Fire
Sunflower
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Fri, 09/18/2009 - 14:57.Helianthus annuus
Sunflowers are native American plants of the compositae family. Their bloom is made up of many small petal-less flowers bunched together and ringed with large bright petals.
Sunflowers grow best in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. They like a bit of mulch. They should be planted directly in the ground after the last frost and need protection from squirrels and birds. A floating row cover is a good idea for the first few weeks until the plants are established. They will continue to grow all summer and bloom in late summer.
Evidence suggests that sunflowers were first domesticated in Mexico around 2600 BC. Native Americans also domesticated sunflowers in Mississippi and Tennessee. Their nutritious seeds and oil have been a staple for centuries.
It is said that sunflower is the fourth sister to the traditional native American corni, beans and squash combination. The Aztecs, Incas and Otami used the flower as a symbol for their solar deity.
In late September, the petals will fall off of the sunflower head and the head will starti to curl. When you peak into the head you will find that the seeds are visible and turning black. When this happens, cut the stem far enough from the head that you have a good handle. Then hang the head upside down in a well ventilated area out of the sun until it is thoroughly dried out then shake and rub the seeds out into a bag.
Alternatively, put a mesh bag over the sunflower as it starts to ripen to protect it from the birds and let it ripen on the stem.
The seeds will keep longer in their shells. They will store up to a year in the freezer but will start to go bad after about 2 months. You can roast them like pumpkin seeds in the oven, sprinkled with a little salt, or not.
Sunflower oil can be used to make homemade soap (though coconut oil is best)
Sunflowers can be used to extract toxins from the soil including lead, arsenic and uranium. Simply plant them in the tainted area and don't eat their seeds!
Sunflower is associated with the Sun and all solar deities.
Its essence helps balance the first chakra and also helps with confidence in leadership roles.
Growing sunflower in the garden brings positive energy to the home. (Plant near the front door so everyone sees it before they come in!)
Sunflower oil can be used as a carrier oil for healing oils used in massages and ointments.
Use sun butter in place of peanut butter and you will soon find you prefer it. It's also safe to eat in the presence of nut allergic kids!
Pesto Pasta Salad
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 13:42.2 cups basil leaves, destemmed and cleaned
1 cup parsley
2 tomatoes or 20 cherryi tomatoes
1 red onion
Olive oil
1 pkg pasta of choice (Something fancier than elbows, but about the same size is good)
1/2 cup pine nuts
2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tsp capers or olives
1. Boil the pasta, drain and cool
2. Chop the basil very fine. Chop up half the pine nuts fine as well. Combine these with the parmesan and add enough olive oil to get the right consistency.
Basil is great for soothing raw emotions and helping to calm tempers. Parsley is about rebirth. Tomatoes also help dispel negative energy and encourage tender feelings. Capers promote lustful feelings so you can make up properly. Their energy is more masculine than olives which are more associated with peace. Pine nuts bring longevity into the situation so you have a dish whose energy promotes reconciliation and new beginnings aimed at long lasting peaceful relationships.
You can used a prepared canned pesto sauce. Omit olive oil, basil, 2 tbsp parmesan and 1/4 cup pine nuts. Read the ingredients though if you're a vegetarian, just in case.
If you're vegan, you can omit the parmesan without sacrificing much in the way of taste. You may want to adjust the seasonings and add a bit of salt. If you're not, you could add cubes of cooked chicken breast.
Stinging Nettle
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Fri, 01/30/2009 - 12:08.Urtica dioica
Stinging nettle is a common weed found in moist shady places in Europe, Asia and North America. They are perennial, growing up to 4 feet tall in the summer and dying back in the winter.
Plant nettles six to twelve inches apart in moist, rich soil that gets some shade. They will grow like a weed and spread out like crazy. They do grow well in a pot. If grown in the garden they should be surrounded by an underground barrier to prevent them taking over. Stinging nettles are best grown in their own patch.
Cut nettles back after they flower but before they seed so they don't spread out of control.
Stinging nettle is mentioned in the Nine Herbs Charm. It has been used in Europe for centuries as food in early spring when other sources of food were scarce, as a nutritive spring tonic and to build the strength and milk production of pregnant and lactating women and livestock and as medicine for various conditions. Hippocrates recorded 61 medicinal uses of the plant in the fourth and fifth centuries BCE.
Nettle was once widely used for its stem fibres which were retted and spun like flax. In Denmark, burial shrouds made of the resulting cloth have been found dating back 5000 years or more. Native Americans used the fibre for making fishing nets and for cordage.
Nettle leaves produce a green dye which was used in war time Europe the make camouflage and is used to this day in Germany to keep canned vegetables looking a healthy green.
Make sure you wear thick gloves and long sleeves and jeans when harvesting nettle. Their stingers can pierce through thin fabric. Pluck young nettle leaves in the spring and dry or steam and then freeze to store. Cooking or drying will destroy the sting. Do not harvest or eat later season leaves because they will starti to get tough and grainy. The grainy bits are said to cause urinary issues.
Cut the stalks to the ground in the autumn, strip off the leaves (and add them to your compost bin make a nettle tea fertilizer for your plants) and lay flat to dry. Once dried, the stalks can be broken up to retrieve the long fibers for handspinning or shredded to make paper.
If you wait till after the first frost to harvest your nettle for fiber, you will find them much less stingy.
The long soft fibers from stinging nettle can be spun into thread or yarn and woven into fabric that is said to be as strong as hemp and as soft as cotton.
The stalks can be shredded and made into paper.
Cut and dry nettles to add to winter fodder for horses, cattle, goats, pigs and sheep.
Nettle leaves make a lovely green dye. Add and iron mordant and the dye turns black, copper produces a lovely grey-green (like for camouflage). The roots can be boiled with alum for a nice yellow dye.
Nettle is male in action and associated with the sign of Scorpio (some say Ares) and the planet Mars and element of Fire.
Nettle can be burned to drive out negativity or unwanted spirits. It can also be used in protection bags, our ground into powder and used in spells to break curses.
Stinging nettle tea is a great spring tonic and a good addition to the diet of anyone recovering from a long illness or who has chronic weakness, fatigue or anemia. Steep the dry or fresh leaves in boiled water for 10 minutes and strain. The steeping process will destroy the steam and what you have left is a delicious and nutritious green broth. It is also a great internal cleanser, useful for urinary tract problems and inflammatory conditions and is said to be helpful to and protective of the prostate.
Freeze dried nettle tablets are useful for hayfever. Freeze drying retains the sting chemicals which are helpful with allergic conditions.
Nettle tea, steamed nettles and other preparations containing nettle may be given to pregnant and lactating women and animals to keep them strong and healthy and to increase milk production.
A traditional remedy for rheumatism calls for smacking the affected area with fresh nettles, sting and all to relieve pain and inflammation.
Nettle leaves make a fabulous tea or soup stock.
Steamed nettles are a great side dish all their own. Try topping with vinegar, sesame seeds and sesame oil or almondi slivers. Add them to any recipe calling for spinach or greens.
Nettles are high in protein, vitamin C & A and Iron
Extra Hot Chocolate
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Sat, 12/06/2008 - 10:56.Per serving you need-
1 cup of milk
a dash cayenne pepper powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp Cocoa
1 tsbsp powdered milk
1 drop vanillai extract
Combine all dried ingredients and mix well. Warm the milk in a sauce pan, stirring constantly. Do not allow it to boil!
I have heard this called Mexican and Aztec hot chocolate, though I'm not sure that's accurate. Either way, it warms you to the toes and keeps you warm much longer than other folks's cocoa and it's got a greater depth of flavor. It's also not very sweet so you might want to provide your guests with a sugar bowl.
For some, chocolate is a traditional Day of the Dead offering and this makes a great libation during Samhain and Rites of Passing. For others, this beverage combines the energies of Ares and Aphrodite and that means passion- like Beltane. But it might be too hot.
This beverage is warming in more ways than one. It's a playful blend of male and female energies that will get your circulation going and may spark a bit of lust while it's at it. Be prepared for the release of some very playful energies when you prepare this beverage; Perfect for snuggling on a cold winter's night.
But this isn't an adult's only beverage; kids love it too and t's great for a sledding break.
Just add some cinnamon, ceyenne and vanillai to some instant hot cocoa for a quick treat.
Rice Pudding
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Mon, 07/28/2008 - 15:38.1 cup cooked white rice
1 quart milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp Cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp vanillai
1 tsp butter
Nutmeg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 2 quart baking dish.
For variation, add 1/2 cup chopped apricots to enhance the fertility energy or raisins to enhance the prosperty energy with the sugar and rice. Sprinkle with slivered almonds to add an extra crunch and to enhance all associated energies
Carrot Cake
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Mon, 07/28/2008 - 14:59.1-3/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2-1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3 cups shredded carrotsi (5 to 6 medium)
1-1/2 cups chopped walnuts
Cream Cheese Frosting
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
5 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanillai
Heat oven to 300 degrees. In mixer bowl, combine sugar, oil, and eggs; beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir together flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
This is my favorite birthday cake. Since my birthday is on Midsummer, I associate this cake with that holiday too. But its warmth and heartiness lends itself well to cooler weather and harvest celebrations as well.
This cake has energy related to prosperity, fertility and lust and is particularly aligned to the sort of sweet, devoted love of an idealistic young couple eager to starti a new family making it great for a wedding cake. That also makes it appropriate for your Heiros Gamos (or Sacred Marriage) on whatever holiday it happens to fall on.
Spiced Milk with Honey
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Mon, 07/28/2008 - 11:36.1 quart milk
1 tablespoon honey
4 cardamom pods
4 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 bay leaf
Tie up all the spices in a cheesecloth square, or, if you don't have one you can just put them right in the pan and strain the milk before serving. Combine spices, milk and honey in a saucepan.
This is marvelous before bedtime after a long hard day playing in the snow. It warms the heart and soul, as well as the body and casts a sleepy spelli. It's marvelous for topping off the Imbolc festivities just before sending the little ones off to dreamland. Its energies promote familial love, strong bonds and a feeling of being nurtured and loved.
Mulled Cider
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Mon, 07/28/2008 - 11:32.½ gallon apple cider
2 cinnamon sticks
5 whole cloves
1 orangei, sliced
Put it all in a saucepan. Simmer for 20-30 minutes. Strain and serve hot.
This beverage is traditional at harvest gatherings and as a special treat when the kids come in from Trick or Treating on Halloween, or to warm up your hands sitting around the bonfire on Samhain. It's a great warm up on a brisk autumn day.
We use apple cider for our harvest and Samhain libations. It is great for giving thanks for successes in the areas of prosperity and love, and for drawing prosperity and love. This beverage features both sun energies and cthonic energies.
You can buy mulling spices at most grocery stores in the late autumn. Follow the directions on the package.
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Dandelion Punch
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Mon, 07/28/2008 - 09:28.If you're serving dandelioni wine for your Midsummer gathering, be sure to also serve dandelion punch for the kids and those of us that don't drink!
3 cups dandelion flowers, rinsed and separated
1 gallon orangei juice
juice of 1 lemoni
1/4 cup of sugar
Ginger Ale (Vernors is the only popular brand that actually has ginger.)
Warm the orangei juice and lemoni together, then add the dandelions. Add the sugar, stirring constantly until dissolved. Let cool and then refrigerate overnight.
Dandelion punch is a traditional beverage for MayDay and Midsummer gatherings. It has strong solar energy and strong male energy. Drink it at the beginning of a project (or season) to encourage success in your endeavors and to enhance your health and strength as you move toward completion.
To speed things up, have the kids pick your dandelions for you and use pre-squeezed juice. Otherwise, this couldn't be quicker or easier to put together!
PS Make sure you only use yellow dandelioni flowers, not the green bracts or fuzzy bits!
Asparagus
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Wed, 02/20/2008 - 19:05.Asparagus officinalis
Asparagus is a Eurasian member of the lily family (liliaceae) and a fast-growing, long lived perennial. Spears shoot up early in the spring sometimes growing as much as 10 inches in a 24 hour period.
Asparagus is great for permaculture because it can live 15 years or more and keep providing you with tasty spears each spring. It grows best in sandy, alkaline soil in full sun, but it's not picky. It can handle a bit of shade and less than perfect soil too, as long as you fertilize it well.
You can get asparagus crowns at most garden centers. Dig a furrow about 10 inches deep and wide and as long as you want your row to be. Fill the trench about halfway with compost and place your asparagus crowns on top, about 10 inches apart and cover loosely with soil and water. This is best done in the springtime as soon as the danger of frost has past.
You won't get any spears your first year, but the fern-like foliage will still be pretty. Make sure you mulch well every autumn to keep weeds down and a steady stream of nutrients coming. Asparagus is a hungry plant.
The word asparagus comes from the Greek and it refers to any young, tender shoot that can be eaten.
Asparagus was prized by the ancient Greeks over 2500 years ago. It was considered to be a cleansingi and healing herb and used it for many medicinal purposes. The Romans in their turn also prized asparagus and cultivated it (the Greeks wildcrafted it) from the and spread it throughout Europe on their conquests. Emperor Augustus coined the term “velocius quam asparagi conquatur” which means to do something quicker than you can cook asparagus. Similar to our phrase “two shakes of a lambs tail”. So much did the Romans prize asparagus, that in the first century, runners took asparagus from the Tiber River valley to the Alps so that it could be frozen and thus preserved for the Feast of Epicurus
King Louis XIV had asparagus grown in his greenhouses so that he could enjoy it year round, he dubbed asparagus the King of Vegetables. It was also popular in England and other parts of Europe and colonists brought it to America where Native Americans used it for medicine.
Asparagus was considered a phallic symbol banned from girls schools in the 19th century, but Victorian women were taught to detect the scent of this aphrodisiac on their husbands- a sure sign that he was behaving improperly!
Do not harvest your asparagus until it's at least three years old. This allows the plant to have time to build a strong root system.
Your plants will starti sending up shoots shortly after the frost has past and may continue well into June. Cut the shoots near the base when they are about 10 inches long and about as thick as your finger. If they are thinner than a pencil, your plant isn't ready for harvesting yet, or it's gotten tired of being harvested and needs to be let alone. Make sure the heads of the spears are tight and haven't started to feather out. Once they've started to get ferny, it's too late to harvest them.
Asparagus is best eaten fresh, but if you want to save some for later, put it in a glass of water like a bouquet of flowers and store it in the fridge. If you want to save some for a long time later, steam the stalks for about five minutes and then freeze them in a freezer bag.
Asparagus is aligned with Mars and Jupiter and the element of fire. It is also sacred to Zeus.
It is used in lust and fertility spells especially as relates to male stamina and potency.
Asparagus is a good diuretic and is full of nutrients to help build up strength. It is a good food to eat when you are doing a bodily cleansingi, a great "spring tonic" kind of food.
Asparagus is one of the most nutrient dense vegetables you'll find at your grocery store. It is high in folic acid, potassium, fiber, vitamins B6, A, C and thiamin, contain no fat or cholesterol and are low in sodium.
Steam asparagus for five minutes so that it is bright and tender-crisp. Then serve plain or with a butter or cream sauce. It is also excellent in creamy soups or lightly stir fried with other vegetables. My ex husband used to like his asparagus boiled until it was mushy and served with toast and butter and I have to admit, it's good that way. Asparagus is also good raw, with or without dip.
