In the traditional calendar, this is the memorial of Saint John Cantius (died 1473), patron of Poland and Lithuania (December 23 in the General Calendar).
Also known as Saint John of Kanty, from the town in which he was born in 1390. A very learned man and humble; hard-working, even when afraid of the responsibilities he held; generous to the poor, taking only what he needed to live (which was much less that most people would think necessary) and giving away all else.
He could easily be the patron of those pastors who are constantly beset with the complaints and attacks of their parishioners, for whom nothing is right: "Why doesn't Father...? When will Father...? I can't believe Father is....! How dare Father not listen to me and do what I say!... Well, I don't care what Father says, I'm doing things MY way...!"
His motto was: "Conturbare cave; non est placare suave. Infamare cave; nam revocare grave."
("Beware offending; to ask forgiveness is not pleasant. Beware insulting; for it is difficult to take back.")
"Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause." -Saint John of Kanty
Good words to live by. Good words to write blogs and comments by.
Saint John did not eat any meat after he received his doctorate, so today's dinner should be one of fish or vegetables, like LOSOS DO SOSOW GORACYCH I ZIMNYCH (far more descriptive, but 'Poached Salmon' is close enough):
First, make your Court Bouillon in which the fish will be poached. Cut up 1 large onion, a couple of carrots, two celery stalks and half of a celery root, half of a parsnip, and one leek. Tie a small bunch of dill and parsley together with string (2-3 sprigs of each should do it). Put everything in the pot with 5 cups of water, a bay leaf, 10-12 peppercorns, and a teaspoon of salt, and bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, until the vegetables are tender. Strain and return to pot; bring liquid again to a boil.
Place a 3-4 pound piece of salmon (skin on) in a pot large enough to hold it [you can also cut it into individual pieces] and add the boiling Bouillon. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes or until done. [Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons of butter and warm your serving platter] Drain the fish and remove the skin. Arrange fish on your warmed serving platter, spoon the melted butter over it, and garnish as you wish - parsley and lemon wedges are usual. Serve with a nice sauce such as hollandaise. You can also cool and chill the fish, and serve cold with mayonnaise or a nice SOS Z JAJ DO RYBY (Egg Sauce) of two hard-cooked eggs, chopped up and added to 4 tablespoons of melted butter, with salt and pepper to taste. Cook the sauce for a couple of minutes or until the eggs begin to brown. Pour over the fish and serve immediately.
While searching out these recipes I found one for a drink called KRUPNIK. The description is rather daunting: "...it is said to go to the feet rather than to the head. It is also said to fell the mighty and conquer the conquerors." (Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cookery, Volume 9, p. 1431) The Wikipedia article says that it was also used as a medicinal disinfectant for Polish soldiers during World War II. You have been warned!
In a saucepan, combine 1 cup of dark honey with 1 cup of water, then add 8 cinnamon sticks; 1 - 2 vanilla beans, crushed; 1/4 whole nutmeg, freshly grated (1/2 to 1 teaspoon); 6 cloves, crushed; 10 peppercorns, freshly ground (optional); and a piece of lemon or orange peel. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand in a warm place for 30 minutes.
Strain mixture through cheesecloth, pour strained liquid back into the saucepan, and again bring to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in 1 pint of vodka, and serve, very hot, in small cups or warmed liqueur glasses.
Go here for more recipes of Poland, including a Hunter's Stew (BIGOS) which would make a grand dinner tomorrow in honor of Orion the Hunter.
That is, if you are still standing after sampling the Krupnik...
20 October 2010
19 October 2010
19 October - Saint Peter of Alcantara; The Martyrs of North America
In the Old Calendar, today is the memorial of Saint Peter of Alcantara (Spain), reformer and mystic, a rather terrifying saint to our hedonistic age. You can read about his voluntary mortifications and sufferings here, along with commentary on enduring our own spiritual physical sufferings.
"He does much in the sight of God who does his best, be it ever so little." - Saint Peter of Alcantara
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In the General Calendar, today is the memorial of the Martyrs of North America: Brother Rene Goupil; Father Isaac Jogues; Jean de la Lande (a layman); Father Antoine Daniel; Father Gabriel Lalemant; Father Jean de Brebeuf; Father Charles Garnier; and Father Noel Chabanel.
They were Jesuit missionaries, laboring among the Huron in what is now Ontario, Canada, and martyred there and in upstate New York between 1642 and 1649. Their feast was celebrated on 26 September in Canada.
From "Saint John de Brebeuf”. Saints.SQPN.com. 10 August 2010. Web. {accessed 19 October 2010}.
"He does much in the sight of God who does his best, be it ever so little." - Saint Peter of Alcantara
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In the General Calendar, today is the memorial of the Martyrs of North America: Brother Rene Goupil; Father Isaac Jogues; Jean de la Lande (a layman); Father Antoine Daniel; Father Gabriel Lalemant; Father Jean de Brebeuf; Father Charles Garnier; and Father Noel Chabanel.
They were Jesuit missionaries, laboring among the Huron in what is now Ontario, Canada, and martyred there and in upstate New York between 1642 and 1649. Their feast was celebrated on 26 September in Canada.
From "Saint John de Brebeuf”. Saints.SQPN.com. 10 August 2010. Web. {accessed 19 October 2010}.
Brebeuf’s Instructions to the Missionaries:
In 1637, Father Brebeuf drew up a list of instructions for Jesuit missionaries destined to work among the Huron. They reflect his own experience, and a genuine sensitivity toward the native people.
- You must love these Hurons, ransomed by the blood of the Son of God, as brothers.
- You must never keep the Indians waiting at the time of embarking.
- Carry a tinder-box or a piece of burning-glass, or both, to make fire for them during the day for smoking, and in the evening when it is necessary to camp; these little services win their hearts.
- Try to eat the little food they offer you, and eat all you can, for you may not eat again for hours.
- Eat as soon as day breaks, for Indians when on the road, eat only at the rising and the setting of the sun.
- Be prompt in embarking and disembarking and do not carry any water or sand into the canoe.
- Be the least troublesome to the Indians.
- Do not ask many questions; silence is golden.
- Bear with their imperfections, and you must try always to appear cheerful.
- Carry with you a half-gross of awls, two or three dozen little folding knives, and some plain and fancy beads with which to buy fish or other commodities from the nations you meet, in order to feast your Indian companions, and be sure to tell them from the outset that here is something with which to buy fish.
- Always carry something during the portages.
- Do not be ceremonious with the Indians.
- Do not begin to paddle unless you intend always to paddle.
- The Indians will keep later that opinion of you which they have formed during the trip.
- Always show any other Indians you meet on the way a cheerful face and show that you readily accept the fatigues of the journey.
18 October 2010
18 October - Saint Luke
Weather: Today, and the days fore and aft, are known as Saint Luke's Little Summer, a bit of warmth in the crisp October days.
Well, Saint Luke hasn't failed yet! Warm, bright, and sunny yesterday and today - a welcome relief, and one not entirely expected after the nor'easter of Friday and the continual cold winds of Saturday.
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Feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist: the first ecclesiastical historiographer, author of the Gospel of Luke and of The Acts of the Apostles. His symbol is the horned ox, usually winged. Patron of artists, especially painters, and physicians, and a whole host of others. You can read a nearly exhaustive account of Saint Luke, including arguments for and against the authenticity of his writings, here. More ways to celebrate Saint Luke's day can be found on Catholic Culture.
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Today is another good day to find out who you are going to marry, but unlike Saint Faith's Eve, you can also find out what kind of husband he will be. This charm is taken from Mother Bunch's Closet Newly Broke Open, as found in Observations on the Popular Antiquities of Great Britain by John Brand:
Good luck! Were I to see some guy walking to and fro near my bedside, I would be dialing 9-1-1; that is, I would if I could do anything more than pray, "Take me now, Lord!"
Well, Saint Luke hasn't failed yet! Warm, bright, and sunny yesterday and today - a welcome relief, and one not entirely expected after the nor'easter of Friday and the continual cold winds of Saturday.
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Feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist: the first ecclesiastical historiographer, author of the Gospel of Luke and of The Acts of the Apostles. His symbol is the horned ox, usually winged. Patron of artists, especially painters, and physicians, and a whole host of others. You can read a nearly exhaustive account of Saint Luke, including arguments for and against the authenticity of his writings, here. More ways to celebrate Saint Luke's day can be found on Catholic Culture.
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Today is another good day to find out who you are going to marry, but unlike Saint Faith's Eve, you can also find out what kind of husband he will be. This charm is taken from Mother Bunch's Closet Newly Broke Open, as found in Observations on the Popular Antiquities of Great Britain by John Brand:
"Take marigold flowers, a sprig of marjoram, thyme, and a little wormwood; dry them before a fire, rub them to a powder, then sift it through a fine piece of lawn; simmer these in a small quantity of virgin honey in white vinegar, over a slow fire; with this anoint your stomach, breast, and lips, lying down, and repeat these words thrice:
Saint Luke, Saint Luke, be kind to me
Let me in dreams my true love see
This said, hasten to sleep, and in the soft slumber of your nights repose, the very man whom you shall marry will appear before you, walking to and fro, near your bedside, very plain and visible to be seen. You shall perfectly see his visage, stature and deportment; and if he be one that will prove a loving husband, he will approach you with a smile; which, if he does, do not seem to be over fond or peevish; but receive the same with a mild and modest blush. But if it be one, who after marriage will forsake thy bed to wander after strange women, he will offer to be rude and uncivil with thee."
Good luck! Were I to see some guy walking to and fro near my bedside, I would be dialing 9-1-1; that is, I would if I could do anything more than pray, "Take me now, Lord!"
17 October 2010
17 October - Time to Make Butter
Astronomy: The Orionid Meteor shower begins today and ends on the 25th. Peak will be on the 21st and 22nd. Look south in the predawn hours, however, the full moon will drown out most of it.
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Right now, there are two foods which are plentiful and cheap at the farmers markets - cheaper still if you pick your own - apples and onions. And today is a good time to get started on two of my favorite spreads - apple butter and onion butter.
Most of you have probably come across APPLE BUTTER, either in the grocery store, or a specialty store which sells locally canned goods, or the church fair. This is a favorite recipe that I use:
Slice into eighths 3-1/2 pounds of cooking apples [as far as I can tell, they are all cooking apples]. Boil 2 quarts of cider for 15 minutes. Add apple slices and cook until very tender; strain mixture through a sieve [this removes the seeds and peel], and return pulp to the saucepan. Add 3 cups of sugar, 1 teaspoon of ground allspice, 1 teaspoon of ground cloves, 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Simmer slowly until thick, stirring frequently (you don't want it to burn). Pour into jars and seal.
Next, toast your bread, and spread it with the sweet, spicy treat. Or use it in APPLE BUTTER PIE:
Line a 9-inch pie pan with pastry. [This is a custard-type pie, much like pumpkin pie, and will rise as it bakes, so flute the edges high.]
In a large bowl, mix 1/2 cup of sugar with 3 tablespoons flour. Stir in 1/2 cup of apple butter and 2 tablespoons of melted [dairy] butter. In another bowl, beat 2 eggs with 1-1/2 cups of milk and 1 cup of cream. Pour it into apple butter mixture, beating as you do so.
Pour the whole mixture into your lined pie pan and sprinkle the top with about 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour or until a knife inserted into the pie comes out clean. Cool pie.
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ONION BUTTER is even easier to make, and sweeter than you would expect. It is good on toast, on crackers, on oatmeal [yes, really!], on vegetables...
No, this isn't Onion 'flavored' butter, with bits of onion or onion juice stirred into dairy butter, although those are good too (especially a plug melting on a newly grilled steak!) This is a spread made with onions, and nothing but the onions.
Peel 3 to 5 pounds of onions. [I use yellow onions; I can get huge 10 and 15 pound sacks of them for a few dollars - 10 yellow onions are about 3 pounds. Big, flat, sweet onions are also good. I've never tried using red onions]
Slice the onions into quarters and place in a large, heavy pot; barely cover the onions with water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat; cover and simmer for a long time - aka about 24 hours. [No use trying to hurry things along, at least not with this recipe. Since I don't leave ANYTHING burning when I am not there to watch it, I turn off the stove burner when I go to bed and start it up again the next day.]
Periodically check the mixture - you might need to add a little water. I give it a stir each time, just to make sure nothing is burning on the bottom. Once everything is cooked down, you will end up with a pint or two of a brown, lumpy mass; use your favorite method to make it smooth - hand-held or electrical mixer/beater, food processor, whatever. [I stir it and then use a potato masher to break up the lumps. Arm power may not be Food Channel worthy, but it gets the job done].
Some people like to add a little salt to taste at this point. Once that is done, simmer until all of the excess liquid is gone. Keep an eye on this, because the liquid can evaporate before you know it, and you will be left with a burned mess.
It is ready to eat, now. Warm onion butter on toast - heaven!
Once it is cooled sufficiently, I put it in a small crock, a small bowl, even a plastic container, and store it, covered, in the refrigerator. It doesn't last long.
Of course you can go all fancy and roast the onions with a drizzle of olive oil before dumping them in a pot with melted butter, and using a food processor to make a smooth paste. That seems like a lot of work to me, but go ahead, be creative.
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Right now, there are two foods which are plentiful and cheap at the farmers markets - cheaper still if you pick your own - apples and onions. And today is a good time to get started on two of my favorite spreads - apple butter and onion butter.
Most of you have probably come across APPLE BUTTER, either in the grocery store, or a specialty store which sells locally canned goods, or the church fair. This is a favorite recipe that I use:
Slice into eighths 3-1/2 pounds of cooking apples [as far as I can tell, they are all cooking apples]. Boil 2 quarts of cider for 15 minutes. Add apple slices and cook until very tender; strain mixture through a sieve [this removes the seeds and peel], and return pulp to the saucepan. Add 3 cups of sugar, 1 teaspoon of ground allspice, 1 teaspoon of ground cloves, 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Simmer slowly until thick, stirring frequently (you don't want it to burn). Pour into jars and seal.
Next, toast your bread, and spread it with the sweet, spicy treat. Or use it in APPLE BUTTER PIE:
Line a 9-inch pie pan with pastry. [This is a custard-type pie, much like pumpkin pie, and will rise as it bakes, so flute the edges high.]
In a large bowl, mix 1/2 cup of sugar with 3 tablespoons flour. Stir in 1/2 cup of apple butter and 2 tablespoons of melted [dairy] butter. In another bowl, beat 2 eggs with 1-1/2 cups of milk and 1 cup of cream. Pour it into apple butter mixture, beating as you do so.
Pour the whole mixture into your lined pie pan and sprinkle the top with about 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour or until a knife inserted into the pie comes out clean. Cool pie.
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ONION BUTTER is even easier to make, and sweeter than you would expect. It is good on toast, on crackers, on oatmeal [yes, really!], on vegetables...
No, this isn't Onion 'flavored' butter, with bits of onion or onion juice stirred into dairy butter, although those are good too (especially a plug melting on a newly grilled steak!) This is a spread made with onions, and nothing but the onions.
Peel 3 to 5 pounds of onions. [I use yellow onions; I can get huge 10 and 15 pound sacks of them for a few dollars - 10 yellow onions are about 3 pounds. Big, flat, sweet onions are also good. I've never tried using red onions]
Slice the onions into quarters and place in a large, heavy pot; barely cover the onions with water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat; cover and simmer for a long time - aka about 24 hours. [No use trying to hurry things along, at least not with this recipe. Since I don't leave ANYTHING burning when I am not there to watch it, I turn off the stove burner when I go to bed and start it up again the next day.]
Periodically check the mixture - you might need to add a little water. I give it a stir each time, just to make sure nothing is burning on the bottom. Once everything is cooked down, you will end up with a pint or two of a brown, lumpy mass; use your favorite method to make it smooth - hand-held or electrical mixer/beater, food processor, whatever. [I stir it and then use a potato masher to break up the lumps. Arm power may not be Food Channel worthy, but it gets the job done].
Some people like to add a little salt to taste at this point. Once that is done, simmer until all of the excess liquid is gone. Keep an eye on this, because the liquid can evaporate before you know it, and you will be left with a burned mess.
It is ready to eat, now. Warm onion butter on toast - heaven!
Once it is cooled sufficiently, I put it in a small crock, a small bowl, even a plastic container, and store it, covered, in the refrigerator. It doesn't last long.
Of course you can go all fancy and roast the onions with a drizzle of olive oil before dumping them in a pot with melted butter, and using a food processor to make a smooth paste. That seems like a lot of work to me, but go ahead, be creative.
16 October 2010
16 October - Saint Hedwig and her Soles; Marie Antoinette
Memorial of Saint Hedwig (a name quite familiar to Harry Potter fans), Widow and Patroness of Silesia.
A German princess, she was married at a young age to the Duke of Silesia. She carried out her duties of wife and mother, convincing husband and children by her example to perform pious acts of charity and submission to God's will. After her husband's death, she retired to the Cistercian convent of Trzebnica, which she had persuaded her husband to build, and of which her daughter was prioress.
When her son was killed in battle against the invading Mongols, she could, even in her grief, thank God for his blessings:
"I thank you, my God, for having given me such a son, who always loved and honored me, and never gave me the least occasion of displeasure. To see him alive was my great joy; yet I feel a still greater pleasure in seeing him, by such a death, deserve to be forever united to you in the kingdom of your glory. O my God, with my whole heart, I commend to you his dear soul."
God, give us the strength and the grace to praise You, even as we mourn. Amen.
According to accounts of her life, she practiced humility by going barefoot, even in winter, carrying a pair of shoes under her arm to put on if she met anyone. There was a bread called "Saint Hedwig's Soles", made for this day; you can use any yeast bread recipe you like for it. The shape of the buns resembles the kind of shoe seen in portraits of Henry VIII and his court - a kind of truncated triangle, wide at one end, slightly narrower at the other.
SAINT HEDWIG'S SOLES
Scald 1/2 cup of milk, then cool to lukewarm.
In a large bowl, dissolve 1 package of active dry yeast in 1/2 cup of warm water (105 to 115 degrees F). Sir in 1/2 cup lukewarm milk, 1/3 cup of sugar, 1/3 cup of shortening or softened butter, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 egg, and 2 cups of flour. Beat until smooth, then mix in enough flour to make the dough easy to handle.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead it until it is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
Place the dough in a greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover; let rise in warm place until double, about 1-1/2 hours.
Punch down dough. Pinch off pieces of dough and roll them to form 10 - 12 small balls. Flatten the balls to about 1/4 inch thick and shape them into soles. Place the soles on a greased baking sheet and let them rise for about 40 minutes.
Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 15 - 20 minutes or until golden brown. Heat 1/2 cup of jam (any flavor) until melted; brush lightly over soles. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of chopped nuts, if desired.
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Today in 1793, another royal widow was martyred - the Widow Capet, in happier times known as Marie Antoinette, Queen of France. For in-depth research on her, I will send you to the blog Tea at Trianon, where Elena Maria Vidal battles against the usual calumnies and time-hallowed lies that surround this much-maligned Princess.
A German princess, she was married at a young age to the Duke of Silesia. She carried out her duties of wife and mother, convincing husband and children by her example to perform pious acts of charity and submission to God's will. After her husband's death, she retired to the Cistercian convent of Trzebnica, which she had persuaded her husband to build, and of which her daughter was prioress.
When her son was killed in battle against the invading Mongols, she could, even in her grief, thank God for his blessings:
"I thank you, my God, for having given me such a son, who always loved and honored me, and never gave me the least occasion of displeasure. To see him alive was my great joy; yet I feel a still greater pleasure in seeing him, by such a death, deserve to be forever united to you in the kingdom of your glory. O my God, with my whole heart, I commend to you his dear soul."
God, give us the strength and the grace to praise You, even as we mourn. Amen.
According to accounts of her life, she practiced humility by going barefoot, even in winter, carrying a pair of shoes under her arm to put on if she met anyone. There was a bread called "Saint Hedwig's Soles", made for this day; you can use any yeast bread recipe you like for it. The shape of the buns resembles the kind of shoe seen in portraits of Henry VIII and his court - a kind of truncated triangle, wide at one end, slightly narrower at the other.
SAINT HEDWIG'S SOLES
Scald 1/2 cup of milk, then cool to lukewarm.
In a large bowl, dissolve 1 package of active dry yeast in 1/2 cup of warm water (105 to 115 degrees F). Sir in 1/2 cup lukewarm milk, 1/3 cup of sugar, 1/3 cup of shortening or softened butter, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 egg, and 2 cups of flour. Beat until smooth, then mix in enough flour to make the dough easy to handle.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead it until it is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
Place the dough in a greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover; let rise in warm place until double, about 1-1/2 hours.
Punch down dough. Pinch off pieces of dough and roll them to form 10 - 12 small balls. Flatten the balls to about 1/4 inch thick and shape them into soles. Place the soles on a greased baking sheet and let them rise for about 40 minutes.
Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 15 - 20 minutes or until golden brown. Heat 1/2 cup of jam (any flavor) until melted; brush lightly over soles. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of chopped nuts, if desired.
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Today in 1793, another royal widow was martyred - the Widow Capet, in happier times known as Marie Antoinette, Queen of France. For in-depth research on her, I will send you to the blog Tea at Trianon, where Elena Maria Vidal battles against the usual calumnies and time-hallowed lies that surround this much-maligned Princess.
15 October 2010
15 October - Saint Teresa
Memorial of Saint Teresa of Avila - Discalced Carmelite, mystic, and Doctor of the Church.
Teresa Sanchez Capeda Davila y Ahumada, born in Avila, Spain on the 28th of March 1515; died at Alba de Tormes 4 October 1582. Her's is a fascinating life, full of contradictions. I have always liked the story of her persuading her brother to go with her to Africa, so that they could be martyred ("a quick way to see God"). That is very much a child's reasoning.
You can read Saint Teresa's Autobiography at Project Gutenberg; The Interior Castle at Sacred Texts (the translation is by the Benedictines of Stanbrook, which will make this edition more in keeping with Saint Teresa's vision than that of the New Age translations you'll find in the local bookstore); and Way of Perfection at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
Other ideas for celebrating the life of Saint Teresa can be found at Catholic Culture, including "Saint Teresa's Bookmark" and more Spanish recipes to enjoy.
Avila has several dishes for which it is justly known, but in honor of Teresa, here is a candy made in Avila called YEMAS DE SANTA TERESA (Yolks of Saint Teresa).
Some say that Teresa's nuns made these sweets to raise money; others, that they have been made from secret recipes handed down in baking families. Whatever their origins, they are a fascinating and contradictory concoction... just like the Saint.
Start with 12 egg yolks (save the whites for angel food cake or meringue). Put the yolks through a fine mesh sieve into a saucepan and set aside.
In another saucepan, mix together 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of water, a cinnamon stick, and the zest of one lemon (you can add 1/2 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice as well, if you want the flavor to be more lemony). Stir over medium heat, thoroughly dissolving the sugar, until it reaches a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until syrup reaches the soft-ball stage (about 234 degrees on the candy thermometer). Remove from heat and discard the cinnamon stick.
Carefully add the syrup to the egg yolks (or the egg yolks to the syrup, if you prefer), stirring constantly. (I have found that adding a spoonful of hot mixture into the eggs, stirring furiously, then adding another spoonful, stirring furiously, and maybe a third spoonful, helps to incorporate the hot mixture without cooking the eggs. Then, either mixture can be stirred into the other.) Cook mixture over medium heat, still stirring constantly, until it thickens slightly. Remove from heat, and stir until mixture is stiff and does not stick to the sides of the pan.
You can now either pour the mixture onto a greased flat pan, or sprinkle powdered sugar on a plate and spread the mixture on it. Allow the mixture to cool until you can handle it.
When cool enough to handle, form mixture into small balls and roll them in more powdered sugar. Place the balls on a clean plate, cover with plastic wrap, and chill completely (overnight is best).
You can also order these sweets (and other foods from Spain) on the La Tienda website.
Teresa Sanchez Capeda Davila y Ahumada, born in Avila, Spain on the 28th of March 1515; died at Alba de Tormes 4 October 1582. Her's is a fascinating life, full of contradictions. I have always liked the story of her persuading her brother to go with her to Africa, so that they could be martyred ("a quick way to see God"). That is very much a child's reasoning.
You can read Saint Teresa's Autobiography at Project Gutenberg; The Interior Castle at Sacred Texts (the translation is by the Benedictines of Stanbrook, which will make this edition more in keeping with Saint Teresa's vision than that of the New Age translations you'll find in the local bookstore); and Way of Perfection at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
Other ideas for celebrating the life of Saint Teresa can be found at Catholic Culture, including "Saint Teresa's Bookmark" and more Spanish recipes to enjoy.
Avila has several dishes for which it is justly known, but in honor of Teresa, here is a candy made in Avila called YEMAS DE SANTA TERESA (Yolks of Saint Teresa).
Some say that Teresa's nuns made these sweets to raise money; others, that they have been made from secret recipes handed down in baking families. Whatever their origins, they are a fascinating and contradictory concoction... just like the Saint.
Start with 12 egg yolks (save the whites for angel food cake or meringue). Put the yolks through a fine mesh sieve into a saucepan and set aside.
In another saucepan, mix together 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of water, a cinnamon stick, and the zest of one lemon (you can add 1/2 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice as well, if you want the flavor to be more lemony). Stir over medium heat, thoroughly dissolving the sugar, until it reaches a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until syrup reaches the soft-ball stage (about 234 degrees on the candy thermometer). Remove from heat and discard the cinnamon stick.
Carefully add the syrup to the egg yolks (or the egg yolks to the syrup, if you prefer), stirring constantly. (I have found that adding a spoonful of hot mixture into the eggs, stirring furiously, then adding another spoonful, stirring furiously, and maybe a third spoonful, helps to incorporate the hot mixture without cooking the eggs. Then, either mixture can be stirred into the other.) Cook mixture over medium heat, still stirring constantly, until it thickens slightly. Remove from heat, and stir until mixture is stiff and does not stick to the sides of the pan.
You can now either pour the mixture onto a greased flat pan, or sprinkle powdered sugar on a plate and spread the mixture on it. Allow the mixture to cool until you can handle it.
When cool enough to handle, form mixture into small balls and roll them in more powdered sugar. Place the balls on a clean plate, cover with plastic wrap, and chill completely (overnight is best).
You can also order these sweets (and other foods from Spain) on the La Tienda website.
14 October 2010
14 October - Chilean Miners; Battle of Hastings
All of the Chilean miners are back on the surface and safe, thank God! Watching the rescue has been very emotional and intense - real edge-of-seat fare, with prayers and encouraging words for all involved. Congratulations to the miners, their families, the rescue teams, and the people of Chile for a job well done!
Time to celebrate! One aunt said that she would feed her nephew "champagne and bits of roast chicken", which sounds good enough for dinner tonight (I love roast chicken). Or have Empanadas de Pino (Chilean Empanadas) which look like the traditional Miners' Pasties to me.
And champagne. We are celebrating!
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Today, in 1066, after months of planning and waiting, the forces of William, Duke of Normandy engaged those of Harold, King of England, and as we all know, William was victorious, thereby earning the appellation "The Conqueror" and a coronation on the following Christmas Day.
While this historic contest is referred to as "The Battle of Hastings", the actual fighting took place a few miles to the north at Senlac Hill. King Harold and his army, which had just repulsed an invasion by the Viking King Harald Hardrada in the north of England and then hurriedly marched south to meet this new invasion, took up a good defensive position. It might have worked. It didn't. King Harold and much of his Anglo-Saxon army were cut down over the course of the day.
William had to do a bit more 'persuading' as he marched north to London before the English were ready to accept him as their king, but by early December, they had been convinced - and thus ended the last successful invasion of England.
The Bayeux Tapestry (which you can see here in its entirety with very good commentary) is perhaps the most well known 'history' of the events leading up to and including the battle. One of the panels shows William and his brother, Bishop Odo, at dinner after landing in England. We see cooks with a cauldron suspended over a fire - perhaps for boiling beef or pork? - and a box-like contraption standing on three legs over another cooking fire. The author calls it an oven; others have interpreted it to be a kind of barbecue. Servants carry meat on skewers to the diners, including what looks like a fowl of some kind. What other dishes are on the table is anybody's guess.
A good dinner to have tonight would be a small chicken or game hen roasted on a spit or rotisserie, a dish of mushrooms and leeks, or carrots, seasoned with herbs, and slices of sourdough bread.
And wine. Or beer. Or ale. No water.
Time to celebrate! One aunt said that she would feed her nephew "champagne and bits of roast chicken", which sounds good enough for dinner tonight (I love roast chicken). Or have Empanadas de Pino (Chilean Empanadas) which look like the traditional Miners' Pasties to me.
And champagne. We are celebrating!
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Today, in 1066, after months of planning and waiting, the forces of William, Duke of Normandy engaged those of Harold, King of England, and as we all know, William was victorious, thereby earning the appellation "The Conqueror" and a coronation on the following Christmas Day.
While this historic contest is referred to as "The Battle of Hastings", the actual fighting took place a few miles to the north at Senlac Hill. King Harold and his army, which had just repulsed an invasion by the Viking King Harald Hardrada in the north of England and then hurriedly marched south to meet this new invasion, took up a good defensive position. It might have worked. It didn't. King Harold and much of his Anglo-Saxon army were cut down over the course of the day.
William had to do a bit more 'persuading' as he marched north to London before the English were ready to accept him as their king, but by early December, they had been convinced - and thus ended the last successful invasion of England.
The Bayeux Tapestry (which you can see here in its entirety with very good commentary) is perhaps the most well known 'history' of the events leading up to and including the battle. One of the panels shows William and his brother, Bishop Odo, at dinner after landing in England. We see cooks with a cauldron suspended over a fire - perhaps for boiling beef or pork? - and a box-like contraption standing on three legs over another cooking fire. The author calls it an oven; others have interpreted it to be a kind of barbecue. Servants carry meat on skewers to the diners, including what looks like a fowl of some kind. What other dishes are on the table is anybody's guess.
A good dinner to have tonight would be a small chicken or game hen roasted on a spit or rotisserie, a dish of mushrooms and leeks, or carrots, seasoned with herbs, and slices of sourdough bread.
And wine. Or beer. Or ale. No water.
13 October 2010
13 October - Claudius; Mushrooms
Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (the former Tiberius Claudius Drusus) died today in 54 AD. He had been the Emperor of Rome for thirteen years, succeeding his infamous nephew Caligula at the age of 51.
After 51 years of doing pretty much nothing - which probably had a hand in saving his life - Claudius embarked on an energetic career as Emperor. There were his building projects: aqueducts, roads, canals, and the port at Ostia. There were his empire expansions: the additions of Britain, Thrace (northeastern Greece), Noricum (western Austria), Pamphylia and its neighbor Lycia (southern Turkey), Judea (part of Israel) and Mauretania (Morocco and western Algeria). There were his edicts, some of them very humane.
And then, there were his wives. The first two aren't noteworthy - at least, they didn't provide exciting material for historians and composers of opera like the last two - Messalina and Agrippina.
So we come to today in 54 AD. Rumor has it that Claudius was poisoned. Rumor can't decide how the poison was administered (although the 'dish of mushrooms' story is very popular), or who provided the poison, but rumor seems quite set on the person at whose instigation the poison was given - Claudius's fourth wife and niece, Agrippina, mother of an unassuming young man named Nero. Yes. That Nero. Martyrdoms-of-Peter-and-Paul-and-a-whole-bunch-of-others Nero. Who became emperor after the death of his grand-uncle and step-father, Claudius.
And who is said to have called mushrooms "the food of the gods" - supposedly because his step-father had become a god by eating them.
Well, I don't know if that's true, but I will agree that mushrooms are a divine delight. Here are three recipes to make yourself and your guests feel divine.
SAUTEED MUSHROOMS
Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a skillet until hot; place 2 pounds of mushroom caps in skillet (cap side down); season with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and cook until brown. Turn the mushrooms and cook until the liquid has evaporated and there is only butter (and mushrooms) in the pan. Stir lemon juice into the mushrooms. Serve immediately, spooning the butter/lemon sauce over the mushrooms. (These are nice served on hot toast)
BAKED MUSHROOMS IN CREAM
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Take the caps of one dozen large fresh mushrooms and wipe them with a damp cloth. Put 1 drop of onion juice* in each cap; arrange, cap side down, in a baking dish. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Dot with 1 tablespoon of butter and then pour 1/2 cup of light cream over all. Cover and cook in oven for 15 minutes or until mushrooms are tender. Serve on buttered toast.
* Onion juice - either buy it, if you can find it, or make your own by grating an onion, then either placing the gratings in a strainer and mashing it through, or by placing the gratings in cheesecloth or a towel and squeezing the liquid out. Or use a food processor.
STUFFED MUSHROOMS
Preheat oven to #50 degrees F.
Remove the stems from 16 large mushrooms and chop them fine; set mushroom caps aside. Remove the casings from 6 ounces of sweet Italian sausage; add sausage, chopped mushroom stems, 1 minced garlic clove, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat, until lightly brown. Add another tablespoon of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of minced Italian parsley, and 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, and mix well.
Spoon mixture into mushroom caps; put caps in a shallow baking pan. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to 1/4 cup of water and pour into the bottom of the pan. Bake for about 20 minutes.
After 51 years of doing pretty much nothing - which probably had a hand in saving his life - Claudius embarked on an energetic career as Emperor. There were his building projects: aqueducts, roads, canals, and the port at Ostia. There were his empire expansions: the additions of Britain, Thrace (northeastern Greece), Noricum (western Austria), Pamphylia and its neighbor Lycia (southern Turkey), Judea (part of Israel) and Mauretania (Morocco and western Algeria). There were his edicts, some of them very humane.
And then, there were his wives. The first two aren't noteworthy - at least, they didn't provide exciting material for historians and composers of opera like the last two - Messalina and Agrippina.
So we come to today in 54 AD. Rumor has it that Claudius was poisoned. Rumor can't decide how the poison was administered (although the 'dish of mushrooms' story is very popular), or who provided the poison, but rumor seems quite set on the person at whose instigation the poison was given - Claudius's fourth wife and niece, Agrippina, mother of an unassuming young man named Nero. Yes. That Nero. Martyrdoms-of-Peter-and-Paul-and-a-whole-bunch-of-others Nero. Who became emperor after the death of his grand-uncle and step-father, Claudius.
And who is said to have called mushrooms "the food of the gods" - supposedly because his step-father had become a god by eating them.
Well, I don't know if that's true, but I will agree that mushrooms are a divine delight. Here are three recipes to make yourself and your guests feel divine.
SAUTEED MUSHROOMS
Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a skillet until hot; place 2 pounds of mushroom caps in skillet (cap side down); season with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and cook until brown. Turn the mushrooms and cook until the liquid has evaporated and there is only butter (and mushrooms) in the pan. Stir lemon juice into the mushrooms. Serve immediately, spooning the butter/lemon sauce over the mushrooms. (These are nice served on hot toast)
BAKED MUSHROOMS IN CREAM
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Take the caps of one dozen large fresh mushrooms and wipe them with a damp cloth. Put 1 drop of onion juice* in each cap; arrange, cap side down, in a baking dish. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Dot with 1 tablespoon of butter and then pour 1/2 cup of light cream over all. Cover and cook in oven for 15 minutes or until mushrooms are tender. Serve on buttered toast.
* Onion juice - either buy it, if you can find it, or make your own by grating an onion, then either placing the gratings in a strainer and mashing it through, or by placing the gratings in cheesecloth or a towel and squeezing the liquid out. Or use a food processor.
STUFFED MUSHROOMS
Preheat oven to #50 degrees F.
Remove the stems from 16 large mushrooms and chop them fine; set mushroom caps aside. Remove the casings from 6 ounces of sweet Italian sausage; add sausage, chopped mushroom stems, 1 minced garlic clove, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat, until lightly brown. Add another tablespoon of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of minced Italian parsley, and 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, and mix well.
Spoon mixture into mushroom caps; put caps in a shallow baking pan. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to 1/4 cup of water and pour into the bottom of the pan. Bake for about 20 minutes.
12 October 2010
12 October - Columbus Day
Today is the day that Christopher Columbus (or, more likely, Rodrigo de Triana, the Pinta's lookout) sighted land on his 1492 voyage to find a way to the rich Indies by a westward route. It was observed yesterday in order to give everyone three days in which to celebrate the European discoveries of our continents OR to bemoan the same. I personally am inclined to celebrate.
So here's to you, Columbus (and de Triana) and Brendan and Verazzano and Madog and Hudson and Cabot and Eriksson and Balboa, and Cartier, and more that I cannot even remember. And also, here's to all of those brave enough to get on small boats and large ships (over the last four centuries), leaving everything behind, the good with the bad, to start over in a new land that most likely didn't speak the same language and has a habit of looking down on immigrants other than themselves.
An appropriate celebration dinner could include foods that the sailors would have eaten on their voyages. Two essays on the cuisine Columbus would have known and eaten can be found at the Castello Banfi website: 'Christopher Columbus - His Gastronomic Persona', and 'Recipes' from the same; both are pdf files.
According to Lucio Sorre, who wrote the above essays, the victuals on that first voyage included olive oil, vinegar, wine, honey and molasses; flour, rice, dried chickpeas and lentils; garlic, cheese, raisins, and almonds; sardines, anchovies, salt cod, and pickled or salted beef and pork.
Of course, what did sailors from time immemorial eat? That's right: SHIP'S BISCUIT
(but I don't suggest you do the same)
A recipe for ship's biscuit from The Royal Naval Museum:
So here's to you, Columbus (and de Triana) and Brendan and Verazzano and Madog and Hudson and Cabot and Eriksson and Balboa, and Cartier, and more that I cannot even remember. And also, here's to all of those brave enough to get on small boats and large ships (over the last four centuries), leaving everything behind, the good with the bad, to start over in a new land that most likely didn't speak the same language and has a habit of looking down on immigrants other than themselves.
An appropriate celebration dinner could include foods that the sailors would have eaten on their voyages. Two essays on the cuisine Columbus would have known and eaten can be found at the Castello Banfi website: 'Christopher Columbus - His Gastronomic Persona', and 'Recipes' from the same; both are pdf files.
According to Lucio Sorre, who wrote the above essays, the victuals on that first voyage included olive oil, vinegar, wine, honey and molasses; flour, rice, dried chickpeas and lentils; garlic, cheese, raisins, and almonds; sardines, anchovies, salt cod, and pickled or salted beef and pork.
Of course, what did sailors from time immemorial eat? That's right: SHIP'S BISCUIT
(but I don't suggest you do the same)
A recipe for ship's biscuit from The Royal Naval Museum:
"To produce a similar plain ships biscuit, a medium coarse stone-ground wholemeal flour should be used."
"Add water to 1lb wholemeal flour and 1/4oz salt to make a stiff dough. Leave for 1/2 hour and then roll out very thickly. Separate in to 5 or 7 biscuits. Bake in a hot oven approx. 420 degrees F for 30 minutes. The biscuits should then be left undisturbed in a warm dry atmosphere to harden and dry out."
Other recipes leave off the salt.
The biscuits would then be broken up, pulverized, mixed together with more water, shaped, and baked again. This process would take place up to four times, to make a durable breadstuff that would last for years. It also made the biscuit extremely hard - so much so that one did not munch on a biscuit (it would be like munching on a brick), but rather sopped it in soup or gravy or other liquid until soft. Biscuits were also used in soups and stews as thickening agents.
Well, here is something the sailors might have had to soften their biscuits: Chickpea Stew with Salt Cod, found on the Jose-Made-in-Spain website. Garlic, salt cod, saffron, and cumin - what's not to like?
Well, here is something the sailors might have had to soften their biscuits: Chickpea Stew with Salt Cod, found on the Jose-Made-in-Spain website. Garlic, salt cod, saffron, and cumin - what's not to like?
... Then, pale and worn, he kept his deck,
And peered through darkness. Ah, that night
Of all dark nights! And then a speck—
A light! a light! a light! a light!
It grew; a starlit flag unfurled!
It grew to be Time’s burst of dawn.
He gained a world; he gave that world
Its grandest lesson: “On! sail on!”
And peered through darkness. Ah, that night
Of all dark nights! And then a speck—
A light! a light! a light! a light!
It grew; a starlit flag unfurled!
It grew to be Time’s burst of dawn.
He gained a world; he gave that world
Its grandest lesson: “On! sail on!”
—Joaquin Miller "Columbus"
11 October 2010
11 October - Thanksgiving Day
Turkey! Mashed potatoes! Corn! Pumpkin Pie! And of course, Football!
And it is all happening in Canada, because today has been declared, "A day of general Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed..."
I do hope and pray that it has been a bountiful harvest, and that all shall reflect on their many blessings.
And then, tuck in!
(And for those south of the 49th Parallel who cannot wait another month, have a mini-feast with a turkey breast and the usual suspects, ending with Mini Pumpkin Pies)
And it is all happening in Canada, because today has been declared, "A day of general Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed..."
I do hope and pray that it has been a bountiful harvest, and that all shall reflect on their many blessings.
And then, tuck in!
(And for those south of the 49th Parallel who cannot wait another month, have a mini-feast with a turkey breast and the usual suspects, ending with Mini Pumpkin Pies)
10 October 2010
10 October -
The Widow is in mourning today for a dear friend. Life is so much emptier now.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul rest in peace. Amen.
09 October 2010
9 October - Saint Denis of Paris; Leif Ericson; Blabaerkake
Weather: A hard winter follows a fine Saint Denis.
It was a fine day here in the smallest state. "Hard winter, hard winter, come again no more..."
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Feast of Saint Denis (Dionysius), bishop and martyr, and his companions, Father Rusticus and Deacon Eleutherius.
Sent to restore the Church in Gaul, which had suffered terribly under the persecutions of Decius, Dionysius and his friends arrived in the vicinity of modern Paris and settled on the Ile de la Cite. His untiring efforts to re-establish and strengthen the Church, and the many conversions resulting from his preaching, aroused the enmity of the pagan priests. The three men were arrested, tortured, and beheaded at a place now called Montmartre.
Popular depictions show him holding his head in his hands; occasionally he is shown walking with it, as he was said to have carried his head six miles to the place where the Basilica of Saint Denis was later built, preaching a sermon all the while.
As one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, he is invoked against headaches, hydrophobia, and rabies. He is also the patron of Paris (France) and of possessed and frenzied people [that makes sense].
You can read the Golden Legend account of his life here.
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Today is also Leif Erikson Day in the United States.
There is no mention of the day in the early 11th century when Leif landed on the coast of Newfoundland (or possibly Massachusetts) and established a settlement in 'Vinland', which you can read about at the 'Saga of Eric the Red' here. Rasmus B. Anderson, in his book "America Not Discovered by Columbus" (a partial view can be found on Google Books), thought that Vinland was to be found near Fall River in Massachusetts, mentioning both the "Skeleton in Armor" and the "Newport Tower" as part of his evidence. Dighton Rock in the Taunton River is also supposed to be covered with Norse writing.
The Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland has also been proposed as the site of Vinland, while Norwegian researcher Johannes Kr. Tomoe placed the site further east at Waquoit Bay in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Wherever it was, blueberries were available, so a nice dessert for the day would be BLABAERKAKE:
You will need 2 cups of fresh (or frozen and thawed, or canned and drained) blueberries
1-1/2 cups fine cracker meal
1/2 to 1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup melted butter or margarine
Grease a 1 quart casserole and fill with half the blueberries. Top with half of the cracker meal, half of the sugar, and half of the butter. Repeat layering, ending with butter. Bake in a preheated moderate oven (375 degrees) for 1 hour. Serve warm, with whipped cream.
It was a fine day here in the smallest state. "Hard winter, hard winter, come again no more..."
----------------------------------------------------
Feast of Saint Denis (Dionysius), bishop and martyr, and his companions, Father Rusticus and Deacon Eleutherius.
Sent to restore the Church in Gaul, which had suffered terribly under the persecutions of Decius, Dionysius and his friends arrived in the vicinity of modern Paris and settled on the Ile de la Cite. His untiring efforts to re-establish and strengthen the Church, and the many conversions resulting from his preaching, aroused the enmity of the pagan priests. The three men were arrested, tortured, and beheaded at a place now called Montmartre.
Popular depictions show him holding his head in his hands; occasionally he is shown walking with it, as he was said to have carried his head six miles to the place where the Basilica of Saint Denis was later built, preaching a sermon all the while.
As one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, he is invoked against headaches, hydrophobia, and rabies. He is also the patron of Paris (France) and of possessed and frenzied people [that makes sense].
You can read the Golden Legend account of his life here.
------------------------------------------------------
Today is also Leif Erikson Day in the United States.
There is no mention of the day in the early 11th century when Leif landed on the coast of Newfoundland (or possibly Massachusetts) and established a settlement in 'Vinland', which you can read about at the 'Saga of Eric the Red' here. Rasmus B. Anderson, in his book "America Not Discovered by Columbus" (a partial view can be found on Google Books), thought that Vinland was to be found near Fall River in Massachusetts, mentioning both the "Skeleton in Armor" and the "Newport Tower" as part of his evidence. Dighton Rock in the Taunton River is also supposed to be covered with Norse writing.
The Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland has also been proposed as the site of Vinland, while Norwegian researcher Johannes Kr. Tomoe placed the site further east at Waquoit Bay in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Wherever it was, blueberries were available, so a nice dessert for the day would be BLABAERKAKE:
You will need 2 cups of fresh (or frozen and thawed, or canned and drained) blueberries
1-1/2 cups fine cracker meal
1/2 to 1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup melted butter or margarine
Grease a 1 quart casserole and fill with half the blueberries. Top with half of the cracker meal, half of the sugar, and half of the butter. Repeat layering, ending with butter. Bake in a preheated moderate oven (375 degrees) for 1 hour. Serve warm, with whipped cream.
08 October 2010
8 October - Saint Reparata and Nice
Astronomy: Draconid meteor shower: October 7th and 8th, in the late evening. Not one of the spectacular showers, with only about 6 meteors per hour, but it should be dark enough to see, as the New Moon was two days ago. Look north.
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Feast of Saint Reparata. The story is that she was a young girl of Caesarea in the 3rd century, who was tortured and thrown into a furnace when she would not sacrifice to the Roman gods. She survived the flames, and was beheaded.
The patron saint of Nice, her annual fete will be held there this year on October 10.
So naturally, we should have a SALADE NICOISE to celebrate.
On a large dish or platter, lay a bed of Boston or Butter lettuce leaves, and arrange on top of them in a pleasing pattern:
Peeled and cooked small red potatoes (whole or sliced),
Cooked and refreshed green beans,
Wedges of ripe tomatoes,
Hard-boiled eggs, peeled and halved,
Nicoise olives,
Oil packed tuna,
Canned anchovy fillets.
You can toss the vegetables with a little garlic vinaigrette before assembling, or spoon the vinaigrette over the salad before serving. Or both. Very easy, and very impressive.
You can find another good recipe for this and other Provencal food at "Provence Beyond". Another Nice specialty is 'socca', which is a very thin pancake/flatbread made of chickpea flour and olive oil, baked on a HUGE round cast iron or copper pan. When done, it is sprinkled generously with pepper, broken into pieces, and eaten hot.
If you don't have a HUGE round pan, try David Lebovitz's recipe, which uses a cast iron skillet or a tart pan. (It also has pictures, which is always a great help to the exuberant but easily confused cook)
Nice is on the Cote d'Azur in southern France. Go here to the Provence Web page for more information, and for lovely photos that will look even lovelier as winter sets in, believe me.
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Feast of Saint Reparata. The story is that she was a young girl of Caesarea in the 3rd century, who was tortured and thrown into a furnace when she would not sacrifice to the Roman gods. She survived the flames, and was beheaded.
The patron saint of Nice, her annual fete will be held there this year on October 10.
So naturally, we should have a SALADE NICOISE to celebrate.
On a large dish or platter, lay a bed of Boston or Butter lettuce leaves, and arrange on top of them in a pleasing pattern:
Peeled and cooked small red potatoes (whole or sliced),
Cooked and refreshed green beans,
Wedges of ripe tomatoes,
Hard-boiled eggs, peeled and halved,
Nicoise olives,
Oil packed tuna,
Canned anchovy fillets.
You can toss the vegetables with a little garlic vinaigrette before assembling, or spoon the vinaigrette over the salad before serving. Or both. Very easy, and very impressive.
You can find another good recipe for this and other Provencal food at "Provence Beyond". Another Nice specialty is 'socca', which is a very thin pancake/flatbread made of chickpea flour and olive oil, baked on a HUGE round cast iron or copper pan. When done, it is sprinkled generously with pepper, broken into pieces, and eaten hot.
If you don't have a HUGE round pan, try David Lebovitz's recipe, which uses a cast iron skillet or a tart pan. (It also has pictures, which is always a great help to the exuberant but easily confused cook)
Nice is on the Cote d'Azur in southern France. Go here to the Provence Web page for more information, and for lovely photos that will look even lovelier as winter sets in, believe me.
07 October 2010
7 October - Draconids; Lepanto and Our Lady of the Rosary
Astronomy: Draconid meteor shower: October 7th and 8th, in the late evening. Not one of the spectacular showers, with only about 6 meteors per hour, but it should be dark enough to see, as the New Moon was two days ago. Look north.
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Battle of Lepanto and feast of Our Lady of the Rosary
From Catholic Encyclopedia:
"Occupied by the Turks in 1498, Lepanto is chiefly celebrated for the victory which the combined papal, Spanish, Venetian, and Genoese fleets, under Don John of Austria, gained over the Turkish fleet on 7 Oct., 1571. The latter had 208 galleys and 66 small ships; the Christian fleet about the same number. The crusaders lost 17 ships and 7500 men; 15 Turkish ships were sunk and 177 taken, from 20,000 to 30,000 men disabled, and from 12,000 to 15,000 Christian rowers, slaves on the Turkish galleys, were delivered. Though this victory did not accomplish all that was hoped for, since the Turks appeared the very next year with a fleet of 250 ships before Modon and Cape Matapan, and in vain offered battle to the Christian, it was of great importance as being the first great defeat of the infidels on the sea."
The victory was attributed to praying the rosary, and the day now honors Our Lady of the Rosary.
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Battle of Lepanto and feast of Our Lady of the Rosary
From Catholic Encyclopedia:
"Occupied by the Turks in 1498, Lepanto is chiefly celebrated for the victory which the combined papal, Spanish, Venetian, and Genoese fleets, under Don John of Austria, gained over the Turkish fleet on 7 Oct., 1571. The latter had 208 galleys and 66 small ships; the Christian fleet about the same number. The crusaders lost 17 ships and 7500 men; 15 Turkish ships were sunk and 177 taken, from 20,000 to 30,000 men disabled, and from 12,000 to 15,000 Christian rowers, slaves on the Turkish galleys, were delivered. Though this victory did not accomplish all that was hoped for, since the Turks appeared the very next year with a fleet of 250 ships before Modon and Cape Matapan, and in vain offered battle to the Christian, it was of great importance as being the first great defeat of the infidels on the sea."
The victory was attributed to praying the rosary, and the day now honors Our Lady of the Rosary.
06 October 2010
6 October - Saint Bruno
The story of the event which caused Bruno to retire into solitude was a favorite of the Medieval period. Miniatures, such as those found in The Belle Heures of Jean Duke of Berry, related the tale of the death and burial of the eminent Parisian theologian and doctor, Raymond Diocres.
According to the story, Diocres, a famous professor of theology, died, and fellow clerics, students, and theologians gathered in Paris to honor the man at his obsequies.
But during the ceremonies, the corpse rose up on its bier in front of all and called out, saying, "I have been called to the just judgment of God!" [This, not unnaturally, stunned the mourners into silence.]
Again, on the following day, while the funeral was being celebrated, the dead man again cried out, "I have been justly accused in the judgment of God!" The mourners, greatly astonished [which must be the understatement of the day], considered among themselves whether the judgment could be for good or for evil.
On the day of the burial, as the coffin was being lowered into the grave, again the corpse cried out, "Justly I am judged by God and I am damned!" Whereupon everyone was terrified that a man of such accomplishments could be lost. [I probably would have dropped the body and run; Medieval folk were obviously made of sterner stuff.]
This caused Bruno to exclaim to his companions, "What hope is there for us, miserable as we are? Let us flee and live in a solitary place!" And so they did.
Of course, everyone knows that the Carthusian monks created a medicinal concoction named after their mother-house, La Grande Chartreuse. It would be fitting to honor Bruno and his sons and daughters in the faith with a glass of the green elixir.
As Reginald says in his discourse on Christmas presents, "...people may say what they like about the decay of Christianity; the religious system that produced green Chartreuse can never really die."
True words.
05 October 2010
5 October - Saint Faith's Eve
Tomorrow is the Feast of Saint Faith (aka Saint Fides, Sainte Foy, Santa Fe), a young woman of 3rd century Aquitaine in southern France, who was martyred by being burned to death on an iron bed placed over a flame pit. She was a very popular saint in the Middle Ages, known for the many miracles at her shrine.
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The night before her feast was a time for divination, in this case, to dream of a future husband.
I have found two different methods for this, and there are probably more, because nobody ever did things the same way. The only thing these two methods have in common is the use of three females.
So one method is for three girls to bake one cake each, then divide each cake into three pieces. Put a piece from each cake through a wedding ring, then eat the rest of the cake. They then should dream of their future husbands.
The other method is more precise. Only one cake, this time, baked by three girls or three widows; the ingredients being flour, water, salt, and sugar (or flour, spring water, and sugar), and the cooking implement a griddle (or a Dutch oven). Each girl must share equally in the making of the cake, and each must turn the cake three times. When it is done, the cake (and I'm thinking it looks like a pancake) is cut into three pieces; each third is AGAIN cut into nine pieces. There should be 27 pieces in all, and each one must be passed through a wedding ring borrowed for the occasion, either one time per piece or three times (three times twenty-seven is... a lot. This may take a while). After all pieces have gone through, each girl eats her nine pieces, while she is undressing, then goes to bed to hopefully dream of her future husband.
There are other details like using the ring of a woman who has been married seven years - a happily married woman being more efficacious - and the ring being hung up on the bedstead overnight, in which all three girls sleep, and a little rhyming charm to be said, something like:
O good Saint Faith, be kind tonight
And bring to me my heart's delight;
Let me my future husband view,
And be my vision chaste and true.
And MOST IMPORTANT! Everything must be done, start to finish (except for the little charm), in TOTAL SILENCE.
Three girls silent? I should hope to see this. Well, grab a couple of friends, get out the pancake mix, and go to it.
Oh, and good luck asking your mother if you can borrow her wedding ring 'in a good cause'.
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The night before her feast was a time for divination, in this case, to dream of a future husband.
I have found two different methods for this, and there are probably more, because nobody ever did things the same way. The only thing these two methods have in common is the use of three females.
So one method is for three girls to bake one cake each, then divide each cake into three pieces. Put a piece from each cake through a wedding ring, then eat the rest of the cake. They then should dream of their future husbands.
The other method is more precise. Only one cake, this time, baked by three girls or three widows; the ingredients being flour, water, salt, and sugar (or flour, spring water, and sugar), and the cooking implement a griddle (or a Dutch oven). Each girl must share equally in the making of the cake, and each must turn the cake three times. When it is done, the cake (and I'm thinking it looks like a pancake) is cut into three pieces; each third is AGAIN cut into nine pieces. There should be 27 pieces in all, and each one must be passed through a wedding ring borrowed for the occasion, either one time per piece or three times (three times twenty-seven is... a lot. This may take a while). After all pieces have gone through, each girl eats her nine pieces, while she is undressing, then goes to bed to hopefully dream of her future husband.
There are other details like using the ring of a woman who has been married seven years - a happily married woman being more efficacious - and the ring being hung up on the bedstead overnight, in which all three girls sleep, and a little rhyming charm to be said, something like:
O good Saint Faith, be kind tonight
And bring to me my heart's delight;
Let me my future husband view,
And be my vision chaste and true.
And MOST IMPORTANT! Everything must be done, start to finish (except for the little charm), in TOTAL SILENCE.
Three girls silent? I should hope to see this. Well, grab a couple of friends, get out the pancake mix, and go to it.
Oh, and good luck asking your mother if you can borrow her wedding ring 'in a good cause'.
04 October 2010
4 October - Saint Francis of Assisi
Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron of animals and the environment (and merchants and lace-makers). The bit about preaching to the animals is really a small part of his story, but it has overshadowed all else in modern minds.
The standard biography of the saint, "The Greater Life of Saint Francis" was compiled by Saint Bonaventure in 1263. The 28 frescoes of the life of Saint Francis, attributed to Giotto in the Basilica Papale di San Francisco d'Assisi, take their inspiration from this book.
Many of the stories surrounding Francis, including the preaching to the birds and the taming of the wolf, can be found in the book "Fioretti" or "Little Flowers of Francis of Assisi", from which the popular conception of the saint was formed.
One of my childhood books ("Rabbit Hill") referred to him as "The Good Saint - he who cared about us animals". If you haven't put out your bird feeders, now is a good time to do so, as they migrate to their winter homes. Donate to your local animal shelter - money if you have it, or maybe a case of canned pet food. Donations to your local zoo or wildlife fund will be much appreciated as well.
The standard biography of the saint, "The Greater Life of Saint Francis" was compiled by Saint Bonaventure in 1263. The 28 frescoes of the life of Saint Francis, attributed to Giotto in the Basilica Papale di San Francisco d'Assisi, take their inspiration from this book.
Many of the stories surrounding Francis, including the preaching to the birds and the taming of the wolf, can be found in the book "Fioretti" or "Little Flowers of Francis of Assisi", from which the popular conception of the saint was formed.
One of my childhood books ("Rabbit Hill") referred to him as "The Good Saint - he who cared about us animals". If you haven't put out your bird feeders, now is a good time to do so, as they migrate to their winter homes. Donate to your local animal shelter - money if you have it, or maybe a case of canned pet food. Donations to your local zoo or wildlife fund will be much appreciated as well.
03 October 2010
3 October - Children's Shows
Weather: When it storms on the first Sunday in the month, it will storm every Sunday that month.
Well, it didn't storm - it was just overcast and chilly.
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Today, two children's shows debuted in 1955:
(Fun with Music. Spin and Marty. "Gold dubloons and pieces of eight, handed down to Applegate...". "A Mousecartoon for you and me!" Talent Roundup and Honorary Mouseketeers. Can you sing the Club March? M-I-C K-E-Y M-O-U-S-Eeeeeeee)
Mr. Greenjeans, Mr. Bunny Rabbit, Mr. Moose, Dancing Bear. Tom Terrific and Crabby Appleton.
Just more of the cultural landscape for rapidly aging Boomers.
Well, it didn't storm - it was just overcast and chilly.
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Today, two children's shows debuted in 1955:
The original Mickey Mouse Club show on ABC-TV
(Fun with Music. Spin and Marty. "Gold dubloons and pieces of eight, handed down to Applegate...". "A Mousecartoon for you and me!" Talent Roundup and Honorary Mouseketeers. Can you sing the Club March? M-I-C K-E-Y M-O-U-S-Eeeeeeee)
and Captain Kangaroo on CBS-TV.
Mr. Greenjeans, Mr. Bunny Rabbit, Mr. Moose, Dancing Bear. Tom Terrific and Crabby Appleton.
Just more of the cultural landscape for rapidly aging Boomers.
02 October 2010
2 October - Guardian Angels; A. Hitchcock and Twilight Zone
Today we honor our Guardian Angels, those companions who are with us from the very beginning of our existence, through life, through death, through what follows. They represent us and intercede for us at the throne of God; if allowed, they will guide us through the vicissitudes of the day; at the end they accompany us to the Judgment Seat.
For most of us, they have quite a full schedule of trying to influence us to do right.
There is a lot of hooey out there about finding out the name of your guardian angel, and such-like. Don't do it. It is counter-productive. Just ask them to pray for you and guide you. That's really all you need.
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Today in 1955, Alfred Hitchcock Presents premiered on CBS television;
four years later, Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone premiered on your same CBS channel (yes, children, most of my generation grew up with 3 channels: ABC, NBC, and CBS.)
and after that, The Outer Limits ("There is nothing wrong with your television set..."), and Night Gallery, (Mr. Serling, again) and eventually, The Hitchhiker and Are You Afraid of the Dark? They all gave me goose pimples, if not nightmares. So delightful!
Popcorn definitely in order for a marathon of any of the above.
01 October 2010
1 October - Saint Remigius of Rheims and Saint Therese of Lisieux
There are some really interesting names out there. In the liturgical calendar, today's list of saints includes "Bavo", "Virila", "Albaud", and - something that I would never consider christening a child with - "Dodo".
[Thank heavens we have normal names today, like Eara, Kamkah, Ryno, Latrina, Faight, and Jherani.]
Today is the Memorial of Saint Remigius (or Remi), the 5th century bishop of Rheims, who evangelized among the Franks and converted their king, Clovis, to Christianity. His efforts led to the establishment of the Church in France. The Wikipedia article calls this "a momentous success for the Catholic Church and a seminal event in European history."
He is a patron of France, and invoked against epidemics, throat pain, and snakes. His life, as related in the medieval Golden Legend, can be read here.
Memorial of Saint Therese of Lisieux, a very popular saint in our day. She is the patroness of a whole host of things: missions and missionaries, sick people (especially tuberculosis and AIDS sufferers), florists, aviators and aircrews. She is also the patron of the diocese in which I grew up - Fresno.
She rightly speaks to those who think that because they are considered nonentities in a world that worships celebrities, they can do nothing.
Our world believes that one must be at the forefront of society to make a difference, because that is all we see - stars of the music-hall holding concerts to raise mega-money for the Cause of the Day; politicians reminding us that they voted for this, that, and the other thing to relieve our pain and suffering; eminent writers, academics, scientists, religious personalities, champions in the realm of sport, and business tycoons, all out in the public eye Doing Great Things. There is no room for small things, nor does anyone really care. Even the usual magazine articles ("Little girl collects _____ for _____; how one child made a difference") make it seem like one must have a Great Idea and be successful at it (because Unsuccessful Ideas aren't Great).
Saint Therese reminds us that everything we do in love for God - each small prayer, each small sacrifice - is a Great Thing, because Our Lord can use it to make Great Things. Do what you are given to do, and don't worry about how many people it will save from the ills of this world or the next. Sometimes, in spite of all the Grand and Glorious Things that I would like to do, prayer is all I can do. A small thing. A little thing. The Widow's Mite. Someday I will see what Grand and Glorious Things He did with my prayers.
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Dinner tonight should be something - French - don't you think? Rheims is in Champagne (known for its sparkling wine), and Lisieux is in Calvados (known for its cheese and its apple brandy) - both are in the northern part of France.
So, I'm thinking chicken cutlets with a hard-but-sweet cider sauce, as found on About.com, preceded by a cheese tray - Camembert, Langres, Maroilles, Mimolette, Pont L'eveque (well, Camembert can be found at the commissary; I don't know about the others) - and followed by a glass of champagne and a slice of Apple Tart, (and perhaps a nightcap of Calvados).
And a lot of prayers.
[Thank heavens we have normal names today, like Eara, Kamkah, Ryno, Latrina, Faight, and Jherani.]
Today is the Memorial of Saint Remigius (or Remi), the 5th century bishop of Rheims, who evangelized among the Franks and converted their king, Clovis, to Christianity. His efforts led to the establishment of the Church in France. The Wikipedia article calls this "a momentous success for the Catholic Church and a seminal event in European history."
He is a patron of France, and invoked against epidemics, throat pain, and snakes. His life, as related in the medieval Golden Legend, can be read here.
She rightly speaks to those who think that because they are considered nonentities in a world that worships celebrities, they can do nothing.
Our world believes that one must be at the forefront of society to make a difference, because that is all we see - stars of the music-hall holding concerts to raise mega-money for the Cause of the Day; politicians reminding us that they voted for this, that, and the other thing to relieve our pain and suffering; eminent writers, academics, scientists, religious personalities, champions in the realm of sport, and business tycoons, all out in the public eye Doing Great Things. There is no room for small things, nor does anyone really care. Even the usual magazine articles ("Little girl collects _____ for _____; how one child made a difference") make it seem like one must have a Great Idea and be successful at it (because Unsuccessful Ideas aren't Great).
Saint Therese reminds us that everything we do in love for God - each small prayer, each small sacrifice - is a Great Thing, because Our Lord can use it to make Great Things. Do what you are given to do, and don't worry about how many people it will save from the ills of this world or the next. Sometimes, in spite of all the Grand and Glorious Things that I would like to do, prayer is all I can do. A small thing. A little thing. The Widow's Mite. Someday I will see what Grand and Glorious Things He did with my prayers.
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Dinner tonight should be something - French - don't you think? Rheims is in Champagne (known for its sparkling wine), and Lisieux is in Calvados (known for its cheese and its apple brandy) - both are in the northern part of France.
So, I'm thinking chicken cutlets with a hard-but-sweet cider sauce, as found on About.com, preceded by a cheese tray - Camembert, Langres, Maroilles, Mimolette, Pont L'eveque (well, Camembert can be found at the commissary; I don't know about the others) - and followed by a glass of champagne and a slice of Apple Tart, (and perhaps a nightcap of Calvados).
And a lot of prayers.
OCTOBER
Astronomy: Full Hunter's Moon on the 22nd.
Draconid meteor shower: October 7th and 8th, in the late evening. Not one of the spectacular showers, with only about 6 meteors per hour, but it should be dark enough to see, as the New Moon is two days previous. Look north.
Orionid meteor shower: October 21st, in the predawn. The full moon will drown it out.
Weather:
Based on the 12 Days of Christmas: Snow, all day, but with little accumulation.
Based on the first 12 days of January: Bright sunshine and a little less cold.
Based on the Ember Days: Bright, sunny, blue skies. Warm enough to be comfortable.
The last Sunday of the month indicates the weather for next month: Quite warm and overcast.
"Much rain in October, much wind in December" Well, we have had a good deal of rain this month, with one nor'easter and a couple of gully-washers. The winds of December should be hefty.
"If October bring heavy frosts and winds, then will January and February be mild" [forgive my look of disbelief, but... define 'mild'. Above 0 rather than below? Warm enough to snow? Mild, to me, is a 70-degree day. Not even the purported global warming has given me a 70-degree day in February.] Meanwhile, no frost, but high winds. Will January and February be sorta, kinda mild?
"For every fog in October, a snow in winter; heavy or light according as the fog is heavy or light" We had one fog on the 27th. It was pretty heavy along the coast; inland, not so much.
"Warm October, cold February" [Ha! It doesn't matter what October is, February is COLD! LONG and COLD! Excruciatingly LONG and COLD!] October has been, with a few exceptions, quite warm. February will be, with few exceptions, quite cold.
"As the weather in October, so will it be the next March" Now, there is something to look forward to! A warm March. Maybe Spring will come on time and not wait until May.
"Full moon in October without frost, no frost until full moon in November" No frost. Which is unusual here. Instead of decently dying, my grass continues to grow. I don't need a cold month. Just one frost to slow the growth. Lawn mowing is not something I want to do all winter.
Health: "Avoid being out late at Nights or in foggy Weather, for a Cold now got may continue the whole Winter"
Draconid meteor shower: October 7th and 8th, in the late evening. Not one of the spectacular showers, with only about 6 meteors per hour, but it should be dark enough to see, as the New Moon is two days previous. Look north.
Orionid meteor shower: October 21st, in the predawn. The full moon will drown it out.
Weather:
Based on the 12 Days of Christmas: Snow, all day, but with little accumulation.
Based on the first 12 days of January: Bright sunshine and a little less cold.
Based on the Ember Days: Bright, sunny, blue skies. Warm enough to be comfortable.
The last Sunday of the month indicates the weather for next month: Quite warm and overcast.
"Much rain in October, much wind in December" Well, we have had a good deal of rain this month, with one nor'easter and a couple of gully-washers. The winds of December should be hefty.
"If October bring heavy frosts and winds, then will January and February be mild" [forgive my look of disbelief, but... define 'mild'. Above 0 rather than below? Warm enough to snow? Mild, to me, is a 70-degree day. Not even the purported global warming has given me a 70-degree day in February.] Meanwhile, no frost, but high winds. Will January and February be sorta, kinda mild?
"For every fog in October, a snow in winter; heavy or light according as the fog is heavy or light" We had one fog on the 27th. It was pretty heavy along the coast; inland, not so much.
"Warm October, cold February" [Ha! It doesn't matter what October is, February is COLD! LONG and COLD! Excruciatingly LONG and COLD!] October has been, with a few exceptions, quite warm. February will be, with few exceptions, quite cold.
"As the weather in October, so will it be the next March" Now, there is something to look forward to! A warm March. Maybe Spring will come on time and not wait until May.
"Full moon in October without frost, no frost until full moon in November" No frost. Which is unusual here. Instead of decently dying, my grass continues to grow. I don't need a cold month. Just one frost to slow the growth. Lawn mowing is not something I want to do all winter.
Health: "Avoid being out late at Nights or in foggy Weather, for a Cold now got may continue the whole Winter"
30 September 2010
30 September - Saint Jerome and Libraries
Memorial of Saint Jerome, Doctor of the Church, patron of libraries and librarians, archivists, Bible scholars, translators, and students. Among other things in a long and full life, he wrote extensively in defense of orthodox Christianity against the heresies of Origen, Helvidius, Vigilantius, and Jovinian, and revised the Latin text of the Bible.
He could also be the patron saint of those with a bad temper, because his own irascibility comes through in his writings and his dealings with people. He was one that did not suffer fools gladly. As you might imagine, this did not make him very popular, and quite often he found it advisable to move along.
The Apache leader Goyathlay is said to have been nicknamed "Geronimo" by Mexican soldiers praying to the saint for help against him. Perhaps the soldiers thought that a stubborn and irascible saint would be of good use against a stubborn and irascible warrior.
He could also be the patron saint of those with a bad temper, because his own irascibility comes through in his writings and his dealings with people. He was one that did not suffer fools gladly. As you might imagine, this did not make him very popular, and quite often he found it advisable to move along.
The Apache leader Goyathlay is said to have been nicknamed "Geronimo" by Mexican soldiers praying to the saint for help against him. Perhaps the soldiers thought that a stubborn and irascible saint would be of good use against a stubborn and irascible warrior.
Saint Jerome loved to read, and had an extensive collection of books including Greek and Roman philosophers and Christian theological treatises.
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| Jerome (and faithful companion) in his library |
Today would be a good day to send a note of thanks or make a donation to your local library. Or both. Libraries are the next greatest invention after books; free libraries are at the forefront of making information available to all, which is necessary for a free society.
29 September 2010
29 September - Saint Michael*; Goose and Bannock
Weather: "If Saint Michael brings many acorns, Christmas will cover the fields with snow." I wonder what 'many acorns' entails? I've seen a tidy few under the oak trees - even after the squirrels have plundered among them.
"A dark Michaelmas, a light Christmas" It wasn't dark, per se; mostly overcast with some stiff breezes. Does overcast count as dark?
Superstitions: "Eat a goose on Michaelmas Day to have money in the coming year." One roast goose, coming right up!
"All blackberries should be gathered before today. The devil stalks the blackberry bushes now."
Garden: Michaelmas Daisies are one of the joys of my backyard. They are wild and grow everywhere - lovely violet colored flowers bravely standing up to the winds of autumn.
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Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, patron (among other things) of soldiers and police officers.
Today would be a nice day to thank your community's finest, if not in person, then maybe with a little note to the nearest precinct or a letter to the editor of the local paper. An equally good day to thank our people in uniform.
From Catholic Culture:
"Therefore, in our Catholic tradition, St. Michael has four duties: (1) To continue to wage battle against Satan and the other fallen angels; (2) to save the souls of the faithful from the power of Satan especially at the hour of death; (3) to protect the People of God, both the Jews of the Old Covenant and the Christians of the New Covenant; and (4) finally to lead the souls of the departed from this life and present them to our Lord for the particular judgment, and at the end of time, for the final judgment."
That's quite a lot of duties.
Father Weiser's page of background and customs for the feast and Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira's commentary, are two good pages to read on the Defender of God's People. Activities for the day can be found here.
And for dinner tonight? Well, money or no, a Michaelmas roast goose would be nice, accompanied, of course, by Saint Michael's Bannock. And check the wishbone before you use it to see who gets their wish. A dark one means a severe winter coming; if it is light, winter will be mild.
* Since 1969, this feast has included the Archangels Gabriel and Raphael, which seems to me kind of chintzy. Sort of like celebrating the birthdays of every member of the family on one day in the year. In my almanac, you will find the celebrations of Gabriel on March 24 and Raphael on October 24.
"A dark Michaelmas, a light Christmas" It wasn't dark, per se; mostly overcast with some stiff breezes. Does overcast count as dark?
Superstitions: "Eat a goose on Michaelmas Day to have money in the coming year." One roast goose, coming right up!
"All blackberries should be gathered before today. The devil stalks the blackberry bushes now."
Garden: Michaelmas Daisies are one of the joys of my backyard. They are wild and grow everywhere - lovely violet colored flowers bravely standing up to the winds of autumn.
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Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, patron (among other things) of soldiers and police officers.
Today would be a nice day to thank your community's finest, if not in person, then maybe with a little note to the nearest precinct or a letter to the editor of the local paper. An equally good day to thank our people in uniform.
From Catholic Culture:
"Therefore, in our Catholic tradition, St. Michael has four duties: (1) To continue to wage battle against Satan and the other fallen angels; (2) to save the souls of the faithful from the power of Satan especially at the hour of death; (3) to protect the People of God, both the Jews of the Old Covenant and the Christians of the New Covenant; and (4) finally to lead the souls of the departed from this life and present them to our Lord for the particular judgment, and at the end of time, for the final judgment."
That's quite a lot of duties.
Father Weiser's page of background and customs for the feast and Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira's commentary, are two good pages to read on the Defender of God's People. Activities for the day can be found here.
And for dinner tonight? Well, money or no, a Michaelmas roast goose would be nice, accompanied, of course, by Saint Michael's Bannock. And check the wishbone before you use it to see who gets their wish. A dark one means a severe winter coming; if it is light, winter will be mild.
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle! Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who roam about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
* Since 1969, this feast has included the Archangels Gabriel and Raphael, which seems to me kind of chintzy. Sort of like celebrating the birthdays of every member of the family on one day in the year. In my almanac, you will find the celebrations of Gabriel on March 24 and Raphael on October 24.
28 September 2010
28 September - Saint Wenceslaus; Czech Statehood Day; Beefsteak Na Kyselo
As patron of the Czechs, his feast day is also Czech Statehood Day, which has been celebrated since 2000.
As it says on expats.cz, "Czech food is not exactly diet food." No, indeed. It is hearty, flavorful food that won't leave you feeling hungry an hour later.
BEEFSTEAK NA KYSELO
Thinly slice 1-1/2 pounds of round steak. Trim slices and cut into 1-1/2 inch pieces.
Heat 1 tablespoon lard [shortening or butter also work] in a heavy skillet; add meat and brown on both sides. Lower heat; sprinkle meat with 1 teaspoon of salt and top with slices from 1 large onion. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the meat; cover and simmer for about an hour or until meat is tender. (Check the liquid occasionally. You don't want it to boil away, and there should be about a cup of liquid at the end of cooking time.)
When tender, transfer the meat to a hot dish. Blend 1 cup of sour cream with 2 tablespoons of flour; stir this into the skillet and mix well with the liquid. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and, if you like, stir in 1 tablespoon of tomato ketchup. Heat through and pour sauce over meat.
Serve with boiled noodles or boiled potatoes or with the famous Czech dumplings, which you can find on My Favorite Czech Recipes blog (along with dozens of good recipes and tips for making Czech food)
And to drink? Well, Wenceslaus is also the patron of brewers, so what could be more appropriate than "the world's first golden beer" - Pilsner, of course.
Dobrou chut!
27 September 2010
27 September - Saints Cosmas and Damian (traditional); Louis XIII
Memorial (on traditional calendars) of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian, brothers, often depicted as twins, who, as skillful practitioners of the art of medicine, are patrons of doctors, surgeons, apothecaries, and pharmacists. They took no money for their services, thereby leading many to Christ, and were martyred in the 3rd century.
Today would be a good day to send a message of thanks to your family doctor, the pharmacist who fills your prescriptions, or the surgeon (and his team) who saved your life.
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Birthday, in 1601, of Louis XIII, King of France (d. 1643), son of Henri IV (the Evergreen Gallant) and Marie de Medici. You might know him best from the Dumas novels concerning those brave swashbucklers, the Three Musketeers (and D'Artagnan). Films seem to portray him as a buffoon, or at least as a very shallow person, only interested in his own amusements and gorgeous costumes (such as my own personal favorite movie with Jean-Pierre Cassel here as Louis.)
Not long after seeing that, there was another rendition of "The Man in the Iron Mask" (oh, by the way, Louis XIII was the father of him as well) in which D'Artagnan tells the rightful king that his father was the bravest and wisest man in France.
"Will Your Majesty try the sweetmeats in this box? I'm sure you will find they are a royal confection." (Cardinal Richelieu (Charlton Heston) presenting Queen Anne's diamonds to Louis XIII (Jean-Pierre Cassel). [The Three Musketeers: The Queen's Diamonds, 1974]
The sweetmeats that Louis would have been expecting would have been along the lines of 'Sugarplums', a confection of fruits (not necessarily plums) preserved in sugar. The Historical Cookery Page has directions for making these treats. Try making them, and you will agree that they are indeed, a royal confection, both in preparation time and ingredients.
A suitable toast to Louis XIII? If you can, how about the cognac "Louis XIII de Remy Martin" at about $3000 per bottle.
Today would be a good day to send a message of thanks to your family doctor, the pharmacist who fills your prescriptions, or the surgeon (and his team) who saved your life.
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Not long after seeing that, there was another rendition of "The Man in the Iron Mask" (oh, by the way, Louis XIII was the father of him as well) in which D'Artagnan tells the rightful king that his father was the bravest and wisest man in France.
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| Richelieu (Charlton Heston) with Milady de Winter (Faye Dunaway) at the Ball in which Richelieu will try to discredit Queen Anne |
The sweetmeats that Louis would have been expecting would have been along the lines of 'Sugarplums', a confection of fruits (not necessarily plums) preserved in sugar. The Historical Cookery Page has directions for making these treats. Try making them, and you will agree that they are indeed, a royal confection, both in preparation time and ingredients.
A suitable toast to Louis XIII? If you can, how about the cognac "Louis XIII de Remy Martin" at about $3000 per bottle.
26 September 2010
26 September - John Chapman; Applesauce
Weather: The last Sunday of the month indicates the weather for next month.
Quite warm and overcast.
According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, woodchucks hibernate now.
I wish Wendy could hibernate now.
Today in 1774, John Chapman, aka 'Johnny Appleseed', was born in Leominster, Massachusetts. At the age of eighteen he started his wanderings to the northwest frontier, which at that time included Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Rather than just scattering apple seeds, he was a nurseryman, planting and caring for seedling trees, which could then be sold or bartered to incoming pioneers.
However, for my generation, Johnny Appleseed goes along wearing a tin pot for a hat, befriending animals, planting seeds, and singing "Oh, the Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need - the sun, the rain, and the apple seed; the Lord is good to me."
Apples have been known for centuries in Europe, but they is so much a part of our social history, that we can still say "As American as apple pie". They can be sweet for dessert; savory, sauteed with onions to accompany pork roast; the main ingredient in salads; added to bread dough; poached, frittered, baked, and scalloped; dried, to eventually form the basis for "Schnitz und Gnepp" (apples and dumplings); mashed to form applesauce and apple butter; and really mashed to become apple juice, apple cider and apple jack.
Right now, on a cool evening, it is good to sit down with a glass of mulled cider, or a cup of hot cider stirred with a cinnamon stick.
And yes, tonight, Apple Pie is in order.
Try making your own applesauce. It keeps for a long time (I freeze mine. It will last up to a year; just in time for the next apple season).
APPLESAUCE
Select your apples. If you use all sweet varieties, you won't need much - if any - sugar. I don't care for really sweet things (even chocolate is better bitter), so I use a mix of 3 sweet to 1 tart. Last year I used 1 pound each of Red Delicious (sweet), Fuji (sweet), Yellow Delicious (sweet) and Granny Smith (tart) for each batch of sauce, and no sugar. This year I might try a 2:2 ratio on one batch and see how that turns out. (You will weigh it at the store, but a pound is roughly 3 apples.)
Wash, peel, quarter, and core your apples. Put in a large pot with a cinnamon stick and a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice (both are optional) and 1 cup of water. Cover and cook for about 30 minutes or until apples are soft, stirring occasionally, and adding small amounts of water if needed to keep the apples from scorching.
When the apples are soft, remove pan from heat; take out the cinnamon stick. Mash in the pot with a potato masher. This will produce 'chunky' applesauce, which is how I like it (although more mashing = less chunky). If you want really smooth applesauce, you will need to put it through a sieve or a food processor. If it is not sweet enough, you can add up to 1/2 cup of either white or brown sugar (or 1/4 cup of each). You can also add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg (or to taste), either before cooking or after. Raisins also make an interesting addition to the cooked sauce.
Serve hot or cold, and freeze the rest.
Quite warm and overcast.
According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, woodchucks hibernate now.
I wish Wendy could hibernate now.
Today in 1774, John Chapman, aka 'Johnny Appleseed', was born in Leominster, Massachusetts. At the age of eighteen he started his wanderings to the northwest frontier, which at that time included Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Rather than just scattering apple seeds, he was a nurseryman, planting and caring for seedling trees, which could then be sold or bartered to incoming pioneers.
Apples have been known for centuries in Europe, but they is so much a part of our social history, that we can still say "As American as apple pie". They can be sweet for dessert; savory, sauteed with onions to accompany pork roast; the main ingredient in salads; added to bread dough; poached, frittered, baked, and scalloped; dried, to eventually form the basis for "Schnitz und Gnepp" (apples and dumplings); mashed to form applesauce and apple butter; and really mashed to become apple juice, apple cider and apple jack.
Right now, on a cool evening, it is good to sit down with a glass of mulled cider, or a cup of hot cider stirred with a cinnamon stick.
And yes, tonight, Apple Pie is in order.
Try making your own applesauce. It keeps for a long time (I freeze mine. It will last up to a year; just in time for the next apple season).
APPLESAUCE
Select your apples. If you use all sweet varieties, you won't need much - if any - sugar. I don't care for really sweet things (even chocolate is better bitter), so I use a mix of 3 sweet to 1 tart. Last year I used 1 pound each of Red Delicious (sweet), Fuji (sweet), Yellow Delicious (sweet) and Granny Smith (tart) for each batch of sauce, and no sugar. This year I might try a 2:2 ratio on one batch and see how that turns out. (You will weigh it at the store, but a pound is roughly 3 apples.)
Wash, peel, quarter, and core your apples. Put in a large pot with a cinnamon stick and a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice (both are optional) and 1 cup of water. Cover and cook for about 30 minutes or until apples are soft, stirring occasionally, and adding small amounts of water if needed to keep the apples from scorching.
When the apples are soft, remove pan from heat; take out the cinnamon stick. Mash in the pot with a potato masher. This will produce 'chunky' applesauce, which is how I like it (although more mashing = less chunky). If you want really smooth applesauce, you will need to put it through a sieve or a food processor. If it is not sweet enough, you can add up to 1/2 cup of either white or brown sugar (or 1/4 cup of each). You can also add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg (or to taste), either before cooking or after. Raisins also make an interesting addition to the cooked sauce.
Serve hot or cold, and freeze the rest.
25 September 2010
25 September - Balboa and the Pacific; Carimanolas
On this day in 1513, Vasco Nunez de Balboa, a Spanish explorer, 'discovered' the Pacific Ocean, from the summit of a mountain range next to the Chucunaque River in modern Panama.
Can surfing be far behind?
Actually, he and his expedition were the first Europeans to see the Pacific Ocean from the New World. European and Middle Eastern explorers who went east instead of west and 'discovered' Japan and Korea (and their immediate neighborhoods), saw the Pacific years before, and of course, those people who lived along the coast line or on one of the islands knew all about it for centuries.
But now it was certain, at least to the Spanish. There may be a large landmass in the way - a large, RICH landmass - but on the other side was the large body of water which must lead to the East Indies and the spice trade.
Upon reaching the shoreline, Balboa waded in, knee-deep, raised his sword aloft, and claimed the ocean and all lands which touched it for the Spanish crown. He named it the Mar del Sur, the South Sea. Seven years later, Magellan, rounding Cape Horn, named it the Mar Pacifica, as it looked peaceful and calm (little did he know!), and the name has remained Pacific.
A suitable way to celebrate this discovery would be with cuisine from any part of the Pacific, most notably from Panama. Considering the size of the ocean (the earth's largest), this gives you endless varieties.
There are several good sites with Panamanian recipes. This one, Canal Zone and Panama Recipes, has "Jim's Pineapple/ Pecan/ Cherry/ Mango Upside-down Cake" (oh, it looks good!) which I will be trying, and several recipes for "Johnny Mazetti" (various spellings), which seems to have been a favorite from Canal construction days.
Try this one from Panama Living. There are also a couple of drink recipes on that site, which should make cooking an adventure.
Form balls, flatten in the palm of the hand and fill with stuffing forming into an oval shape. Pinch to close ends. [On floured board, pat or roll flat about 3 tablespoons of potato dough. Fill dough with 1 heaping teaspoon of meat mixture. Bring dough up, over, and around meat, similar to shape of a football. Repeat for all dough and filling]
Fry in very hot oil until golden. [Fry in deep hot fat (375 degrees F.) for 4 or 5 minutes, until golden. Serve hot]
Can surfing be far behind?
Actually, he and his expedition were the first Europeans to see the Pacific Ocean from the New World. European and Middle Eastern explorers who went east instead of west and 'discovered' Japan and Korea (and their immediate neighborhoods), saw the Pacific years before, and of course, those people who lived along the coast line or on one of the islands knew all about it for centuries.
But now it was certain, at least to the Spanish. There may be a large landmass in the way - a large, RICH landmass - but on the other side was the large body of water which must lead to the East Indies and the spice trade.
Upon reaching the shoreline, Balboa waded in, knee-deep, raised his sword aloft, and claimed the ocean and all lands which touched it for the Spanish crown. He named it the Mar del Sur, the South Sea. Seven years later, Magellan, rounding Cape Horn, named it the Mar Pacifica, as it looked peaceful and calm (little did he know!), and the name has remained Pacific.
A suitable way to celebrate this discovery would be with cuisine from any part of the Pacific, most notably from Panama. Considering the size of the ocean (the earth's largest), this gives you endless varieties.
There are several good sites with Panamanian recipes. This one, Canal Zone and Panama Recipes, has "Jim's Pineapple/ Pecan/ Cherry/ Mango Upside-down Cake" (oh, it looks good!) which I will be trying, and several recipes for "Johnny Mazetti" (various spellings), which seems to have been a favorite from Canal construction days.
Try this one from Panama Living. There are also a couple of drink recipes on that site, which should make cooking an adventure.
CARIMANOLAS: (these would be excellent as appetizers)
- 3 lbs yuca [or 3 lbs of sweet potatoes, steamed and mashed, and mixed with 1 beaten egg]
- salt to taste
- 1 lb ground meat (iguana (iguana), gatosolo (coati), vaca (beef), puerco (pork).....) [ground beef or ground pork would be my choice]
- 1 teaspoon chopped parsley
- 1 large onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- 1 clove garlic pressed
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 3 or 4 capers
Form balls, flatten in the palm of the hand and fill with stuffing forming into an oval shape. Pinch to close ends. [On floured board, pat or roll flat about 3 tablespoons of potato dough. Fill dough with 1 heaping teaspoon of meat mixture. Bring dough up, over, and around meat, similar to shape of a football. Repeat for all dough and filling]
Fry in very hot oil until golden. [Fry in deep hot fat (375 degrees F.) for 4 or 5 minutes, until golden. Serve hot]
To Make Filling:
Season ground meat with salt, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, capers, onion, sugar, garlic and parsley. Brown in very small amount of hot oil and add tomato paste. Simmer until quite dry.
Season ground meat with salt, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, capers, onion, sugar, garlic and parsley. Brown in very small amount of hot oil and add tomato paste. Simmer until quite dry.
If you want to freeze the carimonolas, dust with a little flour after they are formed and place on a cookie sheet in the freezer until firm and then place in sealed ziplock bags. To fry, take from freezer to hot oil at one time as they may fall apart. Do one or two at a time only.
(courtesy of Tula Brown)
24 September 2010
24 September - F. Scott Fitzgerald; Lobster Newburg
Born today in 1896, Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, aka F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, The Beautiful and the Damned, Tender is the Night, and This Side of Paradise, and a host of short stories, which delineated the Jazz Age of the 1920's.
My own visions of the 1920's are flappers (a la Thoroughly Modern Millie) and speakeasies; bootleg rum and bathtub gin; the Charleston and "Rhapsody in Blue". I suppose there were other things, but they were the icons of the Lost Generation, with their 'bee's knees' and bobbed hair, short skirts and flat chests, all engaged in a frenzied, spirited dance of unrestrained materialism that ended with a crash in 1929.
So just what would Jay Gatsby and his guests eat at one of his fabulous parties? "On buffet tables, garnished with glistening hors d'oeuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs and turkeys bewitched to a dark gold."
To celebrate Fitzgerald and the Jazz Age, have an ostentatiously decadent buffet. To the above ham, and turkey, add Tournedos Rossini, breast of chicken with truffles, slices of cold duckling and tongue, oyster patties, curried lobster with rice, Lobster Newburgh on toast points, little neck clams and oysters on the half shell, and Mousse de Fois Gras. Oh, and don't forget the caviar!
Stuffed tomatoes and artichoke bottoms with Hollandaise can join the vegetable and fruit salads, and for those who still have room, eclairs, petit fours, ice cream, and fancy fruit in a basket.
What to drink? Well, it was the era of Prohibition in the U.S., so lemonade and soft drinks would be the legal thing to do, but Jay Gatsby would have known how to provide champagne, fine wines, sherry and port, gin and rum for his guests.
Myself, I think I shall have Lobster Newburg, a glass of champagne, and a truly decadent chocolate, and watch the 2000 A&E version of The Great Gatsby.
LOBSTER NEWBURG
Beat 3 egg yolks lightly; gently mix in 1 cup of cream (light or heavy) and set aside.
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a heavy saucepan, then add 1-1/2 to 2 cups cooked lobster meat (or canned) and heat. Season with 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne; add 1/4 cup of Madeira or sherry. Stir in egg/cream mixture. Cook over low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Do not boil.
Serve on toast points, in patty shells, or over rice.
My own visions of the 1920's are flappers (a la Thoroughly Modern Millie) and speakeasies; bootleg rum and bathtub gin; the Charleston and "Rhapsody in Blue". I suppose there were other things, but they were the icons of the Lost Generation, with their 'bee's knees' and bobbed hair, short skirts and flat chests, all engaged in a frenzied, spirited dance of unrestrained materialism that ended with a crash in 1929.
So just what would Jay Gatsby and his guests eat at one of his fabulous parties? "On buffet tables, garnished with glistening hors d'oeuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs and turkeys bewitched to a dark gold."
To celebrate Fitzgerald and the Jazz Age, have an ostentatiously decadent buffet. To the above ham, and turkey, add Tournedos Rossini, breast of chicken with truffles, slices of cold duckling and tongue, oyster patties, curried lobster with rice, Lobster Newburgh on toast points, little neck clams and oysters on the half shell, and Mousse de Fois Gras. Oh, and don't forget the caviar!
Stuffed tomatoes and artichoke bottoms with Hollandaise can join the vegetable and fruit salads, and for those who still have room, eclairs, petit fours, ice cream, and fancy fruit in a basket.
What to drink? Well, it was the era of Prohibition in the U.S., so lemonade and soft drinks would be the legal thing to do, but Jay Gatsby would have known how to provide champagne, fine wines, sherry and port, gin and rum for his guests.
Myself, I think I shall have Lobster Newburg, a glass of champagne, and a truly decadent chocolate, and watch the 2000 A&E version of The Great Gatsby.
LOBSTER NEWBURG
Beat 3 egg yolks lightly; gently mix in 1 cup of cream (light or heavy) and set aside.
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a heavy saucepan, then add 1-1/2 to 2 cups cooked lobster meat (or canned) and heat. Season with 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne; add 1/4 cup of Madeira or sherry. Stir in egg/cream mixture. Cook over low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Do not boil.
Serve on toast points, in patty shells, or over rice.
23 September 2010
23 September - Saint Thecla
Astronomy: Full Harvest Moon rises at 6:24 pm (EDT)
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Memorial of Saint Thecla (1st century)
The image here to the right was in our old Family Bible, with the inscription "Virgin and Child with Saint Inez and Saint Tecla" (El Greco)***, and while I knew who Saint Inez (Agnes) was, I had never heard of Saint Tecla.
Now I have.
It is a popular name, and there are several saints who carry it, but today's Saint Tecla was a maiden of Iconium who lived in the 1st century, converted to Christianity (perhaps under the guidance of Saint Paul), and thereafter supported Christian missionary activity. An oral tradition, into which several similar stories of other female martyrs were mixed, gave rise to a 2nd century writing called "The Acts of Paul and Thecla", which for some reason took hold of the Eastern imagination, and assured that her cult would flourish. They call her "Protomartyr" (except that she wasn't martyred) and "Equal to the Apostles" a title given to several saints as a kind of accolade for "outstanding service in the spreading and assertion of Christianity, comparable to that of the original Apostles".
I tried to summarize the story, but I can't do it without snark showing through every line. "Pious fiction" and "religious romance" are charitable labels. It reads more like a Mary-Sue fanfic, with pornographic overtones. The heroine is a Paul-groupie and stalks him all over until she runs him to earth - actually under the earth - he's dead and buried. She is, in true Mary-Sue fashion, so lovely that all men desire her and several try to rape her (even as a 90-year old woman), and in true Mary-Sue fashion, she bravely confronts her tormentors and their torments with fearlessness, nobility and good sense.
Poor Saint Thecla really deserves better.
Tarragona, Spain celebrates its patroness with the Santa Tecla Festival, 15 - 25 September, with religious ceremonies, parades, fireworks, music, dancing, and all-around merry-making.
***Yes, I know that this painting is labeled "Virgin and Child with Saint Agnes and Saint Martina". Don't know why, except that it seems to be based on a supposition of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, and even they suggest that it might be Saint Thekla instead. Agnes is clearly indicated by her lamb; the other animal, the lion, has nothing to do with Martina, who was scourged with iron hooks (her usual symbols in art) and beheaded.
-----------------------------------------------
Memorial of Saint Thecla (1st century)
Now I have.
It is a popular name, and there are several saints who carry it, but today's Saint Tecla was a maiden of Iconium who lived in the 1st century, converted to Christianity (perhaps under the guidance of Saint Paul), and thereafter supported Christian missionary activity. An oral tradition, into which several similar stories of other female martyrs were mixed, gave rise to a 2nd century writing called "The Acts of Paul and Thecla", which for some reason took hold of the Eastern imagination, and assured that her cult would flourish. They call her "Protomartyr" (except that she wasn't martyred) and "Equal to the Apostles" a title given to several saints as a kind of accolade for "outstanding service in the spreading and assertion of Christianity, comparable to that of the original Apostles".
I tried to summarize the story, but I can't do it without snark showing through every line. "Pious fiction" and "religious romance" are charitable labels. It reads more like a Mary-Sue fanfic, with pornographic overtones. The heroine is a Paul-groupie and stalks him all over until she runs him to earth - actually under the earth - he's dead and buried. She is, in true Mary-Sue fashion, so lovely that all men desire her and several try to rape her (even as a 90-year old woman), and in true Mary-Sue fashion, she bravely confronts her tormentors and their torments with fearlessness, nobility and good sense.
Poor Saint Thecla really deserves better.
Tarragona, Spain celebrates its patroness with the Santa Tecla Festival, 15 - 25 September, with religious ceremonies, parades, fireworks, music, dancing, and all-around merry-making.
***Yes, I know that this painting is labeled "Virgin and Child with Saint Agnes and Saint Martina". Don't know why, except that it seems to be based on a supposition of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, and even they suggest that it might be Saint Thekla instead. Agnes is clearly indicated by her lamb; the other animal, the lion, has nothing to do with Martina, who was scourged with iron hooks (her usual symbols in art) and beheaded.
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