A Brunch on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Happy Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe!  

I hope you all had a blessed feast!  Originally our plans for the day included the tutor here for five hours followed by a trip into town for a fundraiser/dinner at Chipotle for some dear friends. . . Due to the weather, and hazardous driving conditions, the tutor wasn't able to make it and we stayed home all day.  I was still able to pull together a fun brunch for the children in honor of today's feast, while we all listened to the beautiful Mañanitas CD from Sister Servants and Matins for the Virgin of Guadalupe!

The brunch ended up being such a great alternative to what we have done in the past! (here and here)

We made my Grandmother's and Mom's "crepes" cut into the shape of tilmas with maple syrup, whipped cream and Marionberries for the roses, Aztec hot cocoa with Star shaped marshmallows, Bacon, Ham and Cheese Crescent Rolls, Oranges and Orange Juice.  It didn't take long to pull it all together while the children set the table.  And I enjoyed a hot cup of coffee and read The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Empress of the Americas while they enjoyed the feast.

.: Tepayac Hill :.

Similar to last year, I skipped the food for this item and created "Tepayac Hill" with a cake platter, some Our Lady of Guadalupe Fabric, and a statue of Our Lady as a centerpiece for the table.

.: Aztec Cocoa :.

 Mexican Hot Cocoa

.: A Crown of 12 Stars :.

Snowflake Star Marshmallows

.: A Woman Clothed with the Sun :.

Sun Oranges

Orange Juice

.: Crescent Moons :.

Crescent rolls with Ham and Cheese

.: St. Juan Diego's Tilma of Roses :.

Tilma Pancakes with Berry Roses and Whipped Cream

.: Bishop Zumarraga :.

... leftover from St. Nicholas Day! 

.: Crushed Serpents :.

Crushed (and Extra Crispy) Bacon Strips

.: Our Lady of Guadalupe Puzzle and Books :.

We got started on the edges of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Puzzle once again, while listening to Fresh Flowers in Winter.  It's just as hard as I remember! ;)

Our Lady of Guadalupe by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand

Our Lady of Guadalupe Coloring Book by Mary Fabyn Windeatt

Our Lady of Guadalupe Pop-up by Francis Serrano

The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe by C. Lourdes Walsh

Morning Offering to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Heart of my Mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe, I unite to thy purity, thy sanctity, thy zeal and thy love, all my thoughts, words, acts, and sufferings this day, that there may be nothing in me that does not become through thee, a pleasure to Jesus, a gain to souls, and an act of reparation for the offenses against thy Heart. 

A Twelve Days of Christmas Dinner Party on Twelfth Night

I have been working on a menu (with a little help from a very dear friend) for a Twelve Days of Christmas Dinner Party on Twelfth Night for my family and thought I would share it with you all, since I have been asked by a few friends.   I don't usually like posting before hand, since I don't know how (or if!) it will turn out, but here are my plans!  

.: The Menu :.

Eight Maids-a-Milking Eggnog and/or Pure White Punch

Four Calling Birds Chicken Wings or Salad with Grilled Chicken

Five Golden Onion Rings with Dipping Sauce

Six Geese-a-Laying Deviled Eggs or Egg Salad

Seven Swan's a Swimming Bean Dip

(recalling the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit)

Nine Ladies Dancing Fruits of the Holy Spirit Salad

Twelve Drummer's Drumming Chicken Drumsticks

A Partridge in a Pear Tree Pie 

(with maybe some crosses added instead of the extra pear's out of pie dough)

Two Turtle Dove Chocolates

Three French Hens Chocolate Coins in the Twelfth Night Rum Cake  

(representing the three gifts of the Magi) 

Ten (Lord's a Leaping) Commandment Cookies

Eleven Piper's Pretzel Rod Pipes and/or Chocolate Angelic Messengers

I also have this BEAUTIFUL new book that just arrived in the mail, in addition to both our old (pictured above) and new (from Jesse Tree Treasures) Twelve Days of Christmas ornaments to use as decorations!

I am also hoping to make Charlotte's Epiphany Tart on Sunday.   If all goes well, and I'm able to find everything I need at the store tonight, I'll be back with pictures to share!

What are your plans for this year?

UPDATE:  YOU CAN SEE PICTURES FROM OUR PARTY HERE.

Celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Happy Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe!  

We have dear friends visiting from out of state for the rest of the week, but I wanted to hop online and share a few pictures from this year's celebration in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe!   In addition to reading the two books pictured above, we enjoyed another Tea in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  The kids helped set up everything while we anxiously awaited their arrival this afternoon!

Our Lady of Guadalupe by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand
Our Lady of Guadalupe Pop-up by Francis Serrano

All ready and waiting for our guests to arrive! 

.: Aztec Chocolate :.

(not quite) Mexican Hot Cocoa (but it is organic!) ;)
Remembering the many innocent lives that were sacrificed by the Aztecs

.: St. Juan Diego :.

Gingerbread Marshmallows for our Mexican Hot Cocoa

.: St. Juan Diego's Sombrero :.

 Pringles with a little round of string cheese

.: Tepayac Hill :.

This year I decided to skip the food for this item and create "Tepayac Hill" with an upside down bowl, some Our Lady of Guadalupe Fabric, and a statue of Our Lady as a centerpiece for the table.

.: A Woman Clothed with the Sun :.

Sun Taco Dip

2 cans refried beans, topped with 1 package cream cheese mixed with 1 cup of sour cream and 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning, and then topped with cheddar cheese.  Surround with chips to create the sun's rays.   (Before serving, I did pop it in the oven to melt the cheese.)

.: A Crown of 12 Stars :.

Peppermint Dipped Pretzel Snowflakes Stars

.: Crescent Moons :.

Crescent rolls

.: Supporting Angels :.

Chocolate Lindt Angels 

.: Praying Hands :.

Praying Hand shaped tea sandwiches

.: The Tilma of Roses :.

Tortilla and Cream Cheese with Tomato and Turkey Roses

.: Bishop Zumarraga :.

... leftover from St. Nicholas Day! 

.: Crushed Serpents :.

Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe, mystical rose, intercede for the Church, protect the Holy Father, help all who invoke you in their necessities. Since you are the ever Virgin Mary and Mother of the true God, obtain for us from your most holy Son the Grace of a firm faith and sure hope amid the bitterness of life, as well as an ardent love and the precious gift of final perseverance. Amen.

Our 4th Annual Lenten Dinner on Good Friday

This year, even up until the afternoon on Good Friday, I wasn't sure if we'd have our Second Lenten Tea inspired by Cottage Blessings for our one main meal.  (You can find the pictures from our 2009, 2010, and 2011 Good Friday Teas in the archives for Good Friday.)  My children just love this tradition, so with a few modifications to simplify the meal even further and using just what we had in the house.  I had hoped we would be able to attend the Good Friday Service before heading to the airport, but it just wasn't meant to be...  Anyhow, here are the pictures from this year:

~ The Water Bowl ~

Alice suggests having a punch bowl of water to drink, but each year my children have prefer washing their hands instead.  They look forward to this every year!

"Pilate took water and washed his hands before the crowd saying, "I am innocent of this righteous man's blood." Matthew 27: 24

~ The King's Crown ~

This year we used "Scoops" made by Tostitos, to go along with a Crown Shaped Bean Dip.

"And Pilate asked Him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' And He answered him, 'You have said so.'" Mark 15: 2

~ Out of Envy ~

The Avocado I purchased didn't last, and so I needed to come up with something else that was "green" to represent envy.  Roasted Asparagus worked perfectly. 

"[H]e perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered Him up." Mark 15: 10

~ The Purple Cloak ~

I didn't have any grape fruit leather, and I also wanted to eliminate anything that is considered a "treat" in our home, being a fast day, so for this item we covered our table in a Purple tablecloth Cloak.

"And they clothed Him in a purple cloak . . . ." Mark 15: 17

~ The Crown of Thorns ~

These Crown of  Thorns were made by my older children - with Ritz Crackers, Peanut Butter, and Pretzels.

". . . and, plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him." Mark 15: 17

~ Golgotha Eggs ~

I wasn't feeling up to boiling and "decorating" eggs, and wanted to come up with something I could make a little quicker... Skull Sushi?  It really was quick and easy using dome leftover rice, 2 asparagus stalks and a carrot.   What do you think?  Do those look like skulls to you?

"And they brought Him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of the skull)" Mark 15: 22

~ The Seamless Garment ~

Using kitchen scissors, I quickly cut the tortillas to look like a seamless garment and some added some blocks of cheese for the dice used to cast lots. 

"But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.'" John 19: 23-24

~ The Two Robbers ~

I didn't have any basil this year, so I decided to pull out our Basil Olive Oil again, to flavor our popcorn.  Alice suggests using Basil for this menu item since "According to The Herb Society of America, legend has it that the Basil plant grew around the site of Christ's crucifixion. The Victorian Language of Flowers lists Basil as symbolic of both hatred and best wishes. The taunting thief and the good thief come to mind."

And with Him they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left." Mark 15: 27

~ Vinegar to Drink ~

{see above photo}

"And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying 'Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.'" Mark 15: 36


~ The Temple Curtain ~

My children, especially Snuggles, always love tearing the curtain in two...  He didn't have any problem using his injured arm for this activity! 

"And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom." Mark 15: 38

 ~ The Roman Centurion ~

This year, instead of tomatoes, I served some popcorn to represent the 100 Roman Centurion.

"And when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that He thus breathed His last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God.'" Mark 15: 39

~ Laid in the Tomb ~

In the past I've always made Cinnamon Muffins.  They really are a little too tasty for a day of fasting, so this year we used bread rolls, with a scoop of jam in the middle.

"And he brought a linen shroud, and taking Him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb."

The Bible readings, recipes and shopping list can be found at Cottage Blessings.  I reused the small card stock signs I created last year and my document can be found at Scribd, if anyone would like a copy.

I hope you all had a very blessed Good Friday!