Beltane Recipe: Faery Cakes

Elder is long regarded as sacred and is intimately connected with magic. It is a tree of Venus and is associated with the element of air. In its branches was supposed to dwell a dryad, Hylde-Moer, the Elder-tree Mother, who lived in the tree and watched over it. Many people would not cut down the tree to make furniture or to burn the wood for fear of upsetting the elder-mother.

Thought to ward off evil spirits, it was considered good luck to plant elder near one’s home for protection. The word elder probably comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “aeld” meaning fire.

The secret to anything made with elderflowers is to pick them on a hot sunny day. If you are using wild elder, make sure you correctly identify the tree with the help of a knowledgeable friend and/or an excellent identification book. Do not use elder that grows along a heavily traveled road/highway, and be sure the area has not been treated or sprayed.

Elder Flower Faery Cakes

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
  
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted

1. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, vanilla, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled (I use coconut oil) griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Sprinkle roughly half an elderflower head into the cooking pancake, snipping or hand stripping the flowerletts off the green stalks. Once bubbles have formed in the cake, flip over and brown on the other side. Serve hot with honey, syrup or jam.
   

Spring has Sprung!

After a hectic month, we are rededicating ourselves to blogging & sharing.
For Ostara, the coven gathered for brunch & egg decorating.
Did you know you can dye eggs with food coloring and vinegar?
Here is the currant scone recipe from our Spring brunch:

2 Cups flour
2 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dried currants

Preheat the oven 450 degrees F
Place the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder and sugar) in bowl.
Rub in butter with your fingers.
Mix in currants and stir.
Mix in milk with fork until dough forms.
Turn dough out onto a floured surface.
Sprinkle with a little flour and lightly knead.
Flatten it into round circle 1/2-inch thick.
Cut into 8 triangles.
Lightly flour cookie sheet.
Put on cookie sheet 2 to 3-inches apart.
Bake at 450 degrees F for 10 minutes.

Imbolc Bannock Bread

The Scots made an unleavened oat cake cooked in a skillet called a bannock. For each holy day (holiday) they had a different recipe. Here is one for Imbolc - the festival of light.

1 1/2 C Flour

2 C Rolled oats

1/2 C Sugar

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 C raisins

1 egg

1/2 C butter, melted

1/3 C buttermilk

Mix flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, salt and raisins together. Make a well in the center. In a separate bowl whip eggs, butter and buttermilk. Add to the dry ingredients and stir until a batter is formed. Scrape onto a well floured surface and knead lightly. Shape into a ball, then place on a greased baking sheet. Mark a Bridget's cross in the center using a sharp knife. Bake @ 425 for 15 minutes.

Kitchen Witchen: Lavender Salt

Flavored salts are very easy make and give the heavier winter meats a nice lift.
For this recipe, you will need

1 Cup Celtic Sea Salt

1 Tbs. Lavender flowers
1 tsp. dried lemon peel
1/2 tsp rosemary

Place the dried lavender, lemon peel and rosemary in a dedicated coffee grinder. Pulse until powdered. In a glass bowl, combine Celtic Sea Salt
with powdered herb mix. Place mixture into airtight glass jar. This herbed salt mixture is great as a lamb rub, on fresh tomatoes or steamed veggies, like asparagus.

Kitchen Witchen: Spicy Chocolate Cookies

For this recipe, you will need:

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 2 cups light brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
  

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix together dry ingredients (flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt and spices) and set aside. Cream butter and sugar together well, scraping sides of bowl as needed.
Add eggs, vanilla, and rum and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.
Add dry mixture gradually, blending at low speed just until combined.
Carefully mix in chocolate chips.
Drop by rounded tablespoons, 2 inches apart onto a cookie sheet.
Bake 11-13 minutes.
Remove from pan and cool on a cooling rack.

Kitchen Witchen: Love Chocolate

This loved up cocoa mix is a great way to keep you and your beloved warm. Package in a red or pink jar for tasty gift.

For this recipe, you will need:

• 3 cups powdered milk
• 3/4 cup cocoa
• 3/4 cup vanilla sugar
• 2 Tbs rose petals (make sure these are unsprayed and suitable for human consumption)
• 1 tsp lavender
  
• 1 tsp cardamom
  

Grind the rose petals and lavender in a dedicated coffee grinder. Add the powdered flowers to the remaining ingredients in a large glass bowl. Pack the mix into an airtight jar or decorative tin.
Make a label with instructions to prepare the mixture.
Hot Chocolate
Serves 1
4 tablespoons Hot Chocolate Mix
8 ounces boiling water
Add marshmallows or whipped cream.

NOTICE: All material on this site is Copyright © 2008 by Free Spells Daily unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Vanilla Love Sugar

Vanilla is a sexy smell and flavor that comes from an orchid, pictured above. A native plant of Mexico, it is the only edible fruit in the orchid family. Mexico's Totonac people, tell a folk tale about Xanat, the youngest daughter of a fertility goddess who fell in love with a mortal. Because they were unable to marry, she decided to transform herself into the first vanilla plant. With this self sacrificing act of eternal love, she hoped to always provide he true love with pleasure and happiness. I wonder if this is the root of vanilla's aphrodisiac qualities? It has been administered by doctors as a tonic to ensure male potency and "stimulate the sexual propensities"


Making Vanilla Love sugar is very easy.
For this recipe, you will need:

• 1 vanilla bean
• 2 cups of sugar

Put sugar in to a glass, airtight container. Split the side of bean with back of knife and scrape seeds into the container with the sugar. Bury bean in sugar and seal tightly with lid. Let sit for 1 to 2 weeks. One tablespoon of vanilla sugar has the flavoring power of 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Kitchen Witchen: Wassail

The word 'Wassail' is derived from the Old Norse 'Ves heill'. The Old English salutation 'Wes Hal' is derived from this Norse greeting and means 'Be In Good Health'. Wassailing is not just an excuse to drink and be merry, but is a serious ritual in areas like rural Devon where the apple plays an important part of the local economy. People gather in the orchards around a selected tree with the hardy spiced wassail in tow. The tree is celebrated and honored with music, singing, dancing and offerings of wassail soaked toast. Shotguns are fired and a general racket is created by the crowd, banging their saucepan lids and making percussive noises on all manner of improvised instruments. I imagine this is for purification as well as the traditional reason - to wake up the tree ready for the next crop. Anything that will help the trees produce a generous harvest is wholeheartedly encouraged.

Old Apple tree, old apple tree;
We've come to wassail thee;
To bear and to bow apples enow;
Hats full, caps full, three bushel bags full;
Barn floors full and a little heap under the stairs

Traditional recipes often have eggs and ale or mead in them. Here is a adapted modern version of wassail with honey and spiced red wine.

• 2 Cups water
• 1 Cup organic honey
• 4 whole cloves
• 3 sticks cinnamon
• 2 apples cored and wedged
• 1 inch of grated fresh ginger
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 1 orange, thinly sliced
• 1 bottle medium dry red wine

Boil together water, honey, cloves, ginger and cinnamon for five minutes. Add apple wedges and thinly sliced lemon and orange (rind and all) and allow to stand for 7 or 8 minutes on low simmer heat. Add the red wine and heat slowly until just below boiling point.

Aztec Hot Chocolate Mix

This spiced cocoa mix is a great way to keep warm, all winter long. Packaged in a cool jar and it makes a unique and tasty gift.

For this recipe, you will need:

• 3 cups powdered milk
• 3/4 cup cocoa
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 Tbs cinnamon
• 1 teaspoons ginger powder
• 1 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Sift the ingredients into a large glass bowl. Pack the mix into an airtight jar or decorative tin.
Make a label with instructions to prepare the mixture.
Hot Chocolate
Serves 1
4 tablespoons Hot Chocolate Mix
8 ounces boiling water
Add marshmallows or whipped cream.

I have even been known to add tequila! If you want to try a delicious spicy hot chocolate, but don't have the time or desire to make this mix, try Organic Fair Trade Xocolatl Hot Chocolate from Dagoba

Witches Brew: Prophetic Dreams Tea

Making batches of dried tea is a very inexpensive and lovely way to shared herb magic or botanical alchemy. Most everyone enjoys a good cuppa, pagan or not. We will post more tea recipes that both the muggles and pagans in your life will appreciate. But to kick off the Witches Brew series, timed with the full moon, it seems only right to start with a recipe for Prophetic Dreams Tea. You can usually find a good selection of bulk herbs at your local health food store or at a herb or magic shop. For this recipe, you will need

• 3 parts Rose Petals
• 2 parts mugwort
• 2 parts Yarrow
• 1 part mint
• 1 part jasmine
• 1 part chamomile
• 1/2 part Cinnamon Stick, break or grind into chucks.
  

Mix all ingredients in a glass or wooden bowl. Package in a food grade, airtight container, amber glass is preferred as light degrades the aromatic and magical properties of dried herbs & flowers.

If you want to go the extra mile, you could create a tea kit with Organic Hawaiian Lehua Honey, a wand style tea infuser and a Fairy Magic Ceramic Travel Mug.

Going Green for Solstice

One of my favorite Solstice gifts to give are small pots of kitchen herbs. They communicate the meaning of the season on many levels. First there is the literal "green" life affirming nature of a live plant in the middle of winter. Second, anyone doing any cooking knows the power of a little herbal magic..add some basil for love, rosemary for fond memories, lavender for protection, and so on. Third, they are very environmentally friendly and a sustainable gift that keeps on giving.

I love to paint the clay pots with positive messages that are fun to have in the kitchen or a home window sill somewhere. Quotes like " A Goddess Lives Here" or "Kitchen Witches Cook With Love" work for me. But you can just paint symbols or what have you to decorate the pots.

Typically, I will paint a set of six 2" pots and use herbs like Oregano, Rosemary, Chive, Basil, Sage, and Mint. You can choose whatever combination of herbs you wish. Happy planting!

If you are pressed for time or don't want to get dirty, you could always buy a kit, which contains three blue glazed planters with a matching drip tray, premium seeds, organic soil and growing instructions.

The French Country Herb Trio contains seeds for parsley, marjoram and lemon basil; while the Italian Herb Trio comes with basil, oregano and chives.

All content here is copyrighted by Free Spells Daily 2008. Rabbit stop stealing our posts and reposting them as yours.

Citrus Bay Flavored Vinegar

5 cups organic apple cider vinegar
pared zest of an orange
16 fresh bay leaves
optional bay leaves & orange zest to put int he bottle after infusion

Bring apple cider vinegar just to the boiling point in glass pan.
Put orange zest and bay leaves into a clean, sterilized wide mouthed jar.
Pour vinegar over the zest and leaves.
Seal tightly and leave in a sunny place for 2-3 weeks.
Feel free to gently agitate or invert jar.

After 2- 3 weeks, strain the infused vinegar, discarding zest and herb.
Pour into clean, sterilized bottles or jars.
Add optional pared zest and bay leaves for decoration.
Seal and store in a cool, dry, dark place.

If you are pressed for time or lack the kitchen witch gene, you could always buy a fabulous flavored vinegar and add a little of your own magic. This Citrus Oil & Mango Chardonnay Vinegar is created individually, by hand, bottle by bottle, in small batches.

All content here is copyrighted by Free Spells Daily 2008. Rabbit stop stealing our posts and reposting them as yours.

Organic Cranberry Cordial

For this project, you will need

• 6 Cups (24oz) organic cranberries, chopped
• 4 cups sugar, organic
• 3 cups premium vodka, I prefer organic Ocean vodka

Mix all ingredients in 2 quart jar.
Cover tightly and let stand at room temperature 2 weeks.
Stir mixture or invert the jar daily.
Strain; pour cordial into decorative food grade bottles and seal.
Makes about 5 cups cordial.

Orange Clove Pomanders

Both oranges and cloves have long been magically associated with love, money and prosperity. Giving the gift of a prosperity charm is always welcome.

For this project, you will need

• Large orange
• Whole Cloves
• Ribbon for hanging
• Toothpick

Using the toothpick, make holes in your orange. These holes will be used to poke the whole clove into. Keep adding the cloves until your design is complete. You can cover the entire orange with cloves, or you can make patterns by arranging the cloves in circles, lines or spirals. The fruit will shrink as it dries so space the cloves about 1/8" apart.

Use some ribbon to tie a large bow around the orange for hanging. These make great end of year gifts for kids to give teachers and are lovely to have around during solstice.

Bath Salts

Bath salts are really easy to make and are a gift appreciated by almost everyone.
For this project, you will need

• 3 cups of Epsom salt
• 2 cups of baking soda
• 1 cup of sea salt salt
• essential oils & herbs (I have suggested combinations below)

Add all dry ingredients into a glass bowl.
Mix with your hand or a spoon.
Add essential oils and mix.
Scent should be concentrated, but be careful with "hot" oils like peppermint and cinnamon.
Add optional herbs appropriate for essential oil blends

Winter Solstice
3pts Lavender, 2 pts Cedarwood, 2 pts Vetiver, 1 pt Lemon, 1 pt Orange and 1/2 pt Pine

Lunar (floral)
2 pts jasmine, 1 pt ylang ylang, 1pt sandalwood

Prosperity (earthy)
5 pts patchouli, 2 pts sandalwood, 1 pt cedarwood, 1/2pt cinnamon

Cocoa Butter Shaving Cream

Shaving cream is an all around handy gift, as it can be given to both men and women. Where possible purchase organic, local grown ingredients. The fresher the ingredients the better your recipes will turn out.

You will need:

Stearic Acid - 1/4 Cup
Cocoa Butter - 1 Tablespoon
Sodium Carbonate - 1 Tablespoon
Borax - 2 Tablespoons
Glycerin - 1/4 Cup
Alcohol - 2 Tablespoons
Water, hot - 1 3/4 Cup

Dissolve the Sodium Carbonate, Borax, and Glycerin in the hot water. Melt the Stearic Acid and Cocoa Butter over low heat preferably in a double boiler, and add the water solution. Stir briskly until a smooth white soapy mixture is formed. Continue stirring until cool and then add the alcohol. Spoon the mixture into your jar of choice.

This is a wonderfully moisturizing shave cream.

Organic Milk Bath

Milk has many powerful properties that would be welcome in any gift. Cow's milk is a powerful ingredient in any magickal working summoning nurturing, prosperity and protection. Milk is ruled by the Moon, so a bath ritual is best performed on Mondays or new or full moons.

Organic Powdered Whole Milk - 1/3 cup
Gelatin - 2 Tablespoons
Epsom Salts - 1 Cup
Powdered Hops - 1/4 Cup
Elder Flowers - 1/4 Cup

Makes approximately 16oz. You can double or triple the recipe depending on how large a batch you want to make. Instructions: Use 1/2 Cup per bath.

Packaging: you have many options here. I would start with a beautiful bottle and sterilize it well (boiling water works). You might create personalized labels of some kind or write on the bottle in glitter glue. Ribbon, wax seals, or even an acid etched design can be used to decorate your gift. Get creative! I like to use a blue bottle and place a silver foil moon on the side. Remember to charge it with love.

Total cost is about $5 per bottle depending on what packaging you choose.

Pan de Muertos

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F)
3 cups flour
1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons anise seed
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons orange zest
1/4 cup sugar
for glaze
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon orange zest
2 tablespoons white sugar

Directions:
Heat the milk andbutter together in a medium saucepan, until the butter melts.
Remove from the heat and add warm water. The mixture should be around 110 degrees.
In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients (1 cup of the flour, yeast, salt, anise seed and 1/4 cup sugar).
Beat in the warm milk mixture.
Add the eggs and orange zest, beat until well combined.
Stir in 1/2 cup of flour and slowly continue adding more flour until the dough is soft.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough into a lightly greased bowl cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 to 2 hours.
Punch the dough down and shape it into a large round loaf with a round knob on top.
Place dough onto a baking sheet, loosely cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until just about doubled in size.
Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for about 35 to 45 minutes.
Remove from oven let cool slightly then brush with glaze.
To make glaze: In a small saucepan combine the 1/4 cup sugar, orange juice and orange zest. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil for 2 minutes.
Brush over top of bread while still warm. Sprinkle glazed bread with white sugar.

Samhain Cookies

Ingredients:
2/3 Cup butter
1/4 Cup molasses
2 1/2 C flour
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 C sugar
1 egg
2 tsp baking soda

Directions:
Preheat the over to 350.
Mix together butter and sugar ina large bowl.
Add the molasses and the egg. Stir until creamy.
Sift together flour, baking soda and pumpkin pie spice ina separate bowl.
Add the dry mixture tot he molasses mixture a little at a time while stirring.
Shape the dough into 1 inch balls.
Stamp with a Pentacle Cookie Stamp or mark with a knife.
Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degress for 10 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack.

Báirín Breac

Barmbrack (Irish: Báirín Breac) is the center of an Irish Halloween custom. The Halloween Brack traditionally contained various objects baked into the bread and was used as a sort of divination game. In the barmbrack were: a thimble, a button, a small coin and a ring. Each item, when received in the slice, was supposed to carry a meaning to the person concerned: the thimble, the girl who found it would remain unmarried; the button, the boy finding it would remain a bachelor; the coin, would enjoy good fortune or be rich; and the ring, would be wed within the year.

Commercially produced barmbracks for the Halloween market still include a toy ring. This is a really fun divination game for a feast. I don't have to warn you about the choking hazzard do I?

Try this recipe

• 2 cups- black tea
  
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup currrantsDried fruit
• 1 cup lukewarm milk
  
• 1 (1/4-ounce) package of active dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons sugar
  
• 3 to 3 1/2 cups white flour
  
• 1/4 cup sugar
  
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp clove powder
  
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 egg, beaten
  
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
  
• 1 tsp salt

1. Soak the tea, raisins and currants for at least one hour but, preferably overnight.
2. Mix the yeast, warm milk and the 2 tsp of sugar together in a small bowl. Set aside for 5-10 minutes to activate the yeast.
3. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients (flour, sugar and spices). Make a well in the center of the flour and add the yeast mixture, beaten egg, butter and salt.
4. Stir to mix the ingredients and bring the dough together. Add a little more flour if the dough is too wet or a little more milk if it is too dry.
5. Remove the dough to a floured work surface and knead for 5-10 minutes, or until the dough is smooth but still a little sticky.
6. Drain the dried fruit and knead a little at a time into the dough until all the fruit has been incorporated. Add the divination items (coin, ring etc)
7, Remove the dough to a large, lightly buttered bowl. Cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap and set in a warm corner until doubled in size, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
8. Remove the dough to a lightly floured work surface and punch down to deflate. Knead lightly for 2-3 minutes. Form into a ball and placed in a buttered 8-inch cake pan. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let rise again until doubled in size, 30-60 minutes.
9. Preheat oven to 400°F. Place the loaf in the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until top is browned and sounds hollow when tapped. Remove to a rack and cool.

It is best served toasted with a smear of butter and a cup of Irish tea.