Cook and Bake Ministry

Knowing that we enter all ministry work as Jesus’ hands, we pray… “Lord of all pots, pans and things, since I’ve no time to be a great saint by doing lovely things, or watching late with Thee, or dreaming in the dawn light, or storming heaven’s gates, make me a saint by getting meals, and washing up the plates.” “Warm all the kitchen with Thy Love, and light it with Thy Peace; forgive me all my worrying, and make my grumbling cease.”“Thou who didst love to give men food, in room, or by the sea, accept the service that I do – I do it unto Thee." - Klara Munkres

See below for our favorite holiday recipes!

Cranberry Christmas Cake
Submitted by Crystal Dietrich

• 3 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour * see note below for gluten-free alternative
• 12 oz fresh cranberries

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With a mixer, beat the eggs with the sugar until slightly thickened and light in color, about 5-7 minutes. The mixture should almost double in size. The eggs work as your leavening agent in this recipe, so do not skip this step. This mixture should form a ribbon when you lift the beaters out of the bowl.
• Add the butter and vanilla; mix two more minutes. Stir in the flour until just combined. Add the cranberries and stir to mix throughout.
• Spread in a buttered 9×13 pan.  Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until very lightly browned and a toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean. 
• Let cool completely before cutting into small slices. I cut mine into fairly small pieces, about 1"x2", so that they could be easily eaten at a party. Enjoy!

Southwestern Cranberry Sauce
Submitted by Rhetta Phillips

Those of us born and raised in South Texas,  seem to have a need to spice up everything. Here is a super easy recipe to bring a little heat to your turkey or pork roast. Also makes a tasty appetizer served over cream cheese with crackers. 

• 1 can wholeberry cranberry sauce 
• 1/2 white onion, finely chopped 
• 1 jalapeno, finely chopped 
• 1 lime, squeezed 
• 3 T cilantro, chopped

• Mix all ingredients, let sit for a little while for the flavors to blend. ENJOY!

Microwave Pralines
Submitted by Nickie Moncada

• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 pound light brown sugar
• 2 cups pecan halves
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• Whisk sugar and cream together in a microwave safe ceramic bowl.
• Microwave uncovered on high for 13 minutes.
• Remove from microwave and quickly mix in the pecans, butter and vanilla.
• Drop by teaspoonfuls on wax paper with newspaper underneath.

(It's a little tricky, like you have to play with the microwave time and such, but when you get it - MMMMMM!) Hope you enjoy!

The Cook and Bake Ministry began in 2003 in response to an appeal from the volunteer services director at Safe Place as they were looking for groups who might be interested in providing a meal for the clients who participate in their 16 week LifeSkills training program. Currently, we provide all the meals during the school year for Wednesday meetings. We continue to provide this service to these clients who are working to get out of abusive relationships. 
 
In 2004, the ministry expanded its scope of service to provide meals and refreshments for various parish and community events. In addition to Safe Place, our ministry regularly bakes home baked cookies that are provided for sack lunches that are distributed at the ARCH (Austin Resources Center for the Homeless).

We recently began cooking for our priests on a weekly basis as we recognized their very busy schedules were not allowing them time to cook for themselves, let alone go grocery shopping. This has been a favorite new addition to the members of our ministry.
 
One of the conveniences of this ministry is that it is an email based group. There aren't weekly meetings or monthly meetings, all correspondence is done via email.

Crystal Dietrich
cookbake@st-ignatius.org