Working contrariwise, as sometimes happens to me*, I made a big batch of sweet dough, stuck it in the fridge, and will now figure out what Christmas wreath/breakfast spirals/pull-apart breads to concoct with it.
*I had some eggs mixed with sugar in the freezer, left over from some project of Bridget's; I defrosted them for another dough (a sourdough Panettone which I will probably report on after Christmas on IG) — and then some left over from that project, so needed to mix them up STAT. See how it goes? Nothing like multiplying projects to save a few little leftovers…
Any tried-and-true recipes? I gotta get going with it — it's going to start rising!
bits & pieces
- Just in case you are going to give your 11-year-old son a hatchet (and I would not dissuade you), a classic humorous short story alert.
- The Spirit of the Liturgy at 20. Don't forget that I have “readings” of both SotL's here on the blog: Guardini's and Ratzinger's.
- Junior Deluxe Editions of children's classics — do you know these? Maybe they'd make good gifts for Epiphany if you can find them!
- One friend wrote on Facebook that the locusts that St. John the Baptist ate were locust beans, not bugs — phew, am I right? But another friend, a scholar of Greek, took exception and wrote that no, they are bugs. Boo linguistic accuracy!
- I missed posting this for December 8, but it's worth reading (and listening to) now. Beautiful motet, wonderful and intelligent explanation. “If you already love sacred polyphony, read no farther. Just lean back, sip your wine, and let the music flow over you. But if not, bear with my attempts to convince you it’s worthwhile.”
- I point you to good books for children, but also away from bad books. I myself don't want to read Philip Pullman; thanks to Fr. Faulkner for doing the heavy lifting here. Do not give The Golden Compass to your children!
from the archives
liturgical year
Christmas is coming, and I will be off the blog for a while — due to it being on a Wednesday, it's unlikely I'll come up for air until well into the new year! We wish you all a blessed Christmas!
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Kate says
The link for reading hard books to your kids does not go to an article.
Leila says
Kate, it’s an Instagram post.
NY Mom says
That Patrick McManus story had me in stitches! I am printing out copies as a Christmas gift for a number of special people…including my own grown sons with young sons of their own. Back atcha, kids!
Thank you for sharing this gem! Wishing you a happy, holy Christmas…
Shannon says
I cried and fell off the couch laughing at the Christmas hatchet story, I laughed all day and the next, it was just stuck in my head! My kids thought I lost my mind and kept saying, “Oh she is still laughing at that story”. I sent it around to everyone.
Kate says
If you have a bag of walnuts, make Potica (an Eastern European nut roll). It’s so addictive. This is basically the recipe I’ve used for years: https://www.askchefdennis.com/potica-with-cooking-healthy-for-me/
Emily D. says
Oh yeah, definitely no Golden Compass. Also, the spin off Percy Jackson series are….not good from a moral standpoint either.
Donna L. says
Hello Auntie Leila and all~
For the leftover eggs sugar and dough–I am imagining a wonderful Brioche? Perhaps all of the little people could help make “their own” roll.
If it’s just eggs and sugar–a sour cream sugar cookie would be delightful–it seems you have many who might be eager to help decorate!
I think it’s inspiring that you are open to new ideas~Have a blessed 4th Sunday of Advent! God bless you~
Love and prayers,
Donna and the Harris Brigade
Rosemary Callenberg says
I read the Golden Compass series in college and yeah … while I enjoyed the first book, they just got worse and worse. As Fr Faulkner said, he falls flat on his face as a writer, let alone his anti-Christian bias. The reason his books fail is because he is slave to the message he’s trying to get across. Nothing like ideological preaching to kill children’s books!
Emily D. says
Right?!
Rosemary Callenberg says
Oh! And for the dough … we make a cinnamon bread star, a la King Arthur Flour, for breakfast on Christmas morning. Maybe they would work for that?
Cirelo says
I’ve eaten locusts and they are actually quite delicious.
BridgetAnn says
Merry Christmas, Aunt Leila & family! God bless you all.
Leila says
Thanks for the bread dough ideas!