Technical Difficulties Lead To Time Off From Blogging…

…but I’ve been busy!

While Five Element Arts – The Kitchen Witch Chronicles hasn’t been able to publish for awhile, I have been working in the gardens and preparing herbal remedies and natural moisturizers as well as writing off-line.

I hope you continue to follow the Chronicles as I endeavor to provide recipes, stories, photographs and tidbits from the kitchen and from around my home.

Samhain – A Witch’s Halloween

Samhain – pronounced ‘sow-win’ like cow-win - meaning summer’s end – is when we celebrate Halloween on October 31.

It is also the end of the Celtic year with November 1st being the beginning of the Celtic New Year.

This is a time of transformation. The harvest is in and we prepare for winter.

We honor the dead by remembering them at this time.

The Celts called upon their ancestors to guide them through the dark of winter, and celebrated with feasting and dancing.

Set a place at the table for the recently deceased to honor and invite them to join you.

Fragrant foods will fill the house with peace and joy.

Decorate with seasonal foliage and fruit. Apples and Acorns. Leaves and Pumpkins.

Place flowers on the graves of loved ones.

Light candles and remember the circle of life and death and Spirit that does not die.

Energy is neither created or destroyed.

Witches do not command the spirits. Witches do not have seances to call the spirits.

With honor and respect we invite the spirits to join us.

We aren’t looking to be entertained by bumps in the night that make us squeal with fear and delight.

As one of the Sabbats – holy days, Samhain dates back over 6000 years and under various names is celebrated throughout the world, and has been Christianized as All Hallows or All Saints Day.

It’s a great night for making love with celebration and appreciation for the transitions of life and death and rebirth.

What came before and what is to be.

“Cookery means…

the knowledge of all herbs and fruits

and balms and spices,

and all that is healing and sweet

in the fields and groves…

It means carefulness and inventiveness

and willingness and readiness…

It means the economy of your grandmothers

and the science of the modern chemist;

…it means thoroughness and…

art and…

hospitality…

…and it means

that you are to be…

…loaf givers.”

                                                                    Ruskin

Nana Bea’s Banana Bread Recipe

I have few but very special memories of Nana Bea and I was too young to solve my biggest question…is she Nana B?, Nana Bee?..why isn’t she just Nana?

This is my Nana Beatrice’s recipe and it is held in high regard in my family. I alter the original by adding Cinnamon and Nutmeg. Would Nana understand? I don’t think she would like it much. In fact, when I prep for making this by gathering all my ingredients on the table..my favorite bowl..my hand turned wooden spoon..(you should make this by hand)..the flour, the sugar…when I get out the jar of fragrant Cinnamon and the whole Nutmeg I hear the ethereal snicker of my Yankee grandmother over my shoulder. I always feel guilty, but…I’m the one eating it and I like the spice addition.

Nana would agree that it is appropriate to add Walnuts if you have them on hand. I would improve their flavor by toasting them slightly before adding them to the batter.

Nana’s spirit hangs around the kitchen reminding me to let the eggs warm to room temperature as well as the butter before beginning.

It becomes a process. A prayer. An intention.

As part of the ceremony I heat fresh water in the kettle for tea. Nana drank her tea scalding hot and black.

Nana Bea’s Banana Bread Recipe

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter

2 eggs, well beaten

2 large or 3 small Bananas, mashed

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 cup milk

Optional:

1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

Pinch of fresh ground Nutmeg

1/2 cup Walnuts, roughly chopped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour one quick bread loaf pan. Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.

Cream the sugar and butter together in a bowl. Add the eggs and mix well. Mix in the Bananas.

Alternate adding dry ingredients and the milk. Mix well.  Mix in Walnuts.

Bake 60 minutes.

Cool in the pan for 10 minutes turned on side, then remove and cool thoroughly.

Wrap in foil.

Great toasted.

Upgrade Cake Bible Buttercream with Vanilla and Less Butter.

If you love to bake cakes then you must have Rose Levy Beranbaum’s The Cake Bible.  Beranbaum breaks down the science of cake baking and encourages you to expand your abilities with butter and sugar. To that end I have updated Beranbaum’s Classic Buttercream Recipe by using less butter and the addition of Vanilla Extract. You need a kitchen scale and you need a sugar thermometer, but you don’t need to be intimidated.

I follow The Cake Bible’s directions thoroughly and measure eggs and sugar by weight and I add a dash of Extra Fine Salt. I just reduce the amount of butter – the original recipe calls for one pound – to less than 3 sticks of butter and add 2 Tablespoons of Vanilla Extract. The Vanilla cuts through the cloying butter flavor for a fuller, richer flavor.

I like to serve The Cake Bible’s All Occasion Downy Yellow Butter Cake with my altered Classic Buttercream and a dollop of warm Apricot Jam on the side to cut the sweetness.

Must Be The Reasons Of A Witch

I’ve been absent in so many ways for far too long this winter.

A confirmed Fibromyalgia diagnosis has me questioning so many aspects of my life.

Aside from the syndrome that has been with me my whole life I now am crashing into the aging process.

I believe this list would benefit any person:

Positive Thoughts

Stress Reduction

Exercise

Nutrition

Sleep

Water

This list is not meant to be considered in order of importance as all aspects are related and are equally crucial to well being.

Wouldn’t you think that taking care of ourselves would be the easiest part of living? Why is it so difficult for us to acknowledge the importance of sustaining and nurturing ourselves?

Why is it easier to down a soda instead of a glass of water?

Why do we accept treating ourselves badly in so many ways?

I don’t have answers, just a day by day thought-filled awareness of walking the proper path one step after another. It is a lifestyle change that encompasses every choice.

No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

Not Your Mama’s Recipe!

I have reworked the original recipe that called for 2 cups of sugar. Make these with the best quality ingredients. This recipe contains Peanut Butter.

In a heavy bottomed sauce pan combine and stir together:

1 cup sugar (Update – I am currently using less than 2/3 cup of sugar)
Pinch of salt
3 Tbls. butter
1/2 cup milk

Bring to a boil and cook a minute or so then add:

1 oz. chocolate
1/2 cup Peanut butter

Stir as the chocolate and peanut butter melts.

Bring back to a boil then turn off the heat and add:

1 tsp. Vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups Oatmeal flakes

Stir in quickly until the Oatmeal is fully coated. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper and cool. Very hot! Think molten lava! Let them cool and set. Makes 2 dozen.

Castor Sugar

For all my fine baking I use Baker’s Special Superfine Castor Sugar from King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont.

This sugar is quick dissolving and can be used just like regular granulated sugar.

This is a ‘must have’ in my pantry.

Butter Cream Frosting Recipe

Butter. Sugar. Cream. Vanilla…How can it get any better? By using the freshest, best quality ingredients available. If you are going to all the effort to make a cake, then cover it with the best tasting frosting. Guests will be eyeing a second piece of cake before they have finished the first!

I get ingredients from King Arthur Flour. Glazing Sugar. Vanilla. Check them out!

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter

1 pound (1 bag or 4 cups) Glazing sugar

1 Tbl. Vanilla extract

1 Tbl. Cream

Pinch of salt (preferably Fleur de Sel)

Beat all the ingredients on low in your mixer, slowly increasing the speed to medium. Beat until light and fluffy, scraping the bowl a couple of times. Do not over beat.

This is great on the Feathery Fudge Cake.

Coleslaw Recipe

Coleslaw is a side dish common here in the Northeast, but generally they aren’t very good. This is my go-to recipe that is quick and easy, and stands the test of time.

4 cups shredded cabbage

1/2 cup shredded carrot

2 Tbls. minced onion

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 Tbl. vinegar

1 tsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. celery seed (optional)

In a large bowl combine the cabbage, carrot and onion.

Prepare the dressing from the remaining ingredients, and mix well into the vegetables.

Cover and chill.