In yesterday’s blog post, I mentioned Janet Brinkman’s array of scrumptious treats and shared her recipe for “Jeweled Fruitcake.” Here’s another of her recipes — a rich, creamy fudge made with white chocolate, pistachios and cranberries — Yum! White chocolate, pistachio and cranberry fudge 8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature 2 cups powdered sugar, […]

Any time of the year one might spy a tasty treat on the counter in the Pastoral Center’s kitchen. Colleagues in this building are ever so generous with sharing sweets and garden produce. But, a stroll through the kitchen around Christmas is especially gratifying as samples of holiday baking appear. Janet Brinkman, director of human […]

This blog post first appeared on the Fiat House blog Dec. 2. It is being reprinted here with permission. As I write this blog post, the walls of the Fiat House are starting to look quite bare. In fact, they look quite a bit like they did during those first few weeks when we first […]

At a recent Learning Over Lunch session for employees of the diocese, Deacon Mark Barder, director of the planning office, delighted us with his passion for creating fudge. He has spent a number of years honing his Creamy Velvet Fudge recipe and technique. As an early Christmas present, Deacon Mark generously agreed to share his […]

Loving God, Is it seriously Thanksgiving already!? I can’t believe how fast time goes. I want to take a minute to thank you for everything I have in my life because without you I would have nothing! First of all, thank you so much for my wonderful family and for giving me such great friends. […]

Without a doubt Advent is my favorite time of year. The decorations, music, baking, twinkling lights and anticipation turn me into a little girl again each and every year. Admittedly, without proper planning Advent can also be the time in which I can most easily lose sight of the true meaning of the season. It’s […]

“I worry when I see young people who have ‘thrown in the towel’ before the game has even begun, who are defeated even before they begin to play, who walk around glumly as if life has no meaning.” -Pope Francis At World Youth Day, we were blessed with multiple opportunities to hear Pope Francis speak. […]

Recipes in my collection often elicit a sweet memory — the event where I first tasted it, the person I received it from or someone in my life who especially likes that dish. Most foodies can probably relate. When I asked Visitor columnist Rita Meyer about featuring her Caramel-Crowned Pumpkin Squares recipe in the Meire […]

It hit me most unexpectedly, a few months back while watching the movie ‘Risen’ with my family. You know, one of those moments where a scene grasps your heart and finds a way to reside there long after the moment is gone? It’s one of those little ways God sneaks in when you least expect […]

With almost perfect timing, in light of this year’s election and all, I fell upon a poem I hadn’t seen before from one of my favorite poets, Seamus Heaney. It is entitled, “Whatever You Say, Say Nothing.” I’m writing just after an encounter With an English journalist in search of  ‘views On the Irish thing’. […]