Watch the weather on St. Swithin's Day

A sweet sister in Christ sent me a link, a few weeks ago, to this feast day recipe at Catholic Culture.

July 15, the feast of St. Swithin, is, apparently a day to watch the weather. It is said of this very popular English saint:

Saint Swithin's Day, if thou dost rain, for forty days it will remain; Saint Swithin's Day, if thou be fair, for forty days 'twill rain nae mair.

Saint Swithin's connection with the weather, and particularly with the rain, doubtless comes from the legend that in his humility he asked to be buried outside his cathedral, where passers-by would step over his grave and raindrops from the eaves would fall upon it. 

source 


Rain or shine, it would be a lovely day to bake a summer cake in honor of this memorable saint (and as July 15 is also the feast of St. Bonaventure, you have a doubly good reason to celebrate). The thought, however, of baking an spiced apple cake (as the recipe at the link suggested) in the middle of July, when apples are hardly in their prime in the Midwest of the United States, did not sound quite right to me. Thus, I turned St. Swithin's cake into a delicious shortcake-like cake with wild blueberries on top. It could not be an easier cake to bake, with the aid of baking mix, and for me, a one-pound bag of frozen wild blueberries. Blueberries are in season in much of America right now, but my bushes are not producing well this year, so a bag of frozen berries did the trick. (If you choose to use fresh berries, your baking time should be quite a bit shorter so set the timer for about 30 minutes and then check it every five minutes or so until it's done.)

My family enjoys any fruity cake, warm from the oven, with just a drizzle of cold heavy cream, but it would be delightful, as well, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a squirt of sweetened whipped cream. It would be a wonderful coffee cake for breakfast, at tea time, or for dessert.

I modified the recipe to accommodate my frozen blueberries, but refer back to the original recipe if you'd like an apple cake, and remember to shorten your baking time if you use unfrozen (fresh) berries.

St. Swithin's Summer Cake

(will it rain or will it shine?)

2 cups biscuit mix*

1/3 cup sugar

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 lb. frozen wild blueberries, thawed 

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup melted butter or margarine

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine biscuit mix and 1/3 cup sugar. 

Combine eggs and cream; stir into biscuit mix with fork. 

Spread dough in bottom of greased 8-inch springform pan. 

Pour thawed blueberries on top of the dough, spreading to an even layer, but avoiding touching the pan if possible. 

Sprinkle with sugar. Pour melted butter evenly over all. 

Bake at 350 degrees for about 60 minutes, testing just before timer goes off. 

Cool slightly and remove sides of the pan. Serve warm, cut into wedges with cream or ice cream.

*I use this recipe for a foolproof homemade version of standard Bisquick -- just a quick whirl in the processor and I store it in a glass jar.

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4 More Festive Foods on the 4th {and a link-up!}

I mentioned that we were still trying to decide what to make for this year's 4th of July celebration earlier this week when I posted 6 Patriotic Treats for Independence Day.  I thought I'd share what we ended up making, as well as a link up for any other American readers who would like to share their 4th of July celebrations! 

.: Star Spangled Berry Cake :. 

I posted all about our cake here.

.: American Flag Cupcakes :.

We have been reading about Our Flag this week, from the sweet Little Golden Book, and the girls were very excited to help create this year's Flag Cupcakes.  Since we were using all the berries on the cake and brownies the girls decorated the cupcakes with white frosting with white & red sprinkles and blue frosting with white stars!  I thought it turned out great, even if we were short on stars...  Just think of it as the Flag of 1822! ;) 

 

.: Red, White & Blue Berry Brownie Torte :.

Recipe can be found here: Red, White & Blue Berry Brownie Torte

.: Flag Fruit & Marshmallow Kabobs :. 

We have made a variation of these Red, White and Blueberry Skewers back in 2009 but this year we made the Flag themed Berry Kabobs from Family Circle. 

Directions: Thread 4 blueberries, 2 mini-marshmallows and 2 raspberries on each of five 10-inch wooden sticks. On the remaining seven sticks, thread 4 raspberries and 3 marshmallows to create this all-American treat.

To Participate:

1. Create a post about your 4th of July Food Creations.
2. Using the linky below, enter the exact link to your post.
3. Add a link your post, referring back to this post so that others can find the link-up as well!
4. Be sure to visit the links and see how everyone else celebrated!

God Bless America! 

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6 Patriotic Treats for Independence Day

Last year our children had so much fun helping create treats to take to the 4th of July party we were attending.  We are still trying to decide what we will make for tomorrow, but I thought I'd repost these here in case any of you are still looking for ideas too!     

.: 4th of July Ice Cream Cones :.

Sugar cones dipped in melted white chocolate and rolled in sprinkles

Served with Vanilla White or Strawberry Red Ice Cream

(these were a hit with the kids AND adults!) 

.: Red, White and Blueberry Trifle :. 

White cake, blueberries, whip cream and strawberries

layered in a trifle bowl!  So pretty and easy!

 

.: Red Licorice :.

(leftover) Red Licorice wrapped in bundles with these free Printable Napkin Rings (inspiration found here)

.: Sparkler Pretzel Rods :.

Pretzel Rods dipped in melted white chocolate and decorated with sprinkles

.: Red, White, and Blue Berries :.

Strawberries (washed and dried completely) dipped in melted white chocolate and blue sprinkles

(I ran across this idea online, and it looks like Charlotte made them this year too, along with all their awesome t-shirts!  One of these years we need to try painting t-shirts.  I love how theirs turned out, especially the patriotic cupcake for that cute-as-can-be-god-daughter of ours!) 

.: United States Flag Cupcakes :.

White Cupcakes decorated with whipped cream, sliced strawberries and blueberries (as an alternative to last year's flag cake) 

We pray, Thee O Almighty and Eternal God! Who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of Thy mercy, that Thy Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of Thy Name.

We pray Thee, who alone art good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, Pope N., the Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, N., all other bishops, prelates, and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise amongst us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation.

We pray Thee O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.

We pray for his excellency, the governor of this state, for the members of the assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.

We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

Finally, we pray to Thee, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of Thy servants departed who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives, and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light, and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

From his 1791 Prayer for Government, recited in parishes throughout his diocese. Archbishop John Carroll, SJ

Happy Independence Day! 

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On the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

Our family is headed to a local parade and then swimming, but I wanted to quickly share our lunch plans for today repeated from our first unit of the Papal Lap Book:  "The Barque of Peter" Banana Boats with a Fishers of Men Snack!

"The Barque of Peter" Banana Boats

Ingredients:

• Bananas
• 1 bun for every banana
• 2 Tbs of Peanut Butter (or other spread of your choice)
• Optional toppings (chopped nuts, chocolate, or other toppings you might find on a ice cream sundae)

Directions:

Begin by toasting your bun. Let the bun cool a bit before spreading the peanut butter (or other spread) on each side.  Peel the bananas and place them inside each bun. If you are adding addition toppings, drizzle a little more peanut butter over the banana so that the toppings stay put.  Enjoy! 

Additional ideas for these great saints can be found in the archives (St. Peter and St. Paul) or in this post at Shower of Roses. 

O God, whose right hand raised up blessed Peter, when he walked upon the water and began to sink, and thrice delivered his fellow-Apostle Paul from the depths of the sea, when he suffered shipwreck: graciously hear us and grant, by the merits of them both, that we also may attain unto everlasting glory: Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Sts. Peter and Paul, Pray for Us! 

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Sacred and Immaculate Heart Fruit Pizza

Here's an idea for the upcoming Feasts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary...

Fruit Pizza!

Ingredients:

1 16 oz roll of refrigerated sugar cookie dough

1 8 oz package of cream cheese

1 Cup of Cool Whipped topping

1/2 Cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2-3 Cups strawberries 

1 Cup blueberries

Handful of chocolate chips

(Double ingredients for a larger sized cookie sheet)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Press roll of refrigerated cookie dough into a 15x10 cookie sheet.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until it starts to turn golden brown.  Allow to cool completely.

In a medium sized bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.  Add powdered sugar and vanilla.  Fold in Cool Whip until combined.  Spread on completely cooled sugar cookie crust and top with fruit for design.  Chocolate chips were used for the cross above the Sacred Heart.

This was a larger sized cookie sheet that I made for our family.

Design trick: I used a paper template and traced the heart shape gently with a toothpick.  

This provided an easy guide to outline with blueberries and fill in with strawberries!  It was really very easy...

Then I made an extra one for a friend:)

+Happy Feasting in the name of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary+

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Sacred & Immaculate Heart Cookies

In honor of the upcoming feasts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, here is an updated version of the Sacred Heart Cookies which can be found in the archives.

Sacred & Immaculate Heart Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• White Icing
• Chocolate Sprinkles
• Pearl or Flower Shaped Sprinkles
• Various colors of Sparkle Gel

Directions:

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into hearts with a heart shaped cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. 

 

Add caption

After the cookies have cooled, cover each heart with white frosting.  

 

Add a red heart to the center of each cookie with red frosting, using additional yellow or orange frosting to create a flame.

For Sacred Heart cookies add chocolate sprinkles to represent the thorns across the center.

For Immaculate Heart cookies add pearl or flower shaped sprinkles and green leaves. 

"In the Sacred Heart every treasure of wisdom and knowledge is hidden. In that Divine Heart beats God's infinite love for everyone, for each one of us individually." 

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Tacos for Trinity Sunday

The following menu suggestions for Trinity Sunday, along with the pictures, were submitted by Angie from Jesse Tree Treasures.

To celebrate Trinity Sunday (last year) we had Trinity tacos!
The menu included a trio of fresh berries.
Three types of tortillas (soft flour, soft corn and hard shell corn)
A trio of dips and salsas (homemade guacamole, seasoned sour cream, and salsa)
Tri-color peppers
Three cheeses
And if you really want to go all out, you could do three meats with taco meat and fajita chicken and steak. We just stuck with taco meat.

This is a fun and healthy meal that the kids love. The best part is... It is allergy friendly. It is extremely difficult to find a meal the whole family can eat because of the various allergies. Tacos are a favorite, because everyone can stay away from their offending food. If you still have room for dessert, you can have a "Trinity Sundae" with 3 scoops of ice cream and 3 toppings or 3 cherries. Enjoy!  (Editor note:  You can also find a Trio of Sundae Solemnities in the archives!)

Guacamole Recipe
I used to be intimidated by the thought of making homemade guacamole, now I make it all the time, it is so simple.
All you need are: 2-3 avocados (they should yield a bit to your finger pressure, but not feel hollow).
Mash with a fork or two knives. If it is a little chunky that's fine, I like it better that way.
Add sea salt, chili powder and lime juice to taste, and that's it! Yum!
If you like to add things to it, try red onion, tomatoes, cilantro, and red peppers.

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