Raspberry Lemon Meringue Cake

Ingredients:
Raspberry Lemon Meringue Cake
3 Cups of flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 Cup milk
Peel of 2 lemons, finely grated
1/2 Cup lemon juice
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 1/2 Cups powdered sugar
4 large eggs
3 egg whites at room temp
11 oz. jar of lemon curd
1 1/2 Cups fresh raspberries (I added blueberries too)

Jen Rice with delicious cake

Instructions:  Preheat oven to 350, Butter & and flour two 9″ cake pans.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.  In a small bowl, stir together milk, lemon peel, and lemon juice.   Beat butter & and 2 cups powdered sugar until fluffy, Add eggs, one at a time.  Then add half flour mixture, then milk mixture, then remaining flour mixture, mixing after each addition.  Divide batter between buttered or sprayed pans and bake 25 minutes.  Let cool for 10 minutes in pans on a baking rack.

Beat remaining powdered sugar and egg whites, Place over a saucepan of barely simmering water and cook, whisking until sugar dissolves and mixture is hot to the touch (2-3 minutes).  Remove from heat and beat on high until stiff peaks form and mixture is cool (7-10 minutes).  Remove cake from pans and place one cake layer on cake plate,  Spread half of curd on cake,  Top with berries, then drizzle remaining curd evenly over berries.  Place other cake layer on top of raspberries, Top cake with meringue.  Click here for a meringue recipe.  Preheat broiler to high.  Broil cake until meringue peaks are golden (about 2 minutes).

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Orange Dew Drop

Ingredients

• Ginger Ale

• Honeydew

• Frozen Orange Juice

Instructions

Mix ginger ale and honeydew in a food processor. Place one table spoon of the mixture in the bottom of a glass. Thaw one can of frozen orange juice. Scoop six table spoons into a separate glass. Add vodka and mix.  Pour overtop the honeydew mixture. Mama Mia! Salute! Good Health!

Posted in Recipe-Drinks | 1 Comment »

Today’s feast of Corpus Christi is a true Grace Before Meals celebration. It’s the day when we remember that God gives us “the Daily Bread”, not just for the body, but for our souls.  This “Bread”, for those who are willing to believe, IS the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord Jesus – God.  Can God dwell within us, literally?  In the Eucharist, that is not only possible, it’s God’s desire.

In this week’s blast you’ll hear more about The First “Throw Down Challenge”:  when God was sent down from heaven to earth in order to challenge us to become saints – winners in the contest of faith!

But, to learn more about Grace Before Meals, as well as hear more inside scoop on the recent Bobby Flay Throw Dow, you simply have to subscribe to receive the weekly newsletters.  I still can’t believe it:  Bobby Flay challenged me to a Throw Down!  

It’s free to subscribe!  It’s also a fun, faithful way to strengthen relationships at home.  It also helps spread the message and to keep in touch with all of the latest news from Grace Before Meals!

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As I was adding the dry ingredients to my Fusion Fajita Marinade, I was so focused on explaining the ingredients and talking to the Food Network camera that I didn’t see Bobby Flay standing only 2 feet away from me.  

I think the words, “O my Jesus!” came out of my mouth when I finally recognized who it was.  Then it dawned on me:  Bobby Flay is going to issue me a THROW DOWN!

I was a bit surprised simply because he only challenges people who have had their food win awards.  I have neither stature in my physical presence or in the culinary world. I admit that my fajitas have never won any awards, BUT, my food has won over hearts and minds!

The judging was tough and they deliberated quite a bit. I even pulled out my rosary for some heavenly assistance just to keep myself standing still! 

And the winner is…

Sorry to keep you in suspense, but I will not (because I cannot) reveal the results of this Fajita Throwdown.  For all those who attended, please keep your promise and do not tell a soul who won the “Throw Down” lest we jeopordize the airing of the show!

Of the results, I will officially I will say this:  To win, one must become humble, lest he loses his soul – the greatest gift God gives to our humanity.  To lose, one must be sincerely happy for the winner and thus learn the great virtue of humility, which actually is the greatest all accomplishments for our humanity!

I know, it sounds rather Socratic or Platonic of me, huh?

More info and pics to come AFTER the show is aired in a couple of months.

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It’s been a busy day!  Monday’s shoot went off great! At least that’s what they tell me.  And your prayers are working because the rain hasn’t come (as predicted) and I haven’t cut myself chopping an onion or pepper!

Today however is a BIG DAY.  We are feeding about 80 people, spreading the mission of Grace Before Meals, and hearing what tasters think of my Fusion Fajitas!

Thanks for your prayerful support and looking forward to sharing with you a date when the show will air!

Peace!

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As you may have already heard, the Food Network is filming a little episode about Grace Before Meals beginning on June 8, 2009.  You are cordially invited to participate in the taping of a Mass that I will celebrate on Monday, June 8, 2009.  See below for details.  This information came directly from someone working on the Food Network show.  It’s kinda’ exciting huh?

INFORMATION FOR MASS: 

Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary

Chapel of the Immaculate Conception

Campus Address:

16300 Old Emmitsburg Road

Emmitsburg, MD 21727 

Please arrive at 11:45am for the 12pm Mass.  Please be aware that by entering the Chapel you are agreeing to appear on the Food Network.

Some wardrobe guidelines to keep in mind:

No all black

No all white

No logos of any kind

No small stripes/checks/patterns

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