A little wardrobe advice from the Crescat.

And don't miss the related link on how to look Catholic.

The Things I Get Excited About

Marisa over at Food in Jars has the word on the street that pint-and-a-half wide-mouth mason jars will be available for this canning season!

Doesn't it look lovely with the asparagus all lined up in there? These seem like the perfect size for canning whole or sliced fruit, or for use as kitchen canisters.

My current favorite jars are the half-pint wide-mouth; they're perfect for refrigerating things like homemade dips (no crannies for the hummus to hide in!), and, of course pies in jars.

I'd also love to get a case of the 12 oz. jelly glasses. They'd be adorable for filling with drinks for a picnic, like so:

(photo source)

For a listing of all the standard jars currently available in the U.S., see Marisa's field guide. What are your favorites? Or do you think I'm crazy for having favorites at all?

40 Meatless Meals: Pesto Omelet

Per person
2 eggs
1 T milk
salt and pepper to taste
1 t oil
1 T prepared pesto
1 T grated cheese

Beat eggs, milk, salt and pepper (a stand mixer makes for very fluffy omlets). Heat oil in skillet; pour in eggs. With a rubber spatula or fork, constantly circle the edge of the egg mixture, bringing up the liquid. When eggs are set, remove from pan and spread pesto and cheese over the surface. Fold in half to serve.

40 Meatless Meals: Slow Cooker Chickpea Stew

16 oz dried chickpeas, soaked overnight, rinsed, and drained
1 shallot, minced
1 T olive oil
1 t cumin seeds
6 cups water
2 bouillon cubes
1 bay leaf
1 can diced tomatoes
2 zucchini, roughly chopped

Microwave shallot in olive oil for one minute. Add cumin seeds and microwave 30 seconds. Scrape into crock. Add remaining ingredients except for zucchini. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Microwave zucchini for 5 minutes. Stir into crock. Serve with rice.

Serves 6.

Spaghetti with Mascarpone, Meyer Lemon, Spinach, and Hazelnuts

I'm all for buying local produce when possible, but I love the fact that just as we're about to hit the dullest, greyest part of the year, our grocery stores get bombarded with all of the brightest citrus from down south. A bowl full of lemons and oranges cheers me more by its smells and colors than a bouquet of flowers, and we always buy the largest possible bag of grapefruits. This is the best time to explore some of the more exotic varieties of citrus. Meyer Lemons are a Chinese variety, believed to be a hybrid of a lemon and orange. The flavor seems almost lemonier than an ordinary lemon, probably due to the fact that it's less-tart juice allows the flavor to shine through.

This dish would be excellent served either as a primo piatto (pasta first course), or as a main dish. If it is your entree, I'd recommend upping the spinach (maybe as much as double, depending upon your tastes). I think next time I make this, I'll try it with rotini or something that tosses a bit more readily without turning into a big nest. As a last note, I usually cook with whole-wheat pasta, but decided to go with white for this dish, since I didn't want to overwhelm the subtle flavors.

(Recipe Source)

Serves four.

zest and juice from one Meyer Lemon
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese*
1/2 teaspoon salt
a few grinds of fresh pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 pound spaghetti
5 cups (loosely packed) fresh spinach, washed, spun dry, and roughly chopped
1/2 cup chopped, toasted hazelnuts

Combine the zest, lemon juice, mascarpone, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a bowl. Whisk to combine.

Bring a pot of water to boil and salt generously. Cook the pasta until al dente. Drain, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water.

Return the pasta to the pot, and set over low heat. Stir in the mascarpone sauce. Add the spinach and toss so that the spinach begins to wilt. Add about 1/4 cup of the pasta water (more if necessary) to keep the sauce fluid but not too watery. Continue to cook and toss until the spinach is cooked. Add the hazelnuts and stir to combine. Serve immediately.

Note: You can, of course, buy mascarpone in the store. It can be a tad cost-prohibitive, though, so you can also make your own with just a couple of ingredients following this recipe.

Re-growing scallions

Proof that even a certified black thumb like me can re-grow scallions. Full instructions here.

February Food

There seems to be something about late February that brings out the citrus-lover in all of us.  Shortly after reading Therese's latest post (love that photo!), I came across this post on Simple Bites: Surviving the February Food Blahs.  Perhaps not surprisingly, citrus makes an appearance, as do last year's preserves, winter greenery, and comfort foods.  Check it out for lots of suggestions and recipes (many of them Lent-friendly).

Warning: Simple Bites - and its affiliate sites - is one of those sites where every interesting article links to 10 more interesting articles, and before you know it, your coffee is gone and the sun has set.  Click at your own risk.

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

A little preview of tomorrow's meatless recipe.

I can't even begin to tell you how fragrant my dining room is right now.

Cheese straws

The humble cheese straw has fallen out of favor. And yet with its five simple ingredients, it is perfect for an impromptu gathering and lends itself to endless variations. You could also serve them as an accompaniment to Lenten soup. I am partial to the recipe below, which can be pushed through a cookie press, rolled out and cut with a cookie cutter, or sliced for a more rustic look. You can make the dough ahead of time and keep it at the ready in your fridge for several weeks.

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup grated sharp cheese
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3T water
• 1 t paprika

Preheat oven to 375. Stir flour and baking powder together. Cut in cheese and butter with a pastry blender. Add water and mix well. Shape as desired. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.

My Lenten Challenge

One of the things I love about Lent is the challenge to simplify my life and make room for important things. While pondering the spiritual clutter this week, I kept picturing other clutter; the time it takes from my life and the resources that could be going to better use elsewhere.

Where did I put that birthday gift I bought 6 months ago now that his birthday is coming up soon? Is it really necessary to keep all 50 of these cookbooks when I use the same 10 or so over and over? (You get the idea.)

Anyway, along the lines of the 40 Bags in 40 Days challenge, I'm making a list of random places in my home that can be simply cleaned and organized. We've lived in the same house for 20+ years and it's quite surprising to consider all the places that are hidden away from sight but still get filled to the brim with stuff I don't even use or want anymore! To make it doable, I tried to choose small places that could easily be organized in a short period of time (hence, my 6-drawer desk could take 6 days), but by the end of Lent I'm looking forward to a greater sense of detachment, a better use of my time (not searching for that missing whatever) and a greater overall sense of stewardship as I bring things to my favorite charity garage sale this spring.

My List:

• desk drawers
• silverware drawer
• cookbook collection
• closet shelf
• DVD cabinet
• Holiday decorations
• shoe collection
• out-of-season clothes
• sock/underwear drawer
• night stand
• pantry
• freezer
• magazine basket/rack
• bookshelf
• under the bed
• craft area
• yarn/fabric stash
• toy box
• make-up bag
• hair stuff
• nail polish
• linen closet
• bathroom cabinets
• car glove compartment, console, trunk
• Mitten box (hats, umbrellas, etc.)
• top of my file cabinet

40 Meatless Meals: Grilled Trout Florentine

My husband has cedar-plank grilled fish down to an art form. It's our favorite way to eat seafood, especially salmon and other meaty fish. For this technique, you simply soak the weighted plank for an hour or more in water, place the fish on top (skin down), and grill at a low temp until done. If, unlike me, you are not a Minnesota native and do not think that grilling weather and Lent can coincide, just place the fish in a baking dish and bake at 350º for 20-40 minutes, depending upon the size of the fish.

(Recipe Source)

Serves four.

• 4 whole fresh trout, cleaned
• 2 cups spinach, chopped
• 1 1/4 cups bread crumbs
• 1 cup white wine
• 1/4 cup dry sherry
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
• 4 tablespoons skim milk
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 1 teaspoon light cooking oil
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Sauté green onions in olive oil until they start to soften. Add sherry, spinach, and pine nuts. Cook an additional 2 minutes or until spinach wilts. Remove from heat and add bread crumbs, milk and lemon juice. Mix well. Wash and pat dry the trout. Stuff each trout with 1/4 of the spinach mixture. Tie with kitchen string to secure stuffing. Set aside. Preheat grill. Combine wine, pepper and butter in a pan and bring to a boil. Cook until alcohol has evaporated. Place trout on hot grill (place on top of a well-soaked cedar plank, if desired). Brush with wine mixture and grill until done, basting occasionally. Trout are done when the meat flakes easily and is a constant opaque color.

Decorganizing

"I went to the new flagship Compartment Store on Fifth Avenue and bought everything I need to get my life in order.

There was a stacker thing to separate your junk mail from your humidifier catalogs, a thing you stick on your laptop that holds your keys, a round plastic deal that holds your shoes with a pocket for a photograph of what shoes are in there.

I'm going to become wonderful. It's a new beginning, like a phoenix rising..."

(Liz Lemon, 30 Rock)

Décor organizing has been all the rage for the last few seasons. For a simple, attractive, and cheap storage solution, I turned to a cardboard module in high availability at my house- disposable diaper boxes. Covered with contact paper for a decorative finish, they ended the teetering piles of sweaters on my closet shelf.

40 Meatless Meals: Creamy Fennel and Potato Soup

Let's start off with a two-for-one recipe. One of my favorite tricks for filling out a soup entree is to serve it in bread bowls, so I've included my favorite recipe for those below.

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3.5 cups coarsely chopped cored fresh fennel bulbs (from about 1 large)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 8 ounces white-skinned potatoes, peeled, diced
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 teaspoons (or more) fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 cup whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, finely crushed
• 3/4 teaspoon dried tarragon

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add fennel bulbs, onions, and potatoes; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until softened, about 8 minutes. Add broth and 2 teaspoons lemon juice; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly.

Meanwhile, bring cream, fennel seeds, and tarragon to boil in heavy small saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 20 minutes so that flavors blend. Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Return soup to same pot. Stir in cream mixture. Simmer until flavors blend, thinning with more broth if desired, about 5 minutes.

Season to taste with salt and pepper and more lemon juice, if desired.

Recipe Source

Bonus Recipe:

Italian Bread Bowls
(source)

• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 2 1/2 cups warm water
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 7 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal
• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon water

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until about 10 minutes.

Add salt, oil and 4 cups flour to the yeast mixture; beat well. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well with an electric mixer at medium speed after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes.

Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes. Divide dough into 8 equal portions. Shape each portion into a 4 inch round loaf.* Place loaves on baking sheets lined with parchment or a baking mat, sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in bulk, about 35 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a small bowl, beat together egg white and 1 tablespoon water; lightly brush the loaves with half of this egg wash.

Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Brush with remaining egg mixture, and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until golden. Cool on wire racks.

To make bowls: Cut a 1/2 inch thick slice from top of each loaf; scoop out centers, leaving 3/4-inch-thick shells.

*NB: When shaping, I recommend following this method for shaping rolls. This aligns the proteins in the dough and helps the bread to rise instead of spreading. You can easily see the difference below:

Again We Keep This Solemn Fast

40 Meatless Meals returns for Lent, and I'm very excited about some of the recipes we'll have to share. It seemed a little wrong to post food pictures on a fast day, though, so I've decided to share links to some past favorites, though, and let you click through at your own discretion. It was hard to choose, though, so I highly recommend browsing the full archives for ideas.

Quick and Easy:

• Tomato Basil Soup
• Quick Potato Leek Soup
• Penne alla Vodka

Grilling (it's 45 here right now, so I'd say this is fair game):

• Portabella Sandwiches

Worth the Effort:

• Pierogi
• Spanakopita

Favorite Soups:

• Broccoli Cheddar Soup with Mustard Croutons
• Vegetarian Minestrone
• Clam Chowder

French Cuisine:

• Potato Gratin
• Vegetarian French Onion Soup
• Crustless Quiche

More winter weather ideas

Marilla sighed and then said proudly: "I'm giving Anne that half-dozen braided rugs I have in the garret... I made them from the nicest rags, and braided them in stripes."
(L.M. Montgomery, Anne's House of Dreams)

With an oddly shaped entry way, I have been hard-pressed to find an indoor doormat. Appreciating the aesthetic of rag rugs, I turned to Vintage Chica's tutorial to make my own from quilting scraps and men’s shirts in too poor condition for donation. I hit on this method by luck of the draw, but what I like best is that there is no need for seaming as each row connects to the next and that there is limited tying needed due to the switchback style of cutting strips.

Preparing for Lent

If you do it two years in a row, it's tradition, right?

These boots are made for walking

It has been a warm winter in New England with no accumulated snow for the last three months, but other parts of the country have not been so lucky. A boot tray can expedite the drying of your boots. Plastic ones are available at most hardware stores (and can be spray painted to match your décor). If you live in a child free, pet free household, this DIY option with pebbles could be very attractive.

I painted a battered roasting pan from the parish rummage sale with outdoor spray paint, then lined the interior with a piece of cork. Egg cartons help tall boots keep their shape.

Nashville Dominican Novena - day 9

Act of Consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners - on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon, save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

(Imprimatur, Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle, Archbishop of Washington, 1959, for public consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; renewed by U.S. Bishops, November 11, 2006)

Nashville Dominican Novena - day 8

Act of Consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners - on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon, save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

(Imprimatur, Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle, Archbishop of Washington, 1959, for public consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; renewed by U.S. Bishops, November 11, 2006)

Frou-Frou Friday

Via the Knitty Blog comes this article from 1961 on the British Nylon Fair. The article itself is amusing, noting the growing number of "problem grandmothers" who no longer knit, but the real highlight for me was the included newsreel footage of the fair's fashion show. Midcentury fashions are some of my very favorites, and the video doesn't disappoint, with shots of lovely ballgowns and sportswear that would be considered just a bit dressy these days. The highlights for me: the floral gown with built-in wrap at 8:20, and the gold-colored lounge set with the oversized sash at 6:28.

The best of the narration: "For the morning after the night before ... jersey dresses, in colors to gladden the saddest hangover."

Nashville Dominican Novena - day 7

Act of Consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners - on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon, save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

(Imprimatur, Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle, Archbishop of Washington, 1959, for public consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; renewed by U.S. Bishops, November 11, 2006)

Nashville Dominica Novena - day 6

Act of Consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners - on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon, save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

(Imprimatur, Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle, Archbishop of Washington, 1959, for public consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; renewed by U.S. Bishops, November 11, 2006)

Nashville Dominican Novena - day 5

Act of Consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners - on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon, save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

(Imprimatur, Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle, Archbishop of Washington, 1959, for public consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; renewed by U.S. Bishops, November 11, 2006)

Nashville Dominican Novena - day 4

Act of Consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners - on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon, save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

(Imprimatur, Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle, Archbishop of Washington, 1959, for public consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; renewed by U.S. Bishops, November 11, 2006)

Art for little ones

... or for grown-ups who just appreciate the therapeutic value of coloring.

Oddly, it's only mid-afternoon and I've already had three conversations of various sorts about coloring pages. The first actually did involve an adult who admitted that she just likes to relax with a box of crayons every now and again, and the last (completely unrelated) was a very pleasant surprise in my inbox from a friend who found a site with lots and lots of beautiful coloring pages that Catholics will appreciate.

Yes, there was a Saint Valentine for Kim's kids to color tomorrow, but there are quite a few more including Saints, Mysteries of the Rosary, the Creed, the Stations of the Cross, and even one of the Holy Father.

Thanks to St. John the Baptist in Front Royal, VA for sharing this great resource!

Nashville Dominican Novena - day 3

Act of Consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners - on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon, save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

(Imprimatur, Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle, Archbishop of Washington, 1959, for public consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; renewed by U.S. Bishops, November 11, 2006)

Nashville Dominican Novena - day 2

Act of Consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners - on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon, save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

(Imprimatur, Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle, Archbishop of Washington, 1959, for public consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; renewed by U.S. Bishops, November 11, 2006)

Nashville Dominican Novena - day 1

We beg God for the preservation of our great and beautiful country, and of the freedom we have all enjoyed and been privileged to share with others.The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia invite you to join with us in a novena of prayer and fasting, asking Mary, Patroness of the United States of America, to implore God's loving mercy on us at this critical time. The novena will begin February 11 and end February 19, 2012. The sisters will be praying the following prayer each of the nine days.

Act of Consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners - on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon, save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

(Imprimatur, Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle, Archbishop of Washington, 1959, for public consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; renewed by U.S. Bishops, November 11, 2006)

Praying with the Nashville Dominicans

Today on Father Powell's site:

Nashville Dominican Sisters Say NO to Anti-Catholic Mandate

We beg God for the preservation of our great and beautiful country, and of the freedom we have all enjoyed and been privileged to share with others. The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia invite you to join with us in a novena of prayer and fasting, asking Mary, Patroness of the United States of America, to implore God's loving mercy on us at this critical time. The novena will begin February 11 and end February 19, 2012. The sisters will be praying the following prayer each of the nine days.

Act of Consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners - on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon, save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

(Imprimatur, Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle, Archbishop of Washington, 1959, for public consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; renewed by U.S. Bishops, November 11, 2006)

A Whiter Shade of Green

Recently, born out of a sense of thrift more than anything, I decided to make a major change in our kitchen and cut paper towels out of everyday usage. The most painless way to do this, especially since my husband does a lot of the kitchen clean up, was to replace them with something that resembled paper towels as closely as possible. There are a lot of cute designs for flannel or terry cloth kitchen towels, even some with waterproof backs, or snaps so they can reside on a roll holder, but I knew that anything that looked even vaguely "good" wouldn't get used for real messes. So, I chose to go the very simple route by tearing up a few floursack towels (a dozen for $12 at Sam's Club) into 12 squares each, and taking the opportunity to test out some of the various finishing stitches on my new sewing machine.

I picked up a tip towel basket at Target; it's the perfect size, though truth be told we usually just stuff them in there, rather than folding them as in the picture, so anything that fits on your counter would work (an old CD crate, perhaps?). Our laundry closet is right in our kitchen, so we just have a plastic bin that lives on the dryer for the dirty ones, but a little bag in a cute print could hang on the oven handle to catch the used ones.

We're a small family that does laundry frequently, so 2-3 dozen has us covered for now. We still keep a roll of paper towels under the sink for the greasiest tasks like draining bacon or seasoning cast iron, but it often goes quite some time between uses. The only trick has been remembering not to throw the cloth towels away, as they're so similar to using paper!

In Which our Loyalty is Validated

Lucy and I have been long-time fans of Method Lavender Surface Cleaner, so I was pleased to see that Cook's Illustrated picked it as their top choice (video available for a limited time). It was rated as having better cleaning power even than cleaners containing harsh chemicals, with no need to rinse (if you read the fine print, they actually do say to rinse food-contact surfaces with water).

(Fine print: No compensation, blah blah. I just really like this stuff and am a sucker for anything lavender-scented.)

You Smart Cookie!

I'm always so impressed with Grace's baked creations, and these little works of art for the Presentation and Candlemas are almost too beautiful to eat! Check under her"You Smart Cookie" tab for more inspiration.

Cold, but Cozy

My ice cream maker is sadly underused during these winter months (aside from a batch of sherbet when we were mending from the flu). I decided to change that, though, with fantastic results. I had originally planned on making cinnamon ice cream, only to find that I fell far short of the number of cinnamon sticks needed. On the other hand, I had a surplus of whole nutmegs. The result really could be called eggnog ice cream (especially with a boozy sauce). The bread pudding makes this a lovely dessert indeed for cozying up to the fireplace or a snuggle on the couch. Enjoy!

Nutmeg Ice Cream (adapted from Saveur)

• 2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 cups heavy cream, divided
• 1 whole nutmeg, cracked*
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 5 egg yolks

Toast grated nutmeg in a skillet over medium heat, 1–2 minutes; set aside. Heat milk, 1 cup cream and cracked nutmeg in a 4-qt. saucepan until it just begins to simmer. Remove from heat; let steep for 10 minutes or more; strain out nutmeg. In a bowl, whisk together sugar and yolks. While whisking, slowly pour in milk mixture. Return mixture to pan; cook, stirring, until mixture thickens, 8–10 minutes. Whisk in toasted nutmeg and remaining cream; cover custard and chill. Freeze custard in an ice cream maker; transfer to an airtight container. Freeze until set before serving.

MAKES 1 QUART

*A nutcracker would work fine; lacking that, I wrapped it in a clean towel and used pliers.

Bread Pudding (adapted from The Silver Spoon)

• 3½ ounces day-old bread
• 1½ cups milk
• 1½ cups sugar
• ½ cup golden raisins
• flour, for dusting
• 1 T butter
• ¼ cup orange liqueur
• 1 egg, plus one egg yolk*

Tear the bread into pieces and place in a bowl. Bring the milk to a boil, remove from heat, and stir in sugar until dissolved; pour over the bread and leave until cooled. Place the raisins in another bowl, cover with warm water, and let soak about 15 minutes. Drain thoroughly, then dust with flour, shaking off any excess.

Preheat the oven to 325°. Grease small baking casserole with butter and dust with sugar. Combine bread with raisins, liqueur, and eggs, mixing well. Spoon into prepared pan, dot the surface with butter and bake for 20 minutes, then increase the temperature to 350° and bake 10 minutes more.

*I used 3 egg whites, since I had them in spades. I wouldn't normally recommend this, but the ice cream more than made up what was lacking.

CL Tip of the Day: Prep Bowls and Shot Glasses

Whenever I'm making something that requires small amounts of several ingredients, such as a marinade or a spice-laden dessert, I grab a small bowl and carry it around the kitchen with me, rather than bringing all the ingredients to my workspace. It saves a lot of steps, since I don't have to make a separate trip to put everything away.

Related: When measuring liquids, use a shot glass instead of a tablespoon. That way, you can set your measure on the counter while you pour, and there's no risk of overflowing. If you search for "graduated shot glass", you can even find ones with teaspoons marked.

The Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for February, 2012

General Intention: Access to Water.

That all peoples may have access to water and other resources needed for daily life.

Missionary Intention: Health Workers.

That the Lord may sustain the efforts of health workers assisting the sick and elderly in the world's poorest regions.

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.