Did You Say Today is Ordinary?

For an Ordinary Times Saturday, we sure have a lot of things going on. It’s Hubby’s National Day (sort of). Actually, it’s Two Different Colored Eyes Day. Since he has two different colored eyes, I’d say that makes today special for him.

It’s also a Feast Day within the Church to recall the one of the events that is a part of the Stations of the Cross. For those unfamiliar with the Stations of the Cross, it is a moving (literally) form of prayer, typically prayed during Fridays of Lent, especially Good Friday. This is a practice that dates back to medieval times, when pilgrims unable to journey to Jerusalem would observe Christ’s journey to the cross through prayer, readings and artwork such as stained glass. There are 14 total Stations of the Cross in both the Jerusalem and Scriptrue traditions. The difference between the two is that Scripture is just that, based soley on passages in the Bible, while the Jerusalem Stations come from both scripture and Holy Oral Tradition. The Sixth Station is once such oral tradition. It is the story of a woman, Veronica, who’s heart breaks when she sees Jesus pass by, beaten, crowned with thorns, His face covered in blood. She runs to Him, removing her veil to wipe His face. It is said that the true image of Christ’s face was imprinted onto her veil. This relic is kept in Vatican City. On the Fifth Sunday in Lent, an extraordinary liturgy takes place at Saint Peter’s Basilica when the revered relic is brought out briefly for display.

We all have our various bucket lists. I have my culinary list (such as eating my way through France and Italy) my adventurous list (jumping from a perfectly good airplane is one) and those of faith. Seeing Veronica’s Veil is high on that list, as is visiting the Holy Land and hearing the Pope address the faithful.

---

Today is also a glorious Saturday. I cannot tell you how much the weekends mean to me. When I was working, there were people to talk with or just be near. Now that I don’t drive and am retired, I’m on my own nine or ten hours a day. While I love the alone time for writing, for reading and prayer, I do miss people. Doing for others is my love language. On the weekends, I get to putter in the kitchen and shower my guys with not one but two, sometimes three meals just how much I love them both. Since we had a four day weekend over the 4th of July, I really got to enjoy my breakfast time with Hubby and Kiddo.

Apple Topped Dutch Baby
Dutch Baby Pancake
3 Eggs
3/4 cup Milk
2 tablespoons Butter
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
3/4 cup Flour
1 tablespoon Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Salt

Bring eggs and milk to room temperature. To do this quickly, place eggs in a bowl of warm water for about 10 to 15 minutes. The milk can be warmed in the microwave for about 20 seconds.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Once the oven is heated, place butter in a 10-inch cast iron skillet and hold the skillet in the oven until ready to fill.

In a large mixing bowl beat together the eggs and milk until frothy. Beat in the vanilla. Slowly add the flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon. Beat very well; until no lumps or clumps remain.

Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven. Gently pour the patter into the skillet, place in the oven to bake for about 20 minutes.

While the Dutch Baby Pancake bakes, make the apple topping.

Apple Topping
4 sweet Apples of choice
2 tablespoons Butter
2 tablespoons Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
Powdered Sugar for dusting, optional
Maple Syrup, optional
Whipped Cream, optional

Peel, core and slice the apples, set aside.

Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add apples, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Stir, and cook until apples are soft. Keep warm until ready to serve.

When the Dutch Baby comes out of the oven, let it sit for a minute to slightly deflate. Add apples to the top. Dust with powdered sugar. Serve with syrup or whipped cream as desired.

---

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you,
for the Spirit of God rests upon you.