Tarta De Venus: A Not So Traditional Easter Cake

April 7, 2020.Reading time 8 minutes.

This simple tart is inspired by the Tarta de Santiago, a very dense, moist, almond cake traditionally served during Holy Week in Spain. It usually features the image of the St. James Cross dusted in powdered sugar but I went with a scallop shell instead. Venus goddess of love, beauty and fertility mythically arose from […]

Glorious Spring Greens: The Divine Flavours of Viriditas

March 30, 2020.Reading time 21 minutes.

I eat my spring greens religiously and want to make you a convert too. For me, it boils down to viriditas which literally means “greenness” in Latin – not just any green but that incandescent lit from within greenness that is vitality, fecundity, lushness, verdure, and growth. Twelfth-century Abbess and herbalist Hildegard Von Bingen used the […]

A Passion For Violet: A Video Preview

March 26, 2020.Reading time less than 1 minute.

I’ve been busy making videos on foraging & eating wild spring greens over at Gather Victoria Patreon but in April with the entrance of Venus, Goddess of Beauty and Love, I’ll be paying homage to her flower. Yes, that spring seductress of the wild woodland – violet. Used in perfumes, enchantments and love-spells throughout the […]

To Long Life & Good Health: A Honey Herbal Wine to Toast the Coming of Spring

March 21, 2020.Reading time 9 minutes.

If you’re looking to lift a toast for the Spring Equinox, I’ve got the perfect libation! We’re going to infuse aromatic healing herbs into honeyed wine, and offer a toast to Anna Perenna the Roman Goddess of long life, renewal and good health. Her annual festival and feast were held in March when her powers […]

Wild Spring Greens: A Superfood Recipe Round-up!

March 19, 2020.Reading time 15 minutes.

The wild spring greens are here! Jam-packed with “nutraceuticals” known to have antiviral, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, immune supportive and immune-stimulating properties, they’re absolutely free and grow abundantly outside your front door. And they’re delicious. From mild and sweet, tart and citrusy to peppery and oniony, wild greens add all kinds of flavour to your everyday meals. […]

Whiskey & Spice Milk Punch w/ A Magical Touch of Heather

January 31, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

Happy Imbolc! In celebration, I’m sharing this recipe for Whiskey Milk Punch from the Gather Victoria ECookery book (for Gather Patrons) which is called Scailtin in Ireland. It can be dated back to the 1700s where it was commonly served in a punchbowl and drunk warm in a mug – but I’m serving it over […]

Baba Yaga’s Wild Spiced Honey Cookies

December 21, 2019.Reading time 20 minutes.

Ever since I called upon that beloved old witch of Slavic, Baltic and Russian folklore to be my winter baking muse – I’ve had nothing but trouble. Which should have been no surprise, Baba Yaga is renowned for testing your mettle with endless impossible tasks which determine whether she will help you- or hinder you […]

Strawberry Tree Crumble Cake…The Magical Forgotten Fruit!

November 12, 2019.Reading time 8 minutes.

The Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo) is an ornamental shrub that grows all over the PNW but its abundant, plush, juicy fruits just end up littering sidewalks. Seems no one remembers we’ve been eating these succulent fruits for thousands of years! Right now in the PNW the fruits are bright red & ripe with a mild, […]

“Soul Cakes” for an Old-Fashioned All Hallows Eve

October 29, 2019.Reading time 10 minutes.

“A soule cake, a soule cake, Have mercy on all Christen soules for a soule-cake.” John Aubrey, 17th century I’ve been researching old world recipes in search of Halloween food inspiration, and these sweet little barmbrack “soul cakes” are the result. And while we may think of all things pumpkin when it comes to Halloween, originally […]

Cake For The Priestesses Of The Dead

October 20, 2019.Reading time 7 minutes.

Halloween takes its roots in ancient festivals and feasts honouring the dead, like Samhain. Which makes it a perfect time for cake…not just any cake, but a cake in remembrance of the Haliorunna. Never heard of them? They were the oracular priestesses of the “underworld mysteries” whose rites of divination and ancestor veneration were demonized and […]

Wild Mustard Tart w/ Potato & Gruyere Cheese (drizzled with Coastal Mugwort Honey)

September 29, 2019.Reading time 9 minutes.

One of my favourite herbs is the peppery hot wild mustard and I think it’s peppy flavour pairs perfectly with savoury potatoes and melted cheese – as in this Wild Mustard Tart. The fact that I dribbled the sweet sagey warmth of coastal mugwort infused honey (recipe here) over the top makes it just plain irresistible. […]

Wild Berry Cakes for Camossung: A Prayer For Restoring The Garden

August 23, 2019.Reading time 17 minutes.

My family background is pretty diverse (stretching across Europe from Spain, France, Greece to Eastern Europe and Russia) so I harvest and write about the many foods my ancestors have eaten for literally thousands of years. But I also resonate deeply with the food cultures of the Coast Salish Peoples whose territories I occupy. How […]