Queenship Cheese and Cracker Crown Platter

+Happy Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary+

Sharing a very simple idea to celebrate our most holy mother and Queen of heaven.

Crown Cheese and Crackers

Ingredients:

Mini Babybel cheese

Pita chips or favorite cracker

Tools:

Paring knife

Instructions:

After taking off the wrapping paper, gently carve a crown-shape in the top layer of the wax.  You don't need to press very hard and the wax pops right out, leaving the paper tab in place underneath.

Place on a platter, with crackers, for serving.

If you have a crown-shaped cookie cutter, you could add some fruit!

Father, you have given us the mother of your Son to be our queen and mother.  With the support of her prayers may we come to share the glory of your children in the kingdom of heaven.

(Taken from the Mass of the Queenship of Mary)

Blueberry Peach Parfaits for the Coronation

The following recipe for Blueberry Peach Parfaits was submitted by Mary from Better Than Eden.  Thank you Mary! 

I put together a super simple dessert for the feast day of the Crowning of the Blessed Virgin and thought I'd share it in case you were wanting a jumping off point or some inspiration for your own festivities!

The great thing about parfaits and trifles is that there are no hard and fast rules and they are so versatile and yet still look fancy and are a special treat. This is what I put together from what I had but use what you have and make it work!

The blueberries represent Mary and the peach her golden crown. The whipped cream symbolizes the heavenly clouds and I suppose you could even have the cake represent that she is fully human and still intercedes for us here on earth below.

Ingredients:

• Yellow Cake (Other possibilities: Nilla wafers, brownies, cookies, graham crackers, or just omit it altogether.)
• Blueberries (about 2 cups)
• One Peach (Or how about mango or pineapple?)
• Whipped Cream (I used about 3-4 cups. Other possibilities: Vanilla ice cream or pudding)

Assemble your glasses or use a trifle dish.

Peel your peach and slice thinly. Cube up your cake into bite size pieces. Then just layer it all together: cake, whipped cream, blueberries, whipped cream, and use several slices of your peach for Mary's crown. Simple, simple.

I experimented with several crownesque shapes...

and an abstract version. No rules, remember?

Enjoy!

"And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." Revelation 12:1

Mary, you who are mother of our King and queen of heaven, pray for us!

St. Monica and St. Augustine Key Lime Pie Recipe

The following recipe was submitted by Susan from Sole Searching. Thank you Susan! 

In honor of these two great saints, here is a recipe for a special key lime pie. Creating some symbolism with whatever fare you make helps make a memory for the children. For example:

- The pie itself represents the sea of tears (blue color, round shape) shed by St. Monica for her son Augustine, that he may know Christ and so be converted by His love.

- The whipped cream with blue sprinkles represents heaven. St. Monica's sacrifice and prayers were honored by our Lord, and St. Monica and St. Augustine live on in eternity in heaven with Christ.

- The icons placed in the center of the pie were there to give the children a visual of the two saints while I read to them their story.

Key Lime Pie Recipe:

I used an already prepared graham cracker crust, but you can also make one with this recipe:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
6 tablespoons butter, melted
3 tablespoons sugar

Mix ingredients together in a large bowl. Press into an 8 inch pie plate and bake until golden, about 12-13 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 325.

1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup freshly squeezed key-lime juice*
1 tablespoon grated key lime zest
4-5 drops of blue food coloring (more or less, depending on the brand)

Combine milk, egg yolks, lime juice, food coloring and zest in a medium sized bowl and whisk together until blended. Pour into prepared, cooled crust. Bake until the center is set, but still quivers when the pan is nudged, about 15-17 minutes.. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until chilled. Top with whipped cream, homemade or Redi-Whip, and garnish with blue sprinkles before serving.

*I have used the bottled key lime juice as well as the fresh juice of regular limes and the pies have turned out just fine.

“You have made us for yourself, Lord, and our 

hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

Heavenly Assumption Parfaits

The Solemnity of the Assumption, which is a Holy Day of Obligation, is coming up on August 15th!  These Assumption Parfaits, adapted from Yummy Finds, would make a simple and fun treat to celebrate the feast! 

To make these all you need is a box of Berry Blue Jello, Cool Whip, and Glasses. 

Prepare the Berry Blue Jello according to the directions on the package. 

 Layer spoonfuls of Berry Blue Jello and Cool Whip in narrow glasses to create the sky and clouds!

Be sure to alternate where you place the cool whip “clouds” so that you get a nice staggered effect.

Enjoy! 

You can see the rest of the pictures from our celebration here. 

"We pronounce, declare and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory." ~ Pope Pius XII