Day 13: Stirring Deosil or Widdershins

How do you stir your pots of stew, soup, or sauce?   Do you prefer to go clockwise (deosil), or counterclockwise (widdershins)?

I stir clockwise when I cook.  I see it as stirring good energies into the food.  When I scrub a pot, however, I tend to scrub in the opposite direction in order to remove the essences of the previous recipe.

The Return of the 30 Days of Kitchen Witchery: Day 12

Remember this?  I started it back in...I dunno, 1962 or something *lol*.  

Day 12 is a recipe for peace, but I honestly do not have a specific recipe for peace.  Instead, what I do is knead peace into my bread dough.  I speak of peace as I knead.  I may say something to the tune of, "May all who eat this bread have peace in their lives."   It's really that simple.

What about you?  Do you have a specific recipe for peace, or do you do something more like what I do?

I am STILL looking for my copy of Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen, so I don't have a list of foods for peace at the ready.   I haven't unpacked everything yet.  Maybe I never will...

Day : A Recipe for Prosperity

This recipe is a tried and true, and I am going to copy and post the blog entry exactly as it is.  Enjoy!

Prosperity Shortbread

This is a recipe that really works. I tried it one day when I was snowed in. I was wanting to bring some good things into my life - prosperity, a new job, etc. I was very, very unhappy in my current situation. So I took a cue from Scott Cunningham and went into the kitchen. I used a basic shortbread recipe and included some special-purpose additions.


4 ounces unsalted butter
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/8 cup each finely chopped pecans and sesame seeds

Toast pecan pieces and sesame seeds in a dry skillet, stirring constantly. Cook them over medium to medium-low heat for a few minutes, until they smell toasted. I stirred the rune "Fehu" into the nuts and seeds as I toasted them. I put them in a bowl and charged them with my intent - a better teaching job for me (personal prosperity and job-hunting), and prosperity for anyone else who eats a cookie.

In a bowl cream together the butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt. I used the same motion when mixing those things together. I added the flour and mixed it in with my hands, then I added the nuts and seeds.

I pressed the mixture into a baking sheet, cut them into squares, and inscribed each square with Fehu. They're in the oven right now, at 325. The recipe says about 20 minutes, depending on thickness. Check them after about 12 minutes.





Oh, yeah, I got that new job . :) I ate most of the first batch of shortbread myself, and made a second batch for a potluck. Not long after, the work situation changed.

Note to self: Make a batch of these, ASAP. 

Day 10: A Recipe for Love

I am going to post a recipe for love and a recipe for prosperity (so I can sort of catch up a bit).  Both recipes happen to be for cookies.  What could be better than portable, handheld love or prosperity, right? 

The first cookie recipe features cherries and chocolate - two classic love foods.  

Chocolate-Cherry Cookies 

2.5 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
pinch or two of salt

1 cup butter, divided
2 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
6-8 ounces dark chocolate (semi-sweet or unsweetened, so the cookies aren't too sweet)

1 cup chocolate chips (the darker the better)
1 cup dried cherries, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Melt half the butter with the dark chocolate. Put the rest of the butter and sugar into a mixing bowl. Add the melted chocolate. Mix until well combined. Beat in two eggs. Add vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients, then mix in the chocolate chips and dried cherries and the nuts if you're using them. I recommend almonds, but use whatever you like, or leave them out all together.

Grab about a tablespoonful at a time, roll into a ball, and place onto a greased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly. Place the cookies 1 1/2-2 inches apart. Bake at about 350-375 for 6-8 minutes per tray. I like to remove them when they're still just a teeny bit soft and just let them finish firming up as they cool.

I ended up with about 30 cookies from this recipe.  It depends on how big you make 'em. 

Share them with the ones you love. 

Excuses, excuses ;)

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I start this whole blog thing and then I slack off.  *L*   I've been so busy with work and everything that I just haven't had time to think about an extra project.  However, this weekend I will have some time to sit down and write a few entries. That way, I can just post them daily and get caught up.

Who else is participating?  Still needing to get caught up?  You're in good company!  :)

See you soon!

Day 9: Pre-Cooking

Before I begin cooking, I do all the sanitation things - make sure the trash can has a new liner in it, the dishes are washed, the counter and stove scrubbed, and my hands scrubbed as well.    And then, it's time to get down to business.

If I am working on a recipe for this blog or one of my book project dealies, I like to think about the energies that are present in the ingredients, and how they will come together.  If I am making a magical recipe such as my Prosperity Shortbread, I will take the time to infuse each ingredient with my intent.

In order to do this, I simply touch the ingredients. I run my (clean) hands through sesame seeds.  I will hold a potato in my hands, close to my heart.  I stir symbols into the batter or stew as I cook as well, but before that, I like to focus on the purpose of the meal.

I like to take my time and relax. I don't chop things quickly.  I don't want to hurt myself, for sure, but more than that, I want to be calm and focused.  I don't want to be sloppy, especially if it's a recipe I am making for the first time.   If I am feeling angry, I will take time to breathe and release the anger.  I release my negative feelings before I begin cooking because I do not want them to contaminate the food.  (Yes, I'm a big fan of Como Agua Para Chocolate.)

That's it:  relax, slow down, focus on the energy and intent, and focus on the actual task of cooking so you don't cut or burn yourself.

How about you?

Day 8: Special cleaning rituals/practices

I'm going to try to catch up a little bit.  I got busy with work and got behind.  I figured I would, though, hehe.

Day 8 is about special cleaning rituals or practices.  I know some FLYladies, and I know some domestic witches who do a room or 'zone' a day.   Me?  I practice...avoidance.    Yup, that's right.  I'm a damned slob.   I love to cook, but I hate to clean.  Fortunately, my boyfriend deemed it his duty to keep the kitchen clean so the delicious foodz would keep a-comin', so my special cleaning practice right now is asking the Aussie.

But...

I don't want it to be that way. I really don't.  Help me?  What are some things you do to make cleaning less of a pain in the hindquarters?   Knowing it *has* to be done?   Or do you invoke a deity, someone for company?  Do you clean to music?  What do you listen as you clean?   Please, I'm begging you for tips and tricks to turn me into the gourmet slob that I am and into someone who is slightly more domestic.  I'll never learn sewing or anything like that, but I can at least keep my house from being a hazardous area.  I'm only half-joking...

Day 7: How Do You Imbue Your Hearth With Magic?

I'm going to refer to the stove as the hearth, as I don't have a traditional hearth in my apartment (drat!).   When I clean it, I clean off the grime and food stains and I also take time to smudge the area and light a candle on the back of the stove.  Sometimes I'll put a candle inside the (clean, electric) oven as well, as a welcoming to the hearth deities, especially Hestia.

I don't have any specific cleaning chants that I use, but I'd love to learn some if anyone knows of any.  That's it.  I clean and bless the area, but not that often, really.  Just whenever I feel it needs a good cleansing.


* Use natural cleaners - I use a mixture of white vinegar, water, and hydrogen peroxide (this mixture can be found on various websites)
* I like to scrub widdershins, and then do a polishing deosil wipe

Day 6: My Least Favorite Task

My least favorite kitchen task has always been loading and unloading the dishwasher.  I loathe it, probably because my mother forced me to do it when I was younger.  I'm not too fond of washing dishes by hand, either, but I can find some sort of peace in that, rather like Roland Abu Hadee (so many bonus points to you if you get that reference)...

What's your least favorite kitchen task?  Why do you dislike it?  I still don't know exactly why I dislike it, unless it's simply because I'm lazy.  I'm fortunate, though.  My boyfriend, from the day he moved in, deemed it his duty to keep the dishes washed so I can cook up a storm.  It's  a very nice arrangement. :)

Day 5: My Favorite Kitchen Task

My favorite thing to do in the kitchen is make bread.  I love to knead dough.  Sure, it's hard work sometimes to knead lots of dough by hand and it does hurt my shoulders after a while, but it's so rewarding.  I love taking just a few simple, basic ingredients and watching the dough rise. I love the smell of bread baking. I adore pulling a perfectly golden loaf or pan of rolls out of the oven.  

When I make bread, I like to take my time kneading the dough.  I chant as I do it, or I listen to music.  Sometimes I ask my boyfriend to drum as I knead.  I think bread is one of the best kitchen witch foods to make because of the amount of intent you can put into it.  Your hands are in the dough for 10 sometimes 15 minutes or longer.  Your muscles do a lot of work during that time.  What better chance to let your mind focus on something with which you want to infuse the bread.

My favorite kneading chants are:

She changes everything She touches
and everything She touches, changes

and

Hoof and horn, hoof and horn
All the dies shall be reborn
Vine and grain, vine and grain
All that falls shall rise again

Day 3: What Doesn't Make a Kitchen Witch?

What doesn't make a kitchen witch, and who am I to say?   Well, let me begin by saying I DON'T think I'm in the position to go around deeming some people kitchen witches and others as something else.

However, we all have our opinions and mine is this:  You're a kitchen witch if you are conscious of what you are doing, as discussed in a previous post.  Just following a recipe or formula, on the other hand, doesn't necessarily make you a kitchen witch.  Going into the kitchen one time to make some holy water or four thieves' vinegar doesn't necessarily make you a kitchen witch.  You're a witch. In the kitchen.

A kitchen witch is one who, in my view, works mainly (or maybe even only) in the kitchen, uses whatever tools are on hand, and works to impart magic of some sort into everything s/he does in the kitchen, whether it be dinner preparation or a special recipe for attracting extra money.

Make sense?  Let me know your thoughts. :)

Day 1 - Why Kitchen Witchery?

I guess everyone has had to answer questions about his or her path at some point.  Well, when someone asks me why I'm a kitchen witch, the first thing I do is tell them: I don't consider myself a witch, per se.

I consider myself a keeper of the flame, a priestess of the ancient deities of the hearth.  Kitchen Witch is just a shorter, easier title, and that's fine, too.   I'll answer to "kitchen witch", or just about anything else, for that matter.

I have always felt at home in the kitchen. I've been cooking and crafting in the kitchen for years.   When I first started studying about paganism and Wicca and such, there wasn't a whole lot of information about the path of the kitchen witch.  At least, not that I could find.  Maybe I just didn't know to look at the time.

Fast forward a few years. Texas. I met a couple of groovy Pagan ladies to hang out with, do rituals, study, chat, whatever.  I did what I always do - I brought food.  People loved it.  It opened doors.

I guess I really don't have a defining moment, but the idea really took hold when I was living in Texas.  I have some wonderful friends to thank for that.  Min, Gabs, if you're reading - love you!

I'm still working on my path.  I consider myself to be a Pagan-ish, Agnostic-type person.   I don't know for sure that the old gods are around still, or if they ever were.  I'll honor the idea, but I have no way of knowing for sure.   It's a process.

 The path to who you are and where you're going is a personal journey. I have chosen to make my path by being in tune with the rhythms of the earth through her bounty, and by sharing that bounty with people whenever possible.

What about the other lovely kitchen witches who read this blog?  Care to weigh in?  I would absolutely love to hear from some people.

30 Days of Kitchen Witchery

Won't you join me in yet another blog challenge?  This one is good for kitchen witches and hedgewitches as well.   Please feel free to play along, and don't worry if you get behind. I'm sure I will!   If you decide to participate, just put a link in the comments section to your post and I'll take it from there.  Happy blogging!

30 Days of Kitchen Witchery


1. Why kitchen witchery?
2. What makes a kitchen witch?
3. What doesn't make a kitchen witch?
4. Your favorite tool(s)  (photos)
5. Favorite kitchen task and why
6. Least favorite kitchen task and why
7. How do you imbue magic into your hearth and home?
8. Special cleaning rituals/practices
9.    Pre-cooking preparing practices
10. Recipe for love
11. Recipe for prosperity
12. Recipe for peace
13.Do you stir deosil or widdershins? 
14.Your kitchen altar
15.  Kitchen deities
16.Your kitchen deity
17.Your favorite food/meal to make in honor of your kitchen deity
18.Songs or chants that you use while cooking
19. Mealtime blessing
20. Blog about hunger
21. Do you have a familiar? Is your familiar allowed in the kitchen?
22. Favorite cookbook(s)
23.Diet and magic
24.Meat and magic (or no meat, depending on your preferences)
25. Junk food and magic
26. Favorite sabbat dishes
27. What other magic do you do in the kitchen? (Witch bottles, candles, incense, bath salts...)
28. Do you listen to music while you cook? What? Is it specific to the food you are making?
29. Worst kitchen disaster
30. The future of your path

2    I really hope you all join me!  

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