Collection: The Catholic All Year Marketplace

A fun food/activity for the Transfiguration is making toad-in-the-hole. (This is the American egg-in-toast version, not the English sausages-in-batter version.)

To remember the miracle, on this feast day, white rose petals are dropped from the dome during the celebration of the Mass . . . and snow-cones are enjoyed at our house.

Mary Magdalene is remembered, among other things, for having been exorcized by Jesus of seven demons (Luke 8:1-3) and for being the first to see the risen Jesus, having arrived at the tomb at daybreak on Easter morning, carrying spices with which she and the other holy women planned to embalm Jesus’ body (Matthew 28: 1-10). This simple vegan recipe combines seven spices in a tasty feast day meal that’s also great for meat-free Fridays. If you’re looking to add more protein, ground beef or turkey can be added when cooking the onions (drain the excess fat before adding the spices) or cooked, shredded chicken can be added at the end before serving. Feel free to adapt the spice blend to your family’s preferences or what you’ve got in the pantry. Serve with a salad over rice, noodles, or polenta.

This cake, which features many traditional Spanish ingredients, is said to have been offered as a celebratory reward to pilgrims who had just finished the Camino de Santiago, the long, prayerful walk to the grave site of St. James. Many pilgrims walk over 62 miles over several days to complete this journey, so I think a cake like this is a fitting greeting! Use a stencil of the traditional cross of St. James to give this cake its signature flair.

Fresh, homemade corn tortillas are WORLDS away from their crumbly store-bought counterparts. And they're a fun activity to do with kids.

A downloadable calendar to use with your April Medallions!

Today is traditionally for prayer and abstinence, particularly for a bountiful harvest and protection from natural disasters. We think one of the best ways to celebrate is with a quick, no-bake tart decorated with your own harvest, either homegrown or store-bought. Bonus, this recipe is simple enough that even the tiniest of hands can join in!

Enjoy this classic summer treat in the midst of Eastertide, packed with nutrients and endless possibilities for preparation, as we pray on this traditional day of penance and abstinence. Plus, purple is often the liturgical color associated with today. Don’t forget to bless the farmers who produced the harvest for you, too!

The legends about St. George and the dragon date back to the thirteenth century. The story goes that there was a pagan city called Silene, which had a lake that was inhabited by a terrible, venomous dragon. One day, when he happened to be passing by, St. George picked up a princess who had been chosen as an offering to the dragon so it wouldn’t destroy everything in sight. But, when the dragon dared to show its head, brave St. George made the sign of the cross and smote the dragon with his spear, Ascalon, and threw the dragon to the ground. So today, enjoy these metaphorically slayed dragon noodles, and remember the importance of calling on Christ in your most trying times. He will always come to your aid!

St. Catherine was born and raised in Siena, a city located in Tuscany. Her life and legacy are deeply intertwined with the region, and she is considered the patron saint of Italy, alongside St. Francis of Assisi. Although we can neither confirm nor deny that St. Catherine’s mom prepared this very meal for her 25 children, we can still enjoy this simple yet flavorful creamy Tuscan sauce with bread, rice, pasta, or creamy mashed potatoes in her honor to celebrate today’s feast!

Grab a copy of St. Catherine’s "Dialogue" and enjoy this light and fresh mocktail as you read over 300 letters dictated under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and discover something new about the faith from this Doctor of the Church!

Rogation comes from the root word rogare, meaning to ask, as does the word litany (litaneo), meaning to ask repeatedly. On this traditional day of prayer, we humbly ask God for protection, forgiveness, and good health through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and all the saints using this guide.

Today is a now-little known day of penance, offered to God during the spring planting season in the hopes that the crops would be protected from natural disasters. So in an effort to ask for God’s mercy in a visible way, we’re going to plant our own seeds, ask for his blessing, and watch them grow.

Saint George is known for his courage and being a brave warrior. He refused to honor pagan gods, and as a result, eventually died for his Christian beliefs. May we hope to receive this same grace in the face of adversity. Saint George, pray for us!

Legend says that St. George slayed a dragon in the name of Jesus Christ. His heroic actions saved a princess, along with all of the city’s inhabitants, who then asked to be baptized in His name. What really happened is. . . St. George spread the Good News (Jesus) during the Middle Ages, saving many from the threat of their pagan beliefs (the dragon). With this in mind, reflect on St. George as a missionary and warrior, and recall your baptismal promises as you recite the prayer on the back of this print!

Celebrate the feast of Saints Perpetua and Felicity by praying the prayer on the back of this holy card and by displaying their image for the day!

Celebrate the feast of Saint Paul Miki by praying the prayer on the back of this holy card and by displaying her image for the day!

This variety of cheesecake is similar to a soufflé—light in texture and less sweet. It’s the perfect finish to your feast day celebration whether you’re enjoying homemade sushi or ordering in Japanese-style curry!

You can go out for Japanese food, but today’s also a great day to try making it yourself at home! Homemade sushi can feel intimidating, but this easy sheet pan recipe is foolproof. Plus, it’s a fun activity for kids! Don’t like imitation crab? Feel free to substitute with cooked fish, shrimp, or even beef (as long as it’s not a Friday)!

The word Agnes means “lamb” in Latin, so she’s usually pictured holding a lamb. To celebrate, you could make a lamb cake . . . but those turn out creepy, like, 90% of the time. That’s kind of their charm. But you can make a slightly-less-weird-looking Rice Krispie Lamb in a fraction of the time. Everyone wins! Let a kid do the sculpting and then you won’t have to take credit for your lamb’s looks. #momhack

This silly activity is based on The Donkey of Tarsus, who tells the story of Paul’s conversion from his perspective. You’re sure to laugh as you try to pin Saint Paul to said donkey blindfolded (Jesus did take his sight away for three days). But while you’re at it, don’t also forget to reflect on the goodness of God’s mercy and the miracles he performed while spreading the faith!

This art print features the icon “Our Lady of the Sign”. The artist in unknown, but it originated in Byzantium and is one of the most revered icons in the Russian Orthodox Church. The icon shows Mary, the Mother of God, with her arms outstretched in an attitude of prayer. In the middle is the Christ Child blessing the world at the moment of his conception.

Throughout his life, even as a child, Saint Martin de Porres could be found giving what he had to those in need. Throughout November collect coins in this box for those in need in your community!

In his Confessions, St. Augustine shares a story from his youth where he and his friends steal pears from a neighbor and then proceed to feed them to the neighborhood pigs, not having been hungry for pears themselves. This pear crisp is a great reminder of how time, good friends, and a whole lotta prayers from mom can help even the most grievous sinner taste the sweet glory of heaven.

St. Kateri is known as the Lily of the Mohawks. She lived in a Mohawk village in what is now western New York state. Three Sisters Soup is a traditional Native American recipe from the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) nation, of which the Mohawks are a part. The term “Three Sisters” refers to the three main crops of some North American tribes: maize (corn), squash, and beans. The three plants were planted close together and like close sisters, aided one another in their respective growing processes. Regular corn can be substituted for hominy, but hominy is more traditional. Serve with corn muffins . . . boiled if you want to be authentic!

All the saint of the day images for the month of July!

Your original 2" calendar medallions for the month of July!!

In France, lobster is served for the feast of saints Anne and Joachim. But because lobster isn’t always an option we love to serve shrimp scampi. It’s shellfish, it’s delicious, and it’s a little bit more manageable than an entire lobster on your plate.

Have the whole family join in on dinner prep tonight as you make a fun meal to remind you that Jesus has real power over death! As you wrap up your hot dog you can talk about how Lazarus died, was put into a tomb, and most importantly how Jesus raised him from the dead.

St. Anthony died at the age of thirty-five after becoming sick with ergotism, the result of long-term exposure to grains (in his case rye) contaminated with a fungus. The condition is sometimes called “St. Anthony’s Fire.” He was canonized less than a year later. As ergotism has been eradicated in the developed world, I like to boldly serve grilled pastrami and provolone sandwiches, on Italian rye bread, for the day.

Your original 2" calendar medallions for the month of June!!

Your calendar medallions for the month of June!

A downloadable calendar to use with your June Medallions!

If you’ve got The Catholic All Year Compendium, you might remember the story of our Advent novena with a Ugandan priest who told the kids a VERY memorable tale about the Christmas Eve slaughtering of cows in Uganda. So we make these Ugandan Kabobs for the feast of Saint Charles Lwanga & Companions and we make them with beef! Kabobs in general are a favorite party food in our home. For a larger party, or for choosier guests, I’ll pre-cook various kabob ingredients and put them out individually to let guests assemble their own skewers. (I keep utensils and pans separate if cooking for guests with food allergies.) Ugandan kabobs are often made with meatballs, but I also like this quicker steak version. The spice traditionally used would be harissa paste, but chipotle or other chili paste, or a dry spice mix can be substituted in the marinade.

In Matthew 17:24–27 we find the story of the miracle known as the “coin in the fish’s mouth.” Jesus tells Peter to go catch a fish in the Sea of Galilee, in which he will find a coin with which he is to pay the temple tax. Galilean tradition tells us that the fish was a tilapia and so tilapia are known there as St. Peter’s Fish. A popular dish in the region is St. Peter’s fish served whole and fried, with chips (that’s fries to Americans). This is the dish I serve on the feast of St. Blaise, as we laugh in the face of dangerous fish bones after getting our throats blessed at Mass. But if you’re not feeling that vibe, this recipe can be prepared with fish filets. The cooking time is the same.

I stood in my kitchen one Friday afternoon, looking at a slightly runny red gelatin heart, decorated with orange segments and pretzel sticks. It was sitting before me, somewhat off-center on its cake plate. It was supposed to be the Sacred Heart of Jesus, but it had looked better in my head. Less oozy. Then, my four year old daughter walked in, took one look at it, and literally gasped in wonder at its beauty. She called the other kids in to see it. They agreed that it was awesome, but could use some whipped cream. So that’s what we did. We put some whipped cream on it. Over dinner, we talked about St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and her visions. We talked about the burning love that Jesus has for each one of us, and the pain that he suffers because of the sin and the ingratitude of mankind. Then we ate the weepy heart. And now my kids can’t imagine a feast of the Sacred Heart without one. That’s what living the liturgical year looks like in our home.

If you didn’t grow up in Southern California like I did, fish tacos might sound a bit unusual. But if you’re okay with fish sticks and tortillas, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Because that’s all it is! This is a fun and portable meal that works great for Friday picnics and beach days and sporting events. It is the perfect complement to St. Thomas s’Mores (get it . . . s’MORES?) on the feast of Ss. John Fisher and Thomas More. To have them on the go, bake the fish sticks and warm the tortillas at home. Wrap them in foil and pack the warm and cool stuff in separate coolers, then assemble at your destination. If you don’t like cilantro, you can substitute parsley or basil.