Treat to Mark a Feast Day

We have love love LOVED celebrating the feast days of our kids' patron saints. Adding a touch of joy to daily life is never a bad idea! Doing something out-of-the-ordinary gets the children thinking about their heavenly family and the men/women who have exemplified lives of virtue. Our confidence is that these miniature celebrations will be a treasure to our kids and a way to cement their faith as they grow.

Today is the feast of St. Rupert of Salzburg!

Our babiest son was named for him, so we pulled out ye old recipe book and decided to make a batch of MARZIPAN to mark the occasion!

Why marzipan? Firstly, because it's famed in Salzburg. Secondly, because it's chewy and nutty-sweet, and your molars want to keep experiencing the initial chomp-down sensation. Its packed with Old World flavors and the delicate aromas of almonds and roses. Confected in small quantities, you can get away with putting it on the dinner table - even during Lent - as a finisher.

Now, to totally disappoint everyone reading this, my baby Rupert spat out his portion of the Marzipan Taste-Test Batch. His palette is still a bit unrefined - being that he's 11 months old - but I'm sure he'll come around one day. Some kids are just so spoiled by their diet of organic, maternally produced leche! Everyone else is sure to enjoy this small sugar rush in honor of one of our family's favorite saints!

Want my marzipan recipe? Here it is:

1 1/2 c. Almond Flour

1 1/2 c. Powdered Sugar

2 tsp Almond Extract

1 tsp. Rosewater

1 egg white (or 1 Tbsp corn syrup if you're allergic)

Pulse it all in a food processor or kneed it by hand. Combine until a smooth dough forms. Form into a log and wrap in plastic to rest for one hour before sculpting into beautiful shapes or chopping into bite-sized morsels. Decorate with food paint or coat in chocolate. Most importantly - CONSUME IT!

Happy Feast of St. Rupert to one and all! St. Rupert of Salzburg, pray for us!