Candlemas Cookies with Drip Plates

‎"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle." ~ St. Francis of Assisi

Traditionally called Candlemas, candles are blessed on this day to help us remember the words of holy Simeon who called the babe in his arms, "A light to lighten the gentiles and the glory of your people, Israel."

For years now our family has been making Candlemas Cookies to celebrate this feast day, and every year they turn out a little differently. The first year we tried our best to balance them on top of a cookie base, one year we inserted them into the middle of Pinwheel Cookies, and last year we made Candlemas Cookie Cupcakes.

This year I decided to try and make our Candlemas Cookies with Drip Plates!   They were so easy to make and turned out great! I think this is my favorite version yet, and it is definitely one of the easiest.

Candlemas Cookies with Drip Plates

Ingredients:

• Pirouette Cookies
• Fudge Stripes Cookies
• Marshmallows 
• Red, Yellow, and Orange Sugar Sprinkles
• White Candy Melts or White Chocolate Chips

Directions:

Prepare the candle flames using marshmallows and sprinkles.   It is easiest to use one mini marshmallow to create two flames, by slicing the marshmallow diagonally and then dipping the exposed sticky center into the sprinkles.  I was out of mini marshmallows, but was able to use just one large marshmallow (cutting corners off at an angle) to create the six flames I needed.  

Melt the white candy melts and stir.   Fill a small baggie with the melted candy and snip off a corner. 

Prepare the cookies by inserting one of the Pirouette Cookies into the hole of one of the Fudge Stripes cookies.  We choose to have the stripes facing downward. 

Squeeze a little of the white candy around the bottom of the hole in the cookie, which will attach the two cookies together once the candy hardens.  

Add white candy drips down the edges of the Pirouette Cookie to create "wax drips."

With a dab of white candy on the top of the cookie, attach the marshmallow "flame."

TIP:  If the white candy hardens inside the baggie before you are finished just pop it back in the microwave.

Hold the cookie for a few minutes to allow the white candy to harden.  

All done!

Don't forget to save the rest of the Pirouettes to make some of Charlotte's St. Blaise's Cookies tomorrow!

Happy Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord, 

and Happy Candlemas Day!

Pin It

Candlemas Cupcakes

For our Candlemas Luncheon this year, I modified the Candlemas Cookies and made Candlemas Cupcakes instead!  It wasn't planned, but when I realized that I had forgotten to purchase the cookies for the base of the Edible Candles, and since our little guy really doesn't like the car, I made do with what I already had in the cupboard.  They may not be quite as cute, but they sure were so much easier!   I also just used some melted white chocolate to attach the marshmallow and create the "drips" on the candles.

I then used the leftover melted white chocolate to coat some strawberries, for our "Pure Hearts" inspired by some yogurt covered strawberries I happened to see on Pinterest.   After the chocolate had hardened we cut them in half to reveal the "heart."  I made them while juggling a cranky 6 week old, and they ddn't turn out nearly as pretty as I remember, but my children loved them! 

~ Our 2012 Menu ~

Water

Pure White Punch

Pure Hearts

Piercing Swords with Cheese Cubes

Candlemas Cupcakes

Turtledove Sandwiches

Holy Simeon's Arms (Pretzels)

Anna the Prophetess Black Olives

(Here are links to our 2010 and 2011 Candlemas Celebrations.)

Happy Feast of the Presentation!

Pin It

An Afternoon Tea for Candlemas

The Feast of the Purification is also called Candlemas or Candle Mass Day. It is observed each year on February 2nd. This feast commemorates the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the presentation of Christ in the temple, which took place 40 days after his birth as Jewish law required. It is also called Candlemas day, since the blessing of candles takes place on this feast.   Last year my family enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea, inspired by Alice at Cottage Blessings on this feast day.

   Here are a few pictures of what was included in our tea, 

while we read from the Gospel of Luke (2:22-40): 

~ White Cocoa with Pure Hearts ~

For this tea, I decided to serve White Cocoa topped with Whipped Cream and Strawberry Marshmallow hearts (instead of tea), representing the purity of both Mary and St. Joseph.

~ Water ~ 

With a pair of turtledoves perched on the handle!

~ A Pair of Turtledoves ~

Using a lovely Tasha Tudor Dove Cookie Cutter (a gift from my sister-in-law), I made Dove Shaped PB&J Sandwiches.

~ Holy Simeon's Arms ~

These mini pretzel's symbolize arms folded in prayer.

~ Piercing Swords ~

I couldn't seem to find the cocktail swords that I know I have around here somewhere, but swords can always be found in my boys bedroom! ;)

~ Anna the Prophetess ~ 

Since I didn't want to go to the store to search for the Mallomars that Alice suggested, especially since I was already serving plenty of cookies, Captain suggested using Black Olives. (The black symbolizes the fact that Anna was a widow.)

~ Edible Candles ~

These were really quite easy and fun to make, not to mention delicious! 

All-powerful Father, Christ your Son became man for us and was presented in the temple. May he free our hearts from sin and bring us into your presence. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pin It

St. Blaise's Cookies

We have a couple of family feast days coming up at the beginning of February, so for the sake of my sanity I knew we wouldn't be celebrating the feast of Candlemas with any foodie fun. (We will be going to Mass and having some candles blessed, but that's about it.) 

But, like Jessica, I saw these adorable candle cookies over at Family Fun and really wanted to try them. Well, since St. Blase's Day is one of our family feast days, and Pepperidge Farm Pirouettes are easy enough to find I decided to pass on hunting down the cookies used for the base and decided instead to use a simplified version to represent the candles used for the blessing of the throats, which is traditionally done on St. Blase's day.

St. Blase's feast day isn't until February 3rd, but I went ahead and made this little tutorial for the visual people, like me, who might need to see it in pictures to better understand my alterations.

I used:

Pepperidge Farm Vanilla Pirouette cookies

white chocolate chips

mini marshmallows

white sugar

a few drops each of red and yellow food coloring

First, I made my own orange colored sugar by mixing a few drops of red and yellow food coloring with plain white sugar. Tossing it around in a zippered baggie works great plus the kids get a kick out of watching the color change. Not having any powdered sugar on hand to make the glaze frosting they recommended, I melted some white chocolate chips and snipped off the corner of another zippered bag. When my family made gingerbread houses this past year, I learned that melted white chocolate makes an excellent construction substance. It's easy to pipe on and firms up in a jiffy.

Next, cut the mini marshmallows in half on the diagonal and dip the cut end into the orange sugar to create the flame effect.

Use a drop of melted white chocolate to attach the marshmallow to the cookie and dribble some down the top to create the look of melted wax. I used another little drop to attach the two together in an X shape for this picture, but for the feast day, I plan to pick up some red licorice laces to tie them together, just like the candles that will be used to bless our throats on the day.

It is also a tradition in some countries to have some bread blessed on St. Blase's Day to keep on hand for treating sore throats. Long, thin bread sticks might also be a fun way to remember this Holy Helper and are easy enough to add to almost any meal!

Also, if you are looking for a coloring page for St. Blase, you can find one here on my personal blog.

Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. - blessing of Saint Blaise

Pin It

A Light Dessert for Candlemas

I recently ran across this super cute recipe at Family Fun, which is very similar to the Edible Candles that Mary posted last year.   Aren't they great!?!  I am hoping to make them (or a similar variation, since I don't have the exact cookies needed for the base) with my children this coming week, for the feast of Candlemas.

Ingredients:

Confectioners' sugar
Flower cookie with a center hole (we used Murray shortbread cookies)
Larger cookie (we used Anna's Ginger Thins)
Rolled wafer cookie (we used Pepperidge Farm Pirouettes)
Mini marshmallow
Orange decorating sugar
Red decorating gel

Directions:

Make a simple icing by stirring together 1 teaspoon water and 5 tablespoons confectioners' sugar.

Use dots of icing to attach a small flower cookie with a center hole to a larger cookie.

Dab icing on one end of a rolled wafer cookie and press it into the center of the flower cookie.

For the flame, halve a mini marshmallow diagonally, dip the sticky side of one half in orange decorating sugar, and attach the half with icing. Spoon a few wax drips of icing down the candle's sides and use red decorating gel to embellish the base.

If any one ends up making these, or perhaps Anne's amazing Candle Cake, we'd love to see pictures!  You can either leave a link to your post in the comments, or email a picture to catholiccuisine[at]gmail[dot]com and I'll add them to the bottom of this post!

Update:  Here is a picture of one of our Candlemas Cookies, which we included in our Candlemas Tea.

Hope you all have a happy and holy 
feast of Candlemas! 

Pin It

Fun and Fancy Folds - Napkin Folding for Feast Days

Napkins, a functional part of every meal, can be folded into fanciful forms to become a joyful addition to your table and feast day meal. There are numerous napkin folding styles that could be used to represent symbols of saints or liturgical seasons. Especially for those days when you don’t have the time to prepare any feast oriented foods to serve, this can be an easy and appealing way to dress up the feast day table. Folding napkins need not be a time consuming chore, but a quick and enjoyable experience with dramatic results. It’s a great hands-on project for the children. When getting started it's helpful to know that cotton and linen napkins hold a better crease. Polyester blends require less care but do not hold a crease well.

Take today for example – the Feast of the Presentation or Candlemas. Need a last minute addition to help the feast day have some visual appeal? – there are several different napkin folds reminiscent of tapers or candles:

Pictured here are the “Candlestick” or “Candle” style on the left, and Nightlight” on the right. You can link to a tutorial of the “Candlestick” here and “Nightlight” here.

This idea – which, for lack of a better description, I have been referring to as liturgical napkin folding, holds much promise . There are so many ideas and there is much that could be done with it if you are so inclined. Even if there is not a particular shape we can fold to fit the feast day as a symbol, there are many folds that will enclose a favor that can be used to tuck a holy card, or flower, or other seasonal token inside to remind us of the focus of the feast day. Another simple idea like varying the napkin colors, even if not folded at all, can tie in the liturgical seasons - Purple in Advent and Lent, Red for Pentecost, the Passion, or Martyrs’ feasts, White (or Gold) for the feast of Our Lord, Blue (or White) to honor Our Lady’s feasts, Green in Ordinary Time. You can also stick to simple folds or rolled napkins and dress those up with napkin rings that tie into the feasts and seasons. I have lots of ideas and will be sharing those with you in upcoming posts.

****And I know I am posting this late this afternoon, so if you don’t see this in time for Candlemas don’t fret, the candle napkins would be perfect again tomorrow, February 3, for the feast of St. Blase.

Pin It

Candle cake for Candlemas

Fisheaters have an excellent commentary on the feast of Candlemas, it is worth a visit to read it all, I've just quoted below on the significance of candles:

Now, before Simeon gave this prophecy to Our Lady, he referred to her Infant Son as the Light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and because of this, light and candles play an important role before and during the Mass, hence the most common name for this Feast -- "Candlemas."

On this day, there will be a Blessing of the Candles and Procession. The symbolism of the candles is described by Dom Prosper Guéranger, OSB, in his "Liturgical Year":

The mystery of today's ceremony has frequently been explained by liturgists, dating from the 7th century. According to Ivo of Chartres, the wax, which is formed from the juice of flowers by the bee, always considered as the emblem of virginity, signifies the virginal flesh of the Divine Infant, who diminished not, either by His conception or His birth, the spotless purity of His Blessed Mother. The same holy bishop would have us see, in the flame of our Candle, a symbol of Jesus who came to enlighten our darkness. St. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, speaking on the same mystery, bids us consider three things in the blessed Candle: the wax, the wick, and the flame. The wax, he says, which is the production of the virginal bee, is the Flesh of our Lord; the wick, which is within, is His Soul; the flame, which burns on top, is His divinity.

The candle blessing -- one of the three principle blessings of the liturgical year, the others being the blessing of palms and ashes -- will be given by the priest wearing a purple cope. He will pray 5 prayers over the candles placed near the Altar. The candles are sprinkled three times while the Aspérges me is sung, and then they are incensed and distributed. When we take a blessed candle from the priest's hand, we kiss the candle and then the priest's hand, just as we do on Palm Sunday when we kiss the palm and then the priest's hand when receiving the blessed palms.

During the Distribution, the Nunc Dimittis -- the Canticle of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32) -- is sung:

Now dismiss Thy servant, O Lord,

In peace, according to Thy word:

For mine own eyes hath seen Thy salvation,

Which Thou hast prepared in the sight of all the peoples,

A light to reveal Thee to the nations

And the glory of Thy people Israel.

Latin Version: Nunc Dimittis

Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine

Secundum verbum tuum in pace:

Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum

Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum:

Lumen ad revelationem gentium, Et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.

I've just posted our Candlemas craft activity, the idea orginally coming from Charlotte at Waltzing Matilda. for anyone looking for a craft and a recipe.

Quick and Simple Candlemas Candle Cake

In typical fashion, I've wanted something easy but eye-catching for the children, so this is what I've come up with.

I bought a jam and cream sponge roll. Placed it vertically on the plate.

Made up a fairly thick batch of icing...using icing sugar, butter and water. (vanilla essence for flavour may be nice)

I bought a fruit stick and stuck it in on the top.

Some red candy strap...folded over and using sissors, cut into the shape of a flame.

The strap is folded over the stick and pinched together on the sides.

All done! Very simple and fuss free.

My youngest child's baptismal day is Candlemas, so this cake is for her!

Happy Feastday!

Pin It

Candlemas Crepes

I would like to thank Jessica for extending me the invitation to be a contributor of this lovely blog. I admire all of the women who contribute here, and appreciate being invited to offer my own family's traditional recipes for honoring all of the celebratory days on the Catholic liturgical calendar.

February 2 is the Feast of Candlemas -- the Presentation of Our Lord, traditionally known as the Purification of Mary. According to Catholicculture.org, "In obedience to the Old Law, the Lord Jesus, the first-born, was presented in the Temple by his Blessed Mother and his foster father. This is another 'epiphany' celebration insofar as the Christ Child is revealed as the Messiah through the canticle and words of Simeon and the testimony of Anna the prophetess. Christ is the light of the nations, hence the blessing and procession of candles on this day. In the Middle Ages this feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or 'Candlemas,' was of great importance."



To celebrate Candlemas, my family enjoys these cream-filled crepes. Crepes are traditionally eaten on Candlemas and Shrove Tuesday "to celebrate renewal, family life, and hopes for good fortune and happiness in the future," according to Catholicculture.org. I think that the crepes look like a swaddled baby, and visually remind us of Mary's First Sorrow, when she and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple and Simeon prophesied that Mary's heart would be pierced by her love for her Son. As we enjoy these sweet cream and berry crepes, we can remember Mary's sweet sorrow as she both loved her infant Son, yet knew that the future would bring great sorrow.

Candlemas Crepes (Sweet Cream and Berry Crepes)
serves 6 (12 filled crepes -- two for each)

1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. milk
1/2 c. lukewarm water
4 large eggs
4 T. butter, melted
3 T. sugar
pinch salt
baking spray or a bit of butter for the crepe pan
1 bag frozen mixed berries, thawed
4 T. sugar
1 1/2 c. whipping cream
4 T. powdered sugar
4 T. juice from the sweetened berries

Sprinkle thawed berries with 4 T. sugar.
Cover and refrigerate for several hours.

Make crepes:
Place flour, milk, water, eggs, butter, 3 T. sugar,
and pinch salt in blender.
Blend until well whipped.
Pour batter into a container with a pouring spout (if your blender doesn't have one).
Heat non-stick crepe pan (omelet pan) over med. high heat.
Spray with baking spray or lightly butter.
When pan is hot, pour two tablespoons batter into pan
and rotate pan until the bottom is coated with a thin, but not paper thin, layer.
Cook until the top is set and the bottom is lightly golden browned.
Flip, using your fingers, or a spatula.
This might take a few times to get it right,
if you've never made crepes before.
Just sacrifice a few for practice.
After turning, cook until the other side is lightly browned.
Remove from pan and cool on wax paper.
Place wax paper between each finished crepe.
You may have a little more batter than you need for this recipe,
depending on the size of your pan.
You can make them and freeze them or just pitch the extra batter.

Crepes can be made hours, or even days ahead,
refrigerated, and then assembled at the last minute.
Or you can make them just before assembling, like I did.

Whip whipping cream with mixer,
adding powdered sugar and berry juice until soft peaks form
(the berry juice is really just for pink color -- this step can be omitted if you don't care about the color).

Place two crepes on each plate.
Place 2-3 T. whipping cream down the center.
Roll crepe, and place the seam on the bottom.
Repeat with other crepe.
Spoon several spoons of berries and juice across both crepes.

Repeat with five more plates.

.
Pin It

Edible Candles for Candlemas

I stumbled upon this post recently at the decorated cookie blog, which described making "edible candles" using Pepperidge Farm pirouette cookies and making flames using candy melt. I thought they were really clever and would make a great treat for the Feast of the Presentation (also called Candlemas) - as they really do look like candles. I didn't plan to make the candy melt flames so tried to come up with some alternatives. One possibility would just add a pointy dab of orange tinted frosting to the tops. Jessica suggested using a candy corn for the flame - that would work as well. What I ended up using, based on what I had in the house, was tissue paper flames. It's not edible, but it looks good and can just be pulled out before eating the "candle" cookies. The original post creator used a thick cookie with center whole as a base to hold the candle. Using what I had on hand, I hollowed out the center of a small frozen cream puff. A mini donut could be used, too. And you wouldn't need a base if you didn't want one. They could just be held.

If you'd like a savory snack alternative that is similar in look, large pretzel rods can also double as an edible candle, topped with a pimento-cheese spread or other orange colored spread.

Pin It