Swedish Waffles and AIP/Paleo Waffles for Lady Day

St. Patrick's Day on the 17th, St. Joseph's Day on the 19th, my husband's birthday on the 24th (today!), and then the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord on the 25th... So much to celebrate lately and it's been a nice little break right in the middle of this year's lenten season. I shared these recipes over at Shower of Roses a couple years ago and I am finally getting them added over here at Catholic Cuisine too for tomorrow's Lady Day feasting. Scroll down to find an AIP/Paleo version as well. Enjoy!

The Annunciation from Rosary Flip Book

"This is Våffeldagen or Waffle Day in Sweden. One website said the name Vaffla, meaning waffle, originated from Var Fru, Our Lady, and that in time the two words became slurred and corrupted, first into Vaffer, then to Vaffla. The waffles are served with whipped cream and lingonberries (or cloudberries)... " 

You can read more in Jenn's post found in the archives on Lady Day Feasting. 

Originally I always served Belgian Waffles, since that was the only waffle maker we had at the time, using various recipes or mixes. (One year we made these delicious Organic 6-Grain Waffles and you can find that recipe here.) Once I finally purchased our heart shaped waffle maker we started making the delicious thinner Swedish style waffles. We love topping our waffles with marionberries, maple syrup and occasionally whipped cream.

Lady Day Swedish Waffles

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 oz butter
• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups plus 3 tablespoons milk
• 2 eggs

Directions:

In a bowl or blender (I used my Vitamix) whip together flour, baking powder and salt with half of the milk until you have an even batter. Pour in the rest of the milk, eggs and the melted butter, whip until thoroughly mixed.

Heat the waffle iron and brush with butter. Pour in 6 tablespoons of batter and bake until golden brown. Makes 8 waffles. Top with berries. (Lingonberries are traditional in Sweden. We used Marionberries in honor of Our Lady!) 

♥    ♥    ♥    ♥    ♥    ♥    ♥

After baking waffles for everyone else, I was really craving a waffle too... I decided to try to adapt an AIP Belgian waffle recipe to use with our waffle maker and the Cassava Flour I recently purchased. It turned out great! I'll definitely be making these again.

Autoimmune Protocol Waffles for the Annunciation
{gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free, egg-free, dairy free, nut-free, seed-free}
Vegan, Paleo-friendly, AIP-friendly, and still delicious! 

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup cassava flour
• 1/4 cup arrowroot starch
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
• 1/4 water
• 1 13.5 oz can full fat organic coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (alcohol-free for AIP)

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients and mix well.

Place all the wet ingredients in blender (I used my Vitamix) and blend until well combined. Add dry ingredients and blend again until well combined. The batter will be thicker than pancake batter but should still be pourable. You may need to add a little additional water or coconut milk.

Lightly brush waffle iron with coconut oil. Add about 1/3-1/2 cup of batter to your pre-heated waffle iron and cook until done. I use this waffle iron, preheated and very hot, with setting number 4.

The recipe yields 5-6 Swedish style waffles, using approximately 1/3-1/2 cup of batter for each waffle.  Be sure to cook the waffles long enough or they can turn out gummy.

Top with marionberries. Next time I'll make some Coconut Whip too! Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven.

O God, who didst will that Thy Word take flesh in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary at the message of the angel: grant us, we pray, to be aided before Thee by her intercession, whom we believe to be truly the Mother of God.  

- The Holyday Book by Father Francis X. Weiser

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Lady Kisses for Lady Day

The solemnity of the Annunciation is also known in some places as Lady Day. When I first saw these little bite-sized Italian cookies called, baci di dama or "lady’s kisses", I thought of them as an option for this day - Lady Day. I can imagine them being Our Lady's kisses - kisses Our Lady would have bestowed on her sweet son. The name originates from the cookie’s resemblance to two lips holding together like a kiss. These Italian cookies are common for feast days in Italy - especially St. Joseph. Most years St. Joseph's feast day and the Annunciation are a week apart, so making double at that time could cover both feasts. Though this year the feast is abrogated to April 9 because its traditional date fell on Palm Sunday. 

The outer cookies are delicate and usually made of almond or hazelnut flour. The hazelnut version is from the city of Cuneo (where Nutella comes from), and the almond ones are from the town of Tortona.  There are some different variations of the recipe available. This is adapted from the Martha Stewart recipe. 

Our Lady's Kisses

Ingredients:
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon lemon zest, fine
2/3 cup almond (or hazelnut) flour
3/4 cup unbleached wheat flour
pinch of salt
2 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Beat 7 tablespoons butter with sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add vanilla and lemon zest, then both flours and salt; beat until a dough starts to form. Transfer to a work surface; knead until a firm dough forms, 1 minute.

Scoop 1 level teaspoon of dough; roll into a ball. Place on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment. Repeat with remaining dough, spacing balls 1 inch apart. Place in freezer about 15 minutes, until firm.  Melt chocolate and remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Let cool until thick and spreadable.

Bake cookies until domed and light golden, about 16 minutes. Let cool completely. Spread 1/2 teaspoon chocolate mixture on flat side of one cookie; sandwich with flat side of a second. Repeat with remaining cookies. Let chocolate set before serving.

I found this litany poem by G.K. Chesterton which speaks of a kiss and the mystic rose – a reference to Mary (as are all the symbols in this poem). So beautiful and definitely brings to mind the image I was imagining between Mother and the Child Jesus. 

A Little Litany by Gilbert Keith Chesterton

When God turned back eternity and was young,

Ancient of Days, grown little for your mirth

(As under the low arch the land is bright)

Peered through you, gate of heaven—and saw the earth.

Or shutting out his shining skies awhile

Built you about him for a house of gold

To see in pictured walls his storied world

Return upon him as a tale is told.

Or found his mirror there; the only glass

That would not break with that unbearable light

Till in a corner of the high dark house

God looked on God, as ghosts meet in the night.

Star of his morning; that unfallen star

In that strange starry overturn of space

When earth and sky changed places for an hour

And heaven looked upwards in a human face.

Or young on your strong knees and lifted up

Wisdom cried out, whose voice is in the street,

And more than twilight of twiformed cherubim

Made of his throne indeed a mercy-seat.

Or risen from play at your pale raiment's hem

God, grown adventurous from all time's repose,

Or your tall body climbed the ivory tower

And kissed upon your mouth the mystic rose.

Note: I also think these little cookies would be fitting for the feast of St. Mary Magdalene (July 22) as she is believed to be the woman who washed with her tears, anointed with oil and kissed the feet of Christ. She is often depicted kissing Christ's feet. Lady Kisses could represent her as well.

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Organic 6-Grain Waffles for the Annunciation

The feast of the Annunciation is celebrated on March 25th. The main food associated with this feast is waffles. You can read more in Jenn's post on Lady Day Feasting in the archives. A couple years ago we made these delicious Organic 6-Grain Waffles using a Belgian Waffle Maker and topped them with Marionberries and Maple Syrup!  This year my girls are planning to make the thinner Swedish style waffles using our heart shaped waffle maker and may try the recipe Charlotte shared for Annunciation Waffles which can also be found in the archives.

Organic 6-Grain Waffles 

with Marionberries & Maple Syrup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Milk
• 3 tablespoons Oil
• 1 Egg
• 1 1/2 cups Organic 6-Grain Pancake and Waffle Mix 
• Marionberries (optional)
• Maple Syrup (optional)

Directions: 

Place milk, egg, and oil in a medium bowl, stir with a wire whisk until smooth.  Add pancake mix and store until the large lumps disappear. Do not over mix. Let stand for 1 or 2 minutes to thicken while you heat waffle iron.  Be sure to spray waffle iron with pan spray so your waffles don't stick before cooking. Enjoy! 

Note: I purchased a 5 pound bag of the mix made by Central Milling Company (for a great price!) at our local Costco. It can also be found over at Amazon. 

You can find additional recipes for the feast of the Annunciation in the archives. 

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Campanelle "Little Bells" or Gigli "Lily" Pasta Ideas

Campanelle is a pasta shaped like a cone with a ruffled edge. It is Italian for "bellflowers” or "little bells" due to its shape like a bell or bell-shaped flower. This pasta shape is also referred to as gigli which means lily. Campanelle is intended to be served with heavier sauces or in a casserole.

It is part of tradition in Christian art to use lilies as a symbol of purity when portraying Our Lady or the Saints and even Angels.  The lily is an emblem of purity and chastity. It is the flower the medievals found to best symbolize the purity of Mary, and was admired as a flower of purity since the time of the Ancients. By the 14th century, it became common to find the lily in Annunciation paintings and illuminations, with either St. Gabriel holding it on in a vase between them.

There are numerous saints depicted with a lily or a bell which would be fitting for a campanelle pasta meal idea on feast days.  This week we happen to have a prominent lily associated saint - St. Kateri, the Lily of the Mohawks. But it is a good year round option due to the many saints associated and depicted with lilies or bells, as well as all the Marian feasts.  

St. Anthony the Hermit - January 17
St. Agnes - January 21
St. Agatha - February 5
St. Casimir - March 4
St. Joseph - March 19
Feast of the Annunciation - March 25
St. Agnes of Montepulciano - April 20
St. Catherine of Siena - April 29
St. Anthony of Padua - June 13
St. Aloysius Gonzaga - June 21
St. Maria Goretti - July 6
St. Kateri Tekakwitha - July 14
St. Dominic - August 8
St. Philomena - August 11
St. Gabriel the Archangel - September 29

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Dairy Free Blueberry Annunciation Smoothies

This recipe was submitted by past Catholic Cuisine contributor Amy. You can find additional pictures of her cute children enjoying their Annunciation Smoothies over at her blog, Knit Together.

I thought I would share this with you super quick.  It is an easy way to whip together something special for the Feast of the Annunciation today.  I did a dairy free version, but you can replace the canned coconut milk with yogurt and the almond mil with regular cow's milk if you prefer.

You will need:

• 2-3 cups Frozen Blueberries
• 1-2 cups Frozen Peaches (or other fruit)
• 1 Can Coconut Milk
• Almond Milk
• approx. 1/4 cup Sweetener of your choice, I used Maple Syrup

Put the frozen fruit in blender.  I use peaches too because blueberries can be a really strong flavor and some people, especially kids, might not like it.  Next, add the canned coconut milk (this will make it thick and creamy) and sweetener.  At this point you want to pour in the almond milk.  I do this by eye.  Depending on how thick you want your smoothie, you will want to fill the blender halfway or up to covering the frozen fruit.

Blend it thoroughly!

If you need more almond milk, fruit, or sweetener feel free!  Make it to your taste.

Additional recipes for the Solemnity of the Annunciation can be found in the archives. 

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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!

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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.

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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. Pin It

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~

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Lily Lollipops for St. Joseph

Jessica has turned me on to making candy decorations and I've discovered that it's a very easy way to add a little elegance to a celebration! I'm making these as a favor for the St. Joseph's Day baby shower/luncheon I am hosting tomorrow. I ordered this lily lollipop mold and picked up some white peppermint candy melts and yellow vanilla melts from the local craft store. I've never made a two color candy before but I really wanted the lilies to have their signature yellow anthers in the middle. Here is what worked for me...

I melted a little of the yellow and using a toothpick, dabbed a few tiny drops right where the anther indentations were on the mold. Here's a close up:

Let that set in the fridge for a few minutes and then fill the lilies with the melted white candy as normal. I inserted the lollipop sticks and added another small dollop of white to the back side to help hold it in place. Once your candy is completely firm, pop them out of the mold. It was much easier than I imagined! I think I might make some as Easter favors for some friends. Or maybe for the feast of the Annunciation!

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Annunciation Waffles

The children informed me that we had to have waffles today. Why? Well, it said so on their Learning Calendar. Why? Because it's International Waffle Day. Why? According to the calendar, it originated in Sweden where it is known as Vaffeldagen. March 25 is "the day where Swedish women set aside their winter tasks of chopping wood and knitting, and begin their spring tasks by preparing waffles". Again, I asked... why?

Because it is the Feast of the Annunciation (known as "Our Lady's Day" or Varfrudagen).

Truly!

Isn't that just the best? When you discover a holiday's holy origins!

Now, if you didn't know this tidbit of information in time to make waffles for breakfast, don't worry. According to this website, Swedish waffles are closer to their Belgian cousins and are often served as afternoon treats or for dessert. And since it is a solemnity and we are "fairly commanded to celebrate" my kids say...break out the whipped cream!

Here is a recipe for traditional Swedish crisp waffles or Frasvafflor which is another variation of the one Jenn posted below:

Frasvafflor (Swedish Crisp Waffles)
(from Emma Olsson)
about 10 waffles
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup water
pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
3 T. butter, melted and cooled

Stir together flour, water and salt. Let rest at room temperature for about an hour. Add the butter and mix well. Whip the cream and fold into the batter.

Give the waffle iron plenty of time to warm up before you pour in the first waffle. Be prepared to spoil the first one. Think of it as priming the pump or firing a test shot, and you won't be as anxious. The reliable key to when the waffle is done is not when the iron's light goes out, but when steam stops emerging from it. Heat your regular oven to 200 degrees F and set a rack inside. As the waffles are baked, lay each one on the rack in a single layer to keep them warm while you cook the rest.

For a Swedish presentation, serve with more whipped cream, perhaps with some blueberries stirred in, or with lingonberry jam.

* I wasn't going to post this here when I saw that Jenn had already covered waffles in her Annunciation post, but Jessica thought that the posts were different enough to be distinct. I had never heard of the tradition of eating waffles today until my kids pointed it out. Our learning experience went from there!

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Lady Day Feasting

March 25 marks the Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord, another of our highest feast days, a Solemnity, right in the middle of Lent. We bring to mind the Incarnation, the exact moment when the WORD became Flesh. How beautiful the message of our Faith that we revere God in Mary's womb at the moment of conception.

The main food associated with this feast is waffles. Just like pancakes or doughnuts, waffles (or wafers or gaufres) are usual feast day fare. This is Våffeldagen or Waffle Day in Sweden. One website said the name Vaffla, meaning waffle, originated from Var Fru, Our Lady, and that in time the two words became slurred and corrupted, first into Vaffer, then to Vaffla. The waffles are served with whipped cream and lingonberries (or cloudberries). You probably have some lingonberry preserves left over from St. Lucy's feast.

In our house I'm serving those special frozen waffles that are safe for my son's allergies, and put a good dose of safe whipped cream. But for those that can make them, Evelyn's Vitz's Swedish Waffles recipe from A Continual Feast would be perfect:

Swedish Waffles

Here are Swedish waffles for the Annunciation. Light and crisp, these make excellent dessert waffles. They are traditionally eaten with whipped cream and cloudberry preserves. Cloudberries are first cousins to our raspberries.

1 3/4 cups heavy cream, well-chilled
1 1/3 cups flour
1-2 tablespoons sugar
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup cold water
3 tablespoons melted sweet butter

Whip the cream until stiff.
Mix the flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Stir in the water to make a smooth batter. Fold the whipped cream into the batter. Stir in the melted butter.
Heat the waffle iron. (If it is well seasoned, it will not need to be greased.) Fill the grid surface about two-thirds full of batter. Bake until golden brown.
Place on a rack to keep crisp while you make the rest of the waffles.
Yield: about 8 waffles

Another interesting food tradition is found in Britain, the Tichborne Dole, which is a form of charity or dole started by Lady Tichborne and given every Lady Day.

Seeds plays a large role on this feast. Father Weiser's The Holyday Book explains the connection:

In central Europe the farmers put a picture representing the Annunciation in the barrel that holds the seed grain. While doing so they pronounce some ancient prayer rhyme like this one from upper Austria:

O Mary, Mother, we pray to you;
Your life today with fruit was blessed:
Give us the happy promise, too,
That our harvest will be of the best.
If you protect and bless the field,
A hundredfold each grain must yield.

Having thus implored the help of Mary, they start sowing their summer grains on the following day, assured that no inclement weather will threaten their crops, for, as the ancient saying goes,

Saint Gabriel to Mary flies:
This is the end of snow and ice.

Thinking of the "seed" planted in Mary, a seed cake is also another traditional food. Marian Devotions in the Domestic Church shares a good recipe for a seed cake, with a variety of options for the seeds.

Another approach is presenting foods is the theme of wreath or circle forms. A Cook's Blessing by Demetria Taylor (1965) points out how this feast is one that falls in the Temporal (Time) Cycle, not Sanctoral (saints). Traditionally this feast was pivotal, marking the beginning of the year, occurring nine months before the Solemnity of Christmas. Father Weiser elaborates on how important marking the time:

In the early Christian centuries March 25 was observed in a special way as the Day of the Incarnation. In order to make the Lord's life on earth an exact number of years, even down to the day, an early tradition claimed that it was also the date of the crucifixion. This fact is mentioned in many ancient martyrologies (calendars of feasts) and in the sermons of various Fathers of the Church. Soon other events of the history of our salvation were placed on this day by legendary belief, and thus we find in some calendars of the Middle Ages the following quaint "anniversaries" listed for March 25:

The Creation of the World
The Fall of Adam and Eve
The Sacrifice of Isaac
The Exodus of the Jews from Egypt
The Incarnation
The Crucifixion and Death of Christ
The Last Judgment

It was an ancient custom of the papal Curia (executive office) to start the year on March 25 in all their communications and documents, thus calling it the "Year of the Incarnation." This practice was also adopted by most civil governments for the legal dating of documents. In fact, the Feast of the Annunciation, called "Lady Day," marked the beginning of the legal year in England even after the Reformation, up to 1752.

Recalling the year as a circle of days, reminders of eternity, the cycle of the Year of Our Lord, serve foods in the shape of wreaths or rings or circles. Wreath cookies, Angel Food Cake (double duty, reminding us of the Angel Gabriel), doughnuts with a hole, cakes baked in tube or Bundt pans, Coffee Rings would all be appropriate to serve today. Last Annunciation, Michele posted a Annunciation Pineapple Upside Down Cake with this same theme.

With the tradition of seed cakes and the circular form, I thought this recipe from The Year and Our Children by Mary Reed Newland would be perfect:

Ukrainian Poppy Seed Cake

We like to bake this Poppy Seed Cake for Easter because it reminds us of the whole lesson of Lent, the seed thrust into the ground to die, that it might live. The circle of the cake, baked in the tube pan, is like the circle of eternity — and that is the point of death to self: to live forever.

You may sift powdered sugar over it, or ice it with a thin confectioner's sugar icing, or serve it plain. It is nice plain, rather like a pound cake.

3/4 cup poppy seeds
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup shortening (or butter or coconut oil)
1-1/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla

Soak the poppy seeds in milk 5 to 6 hours. Cream shortening and sugar. Add 1 egg yolk at a time and beat well after each addition. Add vanilla, milk with poppy seeds, then flour sifted together with baking powder and salt. Mix well. Add egg whites beaten stiffly. Bake at 375° about 30 to 40 minutes in 9" tube pan.

I have a few non-food traditions and ideas on my blog, but not exhaustive. I also have a post at CatholicCulture.org. Today is such a beautiful feast to contemplate. A happy Lady Day to you all!

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Annunciation pineapple upsidedown cake

I was inspired to make this for the Feast of the Annunciation. I was reading about this Feast Day here. In that link they describe how this Feast Day forecasts the blessed event of Christmas, and illustrates how the liturgical year is an endless circle of days. So, I thought it would be great to use a cake mix I got for free and make this a simple, easy way to incorporate the circle theme. As you are putting on the pineapples, use it as a chance to talk about the Holy Trinity ;)

When you buy the cake mix. There is a recipe on the side of the box for making it the upside down way. Basically you just add 1/2 cup of butter into the baking pan after you grease the pan with Crisco. Then put 1 cup packed brown sugar evenly covering the bottom of the pan. Then add the pineapple circles and cherries however you like. Then mix the cake mix as directed and pour it into the pan, covering the pineapples and cherries. Bake as directed according to your pan size. I used 2 circular 8 inch baking pans and baked it for about 35 minutes at 350.

It is that easy!

We also ate circle waffles that morning, I cut pb&j's with my circular cookie cutter, and we ate a circular pizza with pepperoni for dinner. For snacks in between, we had circle crackers and cheese and sliced bananas. Circle's and more circle's ;)

This is great if you have one of those busy days and can't spend a lot of time in the kitchen. You can still use easy meals to teach about our liturgical year!

Happy Feast Day!

P.S.- This is also a great time to teach a toddler or pre-schooler about circles, the letter O or the number zero. Have fun!

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Lily Sandwiches

Lily Sandwiches for Our Lady

( from Catholic Traditions)

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 2-3 TBSP milk
• 20 slices fresh white bread
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp paprika
• green pepper
• carrot

Combine and work into a paste the cheese, cream, salt, and paprika.

Remove crusts from bread. Roll into cornucopia shape by bringing two straight edges together and letting them overlap slightly. Hold the edges together with a little bit of the cheese mixture, pressing gently. Roll and chill the bread "lilies" before filling.

After sandwiches are filled with the cream cheese mixture, insert a thin strip of carrot for a stamen. Cut bell pepper into leaf shapes and attach a leaf to each sandwich with additional cheese.

Chill sandwiches until time to serve.

Yield: 20 finger Sandwiches

The lily of the valley is a symbol for the Blessed Virgin Mary because of its pure white flowers, sweet smell and humble appearance. It symbolized Mary’s Immaculate Conception and represents the purity of both body and soul by which Mary found favor with God.

We made these sandwiches for our afternoon snack on the Feast of the Annunciation. Other than the peppers, they were a hit with my children.
I thought they were pretty yummy too! I posted the rest of what we did to celebrate on my other blog, Shower of Roses.

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