Here's a fun fact: Did you know that our very own Confirmation Catechist, Ms. Bonnie Lay, spent her professional career as a health educator? She taught Physical Education and Health in public school systems before specializing as a health official and consultant for governments and major corporations. Here's her claim to fame: ever been to a health fair hosted by your employter? She helped initiate and implement that idea!

Last Friday, the First Friday of Lent, Ms. Lay had:
tilapia purchased fresh from the supermarket fish counter,
macaroni purchased pre-made from the deli counter,
and baked sweet potato, home-made.

Tilapia can be baked (follow the instructions on the label; budget about 40 minutes) or pan-fried.

Macaroni salad is easy to make. Here's a recipe. But in a pinch, grab it from the deli fridge.

Baking the sweet potato will take the longest (here's how you can do it), but if you cut it up, you can boil it, which only takes X minutes.

There you go: another taste-tested, Mom-approved Lenten dinner idea! ENJOY! 

That's what Mrs. Acevedo is making her family tonight, Ash Wednesday 2022! 

Mrs. Acevedo was busy all weekend making preparations for the Confirmation Mass that happened this past weekend, so she didn't have time to do any shopping. She had to rely on items already in her pantry, refrigerator, and freezer. 

Add oil to saucepan; heat.

Add celery, carrot, onion, and garlic; cook on low with lid 10 minutes.

Add tomatoes and their juice; add about 1 cup of water to the can, swirl to clean the sides, and add this water to the saucepan.

Add the bay leaf and the butter, and cook covered for 15-20 minutes.

Remove from heat. Take off lid, and let the soup cool.

As you can see from the stove clocks, Mrs. Acevedo waited a while before she added the basil and the milk. This is because this soup has to be blended. Mrs. Acevedo used her regular blender up until Christmas -- Santa brought her a hand blender, so today she used that right in the pot!

This made enough soup for her to have one serving, her husband to have two servings, and her son to have two servings. You'll have to increase the amounts of ingredients if you have a bigger family or want to have more servings.

*Here are some other adjustments:
1- If you love cooking and have the time, you could use fresh tomatoes instead of canned tomatoes. Prehat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Strain the tomatoes and spread on a prepared baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil, and baske for 15 minutes.

2-Even though Mrs. Acevedo put a clove of garlic in the first photo, she actually decided to use pre-minced garlic in a jar from her refrigerator. it saved a little time.

3-Today is Ash Wednesday, and faithful Catholics do not consume any meats, so Mrs. Acevedo decided to put the carton of chicken broth away. She used water instead, as described in the recipe.

4-If you have an herb garden at home, or if you have time to go to the store, you could use fresh basil. You'd need about 1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil.

5-You could use heavy cream or half & half instead of milk if you want a creamier soup.

Choose one. Times vary.

Say this as a morning prayer, or say the short form ("Christ with me...") before bed.

What do Catholics celebrate on February 14?

Choose one; times vary.