November 11, 2014

Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes

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Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes

Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes

November 11: Remembrance Day/ Jour du Souvenir (Canada)

Canada, Highlander’s birthplace, and other Commonwealth countries observe Remembrance Day/ Jour du Souvenir on November 11, the same day the U.S.A. honors its war veterans and military personnel. Remembrance Day is their version of America’s Memorial Day. The Remembrance Day symbol is a poppy flower, as mentioned in John McCrae’s poem, “In Flanders Field”. The lieutenant colonel from Canada was moved to write it for a friend’s funeral during World War I.

For a Remembrance Day prayer gathering, we were inspired to use the iconic flower for a delicious dessert—lemon poppy seed cupcakes topped with fondant poppies. It was an appropriate tasty treat to remember the brave ones who sacrificed their lives to protect their countries. God bless their souls!

Recipe

For the fondant poppy flowers

  • Powdered sugar (for dusting the work surface)
  • Red fondant
  • Black tube frosting
  • Poppy seeds

Directions

On a surface that has been dusted with powdered sugar, roll out red fondant to 1/8 inch thick. Cut out poppies using a 5-petal flower cutter. Use the impression/veining tool and press to give texture on each petal. Place the cut fondant poppy on a foam pad and lightly press down the center with the ball tool.

Lemon Poppy See Cupcakes

Place fondant poppies on flower formers and let dry for about 3 hours or overnight. Dot the centers of each poppy with black icing. Sprinkle poppy seeds on the middle, brushing away the excess from the center. Set aside to dry.

Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes

For the cupcakes and frosting

Directions

Prepare the batter for the lemon buttermilk poppy seed cake. Scoop into red cupcake papers. Bake and cool completely on a wire rack.

Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes

Make the lemon buttercream icing (do not tint it yellow). Frost the cupcakes (we used Wilton tip 1M to make the swirls).

Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes

Position a fondant poppy seed flower on the top center. Serve at room temperature.

Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes

Notes

  • Happy Veterans Day to all those who have served and are serving in the military, including Islander’s Daddy (retired U.S. Navy chief). Thank you!
 

November 11, 2011

Crabmeat St. Martin

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Crabmeat St. Martin

Crabmeat St. Martin

November 11: Feast Day of St. Martin of Tours and U.S. Veterans’ Day

What a coincidence that the feast day of St. Martin of Tours falls on Veterans’ Day in America. St. Martin, the patron saint of soldiers, once served in the military like his father, a veteran officer. This fourth-century soldier in the Roman army then became a soldier for Christ. St. Martin made it his mission to help spread the gospel and build the Church. A relic of his military cloak used to be carried into battle by succeeding kings; the military priests who cared for his cloak (cappa Sancti Martini) were called cappelani (translated in French as chapelains, from which the word chaplain is derived).  St. Martin is also the patron saint of the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps.

For the feast day of St. Martin, we combined crabmeat with a creamy sauce to serve with crackers. It is also appropriate to serve ths appetizer at patriotic parties to honor our military members on Veterans’ Day.

Recipe

(Adapted from Cooking with the Saints by Ernst Scheugraf via Chef John Folse and Company)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (8 ounces) crabmeat
  • ¼ cup (½ stick) butter
  • 2 tablespoons onions, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons celery, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons green onions, chopped
  • 1-2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1 ½ cup heavy whipping cream, heated
  • 1 tablespoon white wine
  • ½ tablespoon lemon juice
  • dash Tabasco sauce
  • salt and cayenne pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons red pepper, diced
  • 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

Directions

In a saucepan, melt the butter on low heat. Saute the onions, celery, green onions and garlic until soft but not browned. Mix in the flour. Whisk in the hot cream until slightly thickened.

Crabmeat St. Martin

Let simmer before adding the white wine, lemon juice and Tabasco sauce. Season with salt and cayenne pepper. Stir in the Parmesan cheese.

Crabmeat St. Martin

Add the crabmeat, red pepper and parsley. Stir until well blended. Spoon into ramekins. Serve with crackers.

Crabmeat St. Martin

Notes

  • The island of St. Martin (St-Martin/St Maarten) in the Caribbean was named Isla de San Martín by Christopher Columbus who first sighted it on November 11, 1493.
  • Learn more about the history of Veterans’ Day from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • The Bible has many military metaphors. Soldiers for Christ are mentioned in the New Testament.
  • God bless all our American military men and women today, including Islander’s Daddy (U.S. Navy-Retired), Lisa L. (U.S. Navy-Reserves) and Lisa’s son, Darby F. (U.S. Air Force-Active Duty). Thank you to all our veterans for fighting for our freedoms!