Sun and Moon Dessert

This is a Turkish recipe that combines elements of fire with water. It features pumpkin, which is perfect for Mabon and Samhain. Eat it at the equinox to celebrate balance. It's good any time you want to balance masculine and feminine energies.


Kabak Tatlisi

Ingredients:
1 smallish pumpkin*, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces (Moon, Earth, healing, money)
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water

* you want a good pound of pumpkin pieces. You can also use butternut squash, which is also a Sun-ruled vegetable.

Crushed hazelnuts (Sun, Air, wisdom, conscious mind, fertility)
Tahini (sesame paste) (Sun, Fire, Sex, fertility, money, protection)

Place the chunks of pumpkin in a large pot. Sprinkle with sugar. Let this set for several hours, until some of the liquid from the pumpkin has drained. Add extra water if needed.

Cook the pumpkin uncovered on medium-low heat until tender, approximately 30-40 minutes. The pieces of pumpkin will be darker in color and most of the liquid will be gone.

To serve, plate up the pumpkin pieces, pour on tahini and sprinkle with crushed hazelnuts.

This can also be served with clotted cream and grated pistachios in place of the tahini and hazelnuts, but this is the version I prefer.

"Lady of the silver moon
Lord of the golden sun
I take both energies within me
And make them one"

Sunday

Today is the sun's day, and to honor the sun, I decided to hit the kitchen and make some foods the remind me of the sun, whether in color, heat, or (masculine) energy.

Carrots - Masculine. Obviously a phallic symbol. The orange color resembles the sun, especially when the vegetable is sliced into discs.

Dill - Masculine. Ruled by Mercury. Element: Fire.
Uses: intelligence, mental powers, psychic powers, self-improvement, study, travel, and wisdom. Can also be used in love spells.

Parsley - Increases sexual energy and increases fertility (w00t!)

Onion - Same as parsley

I have included some feminine ingredients today as well. Yogurt is one. I am also going to share a lentil recipe with you. Lentils are ruled by the Moon. Tomorrow is the moon's day and I am getting ready.

Now, some books state that we should not incorporate ingredients with conflicting energies into the same recipes. For example, you do not want to make a recipe that includes foods for promoting psychic or mental powers with ingredients that promote increased sexuality. However, I am not making anything for a specific magical purpose. I'm cooking because I'm bored, hungry, and have some ingredients to get rid of before I travel to the US for my vacation!