Third Friday of Lent and Scrambled Egg

Depending upon how you keep count, today is either the second or third Friday of Lent. Need more information? Me too.

Since Ash Wednesday happens in the middle of our week, the Friday immediately following Ash Wednesday is designated as The Friday After Ash Wednesday and not the First Friday of Lent. This makes no sense to me, since Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and the following Friday is technically the first Friday in the Lenten Season. You learn something new every day. Today I learned I’ve been counting the Fridays of Lent incorrectly. Then again, it’s only sort of wrong. All the Fridays (all the days of the week) are Friday of the 1st Week of Lent, 2nd Week of Lent and so forth. So while the Friday of the 2nd Week of Lent is today, it’s also the 3rd Friday of Lent in that it is the third Friday after Ash Wednesday. Clear as mud. Why is this important? When you open your Weekday Missal it makes a difference. Again, sort of. If you have jumped ahead, you’d be off by a week. If you are reading every day, you’d be fine. Just seems to get crazier and crazier.

The whole point of Lent, and it’s seeming superficial sacrifices, is to focus on the things that truly matter. It isn’t the car you drive or your zip code or those expensive shoes that really don’t make you a better basketball player no matter what the ads say. All of that can be gone in the blink of an eye. What matters are the people. God’s people. We are stewards of this planet and stewards of one another.

May the sacrifice we make today, however small in the greater scheme of things,
Allow us to stand in solidarity with those who are truly suffering.
United in Your love; let us work together to end the unjust suffering for all mankind.
Amen.

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While abstaining from meat most Fridays isn’t the strict requirement it once was, during Lent the whole of the Universal Catholic Church is united in the abstinence observance. When I was a girl, this included all animal byproducts as well. So Egg Salad Sandwiches were out. The first hints of changes brought about by Vatican II came when eggs were okay. Scrambled eggs aren’t just for breakfast. No, they can be oh so satisfying for supper, too. Especially during Lent. Enjoy!

Spanish Scrambled Egg
1/2 Red Bell Pepper
1 Jalapeno Pepper
2 Green Onions
2 tablespoons Cilantro
6 Eggs
Cayenne Pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon Cumin
1 teaspoon Mexican Red Chili Pepper
Cooking Spray
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste
1/2 Avocado, sliced
3 slice Naan Bread for serving

Core, seed and dice bell pepper, set aside. Core, seed and dice jalapeno pepper, set aside. Slice green onion and snip cilantro, set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk eggs with Cayenne Pepper, Cumin and Mexican Chili Pepper, set aside.

Spray a skillet with cooking spray, place over medium heat. Sauté bell pepper with jalapeno until beginning to soften. Add about a tablespoon of the cilantro to the pepper mixture, sauté about another minute or so.

Pour egg over sautéed mixture in the skillet. Stir until eggs are just cooked. Remove skillet from heat. Season scrambled eggs with salt and pepper. Scatter green onions and remaining cilantro over the eggs. Cover to keep warm.

Slice avocado and set aside.

Divide scrambled eggs on individual plates. Garnish with slices of avocado, serve and enjoy.