Month: March 2014

Lessons from the Parish Soup Supper

4 Comments

“Something is wrong when the best possible compliment you can give a fish dish is that it doesn’t taste fishy,” or so said Jim Gaffigan during a recent concert he gave here in Des Moines. The “anti-fishers” in the crowd had a good roar over that line, myself included. Given I’m not a seafood fan, when today’s Soup & Stories guest post hit my in-box a few weeks ago, I became excited. Could it be that our guest contributor has a plausible alternative to the Lenten parish fish fry? Please?! :) I’m really intrigued by how this parish is fostering fellowship and service during Lent, and all around a bowl of … yep, soup!

A Taste of Benedictine Hospitality

2 Comments

As the youngest of 11 children, five brothers and five sisters, in a devoutly Catholic farm family, Fr. Guerric Letter learned early on to cook for a crowd and pass rigorous sanitary inspections. On the occasions when his mother and sisters would take a day off, the men still needed to eat. The one instruction he received from him mother and sisters? Don’t leave the kitchen a mess.

Food for the Journey

4 Comments

My dear friend Julie Nelson joins our Lenten Soup & Stories series today, sharing a lovely story about the importance of mentoring and supporting one another. Reading Julie’s post reminds me of why I used to feel so energized after my weekly chats with her for Catholic Women Now, a radio show on Iowa Catholic … [Read more…]

How a Bowl of Soup Helped me Home

6 Comments

Today’s Soup & Stories post is from a great friend and fellow CatholicMom.com contributor Catherine Boucher. Catherine is living proof that Nebraska Cornhusker fans are indeed people, too. (Sorry, this Iowa State alum couldn’t resist!)

First, a note from Catherine: This post in no way is intended to reignite the so-called “mommy wars.” I know tremendous mothers who work in and outside of the home. This post is simply about how a warm bowl of soup helped me to realize that God was calling me to be at home.

Albondigas — Mexican Meatball Soup

1 Comment

We proudly welcome the sweet and talented Diana von Glahn to our Soup & Stories series. Diana is the writer and host of the television series The Faithful Traveler, a program that explores Catholic places of pilgrimage around the world. EWTN recently broadcast The Faithful Traveler in the Holy Land, a six-episode series that has received rave reviews (we’re fans, too!). And get this, The Faithful Traveler crew is returning to the Holy Land in May during Pope Francis’ travels there, and Diana and crew will film a new program called Preparing for the Pope. What a well-earned and deserving opportunity!
In today’s Soup & Stories post, Diana shares her family’s recipe for albondigas, a Mexican soup with hearty chunks of vegetables and small rice-filled meatballs. We’re preparing this recipe for our Sunday meal tomorrow, and our tummies are already growling for a bowl just looking at those photos. Muy bueno!

7 Quick Takes: Too Much Feasting?

Leave a Comment

— 1 — I received an email early this morning that read, “Blessed Feast of St. Benedict!” Yay. St. Benedict is my man. Party on, Schmidts! Wait, what? I thought his feast day is July 11. So I turn to my favorite monks’ website and learn there are actually two feasts of St. Benedict on … [Read more…]

The Das Schmidt Haus Baby Name Game

7 Comments

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.

An ancient history professor went to the hospital to be with his wife as she gave birth to their first child. While the baby was born, the professor’s expression never changed. The child was put in the arms of his mother. Still the professor’s countenance never changed. The family moved from the delivery room to the post delivery room. Still the man’s face didn’t change; it remained bland. A nurse noticed this and asked him to go into the hall while they examined the baby.

In the hall she asked the professor, thoughtfully, “What name will you give the baby?” He replied, “Theophilus.”

Breast Cancer and the Breastplate of St. Patrick

5 Comments

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! We’re celebrating here with an Irish-inspired Soup & Stories post from our dear friend Pat Gohn who among her other talents hosts the Among Women Podcast. In today’s post, Pat shares a bit about her Irish heritage, how the Breastplate of St. Patrick prayer comforted her while battling breast cancer, and passes along a recipe for St. Patrick Irish Cheddar soup. Any recipe that calls for Kerrygold Irish Cheddar immediately catches my attention!
But back to that prayer for a moment. Most of the stanzas of the prayer begin with the words, “I arise today.” Imagine what it means for someone staring down a potentially life-threatening illness to pray those words. Everybody knows somebody who is battling something. Consider sharing the prayer with that person today.

Potato Soup of Thriftiness

6 Comments

Today’s Soup & Stories post comes from the kitchen of Leila Marie Lawler who blogs at Like Mother, Like Daughter, one of the most beautiful and spiritually refreshing blogs I frequent. From home educating, to cooking, to mothering, to living the liturgy, the words Leila and team share over there strengthen and encourage me to live my vocation … [Read more…]