A Russian Celebration w/ Rowan Berry Jelly

September 23, 2023.Reading time 13 minutes.

I bet you didn’t know that today is the birthday of the Rowan Tree or Mountain Ash. In Russia, Ryabinnik, September 23rd was the day the rowan berries were considered sweet enough for harvest, and harvest they did. Baskets of rowan berries were cooked into jam, jelly, confiture, kissel, wine, kvass, bread, pies, and candy […]

The Glorious Rose Hip: Celebrating Old Word Culinary Tradition

September 20, 2023.Reading time 14 minutes.

One of the most abundant, nutrient-dense, healing, and beautiful foods of autumn, is the wild rosehip. Why is why over at Gather Victoria Patreon I’ve devoted an entire mini cookbook to the ruby red fruit of the family “pomme’. Once a staple in cuisines around the world, I find many people today aren’t quite sure […]

Enchanted Crabapple Galette for Morgan Le Fay

September 21, 2021.Reading time 12 minutes.

Oh my, it is almost the Autumn Equinox! This means it’s time to share this rustic Crabapple Galette inspired by the Great Mother goddess Modron and the great Fairy Queen Morgan Le Fay. Crabapples and berries have long played a role in the magical lore of the Second Harvest or Mabon. (You can find more […]

Witches Sweets: Barberry Syrup Cakes

October 31, 2020.Reading time 11 minutes.

These were my very last-minute treats for last year’s Samhain celebrations. The Barberry Cake I made was a disaster, well one anyway. The other, while cooling outside, was carried off by crows. Casting around for a quick solution I came up with this simple sponge that takes all 3 minutes in the microwave. It turns […]

Drinking in the Autumn Equinox: Magical Tea Wreaths

September 22, 2020.Reading time 10 minutes.

Wreaths are time-honored symbols of the cycles of the seasons and the great wheel of the year. This Venusian Tea Wreath is woven with herbs and wild botanicals that embody the energetic principles at work in the heavens and landscape this season. It will not only cast a beautifying spell over the front door – […]

Autumn Equinox: Celebrating Harvest Baking Magic & Goddess Cuisine

September 4, 2020.Reading time 13 minutes.

I’m sorry to have been out of touch for so long! I’ve been so busy finishing the next batch of recipes for the Gather Victoria E-Cookbooks over at Gather Victoria Patreon it seems I’ve spent nearly the whole summer working without posting anything new here. So to rectify that I’m going to give you a […]

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 […]

Triple Dark Chocolate Cheesecake: An Offering For Hekate’s Night

November 14, 2018.Reading time 15 minutes.

“O night, faithful friend of mysteries; and you, golden stars and moon, who follow the fiery star of day; and you, Hecate, goddess with threefold head, you know my designs and come to strengthen my spells and magic arts; and you, earth, who offer your potent herbs to magic; and airs, winds, mountains, streams, and […]

Sticky Toffee Acorn Bundt Cake: A Prize Winning Recipe!

October 10, 2018.Reading time 13 minutes.

This moist, dense and gooey Sticky Toffee Acorn Cake was made from acorns harvested from my neighbourhood. And despite the nearly full day it took to create (from harvesting, shelling, leaching, roasting and grinding – to the actual baking) it was well worth the effort! It took first prize in a most wonderful old-fashioned community […]

Crabapple & Rosemary Hand Pies: Ancestral Offerings

September 22, 2018.Reading time 13 minutes.

A couple of years ago, completely hidden in a dark thicket of trees, I discovered a beautiful gnarled crabapple – gleaming with clusters of hundreds & hundreds of rosy, autumn fruits. I was thrilled! I love crisp truly tart apples (which are getting harder to find) so the crabapple fits the bill perfectly. Crabapples are […]