Celtic Lughnasa Loaf

The combination of oats and both whole-wheat & white flours make a delicious bread trio with which to celebrate the first grain harvest festival. Enjoy one, freeze one, and give one away!

Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour

4 cups whole wheat flour

4 cups quick-cooking rolled oats (not instant)

2 tablespoons salt

½ cup butter

2 + ½ cups milk

2 packages active dry yeast

½ cup warm water

Method:

In a large bowl, mix flours and oats.

Combine sugar, salt, butter and milk in a saucepan and heat until the butter melts; cool to lukewarm.

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water.

Add milk mixture and yeast to the flours and mix well. Don't worry if the liquid does not absorb all the flour mixture.

Turn the dough out on board and knead excess flour mixture into the moist mixture. Knead 10 to 15 minutes, then put the dough in a greased bowl and turn to grease top.

Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place free from drafts 2 hours, or until doubled.

Punch dough down and divide into 3 portions. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.

Shape in loaves and put in 3 greased 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pans.

Cover and let rise in warm place for 1-1/2 hours, or until doubled.

Bake in a preheated, 400*F oven for about 35 minutes.

Remove from pans and cool on rack. Brush bread with melted butter and sprinkle toasted oats over the tops of the loaves before slicing.

Wishing Globes

The childhood enchantment of beholding a swirling snow globe lends itself

           to another dimension when crafted with correspondences and intention.

           First consider your objective and visualize the contents of a wishing globe.

           Craft and thrift stores sell figurines or you can prowl flea markets & yard sales.

           Glass jars can also be economically obtained from all four of these sources,

           or better yet, recycle and sterilize jam and other types of condiment jars.

           After you have chosen a ceramic or plastic central figure, select a glitter.

           It comes in many forms and colours; from seasonal themes to rainbow hues.

           Keep the purpose of your wishing globe in mind when deciding which to use.

           Other supplies you will need:

                                                             clear-drying epoxy

                                                             distilled water

                                                             glycerin

            First, glue the figure onto the center of the up-turned glass jar’s lid.

            Allow it to completely dry and then fill the jar to the top with distilled water.

            Add a pinch of the glitter medium along with one half teaspoon of glycerin.

            Close the jar’s lid tightly and invert to an up-right position.

            Concentrate the intention of your wish on the figure inside the glass jar.

            Visualize the swirling positive energy working to manifest your wish there-in.

            Repeat the last two steps as a daily affirmation until you achieve your goal.

          



Zucchini~Walnut Bread

                     

The heart of Summer is upon us and the garden is brimming delights.

The tomato plants are laden with green orbs, eggplants are forming,

lettuces are bolting, the pumpkin hill is sprawling with leafy vines, and

the zucchini bed is thriving in the heat. The following is a moist tea bread

that I look forward to baking every year :

• three brown eggs
• 1 + ¼ cups pure vegetable oil
• 1 + ½ cups organic sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups zucchini, grated
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest, minced
• 2 cups King Arthur, all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 teaspoon Vietnamese ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground allspice
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
• 1 cup walnuts, toasted & ground

Preheat oven to 350*F and lightly butter a 9 x 5 x 3” aluminum loaf pan.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, oil, sugar, and extract with an electric mixer.

Fold in the zucchini and zest. Mix the remaining dry ingredients in another bowl.

Stir into the wet ingredient bowl, til just combined. Fold in the walnuts. Pour into pan. Bake for one hour and ten minutes: loaf is done when top springs back to the touch.

Cool completely before removing from pan. For best flavour, serve the following day.