Yesterday we had our first signficant snowfall, and the children's thoughts immediately went to sledding ... and hot cocoa! It got me thinking -- with three of our favorite saint feast days coming up this month, why not celebrate with a little twist on hot cocoa?
First, here's a basic hot cocoa recipe, if you don't already have one. I have this long-since memorized, but it's my variation of the one I'm pretty sure you'll find on any can of Hershey's cocoa.
Basic Hot Cocoa Recipe
Pour 4 c milk into a 1-qt measuring cup. Add 1 capful (about 1/2 t) vanilla, and set aside.
Place in a medium saucepan:
1/4 c cocoa powder
1/2 c sugar
pinch of salt
(Save yourself some trouble, as well as the juggling of multiple small measuring cups, by making several individual batches of these dry ingredients and storing each in a small zip style plastic bag. You'll be amazed at what a time saver this can be!)
Whisk in 1/3 c hot tap water, and place over medium heat. Watch carefully and stir frequently until the mixture comes to a full boil; then continue to boil, stirring constantly, for two minutes.
Remove from heat and whisk in the reserved vanilla milk. Return to the stove at a low to medium setting, until heated through.
Serve as is, or topped with marshmallows or whippped cream. Guaranteed to "warm the toe bones," as we say at our house! :) Makes four (8 oz.) servings of hot cocoa.
Now then, for the "Saintly" variations:
German Chocolate Hot Cocoa for St. Nicholas (Dec. 6)
Substitute 1/2 c. brown sugar for the granulated white sugar.
Substitute 2 c. of coconut milk for half (2 c.) of the milk in the recipe.
You can use a 15.5 oz can of coconut milk, or use this recipe for Coconut-Infused Milk:
Place 2 cups of shredded coconut in a heat-safe bowl.
Bring 2 cups of milk to a boil in a small saucepan. It will foam, then boil over very quickly, so watch carefully!
Pour over the reserved coconut, and let stand for about one hour.
Place the coconut and milk mixture into a blender, and process for about 30 seconds.
Strain into a 1-qt measuring cup, pressing the coconut to extract as much milk as possible. Discard the coconut.
Fill the measuring cup to the 4 cup mark with additional milk, then continue the basic recipe as written.
Tastes great with gingerbread cookies!
Mexican Hot Cocoa for St. Juan Diego (Dec 9) and Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12)
Prepare basic recipe as written; whisk in 2 t cinnamon and 1/2 t chili powder with the milk.
If desired, top with sweetened whipped cream and a few shavings of dark, sweet chocolate.
Serve with Mexican Wedding Cakes for a special treat!
Scandinavian Orange Chocolate Hot Cocoa for St. Lucy (Dec. 13)
Prepare hot cocoa as directed in the basic recipe above.
Whip 1 cup heavy cream until soft peaks form.
Gently fold 2 T orange marmalade into the whipped cream.
Place a large dollop of the orange whipped cream on each serving of the hot cocoa; top with freshly-grated orange zest, if desired.
Goes exceptionally well with your favorite St. Lucy's Bread recipe!
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Showing posts with label Advent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Advent. Show all posts
St. Nicholas Chocolate Coins
I just finished adding this post to my other blog, Shower of Roses, but thought I would share it with you all here at Catholic Cuisine as well!
Every year on the feast of St. Nicholas, we give our children Gold Coins, Holy Cards, and a yearly "note from St. Nicholas" telling the children what they need to work on between now and Christmas.
For the past few years I have wanted to order the beautiful St. Nicholas chocolates I have seen online, but just haven't been able to spend the money (It all goes towards books, if you hadn't noticed! lol!) and have settled for repackaging the dollar bags of chocolates from the local grocery store. (You can see an example in last years post for the Feast of St. Nicholas.)
I passed on ordering them once again this year, but decided to come up with my own alternative. I am so excited!!!
I cropped some of our favorite images of St. Nicholas to fit on the face of the large 1 1/2" Chocolate Coins (The bags of coins are available for $1.00 per bag at many grocery stores, including the Dollar Store, or you can purchase a 12 pack for $12.18 at Amazon
right now.), created a word document with all the images adding an optional border to the images, cut them all out, and then glued them to the front of the coins.
I thought I would share my document with you all as an early Christmas Present in case any of you would like to do the same for your children.
Making these really got my mind spinning with all the variations I could make so I called Hubby and asked him to bring home a few more bags of coins!
So, as a bonus, here are a few other documents I created. Yes, I stayed up WAY too late! ;)
I made our Jesse Tree Coins using the smaller 1" coins. These would be a great alternative for ornaments (to go along with the readings and coloring pages) for a Jesse Tree if you attached a small piece of ribbon to hang them with and then they could be enjoyed on Christmas! I think I will add the set I made to this year's Jesse Tea.
I hope some of you are able to use this idea! As always you are more than welcome to link to this post, but I do ask that, if you do, you link directly here and not to the documents at Scribd. That way, if the documents ever need to be moved, your links won't be broken. Also, I always ask that my pictures are not reposted elsewhere without prior permission, but in this case, I will allow the one picture at the very top of the post to be shared if you wish. Thank you for your consideration in this, we so appreciate all of our dear visitors here at Catholic Cuisine!
Every year on the feast of St. Nicholas, we give our children Gold Coins, Holy Cards, and a yearly "note from St. Nicholas" telling the children what they need to work on between now and Christmas.
For the past few years I have wanted to order the beautiful St. Nicholas chocolates I have seen online, but just haven't been able to spend the money (It all goes towards books, if you hadn't noticed! lol!) and have settled for repackaging the dollar bags of chocolates from the local grocery store. (You can see an example in last years post for the Feast of St. Nicholas.)
I passed on ordering them once again this year, but decided to come up with my own alternative. I am so excited!!!
I cropped some of our favorite images of St. Nicholas to fit on the face of the large 1 1/2" Chocolate Coins (The bags of coins are available for $1.00 per bag at many grocery stores, including the Dollar Store, or you can purchase a 12 pack for $12.18 at Amazon
right now.), created a word document with all the images adding an optional border to the images, cut them all out, and then glued them to the front of the coins. 
Didn't they turn out pretty?!?
I thought I would share my document with you all as an early Christmas Present in case any of you would like to do the same for your children.
So, as a bonus, here are a few other documents I created. Yes, I stayed up WAY too late! ;)
I made our Jesse Tree Coins using the smaller 1" coins. These would be a great alternative for ornaments (to go along with the readings and coloring pages) for a Jesse Tree if you attached a small piece of ribbon to hang them with and then they could be enjoyed on Christmas! I think I will add the set I made to this year's Jesse Tea.
NOTE: For 1" Coins, just use the above documents printed at 70%!
I hope some of you are able to use this idea! As always you are more than welcome to link to this post, but I do ask that, if you do, you link directly here and not to the documents at Scribd. That way, if the documents ever need to be moved, your links won't be broken. Also, I always ask that my pictures are not reposted elsewhere without prior permission, but in this case, I will allow the one picture at the very top of the post to be shared if you wish. Thank you for your consideration in this, we so appreciate all of our dear visitors here at Catholic Cuisine!
I hope your Advent is off to a very blessed start!
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St. Nicholas Cookies and Cookie Cutters
If you hurry you might still have time to order the lovely St. Nicholas Cookie Cutters from the St. Nicholas Center in time for the upcoming feast of St. Nicholas!
You can find the recipe I used for these delicious cookies here.
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Last Minute Gift Ideas: Catholic Cookbooks
I'm often asked for recommendations for books on living the Liturgical Year in the home, in particular those wonderful Catholic feastday cookbooks. I discovered two new ones this Advent, and will also mention a few tried and true titles. There's still time to request or order these books for Christmas!
'Tis the Season to be Baking by Father Dominic Garramone, O.S.B.
'Tis the Season to be Baking: Christmas Reflections and Bread Baking by Father Dominic Garramone, O.S.B. is a small but packed little volume on Advent and Christmas baking.
Father Dominic had a PBS series, Breaking Bread With Father Dominic, and this is his fifth book on baking bread, see Monastery Greetings for his other titles. You can also read a bit more about Father in this magazine article.
I was hooked right from the preface -- Father captured exactly what I feel during the holiday seasons of the year:
Father explains his book:
And since Christmas is a whole season, giving this book for Christmas Day there is still much time to try out many of the recipes!
Sacred Feasts: From a Monastery Kitchen
by Victor-Antione D'Avila-Latourette
A few weeks ago I popped into a Catholic bookstore and saw Sacred Feasts: From a Monastery Kitchen by Victor-Antoine D'Avila-Latourrette. Brother Victor is a Benedictine Monk and has written many different cookbooks. His religious order abstains from meat, so all his cookbooks are vegetarian, but include fish, eggs, and dairy. Brother has written many other cookbooks, such as Twelve Months of Monastery Soups and Twelve Months of Monastery Salads. All of his recipes are simple but flavorful, with a nod toward the French tradition of cooking.
This newest cookbook is one I've been hoping Brother Victor would write. All his other cookbooks would be around the seasons and months of the year, sometimes with different recipes named for feast days, and a few dishes to celebrate the feasts, but this cookbook is written around the liturgical seasons and feast days! Take a peek inside the Table of Contents to see the great variety.
When I got home from my little bookstore outing, I requested this book for a Christmas gift from my husband. I cannot wait to really read through the book and try the recipes.
A Continual Feast by Evelyn Vitz
For the newly married, those beginning a family, or families just taking an interest in a Catholic perspective on liturgical year and cooking, A Continual Feast by Evelyn Vitz is the perfect gift.
In my opinion, this is the best overall Catholic cookbook in print today. Mrs. Vitz covers all areas -- seasonal, liturgical seasons, feast days, saints, traditional and cultural recipes, and also family and sacramental feasting. Each recipe has a wonderful background and are easy-to-follow. A must for every Catholic family.
Cooking With the Saints by Ernst Schuegraf
I think Cooking With the Saints by Ernst Schuegraf is the next level of liturgical cooking. This is a beautiful book, hardcover, with full color photos of the dishes and beautiful art of the saints -- nice enough to be a coffee table book. The recipes are wide and varied, from main meals, desserts, breads, and appetizers, most traditional recipes from various countries. Included is a biography and a classic artistic rendition of each saint before the recipes are given, and usually there are several for each saint. Not all saints in the calendar are included, but there is a wide variety. If you enjoy reading Catholic Cuisine, this book would be a wonderful addition to your cookbook library.
Book of Feasts and Seasons by Joanna Bogle
I have to include Book of Feasts and Seasons by Joanna Bogle and her companion book, A Yearbook of Seasons and Celebrations. Mrs. Bogle is a British author, and she shares many Catholic traditions around the liturgical year, particularly from her country. They aren't only recipes, but provide various Catholic customs and traditions. Perhaps you have seen her on EWTN, her show Feasts and Seasons, which brings the books alive to the American Catholic audience? Check out the website for a few of her recipes. Her books are very enjoyable to read and quite informative.
Happy reading and baking! Pin It
'Tis the Season to be Baking by Father Dominic Garramone, O.S.B.
'Tis the Season to be Baking: Christmas Reflections and Bread Baking by Father Dominic Garramone, O.S.B. is a small but packed little volume on Advent and Christmas baking.
Father Dominic had a PBS series, Breaking Bread With Father Dominic, and this is his fifth book on baking bread, see Monastery Greetings for his other titles. You can also read a bit more about Father in this magazine article.
I was hooked right from the preface -- Father captured exactly what I feel during the holiday seasons of the year:
One of the most common comments I hear about baking is something like this: "I don’t have time to bake bread much anymore–well, except during the holidays, of course." What an amazing paradox: many people only have time to bake during what is often viewed as the busiest time of the year! But we make time for what is most important to us. What these people are really saying is: "My family’s Christmas baking traditions are so important that I always make time for them."I don't bake bread as often as I would like, but I agree with Father, I want to do those special breads for Christmas and Easter. I love how making bread in my home reminds me of the Holy Mass in a small way. And so for feast days, bread is the extra component I like to share.
Father explains his book:
The breads I have selected for this book are a mixture of traditional recipes and original creations. Some have been made for centureis, some I inherited from my mother or my grandmothers, others are "new traditions" of Saint Bede Abbey that have only been around since I started baking for the community. But each bread has a connection to the characters we find in the Christmas story as it is presented in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Each bread directs us to reflect on how we can better prepare to celebrate the holy days of the Advent and Christmas seasons. I hope the recipes and reflections included here will help you reclaim some of your own heritage or create a new tradition for your family, and make your holiday baking a means of deepening your own spirituality.The recipes are wonderful, easy to follow, and most have black and white illustrations and diagrams. Included in the collection are recipes for St. Nicholas, St. Lucia, St. Joseph, the shepherds, angels, the Wise Men, swaddling clothes, and much more. There is also a wonderful menu and recipes for a Family Christmas Brunch based on Father's own family's traditions.
And since Christmas is a whole season, giving this book for Christmas Day there is still much time to try out many of the recipes!
Sacred Feasts: From a Monastery Kitchen
by Victor-Antione D'Avila-Latourette
A few weeks ago I popped into a Catholic bookstore and saw Sacred Feasts: From a Monastery Kitchen by Victor-Antoine D'Avila-Latourrette. Brother Victor is a Benedictine Monk and has written many different cookbooks. His religious order abstains from meat, so all his cookbooks are vegetarian, but include fish, eggs, and dairy. Brother has written many other cookbooks, such as Twelve Months of Monastery Soups and Twelve Months of Monastery Salads. All of his recipes are simple but flavorful, with a nod toward the French tradition of cooking.
This newest cookbook is one I've been hoping Brother Victor would write. All his other cookbooks would be around the seasons and months of the year, sometimes with different recipes named for feast days, and a few dishes to celebrate the feasts, but this cookbook is written around the liturgical seasons and feast days! Take a peek inside the Table of Contents to see the great variety.
When I got home from my little bookstore outing, I requested this book for a Christmas gift from my husband. I cannot wait to really read through the book and try the recipes.
A Continual Feast by Evelyn Vitz
For the newly married, those beginning a family, or families just taking an interest in a Catholic perspective on liturgical year and cooking, A Continual Feast by Evelyn Vitz is the perfect gift.In my opinion, this is the best overall Catholic cookbook in print today. Mrs. Vitz covers all areas -- seasonal, liturgical seasons, feast days, saints, traditional and cultural recipes, and also family and sacramental feasting. Each recipe has a wonderful background and are easy-to-follow. A must for every Catholic family.
Cooking With the Saints by Ernst Schuegraf
I think Cooking With the Saints by Ernst Schuegraf is the next level of liturgical cooking. This is a beautiful book, hardcover, with full color photos of the dishes and beautiful art of the saints -- nice enough to be a coffee table book. The recipes are wide and varied, from main meals, desserts, breads, and appetizers, most traditional recipes from various countries. Included is a biography and a classic artistic rendition of each saint before the recipes are given, and usually there are several for each saint. Not all saints in the calendar are included, but there is a wide variety. If you enjoy reading Catholic Cuisine, this book would be a wonderful addition to your cookbook library.Book of Feasts and Seasons by Joanna Bogle
I have to include Book of Feasts and Seasons by Joanna Bogle and her companion book, A Yearbook of Seasons and Celebrations. Mrs. Bogle is a British author, and she shares many Catholic traditions around the liturgical year, particularly from her country. They aren't only recipes, but provide various Catholic customs and traditions. Perhaps you have seen her on EWTN, her show Feasts and Seasons, which brings the books alive to the American Catholic audience? Check out the website for a few of her recipes. Her books are very enjoyable to read and quite informative.Happy reading and baking! Pin It
A Jesse "Tea" for Advent
Ever since our last Tea for Easter, my children have been asking when we could have another Liturgical Tea. The Jesse Tree has been one of our favorite Advent traditions since my children were very small, so when I ran across Alice's Jesse "Tea" I knew it would be perfect!
Alice suggests having this tea during the last week of Advent, however I decided it would be a fun way to kick-off this Advent season after Mass on the first Sunday of Advent. Really though, you could have it at any time during Advent, or even serve a little something each day of Advent to go along with the ornament and reading for that particular day!
~ Noah's Ark ~
~ Abraham's Stars ~
I wasn't able to find Dora Star Cereal, but I did find some Brach's Star Candy.
They are SO delicious!
~ Isaac's Bundle of Sticks ~
~ Jacob's Ladder ~
~ Joseph's Coat of Many Colors ~
~ The Burning Bush ~
~ Moses' Tablets of the Law ~
~ Jonah and the Whale ~
~ The Root of Jesse ~
~ David's Star Tea Sandwiches ~
~ John the Baptist's Honey ~
~ Angelic Messengers ~
Be sure to visit Cottage Blessings for more ideas, recipes and the shopping list!
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Alice suggests having this tea during the last week of Advent, however I decided it would be a fun way to kick-off this Advent season after Mass on the first Sunday of Advent. Really though, you could have it at any time during Advent, or even serve a little something each day of Advent to go along with the ornament and reading for that particular day!
Here is what was included in the menu:
~ The Jesse "Tea" ~
~ The Jesse "Tea" ~
A couple of us had tea and the rest opted for "Adam's Apple Cider."
~ Adam's Apple ~
A Bowl of Apples with a gummi worm serpent!
"And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat, and fair to the eyes, and delightful to behold: and she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave to her husband who did eat." Gen. 3: 6
~ Noah's Ark ~
Alice suggested Celery and Tomato boats, but since most of my children do not care for celery, here is what I came up with:
Animal Crackers 2x2 ~ Deviled Egg Arks ~ Fruit Slice Rainbows
"And God said: This is the sign of the covenant which I give between me and you, and to every living soul that is with you, for perpetual generations. I will set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be the sign of a covenant between me, and between the earth. And when I shall cover the sky with clouds, my bow shall appear in the clouds: And I will remember my covenant with you, and with every living soul that beareth flesh: and there shall no more be waters of a flood to destroy all flesh.And the bow shall be in the clouds, and I shall see it, and shall remember the everlasting covenant, that was made between God and every living soul of all flesh which is upon the earth. And God said to Noe: This shall be the sign of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh upon the earth. " Gen. 9: 12-17
~ Abraham's Stars ~
I wasn't able to find Dora Star Cereal, but I did find some Brach's Star Candy.
They are SO delicious!
"And he brought him forth abroad, and said to him: Look up to heaven and number the stars, if thou canst. And he said to him: So shall thy seed be." Gen. 15: 5
~ Isaac's Bundle of Sticks ~
I used string cheese to tie our little bundles of 8 pretzel sticks together.
"And he took the wood for the holocaust, and laid it upon Isaac his son: and he himself carried in his hands fire and a sword." Gen. 22: 6
~ Jacob's Ladder ~
Using Isaac's Bundle of Sticks, each person makes their own ladder.
"And he saw in his sleep a ladder standing upon the earth, and the top thereof touching heaven: the angels also of God ascending and descending by it." Gen. 28: 12
~ Joseph's Coat of Many Colors ~
These were very fun, and easy to make, following Alice's directions.
"Now Israel loved Joseph above all his sons, because he had him in his old age: and he made him a coat of divers colours. And his brethren seeing that he was loved by his father, more than all his sons, hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him." Gen. 37: 3-4
~ The Burning Bush ~
Broccoli Florets dipped in Thousand Island Dressing
"And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he saw that the bush was on fire and was not burnt. And Moses said: I will go and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." Exodus 3: 2-3
~ Moses' Tablets of the Law ~
I bought Milano cookies, as recommended by Alice, but added Roman Numerals I-X with chocolate icing.
I love how they turned out!
"And after this he said: Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the former, and I will write upon them the words which were in the tables, which thou brokest." Exodus 34: 1
~ Jonah and the Whale ~
When I saw a box of Whale Crackers I just had to buy them to add to our tea!
"Now the Lord prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonas: and Jonas was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. And Jonas prayed to the Lord his God out of the belly of the fish. " Jonah 2: 1-2
~ The Root of Jesse ~
Baby Carrots since they are a "Root" Vegetable
"And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root." and "In that day the root of Jesse, who standeth for an ensign of the people, him the Gentiles shall beseech, and his sepulchre shall be glorious." Isaiah 11: 1 and 10
~ David's Star Tea Sandwiches ~
I just used two different sized Star Cookie Cutters to cut one star out of bread and a slightly smaller star out of cheese.
1 Samuel 17: 12-51
~ Bethlehem, House of Bread ~
A Basket of Rolls
"But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet: And thou Bethlehem the land of Juda art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel" Matthew 2: 5-6
~ John the Baptist's Honey ~
I ordered a box of Honey Stix
from Amazon for about $14.00, not realizing I would be receiving 384 of them (instead of 48)! What a deal!! Good thing my children liked them...
from Amazon for about $14.00, not realizing I would be receiving 384 of them (instead of 48)! What a deal!! Good thing my children liked them...
"And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb." Luke 1: 41
"For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths." Matthew 3: 3
"For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths." Matthew 3: 3
~ Angelic Messengers ~
I didn't have any luck finding the cookies Alice Suggested, but there are lots of Angel candies to be found this time of year. I purchased a little package of Lindt Angels for this tea.
"And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. " Luke 1:26-28
~ Flowers of Jesse ~
I thought about making Rose Cupcakes, but I (at 9 months pregnant) had already been on my feet long enough so I opted for Pepperidge Farms Verona Cookies which look like flowers.
"And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness. And he shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears. " Isaiah 11:1-3
Be sure to visit Cottage Blessings for more ideas, recipes and the shopping list!
Stir-Up Sunday: Jamaican Fruit Cake
Happy New Year!
Today is the first Sunday of Advent, and we begin a new Church Year, another Year of Grace, or Year of Our Lord. This time of Advent we focus on two comings: we remember the longing, the anticipation, the hope, the long patient wait for the Messiah. We also are remembering that Christ will come again at the end of time, and we prepare for that Final Judgment. Our time here is precious! The Catechism of the Catholic Church says this much more eloquently:
Jamaican Fruit Cake
Cut with scissors into small pieces:
1 lb. each of currants, seedless raisins, prunes, and dates.
Mix and stir in, soaking for 3 days:
1 pt. light rum
1 pt. white tablewine
After soaking fruits, sift together:
6 cups flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. each nutmeg, cinnamon
Cream:
1 lb. butter
2 cups sugar
Add:
8 beaten eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix well, then add flour mixture gradually. Lastly, fold in fruit and liquor, and 1 cup English walnuts, if desired (chopped to desired size).
Grease and line with wax paper 4 bread pans or 2 tube pans. Place cakes on rack in middle of oven. Place shallow pan of water (hot) on bottom or slower oven (300 F.) Bake 3 hours, removing water last 30 minutes of baking.
When cakes are cold, wrap in aluminum foil. Store in air-tight container in a cool place. Allow at least 2 weeks, preferably longer for aging.
(If this is baked in a tube pan, it can be used as the Christ Child's birthday cake, with as many candles on it as there are children in the family.)
Recipe adapted from Family Liturgical Customs, No. 1: Advent by Ethel Marbach, 1964, Abbey Press. Pin It
Today is the first Sunday of Advent, and we begin a new Church Year, another Year of Grace, or Year of Our Lord. This time of Advent we focus on two comings: we remember the longing, the anticipation, the hope, the long patient wait for the Messiah. We also are remembering that Christ will come again at the end of time, and we prepare for that Final Judgment. Our time here is precious! The Catechism of the Catholic Church says this much more eloquently:
When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. By celebrating the precursor's birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: "He must increase, but I must decrease." (CCC, 524)And so, we need to stir up our hearts, renew ourselves to prepare for His coming. In the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, the translation of the Collect (or Opening Prayer) of the Mass for the First Sunday of Advent invited that stirring:
O Lord, stir up Thy might, we beg Thee, and come that by Thy protection we may deserve to be rescued from the threatening dangers of our sins and saved by Thy deliverance. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.A traditional English custom on this day was to make a Plum pudding, with every family member giving a good stir representing their hearts being stirred on that day. Plum pudding and fruit cake have taken a hard rap over the years. There are those who hate them and those who love them, and few fall in between. I know this is a bit late for actually stirring up on Sunday, but all week is a good time to do this. I'm offering this recipe as an alternative to standard fruitcake -- because it contains rum AND no candied fruit. Perhaps this will suit someone's fancy?
Jamaican Fruit Cake
Cut with scissors into small pieces:
1 lb. each of currants, seedless raisins, prunes, and dates.
Mix and stir in, soaking for 3 days:
1 pt. light rum
1 pt. white tablewine
After soaking fruits, sift together:
6 cups flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. each nutmeg, cinnamon
Cream:
1 lb. butter
2 cups sugar
Add:
8 beaten eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix well, then add flour mixture gradually. Lastly, fold in fruit and liquor, and 1 cup English walnuts, if desired (chopped to desired size).
Grease and line with wax paper 4 bread pans or 2 tube pans. Place cakes on rack in middle of oven. Place shallow pan of water (hot) on bottom or slower oven (300 F.) Bake 3 hours, removing water last 30 minutes of baking.
When cakes are cold, wrap in aluminum foil. Store in air-tight container in a cool place. Allow at least 2 weeks, preferably longer for aging.
(If this is baked in a tube pan, it can be used as the Christ Child's birthday cake, with as many candles on it as there are children in the family.)
Recipe adapted from Family Liturgical Customs, No. 1: Advent by Ethel Marbach, 1964, Abbey Press. Pin It
Recipes for December ~ Month Dedicated to the Divine Infancy
"Mary wraps up a small bundle of clothes for the use of her little Son, and then, going to the crib, she says with tears in her eyes to her sleeping Child, 'O my Son, and my God! Thou hast come from heaven to save men; but hardly art Thou born when they seek to take Thy life.'" ~ 2010 Catholic Calendar
December 3rd, St. Francis Xavier (New, Trad.):
- St. Francis Xavier - December 3 (Polla a la Vasca- Basque Chicken with Pimiento)
- Xaver Suppe (Soup for St. Francis Xavier's Day)
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December 6th, St. Nicholas of Myra (New, Trad.):
- Upcoming From Thy Bounty Fair, St. Nicholas (includes links and ideas)
- From Thy Bounty Fair, St. Nicholas (more links and ideas!)
- St. Joseph's Staff (Candy Cane Cookie Recipe)
- Candy Cane Coffee Cake
- Saint Nicholas Cocoa Mix
- A Chocolate St. Nicholas
- Speculatius (German Spice Cookies)
- Christmas Honey Cookies for the "Honey-Tongued" Saint
- Sweet Beehive Cake for St. Ambrose
- Bumblebee Cookies for St. Ambrose
- Honey-Curry Chicken
December 8, The Immaculate Conception (New, Trad.):
- Meal Ideas for the feast of the Immaculate Conception
- Blueberry Muffins for Our Lady
- Mary's Immaculate Conception (A complete dinner menu!)
December 9th, St. Juan Diego (New):
- Mexican Chocolate Cake
- Una Fiesta Mexicana
- Rosy Treats for the Feasts of St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Mexican Sopapias for St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Fish Tacos for Friday
- Cheese Enchiladas
- Our Lady of Guadalupe ~ Mexican Wedding Cookies
December 12th, Our Lady of Guadalupe (New, Trad.):
December 13th, St. Lucy or Santa Lucia Day (New, Trad.):
December 17th thru 23rd, O Antiphons (New, Trad.):
December 24th, Vigil of Christmas (Trad.):
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December 25th, Christmas - The Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ (New, Trad.):
- From Thy Bounty Fair - Holiday Foods and Feasts!
- First Holy Communion Breads
- Staples of Our Feast Day Celebrations Part One: Bread
- Staples of Our Feast Day Celebrations Part Two: Wine
- Mealtime Prayers for Christmas
- Lamb of God (Rolls)
- Christ's Diapers
- Candy Cane Coffee Cake
- Cherry Cheese Coffee Cake for Christmas
- The Gift of the Christmas Cookie
- Nativity Cookies
December 27th, St. John the Apostle (New, Trad.):
December 28th, The Holy Innocents (New, Trad.):
- Christ's Diapers
- Feast of the Holy Innocents (Coconut Rice Pudding with Raspberry Sauce)
December 31st, New Year's Eve :
MORE RECIPES FOR ADVENT:
Throughout Advent :
First Sunday of Advent ~ Stir-Up Sunday :
Second Sunday of Advent :
Third Sunday of Advent :
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First Sunday of Advent ~ Stir-Up Sunday :
Second Sunday of Advent :
Third Sunday of Advent :
St. Andrew's Christmas Novena
Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment at which the Son of God was born of a most pure Virgin at a stable at midnight in Bethlehem in the piercing cold. At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, to hear my prayers and grant my desires. (Mention your intentions here) Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother. Amen.
Say 15 times a day from St. Andrew's Day (30 November),
ending on Christmas Eve
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