Photo: http://www.armandhammer.com/ Whether you are whipping up magic or just scrubbing a pot, there are few products that work as well and are as affordable as a box of baking soda. In fact, if you have baking soda, salt and vinegar, you have the base for all sorts of household witchery - both magical and mundane. For this post, however, we'll stick to the baking soda. A four pound box of the name brand costs about $2 - store brand or generic is even cheaper! It's natural, … [Read more...]
Herb of the Month: Lavender
January 10, 2013 By 4 Comments
Photo by Lexipexi, via Wikimedia Commons I’ve decided that I’d like to start a new monthly spot, featuring an herb or a food that can be used in many magical and mundane ways. This list was one I shared a year or so ago, but I thought it would be an easy way to slide into sharing, lol! Remember if you are going to cook with an herb, or use it in a homemade beauty product, to either use something you’ve grown yourself, purchase from trusted local … [Read more...]
A Pagan Housewife’s Garden
July 10, 2012 By 9 Comments
We have a fairly small yard, much of it on a slant that keeps us from doing much with it. We have no back yard; the bulk of our property is on that slanting hill on the side, facing the road. Not exactly the best set-up for large, lush, rambling gardens. We have, however, adapted, and created a row of square foot raised beds that produce an amazing amount of edible, culinary and magical herbs and some of the best produce you can sink your teeth into. I can't actually take much credit for … [Read more...]
Bruschetta Chicken and Pasta
June 14, 2012 By 1 Comment
Summer time is almost here, and soon the tiny, green tomatoes on my plants will be bursting into red deliciousness. This is one of my go-to summer pasta recipes for all those fresh tomatoes coming in. And here's a household witchery tip to use while you are combining the herbs for the seasoning mix: in a separate bowl, add a teaspoon of the dried garlic, onion, basil, black pepper and salt. Mix them together, then sprinkle them over the outside of your front door. Let them sit … [Read more...]
Seasonal Eating in July!
July 5, 2011 By 6 Comments
Photo by Kintaiyo via Wikimedia Commons One of the easiest (not to mention healthiest and most economical!) ways to feel close to the earth and deity is to make a conscious effort to eat in season. Peruse the local farm markets to find the most ripe, full of flavor fruits and veggies. When you buy from local farms, you are not only supporting your community and avoiding the pollution associated with trucking fruit all over the country, you can … [Read more...]
Four Ways to Dry Herbs
May 28, 2011 By 21 Comments
In my garden I grow quite a variety of herbs, plants and flowers that I use for cooking, medicinal concoctions and for magic. From mugwort to thyme, from calendula to tomatoes, my family and I tend our plants from spring to fall (winter gardening in NJ tends to consist of looking at several feet of snow and sighing loudly). Now of course, with all the great things that we grow, an important part of growing our own is preserving part of what we grow to get through the rest of the year. For … [Read more...]
Bringing Magic Into Your Thanksgiving Dinner
November 23, 2010 By 11 Comments
PRNewsFoto/Foster Farms Thanksgiving is the perfect time for the domestic witch to bring magic into a meal. On a day that often sees family gather from near and far, it's a great opportunity to infuse your meal with magical intentions and blessings. What's the difference between just cooking a meal and making it magical? The knowledge of the traditional and/or magical correspondences of the ingredients, and cooking with intent. While you measure, pour, mix and cook, think about … [Read more...]
Relationship Magic: Recipes for Aphrodisiacs
November 17, 2010 By 14 Comments
Photo by oiver Abels via Wikimedia Commons There are tons of different foods (oysters, chocolate, artichokes) and herbs that are said to work their lusty magic, for a variety of reasons. Some set off those parts of the brain that make you feel excited. Some get your blood flowing. Different scents get your brain working in different ways. The most important thing is to find our what works for you and your partner (assuming you and your partner are two consenting adults. … [Read more...]
Garden Starting Tips
March 17, 2010 By 13 Comments
A few people contacted me yesterday about the peat pellets we had started our seeds in. We've used a couple of methods for starting seeds, and this one seems to be the one that stuck. However, there are some great (some cheaper, some not!) ways to start seeds, and Mr. B. pointed me to some of his favorite videos so I could share! The first one is basically free, especially if you compost and have your own dirt already. It uses your old newspapers and an old soup can and it's easy … [Read more...]
Imbolc Recipe: Yogurt Chicken Salad
January 20, 2010 By 10 Comments
This recipe is a my take on a fruity, crunchy, creamy chicken salad incorporating a few of the traditional foods of Imbolc: dairy, poultry, and seeds. First up, the list of ingredients: Leftover roasted chicken (not shown), Greek yogurt, mayo, the juice of a lemon, honey, poppy seeds, salt and pepper, pecans, seedless red grapes and celery. If you're using the chicken leftover from another meal, this is a super easy and quick meal that's also quite healthy. First off, we'll need to … [Read more...]
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