Jan. 7 marks the feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord when, as tradition holds, Magi from the East came to pay homage to Him, bringing Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. This year, consider joining in a French tradition that dates back to the 14th century by baking a “Galette des Rois” or “King Cake.” In northern France, this buttery, flakey dessert is made of pâte feuilleté, puff pastry, and stuffed with a dense, creamy almond paste called frangipane. Visit: www.carolinescooking.com/galette-des-rois-french-king-cake for a step-by-step recipe that your whole family will enjoy.
This Advent, as we prepare for the babe in the manger (“to eat”) in Bethlehem (“house of bread”), the many visual cues make it easy to remember that the greatest gift God gave us was Himself – first as an innocent child and then in the Eucharist. The latter may be less obvious to many, but just as in Scripture itself, imagery of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament has pervaded literature and the arts throughout the centuries. It continues to this day, if you know where to look. As Catholics stoke the fires of a national Eucharistic revival, take heart that Our Lord is with us always and share that faith with others with gift ideas for the bibliophile on your list – even if that book lover is you.