Tarragon Scallops on Asparagus Spears

Aren’t these Sea Scallops beautiful? Perfect for a special Lenten Friday night supper. As many of you know, we’re an old-school Catholic household. Although not always successful, we do our best to stay away from meaty meals on all Fridays throughout the year.

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Serving up a Saint Patrick’s Day Feast for the Whole Family

Imagine my delight when I got an email from my sister. We had been going back and forth trying to work out a date to get together for dinner and cards. Her son plays soccer, and as you soccer moms know, that can be a very full schedule. As luck would have it, her son did not have a game scheduled for March 16th. Did we want to get together for some extended family time? Yes! Absolutely!

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Lenten Tartar Sauce Coleslaw on a Cod Fish Sandwich

Today is the eighth day of the Lenten Season. Time to really get creative and think outside my typical box. As I put together my meal planner, I asked Hubby if he liked Coleslaw. I had noticed that he generally cringed away from slaw that came as a side in some restaurants. He said sure, if it’s done right he would eat it. What about Tartar Sauce Coleslaw on a Cod Fish Sandwich? He gave me a strange look, thought for a moment and agreed he would be willing to give it a try. So the adventure began.

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Not So Traditional Saint Patrick’s Day Supper

Today is the fifth day of the Lenten Season. Saint Patrick’s Day is less than a week away – that magical day when everyone suddenly becomes just a wee-bit Irish. Throughout the country, there will be parades as our rivers run green. It is a party in the streets. While the rest of America may be eating Corned Beef and Cabbage and raising a pint or three of Guinness, we will be dining on a less than traditional Irish-American fare.

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Double Crusted Tuna Mushroom Pub Pie

We had a great weekend getting down to our Celtic Roots, and there was no time to cook! This weekend was the annual Celtic Faire in Sonoma, California. That is a big deal with us. The faire in Sonoma is the largest Celtic Gathering west of the Mississippi, and was even featured on the travel channel. While we attend others, this one is that cannot miss it even.

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Cheesecake Factory Style Shrimp Scampi

Here is it Day Three of the Lenten Season, the Friday following Ash Wednesday. Any way you slice it, today is a meatless Friday in our house.

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Mozzarella in Carozza (Mozzarella in a Carriage)

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. Beginning today, until the end of the Lenten Season, I will be sharing a recipe that is in keeping with the traditions of old Church teachings, and that was to abstain from meat during Lent.

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Spicy New Orleans Shrimp over Jasmine Rice

This year, for Mardi Gras, I thought it would be nice to give you some options for a sit down supper. If you have been following along, you already have my recipe for the traditional King’s Cake for dessert and a savory Shrimp and Crab Cheese Wheel to get things started. We’ve now reached into the suggestion box for the main event.

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Celebrating National Pistachio Day with Pistachio Salmon

So today is National Pistachio Day. According to the National Day Calendar website, one way to observe this day would be with by eating a bunch of Pistachios or trying new recipes such as Lemon-Pistachio Truffles. Oh yeah, I love Truffles. And doesn’t a Lemon-Pistachio Truffle sound lovely?

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Honoring Saint Bernadette with Chicken Cordon Bleu

Hey There everyone. Happy National Battery Day, Crab Stuffed Flounder Day and National Wine Drinking Day. Also, it’s Presidents Day, so this day is jam-packed with reason to celebrate. As a Catholic, let me also wish you a happy Feast Day of Saint Bernadette Soubirous.

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Today is National Crab Stuffed Flounder Day – How Delicious!

Today, February 18th is more than just Presidents Day, a day many Americans honor George Washington and Abraham Lincoln with huge mattress sales. It is also National Battery Day, National Drink Wine Day (good advise with politics being what they are these days) and National Crab Stuffed Flounder Day (boy, that’s a tasty mouthful).

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Three-Cheese Tortellini in Sage Browned Butter

It seems that lately I’ve been in an Italy frame. This light yet delicious Tortellini Supper is the perfect end to a long work week. So light – so flavorful. It invites the diner to kick of their shoes, breath deep and say “oh yeah, it’s time to unwind”. I simply adore “browned butter” for that nutty flavor. There is something about browning the butter that brings a whole new level of flavor to everything.

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Catholic Traditions and the Feast of Candlemas

As Catholic Tradition would have it, February 2nd is the Feat of Candlemas, also known as the Presentation of the Lord. So please bear with me while I share a little of my Catholic rearing.

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Polenta and the Feast of John Bosco

saint john bosco1

John Bosco was born near Castelnuovo in the archdiocese of Turin, Italy in 1815. He was raised by his mother, Margaret, as his father had died when John was a toddler of only two. Saint John Bosco founded the Salesian Society and dedicated his life to the welfare and education of the youth. He is the patron saint of apprentices; boys; teachers; laborers; schoolchildren; students of all ages and (my personal favorite) juvenile delinquents.

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It’s Friday – Let’s Pan-Fried our Tilapia

Before I share with you today’s Fish Fry, I need to go off on a rant for a moment. I wanted to do a little research into the types of fish Jesus might have eaten. He was Jewish, so the fish was scaled and not skinned, as in no catfish. Tilapia was and still is very common throughout the world. Personally, I like it for its mild flavor and flaky fry. Anyway, as I was floating around the internet I came upon a question posted way back when. It was a woman looking to bake bread for her mother’s church communion. And so begins my rant.

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