A Trio of Sundae Solemnities

When the Church enters Ordinary Time after the feast of Pentecost, our time to celebrate is gratefully not over. The two Sundays following Pentecost are solemnities honoring the Most Holy Trinity, and the Corpus Christi , or Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. (This year, May 30 and June 6). The following Friday (June 11), the Church celebrates the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which our family likes to honor after Mass on the Sunday of that week. I have always wanted to come up with an idea for an ice cream treat, or sundae, to celebrate each of these Sundays as, in my mind, they sort of usher in the beginning of summer. With a little help from a friend, I was able to come up with a trio of sundaes to celebrate these upcoming feasts. I am delighted for the opportunity to share them here at Catholic Cuisine.

For Trinity Sunday:

Three in One Sundaes

• Neopolitan ice cream: The three flavors in one represent the three natures of our one God.
• Chocolate Syrup, Strawberry Topping, and Whipped Cream: These represent each of the three flavors of the ice cream individually, just like the Father, Son and Holy Spirit each manifest one of God's three natures.

For Corpus Christi Sunday:

Bread and Wine a la Mode

• white chocolate bread pudding (recipe follows): to represent the bread
  
• warm blueberry or blackberry syrup (homemade or store bought) in wine glasses: this can be poured over the bread pudding after it is served to represent the wine
  
• coconut ice cream or sherbet: this can be placed on top the bread pudding, and used to surprise your family...what looks like vanilla ice cream is actually something else--a reminder that the bread and wine we receive at Mass appears to be bread and wine, but has actually become the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus

White Chocolate Bread Pudding:

Ingredients:
6 c whipping cream
2c milk
1c sugar
12 oz white chocolate
15 egg yolks
4 whole eggs
Sauce:
1/2 c whipping cream
8 oz white chocolate

Cut or tear 24 in of french bread into chunks. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 275 for ten minutes.

Heat whipping cream, sugar and milk just until bubbling at the edges. Add white chocolate and stir until melted.

Slowly add hot mixture to eggs while whipping steadily.

Place bread into a 9x13 baking dish and pour half of the liqid mixture over bread and press until absorbed. Pour remaining liquid over bread and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 1 hour on 350. Remove foil and bake an additional 30 min until golden brown. Let cool and set for a little while before slicing.

For the Feast of the Sacred Heart:

Heart Aflame Sundaes

• Strawberry ice cream or sherbet (to represent Jesus' heart)
• peach slices arranged like flames on top (I used canned peaches in the photo above, but fresh would give that red edge to make it ever so much more flame like)
  
• chocolate chips or sprinkles across the middle to represent the crown of thorns

I hope you enjoy the chance to step into summer with the Church as we rejoice in the goodness of our God! Blessings to you all.