A Rose from Aunt Mary’s garden that graced the podium in Church

    
     Last weekend, those privileged to be part of Aunt Mary’s heritage packed the center aisle of the church in which Hubby’s aunt had been involved for more than 30 years. Bound closely together by her love, we all processed down the aisle where her footsteps had entered every morning for daily Mass. Her children, 5 still living, and their spouses led the honor walk to the front of the church. Grandchildren and great grandchildren stepped respectfully and filled the aisle as nieces and nephews closed the distance from the back.
     With strains of “On Eagle’s Wings” carrying us along, we dabbed at tear-stained cheeks as treasured moments from the past with Aunt Mary flickered through our minds. Aunt Mary’s love, her faith, devotion to helping others, and her hard work touched the lives of all those around her. She had a great sense of humor and a way of letting go of hurts that made everyone feel loved and cared about.

     Aunt Mary was a Proverbs 31 woman:

     “Her husband trusts her without reserve and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long.” vs 11,12 The Message. 
    Uncle Dick, her husband, who preceded her in passing from this earthly home into the next, always treasured Aunt Mary.

Aunt Mary and Uncle Dick at her 80th Birthday

We were all much younger!

     “She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day…
     First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, (Aunt Mary dressed for church–then worked)    rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
     She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. 
     She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking.
     She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to the poor…” The Message, parentheses mine

 Aunt Mary was involved in making sandwiches for the homeless and bringing them to the downtown cathedral where they would be distributed. Her faith led her works in many other areas as well.

Aunt Mary and our Oldest–almost 30 years ago

Aunt Mary and Our Youngest 2003

     “She keeps an eye on everyone in her household and keeps them all busy and productive.
     Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: ‘Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!’…
     The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves!

Aunt Mary and her family

     On this Mother’s Day, we know she is enjoying the face of her Lord, dancing in His presence, and hearing “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”


     Festoon her life with praises!”verses from Proverbs 31, The Message

Aunt Mary’s 90th Birthday

     Her family, her heritage, sung the praises of her life in a special way for two days. But we will sing her praises all of our lives.

     Hubby quoted Oswald Chambers when he spoke briefly at her funeral Mass:
  “Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to ‘go out’ in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus.”


     That was our Aunt Mary~

     As a tribute, I am reposting her recipe for Enchiladas–the best! along with a short tale I included about learning Aunt Mary’s techniques.

     I tucked him in the baby car seat, snuggled in a warm blanket on a chilly fall night. We were making the trek from the San Fernando Valley to the Los Angeles International Airport area about 25 miles away. Hubby’s Aunt Mary was making enchiladas and had invited us for dinner. Even better, she was going to teach me how to make this family’s most requested dish for the holidays.
     Hubby was away on business so just little one, my mother, and I traveled the miles with anticipation. Warm hugs and smiles greeted us upon arrival. I stretched out little one’s blanket, laid him down under Grandma’s watchful eye, and headed to the kitchen for my premier cooking lesson.
     Twenty-seven years later, Aunt Mary’s enchiladas top our family’s request list, especially if we have guests.
     Sharing the recipe with you, although the kids (young men) feel as if I’m givin’ away the family jewels!

Fry the ground meat on high with half of the chopped onion.  Drain off 1 or a little more TBLS of fat from the pan and put into sauce pot to cook sauce.

Saute the other half of the onion in the fat in the sauce pot. Cook until onion is translucent. Add two cans of tomato sauce and one can of water (clean out the sauce left in the cans with the water and add to sauce). Add the Chili Powder and shake a medium amount of cumin over the top of the sauce. Simmer with a lid on for 15 min. Take the lid off and simmer for 5 more minutes to thicken sauce.

In the meantime, salt and pepper the ground meat and simmer covered on low for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, grate the cheese and heat up enough oil (and a little more) to cover the bottom of an 8″ cast iron frying pan.

Once the sauce has cooked, then you can begin frying and filling the tortillas.

Have a 9×13″ glass dish or pan ready.

Dip the tortilla into the oil to oat it on each side (30 seconds on a side). Hold it against the inside of the frying pan to drain. Dip into the sauce briefly (don’t soak it or it will fall apart) and slide it to the side of the pan.

Fill with a serving spoon size scoop of meat, top with a large pinch of cheese, and  teaspoonful of chopped olives.

Roll and push to the side. Repeat for the next 7 tortillas. The next four will be rolled on the side of these (see picture).

Spoon sauce over the top and some grated cheese.

Cook at 325 degrees, uncovered for 15 minutes.

Enjoy and have a Blessed Mother’s Day! I know this is the best one for Aunt Mary!

Linking with Spiritual Sundays, Scripture and a Snapshot, and Food on Fridays