Fasting on bread and water has a long tradition in Catholic spirituality. It’s a personal devotion and goes back to Biblical times.

A good spiritual discipline, fasting on bread and water is a way to connect with the meaning of Lent. What makes fasting bread different than ordinary bread? First, it’s not a light textured or fancy bread. Dense with high quality Biblical ingredients – and the ingredients all have Biblical significance. INGREDIENTS AND THEIR SYMBOLIC REFERENCES: Flour – a reminder of the manna given by God … Continue reading Fasting on bread and water has a long tradition in Catholic spirituality. It’s a personal devotion and goes back to Biblical times.

Loaded Stuffed Baked Potato Casserole

Oh my this is a good one for a holiday gathering. Everything you love about loaded twice baked potatoes but in a casserole for easy serving. Thank you for reading this column, as always, and as I tell you every year, a blessed new year ahead is what I pray for you and yours to have. Loaded stuffed mashed potato casserole Ingredients 4 pounds russet … Continue reading Loaded Stuffed Baked Potato Casserole

Simple Black Bean Soup and a Panera Taste-a-Like

Are you ready for simple food after you finish the holiday feasting? How about a pot of well seasoned black bean soup? That’s what I made this morning and it does smell good – onions, garlic, peppers, cumin all melding together with black beans, celery, bell pepper and a pinch of thyme. With a plop of sour cream and a squeeze of citrus, I’m talking … Continue reading Simple Black Bean Soup and a Panera Taste-a-Like

Blueberry Pumpkin Bread and Salted Honey Butter Parker House Rolls

As promised, today I’m sharing friend and expert baker Betty Howell’s recipe for blueberry pumpkin bread once again. It’s perfect for this “all things pumpkin” holiday season. The bread is moist, sweet and an excellent keeper. Think gifts from the kitchen… Oh, and I just knew you’d like a trendy salted honey butter Parker house roll recipe. From Half Baked Harvest, you may just learn … Continue reading Blueberry Pumpkin Bread and Salted Honey Butter Parker House Rolls

Corn Puddings for Thanksgiving

My listeners and readers are the best! It shows in the recipes they share, like the corn pudding recipes here today. At our house, corn pudding is always a special treat. How about you? Is corn pudding on your holiday table? Let me know and if you have a favorite recipe to share, I sure hope you’ll be kind enough to send it to me. … Continue reading Corn Puddings for Thanksgiving

Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing for Fall Salads

I’ve been hungry lately for a real substantial salad. Not the ones like we’ve been eating all summer with light textured greens, tomatoes, cucumbers and the like with a simple garlic lemon dressing. What made my tummy happy was a salad with crisp dark greens, apples or pears, toasted nuts, a few pumpkin seeds, bacon, cheese and dried fruit. How does that sound to you? … Continue reading Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing for Fall Salads

Buena Vida Chili Powder

As I’ve mentioned before, when it comes to chili powder blend for chilies, pulled pork, etc. I use Buena Vida brand. Why? We grew up in a large Lebanese family and Mom was a health food advocate way before the term was coined. Lebanese food was the star of Sunday family dinners, but during the week she cooked a lot of one pot meals, like … Continue reading Buena Vida Chili Powder

Texas Pulled Pork for Halloween

Matt Swaim on the Sonrise Morning Show/Sacred Heart Radio and I chat each Thursday morning about Bible foods and herbs and how to use them today in every day meals. Well, a listener shared this recipe for pulled pork (remember the passage in Leviticus about “unclean” meat?) and it’s perfect for these chilly autumn evenings and for Halloween. Just put everything in the crockpot and … Continue reading Texas Pulled Pork for Halloween