Happy feast of Pope St. Damasus I! On today’s show, Matt Swaim welcomes Mike Aquilina to discuss the life and witness of one of the most influential popes of the early Church. Other guests include Rita Heikenfeld to discuss Rosemary on Bible Foods, and pastoral counselor Kevin Prendergast with tips on keeping a journal for prayer or personal growth. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…
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Prayer of St. John Chrysostom
O Lord Jesus Christ, open the eyes of my heart that I may hear your Word,and understand and do your will, for I am a sojourner upon the Earth.Hide not your commandments from me, but open my eyes, that I may perceive the wonders of your Law.Speak unto me the hidden and secret things of your wisdom.On you do I set my hope, O my God, that you shall enlighten my mind and understanding with the light of your knowledge; not only to cherish those things which are written, but to do them;For you are the enlightenment of those who lie in darkness, and from you comes every good deed and every gift. Amen.
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John Knutsen and the Retirement Fund for Religious are online at retiredreligious.org.
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RECIPES FROM RITA: GOAT CHEESE LOG WITH CRANBERRIES, PINE NUTS AND ROSEMARY
The cranberries lend a sweetness to the pungent goat cheese. The nuts, herbs and pepper add more elements of flavor.
Ingredients
1 log, 8 oz., plain goat cheese/Chevre
2 oz. cream cheese
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder or 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped fine
2-3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted (toasting optional)
Palmful fresh parsley, minced
2-3 teaspoons fresh or dried rosemary, chopped
Crackers, flat bread or French baguettes
Instructions
Mix goat, cream cheese and pepper together.
Place on a square of plastic wrap and roll up, enclosing in plastic wrap as you go. Shape into a 7-8” log. This can be done a day ahead.
Mix cranberries, nuts, parsley and rosemary together.
Roll log in cranberry mixture, coating all sides and pressing gently to make mixture stick.
Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or up to 12 hours. Serve with crackers or bread.
Tip:
Toast pine nuts in a dry, nonstick skillet over low heat for just a few minutes. Stir the nuts often, until you see little blotches of brown on them.
Can’t seem to make a smooth log? After rolling in plastic wrap, place in a piece of paper towel cardboard insert cut to fit the roll. With a back and forth motion, continue to roll the log until smooth.
BONUS RECIPE: GOAT CHEESE WITH SUNDRIED TOMATO TAPENADE
Mix together, make a trough along the top of the goat cheese log (to hold the topping) and pour the mixture into the trough and over a log (6-8 oz) goat cheese:
1/4 cup sundried tomatoes
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
1 Roma tomato, seeded and diced
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic or more to taste
1 tablespoon pine nuts (opt)
1 tablespoon parsley, minced (opt)
Olive oil – enough to make a nice topping – start with 2-3 tablespoons
Serve with Baguette or crackers.
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