Aldora Dawn The Kitchen Witch

The Best tart dessert and Sweet Wine pairing….you must try this combination, my guests just loved it! Rhubarb Custard Pie paired with ERRAZURIZ Late Harvest (Chile) Sauvignon Blanc. It’s very sweet like an ice wine but very light and refreshing – serve chilled. Enjoy

Can’t afford a Getaway? Turn your home into a Day at the Spa…

Check out our section “Herbal Lore & Remedies“…here’s just a glimpse of what’s happening there!

Still cold outside?? Make it a Spa Day …..turn off the cell, lock the doors and close the blinds.

Herbs for Spicy Sorcery & Sexual Arousal
~Parsley has long been associated with love and sex, “eating a salad with lots of fresh parsley will invigorate the couple for lovemaking.”
~Mint can create a love making adventure when warmed up with honey to infuse the flavor and cool sensation of this body elixir. Heat up the honey and bruise the fresh mint, let them mingle for a few days – heat up a bit before use. It creates a heating tingling and cooling sensation that tastes amazing!
~Thyme is sexually stimulating, arousing  and invigorating. Add a strong tea brew to your bath, it stimulates the whole body bringing the blood vessels to the surface. It promotes a higher oxygen intake and a respiratory aid, that will provide for longer lasting sex.
~Sexually Stimulating Body Rub – 1/2 cup dried Thyme, 1/2 cup dried Sage, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1 cup sea salt (not coarse), 10 drops of rose oil, 1/4 cup of melted extra virgin coconut oil. Mix together and pack in a jar. Use for body rubs…try it in the bath or shower for easy clean-up!
~Prolong Lovemaking Elixir of Love. It stimulates and arouses, and there’s nothing that turns a man on more than an aroused woman. In a pot steep a strong tea of mint, basil & rosehips. After your shower or bath (while your still in the tub) sponge your warm tea all over your body and privates. This elixir will have you smelling sweet, clean and pulsating with desire.
~Sensuous Cinnamon Body Rub – 1 cup Coconut oil steeped in a pot with 15 cinnamon sticks & 1 tbsp of honey. Oil has to heat up to a gentle boil, then simmer on low for 2 hours. Let it stand for an hour to cool and then strain into a shallow jar with a lid. The coconut oil will harden again and it will be a perfect “cold cream” with an invigorating heat that as you rub gets hotter and hotter – it tastes great too!
~Sexual Stamina Love Potion – Mulled Wine is a great Aphrodisiac when combined with the seducing powers of  Nutmeg and Cinnamon. Nutmeg heightens the libido and acts as “Viagra”. Steep 2 cups of Orange Brandy with a cheesecloth sachet made up of 6 crushed nutmegs, 10 whole cloves and 5 cinnamon sticks. Let steep for 5 hours. Add a bottle of your favorite red wine and serve warm.

Well St.Patrick’s Day was a blast! We celebrated with a big party….and lots of food!

Antique Cookbooks

Just a few of my personal favorite cookbooks. I love reading antique and vintage cookbooks, they are so interesting! Thought I would share the picture, some of the best ones were written in the 1800′s.

To all my many followers out there….I would like feedback on this new tab, send me an email and let me know if this interests you

contact me – aldora@kitchenwiccan.com or click on the twitter link below

Skype name is aldora.dawn – add me as a contact if you wish to have a session

With Winter Solstice & Christmas fast approaching lets get out our list, and check it twice

1. Christmas Cards – For years I sent out 50-70 Christmas cards. It took about 10 years to smarten up and create the perfect system. I keep all my Christmas cards I received from the previous year stored with my Christmas wrapping paper, all neatly bound together with addresses from their envelopes.  I fill out all my cards and send them to the people that sent me a Christmas card. There may be a few exceptions but there you have it – makes life pretty easy!

2. Gifts – If you were smart enough to start saving a bit throughout the year, and buying things here and there…congrats! It’s hard to think about Christmas the whole year through but those who do, end up way further ahead in the long run.  I love depositing PayPal money in my sisters account for the kids to shop online with for Christmas. That way they can get different things you can’t find in stores – and I’m sure some time in the near future it will be the way to shop for everything. I like blending tea’s and packaging them as gifts.

3. Decorating and use of lights. I’ve really cut back on the decorating. Thinned out my old tacky Christmas stuff and purchased some really nice pieces I’ve always wanted. Keep the sentimental stuff and don’t over do it on the nick – knacks… cluttering the place with decorations is an eye sore! Lighting is essential to feeling the Christmas spirit. Please put your lights up neatly and straight because your neighbors are the ones that have to look at them all month! I like to keep lights up year round inside the house, clear ones for accents in the evenings – they can create great atmosphere. I hung a clear strand in one of my potted plants in a corner and now it’s a spectacular sight when the sun goes down, and I keep it there all year for accent lighting.

4. The Christmas / Yule Tree. My ornaments change from time to time. I make many of my own ornaments with stained glass, or with things like eucalyptus, straw, baked goods, dried fruit, nuts & ribbons. If your creative, let it flow and see what you come up with. It takes me a full day just to put up and decorate the tree! Oh, and for an added touch – I dye my hair red every Christmas.

5. Music. Christmas music is playing everywhere you go through the holidays, but when your at home you can control what type of Christmas music you listen to. The Christmas Classic oldies are the most wonderful “feel good” jingles out there. Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley are just a few of the all time best artists to play through the holidays. I highly recommend you play these tunes while decorating your tree or while your baking Christmas goodies – put the love, energy and good vibes into what your creating and it will turn out beautiful every time! A glass of wine in hand for both these tasks doesn’t hurt either

6. Celebration of Food. Don’t just have one big Christmas dinner! I start in November and have a few friends over about 6 people at a time every weekend or so. I make big celebratory dinners like cabbage rolls, glazed ham & homemade perogies to kick start the season of giving. I love entertaining and feeding people gives me peace & joy. Bake your goodies ahead of time and freeze them so you can pull them out whenever company should happen by. Keep the eggnog & rum handy. Please do take the time to snuggle on the couch with a mug of hot mulled cider!

Old Father Christmas with his Yule Log. Keeping with tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householders land, or given as a gift…it must never have been bought.

Clove spiked Oranges, Cinnamon scented Pine Cones & Poinsettias make a beautiful table centerpiece that will last through the month.

Halloween this year was busy as usual. Trying to get things wrapped up for then end of my seasonal job and then booking and planning an annual trip to a convention in Las Vegas that I attend every Nov 1st. It’s a struggle to put on a good Halloween Bash – but with many late nights decorating, cooking, sewing, music & video editing we managed to pull it off and held a great party in our 2,000 square foot loft that we dubbed “Ye Olde Tavern” for the party this year.

 

 

 

 

 

Great fun was had by all. Setting the scene to a party is most important

Invest in black lighting and a few props…

Syringe shooters and creepy appies are a must when your planning the menu!

 

Make sure invites are sent out 2 months in advance so people can plan their costumes.

 

 

 

 

 

Spend the time and energy  on planning your party and it will pay off in the long run. Your party will be a big success!

There’s just something about the change of weather that brings comfort foods back to our tables. It’s time to reflect back and give thanks for all that you have – not dwelling on what you don’t have. We can thank the Goddess for her abundance and this celebration falls upon the second harvest following Mabon. We’re thankful for Family, Friends and loved ones to share the holidays with, and if your any kind of food lover….It’s also a time for a traditional Turkey dinner and all the trimmings. This year,  we were invited out to a rotisserie Turkey dinner with friends and it was beautiful. My girlfriend and her husband cooked a magnificent meal, a BBQ’d Stuffed Turkey done to perfection – tender on the inside and coated with crispy skin on the outside. Accompanied by all the traditional sides it was a perfect meal – and I got a day out of the kitchen! Here’s some great photo’s…

 

Wrapped in twine, seasoned with a rub and stuffed – this Rotisserie Turkey was incredible, full of flavor and juicy as could be! All of the delicious juices were caught in a drip pan.

 

BBQ’d Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed Yams, Turnips & Carrots, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Broccolini, Green Beans & Asparagus, oh and don’t forget the Gravy!

 

Chocolate Pumpkin Torte made with chocolate pastry…mmmm! Served with a doll-up of whipped cream.

The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year’s crops. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time.This holiday is a celebration of harmony and balance. Wiccans celebrate the Goddess in her transition from Mother to Crone.  It’s a time to give handmade gifts from our harvest.

Mabon is the Witch’s Thanksgiving, a time to appreciate and give thanks to the Goddess for her bounty and to share in the joys of harvest and creating magic in the kitchen with all the bountiful foods of the Fall. Fruits, Squash, Corn, Gourds, Pumpkins, Grains, Nuts, Vegetables, Ciders, Wine.

It marks a time to take part in many activities. Canning and preserving our harvest for the winter to come, gathering herbs, collecting acorns & pine cones, collecting pods and drying seeds, making wine and ciders & liqueur, baking breads, pies and sweet treats. Just a walk in the woods and smelling the fresh crisp air.

Hurray for the Arrival of the Summer Solstice!Time for Patio Fun in the Sun

Fresh, Bright and Best of All Nutritional….Summer Salads are my Favorite. The BBQ is the only way to go all Summer long!

Grilled Wild Sockeye Salmon Fillet with Hot & Sweet Mustard dressing over this bed of greens with Tomato, Onion, Avocado, Cucumber, Goat Cheese, Croutons & Capers.
Dressing : In a salad shaker combine,
1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tsp keens hot mustard, 2 tbsp dijon mustard, 1/8 cup rice vinegar, 4 tbsp maple syrup, 1/2 tsp salt & pepper each, 1 tsp crushed Tarragon, 1/2 tsp onion powder.

Fresh Tomato, Basil, Feta and Shaved Onion with a Drizzle of Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar. Serve it up with a Skewer of Chicken and a Wedge of Grilled Focaccia Bread.

Spring is here, and so are the anticipated arrival of plump Strawberries, fresh Asparagus and bitter-sweet Rhubarb. Celebrate the Goddess Eostre and the Spring Equinox.

Pagans all over the world celebrate the Spring Equinox. Day and Night are equal. The spring equinox is sacred to dawn, youth, the morning star and the east. The Saxon goddess, Ostara / Eostre (whose name we get the direction East and the holiday Easter) is a dawn goddess, like Aurora and Eos.

The month of March contains holidays dedicated to all the great mother goddesses: Astarte, Isis, Aprhrodite, Cybele and the Virgin Mary. The goddess shows herself in the blossoms, the leaves on the trees, the sprouting of the crops, the mating of birds, the birth of young animals. In the agricultural cycle, it is time for planting. We are assured that life will continue.

 

Eggs are one of the symbols of Spring since they represent new life and potential. Seeds are like eggs. While eggs contain the promise of new animal life, seeds hold the potential of a new plant.

• Baby Spinach (fill 3/4 of each serving bowl)
• Fresh Strawberries (slice them and add at least 4 strawberries per salad)
• Avocado (dice it and add at least ¼ of an avocado per salad)
• Feta or Blue Cheese (crumble & add 2 tbsp per salad)
• Red Onion (thinly cut add one slice per salad)
• Pecans or Walnuts (toast in a pan with a pad of butter & 1 tsp of brown sugar)

Top with your favorite Creamy Poppy Seed dressing & enjoy!

This soup is best made when you have left over sautéed veggies from the previous day.  I had left over Asparagus that I had sautéed in butter, about 10 spears. I also had some left over fried mushrooms & onions that went with our devoured steak – about half a cup. This soup makes 2-3 servings. You could also serve it over roasted chicken.

In a medium pot simmer;

1 cup of half & half light cream

2 cups milk

2 tbsp chicken soup base

1 tsp curry powder

¼ tsp cracked black pepper

~ You can throw this together in 5 minutes if you have the leftover sautéed veggies – if not just sauté in butter about 10 asparagus spears, 6 chopped mushrooms and ¼ of sliced onion. Add your veggies to the above ingredients, puree with hand mixer and simmer for 10 minutes. It’s up to you whether you strain the soup or not. I prefer the gooey goodness of the veggies left in there, but others may not appreciate the texture.