Casa Maria Marianists

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Aspirant Justin continues to hone his dessert decorating skills taught by a Marianist family member who provides thematic treats for Casa Tuesdays.

At the March 7 lesson, Justin’s younger sister, Stephanie, joined him to learn about stacking and frosting a cake and piping a shell border. They made a mandarin orange cake for the evening’s dessert and a rosette cake with white chocolate 3-D swans. Justin also made some chocolate cake pops for the community who is getting spoiled with his edible experiments throughout the week.

At the March 21 lesson, they made a decadent chocolate cake with chocolate-covered strawberries for the evening’s dessert and a blueberry glimmer-glazed cake for The Rattler student news staff’s press weekend. Justin also practiced frosting a cake using the petal technique. He finished the cake with a trinity of chocolate Marianist crosses.

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Casa Maria welcomed back from spring break nearly 40 St. Mary’s students, staff, faculty and friends for a celebration of two significant saints in March. St. Patrick’s feast day was on March 17, and St. Joseph’s feast day is on March 19. Shamrock shortbread cookies (made with real Irish butter) and green pistachio pudding cupcakes were served in honor of St. Pat, while an Italian-style cream puff (sfinge di San Giuseppe) was made in honor of St. Joe.

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Although Jesus Christ is always our superstar, a few St. Mary’s students shined at Casa María’s Oscar-themed night when they participated in an entertaining religious-movie related quiz. Winners walked away with an exclusive gold chocolate statuette. More than 60 students, staff, faculty and friends joined the Marianists this evening and enjoyed the Hollywood-style decorations and desserts, which included Casa María star cookies and a star-shaped cake frosted by Aspirant Justin. Plenty of popcorn was also provided. This weekly prayer dinner and social was celebrated ahead of the 86th Academy Awards presentation on March 2, 2014.

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Casa Maria is getting their “just desserts”—from Aspirant Justin who continues to learn decorating techniques from a Marianist family member. He created a cookie cake for the community dessert that evening; frosted a star-shaped cake using the star tip method; and made chocolate cake pops with drizzle designs.

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As the 2014 Olympic Games continue in Sochi, Russia, Casa Maria hosted over 60 St. Mary’s students, staff, faculty, friends and Marianists at an Olympic-themed prayer dinner and social this week to pray for safety at the Games and to show support for Team USA. In the spirit of sportsmanship, student teams participated in a Bible/Marianist trivia contest to earn a limited number of gold, silver and bronze cookie medals. Other Olympic-themed desserts served at Casa Tuesday included Olympic rings mini donuts as well as cupcakes with the Olympic flag.

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In honor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Aspirant Justin prepared cakes for Casa Tuesday’s celebration of her feast day. More than 50 St. Mary’s students, staff, faculty, friends and Marianists prayed, socialized with each other, made announcements about campus events, ate a light supper, then enjoyed the desserts. Some of the Marianists who had been to Lourdes, France, also shared their experiences about their pilgrimages to this special Marian site as well as told the story about St. Bernadette Soubirous and the apparitions of Our Lady. Learn about St. Bernadette, miracles and more here.

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Aspirant Justin has added dessert decorating to his formation program! A Marianist family member shared with him how to handle a pastry bag; use a star tip to pipe designs on chocolate cream and butterscotch pies (which the rest of Casa María enjoyed for dessert that evening); and crumb coat and add borders to cakes. Justin intends to practice his decorating skills more by making desserts for his lucky guinea pigs community and contributing his creations at Casa Tuesdays.