Remembering Leon's Kings on Kings' Day

Every January 6th (Epiphany), the festival of the The Three Wise Men, or Three Kings, is celebrated in the Basilica of San Isidoro with a high mass and responsal remembering the Kings of León, many whose remains are resting in the Kings' Pantheon. Enrique, together with the other members of The Very Illustrious, Royal and Imperial Brotherhood of the Miraculous Banner of Saint Isidoro, organize this mass every year led by the Bishop of León and sung by the Isidoriana Choir.

Cada 6 de enero (Epifanía), festividad de los Reyes Magos, se celebra misa solemne y responso por los reyes de León en la Basilica de San Isidoro, en cuyo Panteón de Reyes descansan los restos de muchos de ellos. Enrique, junto con los otros miembros de La Muy Ilustre, Real e Imperial Cofradía del Milagroso Pendón de San Isidoro organiza, como cada año, esta misa presidida por el Obispo de León y cantada por la Coral Isidoriana.

The brotherhood was founded by Emperor Alfonso VII of León the year 1147, (the only crowned emperor in the history of the Iberian Peninsula). It is the oldest brotherhood still in existence today in its native land. I never knew about brotherhoods until coming to Spain. They were the imaginary stuff of films like National Treasure. There's not even a good translation for the word, Cofradría. So, I didn't realise the historical significance, the rich beauty of hundreds of years of culture and tradition. There are no words to express how this is a most singular experience.

La "Muy Ilustre, Real e Imperial Cofradía del Milagroso Pendón de San Isidoro",  fue fundada en el año 1147 por Alfonso VII de León, el Emperador, (único emperador coronado en toda la historia de la península).  Es la Cofradía más antigua de las existentes en la actualidad en todo el territorio español. Nunca sabía de cofradías antes de venir a España. Eran como fantasías de película, como National Treasure. Ni siquiera existe una buena traducción para la palabra "cofradía."  Por eso, no entendía el significado histórico y la rica belleza de cientos de años de cultura y tradición. Me faltan palabras expresar que, desde luego, esta es una experiencia única.

San Wich

Con tantos santos que no se nos olvide San Wich (Sandwich).
With so many saints we can't forget Saint (San) dWich.

The King's Cake

Preparing for Epiphany, Three Kings Day, el Roscón de Reyes; Three Kings Day in Spain.

Confitería La Flor y Nata

La Flor y Nata - Creators of Astorga's Famous Merles

Noel

Love incarnate, Love divine
Star and Angels gave the sign
Bow to babe on bended knee
The Savior of humanity
Unto us a child is born

He shall reign forevermore
Noel, Noel
Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel

The story of amazing love
The light of the world
Given for us, Noel

Son of God and Son of Man
There before the world began
Born to suffer, born to save
Born to raise us from the grave
Christ the everlasting Lord

He shall reign forevermore
Noel, Noel
Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel

The story of amazing love
The light of the world
Given for us, Noel
Noel, Noel
Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel

The story of amazing love
The light of the world
Given for us, Noel

Tarta de Calabaza

Este año ha sido Chef Enrique quien ha hecho las tartas de calabaza. Y se ha desenvuelto tan bien en la labor que hasta me han pedido a mí su receta repetidamente, como si fuera la suya y no la mía ¡Enhorabuena, Enrique!

This year Chef Enrique made the pumpkin pies. And he's done such a great job that I'm being asked his recipe, as if it were his and not mine.
Congratulations, Enrique!

Para 2 Tartas de Calabaza
330 gramos de azúcar
2 cucharadas de café de canela
1 cucharada de café de sal
1 cucharada de café de gengibre molido
1/4 cucharada de café de clavos molidos
1/4 cucharada de café de nuez moscada
4 huevos
1 litro de calabaza cocida o asada, sin piel y después de pasarla por la batidora
680 gramos de leche evaporada

Dos bases de esta Masa Quebrada

Añade las especias a la calabaza en un bowl grande. Agrega los huevos batidos y la leche evaporada. Mezcla bien. Viértelo todo en las bases. Protege los laterales con papel de aluminio para no se quemen. Hornea en el horno precalentado a 200ºC durante 15 minutos. Después, baja la temperatura a 170º por 40-50 minutos más o hasta salga limpio un palito de madera. Las decoraciones se ponen en los últimos 15 minutos.
Servir después de dejarlas enfriar al menos 2 horas, o guárdalas en el frigorífico para más tarde.
Deliciosas con helado de vanilla o con nata montada.

For 2 Pumpkin Pies
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp.salt
1 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
4 eggs
4 cups cooked pumpkin
2 cans evaporated milk

2 pie shells with this Crust

Add spices to the pumpkin in a large bowl.  Beat and add the eggs and the milk. Mix well and pour into the pie shells. Cover the sides of the pie shells with foil so they don;t burn. Bake in a pre-heated overn at 425º for 15 minutes. Then, lower the heat to 350º for another 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 2 hours before serving, or refrigerate to serve later.
Delicious with vanilla ice-cream or whipped cream.

También-
One Pumpkin, so Much Joy

Green Tomato Jam

Enrique began with the recipe above and made his own version below:
Se lavan los tomates, quitando lo malo y se los pican en lonchas finas en un cacharro.
Se mezcla con el zumo de 1 limón y medio, y la ralladura del limón.
Añade medio palo de canela y medio kilo de  azúcar. Se deja así toda la noche.
Al día siguiente se pone a cocer a fuego suave varias horas hasta que esté blando. 
Para finalizar se mete la batidora un instante, nada más. 
Se mete en los tarros limpios y disfruta!

You wash the tomatoes, removing any bad parts and you cut them into fine strips into a medium-sized saucepan.
Then you mix them with 1 1/2 lemons, grating and including the lemon skin (zest.)
Add half a stick of cinnamon and two cups of sugar. Leave to sit overnight.
The next day, cook over low heat a few hours until tomato mixture is soft.
To finish you stir only one moment with the hand mixer.
Place into clean jars and enjoy!

Twenty-One

Everything I wrote about Ryan on his 19th birthday is still so true today. Sometimes all I can do is marvel at how fast life flies past and how wonderful this son of mine is!

One day it looks like this.

And the next day it's like this!

Can't wait to give you your birthday hug in person! Just a little longer. Close my eyes and you'll be here! What a blessed mom I am.