Hint of the Day: Bread Season

While it's cool enough to run the oven, but not too cold, make double batches of bread and freeze half. That way, on a winter's day you can enjoy a fresh loaf of bread without worrying about whether you can coax it to rise.

Pictured above are loaves that are shaped and frozen before the final rise (make sure they'll be small enough to fit in the pan!), but you can also freeze parbaked loaves (a.k.a. "brown and serve"). To do this, bake the bread for about 75% of the baking time, until it is cooked through but not browned (185° internal temperature). Cool completely, wrap and freeze.

Reason #3986 why I love being Catholic:

My first thought at seeing this idea was that I need to buy a hand-shaped cookie cutter. (Okay, my second thought was that it's a little weird to be eating stigmata cookies, but then my next thought was that it's great to be Catholic and not be grossed out by the whole thing.)

Among others, these cookies would be a great dessert on the feasts of St. Padre Pio (September 23) and St. Francis (October 4).

You can find a (presumably) complete list of stigmatics here and more information on what that's all about on the ever-helpful Wikipedia.

CL Hint of the Day: Yarn Stash

When your yarn stash begins to exceed its storage space, call it home decor.

Apothecary jars would work well for this, too.

Facebook Adds “Expected Child” to Celebrate Baby’s Coming Birth

Facebook’s 750 million users now have the option of adding family members still in the womb to their list of “Friends and Family” on their profiles — with “Expected: Child.” They also have the option of adding a photo of their unborn baby, the baby’s name and a due date.

In a clear display of humanity, the unborn child is listed right alongside born family members, emphasizing that each member of the family is equally important and valuable. Once added, a notification is posted to the newsfeeds of all of the user’s friends, giving everyone a chance to witness and celebrate the new human life.

Thanks to LifeNews!

Today's Word

On September 14, we celebrate the Exaltation of the Cross, sometimes called the Triumph of the Cross.

Women for Faith and Family have some excellent ideas on how to celebrate the the Exaltation of the Cross in the domestic church.

The Lady Chapel at Our Lady's University has a beautiful ceiling mural of the Exaltation of the Cross.

"Only real men can wear lace"

She's at it again! Follow the link to Father Longenecker's site to read the latest post from his alter-ego, Mantilla the Hon, on lace.

The lace in the alb is something precious and beautiful. Real lace takes women who I buy it from many, many hours to make. At my company, Veritas Vestments, we put it in the albs and surplices not to adorn the priest, but to adorn the priesthood. Padre is doing something at the altar which is precious and rare and beautiful and good. The lace reminds us of this.

The Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for September, 2011

General Intention: For all teachers, that they may convey love in truth and educate in authentic moral and spiritual values.

Missionary Intention: That the Christian communities spread throughout the Asian continent may proclaim the Gospel with fervor, bearing witness to beauty with the joy of the faith.

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,

I offer You all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day

for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart,

in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

throughout the world,

in reparation for my sins,

for the intentions of all our associates,

and in particular for the intentions

of the Holy Father for this month.

Amen.