Michelle DiFranco
is a designer and the busy mom of three children.
Culture
Symbolism and soup go hand in hand
In our dining room hangs a framed print of Caravaggio’s “The Calling of St....
The Spice of Life
A few years ago, my husband made a wonderful and exotic chicken dish with the he...
Dove cake for Pentecost
As the Easter season comes to a close, we will commemorate the coming of the Hol...
Piece of cake
The creator of the cynical, yet beloved, orange cartoon cat, Garfield, had a hum...
So what is a hot cross bun?
Ahhh yes, the words of an all-too-familiar recorder tune many of us tortured our...
St. Joseph's Day pasta
But as St. John Paul II said, St. Joseph was more than “a just man and tireless worker.”
The Candlemas Connection
Mark the holiday on Feb. 2 with French Crêpes
German Advent cookies are a labor of love
This fall, my husband and I hosted our first-ever Oktoberfest gathering, which i...
Discovering the cross with sweet-smelling basil
Both the sign of the cross and this sweet-smelling herb help us uncover the true cross of Christ
Blessed Fruit on the Feast of the Assumption
The ancient blessing on the Feast of the Assumption reminds us to pause and be grateful
Take ‘heart’ in knowing Jesus loves you
Strawberries and Prayer help you share the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus with your family this June
A dessert fit for a May crowning
A daughter's spontaneous May crowning is a reminder of Mary's beauty and the beginning of a tasty tradition
We can’t live on bread alone … but try this bruschetta
A batch of Tuscan bruschetta with tomatoes celebrates St. Catherine of Siena
A Wrinkle in Time
What was the best thing about playing the part of Meg?
What part of her chara...
There are shortcuts in cooking, but not in faith
On the weekends my kids usually request waffles for breakfast. Not the easy ones...
Creating an appetite for faith
We recently hosted dinner for two of our parish priests, and in the minutes befo...
A recipe leads to Fatima
A short time ago, I met up with a couple of friends for coffee at a small café, ...
Easter lessons for kids
My daughter once asked me, “Mom, what is the best thing that’s ever happened to ...
Fishing for answers
My child asks me if lobster are fish. I say no, they are crustaceans.
He asks...
Enjoy authentic paczki before observing Lent
A year ago, on the eve of Fat Tuesday, I came across a table full of assorted bo...
Anticipating the birth of Jesus with a Jesse tree
A few years ago, I remember going through my 7-year-old son’s backpack and findi...
Giving thanks for the present
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself (Mt 6:34)
Hmm...
Slow-cooker chili to break a fast
More than ever, there is a great need for healing in our world. So much so that ...
Michaelmas blackberry crisp
In Ireland and the UK, since the Middle Ages, tradition and folklore have surrou...
Celebrating a selfless Polish priest
“No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn 15...