Have you ever been in complete and total darkness? Sometimes when I walk our dog at night, I think it is pitch dark but once my eyes adjust to the lack of light, I can usually see a little bit in front of me. What if I did not have even that little bit of light in front of me? I would be worried about what might be ahead or behind or even above me. Each of my children have, at one point, been afraid of the dark. Darkness is disorienting, robbing us of our confidence and feelings of security.
Winter is a dark season.
When we lived in Switzerland, the sun would sometimes set before my kids were home from school. They would often go to school as the sun was rising. We spent hours of our day in the dark. Our homes felt cozy and warm in contrast to the darkness outside. Candlemas is the celebration of the Presentation of Jesus Christ. When Jesus was a baby, his parents, Mary and Joseph, brought him to the Temple as Jewish custom required. When they arrived, an old man named Simeon saw Jesus and immediately recognized he was the Savior the world had been waiting for. He took Jesus in his arms and said,
“My eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence in all peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32)
At the same time, Anna, an old woman who lived at the Temple. She had waited 84 years to meet the Savior. She also began to tell people that Jesus was the one who would rescue God’s people.
The feast of Candlemas has been celebrated since the fourth century. Pilgrims would travel to Rome for the blessing of the candles and Pope Gelasius I served pancakes to the travelers, because with their round, golden appearance, the cakes represented the sun returning after the long nights of winter. Today, Christians in Belgium, France and Switzerland still celebrate by making crepes. We have a special video for you to help you make your own crepes for Candlemas. You can add any topping you like- my kids love Nutella and strawberry jam.
Candlemas reminds us that even from the earliest days of his life, Jesus brought hope and light to the world. In February, the days continue to grow longer, the light lasts a little bit longer, keeping darkness at bay. We do not remain in darkness because we have the light of the world who is always with us, bringing hope to even our darkest nights.
CREPES FOR CANDLEMAS
(adapted from America’s Test Kitchen)
Ingredients Needed:
1/2 TEASPOON VEGETABLE OIL
1 CUP ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
1 TEASPOON SUGAR 1/4 TEASPOON SALT
1 1/S CUPS OF WHOLE MILK
3 LARGE EGGS
2 TABLESPOONS UNSALTED BUTTER, MELTED AND COOLED
YOUR FAVORITE FILLINGS AND TOPPINGS
SWEET: NUTELLA, JAM, SLICED BANANAS, SLICED STRAWBERRIES, SUGAR (GRANULATED OR POWDERED)
SAVORY: SHREDDED CHEESE, HAM, SCRAMBLED EGGS, CHOPPED HERBS OR SCALLIONS
steps
STEP 1:
ADD OIL TO A 10-INCH NONSTICK SKILLET. USE A PAPER TOWEL TO SPREAD THIN, EVEN COATING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SKILLET. THROW AWAY THE PAPER TOWEL. ASK YOUR GROWN-UP TO HEAT THE SKILLET OVER LOW HEAT FOR FIVE MINUTES
STEP 2:
WHILE THE SKILLET IS HEATING, WHISK THE FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT IN A LARGE BOWL. IN A MEDIUM BOWL, WHISK TOGETHER THE MILK AND EGGS.
STEP 3:
ADD HALF OF THE MILK MIXTURE TO THE FLOUR MIXTURE AND WHISK UNTIL SMOOTH.
STEP 4:
ADD MELTED BUTTER AND WHISK UNTIL COMBINED.
STEP 5:
ADD THE REMAINING MILK MIXTURE AND WHISK UNTIL SMOOTH.
STEP 6:
SET THE COOLING RACK TO THE SIDE OF THE SKILLET. INCREASE HEAT TO MEDIUM AND WAIT ONE MINUTE.
STEP 7:
USE A QUARTER CUP MEASURING CUP TO POUR BATTER INTO ONE SIDE OF THE SKILLET. ASK YOUR GROWN-UP TO LIFT THE SKILLET OFF THE HEAT AND SWIRL IT UNTIL THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN IS COMPLETELY COVERED.
STEP 8:
RETURN THE SKILLET TO HEAT AND WATCH THE EDGES OF THE CREPES. WHEN THE EDGES ARE BROWN AND THE SURFACE LOOKS DRY, QUICKLY SLIDE THE SPATULA UNDER THE EDGE AND FLIP IT. COOK FOR ANOTHER THIRTY SECONDS AND THEN CAREFULLY SLIDE THE CREPE OUT OF THE PAN ONTO THE COOLING RACK. REPEAT STEPS 7 AND 8 FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE BATTER AND STACK THE CREPES ON TOP OF EACH OTHER. WHEN YOU’RE READY TO EAT, TRANSFER CREPES TO A MICROWAVE-SAFE DISH PLACE A SECOND PLATE UPSIDE DOWN ON TOP OF THE CREPES (MAKING A CREPE SANDWICH!), AND HEAT FOR THIRTY SECONDS IN A MICROWAVE. CAREFULLY REMOVE THE CREPES AND FILL EACH WITH YOUR FAVORITE TOPPINGS.
