Trad): (See August 4)

August 11th (New) and August 12th (Trad) ~ Feast of St. Clare:

• St. Clare Cheesecake

August 10, St. Lawrence (New, Trad.):

• A Quick Little Post for St. Lawrence

August 14, St. Maximilian Kolbe (New):

• Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe (Polish Meal)
• Feast of St. Maximillian Kolbe ~ Craft and Dessert

August 15, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven (New, Trad.):

• Feasting for the Assumption
  
• Blueberry-Strawberry Cobbler in Honor of Our Lady
• Assumption Rolls
• Baked Blueberry & Pecan Crusted French Toast
• Many of the recipes for the Ascension could be used/modified for this feast!

August 18, St. Helena (Trad):

• An Easy Pesto Recipe
• Tomato Basil Mozzarella Salad
• Sundried Tomato Pasta Salad
• Triumph of the Cross Cookie Hunt
• From Thy Bounty Fair - Feast of the Triumph of the Cross

August 22, The Queenship of Mary (New):

• A Crown for our Queen
• Simple Cupcake Crowns 
• More Crown Cakes from the archives

August 23, St. Rose of Lima (New):

• St. Rose of Lima Cookies

(The following three posts were not originally posted for St. Rose, but would adapt wonderfully!)

• Rosy Treats for the Feasts of St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Chocolate Roses for St. Thérèse
• Rose Cake and Punch for St. Therese
• You can scroll through all "Rose" themed recipes here. 

August 26, St. Monica (New)

• Feasts of St. Monica and St. Augustine (Dinner Recipe)
  
• Feasts of St. Augustine & St. Monica (Cake Recipe)

August 26, Blessed Mother Teresa's Birthday (Her feast day is coming up in September!)

• Feast Day Plans
• Happy 100th Birthday Mother Teresa 
• Mother Teresa Tea 

August 27, St. Augustine (New, Trad.):

• Feasts of St. Monica and St. Augustine (Dinner Recipe)
• Feasts of St. Augustine & St. Monica (Cake Recipe)

August 29, The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist (New) and Beheading of St. John the Baptist (Trad):

• Grasshoppers and Honey
• Honey Granola for St. John the Baptist
• St. John the Baptist Locust and Honey Snack
• Grasshopper Parfaits
• St. John the Baptist ~ Locusts and Honey

August 30, St. Rose of Lima (Trad.): (See August 23rd)

The Daily Offering to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and suffering of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sins, the reunion of all Christians; I offer them for the intentions of our Bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.