Ever notice how pot lucks usually end up with a table full of store bought sweets and multi-layered Mexican dips? It can be difficult to bring warm dishes to a pot luck if it is outdoors or in a small space with limited access to power outlets. I decided I would make a savory shortbread cookie to bring to Circle last month for a change of pace. Delicious!
2 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped (1-2 sprigs)
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
Combine flour, sugar, salt, and rosemary together in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add zest and juice from the orange, as well as the butter, and pulse until combined into a dough. You will need to refrigerate the dough for a bit (15-20 minutes). I scooped mine as you would a chocolate chip cookie. You can also form it into a log, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it that way so you can slice and bake. If you want to do the slice and bake method, I would leave the dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden on the edges. Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes or so before you move them to a cooling rack as they are quite delicate.
Witch's Notes:
Both Rosemary and Oranges are associated with the element earth, making them perfect for grounding. Rosemary also holds protection properties which will help if you are doing any spirit work. It is always a good idea to ground after ritual work or meditation. If you have ever not grounded after ritual or spirit work, you know that your energy levels can be depleted and out of whack. I will get dizzy or even nauseous. Eating is a great way to connect with earth energy to ground and these savory little cookies are perfect for that!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Pear Cupcakes with Ginger Butter Cream Frosting
At my company's holiday dinner party this year I had a fabulous desert. Poached Pear with Ginger Ice Cream. It was so delicious. I've been dreaming of the combination of pears and ginger ever since. After an afternoon glued to Cupcake Wars I had an idea to turn those flavors into a cupcake. Only I'm not much of a baker. So I channeled Sandra Lee, the Queen of Semi-homemade cuisine and went into the kitchen to see what I could do and this is what I did:
Cupcakes
2 tablespoons butter
4 bosc pears diced small
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pear vodka
---
1 box of cake mix (I used Duncan Hines white cake)
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
approximately 2 shots of Pear vodka
Frosting
2 sticks softened, unsalted butter
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons ground ginger
Heat oven according to instructions on box. Peel pears, cut in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds, and cut into a small dice. Melt butter in skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add pears, brown sugar, and vodka. Stirring occasionally, cook until most of the liquid has evaporated/cooked down into a near caramel sauce-like state and then remove from heat. (I intended to add pictures but I'm having some technical difficulties. I will try to add them later.)
Combine cake mix, water, vodka, eggs, oil and cooked pears in a mixing bowl. Beat with electric mixer until well combined. Fill 24 lined cupcake tins 2/3 full and bake. My cupcakes baked in 18 minutes. Start with the low end of time instructions on the box and let them go a few minutes longer if necessary.
While the cupcakes bake, beat the butter with a mixer until it is quite creamy. Add the sifted powdered sugar a little at a time, mixing well. Add remaining ingredients and beat until well blended. If you wish to have a thinner frosting, add more milk in small quantities until your reach the consistency you're looking for. And if you prefer a thicker frosting, simply add more powdered sugar.
Witch's Notes: Both pears and ginger are known to hold properties for love. Ginger holds some heat so it can give you a little boost in the bedroom too! Tailor a spell for love or something a little spicier to your needs, chant it over your bowls as you stir clockwise. Maybe your can serve these to your significant other for dessert on Valentine's Day ;-)
Cupcakes
2 tablespoons butter
4 bosc pears diced small
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pear vodka
---
1 box of cake mix (I used Duncan Hines white cake)
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
approximately 2 shots of Pear vodka
Frosting
2 sticks softened, unsalted butter
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons ground ginger
Heat oven according to instructions on box. Peel pears, cut in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds, and cut into a small dice. Melt butter in skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add pears, brown sugar, and vodka. Stirring occasionally, cook until most of the liquid has evaporated/cooked down into a near caramel sauce-like state and then remove from heat. (I intended to add pictures but I'm having some technical difficulties. I will try to add them later.)
Combine cake mix, water, vodka, eggs, oil and cooked pears in a mixing bowl. Beat with electric mixer until well combined. Fill 24 lined cupcake tins 2/3 full and bake. My cupcakes baked in 18 minutes. Start with the low end of time instructions on the box and let them go a few minutes longer if necessary.
While the cupcakes bake, beat the butter with a mixer until it is quite creamy. Add the sifted powdered sugar a little at a time, mixing well. Add remaining ingredients and beat until well blended. If you wish to have a thinner frosting, add more milk in small quantities until your reach the consistency you're looking for. And if you prefer a thicker frosting, simply add more powdered sugar.
Witch's Notes: Both pears and ginger are known to hold properties for love. Ginger holds some heat so it can give you a little boost in the bedroom too! Tailor a spell for love or something a little spicier to your needs, chant it over your bowls as you stir clockwise. Maybe your can serve these to your significant other for dessert on Valentine's Day ;-)
Greetings
I always really enjoyed cooking. The kitchen was always a central part of home and family gatherings. And somewhere along the way a busy work schedule, a long commute, and taking care of kids made for one tired Mom. You know, the usual tale of the Suburban Working Mom. Energy is low and you just want to rest so you call out for delivery or throw a frozen pizza in the oven... or ask your husband to cook knowing his response will be "we'll go out for dinner tonight".
Nearly two years ago I decided that I needed to get back to feeding my spirit and to look, in earnest, for a local community. I consider myself Pagan and an Eclectic Witch and I was, after all, living in Suburbia surrounded by Christians. While my neighbors are pleasant enough, I just never felt like I fit in. I didn't bring up my beliefs for a long time. They know now that I am Pagan. What they think that means I'm not sure. They've never asked questions. But I was lacking that sense of community that makes you feel like you are not alone, provides support and encouragement. I stumbled upon a shop in Fairfax called Sticks & Stones through several other groups I was aware of (The Northern Virginia Pagan Network and Goddess School). I began attending workshops and open circles and quickly made friends with like minded folks. I spent several weeks learning about herbs and their magical uses and attended a workshop on kitchen witchery. Most things you find on the subject are for home remedies for minor medical issues, herbal teas, and beauty products.
Recently, my family's finances took at huge hit and it left me with a severely restricted budget. With the cost of groceries skyrocketing, I am figuring out how to get the most for my money when it comes to feeding my family. For now this means planning our meals and shopping around what is on sale at the grocery store and clipping coupons. It also means that I'm forced back in to the kitchen whether I like it or not! Turns out I do still love to create in the kitchen. And I got to thinking that, with all my new found knowledge of herbs, I can create magical meals. And why not share them! So here I am with a new blog. A cooking blog to keep me inspired both in a culinary manner as well as magically.
I am by no means a chef. Outside of home economics class in high school and a one-day Thai cooking class while vacationing at a resort in Thailand, I have no training. Like many people, I love to eat and am addicted to watching cooking shows! I just happen to be a witch too. So why not build meals with a purpose?
Recipes coming real soon!
Nearly two years ago I decided that I needed to get back to feeding my spirit and to look, in earnest, for a local community. I consider myself Pagan and an Eclectic Witch and I was, after all, living in Suburbia surrounded by Christians. While my neighbors are pleasant enough, I just never felt like I fit in. I didn't bring up my beliefs for a long time. They know now that I am Pagan. What they think that means I'm not sure. They've never asked questions. But I was lacking that sense of community that makes you feel like you are not alone, provides support and encouragement. I stumbled upon a shop in Fairfax called Sticks & Stones through several other groups I was aware of (The Northern Virginia Pagan Network and Goddess School). I began attending workshops and open circles and quickly made friends with like minded folks. I spent several weeks learning about herbs and their magical uses and attended a workshop on kitchen witchery. Most things you find on the subject are for home remedies for minor medical issues, herbal teas, and beauty products.
Recently, my family's finances took at huge hit and it left me with a severely restricted budget. With the cost of groceries skyrocketing, I am figuring out how to get the most for my money when it comes to feeding my family. For now this means planning our meals and shopping around what is on sale at the grocery store and clipping coupons. It also means that I'm forced back in to the kitchen whether I like it or not! Turns out I do still love to create in the kitchen. And I got to thinking that, with all my new found knowledge of herbs, I can create magical meals. And why not share them! So here I am with a new blog. A cooking blog to keep me inspired both in a culinary manner as well as magically.
I am by no means a chef. Outside of home economics class in high school and a one-day Thai cooking class while vacationing at a resort in Thailand, I have no training. Like many people, I love to eat and am addicted to watching cooking shows! I just happen to be a witch too. So why not build meals with a purpose?
Recipes coming real soon!
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