Home

Beltane

Extra Hot Chocolate

Mon, 07/28/2008 - 09:56 — kitchenwitch
Ingredients:

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 Wine

Mon, 07/28/2008 - 09:38 — kitchenwitch
Ingredients:

Here's an old favorite for Midsummer. My grandfather was famous for his dandelioni wine.

1 gallon fresh dandelion flowers (See note)
1 gallon boiling water
3-4 pounds sugar
1 lemon
1 orange
Brewer’s yeast (wine yeast?)

Take a gallon of fresh picked dandelioni flowers and place them in a large tub, pour 1 gallon of boiling water over them and let it steep for about 10 or so days stirring now and then.

Notes:

Dandelion blossoms are actually made up of many tiny yellow flowers that many folks take to be petals. Only these should be used in to make the wine, not the green bracht that holds them all together as that's very bitter. Taste the different parts and you'll see. Dandelion flowers are delicious!

This recipe has strong solar associations so it is great for use at sun festivals, such as Midsummer day! Also, try this wine as an aid to divinationi, especially in association with love.

Quick Witch Tips:

Dandelion Punch

Mon, 07/28/2008 - 08:28 — kitchenwitch
Ingredients:

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!

Hawthorn

Mon, 01/07/2008 - 20:37 — kitchenwitch
Botanical Name:

Craaegus spp.

Zones:
5-9
Other Names:
Whitethorn, Hazels, Gazels, Halves, Quickset, Bread-and-Cheese Tree, Albesyne, L’Epine Noble, Hagedorn, Hedgethorn, Fairy Bush, May blossom, May Bush, May Flower, Quick, Thorn, Haw, Hag Thorn, Ladies Meat, Tree of Chastity, May Tree

This is a tree that will grow to a height of 30-40 feet. The fruit is a bright red to dark purple that is enjoyed by many birds.

Propagation:

Hawthorn is a deciduous tree that can grow in most temperate climates. It is tolerant of most soils, but prefers moist, alkaline soils.

History and Folklore:

The name Crataegus oxyacantha comes from the Greek kratos, “hardness”, oxcux, “sharp” and akantha “thorn”.

In Teutonic lore, hawthorn symbolized death and was used in funeral pyres.

In ancient Greece, married couples were crowned with hawthorn blossoms and the wedding party carried torches of hawthorn. The tree was also associated with Cardea, the Roman Goddess of marriage and Childbirth.

During springtime festivals in England, large Hawthorn boughs were cut and stood up in the ground outside houses. They were called May Bushes and decorated with wildflowers. Although it was permissible to decorate outside with hawthorn blossoms, bringing them into the home would surely bring illness and death.

This tree was considered beloved by fairies who lived within. Cuttingi down a Hawthorn tree is very bad luck!

Harvesting & Storage:

Harvest the fruit in early autumn and spread out to dry or make into wine or jam.

Flowers can be harvested in May and dried in the sun. Leaves can be harvested any time. Be sure to ask permission and leave an offering.

Collect fallen limbs after storms to use for carving or making wands.

Household Use:

The wood of the hawthorn tree has a fine grain and takes polish well. It can be used for carving and making wands. It produces a very hot fire when burned.

Magical Attributes:

Gods associated with this tree are Belenus, Cardea, the “White Goddess”, Hymen, Maia and Flora.
It is considered masculine, associated with Mars and Fire.

Hawthorn is a sacred tree in many Pagan religions. The blossoms, called May Flowers, are used in spring celebrations. The May Pole is traditionally made of hawthorn or decorated with hawthorn flowers. As the tree is sacred to fairies, one must ask permission before taking the blooms or sprigs and must certainly leave an offering when cutting down a whole tree.

Placed around doors and windows, hawthorn will prevent people from entering your home in an astral state. It will also prevent spirits from entering a place. Planting hawthorn around other trees, or near your home is said to protect them from lightening strikes. Planting it as a hedge around your home will keep out unfriendly spirits. Adding hawthorn to an amuleti will protect you from spirits and harmful magic.

Thorns can be used to mark wax, to write with magical ink, or to fix something for magical purposes.

The phrase “by Oak, Ash and Thorn” referred to Hawthorn (the Thorn part) used in blessing and rituali. These three trees were considered portals to the realm of the fae.

Hawthorn is associated with love, marriage, health, fertility, chastity, protection and death.

Healing Attributes:

The bark of the hawthorn tree can be used as a sedative, anti-spasmodic, diuretic and to help regulate blood pressure. It is used as a heart tonic and for kidney troubles.

The flowers and berries are astringent and can be used for sort throats.

Use a decoction of flowers and leaves to stabilize blood pressure.

Culinary Use:

A tasty liquor can be made from the berries. Both the blossoms and berries can be made into wine and jellies.

Hawthorn leaves can be eaten and were once referred to as bread-and-cheese.

Practical Kitchen Witchery:
Syndicate content