I am going to try to make that roast pork, finally. The weather is certainly getting autumnal, so a roast pork loin and nice creamy, warm gratins are perfect comfort food.

I'm also going to send the children out to pick the last of the blackberries because it is Michaelmas. This is just a fun tradition, it isn't part of the real story of St. Michael casting Satan out of heaven, it's just something to help us (and especially children) remember, much like the star in the core of an apple reminding us of the five wounds of Christ. The legend goes that when St. Michael cast Satan down, he landed in a blackberry bramble and cursed it. So, since this is the commemoration of St. Michael casting him out, this is the last day to gather them, because after today they will be cursed (shriveled, dried out, dead).

There are other fun traditions associated with this feast day. In England, it was traditional to have roast goose and renters tried to appease their landlords on this day, because in England the year was divided into quarters on feast days and this was the autumnal quarter, by bringing the quarterly rent, the lease for renewal and a goose to roast. In France they ate waffles and in Italy, they served gnocchi. One tradition is lighting a bonfire, which we will be doing. Since it was harvest time, there was a lot about grain and bread baking. Another is baking a cake with a gold ring mixed into the batter; the person who finds the ring can expect early marriage. Something another mother suggested was making a Devil's food cake, putting a figure of St. Michael on top and giving the children those little cocktail swords to pierce the devil, which would probably help them remember more about St. Michael than getting a wedding ring. We plan on making a sweet dough filled with apples, sugar and cinnamon and shaping it into a serpent/dragon* and using sliced almonds as scales for the children to cut up after dinner.

These are just fun little activities one can do. They are ways of making the church year come alive for people. It is how we impress on our children the significance of these days, the saints, the events that are commemorated. As for spiritual things, we did the collect and readings for the feast this morning during morning prayer, we are reciting the Prayer of St. Michael**, we also sang the song we sing in church and we discussed who St. Michael is, what he did and how it is he who is the opposite of the devil and not God, who is so much more powerful. We won't be having roast goose, but we're eating chicken tonight.

• Monday: Chicken Divan, Rice, Salad


• Tuesday: Lamb Kofta, Cracked Wheat Pilaf, Fried Cauliflower & Crookneck Squash, Lion Cupcakes (for St. Jerome's feast day)


• Wednesday: Oja de Cabra Beans with Corn, Peppers, Onions & Tomatoes, Rice


• Thursday: Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry with Noodles


• Friday: Macaroni & Cheese, Mixed Greens, Slow Sauteed Broccoli (we had egg burritos Friday, because all of us got home too late to start dinner)


• Saturday: Laudate Dinner


• Sunday: Roast Pork, Scalloped Potatoes (I'm going to try it in the crockpot), Savory Squash Bread Pudding, using Amber Cup Squash

If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can.
What is on your menu this week?

*Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world -- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. -- Revelation 12:7-9

**

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who roam through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in praelio. Contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur. Tuque princeps militiae caelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo divina virtute in infernum detrude. Amen.

Labels: Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Michaelmas, Tales from the Kitchen