An Advent Appetizer for Feast of Immaculate Conception

This simple appetizer with its combination of ingredients: goat cheese, pomegranates, thyme, and honey - holds symbolism for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the Advent season. It is a yummy flavor combination, too, with the tangy sweetness of the pomegranates contrasting to the tartness of the goat cheese. Just top your favorite cracker and enjoy.

The pomegranate is often depicted in paintings of the the Madonna and Child. It's availability during the months around Christmas also make it a great food for the Advent and Christmas season.  While suggested for today, it is actually a fitting appetizer for anytime during the Advent or Christmas season.

Madonna of the Pomegranate ~ Sandro Botticelli

The four ingredients all have a symbolism or connection to make them fitting for this feast:
Pomegranate – fruit that is a symbol of the hope of eternal life through Christ the Word made flesh White (goat cheese) - symbol of Our Lady’s purity/Immaculate Conception
Thyme – herb that is a symbol of Mary’s humility
Honey – a “locust and honey” nod to St. John (2nd Sunday of Advent)

Pomegranate & Thyme Goat Cheese Log

Ingredients:
4 oz. goat cheese log
~ 1/2 cup of pomegranate arils
fresh thyme sprigs
honey

Directions:
Allow the goat cheese to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes to soften. Add pomegranate arils to top and sides - gently pressing in to hold. Strip the thyme leaves from the stem. Sprinkle thyme leaves over the cheese log. Drizzle with honey. Serve with crackers.


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O is for Bagels and O Antiphons

This week the Church celebrates the "O Antiphons" - the Magnificat antiphons used at Vespers of the last seven days of Advent.  I love an easy idea to make these days memorable.  It is a busy week so I thought this would be a perfect way to celebrate the Great Os - with some yummy O-shaped bagels. We took advantage of Einstein's Bagels Monday $7 Deal to pick up a dozen for our family and a couple dozen for some of our seminarian friends.

What I love about this (besides being easy) is that since it is not day specific can be done for any of the O Antiphon days. We still have all week. [Oh - and donuts work, too! ;  ) ]

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St. Andrew the Apostle Cupcakes

The feast of St. Andrew the Apostle is celebrated on November 30th. The beginning of Advent is alway determined by St. Andrew’s Day. The Sunday nearest to his feast is always the First Sunday in Advent. If November 30th falls on a Monday through Wednesday, Advent begins the Sunday preceding; if it falls on Thursday through Saturday Advent begins the Sunday following.

The feast of St. Andrew is also a nameday day in our home so we usually celebrate with a special dessert. Last year (you can see all the pictures over at Shower of Roses) I made these simple cupcakes using chocolate cupcakes, a can fluffy marshmallow frosting, Trader Joe's Honey Wheat Pretzel Sticks, and Fudge Brownie Goldfish Grahams.

Saint Andrew is said to have been put to death by the Roman authorities on an X-shaped cross. After frosting each cupcake, I simply stuck two pretzels into each cupcake at an angle to create an X shaped cross. I then added a few fish grahams to the base of each cross, symbolizing that St. Andrew was a fisherman, like his brother Peter.  I'm hoping to make them again this year!

St. Andrew the Apostle from Naturally Catholic

You can scroll through additional recipes and ideas for the feast of St. Andrew in the archives. 

Saint Andrew the Apostle, Ora Pro Nobis! 

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Gaudete Sunday and Our Lady of Guadalupe Cake

The following cake was submitted by Anna, from Regina Coeli Baker, "to put together two great feasts, Gaudete Sunday and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The cake inside is white and orange cake, filled with cranberries and white chocolate ganache. The image of Our Lady is totally edible, hand modeled and hand painted. The cake is covered with homemade white chocolate marshmallow fondant. " You can find additional cakes decorated by Regina Coeli Baker here. Thank you, Anna!

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us! 

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St. Ambrose and the Bees Honeycomb Cake

The feast of St. Ambrose, patron saint of beekeepers, bees, and candlemakers, is celebrated on December 7th. Here is a recipe for Honey Bun Cake baked in a Honeycomb Cake Pan in honor of St. Ambrose, the honey-tongued doctor.

St. Ambrose and the Bees Honeycomb Cake

adapted from The Cake Mix Doctor

Cake:

• baking spray for cake pan
• 1 package (18.25) oz plain yellow cake mix
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup canola oil
• 4 large eggs

Filling:

• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans (optional)

Sugar Glaze:

• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Note: I only used half of the glaze after baking the cake in the Honeycomb Pull Apart Cake Pan. This cake can also be baked in a 13-by-9 inch baking pan. 

Honeycomb Pull Apart Cake Pan

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Coat pan with non-stick baking spray. Set the pan aside.

Place the cake mix, sour cream, oil, and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed. The batter should look thick and well blended.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing it out with the rubber spatula.

Tip: If using the Honeycomb Pan, don't fill the pan more than 3/4 of the way full, otherwise you may end up needing to remove a scoop or two of batter while it's baking to prevent it from overflowing! ;) 

Add the filling. Drizzle the honey on top of the batter, then sprinkle on the brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans if desired.

With a dinner knife, swirl through these ingredients blend them slightly. Place the pan in the oven. 

Bake the cake until it is golden brown and springs back when lightly pressed with your finger, 38 to 40 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes while you prepare the glaze.  

For the glaze, place the confectioners' sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small mixing bowl and stir until the mixture is well combined. 

Flip the Honeycomb Cake onto serving platter and pour the glaze over the top of the hot cake. 

Note: If you used a 9x13 pan, leave the cake in the pan and pour the glaze over the top of the cake, spreading it to the sides with a spoon. 

Allow the cake to cool for 20 minutes more before serving warm. 

Saint Ambrose and the Bees from Brother Wolf, Sister Sparrow: Stories about Saints and Animals

I shared additional pictures over at Shower of Roses. 

You can scroll through the archives for additional recipes in honor of St. Ambrose. 

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The Great O Antiphons

Visit Shower of Roses for the details on how to make these O Antiphon Chocolate Coins. 

Catholic Cuisine contributor, Jennifer Gregory Miller has a great article on Observing the O Antiphons over at Catholic Culture. 

From the Archives here at Catholic Cuisine:

O Antiphons (also by Jennifer Gregory Miller)

O Antiphon Coins

O Antiphons :: Incorporating an Old Monastic Tradition in the Home 

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel...

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Liturgical New Year's Eve Celebration

Happy New Year's Eve! No, not that one - - the eve of the new liturgical year. Several years ago it was suggested to us by a friend that we should celebrate this new year as well. As we begin a new liturgical year on Sunday, the first day of Advent, it is a fun time to recognize the changing of the liturgical year in your homes. Sometimes we have had a party and celebrated with friends, but generally we are more low key but always trying to ring in the new year with something festive like sparkling cider to toast the new year. You don't have to stay up late. Anytime during the day is fine as the new year ushers in with the anticipatory Mass times on Saturday  night.  And you can even celebrate on the first day of the liturgical year (Sunday) instead of the eve. We usually do our toasting the old year and ringing in the new at dinner one of those days.

So here is to a new liturgical year. 

May God bless you abundantly. 

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Corn Flake Wreaths

The following recipe for Corn Flake Wreaths was submitted by HI Cookery, and is similar to the Rice Krispy Wreaths we have shared in the past.   I especially love the suggestion of  replacing the red candies with three purple and one pink for Advent.  Thank you Highlander and Islander! 

We have at least two wreaths in our home during the holidays: an Advent wreath with purple and pink candles and a Christmas wreath hanging on our front door. Another wreath, made out of corn flakes, is a sweet centerpiece on our table when we entertain. It is inexpensive and quick to make as an alternative to cookies and fruitcakes. A corn flake wreath is a festive food and a delicious dessert at holiday parties and potlucks. Make one (or many minis) for a Merry Christmas!

Recipe

(Adapted from Kellogg’s)

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter
• 1 package (10 ounces) marshmallows
• 1 teaspoon green food coloring (we used Wilton brand Kelly Green color food gel)
• 6 cups corn flakes cereal (we used Kellogg’s brand)
• red tube frosting (we used Wilton brand icing tube)
• round red candies (we use M&Ms or Red Hots)

Directions

Have a sheet of wax paper and a pat of margarine or softened butter in a bowl ready on the work surface before assembling the corn flake wreaths. In a large pot, melt the butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove from heat and stir in the green food coloring until thoroughly mixed. Add the corn flakes cereal and coat well.

Using margarine or butter, grease fingers and quickly shape the cereal mixture into mini wreaths or one large wreath on a sheet of wax paper. Let cool and transfer the wreath(s) to a platter or round cake board. With a little amount from a tube or red frosting, dot one side of a red candy and place randomly on the wreath. Attach a bow with a toothpick (optional). Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Notes

• For an Advent-style wreath, replace the red candies with three purple and one pink candle.
• Try this recipe with rice cereal instead of corn flakes.
• Eat…drink…and be merry! Highlander and Islander wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

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Champurrado por Nuestra Dulce Madre!

…Champurrado for Our Sweet Mother!

On this beautiful feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe we will be celebrating with a few books, coloring pages and food.

I think I've mentioned before that in our family food is a BIG part of the way we celebrate. So, after a conversation with a sweet friend on facebook the other day, I decided to make Champurrado to go with tonight's dinner of shredded chicken burritos and tacos.

Champurrado is a thick Mexican hot chocolate drink. It is traditionally made during Las Posadas (the Christmas season) and other festive Mexican holidays. Mexican chocolate, finely ground corn flour, milk and cinnamon are combined to make this frothy treat. I thought it would be perfect to make this drink in honor of Our Lady's sweetness. :)

Here is a recipe for Champurrado that I found on Foodnetwork.com --

Ingredients:

1/4 cup masa harina

 (You can usually find this in the Hispanic aisle of your supermarket. We bought ours at Walmart.)

3 1/2 cups cold water

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups of milk

1 (3 oz.) tablet of sweetened Mexican chocolate, flavored with cinnamon

(Again, you can usually find this in the Hispanic aisle of your supermarket. We bought ours at Walmart.)

Directions:

In a small mixing bowl combine the masa harina with 1/2 cup of water mixing by hand to form a paste. In medium saucepan add the paste and the remaining 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil stirring constantly. Cook slowly for 20 minutes, the mixture will thicken.

While this mixture is simmering, in another saucepan add the milk and bring to a boil. Add the chocolate and cook for about 10 minutes until the chocolate has completely dissolved. Pour the chocolate into the masa harina mixture stirring until well incorporated. With a milinillo or an eggbeater, whisk until a foam forms on the top, about 3 minutes. Serve in a large bowl, spooning some of the foam on top.

Serves 4 

Nuestra Dulce Madre Santa Maria de Guadalupe, 

ruega por nosotros!

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O Antiphons :: Incorporating an Old Monastic Tradition in the Home

There is an old monastic custom of providing special treats, representing each of the O Antiphons, leading up to Christmas. According to Father Saunders:

"At the Benedictine Saint Benedict Abbey of Fleury (now Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire), these antiphons were recited by the abbot and other abbey leaders in descending rank, and then a gift was given to each member of the community. By the eighth century, they were in use in the liturgical celebrations in Rome. The usage of the "O Antiphons" was so prevalent in monasteries that the phrases "Keep your O" and "The Great O Antiphons" were common parlance. One may thereby conclude that in some fashion the "O Antiphons" have been part of Western liturgical tradition since the very early Church.

The Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose.[2] If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one—Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia—the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, "Tomorrow, I will come". Therefore Jesus, whose coming Christians have prepared for in Advent and whom they have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to them: "Tomorrow, I will come." So the "O Antiphons" not only bring intensity to their Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion."

This has been a tradition in our home since my oldest children were very young and they look forward to it every year.   It is such a fun way to teach the children about them and increase their excitement and anticipation as Christmas gets closer!  I've posted our special treats and activities for the past few years at Shower of Roses, but I thought I would combine all of the "food" related treats into a post here at Catholic Cuisine.  You can find even more ideas in Jenn's O Antiphon post in the archives. 

December 17th

O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end to another, and orderest all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence!

Since the symbol for wisdom is a book, serve a book shaped cookie to each person.  You could use a book shaped cookie cutter, create your own template, or even make Bible Cookies out of Fig Newtons!

(Lacy at Catholic Icing, expanded on this idea, cutting off one side and adding a piece of fruit roll-up for a ribbon.  Super cute!) 

Updated to add: Bible Cookies for the Year of Faith

If you are feeling really ambitious, you could even bake a book shaped cake, like Anne's from the feast of St. Gregory, and write the above O Antiphon prayer on the "pages."

December 18th

O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!

In past years, my family has usually made our Gingerbread houses this day, emphasizing the word "house" in this Antiphon.  You can purchase kits, or bake your own using the Fox Run Ten Piece Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter Bake Set.  Charlotte recommends using melted white chocolate instead of the royal icing that comes with the kit!

If you would rather avoid the kit, or baking your own gingerbread cookies to build a house, you can also make Gingerbread Graham Cracker Houses.  Honey Maid has even come out with Gingerbread Flavored Graham Crackers for a limited time!  

Another option would be to let your children decorate Gingerbread House Cookies using the cute Wilton Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter, or perhaps even a cake with the Wilton Stand Up House Pan! 

Looking at the rest of this O Antiphon, you could always tie in "Moses in the burning bush."  A couple options can be found in the Jesse "Tea" for Advent including Ten Commandments Cookies!

December 19th

O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at Whom the kings shall shut their mouths, Whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to deliver us, do not tarry.

There are so many root vegetables that can be used for this O Antiphon.   You could make a Hearty Beef Stew and serve a Carrot Cake for dessert.

Root beer is another perfect option for this O Antiphon!

In the past I usually would purchase our Christmas poinsettia (O Root of Jesse/O Flower of Jesse) on this day, and read The Legend of the Poinsettia to our children.   This year I am planning on making Poinsettia Cupcakes!    To make these, all you need to do is decorate cupcakes with some triangles of red fruit roll-up, attaching small yellow candies to the top with a bit of extra white frosting.

Another option would be to serve Poinsettia Cookies.  If you don't have a Poinsettia Cookie Cutter, a Star Shaped Cookie Cutter would work as well.

December 20th

O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, come to liberate the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.

Since this is initially a monastic tradition, and on this night, the monk in charge of the wine cellar would provide a special bottle of wine. We usually have a special drinks with dinner. Costco has a great package of delicious fruit spritzers which our family enjoys.

I also usually serve a Marie Calendar's Key Lime Pie, which is quick, easy and delicious.   If you'd like to make one from scratch, here is a recipe.

Key Lime Cookies or Key Shaped Cookies would also work great!

December 21st

O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Son of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!

Last year, my family enjoyed "O Dayspring Ice Cream" inspired by a Blue Bunny recipe.

"O Dayspring" Ice Cream

6 small tangerines, peeled

1 1/2 cups Vanilla Ice Cream

6 teaspoons orange marmalade

Place six freezer safe dessert plates in the freezer 30 minutes before serving. For each serving, gently pry segments of a tangerine apart. Place on dessert plate in a "spoke" like circle.

Place a 1/4 cup scoop of vanilla ice cream in center of tangerine "spoke"; top with 1 teaspoon orange marmalade. Repeat with remaining tangerines and serve immediately.

Charlotte's family enjoyed Texas Sunrises (Tequila Sunrises without the Tequila) last year, and they look like so much fun!

Texas Sunrise

8 ounces chilled orange juice
3/4 ounce grenadine syrup
Cracked or shaved ice (optional)

Put orange juice in glass.
Add the grenadine.
Let it settle on the bottom or stir, as desired.
Add ice (optional) if desired.
Makes one serving.


There are also lots of snacks that could tie in "Dayspring" (Sun) including Sun Chips, Sun Cups or Sun Drops.   For a cookie option, how about some fun sun shaped cookies.  You could even use a glass to create round cookies, cut them in half before baking and then decorate with a sunrise using frosting!)

If you'd rather not serve a dessert, what about a Sun Bean Dip?

Sun Bean Dip:

1 can refried beans, topped with 1 package cream cheese mixed with 1 cup of sour cream and 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning, and then topped with cheddar cheese.  

(The recipe calls for green onions, diced tomatoes, and olives on the very top after it bakes, but I omitted them for the "Sun")

Add chips around edges of dip to form rays, after it has baked.  

Of course, a glass of orange juice or orange slices cut horizontally would work just perfectly as well. 

December 22nd

O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Corner-stone, that makest of two one, come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of the earth!

There are all sorts of ideas for crown sandwiches, cakes and cupcakes in the archives.  You could also bake and decorate some crown shaped Christmas Sugar cookies or even make "Crown" Shaped Rice Krispie Wreaths!

December 23rd

O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!

This would be a perfect day to make a Chocolate Nativity Scene to decorate a Birthday Cake for Baby Jesus!

Another fun option would be to bake a set of Nativity Cookies using the Fox Run Eighteen Piece Nativity Cookie Cutter Bake Set.


Before I go,  don't forget about the O Antiphon Chocolate Coins!  You could always make one set for each person in your family and place them next to their dinner plate each night!   I had hoped to make a couple other versions (in Latin and Spanish) but I just haven't had the extra time.

You can also listen to the O Antiphons beautifully chanted in Latin here or purchase An Advent Processions Based on the Great O Antiphons .  Pin It