Upon the vacancy of the throne of Saint Peter most members of the Roman Curia also temporarily lose their offices (technically more like a furlough) except, in virtue of the overriding pastoral care of Christ’s flock and the precious patrimony of the Church, the Cardinal Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, the Cardinal Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, the Cardinal Vicar for Vatican City State, the Cardinal Major Penitentiary, and last but not least the Cardinal-in pecctore of the Secretly Clandestine Sacred Congregation of Indulgent Indulgences! So therefore…..
In light of the high regard in which we hold the Lithuanian and Polish nations and consequent diaspora, a modest modifying mitigation of the the Lenten discipline is granted the esteemed readership of these e-pistles upon the fourth day of March, feast day of the pious prince Kazimierz to pleasantly partake of generous helpings of piquant kielbasa.
Additionally all are encouraged to attend a Kaziuko muge, a traditional motley street fair that includes mostly hand made goods from local craftsmen, such as apparel, knitted clothes, footwear, toys, utensils, metal craftings, souvenirs, paintings, as well as foodstuffs, mainly rye bread, bagels, honey cookies, meat and diary products, natural honey, beer and kvas (a fermented beverage made from black or regular rye bread). “Palm” bouquets (called “verbos” from Verbų sekmadienis) are one of the fair’s specialties. Made of colourful dried flowers and herbs, they are taken to churches on Palm Sunday. The shape of the “palms” resembles a lily, which symbolize the virginity, innocence, and purity of St. Casimir. Another typical product of the fair is called “muginukas”, an often heart-shaped honey cookie, decorated with colored sugar flowers, zig-zags, dots and birds. Popular men’s and women’s names are written on the cookies which people buy and give to selected loved ones. But since a short side trip to Vilnius is probably out of the question for most and the precious church on Broome Street near Varick that was built in 1909 by an enclave of Lithuanian longshoremen and their families (who lived in the area in one family homes before the construction of the Holland Tunnel unfortunately uprooted them) has since been canonically closed we simply share a reliable recipe for the scrumptious muginukas:
1 cup honey
3 eggs
3 tbsps. sugar
3 tbsp. cream
4 oz. butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups flour
Cream eggs with sugar, pour in honey, melted (cooled) butter, spices and cream. Blend well. Mix the flour with baking soda and the baking powder, stir into the other ingredients. Knead dough until it does not stick to hands anymore. Cover and refrigerate about half hour. Roll out on floured surface; cut out hearts with a cookie cutter or make your own pattern (especially if you want to make big hearts). Bake at 350 until golden brown (about 10-15 min.). Decorate after the cookie cools completely.
Then discharge the divine duty to devoutly devour the delightful delicacy!
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