The Goddess Feasts: The Magic of Gratitude, Pleasure and Plenty

April 17, 2019.Reading time 13 minutes.

This April I’m celebrating Goddess Cuisine. I made a Floralia Cake for the Goddess of Flowers, Violet Cream Cupcakes for Venus, honeyed libations for the Goddess Bona Dea and a savoury fresh white cheese made with plenty of “herbs and blossoms born of the earth’s free will” for the Great Mother, Cybele. And more! This […]

Golden & Sunny Fornacalia Bread: Goddess Magic for The Feast of The Ovens

February 15, 2019.Reading time 8 minutes.

When the landscape outside your window resembles an arctic tundra – as mine currently does – there is nothing better to turn to than warm bread fresh out of the oven. So appropriately, this hearty and flavour-filled loaf is dedicated to the Roman Goddess of Ovens, Fornax, and her February festival of baking. It’s a […]

La Befana Cake: Honouring The Old Witch of Winter

December 18, 2018.Reading time 12 minutes.

Inspired by the many Italian cakes baked on Epiphany Eve as offerings to “La Befana”, this fruity golden cake (with a dash of spirit) is a Witches Cake. According to legend, Befana is an old witch who flies through the night of January 5th on her broom delivering presents to children. And as they lie […]

Pinterest: Regressive Feminist Scourge or Virtual Woman’s Temple?

April 5, 2018.Reading time 12 minutes.

(Note: I wrote this several years ago and while Instagram has now outstripped Pinterest as women’s favoured platform for sharing recipes and home decor, I’m reposting the article because the issues it addresses are sadly far from outdated). Teeming with endless pictures of magnificent cakes, sumptuous floral bouquets and festive holiday decorations, millions of women […]

Hot Cross Buns: A Recipe for Springtime Magic!

March 28, 2018.Reading time 12 minutes.

Right now every bakery to big-box superstore that is open has yeasty, doughy Hot Cross Buns for sale. Most feature large swipes of thick white icing that are irresistible, at least to me. Their popular longevity is amazing considering their history dates back to the dawn of civilization! According to a variety of food scholars, […]

Celebrate Spring! The Ancient Magical Language of Eggs

March 23, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

Coloured with magical dyes and painted with magical symbols, eggs have played a central role in spring rites and feasts for thousands of years. From Egypt, Persia, Russia to Europe eggs were sacred objects embodying the essence of life. For northern European peoples eggs embodied the fertilizing power of the spring sun because it was […]