My new Book September 30, 2011

I am so excited. I was able to pick this book up today at Hastings. It wasthe fastest way I could it. I have lots of Pagan books, but this is kinda my way making myself take the time to spend on my religion. Something I have been slacking on for awhile.

Get off your broom fitness challenge

 

I am very excited to be apart of the Get off your broom fitness challenge that is starting tomorrow.

 

To find out more about this challenge check out The Domestic Pagan.  

Kitchen Witchery

What is a Kitchen Witch?
In all honesty, it’s not much different from a hearth witch. The difference is that cooking and food is central to a kitchen witch. Just as the hearth witch honors the hearth, the kitchen witch honors what she cooks, preparing meals with nurturing love and a touch of magick. Sometimes these are magick spells, but for the most part they are the meals that she serves her family on a daily basis.

The kitchen witch acknowledges that food is sacred and life-giving. Eating is necessary to life and part of the balance and cycle of nature. Food comes from the Earth, the most natural source of all. When we nurture our bodies with food, we honor the Earth, Divinity, and ourselves. Eating good, wholesome natural food is the best thing we can do for ourselves.

Often a kitchen witch will grow her own garden and use fruit, vegetables, and herbs from that garden. For many kitchen witches that cannot grow a garden for whatever reason, they focus on buying natural ingredients especially from a their local farmer’s market. Whether the ingredients are grown in the backyard or bought from a supermarket, the kitchen witch understands what is available seasonally. She also understands that different foods have magickal properties. This does not necessarily mean the kitchen witch is vegan or vegetarian. Some believe the “circle of life” includes eating meat.

Kitchen witchery often looks much like green witchcraft, hedge witchery, and cottage witchery. A kitchen witch is in tune with nature and understands what it means to live an environmentally friendly lifestyle. However, a kitchen witch’s expertise often goes beyond simply preparing meals. She is often a skilled herbal healer, candle maker, at crafts, aromatherapy, or able to make natura beauty and cleaning products.A kitchen witch may celebrate the turning of the wheel by acknowledging the sabbats, but she isn’t likely to practice Wicca or formal ritual. Her practice may appear spontaneous and unorganized to others. Some honor Deity while others simply work with nature. She is most likely to practice as a solitary. The kitchen witch uses very few formal tools and instead utilizes that which already exists in the home. if she does practice ritual, the knife she uses to slice vegetables may double as her athame.

Because of the folk magick-like style of the kitchen witch, she is sometimes looked down upon by other witches or Wiccans. However, the skill and power of the kitchen witch should never be underestimated. Some who practice kitchen witchery may not even call themselves witches at all. Many have a practice that resembles shamanism more than it does witchcraft.

The Magick of Food Because different foods do have magickal properties, the old saying “You are what you eat” is the basic magickal philosophy of the kitchen witch. However, it goes far beyond the physical. For example, a banana with it’s phallic shape has a power that goes beyond potassium. A banana when eaten by males, it increases fertility and heroism. When eaten by females, it draws a lover. This is just one example. The list is so extensive that entire books have been written on the topic.

 

For more info check out The Domestic Pagan.   That is where this awesome article came from.

Struggling to worship

I am really struggling lately. I have put off my religion for a while. Life kinda got away from me. Well, I am now trying to work it back in. It is very hard!

I try to do a full moon ritual, but by the end of the day I am so exausted I can’t. That is really annoying! I want to feel more connected to the goddess and just haven’t been able to. Wish I could find some like minded people who want to worship together.

Weight in day

Well its weight in day! I was dreading it after last weeks weight gain. But I weighted anyways. I lost 1.1 pounds this week. Which I am thrilled about, but don’t think it was from hard work.  I felt kinda icky all week, real tired and sick to my stomach a few times. I think the stomach issues helped me lose the 1.1 pounds. It is getting harder and harder to stay on track. I have worked some fast food back into my diet, I eat more things I didn’t when I started. I wish I had a motivation again like I did before. A drive. Someone to push me. Hubby supports me, but also hinders. He thought he was being helpful one day and offered to bring lunch home. Except it was Wayne’s drive thru. Fried chicken strips, french fries and a onion ring. What do I say to him? What the hell are you thinking? Really? Thats just plain mean. I politely think him and eat what I can stand of the deep fried food. I do eventually tell him, in a nice and almost jokingly way, that I can’t that kind of food. I don’t think it hurt his feelings.

Anyways,  I gotta get back on track. Majorly. I just wish I knew how.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup September 29, 2011

Ingredients:

 

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups chicken bouillon cubes  & water mix (chicken broth)
• 1/2 lb fresh broccoli, chopped
• 1 cup carrot, shredded and chopped
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 4 ounces grated Colby jack cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Sauté the onion (and garlic) in the butter over medium heat. Add in the flour, stirring constantly. Add in the half and half, milk, and chicken stock. Bring to almost a boil.

Add the broccoli and carrots. Simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes.

Season the soup with the salt, pepper &  nutmeg. Stir in the cheeses and let simmer for 10 minutes longer before serving.

Crockpot chicken & dumplings

Ingredients:

4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 tablespoons butter

1 can chicken broth

2 packets of Chicken gravy(this thickens with flavor)

1 onion diced

1 tablespoon dried parsley

4 grand’s flaky refrigerator biscuits

Directions:

Place chicken in crock pot.

Add the butter,

chicken broth, chicken gravy

onions and parsley. Stir. Cut biscuits and roll into balls. Place in crock pot.

Cook on high for 4-6 hours.

Chicken will fall apart on its own, sometimes with a little help after cooking.

Super yummy. If sauce gets too thick just add more chicken broth.

Crock pot mac & cheese

 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed cheddar cheese soup
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• ·  1/2 teaspoon black pepper

  Directions:

1. Boil the macaroni in water for six minutes. Drain.
2. In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese melts.
3. In slow cooker,  combine cheese mixture and add the eggs (I omitted the eggs), sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper. Add the drained macaroni and stir again.
4. Cook on low for 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Crock pot Chicken & Rice Casserole

Crock pot Chicken
& Rice Casserole

1	can	cream of celery soup
3		boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1	tbsp.	dry onion soup mix
1/2	c.	long-grain rice, uncooked

Combine the soup and rice in a well
greased Crockery Pot. Stir well. Put the chicken breasts on top of the rice
mixture. Sprinkle the onion soup mix over the chicken breasts. Cover and cook
on low 7 to 9 hours.

Serve hot

Crock pot Broccoli Rice & Chicken

Crock pot Broccoli
Rice & Chicken

2	lb.	chicken tenders or boneless breasts cut in strips
1-1/4	c.	uncooked converted rice
1	pkg.	Cream of Broccoli Soup Mix
1-1/2	c.	chicken broth
		pepper to taste

Place rice in a lightly greased
Crockery Pot. Sprinkle with parsley and pepper. Top with chicken pieces. Mix
together the soup mix and broth. Pour over chicken and rice. Cover and cook on
low for 6 to 8 hours.