St. Junipero Serra – July 1
Prosciutto Wrapped Figs and Arugula Salad
St. Junipero Serra arrived in the then-unnamed San Diego unceremoniously on July 1, 1769. Having rode on the back of a mule for 3 months, covering 750 miles, the Franciscan priest had finally reached the missions he greatly desired to serve in. Having been born and raised in Spain, Junipero Serra had volunteered to serve in the California missions. After some years in Mexico City, he again volunteered to go and share the Gospel in the “upper California” missions. Once he had made his way to San Diego, his work began. Over the next 15 years, he founded nine California missions from San Diego to San Francisco. His mission work led to the baptism of over 6,500 Native Americans. He was a man of great zeal for the Gospel who preferred an active approach to evangelization over the classroom. On September 23, 2015, Pope Francis canonized St. Junipero Serra on the steps of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., making him the first saint ever canonized on American soil. In celebration of this new saint, this month’s recipe is inspired by the produce of the Spanish Missions in California.
Ingredients
Fig Vinaigrette:
½ cup chopped fresh California figs
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons sherry, raspberry, or white balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
salt and freshly ground pepper; to taste
Arugula Salad:
4 cups baby arugula
8 small fresh California figs
2 ounces blue cheese, divided
8 strips prosciutto (about 4 inches long by 1 inch wide)
½ cup pomegranate seeds
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
¼ cup pine nuts toasted
Directions
