Welcome April - Bienvenido Abril

Happy Easter! ~ Felicies Pascuas 

Reflections by Maritza Martínez Mejía

April is here. It’s time to leave behind the spiritual winter and celebrate the season of internal joy. As Christians we were welcoming Florid Easter. The cross and the empty tomb are the symbols that remind us what Jesus did for us. Now, what are we going to do for Him this month? I also extend this invitation for my non-Christians friends.

holidaysimages.org

Welcome April

March is gone,

New season comes,

I wish, blessings to all!
@2016 Mejia

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Abril llegó. Es tiempo de dejar el invierno espiritual y celebrar el tiempo de gozo interior. Como Cristianos/as estamos celebrando Pascua Florida. La cruz y la tumba vacía son los símbolos que nos recuerdan lo que Jesús hizo por nosotros. Ahora, ¿qué vamos a hacer nosotros/as por El? También extiendo ésta invitación para mis amigos no Cristianos. 
¡Les deseo a todos/as una Feliz Pascua!

¡Feliz Abril!

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Website:www.luzdelmes.com

Mother, Educator, Bilingual Author and Translator

Recipient of the Crystal Apple Award 2006, VCB Poetry Winner 2015, Author’s Talk Book Award 2016, The Latino Book Awards 2016 and Author’s Talk Book Show 2017.

A cat in my backyard

Pets are lovely company, but cats are adorable. Look Why...

We adopted a Calico in 2012, I didn't expect such an adorable cat in my life.

Una hermosa gatita

Ligera y graciosa

Sin ningún dueño

Sin nada que comer

Con gran dulzura

Llega a la casa

Visit her Pinterest Board for more: https://www.pinterest.com/luzdelmes/adorable-misifu/

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Madre, Educadora, Autor Bilingüe, Promotora cultural y Traductora

Miembro de la ANLMI, Florida Writers Association Y South Florida Writers Association

Actividades GRATIS de lectura y escritura en Website: 

www.luzdelmes.com 

Ganadora del “Crystal Apple” 2006, “VCB Poetry” 2015, “Latino Book Awards” 2016,  “Author’s Talk Book Show” 2017. Cinco libros publicados y artículos en  revistas digitales.

Happy Easter 2018 - Felices Pascuas 2018

Easter or Pascha is the most important and oldest feast on the Christian Calendar. It is a celebration of hope and joy with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 
Easter is preceded by Lent, a forty-day period of fasting and penance.

Easter date varies from year to year. Many Orthodox Churches base their Easter date on the Julian calendar, which often differs from Western Churches that use the Gregorian calendar. 

2017 & 2025, Western and Orthodox Easter falls on the same date: April 16th 

2018	W: April 1st.	E: April 8th
2019	W: April 21st.	E: April 28th

Let’s begin Easter or Pascha Season with a renewal spirit to become a better person and share good memories with family and friends. The Lord is risen!

Hallelujah!

Easter Basket Ideas 

1. Place a book & reading buddy.

2.  Add a few plastic eggs with chocolate inside.

3. Add a few plastic eggs with an Easter Symbol inside

 such as: a cross, a rock, a nail...Be creative!

FREE Activities: www.luzdelmes.com

#LuzDelMes

Recipes for Easter & Springtime Brunch:
Visit: 40 Easter Recipe 

Delicious recipes by Author Yvona Fast:
http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/weekender-a-e/2018/03/celebrate-with-eggs-a-sign-that-spring-is-here/

¡Jesús ha Resucitado, Aleluya!

La fecha de la Pascua varía de año en año. Las iglesias ortodoxas basan la fecha de Pascua en el calendario Juliano, que difiere algunas veces de las iglesias occidentales que usan el calendario Gregoriano.   En el año 2017 y el 2025 la Pascua Ortodoxa y Occidental será en la misma fecha.  PASCUA: 16 de abril de 2017 & 2025

En el 2018, la Pascua en Occidente es: Abril Primero y en Oriente: Abril 8

Celebremos la Pascua con el espíritu de SER una mejor persona. 

Felices Pascuas🌼Joyeuses Pâques🌻
Buona Pasqua🌹Happy Easter🌷

La Pascua deber ser una celebración de esperanza, amor y fe.

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Website:www.luzdelmes.com

Mother, Educator, Bilingual Author and Translator

Recipient of the Crystal Apple Award 2006, VCB Poetry Winner 2015, Author’s Talk Book Award 2016, The Latino Book Awards 2016 and Author’s Talk Book Show 2017.

Mexican Cascarones for Easter

What about Mexican Cascarones for Easter?

Mis Cascarones Mexicanos

Eggs are a symbol of hope, bringing forth new life. A symbol of the Resurrection.

Mexican Cascarones, like the dye and decorated Easter Eggs, are good option for Easter. I adopted these traditions from the United States and my Mexican friends.

The legend originated the Cascarones in China and been brought to Europe by Marco Polo. In Italy they were used as a courting ritual, filled with perfume power. The custom traveled from Spain to Mexico in the mid-1800s by Emperor Maximilian’s wife. It was in Mexico that the perfumed powder was replaced with confetti. In addition to Easter, Cascarones have become popular for occasions like birthdays, weddings, Day of the Dead, and Cinco de Mayo.

To prepare the Mexican Cascarones, remove the inside egg from the shell before decorating and replacing it with confetti. With this Hispanic tradition, use the inside for any EGG recipe. I use it to make my delicious  "Huevos Pericos" (Colombian Scrambled Eggs). It's nice to celebrate traditions  connecting with your OWN roots.

"Huevos Pericos" Recipe 

(Colombian Scrambled Eggs~ Perfect Easter Brunch)

Ingredients         

2 teaspoons butter        

2 teaspoons olive oil 

1 roman tomato diced 

2 green onions, white and green parts, sliced thin 

4 eggs, beaten with fork 

2 tablespoons milk 

salt & pepper

Directions 

1. Heat olive oil and butter in skillet. 

2. Add diced tomatoes and green onions until liquid from tomato evaporates. 

3. Sprinkle a little salt over cooked vegetables in pan. 

4. Add milk to 4 eggs and beat slightly with a fork. 

5. Add eggs to pan and scramble them over medium heat until done. 

6. Add salt and pepper, if desired

Serve with arepas, corn bread, tortillas or any bread

More recipes for Easter visit:

 http://luzdelmes.blogspot.com/2018/02/fun-cuisine-for-lent-comidas-para-la.html

Happy Easter!

El huevo es símbolo de Nueva Vida y por ello de Resurrection. En los Estados Unidos conocí la tradición del Huevo de Pascua, pero con mis amistades Mexicanas conocí la de los "Cascarones" . La tradición viajo de China a Europa por Marco Polo y años después de España a México a mediados de 1800s por la esposa del Emperador Maximiliano. Fue en México donde se remplazó el talco perfumado, que se usaba en Europa, por confeti.

Para preparar los Cascarones Mexicanos, se debe retirar el interior del huevo antes de decorar. Tarea que no es nada fácil. Después se rellenan con confeti. Con ésta tradición hispana, se puede utilizar el interior para preparar cualquier receta con huevo. Yo los uso para hacer mis delicious "Huevos Pericos", muy conocidos en Colombia. 
Además de usar los “cascarones” para la semana Santa, también se usan en ocasiones populares como cumpleaños, bodas, día de los muertos y Cinco de Mayo. Es importante conectarnos con nuestras raices y celebrar las tradiciones.

Felices Pascuas!

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Website:www.luzdelmes.com

Mother, Educator, Bilingual Author and Translator

Recipient of the Crystal Apple Award 2006, VCB Poetry Winner 2015, Author’s Talk Book Award 2016, The Latino Book Awards 2016 and Author’s Talk Book Show 2017.

RECETAS LuzDelMes: ponche de Pascua - Golden Easter Punch

Spring Parties, Easter Parties and Golden Easter Punch to celebrate the Season.

I learned this recipe helping in my children's school activities as volunteer mom. 
Now as teacher, I make punch for spring activities or special occasions at home. 
Let’s celebrate Spring/Easter with a Golden Punch and bilingual literature.

Books and FREE activities: www.luzdelmes.com 
 #LuzDelMes

Welcome Easter!

Welcome new Season, 

With colors and golden punch, 
Happy days to come!

Golden Easter Punch Recipe

http://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2012/03/golden-easter-punch.html

Ingredients:
1 (46 ounce) can pineapple juice
1 (12 ounce) can orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 (6 ounce) can lemonade concentrate, thawed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 (2 liter) bottle 7-up (or other carbonated lemon-lime beverage)
1 quart pineapple sherbet

Directions:
Mix juices and vanilla in a large punchbowl.  

Add 7-up, stirring well.

Add sherbet just before serving.

Happy Golden Easter!

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Madre, Educadora, Autor Bilingüe, Promotora cultural y Traductora

Miembro de la ANLMI, Florida Writers Association Y South Florida Writers Association

Actividades GRATIS de lectura y escritura en Website: 

www.luzdelmes.com 

Ganadora del “Crystal Apple” 2006, “VCB Poetry” 2015, “Latino Book Awards” 2016,  “Author’s Talk Book Show” 2017, Somos Poesía 2018. Cinco libros publicados y artículos en  revistas digitales.