Saints, Feast, Family
- Traditions passed down with Cooking, Crafting, & Caring -
July 19 or May 8
Saint of the day:
Saint Arsenius the Great
Saint Arsenius the Great's Story
Confessor and hermit on the Nile. Arsenius, who was born in Rome in 354, was the tutor of the children of Emperors Theodosius I the Great, Arcadius, and Honorius. At that time, Arsenius was a Roman deacon recommended for the office by Pope St. Damasus. lie served at Theodosius' court in Constantinople for about ten years and then became a monk in Alexandria, Egypt. Inheriting a fortune from a relative, Arsenius studied with St. John the Dwarf and became a hermit in the desert of Egypt. In 434, he left Skete and went to the rock of Troe, near Memphis, Egypt, and to the island of Canopus near Alexandria. He died at Troe. Arsenius is sometimes called "the Roman" or "the Deacon."
Prayer:
Visit:
Cathedral of St. Catherine, Alexandria, Egypt
Recipe:
Antioxidant-Rich Blueberry Hibiscus Tea!
Karkade or hibiscus tea is a national drink in Egypt, it can be tasted at any coffee shop in any city. In Hurghada tours or Sharm el Sheikh tours, at souvenir shops local salers will offer it you free as a sign of hospitality. It can be served either cold in a hot summer day or hot in a cold winter evening. Depending on the way the drink is prepared it will influence, since it is known that karkade can either raise or lower you blood pressure. The best karkade drink will be of course in Aswan since the plant originates from that area and people there know how to prepare it properly.
Ingredients
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½ cup fresh blueberries plus extra for serving.
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2 tbsp dried hibiscus flowers
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2 cups hot water
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½ lime, sliced
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natural sweetener of choice, to taste
Directions
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Add the blueberries in a large jug.
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Gently mash blueberries with the back of a wooden spoon.
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Add the boiling water and dried hibiscus to the jug and stir to combine.
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Steep for 20 minutes.
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Strain the tea.
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Sweeten to taste with your favorite sweetener.
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Serve over ice with lime slices and extra fresh blueberries.
