April 17, 2020

UPDATED Local priest advocates good nourishment, shares recipe during isolation

REGIONAL
By Sharon Roulier

(Editor’s note view companion video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwIF92XmsIQ )

LEE – During this Easter season, there are reminders of new life all around: Buds and flowers are on the trees. Daffodils, hyacinths and forsythias are in bloom.

And at St. Mary Mother of the Church Parish in Lee, Father Brian McGrath’s chickens are laying eggs.

Father McGrath, pastor of St. Mary’s, has a chicken coop with eight hens right outside the back door of the rectory. He currently has two Rhode Island Reds, three Cinnamon Queens, and three Black Stars.

He has been keeping chickens in Lee and when he was a pastor at St. Mary Parish in Westfield, he also kept chickens there for six years or so, he said.

“We had chickens when I was a kid, so I grew up with chickens,” he said.

“The good thing about chickens is they are great with using up all of the leftover vegetable scraps,” said Father McGrath, who also is an avid vegetable gardener and cook.

During the school season, he said St. Mary Elementary School students love to come see the chickens and the cafeteria can send their scraps for the chickens to enjoy.

As everyone is hunkered down during the current COVID-19 pandemic, Father McGrath offered a recipe for a simple quiche. And, of course, he used fresh eggs from his chickens.

He said he was thinking of his parishioners and all folks in the Diocese of Springfield during this time.

“My mom would say to me, whenever I was in a rough place, ‘Are you sleeping well? Are you eating good food? Are you saying your prayers?’” he said, noting that it is important to get rest and eat well.

“I hope you’re getting some good nourishment, surrounded by good people, getting some good sleep,” he said. “Know that we are praying for you, and would you pray for me.”

To make a simple quiche, Father McGrath said the basic ingredients are eggs, cream, a piecrust and whatever ingredients you have in your refrigerator that you enjoy.

“I use heavy cream because it’s really delicious and in this time of craziness, why not have a little bit of comfort food?” he said.

 

 

Father Brian McGrath’s Quiche
Ingredients:
3 large eggs
1 cup heavy cream
Pancetta
Asparagus
Mushrooms
Butter pats
Frozen Pie Crust — thawed

Chop up whatever you have in your refrigerator that you would like. Father Brian said he had some Italian bacon or pancetta, asparagus, and mushrooms.

Crack the eggs in a bowl and whisk in a cup of heavy cream. Add a little salt and pepper to the mixture.

Brown pancetta, asparagus and mushrooms in a pan with a little oil.

Add egg mixture to uncooked pie shell. Spoon in browned vegetables. Top with thin pats of butter to help brown the top of the quiche.

Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes

Let it set for a few minutes before cutting, and enjoy.