Heavenly Recipes

Heavenly Recipes

Story and Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

Grandma’s apple pie

This month’s heavenly recipe, Swedish apple pie, comes from Nicole Naquin, administrative assistant for the diocesan Office of Worship. Nicole got the recipe from her grandmother Una Naquin. Nicole, a native of Pointe-aux-Chenes, now resides in Houma. Her grandmother was very influential in Nicole’s life being that she and Nicole’s father raised Nicole from the age of about four and a half years. “My grandmother helped raise me and my two sisters who are younger than me.” Nicole graduated from South Terrebonne High School and attended Nicholls and Fletcher for a few semesters. Nicole says that God called her to be a full-time mother shortly after.

“My favorite thing is to bake. I love to bake homemade cinnamon rolls. It’s special. It is so special that the recipe from my grandmother is a family secret. Our whole family has it, and now since my grandmother is 93, it is up to us to continue the tradition of making the cinnamon rolls,” says Nicole.

“I grew up in Pointe-aux-Chenes and still attend Mass at St. Charles Borromeo.” Nicole is a big part of the music ministry there. “I am the choir director, organist and cantor since 2006. I joined the choir there when I was 11 or 12. I was the youngest one in the choir for many years, in fact I still am.” A self-taught musician, she leads the choir and plays the organ. “I took choir for two years in high school. That has helped me.”

Nicole has two children, Angel who is 18 and Juliana who is 16. “They both have my open heart. They are quick to help when help is needed. Their father is Hispanic and a

Heavenly Recipes

Swedish Apple Pie

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter or margarine 1 tbsp. sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 egg 1 cup sugar 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 cup flour 1/2 cup chopped nuts (whatever nuts you happen to have on hand) 2 medium apples, thinly sliced

Directions:

Melt margarine or butter. Fill a pie plate 2/3 full with peeled, sliced apples. Sprinkle apples with sugar and cinnamon. In small bowl, beat egg, one cup of sugar, baking powder, salt and one cup of flour. Add melted butter or margarine. Add nuts. Spread over apples and bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes. they have acquired some of the Hispanic culture. They are culturally diverse between Cajun and Hispanic. They have helped me in the kitchen since they were very young and both know how to cook and bake.”

“My dad was a large part of my Catholic faith. He was a reader in church and was always active in pro-life movements. He was a leader when it came to us learning our faith.”

Nicole enjoys working in the Office of Worship. “It has been my dream for a long time to work in the Office of Worship. I was hired in October 2017. I have learned a lot about music and music ministry from Father Glenn LeCompte. He has helped me tremendously in my understanding of music.”

“The Pastoral Center staff is like the other half of my family. They are great in good times and difficult times. Someone is always here to lift your spirits. It gives you hope to continue your day. It is nice to have so many diverse people to work with here. Since I have been working here, I have been baking a lot more. I enjoy baking things and sharing it with my coworkers at the Pastoral Center. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I think it works for both men and women. You bake it and they will come and enjoy it.” BC