Sainte Anne de Beaupré Basilica, Québec, Canada

 Beautiful neo-Roman style Church of 300 feet or 100 meters height.

We happened to visit there on August 15, 1998 on the feast of the Assumption of Mary...

Well, with my baptismal names being Maria–Anna–Martha, this was very special!

Sainte Anne was the Grandmother of Jesus and I'm named after her and my Godmother Anna Maria (my maternal Grandmother...).

The original shrine was built in 1658...

The present Basilica is built in the 1920s in a much larger scale, for being able to accommodate all the thousands of pilgrims!

Sainte Anne de Beaupré Québec City, Québec, Canada ←click link for short video explaining more.

Sainte Anne de Beaupré Basilica is the oldest pilgrimage site in North America!

Both of us were so very lucky that at the time we got there, a stretch limousine with bridal couple arrived and we enjoyed the entire French language wedding ceremonial Mass, with organ music and singing in this heavenly Basilica! 

Part of it, Pieter captured in this short video, ending with the Avé Maria.

Unexpected soul food in many ways and we were so grateful.

No miracle happened, except that it DIDN'T RAIN... 😉

Photo by Guy Lessard
Sainte–Anne–de–Beaupré Shrine ←click link.

We ended our day with a delicious dinner at Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Québec City. The French influence is so obvious, even in the meat sizes, compared to the USA. And the vegetable servings are more generous—which made us feel like being back in Europe again.

Feeling grateful when we returned to our room by 21:30...

Body and soul well nourished!

Virtual Tour of the Basilica of Sainte–Anne–de–Beaupré ←click for very informative video with original history from 1646

Have any of you had the privilege for visiting there?

Related links:

{Grandma Kurvers' Grass Linen Twin Sheets Repurposed} | previous post by me about my Godmother Anna Maria...

Cathedral–Basilica of Notre Dame de Québec from 1647 | previous post by me

Canyon Sainte Anne — Québec, Canada | previous post by me

Montmorency Falls Park Québec, Canada | previous post by meFairmont Le Château Frontenac — Québec City, Canada | previous post by me

Cathedral–Basilica of Notre Dame de Québec from 1647

 We continue with our highlights from trip to Québec, Canada...

On August 14, 1998

This time we stepped inside Québec City's Cathedral–Basilica of Notre Dame from 1647.

Pope Pius IX elevated its rank in 1874 to minor basilica, being it the oldest Church in Canada.

The Cathedral–Basilica is a National Historic Site of Canada and also located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Historic District of Old Québec.

We were in awe when viewing this breathtaking neo-Baroque interior with lots of shimmering gold leaf on the many gilded objects...

It kind of shows us humans a glimpse of heaven!

WHY is it that always the BEST artists have lend their talents for creating something to honor God?!

Notre–Dame de Québec Basilica–Cathedral on the outside ←click link

It has been restored and rebuild numerous times...

Next on our video is The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (Anglican).

That is the oldest Anglican Church and the first Anglican Cathedral built outside the British Isles.

The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Québec, Canada ←click link

Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (Anglican) ←click on link. 

Nestled in the heart of Old Québec and as you see, not far from our hotel Château Frontenac.

We so much enjoyed walking through this historic city!

Finally on our video, I approach the oldest school for girls in North America ←click link

L'ÉCOLE DES URSULINES DE QUÉBEC was founded in 1639!

Still it remains a school for girls but the Ursuline Monastery no longer is active.

True treasures for North America and we felt fortunate for having walked there and seen it...

Both of us also did visit the Ursuline Convent in New Orleans, Louisiana; the oldest institution for learning for women in the present USA: We DID go back to New Orleans! ←click link.

Have any of you been to those three special and very historic places in Québec City, Québec Canada?

Guess our personal love for places like Québec, Montréal, Ottawa and Saint Augustine in the USA is because of the earliest history one can find there—just like age–old Europe, where we both came from.

AND not the least, the language as so much is similar because the Dutch have been under French rule...

Related links:

Canyon Sainte Anne — Québec, Canada | previous post by me

Montmorency Falls Park Québec, Canada | previous post by meFairmont Le Château Frontenac — Québec City, Canada | previous post by me

Healthy 98% Lean Turkey Meatball Soup

 As stated before, for both of us, Pieter due to his heart condition and for me due to my Chronic Kidney Disease, preparing our own meals is important to avoid high sodium intake.

ALL prepared foods from the supermarket (for baking or finishing at home!) are loaded with high sodium.

Any processed food is also way too high in sodium.

Another issue is the high cholesterol and for me, avoiding to eat high–protein foods, like: red meat, dairy products and eggs makes it often challenging.

Healthy 98% Lean Turkey Meatball Soup for Supper...

Served in Pillivuyt plate and eaten with Bridal Rose (Sterling, 1903 ) by Alvin soup spoon.

At Whole Foods Market I got this 98% lean ground turkey breast—454 g or 1 pound

Adding one egg to the ground turkey breast meat, spices such as dried celery or no salt seasoning and then bread crumps or Panko. 

With your hands you kneed it through and you will notice when it becomes perfect, when it all is adhering well.

Next you roll balls and set aside.

The ONLY real low sodium (5%) soup we use is from Trader Joe's

For this soup, to serve 8 portions, I use two packs of 1 quart or almost 1 liter each.

Also love to grab Trader Joe's MIREPOIX chopped vegetable mix, a blend of carrots, onions & celery.

Also about 1 pound total and of course, you can make your own!

Then I add two hand–fulls of Italian Pearled Farro

Farro is a hearty whole wheat grain with a firm texture and delicious nutty flavor.

I've been using it for years now, instead of any pasta type things.

Make sure to stir the bottom of your soup pan as it LOVES to stick to the bottom...

When it boils, you add the meat balls and cook till they are done.

You have a quick and easy supper this way and it serves 8.

Did roll 23 balls out of my pound of ground turkey breast and this is my two–ball portion and Pieter gets his three–ball portion since he's not restricted in high–protein.

With ONLY one egg used for 23 balls, I'm not worried about my high–protein intake there.

We never can cut out something entirely from our diet.

Do you love to eat soup for supper?

Related link:

HEALTHY HEART recipe for CREAMED MUSHROOM SOUP | previous post by me