Refugee article

Article on CatholicStand about the refugee crisis:

http://www.catholicstand.com/compassion-the-refugee-crisis/

Two cookbooks

These are the only two cookbooks I really ever use. I am picky about recipes and also think it simplifies my life if I try to stick to the same ones. (I wrote about that here.) I randomly picked up the first one at a bookstore when I first moved to Portugal and first started to cook. I got the second one last year, since I was a fan. I just recently realized Jeanne Lemlin has a blog and a facebook page. I "liked" it and if I could, I would like it again and again and again.

Almost everything I try from these books turns out great. I've only recently tried some breads and cakes. My hubby's favorite is blueberry cake, which is surprisingly easy to make. Unfortunately, she doesn't have chocolate cake or cupcake recipes, but I guess that's what pinterest is for. 

Do you have any favorite cookbooks? 

Faith in the Azores

I have an article up on IgnitumToday about faith during my mother's childhood:
 http://www.ignitumtoday.com/2015/09/22/faith-on-an-island-50-years-ago/

Very interesting childhood she had.

And also another recipe at CatholicCuisine:
http://catholiccuisine.blogspot.pt/2015/09/st-matthew-winged-cupcakes.html

Prayer Corner

Our prayer corner is up (the first thing I did related to that "handy" post) and I'm really happy with it. Of course, I got the ideas from the Leila Lawler's wonderful book, The Little Oratory.

And here are some views from further away. I love Addie's religious books section and musical section on the window sill.

My favorite part is the cloth that was made by my grandmother. Adding that personal touch was also an idea I got from the book.

 

You can see more "little oratories" on the author's site here...

 

Double whammy

Happy Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows days! (back-to-back feast days that go together...)

On Monday we unwrapped not one but TWO crosses I bought for our new house... totally out of our budget... but can religious art really be a splurge? I couldn't help myself. They are again from Artes do Mosteiro. Aren't they beautiful?

On Tuesday (today) I made this fabulous cake inspired by CatholicCuisine here. It's Real Simple's chocolate cake with a vanilla frosting from another cookbook. I am liking Real Simple's recipes. They are really... simple! This one turned out great even though I forgot to tighten the heart pan and it leaked out and took double the time to bake. I might be going overboard with the baking recently, but I am so inspired by Catholic Cuisine.

Speaking of which... they posted my blueberry pie on Saturday!