For the January meeting, we discussed St Francis de Sales and the children baked Honey Goodness Breakfast Bars. Standing around Allison's kitchen table, the girls put two batches together.
They followed the recipe we got off the internet from a site called "Catholic Cuisine" which provides recipes for Feast days of Saints and all the Liturgical remembrances throughout the year. Dried apricots were substituted for dried apples which my favorite discount grocery store didn't have in stock. That became part of the lesson- substitute something similar and keep on moving when you cook!
These breakfast bars included honey, oatmeal, raisins and apricots. I was very surprised to actually learn something myself at the Club-
That is to use wax paper instead of a spoon or spatula to press sticky dough down into the greased pan.
Many of the girls said that their mothers do this when they make "Rice Krispy Treats" which I don't think I have ever made.
Although these bars looked good and baked up well, they weren't very tasty. The leftovers I brought home didn't get eaten which is very unusual around here!
We also talked about the life of St. Agnes who is one of the seven women mentioned by name in the Mass. She was a martyr as a young teen when she refused to marry the pagan emperor's son. Of course she was very beautiful according to the story. This made for such a good discussion with the very intelligent and attentive young ladies in our group (our boys weren't here on this particular day). I am always acutely aware of what a privilege it is to be able to speak to them about the Faith we share.
The kids decorated cupcakes to look like a lamb, which is similar to the name Agnes in Latin ( Agnus).
Just for fun, we featured pineapples to add a fruit to the food groups served on this day. I showed them how to cut one up the way I learned.
When all was prepared and our twenty minute discussion over, the kids sat around Allison's long dinner table for Grace and their Feast. They enjoy chatting as they all know each other well.
Air Hockey was fun to play as an ice breaker as we waited for all the kids to arrive and again after the meal was served.
