The BSA, Catholics, and Religious Freedom
Last year, my 17-year-old Eagle Scout came home every weekend in summer, bubbling with energy and ENTHUSIASM (that word is all-capped for a reason and Scouts will understand why), regaling us with stories of how he taught the young boys this and that at the Camp where...
Pears in Spiced Red Wine
I tried peeling my pears "decoratively", but I'm not that impressed with the way they turned out and wish I had just peeled them all the way. Won't be doing that again 🙂 5 Bartlett pears (Bartletts hold their shape nicely), peeled, and cored from the bottom. 3 cups...
Poulet Basquaise (Chicken Basque-Style) for St. Bernadette’s Feast Day, April 16
When we visited Lourdes in 2008, we ate a chicken dish at this restaurant, but I don't remember much about it except that it had a winey sauce with a bit of bite, and that it had peppers, which I disliked as a child but now love as an adult. So when I was looking for...
Salt Cod and Potato Salad for St. Bernadette’s Feast Day, April 16
Salt cod is one of those things that have always appealed to me. There are so many things you can do with it! You can put it in soups, flake and make fish balls/fritters with it, make into a brandade (my FAVORITE, except the family can't have it), add to a stir fry,...
Basque-Style Green Beans for the Feast of St. Bernadette
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1/2 cup chopped onions 1/2 cup chopped red peppers 1 1/2 lbs. green beans, trimmed sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1/2 cup chopped Basque/Bayonne Ham, or Jamon Iberico or Serrano, or...
Olive and Anchovy Pinchos/Pintxos for St. Bernadette’s Feast Day
A Basquaise appetizer that's really easy to put together and takes no time at all. Plus, olives are soooo good for you. I inherited my mom's love of both anchovies and olives 🙂 . The hot peppers add that needed ZING. To make these, you'll need: an assortment of...
Annunciation Waffles (Allergen-Free!!)
Happy Feast of the Annunciation of our Lord!! We started the day with Mass, and hurried home anticipating breakfast, since Jenn tells us that the food most associated with this feast are WAFFLES. And I think our allergen-free formula's finally good enough to share....
Good Friday
And both the girls cried bitterly (though they hardly knew why) and clung to the Lion and kissed his mane and his nose and his paws and his great, sad eyes. Then he turned from them and walked out on to the top of the hill. And Lucy and Susan, crouching in the bushes,...
The Sacramental Dimension: Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer
The Sacramental Dimension The last part of the book is dedicated to discussing the Sacraments and how they relate to living the Be's. There is a reminder that the "plan" for deep conversion and deep prayer is a combination of divine grace and our cooperation with it....
Be Humble, Specific, Persevering: Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer
It's been difficult to write the past week or so. Three kids have gotten sick so far, and I'm starting to feel the beginnings of a bad cold/cough. Not a bad ending to Lent at all. 🙂 I finished the book last week but here are my last reflections for the next "Be's"....
A Leap of Faith: Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer
Continuing my Lenten reading/reflections on Fr. Thomas Dubay's excellent book. The ninth motive for embracing our entire surefire program may surprise you: people who are profoundly intimate with their indwelling Lord are never bored. This is so true. I find that on...
Living Authentic Lives: Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer
He makes the weak of this world mighty only to the extent that they cooperate with a determined and resolute repentance. Might comes from cooperation with God's divine will. I've found this to be true in confronting venial sin in particular. When I do my best to...
Habemus Papam!!
Well, that was a short conclave!! Thank You, Holy Spirit! I don't know what we were expecting, but we sure didn't expect the text from Pope Alarm telling us about the WHITE SMOKE!! We all rushed in front of the computer and forgot all about lunch. It was already a...
Be Concerned: Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer
I don't have a much of a reflection today. I'm not even going to quote from the book. There's a lot on my mind. My daughter's health. Actually, everyone's health... but I'm not going to detail here. Just, I guess as a mom and a wife, these things are always on the top...
Love Means Forgiveness: Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer
we do not react to evil with more evil. Need to remember this, especially in those moments when I'm fatigued, and that's the moment when a child chooses to throw a tantrum, or talk back, or just plain be obnoxious. THAT is not the time to react with anger. That's the...