Category: Catholic Faith

Nugget’s Baked Mahi-Mahi with Lemon Peels

Many of you probably have never heard of the Nugget Market. It’s not a big change, although they have expanded from their humble beginnings. The father-and-son team of William and Mack Stille opened their humble little market in the sleepy town of Woodland California in September of 1926. The premise behind their store was to deliver the best possible produce at prices their neighbors could afford. And the store got its name from a contest; the winner was an 8-year-old girl who thought the gold painted pillars at the front of the market looked like gold rush Nuggets. Needless to say, the store front has evolved to capitalize on the image of the gold rush nuggets.

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Italian Lemon Grilled Tilapia Piccata

Didn’t I tell you Italy has some of the best Lenten Dishing going? I love Piccata. I first fell in love with Veal Piccata, then perfected my own take on Chicken Piccata. At Christmas, one of our favorites is Dover Sole Piccata. I’ve even made my Pork Piccata the star of a six course Italian Supper.

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Celebrating National Burrito Day

National Burrito Day is one of those moving holidays, much like American’s Thanksgiving. The celebration of all things Burrito is observed annually on the first Thursday of April. The word burritos was a term used in the Guanajuato reason, and it means Little Donkey in Spanish. Some believe that burritos got their name because they look like the bedrolls and packs that were carried on the backs of small donkeys. In other regions of Mexico, a similar rolled tortilla is known as a Flauta. Chimichangas are a type of burrito that has been deep-fried rather than grilled. While no one knows for sure, it’s believed that the Burrito was first introduced in the United States in the 1930’s at the El Cholo Spanish Café in Los Angeles. El Cholo has been in operation since the 1920’s and continues to serve up authentic family recipes.

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Spinach-Ricotta Manicotti

Sometimes my mind works in very strange ways. Take Rome and the Vatican for example. We eat a lot of Italian inspired suppers during Lent because meatless pastas are so darn easy, their seafood dishes are swimming in awesomeness and everything is super delicious. So, is the Vatican in the heart of Rome for the food, or is Italian meatless dishes so doggone good because of all those Catholic Cooks in Italy? I know, it’s a silly thought. The Vatican’s location has nothing to do with the food, but just maybe all those Catholics puttering about in the kitchen has something to do with the food. Just saying . . .

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Spicy Salmon Burgers with Lemon Chive Mayonnaise

Growing up in a Catholic Household, we ate a lot of tuna fish sandwiches and fish sticks. It was always a welcome treat to visit my Aunt, who would change things up a bit with her Salmon Patties. When I began serving Salmon Patties in my kitchen, it was usually with a good Newburg Sauce. Still, the salmon patties were formed from canned salmon.

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Meatless Chili in Sourdough Bread Bowls

Good Morning World! Today is one of my favorite days. It’s National Sourdough Bread Day. Keep in mind, to this day one of my most beloved cities to visit is San Francisco. I grew up in the sixties, and San Francisco was the place to be. To this day, I love to go down to the wharf, buy a container of cold crab salad, a loaf of sourdough bread and a bottle of wine, then have a picnic on the beach and watch the seagulls.

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Cajun Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese

It’s coming to an end – all this talk of Lenten Season. Three Sundays from today and we’ll be wearing our Easter Bonnets! (Oh how I miss those days when we really did prance about in our Sunday Best complete with a beautiful new hat. Hum, I wonder – is that why I am fond of wearing hats? A new hat and new shoes were a part of Easter when I was young).

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Pack a Picnic and Take a Walk in the Park

Today is National Take a Walk in the Park Day. The day was intended to be a way to relax after a long and busy day. Walking in the part is said to be calming and therapeutic, an excellent way to clear one’s mind from the stress of the day. While all of that is great, and we should spend more time visiting our local parks, one of the things I love is to pack a light lunch to take on my stroll. I like to take my camera and a note pad, too. Spending time with nature gets my creative juices flowing. It’s nice to have the notepad for jotting down thoughts or moments that I don’t want to forget. Strolling through the park always brings new discoveries. And the most amazing discovery of all are those we make about ourselves when let our souls be still for a moment.

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Not My Mother’s Friday Night Fish Sticks

Today is day twenty-one of the Lenten Season, the forth Friday of Lent. I cannot think of Lenten Fridays without remembering those torturous Friday nights of my youth.

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Let’s Eat Something on a Stick

Today in day twenty of the Lenten Season. You know what that means, right? We are at the half-way point between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. It’s also National Something on A Stick Day.

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Seared Sea Scallops with Lemon Caper Sauce

One of Hubby’s all-time favorites from the sea has got to be Scallops. I had never eaten a scallop until I married this man. I’ve got to tell you, one bite and it was instant gotta have this! They are tender, sweet and so delicate that scallops compliment rather than overpower the sauce, a salad or whatever vehicle used to get them from your plate to your lips.

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Quick Skillet Tilapia and Vegetable Supper

In 1986, The American Diabetes Association designated the fourth Tuesday in March as American Diabetes Association Alert Day. It is a “wake-up call” to the American public about the seriousness of diabetes, to encourage all to take the diabetes risk test and to learn about their family’s history with diabetes. At The American Diabetes Association’s Alert Website you can take a quick risk test, learn how to lower your risk and even share information with friends and family. Who knows, maybe the life you impact will be your own.

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Archangel Hair Pasta with Shrimp

Today is the 3rd Sunday of Lent. Depending upon your school of thought, this day could also be the Feast Day of the Archangel Saint Gabriel.

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Catch ’em While You Can – Oven-Baked Catfish

Growing up a Catholic in the 1950s and 60s meant eating a lot of fish sticks. If it wasn’t a fish stick, it was deep fried catfish. To this day, I still love a good catfish fry. But there are other ways to skin that fish and have it taste just as good. Take this oven-baked catfish. Too simple and way too delicious to be the real deal, yet it is. Served up with seamed broccoli and you’ve got all the makings for a beautiful yet healthy alternative to a down home fish fry.

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Sufferin’ Succotash It’s Pan-Seared Catfish

As our old pal Sylvester the Cat would so often say, “Sufferin’ succotash!” It’s one of those expressions I heard on Saturday mornings growing up thanks to cartoons, and never questioned its meaning. It was understood as the utterance of frustration, a polite “Jesus Christ” that conveyed a level of discontent without the need to take the Lord’s name in vain. While I can remember hearing the expression from cartoon characters, I don’t recall ever hearing it from the lips of actual people.

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