As you know there are many wonderful feast days in October to honor the saints and yummy food traditions to go with them.
St. John of Capistrano was born in Italy in the region of Abruzzi, 1385. His father was a knight who died when John was just a young boy. He was exceptionally bright and his mother saw to it that he received a superb education in Civil and Church law.
At the age of 26 he was appointed governor of Perugia located just north east of Assisi. He governed with great integrity. His gifts of leadership and right judgment were appreciated by a great many. In 1426 while trying to resolve a dispute between Perugia and the House of Malatestas, he was thrown into prison by the nobles of Malatesta. It was during this time that he had a vision of St. Francis of Assisi and began reconsidering the direction of his life. At age 30 he entered the Franciscan Order and was ordained a priest friar at the age of 34.
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| St. John Capistrano, Pray for us! |
His vocation as a Franciscan was exceptional like those of other followers of St. Francis - St. Anthony of Padua and St. Bernardino of Siena. His gifts in civil, church leadership, and preaching cried out for him to serve the needs of people in a century weakened by the Bubonic plague, endangered by internal religious animosities and torn by civil and national hostilities. St. John Capistrano worked tirelessly on all fields of strife seeking to mend and heal numerous ruptures and divisions. His efforts were sought after by Popes Nicholas V and Callixtus III. He died shortly after leading a division of the army in the successful defense of the city of Belgrade, October 23, 1456, at age 70. Belgrade at that time was part of the kingdom of Hungary. He was canonized in 1724.
St. Junipero Serra thought so highly of St. John Capistrano's selflessness and achievements that he named one of the missions in California after him. It is at this mission, San Juan Capistrano, that the cliff swallows return on March 19 or thereabout to spend the season nesting and raising their young and leave on October 23 to fly 6,000 miles to spend their winter in Argentina.
Children's book:
Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi is the story of a young boy about six or seven years old who lives near San Juan Capistrano Mission. He is a child who loves the grounds of the mission, the flowers, birds, and the grounds keeper, Julian. The illustrations are colorful and the story is very sweet. There is a bit of the history of the Franciscans and the missions included as background to the story. It is recommended for children 6 - 9, but I would say 4 - 8. It is available on Amazon.
Almas Pite, Hungarian Apple Pie
Recipe below
INGREDIENTS EQUIPMENT
Dough
2 1/2 cups of All-purpose flour Mixing bowls
1/2 cup of cold butter Measuring spoons
1 /2 cup of confectionary sugar Measuring cups
1 teaspoon baking powder Zester
1 /2 teaspoon vanilla extract Grater or Food Processor
1 egg Pastry brush
1 tbsp. of sour cream or more Parchment paper
Pinch of salt Rolling pin
1 tsp. lemon zest Sifter
Baking spray or butter Baking pan 11" X 7"
Apple Filling
6 tart apples - I used Granny Smith
1/2 cup confectionary sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
4 tbsp. ground walnuts (optional) I did not use them
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 egg for egg wash
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| Shredded Apples in Food Processor |
1. Measure flour into a large bowl.
2. Cut the butter into small cube-size pieces and mix by hand into the flour. You can use a pastry cutter if you do not like getting your hands messy. The mixture will be crumbly.
3. In a small bowl sift 1/2 confectionary sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together so there are no little spice or powder balls. Add sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla. Whisk well, then add the egg. Mix thoroughly.
4. Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture. Add a bit more sour cream if the mixture seems dry. If the mixture is too wet, add a bit more flour. Knead thoroughly.
5. Divide the dough into 2 balls and let them rest for 20 minutes.
6. Peel, core, and divide the apples into four quarters. Shred the apples. I used the food processor which is pictured above. I put two apples in at a time and processed on high for about 10 seconds. Then I pulsed the apples for a few seconds until there were no large bits. The apples look like grated cabbage. You can use a grater on the largest side if you wish. I repeated the process. It went very quickly. If your apples are very juicy you must strain out the juice after shredding. I did not have to strain the Granny apples after they were shredded.
7. In a small bowl mix confectionary sugar and cinnamon thoroughly. Add to the shredded apple with the lemon juice. Mix well.
8. Spray or butter and flour the baking pan. Set aside.
9. On a floured surface, roll out one of the balls of dough to the size of the baking pan. Place in pan.
10. If you use walnuts, sprinkle half of them on the rolled dough, then add the apples and the remainder of the walnut ; otherwise add the apples directly to the rolled dough.
11. Roll out the second ball of dough to cover the filling. Place on top of the filling. Pinch the edges and then make little slits in the dough to let out the air.
12.Whisk egg and add a bit of water. Whisk again and brush on the top of the dough. The dough should not be soggy.
13. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes, until the top is golden brown.
14. Remove from the oven and let it cool, Then dust with confectionary sugar.
15. Cut into squares. Makes approximately 16 squares. It is a very tasty dessert, especially with coffee, tea, cappuccino, or hot chocolate.
PRAYER TO ST. JOHN CAPISTRANO
Lord, Thou raised up Saint John of Capistrano to give Thy people comfort in their trials. May Thy Church enjoy unending peace and be secure in Thy protection. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen
St. John Capistrano, ora pro nobis!
Awesome 👍
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