“When I die, I will send down a shower of roses from the heavens, I will spend my heaven by doing good on earth.” - St. Therese
Beautiful New Shower of Roses Apron
Reginette "little queen" Pasta for Our Lady's Queenship
Mafaldine or malfada, also known as reginette or reginelle (Italian for "little queens") is a type of ribbon-shaped pasta. Mafaldine were named in honor of Princess Mafalda of Savoy which is why they are also called "little queens." The pasta is flat and wide, usually about ½ inch in width, with wavy edges on both sides. The delicately fluted edges remind one of a crown. It is prepared similarly to other ribbon-based pasta such as linguine and fettuccine. On this feast of the Queenship of Mary (August 22) a pasta shape referencing a queen is perfect. It would also be a great pasta to serve up on any of the queen saints' feast days, such as St. Margaret of Scotland, St. Elizabeth of Hungary or St. Helena.
A variety of sauces could be served with this pasta. I chose a sun-dried tomato pesto which highlights the fresh bounty of basil from my August garden. Since August - the month of the Assumption and the one dedicated to the Immaculate Heart - is such a Marian month and is tied to herb harvest in her honor, it was fitting.
Reginette with Sun-dried Tomato Pesto
Ingredients:
10 sun-dried tomatoes
1 tbsp pine nuts
2 tbsp grated parmesan
10 basil leaves
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 oz pasta
Directions:
In a blender, place the tomatoes, pine nuts, cheese, basil leaves and oil and blend at maximum power. Cook the pasta until al dente in boiling salted water, drain and stir in the pesto.
NOTE: Reginette/Reginelle pasta is not one of the most common shapes of pasta available in grocery stores. But I did find it available from Kroger as part of their HemisFares pasta brand. It is also available online and is specialty stores.
Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, Pray for us!
Assumption Day and First Fruits
One idea is to serve "First Fruits" shortcake and topped with whipped cream - symbolizing the clouds of the sky in scenes depicting Mary being raised into heaven. You can use a variety of fruits on packaged shortcake cups.
A very simple idea along the same lines is a fresh fruit tray with whipped cream for dipping.
Grapes are especially associated with the feast of the Assumption. Armenian
communities all over the world bless grapes on Assumption Day. Great
trays are piled high with ripe grapes and carried to church, where they receive
the blessings of the priest. Since grapes so often have this prominence in Assumption feasting we will often have this refreshing grape enhanced salad on this feast day.
Silverglade Spinach Salad
Ingredients:
6 cups spinach, rinsed and stemmed
6 ounces cheese, shredded or cut into julienne strips (Cheddar or Jack or combo)
2 cups seedless grapes, halved
Dressing:
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup oil
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons brown sugar
4 slices bacon, fried crisp, drained, & crumbled
2 green onions, sliced thin
Directions:
To prepare dressing, whisk together vinegar, oil. mustard, and brown sugar. Stir in bacon pieces and onion. Refrigerate. In a large bowl combine spinach, cheeses, and grapes. Toss with dressing.
O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary, Pray for us.
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Ice Cream w/ Salted Honey Caramel Sauce on the Feast of Blessed Solanus Casey
Blessed Solanus Casey is known as a miracle worker. One story that I came across happened to feature ice cream. Considering that there is this miraculous story involving ice cream, this frozen treat seems a proper dessert option on his midsummer feast day today. I decided to top it with a honey caramel sauce because he took care of the beehives at the monastery and was known to soothe the bees with his harmonica playing.
One hot summer day, Blessed Solanus had seen
many people at the door seeking his blessing and counsel. One visitor had come
to thank him for his help in one manner or another, bringing ice cream cones to
celebrate. Called to another situation, Blessed Solanus sat the ice cream in
his desk drawer.
About 30 minutes later, one of the friars returned to the monastery from the
dentist’s office. He had gone to arrange an operation to take care of a serious
infection of his jaw. Before he left, he sought Blessed Solanus’ blessing,
which he received. Blessed Solanus did not believe that religious should
normally ask for miracles because they should embrace the sufferings God placed
before them. But, as the custom of the day dictated, such a major health
complication for a novice likely would mean they would have to leave the order.
Blessed Solanus took pity on this friar, and in giving his blessing indicated
the dentist might be surprised. Sure enough, the infection was gone.
When the friar
returned to the monastery, he recounted the good news. He knew it was the
prayer of Blessed Solanus that brought him healing. But Blessed Solanus offered
a detraction from any attention that might be paid to him, and he initiated a
celebration for the friar’s healing by pulling out the ice cream cones he
earlier placed in his desk. They were fully intact and as cold as if they had
been in the freezer all along. ~ From OSV article
Salted Honey Caramel Sauce
Ingredients:
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon butter
1/3 cup whipping cream
½ teaspoon sea salt
Directions:
Combine sugar, honey, and water in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil; cook until mixture is golden brown and smooth in texture, additional 4-6 minutes.
Remove from heat and carefully whisk in cream, butter, and salt (be careful, mixture will splatter). Let cool. Spoon over ice cream and serve. Sprinkle with additional sea salt if desired.
Sauce can be refrigerated for up to two weeks. Reheat before serving.
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Blessed Solanus Casey Soup & Sandwich
A simple soup and sandwich combo would be a fine way to remember the hospitality of this simple man of God. A very simple broth based soup and a peanut butter sandwich would reflect the simplicity of the Franciscan life. Or something cool and refreshing on these often warm summer days such as a cold gazpacho soup and a crispy lettuce, deli meat and cheese sandwich. Mid-summer days are also a great opportunity to take advantage of a fruitful garden harvest with a summer garden minestrone and fresh tomato-basil-cucumber sandwich.
Have it with the family or open your home to friends in the spirit of Franciscan charity or take some sandwiches to distribute to the homeless in your city. Whatever combo you choose, or however you choose to enjoy it, make July 30 a combo soup and sandwich day to remember the generosity and hospitality of this simple wonder-worker priest.
"They are hungry; get them some soup and sandwiches."
Blessed Solanus Casey, Pray for us!
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Blood Orange and Pomegranate Sparkling Sangria
This is a lighter sangria for July, but one with some significant symbolism for the month of the Most Precious Blood. One of the ingredients, blood orange, by name makes it very fitting for a drink to remember the blood of Christ poured out for us. The other unique ingredient to this recipe is the pomegranate arils (seeds). Pomegranates in Christian art symbolize the resurrection and eternal life in Christ. It is fitting as it is through the blood of Christ that we might have eternal life. As a summer drink, this recipe was a little hard to fulfill since both blood oranges and pomegranates are out of season. But it is possible to find packaged pomegranate arils in the refrigerated produce section of natural grocers. I also substituted the blood oranges for regular oranges and then used a bottled blood orange sparkling drink in place of the club soda. These substitutions made it possible to still make a delicious sangria which included the symbolic elements of blood orange and pomegranate.
Blood Orange and Pomegranate Sparkling Sangria
Ingredients:
3 blood oranges (or other oranges if unavailable)
Arils (seeds) from 1 pomegranate
¼ cup brandy
¼ cup simple syrup
1 bottle dry sparkling rosé or white sparkling wine
1 cup sparkling water (use blood orange Italian soda if not using blood oranges as fruit)
Instructions:
To make simple syrup, pour equal parts sugar and water into a saucepan and heat ingredients until dissolved. Cool. Juice two of the oranges. Slice the remaining orange into thin rounds, then cut into halves or quarters for garnish. In a pitcher, combine the simple sugar, blood orange juice, blood orange slices, pomegranate arils and brandy. Let the fruit marinate for a few hours, covered and chilled in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, pour in the rosé and sparkling water. Ladle sangria and fruit into glasses and serve. Makes approximately 6 glasses.
Precious
Blood,
Ocean of Divine Mercy:
Flow upon us!
Precious Blood,
Most pure Offering:
Procure us every Grace!
Precious Blood,
Hope and Refuge of sinners:
Atone for us!
Precious Blood,
Delight of holy souls:
Draw us!
Amen.
~St. Catherine of Siena
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Summer Sangria in this Month of the Most Precious Blood
July is drawing to a close, but there is still time to enjoy a classic summer drink - sangria - perfect for the month dedicated to the Most Precious Blood. Sangre means blood in Spanish and the drink sangria took it's name from the red wine used, as it resembled the color of blood. Living in Colorado where there is a spectacular mountain range which extends into New Mexico named Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ), I always think of the word sangre/sangria as associated with Christ's blood.
In addition to the dedicated month there are many saints with devotion and insights into the saving power of
the Precious Blood and isn’t it convenient that several of them have summer
feast days – perfect days to toast with a sangria and offer prayers through the saving power of the most precious
blood.
St. Gaspar del Bufalo (feast: December 28), founder of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood said, “We must let it be known how the Blood of Christ cleanses the souls and sanctifies them, particularly by means of the sacraments.”
St. Gaspar del Bufalo (feast: December 28), founder of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood said, “We must let it be known how the Blood of Christ cleanses the souls and sanctifies them, particularly by means of the sacraments.”
In both the Dialogue and her letters, St.
Catherine of Siena (feast: April 29) talks much about the blood of Christ as
fundamental to salvation. Her dying words were, “Blood! Blood! Father, into Thy
hands I commend my spirit.”
The Carmelite saint, St Mary Magdalen de Pazzi (feast: May
25) when in a rapture, saw that, “every time a human being offers up the Blood
by which he was redeemed, he offers a gift of infinite worth, which can be
equaled by no other.” Inspired by her vision, St Mary Magdalen de Pazzi offered
the Precious Blood fifty times for the souls of the living and the dead, and
then God rewarded her with visions of the multitudes of souls that had been
saved from perdition or delivered from Purgatory.
The Curé of Ars, St. John Vianney (feast: August 4), drew on
the most perfect way of offering the Most Precious Blood: he asked Our Lady to
offer it for him, and said that it never failed to obtain for him the grace or
favor he sought.
St. Dominic (feast: August 8), actually had a vision of Our
Lady sprinkling devout people in his congregation with the Precious Blood.
St. Maria De Mattias (feast: August 20), founder of the religious congregation of the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ
had a consuming desire that "not even one drop of the Divine Blood would
be lost"; that it would reach all sinners to purify them and so that,
washed in that river of mercy, they would rediscover the right way to peace and
union among people.
Classic Sangria
Ingredients:
2 bottles chilled dry red wine, like Rioja
2 bottles chilled dry red wine, like Rioja
1 cup brandy
1 cup orange juice
1/4 cup superfine granulated sugar
2 oranges, cut into thin rounds & quartered
2 lemons, cut into thin rounds
3 limes, cut into thin rounds
2 apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 cups cold club soda or sparkling water
Directions:
In a large pot or pitcher, combine the wine, brandy, orange
juice, and sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the orange, lemon, lime slices, and the apples then refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour.
Remove from the refrigerator and add the club soda. Serve in glasses over ice.
* * * * * * *
“Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, in satisfaction of my sins, in supplication for the holy souls in Purgatory and for the needs of Holy Church (name a soul).”
“Immaculate Heart of Mary, do thou offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the conversion of sinners, especially, (name the soul).”
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