• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

Spooky soap, a Colin Powell memory, a Brie appetizer recipe, and more (7 Quick Takes)

October 23, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window, Recipes, Uncategorized

~1~

I took some time off from work yesterday, but I had no plan for how I would spend the day. I decided to start with morning Mass, picked up a large iced coffee, and went grocery shopping. Life is full of so many simple pleasures, and one of them is grocery shopping on a weekday morning. The store was so empty, and I even found ghost-shaped bottles of soap.

Usually, when I take time off, it’s for a specific purpose, but it was nice just to let the day play out and see what happened. Then I met friends for an outdoor dinner, and we had the best time laughing and talking. We started heading home, and one of my friends and I were talking so much in the parking lot that we went back and sat by one of the heated lamps and talked for a while longer. I didn’t get home until 10:30. What a wild life I lead!

~2~

When I heard that Colin Powell had died, I thought right away of how he came to speak at Loyola University Maryland in 2013. I can’t believe that has been so long ago now.

I had the chance to meet him just for a moment for a photo.

I don’t remember much about what we said to each other, but I recall how friendly and gracious he was.

And he gave such an inspiring talk that evening.

~3~

Are shipping delays affecting you yet? We are having even more trouble getting our sons’ favorite chocolate soy milk. We are going to try pea milk for the first time this week. We’ll see how that goes.

I am not sure how I feel about drinking something called “pea milk.” I like peas, but pea milk feels a little desperate to me. How do you milk a pea?

Maybe it will be delicious. I’ll let you know.

~4~

My niece turned 7 on Wednesday, and my father turned 77 on Thursday. All those sevens sound like something out of a fairy tale. We gave my father a couple of die-cast cars and classic car coloring books that he could enjoy on his own or with his local grandchildren.

I had forgotten to buy him a birthday card, so I dug into my blank cards to see what might work with his gift. That’s when I found the Father’s Day card I forgot to give him, which also had a classic car on it. I crossed our “Father’s Day” and wrote in “Birthday,” and we were set.

~5~

Happy birthday to St. Ignatius of Loyola, who would have been 530 today! I thought it might be fun to bake him a cake, but it feels more like apple pie weather to me. I learned this week that his favorite color was red, but I don’t know what his favorite dessert was. I found this infographic of what foods St. Ignatius ate.

Of course, he’s not actually going to eat dessert with us, so maybe I’ll just make what we would like to enjoy in his honor.

~6~

When John and I got married 17 years ago, we honeymooned in Fenwick Island, Delaware, at my uncle and aunt’s condo. It was amazing. There was a restaurant, Nantucket’s, that was within walking distance, and we ate there a few times on our honeymoon—and we’ve been back several times since then.

They have an appetizer they make with Brie, grape tomatoes, and pesto, and I’ve been trying to duplicate it for years. I think I might finally be close—or at least close enough to satisfy us.

I take one of those lovely triangular pieces of Brie, slice it in half, and put it in a pie plate with the cheese pieces placed rind-side down. Then I put grape tomatoes on top and spoon about a ¼ cup of pre-made pesto sauce over it. I bake it uncovered for about 20 minutes at 425 degrees until it’s all melted and bubbly. Then I serve it with a sliced baguette.

You might rather have your Brie sweet rather than savory, which I would absolutely understand. I generally think you can’t go wrong with Brie.

~7~

We have a sixth grader and an eighth grader, and they’re in the same school for the first time in three years. I love that they travel to and from school together.

They both play the trumpet, and they have band on the same day. So, they take one trumpet case containing one trumpet with two mouthpieces. This was their idea—not mine. It makes it so much easier that two children can use one trumpet and take turns carrying it on and off the bus.

It’s a miracle that they haven’t forgotten it yet. But now that I’ve pointed out how well it works, we will probably forget it next week, of course.

Find more quick takes on Kelly’s blog, This Ain’t the Lyceum, and have a wonderful weekend.

Copyright © 2021 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Rita Buettner

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Catholic social teaching is for everyone

A smiling Pope Leo waves to a crowd in St. Peter's Square

A Ticket to Pope Leo’s First Papal Audience

Question Corner: Are the Gospels made up, nonhistorical accounts?

On Ascension, absence and true love

The doors we open

| Recent Local News |

Bishop Lewandowski installed as bishop of Providence

Bishop Lewandowski adopts new coat of arms

‘Bishop Bruce’ forged strong bonds with Baltimore in challenging times, had heart of a pastor

Deacon Thomas O’Donnell of Catonsville experiences power of papal transition in Rome

Radio Interview: Grow in your relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • House OKs Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’; Catholic leaders urge lawmakers to promote common good
  • Story behind beatification of Poland’s Father Stanislaw Streich is one of quiet courage
  • Movie Review: ‘Lilo & Stitch’
  • Supreme Court deadlocks over proposed Oklahoma Catholic charter school
  • Bishop calls for prayer after deadly attack outside DC’s Capital Jewish Museum
  • Pope advances sainthood cause of missionaries killed trying to save Indigenous
  • Cuts to CRS food aid projects could impact hundreds of thousands of children, group says
  • New Orleans Archdiocese reaches tentative bankruptcy agreement
  • Pope Leo XIV, in one of first appointments, names San Diego auxiliary bishop to head diocese

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED