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Extra Hot Chocolate
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 09:56 — kitchenwitchIngredients:
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 vanilla extract
Combine all dried ingredients and mix well. Warm the milk in a sauce pan, stirring constantly. Do not allow it to boil!
Notes:
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.
Quick Witch Tips:
Just add some cinnamon, ceyenne and vanilla to some instant hot cocoa for a quick treat.
Dandelion Punch
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 08:28 — kitchenwitchIngredients:
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 orange juice
juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup of sugar
Ginger Ale (Vernors is the only popular brand that actually has ginger.)
Warm the orange juice and lemon together, then add the dandelions. Add the sugar, stirring constantly until dissolved. Let cool and then refrigerate overnight.
Notes:
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.
Quick Witch Tips:
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!
Echinacea
Sun, 01/06/2008 - 22:39 — kitchenwitchBotanical Name:
E. purpurea, E. pallida, E. augustofolia
Zones:
4-9
Other Names:
Purple coneflower (E. purpurea), pale purple coneflower(E. pallida), Narrow-leaf purple coneflower(E. augustofolia), Kansas niggerhead, Sampson root, American coneflower, Black Sampson, Black Susan, Comb flower, Hedgehog, Indian Head, Kansas snakeroot, Red sunflower, Rock-up-hat, Scurvy root, Snakeroot
Echinacea is a native of North America and can be found in wild prairies and open woodlands. It also adapts well to the garden. There are nine species, three of which, E. purpurea, E.
Propagation:
E. purpurea is the easiest to grow.
Sow seeds in the fall so that they freeze over the winter, or store them in your freezer for a few weeks before planting. Scatter them over the surface, as light is necessary for germination. These plants prefer alkaline soils with good drainage. Weeds are a serious danger to young seedlings, because they grow very slowly and herbicides are just as dangerous to Echinacea as it is to the weeds, so you’re going to have to be diligent about weeding. Plant in full sun. It will tolerate shade, but it will result in an inferior harvest. Seedlings should be thinned to about a foot apart.
It may seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth it. Echinacea is being stripped from its wild populations and responsible herbalists should grow their own. Buying plants that have already been started will remove the hassle altogether, as adult plants are remarkably easy to maintain. This is an incredibly drought tolerant plant and natural rainfall is usually sufficient for its needs. Only water if the surface is dry. Echinacea usually does not need fertilizer and has very few disease problems. It will return year after year and if you don't deadhead it, it will drop its seeds and have babies too.
Echinacea attracts bees and butterflies and birds may come after your seeds in winter!
History and Folklore:
The name Echinacea comes from the Greek echinos, meaning hedgehog or sea urchin, which refers to the bristly scales of the dried seed head.
This is a North American native and was used extensively by the Native American populations for all manner of ailments. The Plains Nations used it more than any other herb.
Harvesting & Storage:
Harvest the tops in the third year, and the roots in the fourth year.
Thoroughly wash and dry the roots. Lay roots and tops out in the sun to dry.
Household Use:
The long-lasting cut flowers are beautiful in arrangements.
Magical Attributes:
Carrying Echinacea will provide inner strength during trying times. It is an appropriate flower for offerings, especially to place spirits and river God(dess)es. Including Echinacea in a spelli or charm will increase its effectiveness.
Healing Attributes:
Echinacea is a wonderful all-around healing tonic and it has been used as a cure for just about everything. It increases your T-cell count and stimulates your immune system. It is safe to use indefinately, but loses potency if you use it too long, so it's best to only use it during flu season or when you're not feeling well and take a break the rest of the time. Two weeks on and two weeks off seems to be the most common recommendation. It can be alternated with astragalus.
The entire plant is useful, but most of the power is in the root. To make a tincture, use the root or uproot the entire plant and chop it up fine and place it in a wide-mouthed jar. Cover it with 80+ proof alcohol and seal it. Store it in a cool place for several weeks, giving it a shake every few days.
Alternatively, you could make a tea out of the leaves. Or just chew them.
Although many immune combinations combine echinacea and goldenseal, it's not recommended.
People with asthma or autoimmune dysfunction including AIDS and Lupus should use Echinacea with caution. No studies have documented negative affects, but the action of the active constituents of Echinacea could theoretically complicate autoimmune problems.
Those with allergies to other members of the daisy family, ex. ragweed, should use Echinacea with caution.
Culinary Use:
Echinacea makes a pleasing tea.
Practical Kitchen Witchery:
Astragalus
Sat, 01/05/2008 - 19:52 — kitchenwitchBotanical Name:
Astragalus membranaceus
Zones:
2-5
Other Names:
Chinese milkvetch, Huang Qi, Milk vetch root, Yellow leader, Yellow emperor, Yellow vetch
Astragalus is a member of the pea family and it looks like a typical pea family member.
Propagation:
This is a hardy perennial that grows well in temperate climates. It should be planted in full sun at least a foot apart in slightly sandy, well-drained soil. Rub seeds between to pieces of fine sandpaper before planting in February before moving them out to your garden after the last danger of frost has passed.
History and Folklore:
Astragalus has been used in China as a popular herbal tonic for centuries.
There are actually more than 1000 species of this plant worldwide, some are deadly poison so make sure you’re getting the right species!
In ancient Greek, astragalos referred to knuckle bones, usually from sheep, and gaming pieces made from them, as well as the milkvetch plant. I don’t know the connection.
Harvesting & Storage:
Dig up the roots in autumn of the fourth or fifth year.
Household Use:
Magical Attributes:
Astragalus is a relatively recent addition to Western pharmacopia, so it was not given planetary associations by the old alchemists and doesn’t feature in most Western Pagan herblore.
Astragalus is a Chi tonic. Chi is the vital force of the body in Chinese lore. Applied to Western traditions, it could be used to increase energy for a variety of applications.
Healing Attributes:
Astragalus strengthens the body’s resistance to disease and increases energy by enhancing cell growth and longevity and simulating the synthesis of antibodies. It has a tonic effect on the liver, heart, lungs and kidneys. It lowers blood pressure and increases circulation. It enhances the production of interferon, which prevents viruses from replicating inside the body.
Common uses include; chronic fatigue, cold extremities, chronic auto immune disorders, Epstein Barr, stress, night sweats, appetite loss, mononucleosis, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s disease, some cancers, hepatitis, asthma, arthritis, nervousness, to increase fertility and to aid in the mending of broken bones.
Research has shown effectiveness in the areas of enhanced immunity, cardiovascular health and male infertility and has been used to support cancer therapy.
To protect health on a long-term basis, it is recommended that you take astragalus in a three week on, one week off regimen.
Astragalus is very safe and no adverse side effects have been reported in human or animal studies.
Culinary Use:
The roots may be cooked in stews (remove before serving) or the powder may be added to various recipes for flavor.
Practical Kitchen Witchery:
This is a good herb to switch off with echinacea. As you probably know, many herbs starti to lose effectiveness when they are taken for a long period of time.
Astralagus should be avoided during menstruation and when you have acute infections.
Allspice
Sat, 01/05/2008 - 14:51 — DawnBlackBotanical Name:
Pimenta dioica, Pimento officinalis, or Eugenia Pimenta
Zones:
10-11
Allspice comes from a tree in the myrtle family that grows in Central and South America.
Propagation:
You can really only grow allspice in tropical areas.
Trees must be planted at least 30 feet apart (10 meters) to allow for a full canopy spread. There must be male and female tress for cross-pollination. Only female trees set fruit.
The tree begins to fruit at about three years of age. Flowers appear in June, July and August and the berries appear shortly thereafter.
Once the berries have attained their full size, but are still unripe and green, they are harvested by breaking off small branches bearing clumps of berries. It is important to harvest them while they are still green because once they ripen, much of their aroma evaporates. They are then dried in the sun or in ovens until they turn a dark reddish-brown.
The leaves of the male plant can also be harvested and used, but the berries have a stronger concentration of essential oil and are thus much more fragrant.
Don't despair if you don't live in a tropical area. Allspice can be purchased at most major grocery stores and an even greater variety of preparations can be purchased online.
History and Folklore:
Allspice was used by the Mayans as an embalming agent and by other native South Americans to flavor chocolate. The Arawaks used allspice to help cure and preserve meats (occasionally the meat was their fallen enemies). In the Arawak tongue, meat cured this way was known as boucans. Later settlers who cured meat this way became known as buccaneers, which eventually came to be the word 'buccaneers'.
Allspice was one of the many things discovered by Spanish explorers when they landed in the West Indies. They thought it looked like black peppercorns, so they named it Jamaican Pepper or Pimento, from the Spanish word "Pimenta" which means pepper.
The English named it "Allspice" because it is said to have the aroma of many spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pepper and juniper berries. There were several attempts to grow allspice in Europe, but the transplanted trees never produced much fruit.
Harvesting & Storage:
Household Use:
Allspice is very fragrant and can be used for perfuming soaps. It is frequently used in men's toiletries.
Magical Attributes:
Allspice is associated with the element of fire and the planet Mars. It is masculine in nature, very manly. Use to honor very verile and powerful male archetypes.
Allspice is very uplifting and increases energy and determination making it useful in many different types of spells, especially healing spells.
The dried berries, oil, or allspice incense can be burned to aid in spells for attracting money and/or luck. The berries can also be added to sachets for attracting the same.
Allspice is useful in all healing mixtures.
Healing Attributes:
Allspice can be used in a paste to soothe toothache (much like cloves) and a mouthwash to freshen breath. It stimulates the gastro-intestinal tract, so it can be used in teas to encourage the appetite or aid in digestion. Allspice can also be added to tonics and purgatives. Two or three drops of the essential oil with some sugar has been used to cure flatulence.
Allspice is also listed as a rubefacient, which means that it increases circulation to the skin, so it can be used in treating acne and cold limbs. Allspice contains tannins, which provide a mild anesthetic making it useful for the treatment of arthritis and sore muscles either in a soak or a poultice.
Culinary Use:
The ground, dried berry is very aromatic and has a robust, peppery taste. It is a popular component of jerk seasoning in Caribbean cooking. It is also very popular in English cooking and is often added to stews and sauces and used in pickling vegetables. Allspice can be used as a substitute for cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves.
In the countries where allspice originates, the leaves are also used in cooking or smoking meat and are known as ‘west Indian bay leaf’, though it doesn’t taste much like the other sort of bay leaf. The essential oil (West Indian Bay Oil) is also used in sausages.
Practical Kitchen Witchery:
All content copyright Dawn Black unless otherwise stated. No content may be distributed electronically or in print without express permission from the author.
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