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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Super Simple St. Andrew Snack

This is a really quick and easy snack for the feast of St. Andrew,  the apostle (November 30). More than likely you have ingredients around the house that will work and it takes just a minute to make. Take two straight sticks, like pretzels or celery (or carrots, peppers, cucumber), dab a bit of peanut butter (or cream cheese or other spread) in middle and stick together to form an X shape. That shape is referred to as St. Andrew's cross or Saltire. According to tradition St. Andrew was crucified on a cross of that form (called a crux decussata). 

And don't forget the St. Andrew Novena or Christmas Anticipation Prayer that starts this day also. This beautiful prayer is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas.

St. Andrew Christmas Novena

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.


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Fishers of Men - Celebrating St. Andrew

St. Andrew, a fisherman from Bethsaida, was the first Apostle called by Jesus. Andrew was already a follower of John the Baptist, and he recognized Jesus as the Messiah when John baptized Our Lord in the Jordan River. He introduced his brother Simon to Jesus. The two brothers became apostles of Jesus and "fishers of men."

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. ~Matthew 4:19

Enjoy an easy and symbolic treat on St. Andrew's feast day - November 30. Set out a bowl or basket of pretzel "fishing rods" (any stick variety will do, whether thin sticks or rods). Accompany this with a smaller bowl of peanut butter, cheese dip, cream cheese spread (anything that will stick to the pretzel sticks) and a bowl of gold fish crackers. Commence fishing by dipping the pretzel sticks in the peanut butter (or other dip option) and then catch a “fish” from the fish bowl as the crackers will stick to the rod of peanut butter.

We have had a lot of fun with this little fishing activity. It’s a great way to reflect on St. Andrew’s role as fisherman - first of fish, then of men.

St. Andrew, Pray for us!

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Decorating with Heraldry

Heraldry has been defined as the art of blazoning, assigning, and marshalling a coat of arms. I mention it because I recently explored the website, World of Heraldry, which contains a wealth of images for coats-of-arms depicting St. Martin of Tours. Apparently St. Martin is one of the most popular saints used in heraldry. We used the shield images for several feast day crafts and decorations. Catholic Cuisine contributors in the past have used a coat-of-arms to make decorative picks for cupcakes or other treats (Pope Benedict's Coat of Arms Cupcakes).


We did the same today for our brownies, using the variety of images of St. Martin of Tours from the heraldry site. We thought that they really looked like heraldry banners. There are many other saints in the coats of arms on the site. It would be a great place to look when you want to liven up a cupcake or other treat for a feast day.

Upcoming November saints that have images on the heraldry site:

St. Elizabeth of Hungary (November 17)

St. Catherine of Alexandria (November 25)





St. Andrew (November 30)



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Fried Fish in Honor of the Fishers of Men

Today, June 29, is the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, two of the Church's greatest apostles and fishers of men. In honor of this feast, we will be enjoying some beer battered fried fish this evening. This recipe is fun and easy and the kids can help.

Ingredients:
2 lbs. fish filets, dried with a paper towel and seasoned with seasoning salt
1 container shake and pour buttermilk pancake mix
1 cup beer
oil for frying (about 1 in. deep in large fryer)

Directions:

Pat fish filets dry, season, and set aside. Add beer to pancake mix in place of water as directed. Shake well. (You can play with the amount of beer for desired consistency.) Pour batter into shallow bowl. Heat oil in large frying pan, dip fish in batter until coated and place in pan. Fry on each side until golden brown (aproximately 3-4 minutes). If batter begins to brown too quickly, reduce heat. Drain on fish on paper towels after removing from oil.

You can mix ketchup and a bit of horse radish for a dipping sauce, reminding us of St. Paul's conversion story, and then, maybe serve up a bit of Key Lime Pie for dessert, since Jesus entrusted Peter with the keys to the Kingdom.

Blessed feasting to you all. Pin It