Cooking for Lughnassadh: Seed Cake for Gimli

This sweet bread cake was made from the LOTR description. We thought it would be a nice touch to the 1st harvest feast.

2 1/2 cup all purpose flour (or gluten free all purpose mix)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 ounces butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoon caraway seeds
1/2 cup milk (or almond, soy or rice milk flavored with vanilla)

Add in seeds of the season, don't use too many as it becomes clumpy and will not bake right.
2 teaspoon poppy seeds
2 tablespoon flax seed
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
3 tablespoons sunflower seeds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Butter an 8 inch round cake pan
3. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Cream butter and sugar, add egg and mix all above together.
5. Add seeds seeds and pour milk until batter is smooth and thick. 
6. Pour into pan.
7. Bake for 45 minutes
8. Cool in pan for 10 minutes
9. Transfer to cooling rack and let finish cooling.

Willow's Notes: The cake is thick and sweet, even though it is cooked all the way through it still looks like it is not. The dough will not pour into the pan, in order for it to poor in we suggest adding another egg and waiting for the one stick of butter to reach room temp, really soft. And we also suggest adding a full 1 cup of milk to the mix. You might want to make it 2 teaspoons of baking powder. Try it the original recipe way first then try next time our way. Experiment to find your happy medium. Other then this it really is yummy :)

Cooking for Lughnassadh: Willows Harvest Soup

For an all out of the garden soup we suggest this one from Willow.

To get her recipe just go to The Sacred Oak blog by clicking here.

Cooking for Lughnassadh: Chocolate Chip Scones

2/3 cup Heavy whipping cream
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup coco powder
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup chocolate chips
For tops
1 large egg
1 tablespoon heavy cream

Preheat oven 375 degrees and place rack in the center

1. In a small bowl whisk cream, egg and vanilla
2. In a large bowl whisk flour, coco, sugar, baking powder, salt.
3. Using two knives or pastry cutter cut in butter into the flour mix until crumbly.
4. Stir in chaco chips add cream and egg. Dough will be sticky.
5. Transfer onto a floured surface and kneed a few times.
6. Shape into 2 8 inch circles and cut into 6 wedges. (cut each circle in hale then each side 3 triangles)
7. Transfer onto a lined cookie tray brush with egg and cream wash bake for 20 minutes, do not over bake! they will be soft. 

We found this recipe in an old recipe box with no clue as to who originally wrote it. Please enjoy :)

Cooking for Lughnassadh

We will be doing a number of traditional dishes for you to see. We will update as often as possible. We decided to start with the up coming Sabbath. We will start with the most traditional recipes and work our way to those that need special requirements. Many of these recipes are found in books and online and we will post where we found them. Along with the recipes we do we will add our notes for easy preparations.

The First one is a Scotts Shortbread.
From the website Wicca 101 Red Deer and Elenya Make sure to check out there other recipes.


3/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups white flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix butter and sugar until well blended. Work in the flour and salt. If the dough is too dry, add 1 to 2 Tablespoons (30 ml). more butter. Roll 1/2 inch thick on a slightly floured board. Cut into rectangles approx. 3/4 inch by 2 inch. Prick each rectangle twice with the tines of a fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Makes 30 cookies.

We used our Fall leaves cookie cutters and baked as directed checking at 18 minutes. We discovered we needed to add an extra 5 minutes. 

Below is a bigger batch recipe.

Scottish Short bread
1lb unsalted butter
5 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar

Preheat ove to 350 degres
Cream butter and sugar with hand mixer.
add flour a little at a time then switch to a wooden spoon and mix in more flour. Keep adding the flour and switch to using your hands to finish mixing the dough.
Press into jelly roll pan using a fork poke holes all the way to the bottom and that the pricks are close together make sure to do prick holes all over.
Bake for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 300 and continue to bake for 40 minutes.
Wait 2 minuted before cutting into finger length bars. Let cool completely in the pan.
Bag up into cellophane bags and give as a gift or eat at your next Witchy Tea Party.

July Full Moon

Mead Moon, Buck Moon, Thunder Moon, Summer Moon, Hungry Ghost Moon, Ripe Corn Moon, Crane Moon, Moon of the Middle Summer, Moon of Claiming, Rose Moon,

Plan a ritual to decide what you will do once your goals have been met.

Links Of Interest:
Farmers Almanac: http://www.almanac.com/content/full-buck-moon-julys-moon-guide
Ritual for the Mead Moon: http://www.ytown.com/oak/meadmoon.html
Moon rituals: http://healing.about.com/lr/moon_rituals/25000/2/

Gemstones Boost the Mead Moon’s Energy
Gems to enhance this moon’s energy include ones like Amazonite, Aquamarine, Bloodstone, Diamond, Malachite, Opal, Peridot and Ruby. These gems help enhance the energy of all the chakras. Remember that Mead is the nectar of the Gods, so having all our chakras in balance at this time helps us appreciate the Mead in our own lives!

Great Spirit
The moon at this time brings us feelings of being whole and connected. What greater spiritual connection can we have than that to Great Spirit, or God? This is the energy or spirit that governs all. We can really pay homage and respect to Great Spirit at this time because this is the time of year when we are typically at our energetic best. We can learn to recognize Great Spirit within ourselves by meditating on connecting with this being. Once you feel a connection with this energy, you will begin to become clear about all the wonderful things you are grateful for in your life. Great Spirit encourages us to first recognize blessings in our own lives and then "pay them forward", thus continuing the cycle of positive energy.

Essential Oils
Oils can be used most easily in a diffuser. Some can be added in small quantities to baths and others can be used in soap and candle making. Do some research before you try them in other ways, aside from diffusers, as some are corrosive and cause skin irritations. The following oils will help you connect with your unconscious mind and set the intention of success, celebration and health:

· Basil
· Cedar
· Cardamom
· Clove
· Eucalyptus
· Geranium
· Ginger
· Lemon
· Myrrh
· Neroli
· Patchouli
· Pine
· Sweet Pea

Litha/Midsummer Solstice Celebration

Come Join us for Litha Celebrations on June 21st  starting at 4pm - 8pm To RSVP please click here.
Festivities:

• Blessing Besoms- Click here on how to make your own. For the kids here is a good site for fun little brooms click here.
• Class on making Fire Incense Read on for what you will need.
• Bon Fire and Ceremony For Litha
• Anyone who requests a Handfasting on this night.
• Pot Luck Feasting, read on for those who wish to bring traditional types of food.

Here is a list of articles to read:

From Witchvox

From Circle Sanctuary 

A Rundown on Litha for those who can not come and visit with us.

Litha The Summer Solstice

The Festival of Growth

Litha is the season of expansion, when the crops burgeon forth. We forget winters cares and spend our days basking under the brilliant light. The Summer Solstice brings us the longest day of the year - the zenith of the Sun King, and also His death as the Holly King dethrones him and takes reign over the now waning year. From now until Yule, the light will fade into darkness.

This is the time of lovers and gardeners. The rutting fervor of Beltane has deepened into the passionate eroticism that grows when partners become familiar with one anothers rhythms and moods. It is the love between those committed by heart as well as body. It is also the love of parents for their children (be they two- or four-legged!). Everywhere we look, ripeness spills out from field and forest.

Litha is the height of the Divine Marriage, then the Oak King falls, His vigor and prime giving way to the sagacity of the Holly King, even as the Goddess prepares Herself for harvest and Cronehood

The Goddess at Litha

At the Summer Solstice, the Goddess is the Generous Mother, Freya, Flora, Habondia, she who gives life and fruitfulness to all her children. Everything in nature is generous - otherwise we could not live. The apple tree makes hundreds of apples every year, when only one seed in one apple would be enough to reproduce the tree. Bees make honey so that the hive can survive the winter, but they keep on working all summer long, storing enough to share. Life could exist without climbing roses, striped butterflies, songbirds, raspberries, or wildflowers, but the Goddess keeps making new forms of beauty for us to enjoy.

The Goddess at Summer Solstice gives us not just what we need, but extra. We can feel close to her by being generous, giving more than were asked to give, and doing more than just our fair share. That way, we make abundance for all.
The rose is the Goddesss symbol at this time of year. Roses bloom abundantly in June, and we can take joy in their sweet scent and the lovely colors of their petals.

The God at Litha

All through the first half of the year, since his birth at the Winter Solstice, the God has been growing into this life in the visible, tangible world. Now, at the Summer Solstice, he transforms. The daylight is longest and strongest at this time, but now the power of night must begin to grow again. Everything and everyone who fulfills their purpose must change. The God dies in this world in order to be born into the Otherworld. Before, he was awake in this world and asleep in the Dreamworld. Now he becomes the Dreamer, asleep in this world but awake in the world of dreams and visions, the seed of what will come to be in this world. He becomes the Messenger, carrying our hopes and prayers to the spirit realms.

The God is also the partner of the Goddess, bringing abundance to all of nature. He is Lugh, the Sun God, and he is the ancient power of life who was known simply as the Good God, Keeper of the Crops, provider for his people.

The Altar

At the Summer Solstice, the family altar can be covered with flowers, especially roses. On or around the altar, you might also place things you have completed and let go of, or are trying to let go of. Add any fist fruits of the season and, of course, images of the sun, sunflowers, and other symbols of the holiday.

You might have a special section on the altar for things to give away. Take one thing off your won altar and bring it to the family altar, or find something special to contribute. Let the things stay during the holiday season to soak up blessings, then give them away before Lughnasadh rolls around!

The Colors of Litha

Gold and green are two of the most Prevalent colors of this time of year. Not only do they represent the sun and the verdant forest, but they represent the colors of Faerie Fire Magic. Other color accents include sea green and red (especially when red roses are added to the altar).

Incense, Herbs and Woods

Incense should be full and robust - rose, violet, fir, and cedar are good. Tangerine, frankincense, and frangipani also work.
If you want to work with herbs at this time, St. Johns wort is one of the most popular associated with Litha. Also connected with the holiday: basil, parsley, mint, thyme, violet, dragons blood, fern, vervain, and lavender.
Woods of Midsummer include oak, fir, mistletoe, and holly.

Midsummer Fires

Instead of nine sacred woods being used, these are kindled of oak and fir. The midsummer fires were used much like the balefires, to hex the cattle for health and safety, to drive away baneful influences and they also represented the power of the sun at its zenith.

A List of Gods and Goddess:
Gaea Mother Earth
Lilith Goddess of Sexuality and Fertility
Astarte Goddess of fertility and reproduction
Helios The Sun God
Ra, the Eygptian sun god
Horus Egyptian God
Juno/ Hera patroness of marriage
Mercury Roman God of medicine
Lungus Celtic God of the Forest and medicine
Green man Celtic God of the seasons
Cernunnos Celtic God of the Forest ,music, Fertility
Apollo Greek God In addition to being the god of the sun, he also presided over music, medicine and healing
Amaterasu Shinto : the goddess "from which all light comes". She is much loved by her worshippers, and treats them with warmth and compassion
Oak/Holly King God of harvest
Ishtar Goddess of love and fertility.
Hathor Eygptian Goddess
Thor God of Thunder Bringing of Storms and Rains
Vesta Guardian of Virginity who broke her vows and conceived twins Romulus and Remus with the god Ares
Aphrodite Goddess of love
Athena Goddess of wisdom and war
Artemis Goddess of the hunt
Kalie Goddess of farming
Isis Goddess of ariculture

Flowers and Altar Colors
Cloths and candles of white, red, yellow, blue and green, colors of Midsummer, adorn the altar. Summer flowers, in vases of silver, gold, copper and crystal, are in abundance reflecting the joy of the Sabbat.

Amaranth: Unfading love, immortality
Aster: Love
Baby’s breath: Constancy, pure heart
Carnation: Loveliness, pride, beauty, deep love
Chrysanthemum: Love, truth, cheerfulness, optimism, fidelity
Cockscomb: Affection
Daisy: Innocence, fidelity, simplicity, youth
Freesia: Innocence
Geranium: Gentility
Ginger: Love, Money, Success, Power
Gladiolus: Sincerity, strength of character
Hawthorn: Hope
Heather: Good fortune
Honeysuckle: Rustic beauty, devoted affection and love, familial affection
Hydrangea: Gratefulness, sincerity
Iris: Message, my compliments
Larkspur: Lightness, laughter, open heart, ardent attachment
Lily: Majesty, gaiety, sweetness, purity
Lisianthus: Thoughts, outgoing
Morning glory: Affection, transience of life
Poppy: Consolation, pleasure, dreams
Rose: Love, beauty of youth, respect, unity, grace, gentility, gratitude, reverence
Water lily: Purity of heart

Crystals and Stones:
Agate: Protection, love, healing, strength, courage, longevity
Alexandrite: Love, luck
Amber: Beauty, love, healing, strength, protection, luck
Aventurine: Peace, healing, mental ability, money, luck
Beryl: Psychicism, energy, love, healing
Carnelian: Peace, protection, eloquence, courage, healing
Cat’s-Eye: Beauty, health, protection, healing
Chrysolite: Tranquility, serenity, healing, sleep, dispels negativity
Chrysopase: Success, luck, happiness, friendship, healing, protection
Crystal quartz: Psychicism, power, protection, healing
Diamond: Spirituality, peace, courage, protection, reconciliation, health, strength
Jade: Wisdom, protection, longevity, prosperity, love, healing, money
Lapis Lazuli: Joy, fidelity, psychicism, protection, love, healing, courage,
Moonstone: Divination, sleep, love, psychicism, youth, protection
Pearl: Luck, protection, love, money
Peridot: Health, wealth, sleep, protection, tranquility
Ruby: Joy, anti-nightmare, power, wealth, protection
Sapphire: Meditation, defensive magick, healing, power, psychicism, peace, love, money
Sardonyx: Romantic happiness, eloquence, peace, protection, courage, luck
Topaz: Protection, healing, love, money
Tourmaline: Friendship, energy, business, courage, peace, health, love
Turquoise: Friendship, courage, luck, money, protection, love

Fire Incense How To:
You’ll need:
Mortal and Pedestal
Jar to store the incense
3 parts myrrh
1 part apple blossoms
½ part bay leaves
½ part cinnamon bark
1 part chamomile flowers
1 part lavender flowers
2 parts mugwort
½ part rosemary
Charge Incarnation:
Balance of the heavens and earth below,
The power of the sun in this incense grows.
Cinnamon, mugwort, apple and bay,
Fire and water, on this longest day.
Herbs of power, blended by me,
As I will, so it shall be.

Junes Full Moon

Date: June 15th

A Collection of Information about this moon in no particular order.

Known as: Rose Moon, Lotus Moon, Green Corn Moon, Windy Moon, Moon When June Berries Are Ripe, Moon of Horses, Dyan Moon, Planting Moon, Lovers Moon, Strawberry moon, Honey Moon

• Plan a ritual to balance your spiritual and physical desires.

Unlike some of the winter full moons, it seems that everyone wanted to name this moon.  But all names are about good things, abundance, beauty, love.  

Now is the time to take care of your garden, your job, your family, the things that are important to you.

See how things are growing! The old has died away to make room for the new . Create an Altar of roses and honor the beauty of nature. Send flowers to your mother. Hike to the top of a mountain.

During late June and most of July the meadows, or meads, were mowed for hay.

•  protection, making decisions, personal strength, fertility

After the bees have gathered their pollen and nectar the hives are filled with honey that is waiting to be gathered. Altered states of awareness, Lucid dreaming, divine and otherworldly communication, protection, making decisions, personal strength, fertility.

Merry Moon

Nature Spirits: faeries, elves

Herbs: dittany of Crete, elder, mint, rose, mugwort, thyme, yarrow

Colours: green, brown, pink

Flowers: lily of the valley, foxglove, rose, broom

Scents: rose, sandalwood

Stones: emerald, malachite, amber, carnelian

Trees: hawthorn

Animals: cats, lynx, leopard

Birds: swallow, dove, swan

Deities: Bast, Venus, Aphrodite, Maia, Diana, Artemis, Pan, Horned God

Power Flow: full creating energy; propagation. Intuition, contact with faeries and other supernatural beings. Strengthen connection with supernatural protectors and beings around you. Power flowing from the Greenwood Gods and trees.