*yawn*

Ugh... I hate early mornings. I am not a morning person by any means, especially when it is cold and dark out when your alarm clock goes off. Personally, I think that if the sun isn't up yet, no human being in their right mind has any business being out of bed.

Unfortunately, this semester I have early classes every morning, the earliest of which are on Tuesdays & Thursdays. On these days I feel some very anti-alarm clock leanings, and desire to chuck the thing out the window when it goes off... after hitting the snooze button three or four times, of course.

I suppose it's not so bad, but the 8:30 class on Tues & Thurs is my Intro to World Lit class, which requires having a fully functioning brain. The rest of the week my first class is one in which I can leisurely power up my brain cells. World Lit class, however, requires that I be on the top of my game, ready to make obscure connections, thorough character analysis and catch every iota of symbolism.

I was kind of worried about this World Lit class at the beginning of the semester, because the book list revealed that my teacher is obsessed with modern literature (Woolf, Rushdie, Marat/Sade, etc.). It's not even good modern literature! Where is Lewis, Chesterton, Waugh??

However, the beginning of the class hasn't been terrible, thankfully. I'm actually enjoying the reading we've done so far- Kipling, Yeats and Joyce- but we'll see what happens the further we get away from Romanticism...

Anyway, speaking of Joyce, I've just read The Dead, which is a lovely short story. It's full of depth and symbolism, and it resonated deeply with me, perhaps because I identify with some of the characters. Although a short story, by the end Joyce had hooked me, and the final paragraphs made me verclempt. I definitely recommend it, especially if you're looking for something to read that has some philosophical depth to it.

Food for Thought & A Prayer Request

Thanks to Fr. Z for this lovely reading- The Centurion's Prayer- Domine Non Sum Dignus

Also, please pray for two families from my parish. Tragedy has struck both of them in less than two weeks time...

The first lost their youngest son, John Matthew, who was only 6 months old. He died unexpectedly in his sleep.

Also, I learned that this morning the second family lost their 6 week old infant daughter- the first after several boys. Mary Catherine Elizabeth also died in her sleep.

Please pray that the Lord may strengthen these families in their time of suffering and loss.

As Catholics, it is of great consolation to know that these recently baptised souls are now seeing the Beatific Vision and can pray on our behalf.

St. John Matthew, ora pro nobis.

St. Mary Catherine Elizabeth, ora pro nobis.

An Ode to Baking

So, I promised that I'd blog about some of the things that had kept me busy over the holidays... and never actually got around to it... *headdesk*

However, University classes were cut short today due to the snow we got last night, so I have some free time on my hands. Finally!

One of my favourite things about the Christmas season is baking cookies with my Mom and my sisters. Our family is comprised of 12 sweet-loving-fiends, so when Christmas rolls around, we go crazy with the cookie baking (I think one year we had almost 8 varieties of cookies). This year was a little more low key, considering all the craziness that had happened with my Dad (he had just got out of the hospital from a bad staph infection less than a week before Christmas).

Despite the craziness, I was determined this year to make my "famous" Neapolitan cookies. (They're also frequently known as Rainbow or 7-layer Cookies... In my opinion, the excellence of an Italian bakery is measured by how well these cookies are made.)

I've been making these cookies for Christmas for several years now, but refrained from the project last year. This was due to having moved during the Christmas holidays and I didn't have time for the 5 hour project amidst unpacking boxes and arranging furniture.

This year, however, I was determined to follow through. Besides, who can resist the clamour of several small children with ridiculously cute voices asking you, "Are you gonna make your rainbow cookies for us, Celly?" Melt.

Usually, I bake these cookies between Christmas and New Years', but with the already full schedule of visiting that week, I opted to make them a few days before Christmas. I made the kids swear that they wouldn't touch them until Christmas Day, however. "It's not a Christmas cookie if you eat it before Christmas," I lectured them, and the logic seemed to make sense, because they all promptly promised. (Honestly, though, I didn't want to be eaten out of my fair share of them, having forsworn sweets for Advent. *sheepish grin*)

So, after dinner at Mom's house, I tidied the kitchen and then waited for the kids to get distracted. (It was episodes of Dr. Who, in this case. Thank you, Netflix.) Making Rainbow cookies is an intensive project, spanning over a few hours. Having children underfoot is not desirable... especially since I'm kind of a Nazi about my counter space. And as you can see, despite the grand size of my mother's kitchen, I needed it...

Three baking pans- lined with wax paper- & the two mixers ready to go!

For those of you who've never had Rainbow cookies, I just have to say that they are delicious, chocolate covered squares of almond-y goodness. The ingredients that go into them are top-shelf (which is also why they're only made once a year... they're expensive! How many cookie recipes do you have that calls for 3 cups of butter? *grin*)...

Some of the fantastic ingredients involved...

This year, I grabbed a latte from Starbucks to aid me in my endeavour, since I knew I'd probably be working late... and yes, I'll admit that I have a seasonal addiction to their Peppermint Mocha Lattes... yum...

Yay for Starbucks!

So, step one in the making of these baking marvels is to make the cake that the cookies consist of:

The cake batter is thick and kind of lumpy at this point.

Then, you have to beat a dozen egg whites into submission:

Oh, they'd better behave...

Once the eggs become obedient, they form up into fluffy, soft peaks:

So lovely!

And then, the now-foamy egg whites are folded into the batter to give it a lighter and smoother consistency:

Flufferizing action!

Once that is done, you have to separate the batter into three separate bowls:

All ready to be colour-ified!

At this point in the process, my Mom came in to chat with me, so I forgot to photograph the next few steps. Basically, I add food colouring to the batter so that I have the three traditional colours: red, green and yellow. Then, I add a good amount of amaretto to each bowl of batter. Then the amaretto-infused batters are spread into their respective pans and baked.

After baking and cooling, the layers are then assembled, and raspberry jam is spread between each layer. Then, the layers get compressed, so that the cookies become a little more manageable to eat:

Squish those cookies!

Once the cookies are compressed, you melt the chocolate chips (Ghiradelli are the best... the melt so easily and stay smooth):

I wonder if I can just eat the chocolate? *drool*

Then, the melted chocolate is spread over the cookie/cake monstrosity, sealing in the moisture. After that, the still "wet" chocolate is sprinkled liberally with Chocolate Jimmies for that fresh-from-the-bakery look:

Yeah, that's right. I made half a sheet cake of these cookies! *grin*

It was 2 am before I was finished and had cleaned up (although most of the cleaning was done throughout the process... I can't work with lots of dirty dishes around...). I stuck toothpicks in the corners and across the middle so that I could create a kind of plastic wrap "tent." The last thing I wanted was for that that creamy chocolate to end up stuck to the plastic wrap before it hardened.

I will report that my siblings stayed true to their word, and we cut into the finished product on Christmas Day:

It's so beautiful... *dreamy grin*

They were totally worth the long hours and hard work to make. *sigh* This batch was probably one of the best ever... And I can back that claim up, because the cookies were almost gone 5 days later!!! There were even complaints from the peanut gallery when I absconded with 6 to send to Scot in Scotland. The kids even suggested that I send less worthy cookies, instead of mailing away such a masterpiece!

I told them that we shouldn't be selfish, especially since we had 90-some of them all to ourselves... Deep down though, a little voice was telling me to follow their advice... *shhh*

Favoritism!? You don't say!

Alas, one of the greatest ills plaguing academia is favoritism.

I've always been staunchly opposed to it, even when I've been on the positive end of such nonsense. It does nothing for anyone, if you ask me. And personally, I'd rather come by a reward by my hard work, instead of merely because I knew the right person. I suppose my attitude is a nod to the Christian work ethic my wonderful parents instilled in me, but it's also only fair.

I suppose I've been naive, however, in thinking that others, especially those at a Catholic University, would hold that same ethic. Which makes some of the recent events at my University even more hurtful.

It's not right or fair to intentionally undercut someone's confidence and hard work. It is not right to only criticise one's students and never give an ounce of praise. It is equally unfair to only praise and never correct honest faults. As a teacher, I feel obligated to make available to my students every tool they need in order to fulfill their goals-- it is what they pay me for, after all, and they deserve my encouragement and support-- and happy will be the day when all teachers feel and acknowledge this same obligation.

However, principles set aside, one can learn from such hurtful and unfair circumstances. Confidence can be rebuilt, faith in oneself can grow, and those who truly care for your well-being can be discerned. All with grace, of course.

That being said, I shall hold my head up high, dust off my battered confidence, resolve to work harder and to become better than before, with the help of God. It is He, after all, who picks our crosses and He who knows what is best for us at any moment in time. I can only pray for the strength to carry my cross well and cheerfully, and in a spirit of humility.

To aid me in this difficult task, I rely on God's grace, especially those granted by reciting the following Litany:

Litany of Humility

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
 
From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated ...
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…

Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930),
Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius X

A Belated Happy New Year!

And an early Happy Epiphany, to all of my readers!!

I apologise once again for being so remiss with the blog. The Christmas season is a very busy one in my family, with lots of visiting and cooking and parties and Masses, etc., etc..


Some of the highlights of this Christmas Season included:

1. A visit from all of my aunts and cousins-- it was the first time in years that we've all been together for the holidays! 20-some people in one house= FUN! :)

2. Successfully hosting a party on New Years' Day and getting to meet Fr. Braveheart's parents, who were in from Scotland for Christmas. They were lovely people and livened up the party considerably!

3. Getting to sing for the Bishop when he visited our parish Christmas Dinner. It's the first time the Bishop of our diocese has ever taken part in any of our festivities, despite the parish having been around for 15 years. He was really wonderful and seemed to have a great time! Word on the street is that he wants to come back for a Pontifical High Mass in the Extraordinary Form!!! (And he also complimented me on my solo, which earned him major brownie points! ;) Haha.)


I'll be writing about some of the other things I've been up to soon-ish, as well, so look for those new posts in the near future. I'm sorry again for neglecting the blog so much, but besides being busy I haven't been in much of a writing mood.

To be honest, for a few days I've been kinda blue, as well. I'm suspecting it's just due to the fact that I'm getting a little bored on break, and I'm hoping that getting back to classes next week will cure me of my melancholy. I mean, really, when I think about it, I don't have much to be blue about. I've been incredibly blessed this past year, despite some of the difficulties, and so far 2011 has been pretty good. I think I also need to seek out some serious spiritual consolation as well... I've been a bit remiss with my daily Rosary amidst all the hustle and bustle, and I suspect that may also be contributing.

Anyway, here's wishing you and yours a Blessed Feast of the Epiphany!

Adoration of the Wise Men ~ Murillo