Happy Birthday!

To our dear Holy Father in Rome and to my husband's own father! We celebrated with Mass this morning (offering it up for these two special men) but will save our treats for tomorrow's Good Shepherd's Garden Party! I was planning on doing more in honor of Papa Benedetto, but alas, the queasies have been plaguing me a bit. I'm not complaining! Really I'm not. I know so many women who have morning sickness much worse than I do. Those women are troopers!

But if you are looking for a quick and easy way to celebrate the Pope's birthday, a Catholic Cuisine reader made up some simple cupcake toppers that are super cute! Happy Friday!

Poor Papa

Do you think he'd let us sign his cast? Maybe some extra prayers instead! : )

Speaking of Papal inspired food...

Fr. Leo has another idea for celebrating the Holy Father's visit to our country...

Buffalo Mozzarella – a Papal Favorite!

I read an interesting food article about our Holy Father’s culinary preferences. He obviously has good taste because the Pope really enjoys buffalo mozzarella cheese. The texture of this cheese, especially if it’s fresh, is so silky smooth that it is perfect for salads, pizza, or just eating whole on its own. I’m sure you know how to make Caprese Salad, but this week, you may want to consider making it for your family as a great way to bring up the topic of the Holy Father with your family. You can present this beautiful dish to your family and say, “Did you know that the Pope loves this type of cheese?” Then, you can ask your children, your spouse – and don’t forget to ask yourself – dinner questions, such as: “Why do you think the Pope is important to the Church?” “If you were Pope, how much time do you think you would devote to prayer?” “Do you ever pray for the Pope?” So, go ahead and try this typical Italian salad, most enjoyed in the spring and summer season, and enjoy the conversations that can come from it! While you’re at it, toast the Pope with BOGO’s fine Pinot Grigot – an excellent wine pairing for an excellent Papal recipe tribute! For the recipe, [click here].

From Fr. Leo's Grace Before Meals Newsletter

A Happy Accident

So I was going to steal Margaret's idea for cupcakes stuffed with Bavarian cream but forgot that my muffin tin rusted out a while ago. So I used a pan that I have that looks similar to this one only the cakes are little more flat and flared. I filled them with an easy (not necessarily authentic) Bavarian cream recipe using vanilla pudding and poured a can of frosting on top. We call them Zucchetto Cakes! Yum! Yum!

Happy Birthday Holy Father!

Please tell me I am not the only sap out there who got a little weepy when they sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic for him? That last line really choked me up. And then when they sang Happy Birthday? Oh my goodness! We all burst out in song! I feel so silly, but I don't care! I'm thinking brats for dinner and Bavarian Cream cupcakes! Happy Birthday Papa!

Photo credit: Benedict in America