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.



Summer Outdoor Sundries

  

Clean patio furniture with this fragrant spray mixture :

one teaspoon borax

two tablespoons white vinegar

two cups hot water

1/4 teaspoon essential oil of lavender

five drops of tea tree oil

Add all ingredients to a clean spray bottle and swirl til dissolved.

Apply to chairs,umbrellas,etc.,then scrub & wipe with a damp cloth.

Decorate your yard with seashell ashtray/incense burners :

sifted beach or play sand

baking soda

favourite essential oil blend

large shells,such as clam or abalone

In a large bowl,combine equal parts of sand & soda; then add

several drops of the oil and mix.Spoon into shells and place outside.

Add aromatic herbs,such as dried lemongrass,lavender,or rosemary

to outdoor fires,as it helps banish insects.You can also blend this effective

incense to use on the porch :

2 tablespoons dried lavender flowers

2 tablespoons ground lemongrass

1 tablespoon frankincense resin

1 tablespoon amber resin

1 tablespoon dried catnip

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 teaspoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients in an airtight container.To use : place one

charcoal tablet into a fire-proof vessel,light it,then sprinkle a

generous pinch of the incense mixture over the burning tablet.

~ Summer Breeze Bars ~

                                                           
This is my version of an old fashioned, lemon bar recipe with an herbal twist in the
    tart filling and a touch of spice to the shortbread crust.Refreshing as a Summer breeze,when served
    cold with a glass of sun-kissed, iced tea!

            Herb~Scented Sugar : Crush a handful of fresh lemon balm or lemon-scented rose geranium
    leaves and stir into 3 cups of granulated sugar.Store in an air-tight container for a week or so,sift the
    leaves from the mixture and use in the following recipe.Any left-over can be used to sweeten tea.

           ~ Summer Breeze Bars ~

              Filling ingredients :   
                                                5 large eggs,gently whisked
                                                6 tablespoons all purpose flour
                                                2 cups herb-scented,organic sugar
                                                3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
                                                1 teaspoon minced lemon zest

              Shortbread Crust ingredients :
                                                              3/4 cup butter,at room temperature
                                                              1 + 1/2 cups all purpose flour
                                                              1/3 cup organic sugar
                                                              1 teaspoon ground cardamom
                                                             
               To prepare & bake :
                                                  While preheating oven at 350*F, mix together the four crust
               ingredients.Press firmly and evenly into a 9 x 13" non-stick pan.Brown lightly for about
               20 minutes,then set aside.
                                                   In a large bowl,mix together filling flour and herb-scented
                sugar.Gently add the whisked eggs to the bowl,stir in the lemon juice & zest to
               combine and pour over the pre-baked crust.Return pan to oven for 20 more minutes til
               firm.Cool and store in refrigerator before serving.Cut into squares and dust with powdered

              sugar,if desired.

                                         

Summer Solstice Oil Recipe

            Those who practice wort cunning know that the celebration of Midsummer is associated with growth, sunshine, and the magickal efficacy of herbs & plants. The sunny yellow flowers of Saint John's wort are a traditional  association with this potent time of year, and lend their mid-June blooms to this healing oil infusion used for treating Summer skin conditions (burns,insect bites,bruises,and inflammations) :

                                  Gather fresh St.John's wort blossoms early on a dry & sunny morn. Fill a clean
glass jar with them and then fill it to the rim with organic oil : cold-pressed olive oil, sunflower, sweet almond, jojoba,or coconut are all good choices. Cover the flowers entirely to prohibit mold growth which will spoil the preparation. Push them down to release any air bubbles from the jar. Cap the jar tightly and sit on a sunny porch or window sill for one to two weeks ; swirling occasionally. Upon the oil's attainment of a deep red coloration, strain through cheesecloth, and into another sterilized,dry jar. Store the bottled midsummer sunshine in a dark & cool place.

                                                                                         

Receipt To See the Fey

          As Midsummer's Eve approaches, the ability to glimpse the Faeries is heightened. The following "receipt" is dated 1600 :

                                          To enable one to see Faeries :

                                                       
                                         A pint of sallet oyle and put it into a vial glasse; and first wash it with rose water and marygolde water; the flowers to be gathered towards the east. Wash it til the oyle becomes white, then put into the glasse, and then put thereto the budds of hollyhocke, the flowers of marygolde, the flowers or tops of wild thyme, the budds of young hazle, and the thyme must be gathered neare the side of a hill where the faeries used to be; and take the grasse of a faery throne; then all these put into the oyle in the glasse and settle it to dissolve three dayes in the sunne and then keep it for thy use. (mischievous giggle*)

                                         * To make the oil to see the Faeries, you have to know where the faeries are.