The Catholic Foodie

I must confess that Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year. That might sound strange to you, since I'm the Catholic Foodie. But Halloween is a Catholic feast day and celebration. Not only is All Hallow's Eve the vigil of the Solemnity of All Saints, it also kicks off a month dedicated by the Church to remembering and praying for the dead. Perfect time of the year for it… Fall… as we prepare to enter the death of winter. For me Halloween carries with it so many memories from my childhood and adolescence. Good memories. I have Halloween and all the spooky otherworldly trappings that surround it to thank for instilling in me a deep understanding that there is something more to life than meets the eye. There is a mystery just beyond the veil of visible life. And this time of the year the veil seems to thin between the visible and invisible.  So, see, not strange at all, right? Or is it?  Today, on Halloween, I bring you a special Halloween edition of The Catholic Foodie Show. So get ready. Turn on the lights and grab your rosary and holy water if you scare easily, and join me along with a couple of Sick Pilgrims – or perhaps today we should say Stranger Pilgrims – as we dive into the Catholic weirdness of Halloween.  Jessica Mesman Griffith and Jonathan Ryan of Sick Pilgrim blog join me today for this special Halloween edition of The Catholic Foodie Show! Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

Dr. Gregory Bottaro of the Catholic Psych Institute joins me today to talk about Catholic Mindfulness and a new introduction course that he has available at CatholicMindfulness.com. The full course title is Introduction to Catholic Mindfulness: Learn how to get control of your mind by trusting God, letting go, and tuning in. I'm taking the course right now, and I am finding it immensely helpful! Do you find yourself frequently frazzled, anxious, worried? Do you try to trust in God but feel like you fail on a regular basis? Then this new Catholic Mindfulness course might just be for you. Listen to the Show Listen in to my conversation with Dr. Gregory Bottaro of the Catholic Psych Institute as he tells us what exactly Catholic Mindfulness is and more about the course that he has available. Full show notes can be found at CatholicFoodie.com.

Jessica Griffith and Jonathan Ryan are pilgrims. Sick pilgrims, to be exact. And they are on a mission to remind us all that we are pilgrims here on earth. A major part of their mission is to equip and rally together what they call servant artists, artists who draw back the veil of the Mystery through their work, which they perform in the service of the world. Jessica and Jonathan join me around the table today to talk about Sick Pilgrim, Catholic Weird, Mystery and sacrament, October and ghost stories, and, of course, servant artists. This show in particular brought me great joy. I'm delighted to have had the opportunity to hang out with Jessica and Jonathan, and I hope we can do it again soon. [Hint. Hint.] Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

Exciting show today on location at Cavan restaurant on Magazine Street in New Orleans. Joining me around the table are two lovely ladies: Caitlin Watzke from Louisiana Cookin' Magazine and Chef Ruby Bloch from Cavan, Meauxbar, and Sylvain in New Orleans. Chef Ruby is one of the six Chefs to Watch this year. In 2002, Louisiana Cookin' introduced Chefs to Watch as a way of recognizing talented up-and-coming chefs from restaurants throughout the state who show passion for traditions while delivering fresh, new concepts. This year's event is the 15th installment, and it will be hosted by Marché in the French Quarter. Caitlin talks about Louisiana Cookin' Magazine and this year's 15th Annual Chefs to Watch event: a special six-course dinner on October 20, 2016 at 6:00 PM at Marché in the French Quarter. The courses will be prepared by this year's six Chefs to Watch, including Chef Ruby Bloch who will be serving a Sweet Potato Spice Cake.  Chef Ruby talks food, cooking, creativity and inspiration with us today. And you might even hear a thing or two about desserts. ;-) She shares a bit of her story with us, and tells us how a New Jersey girl fell in love with the city and people of New Orleans.  Listen to the show for all the details. Full show notes can be found at CatholicFoodie.com. 

On The Catholic Foodie Show today we talk fall festivals in and around New Orleans (including the inaugural Fried Chicken Festival!) and the first-ever Olive Mass to celebrate food and bless the hands that make it. Fr. Leo Patalinghug (of Grace Before Meals) drops in to talk about the Olive Mass and the work of The Table Foundation. Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

On today's The Catholic Foodie Show... it's #TacoTuesday! We talk tacos and I give you recipe for fish tacos (and I tell you about the first time that I ever tried a fish taco!). I also share with you a reflection on St. Martha who was a dear, dear friend of Jesus. Her feast day was last Friday, but she is going to encourage us today in our own friendship with Jesus and in our efforts to our best in our daily lives without losing our minds. All this and more right here on The Catholic Foodie Show... where food meets faith!

In this episode of The Catholic Foodie Show I announce the new daily show themes, and I explain what exactly I mean by Wash Day Wonders. I share my recipe for the New Orleans classic dish of Red Beans and Rice, give a shout out to my newly-minted Eagle Scout son Christopher, and reflect briefly on the amazing love that Jesus has for St. Martha. All this and more on The Catholic Foodie Show! Full Show notes available at http://CatholicFoodie.com.

On the show today: Beach food and summer vacations... including the need daily to carve out time for rest and relaxation. Trust in God, a "sound-seeing" trip to Joe Patti's Seafood, and beach recipes for Jalapeno Poppers and Boiled Shrimp also on the show. A Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there! Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

Heather King – author of Parched, Redeemed, Stripped, Stumble, Shirt of Flame, and Poor Baby – joins me on The Catholic Foodie Show today to talk about her latest book Loaded: Money and the Spirituality of Enough. Whether rich or poor, most of walk through our days wounded in the area of money and finances. We fear money. We fear not having enough money. We fear what would happen if we had too much money. We fear what people would think of us if they knew how much money we make and what we spend our money on. The way that we see and use money intimately affects the people in our lives. Most books about money are written to help you make more money. But what if more money isn't the answer? What if the real source of our fear is our relationship with money? In Loaded: Money and the Spirituality of Enough, Heather King shares her own story of recovery around money. In doing so, she opens a door of opportunity for us... an opportunity to examine our own relationship to money and to open that relationship up to healing by our loving God.  "So, as you've now assuredly figured out, unlike so many money books, mine is not about how to make more and consume more. It's about how to detach from the idea that our identity could possibly lie in how much or how little money we make or have. It's about discovering that money is a means of love and service. It's about learning that the real economy is “As you give, so shall you receive.” We get to follow the deepest desires of our heart. The money will come. And we'll want to share it. "That hasn't happened for me by praying a whole bunch of rosaries, holing up in my room, and hoping for the best. The solution for me and many people I know has involved clarity around numbers—how much we spend, how much we earn. It has been clarity around how we spend our time. And it's been community—meaning friends, a realistic acceptance of the fact that we're not going to change overnight, and laughs."

Katie Sciba from TheCatholicWife.net joins me today to talk about how Jesus is right here with us in the midst of the pot, pans, and anxiety. Jesus does not shun the grime and grit of our lives, of our hearts. Listen as Katie shares her story of finding God – of being found by God – in the midst of the ups and downs of family life. Full show notes can be found at CatholicFoodie.com.

Pope Francis' letter Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), love and hospitality in the family, and Robin Davis' book Recipe for Joy… all this and more on The Catholic Foodie Show! Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

The French Quarter Festival, known as the “largest free festival in the South,” is this weekend in New Orleans. Leading tourism officials call it the “kickoff to the festival season in New Orleans,” and it is referred to by many as the “World's largest Jazz Brunch.” WHAT IS THE FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL? The French Quarter Festival is four days of live performances by local musicians that draws people from all over the world. On twenty-one of its twenty-two stages, only Louisiana musicians are featured. One stage is reserved as an “international stage” where traditional jazz bands from all over the world perform. This year the 33rd French Quarter Festival will feature more that 400 hours of live music and welcome more than 1700 local musicians to its stages. In addition to traditional jazz, attendees will also be treated to contemporary jazz, Cajun-Zydeco, world, brass band, blues, rock, and pop from some of New Orleans' most well-known musicians. And accompanying the music, over 60 New Orleans restaurants will serve both classic and creative New Orleans food.  Listen to the show to hear more on the food, the music, and the event known as “the world's largest Jazz Brunch!” Full show notes can be found at CatholicFoodie.com.

Have you ever noticed that sometimes it seems like everything in life conspires against us when we desire to draw closer to God? Dr. Paul Thigpen joins us today to share some hope and encouragement from the saints. Author of Saints Who Battled Satan, Dr. Paul Thigpen understands that just as the New Testament states, in our Christian journey we daily encounter three obstacles: the world, the flesh and the devil. With love and gentleness, Dr. Paul engages us with stories from the lives of seventeen saints... practical wisdom that can help me and you to draw closer to God no matter the struggles we encounter in our daily lives. I received a review copy of Saints Who Battled Satan. When I saw the title, I first thought of The Exorcist movie and stories of extraordinary encounters with evil… the kind of stories that make me feel uncomfortable to be alone at night. Well, happily, I can say that this book is so much more that than. I don't know about you, but I have never encountered a demon in real life. But you know what I have encountered? What I do encounter every day of my life? Temptation. Saints Who Battled Satan is full of stories of saints who battled and overcame Satan in very real, practical ways. Not just extraordinary, sensationalized stories, but overcoming temptations in the nitty-gritty parts of life. This is a book I can use. A book that gives me hope and encouragement in my own journey with God. Full show notes can be found at CatholicFoodie.com.

Lent, the Jennifer Fulwiler Show, talking food and faith at Mater Dei High School, and visiting with friends old and new at the L.A. Religious Education Congress in Anaheim.Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

On the show… join me in New Orleans for the Thoth parade for an on-the-street experience of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. We talk Lundi Gras (Fat Monday) and Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). Peek behind the scenes of how the Mardi Gras floats are made, and find out what you absolutely need to know to parade like a New Orleanian at Mardi Gras! It's a family event. Listen in to find out more.  Full show notes at CatholicFoodie.com.

Tami Kiser, organizer of the Catholic Conference for Moms, joins me on The Catholic Foodie Show today with a message of hope and encouragement for moms this Lent. Not only does she make this conference available for a steal, but she also makes it imminently accessible. You can access it any time of the day or night, and you can even download MP3 versions of the presentations so you can listen on the go. Listen to hear more about this exciting conference... And don't forget to use your coupon code (FOODIE) for a generous discount! Register now at CatholicConference4Moms.com. Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

Dr. Brant Pitre joins me today on The Catholic Foodie Show to discuss his new book (to be released February 2, 2016) entitled The Case for Jesus: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ. In The Case for Jesus, Dr. Brant Pitre, bestselling author of Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist, taps into the wells of Christian scripture, history, and tradition to ask and answer a number of questions about the origins and validity of the Gospels as well as one big question: Did Jesus of Nazareth claim to be God? Though a seminary professor of Sacred Scripture, Dr. Brant Pitre is also a husband and father of five, and this book is written in plain language that everyone can understand. With his signature enthusiasm and with a deep love for both Jesus and the reader, Dr. Pitre offers compelling reasons for concluding that the four Gospels are first-century biographies of Jesus, written within the lifetime of the apostles and based directly on eyewitness testimony.  Buckle your seatbelt and get ready for an exciting ride to answer the question of a lifetime asked by Jesus, “And you, who do you say that I am?” Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

On the show today… Nero Wolfe and food, a recipe for a 72 hour pizza dough from my friends at BakingSteel.com, and a new self-help group called the Husbands of Instagram. You won't want to miss this one… it's full of laughs, fun, and culinary inspiration. It's The Catholic Foodie Show… where food meets faith! Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

On the show today… reality TV, a gumbo-cooking priest, and we talk food and faith with Miss Kay Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame. All this and more on The Catholic Foodie Show… where food meets faith! Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

On the show today… still no King Cake in the Young household. Well… I haven't made a King Cake, but I have eaten 3 slices from 3 different King Cakes so far. And, no, I did not get the baby. We are talking about why we love to read about food today as I share with you a wonderful article by Christie Purifoy at GraceTable.org. Listener feedback, married couples who are chefs and restaurant owners, Nero Wolfe, and more on The Catholic Foodie Show… where food meets faith! Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.  ***Featured image used courtesy of Yummy-Books.com and can be found here: http://yummy-books.com/2012/07/24/tea-with-mr-tumnus/***

On the show today… Why Ordinary Time might be a misnomer, Dr. Brant Pitre clues us in on what to expect in Ordinary Time, and Pope Francis and Eric Neubauer remind us of the importance of our Baptisms and why we might want to know the dates and celebrate it each year… kinda like a birthday. Also on the show, I talk about the movie Julie & Julia and dig into the first have of Chef Alon Shaya's top 15 “must-try” restaurants in New Orleans. All this and more on The Catholic Foodie Show… where food meets faith! Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

On the show today: a new special bakery doing good work in Bethlehem, Ordinary Time, confession and the Year of Mercy. I also share with you my secret weapon that makes every Monday a happy Monday for me. All this and more on The Catholic Foodie Show... where food meets faith. Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

On the show today... It's still Christmas! The Christmas Season… post by Danielle Bean and video by Fr. Josh Johnson King Cake Making Redoux… with King Cake fun facts, and a cooking lesson from Chef Emeril Lagasse Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

On the show today... King Cakes, Mardi Gras and the Epiphany... including the history of the King Cake, King Cake traditions, the Epiphany and how God meets us in the ordinariness of daily life AND does something extraordinary in us... AND my recipe to make a King Cake right in your very own kitchen. All this and more on The Catholic Foodie Show! Listen now!  Full show notes are available at CatholicFoodie.com!

More resolutions, why I'm resolving to “give up” this year, and talk about Alon Shaya and his award-winning Israeli restaurant on Magazine Street: Shaya. All this and more on The Catholic Foodie Show today! Full show notes at CatholicFoodie.com. Listen below!

Happy New Year!  I put together an exciting show for you today. It's a new year and we talked New Year Resolutions and the feast of the Epiphany… AND, for all you perhaps newly health-conscious folks, I even shared a healthy recipe with you today: my Lebanese Lentil and Spinach Soup.  But first… I tackled the elephant in the room. You see it, right? You know the one I'm talking about, right? The big Epiphany elephant? No? Well, let me explain...  The Church in the United States celebrated the feast of the Epiphany yesterday, January 3rd. But traditionally the feast is celebrated on January 6. You know, the 12 Days of Christmas and all. [This might be the topic of tomorrow's show, by the way. I'm thinking of calling it Moveable Feasts.] But for now, I'll just point out the fact that the Church allows national bishop conferences to move certain feast days from their traditional dates to the closest Sunday so that more of the faithful can participate in the celebrations. Personally, I'm not a big fan of this. Truth be told, I'm really more of a liturgical purist… and a historical purist. I like keeping the how and the why of things intact. But you can hear more about that by listening to the show. ;-)

Today's show features meditations on the meaning of Advent and how your family can enter more deeply into this holy season. I also share with you some stories about Our Lady of Guadalupe... including a recipe to celebrate the feast day. Full show notes are available at CatholicFoodie.com.

I'm joined by my friend Colleen Mitchell of St. Bryce Missions today. We talk about the missionary work that Colleen does together with her husband Greg and their five sons. And we'll be talking about this missionary work within the context of the call to hospitality. God might not be calling me and you to live a missionary's life with our families in Costa Rica or Tanzania, but God does call us to welcome him present in those we meet in our daily lives. Whether it's our spouse, our children or their friends, co-workers, or the guy or gal standing next to us in the grocery line, God is present and calls us to encounter Him with open hearts and open hands. Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

I have wanted to have Donna-Marie join me here on The Catholic Foodie Show for quite a while, and the recent release of her new book provided the perfect opportunity. The Kiss of Jesus is the name of the book, published by Ignatius Press. In The Kiss of Jesus, Donna-Marie tell her story, the good and the bad. She doesn't shy away from the dark corners. She tells her story because she knows that so many of us are suffering. We are hurting and we are trying to make sense of it all. We are trying to find God in the midst of it. Donna-Marie understand the power of stories, and she shares hers knowing that doing so might just give hope to you and to me. Listen now to our conversation. Full show notes are available at CatholicFoodie.com.

Chris Faddis of Bene Plates (beneplates.com) joins me today on The Catholic Foodie Show to talk about how Bene Plates "provides high quality, great tasting, nourishing meals for [their] chronically ill clients to help sustain them during their disease." Bene Plates prepares "craveable," clean (non-toxic), micronutrient rich meals weekly and delivers directly to their customers' homes. Chis shares the story behind this endeavor and the importance of nutritious and delicious meals for the both the chronically ill and the walking well. Full show notes and links can be found at CatholicFoodie.com.

Marie Bellet joins me on The Catholic Foodie Show today. Singer, songwriter, mother of 9, a woman of deep faith, Marie shares her experiences with me on the importance of family meals. Pour a cup of coffee or tea and join us around the table for a delightful conversation that is sure to inspire you in your own family life. Full show notes are available at CatholicFoodie.com.

Chef Frank Brigtsen joins me on The Catholic Foodie Show today to talk about his New Orleans restaurant, Brigtsen's, which is celebrating 29 years in business this year, and the instrumental influence of his friend and mentor Chef Paul Prudhomme. Listen as Chef Frank shares some of his personal reflections on the life and good work of Chef Paul Prudhomme. Full show notes – and links to the restaurants and some recipes – can be found at CatholicFoodie.com.

Daniel Schumacher, editor-in-chief of Louisiana Cookin' magazine, joins me on The Catholic Foodie Show today to discuss Louisiana Cookin' magazine and the release of its first cookbook, Louisiana de Mer. Also on the show, Daniel gives us an inside peek at the Louisiana Chefs to Watch event taking place on Monday, October 19. Be sure to listen for a chance to win a free copy of Louisiana de Mer! Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

Erin Franco of HumbleHandmaid.com joins me on The Catholic Foodie Show today to talk about faith, marriage, family, family dinner, and Domestic Church. We also marvel at the grace of God that touches hearts through "charitable vulnerability." I'm thrilled to share this conversation with you. You can find the full show notes at CatholicFoodie.com.

Ever wondered how you can become more happier? What you can do to increase your joy, gratitude, and contentment? Dr. Christopher Kaczor, author of The Gospel of Happiness, joins me on The Catholic Foodie Show today to share with us key insights to how practicing our faith can make us happier. Listen in and enjoy! Full show notes can be found at CatholicFoodie.com.

On The Catholic Foodie Show today: Pope Francis, the Family, and Wasting Time. What was it like to cook for – and serve a meal to – Pope Francis? We'll find out today! Also, we cover some of the Pope's comments on the family, and I share a recipe for Cajun Macaroni and Cheese! You won't want to miss this! Full show notes at CatholicFoodie.com.

On the show today... Pope Francis is coming to the United States! We talk about the importance of this visit and the upcoming Year of Mercy. I also share with you 10 must-try foods from Argentina and ask YOU a question... If Pope Francis came to your house, what would you cook for him? Call me at 985-635-4974 and give me your answer and I'll be sure to play it on the show! Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com. #PopeintheUS

Catholic speaker and author Gary Zimak joins me on The Catholic Foodie Show to talk about the answer to anxiety. Does anxiety have you by the throat? Are you worried or fearful about global crises... or even about "normal" things like paying the bills and putting food on the table? If so, listen in to The Catholic Foodie Show today as Catholic speaker and author Gary Zimak joins me to discuss the answer to anxiety. Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.

What exactly is skim milk? That, Alton Brown & Shrimp Bisque on The Catholic Foodie Show today. Full show notes can be found by clicking here: CatholicFoodie.com.

Food Network began airing Good Eats back in July of 1999. That was 16 years ago! Since then, Alton Brown has produced 249 episodes over 14 seasons. In 2011 we said goodbye to one of my favorite cooking shows: Alton Brown's Good Eats. Today we reach back into the archives of The Catholic Foodie podcast to listen to my tribute to the fun and quirky Good Eats. Full show notes can be found by clicking here: http://catholicfoodie.com.

Back-to-School #Recipe Ideas on the show today... including what to do with all those fresh summer tomatoes, how to pickle summer veggies, and several fun and new seasoning options for grilled or roasted chicken. All easy-peasy recipes to help feed your family healthy and delicious food during the busy back-to-school transition. Full show notes and recipes available by clicking here: CatholicFoodie.com.

On today's show we continue our conversation about the readings from Sunday's Mass – Jesus' Bread of Life discourse from John, Chapter 6 – and I share with you suggestions on how to make your grocery dollars stretch. You can save money by regrowing your vegetables... in water! That's right. Lettuces, green onions, cabbages and more can be regrown in containers of water in your kitchen. Full show notes are available by clicking here: http//CatholicFoodie.com.

Bread from Heaven and French Baguettes… Today on The Catholic Foodie Show we talk about the readings from yesterday's Mass and what they could mean for me and you. We also talk French Baguettes with a recipe from my friend Craig Poirier. Full show notes, including the recipe, are available by clicking here: CatholicFoodie.com.

PART 2 - Sunday's Mass readings were all about feeding and being fed. From Elisha's multiplying food and feeding 100 people in the Second Book of Kings to Jesus feeding the 5000 in the Gospel of John, we are reminded – as the Responsorial Psalm tells us – that "the hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs."  Full show notes can be found at CatholicFoodie.com.

Sunday's Mass readings were all about feeding and being fed. From Elisha's multiplying food and feeding 100 people in the Second Book of Kings to Jesus feeding the 5000 in the Gospel of John, we are reminded – as the Responsorial Psalm tells us – that "the hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs." Full show notes can be found at CatholicFoodie.com.

Feedback from Angela Sealana, the conclusion of my interview with Baking Steel founder and creator Andris Lagsdin, plus pizza topping combination suggestions! Listen to the show for all the details. Full show notes can be found by clicking here: CatholicFoodie.com.

St. Bonaventure, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Jesus, reviews and blog posts about The Catholic Foodie, AND money-saving tips for summer eats. All this and more on The Catholic Foodie Show today! Full show notes available by clicking here: CatholicFoodie.com.

Technical difficulties, Monday morning foggy-headedness, and simply having too many things on my plate, make this one of the most challenging shows that I have done. Still, I think that the love of God and the goodness of pizza still shine through.  The second half of the show contains excerpts from an interview I did a couple of years ago with my friend Andris Lagsdin, the founder and creator of the Baking Steel. Lots of good info – and good stories – here, folks, for those of you who love to eat good pizza, and for those who like to make good pizzas at home. Full show notes can be found by clicking here: CatholicFoodie.com.

I share some of my culinary catastrophes on the show today... at least when it comes to grilling. More talk of early culinary mentors, and I share a my recipe for Lebanese Stuffed Squash, also known as Kousa Mahshi. Full show notes are available by clicking here: CatholicFoodie.com.

Hot on the heels of my interview on Catholicism Live! last night we tackle the questions of gluttony, fasting and abstaining from meat on Fridays throughout the year on today's show. I also supply you with resources for your life of faith and your kitchen counter. Listen in! Full show notes are available by clicking here: CatholicFoodie.com.

What's your favorite "funky food?" You know, weird food combinations... Bananas and peanut butter, or as a friend of mine shared... anchovy paste on grapefruit! Got a funky food combination that you like? We're talking all about it today on The Catholic Foodie Show! Listen in! Full show notes available at CatholicFoodie.com.