Italian Flag-Shaped Caprese Salad

Here's an idea for any Italian Saint's Feast Day or Papal Celebration!  We used this idea to celebrate the Canonization of JPII and John XXIII this past weekend at the same time as we gathered for our Rome Pilgrimage Reunion.
 
Caprese salad is a common salad entrée found in Rome so we thought it quite fitting for an Italian feast! 
 
Don't forget that both St. Catherine of Siena and St. Francis of Assisi are the 2 Patron Saints of Italy...It would be quite fitting for their feast days as well:)
It's very simple to put together and even more festive in the shape of the Italian flag!
Ingredients:
Typically, Caprese consists of  sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil leaves, drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. It's that easy and it's so fresh and delicious!
*I used a fresh mozzarella log and Roma tomatoes for the flag so the shapes would correspond in size.*
 
Depending on your taste, balsamic vinegar may be added or a different blend of spices.  Dining in Rome, we rarely experienced it being served with vinegar.
Instructions:
Wash and gently dry fresh basil leaves and set aside.  Slice fresh mozzarella log and tomatoes of choice.  (We used Roma) Arrange according to flag colors, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Buon appetite!
 

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Keys of Heaven Candies


Today is a historic day in the Catholic Church as two popes are canonized.  You can find a number of recipes to commemorate these new saints in the archives including Papal PolentaKremówka Papieska (Papal Cream Cake), and John Paul II Sugar Cookies.  I just finished making some "Keys of Heaven" candies for my children using this Key Mold and Yellow Candy Melts.


St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II, Ora Pro Nobis!

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St. George and the Dragon Veggie Platter


With the feast of St. George falling on Easter Wednesday this year, following a weekend filled with Easter and Birthday cakes in our home, I decided to make a Veggie Platter for the feast of St. George instead of a dragon cake or our Saint George Cookies. Our veggie platter was inspired by a couple snake themed veggie trays I found through a google image search, with the addition of some lettuce wings at the suggestion of Charlotte's oldest son.  I thought it turned out great and my children love it! We will devour the dragon this evening with dinner, after reading a couple new books (Saint George & the Dragon by Jim Forrest and The Saint Who Fought the Dragon: The Story of St. George - affiliate links) that one of our boys discovered in his Easter Basket! You can also read The Ballad of St. George by Eliana Murphy over at Shower of Roses.

St. George and the Dragon Veggie Platter

Ingredients:

  • Cucumbers - I used 2 for the head and body
  • Carrots - I used baby carrots
  • Broccoli
  • Tomatoes
  • Olives - 1 can of black olives
  • Lettuce - 2 leaves for Wings
  • Veggie Dip of your choice




Directions: 

Using the end of one of the cucumbers and some carrot slices, create a dragon head.


Slice the rest of the cucumbers and shape into a body on a platter, wrapping around the dip bowl.


Add the broccoli, carrots, tomatoes and olives, along with the two leaves of lettuce for the wings.



Happy Feast of St. George! 

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A Lenten Dinner on Holy Thursday


I just realized that even though our family has been enjoying Lenten Dinners for the past six years (originally inspired Alice's Lenten Teas) I have never posted any of the pictures here at Catholic Cuisine!  It's a little late for this year, but at least next year this post will be in the archives! :)  It really isn't very hard to pull together this symbolic meal and it can be modified in so many ways, as you can see from the changes I've made from year to year.  You can find my posts from our 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009 Lenten Dinners/Teas on Holy Thursday over at my other blog Shower of Roses.  (Updated to add: In 2015 we had this Lenten Dinner on Holy Thursday.) 

Removing a thorn from our Lenten Crown of Thorns 
Note: This Post Contains Affiliate Links

Here are the pictures from this year's Lenten Dinner on Holy Thursday:

~ Palm on the Road ~

Like I did a couple years ago, I decided to add another book to our collection for this menu item. When I ran across a bargain priced version of The Donkey and the Golden Light I thought it would be perfect for this year.



"And many spread their garments on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields." Mk. 11:8


~ Costly Oil ~

One of the boys made a salad and I pulled out the vinegar and some "costly oil" to use as dressing. 


"And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her." Mk. 14:9


~ Thirty Pieces of Silver ~

I happened to have 30 Chocolate Coins left over from St. Patrick's Day so I used these for our "silver" this year.  Only a few of the children gave up candy this year so those few are saving their few coins (and Hershey Kiss) for Easter and put another sacrifice bean in the jar. 


"Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, 'What will you give me if I deliver him to you?' And they paid him thirty pieces of silver." Mt. 25: 14-15


~ Unleavened Bread ~

I kept it extra simple this year and picked up a package of Naan since my husband loves it, although technically it is a leavened bread...  Don't tell the kids! 
It was perfect for with either the Chicken Curry Soup or the Fig Butter. 


"And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the passover lamb, his disciples said to Him, 'Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the passover?'" Mk. 14:12


~ The Mount of Olives ~

This year's Mount of Olives was a mix of Black Olives and Garlic/Jalapeño stuffed Green Olives


"And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." Mk. 14:26


~ The Cock Crows Twice ~

This year we had Chicken Curry Soup and Baked Chicken.


"Mom, did you just put the chicken in the baking pan so that it looks like it is homemade?!  Genius!!" 
Um, no.  I put it in the pan so that I could heat it up! ;)  And I should have washed and dried my hands before touching the little sign with my greasy fingers... The Chicken Curry Soup was homemade though, using my mom's recipe. YUM!!! 


"And Jesus said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.'" Mk. 14:30


~ Gethsemane Figs ~

Fig Butter representing Gethsemane Figs to spread on the "unleavened bread." 


"And they went to a place which was called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here, while I pray.'" Mk. 14:32


~ Sleepy Apostles ~ 

Not all of the children like herbal tea, but a few of us enjoyed some Sleepytime Tea after dinner. Thanks again Jennifer for the suggestion!


"And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep?  Could you not watch one hour?" Mk. 14:37


~ Judas' Kiss ~

One Hershey Kiss each to represent Judas' Kiss. 


"And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, 'Master!' And he kissed him." Mk. 14:45


~ The Clouds of Heaven ~

Since we were traveling on the solemnity of St. Joseph this year I still had a package of Cream Puffs in the freezer that I had purchased for our annual feast day celebration.  They made perfect little "Clouds of Heaven" for our Holy Thursday Dinner. 



"And Jesus said, 'I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.'" Mk. 14:62


~ Peter's Tears ~

Roasted and Salted Almonds were perfect for Peter's Salty Tears.


"And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, 'Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.' And he broke down and wept." Mk. 14:72


I'm adding this last picture to give you a peek at the supplies for this year's dinner. (The soup and salad are not pictured, and we ended up not using the Fig Bars.)  It really isn't that difficult at all to pull together these symbolic meals!  The girls set the table, the boys helped prepare the soup and salad, and I printed off some new little card stock signs. (You can still download my document over at Scribd or Dropbox.)  


I hope you all had a very blessed Holy Thursday!

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Shamrock Frittata


Shamrock Frittata

Ingredients:
  • 1 Bag of Trader Joe’s Roasted Potatoes with Roasted Peppers and Onions (or equivalent)
  • Olive or Coconut Oil
  • 12-18 Eggs (depending on the size - enough to cover the potatoes)
  • Salt & Pepper
  • 1 Green Bell Pepper (with three lobes for the shamrocks)
  • Irish Style Breakfast Sausages (optional)

 

Directions:

Heat oil in a 12" Oven-safe Family Sized Skillet and cook potatoes, peppers and onions according to package directions.


While the vegetables cook, whisk the eggs in a bowl, seasoning with salt and pepper. Add the egg mixture to the cooking veggies.


Cook on low heat until just set, about 10-15 minutes.


Transfer the frittata to the oven and finish baking until golden under a heated broiler.


Serve with Irish style sausages.  This Shamrock Frittata served our family of nine. 


Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

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Shamrock Shortbread

The following recipe was submitted by Hi Cookery in honor of the feast of St. Patrick. Thank you Highlander and Islander!


March 17: Feast Day of St. Patrick

How lucky and blessed are those who can taste some homemade shamrock-shaped shortbread on the Feast Day of St. Patrick. He used a three-leaf clover, which grows abundantly in Ireland, to teach the pagans about the Holy Trinity—God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and convert them to Christianity in the fifth century. Inspired by the sweet symbolism, we baked shamrock-shaped shortbread sprinkled with green sugar crystals that sparkle like emeralds from the isle of the Irish patron saint. Honor St. Patrick and his evangelistic efforts and make Celtic-style clover cookies.

May your blessings outnumber

The shamrocks that grow,

And may trouble avoid you

Wherever you go.

~Irish Blessing

Recipe

(Adapted from Irish Culture and Customs)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened (we used Kerrygold brand Irish butter)
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 3/4 – 1 cup sugar, granulated white
  • 2 cups flour
  • green food coloring (we used Wilton brand Leaf Green icing color)
  • green sugar sprinkles (we used Wilton brand dark green colored sugar)


Directions

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter until fluffy. Mix in the cornstarch and sugar and blend well. Gradually mix in the flour until a cookie dough is formed.



Tint with green food coloring to the desired shade. Roll the dough into a ball, place in a covered bowl and refrigerate till firm (about an hour). Divide the dough into two or three smaller pieces. Place between sheets of waxed paper. Roll each to ¼-inch thickness. Cut with shamrock-shaped cookie cutters. Place on greased baking sheet at least an inch apart. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Re-roll the dough scraps, place between sheets of waxed paper, roll to ¼-inch thickness and refrigerate for another 15 minutes or until firm. Continue cutting out shapes and refrigerating.



Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with green sugar sprinkles. Bake in a preheated oven at 275 degrees F for 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.



Notes
  • While this shortbread recipe is tasty, we prefer other sugar cookie doughs that are easier to handle. This one requires lots of chilling time and patience in order for the cookies to hold their shape. They do spread out a little in the oven but the puffiness goes down toward the end of the baking cycle.
  • Irish butter is creamier and more yellow than the domestic one. This may have affected the dough being more moist than other recipes.
  • Add a little flour to the work surface or waxed paper so the dough does not stick too much.
  • Baking time is longer for this recipe because it has a lower heat (275 instead of 350 degrees).
  • Search our blog for other shortbread, cookies and other Irish-inspired recipes for St. Patrick’s Day. We also recommended browsing for more feast day food ideas from Catholic Cuisine.

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St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

The following St. Patrick's Day Dinner menu and recipes were submitted by Kathryn Zamudio, and the photos were taken by her husband Miguel. 



St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

Irish Cheddar and Stout
Pot of Gold Soup
Emerald Isle Salad
Corned Beef
Whiskey Glazed Carrots
Champ
Irish Oatmeal-Rye Soda Bread
Shamrock Rolls
Irish Whiskey Parfaits
Chocolate Irish Whiskey Cake
Pistachio Cake

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Irish Cheddar and Stout

2 cups 1- to 1 1/2-inch-diameter red-skinned potatoes, halved
2 cups cauliflower florets
2 cups very small brussels sprouts
2 apples, cored, cut into wedges
1 pound Irish cheddar cheese, grated
2 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour
3/4 cup (or more) Irish stout (such as Guinness)
6 tablespoons frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Steam all vegetables until tender, about 15 minutes. Arrange vegetables and apples around edge of large platter.
Meanwhile, toss cheese with flour in large bowl. Bring 3/4 cup stout, juice concentrate, and mustard to simmer in large saucepan over medium heat. Gradually add cheese mixture, stirring constantly, until cheese is melted and smooth, thinning with more stout, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer fondue to bowl. Place in center of platter with vegetables.

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Pot of Gold Soup

2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, finely chopped
3 medium apples
2 medium butternut squashes (about 3 pounds)
1 cup apple juice or cider
3 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
Salt and pepper

Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add the chopped onion and saute until soft and translucent. Remove the onion from the heat.
Now set your kids to work peeling the apples while you peel, seed, and chop the squash. Core and chop the peeled apples.
Add the apples, squash, juice or cider, and chicken stock to the onions and bring to a boil. Then lower the heat and simmer partially covered for 25 minutes.
Add the brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt and pepper. Puree the soup, reheat, and serve. Makes 6 to 8 servings.


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Emerald Isle Molded Salad

3 oz. pkg. lime Jello
1 c. boiling water
9 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained (save)
Juice from pineapple
1 c. sm. curd cottage cheese
1/2 c. whipping cream, whipped
1/2 c. chopped nuts

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Add pineapple juice. Chill until slightly thickened. Beat until frothy. Fold in remaining ingredients. Chill until firm in a 1 quart or 1 1/2 quart Pyrex bowl, mold or rectangular baking dish.


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Guinness Glazed Slow Cooker Corned Beef

1 3-5 pound corned beef
pickling spices*
1 bottle/can (12+ ounces) Guinness or other Irish stout
1 small onion, sliced
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons grainy mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Place the corned beef along with the pickling spices, onion and garlic in a slow cooker/crock-pot, top with the Guinness and cook on low until fork tender, about 8-10 hours.

Set the corned beef aside, strain the solids from the Guinness and juices, place the liquid into a large sauce pan, add the brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper, bring to a boil reduce the heat and simmer to reduce by half, about 15-20 minutes.

Cut the fat layer from the corned beef, glaze with the Guinness glaze and bake in a preheated 400F oven until the glaze starts bubbling, about 10-15 minutes.

*if you don’t have a seasoning package combine
16 cups cold water
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons black peppercorns
4 whole allspice berries
2 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick, broken into several pieces
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
8 whole cloves
8 whole allspice berries
12 whole juniper berries
2 bay leaves, crumbled


Carrots with Marmalade-Whiskey Glaze

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1 cup sweet orange marmalade
1/2 cup Irish whiskey
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
12 carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise
Fresh parsley sprigs

Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Boil next 3 ingredients in saucepan until reduced to generous 3/4 cup, stirring often, about 7 minutes. Mix in 1 tablespoon mustard.

Toss carrots and 1/4 cup glaze in large bowl to coat. Sprinkle carrots with salt and pepper. Roast until carrots are tender, brushing occasionally with more glaze, about 35 minutes. Transfer to platter, garnish with parsley.

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Champ (Mashed Potatoes)

6 -8 unpeeled potatoes
1 bunch green onion
1 1/2 cups milk
4 -8 tablespoons butter
salt & pepper

Finely chop the green onions (white& green tops) and mix with the cold milk.
Bring slowly to a boil and simmer 3-4 minutes, turn off the heat and leave to infuse.

Peel and mash the cooked potatoes and while still hot mix with the boiled milk & green onions. Beat in some of the butter. Season with salt & pepper. Put a knob of butter on top& serve.

You can do this recipe ahead and reheat in a 350F oven, covered with foil until hot (apprx 30 minutes).


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Shamrock Rolls
½ cup scalded milk
¼ cup butter
2 Tbsp sugar
1 ½ tsp salt
½ cup warm water
1 pkg yeast
1 egg
3 cups sifted flour

Combine milk, butter, sugar and salt. Add water. then add yeast (dissolved according to package directions). Mix well. Blend in the egg. Gradually add flour. Mix until dough is well blended and soft. Shape dough into small balls on a well-floured board. Place 3 balls in a greased muffin tin cup. Let rise about 1 ½ to 2 hours in a warm place or until double in bulk.

Brush with melted butter.

Bake in a 350°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until done.

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Irish Oatmeal-Rye Soda Bread with Herbs and Walnuts

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
2 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup rye flour
5 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons butter, chilled, cut into cubes
1 cup buttermilk
3 tsp chopped fresh thyme
3 Tbsp chopped fresh chives
1 cup toasted walnuts.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray 8-inch-diameter cake pan with nonstick spray. Whisk flour, 4 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in large bowl to blend. Add butter. Using fingertips, rub in until coarse meal forms. Make well in center of flour mixture. Add buttermilk. Gradually stir dry ingredients into milk to blend. Mix in raisins.
Using floured hands, shape dough into ball. Transfer to prepared pan and flatten slightly (dough will not come to edges of pan). Sprinkle dough with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.
Bake bread until brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool bread in pan 10 minutes. Transfer to rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.


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Pistachio Cake

1 16 oz white cake mix
1 3 oz pkg pistachio instant pudding ¾ cup cold water
¾ cup cooking oil
4 eggs
2 tsp almond extract

Stir cake mix with pudding. Add 1 tsp almond extract. Add water and oil to the mix. Then add extract. Add the eggs, one at a time, using low speed of mixer. Beat 5 minutes. Grease a large angel food cake or bundt pan. Bake at 350°F for 45 to 50 minutes. Cool, then remove from pan.



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Oatmeal Lace Cookies

½ cup butter, softened
¾ cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1⅓ cups roalled oats (oatmeal)
⅛ teaspoon salt
Whipped Cream Dipping Sauce
¾ cup heavy cream
¼ cup sour cream
1 tablespoon sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl beat butter and sugar to combine. Add vanilla, beating to combine.
Add oatmeal and salt, mixing to combine.
Drop cookies by level teaspoon on baking sheet, 3-inches apart. Bake 8 minutes or until lacy and flat. Let cool on rack about 3 minutes until just firm. Move to rack to cool completely.
Whipped Cream Dipping Sauce: Whisk heavy cream, sour cream and sugar together until light and holds a soft peak.

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Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

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