the witches' compendium: samhain
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The Witches’ Compendium:
Samhain
By Tenae S.
The Witch of Howling Creek
Copyright Information
The Witches' Compendium: Samhain is licensed under a
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free to share the content in any way you like, just please
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Disclaimer
The author of this e-book has used their best efforts in preparing this e-book. The
author makes no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy,
applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this e-book. The
information contained in this e-book is strictly for educational purposes.
Therefore, if you wish to apply ideas contained in this e-book, you are taking full
responsibility for your actions.
Tenae S. is a practicing kitchen witch from the West
Coast of the United States where she lives on a
small farm known as Howling Creek. She enjoys
emphasizing her Celtic heritage in her craft and
celebrating the Sabbats and Esbats throughout the
year. She writes “The Witch of Howling Creek”
blog and is the founder and editor of the free e-
magazine Pagan Living.
The Witch of Howling Creek Blog
Pagan Living Magazine
The Witch of Howling Creek on Twitter
The Witch of Howling Creek on Pinterest
Table of Contents
1 Foreword
Hearth & Home
4 Decorating with Natural Materials
6 Spooky Samhain Decorations
8 Sweet Samhain Decorations
10 Keeping House (and more) with a Besom
Magick & Witchcraft
13 Samhain Correspondences
14 Samhain Solitary Ritual
15 Blood Moon Ritual
16 Divination Techniques
18 Spell to Banish Negativity
Honor & Celebrate
20 Ways to Celebrate
21 Ways to Honor the Ancestors
22 Cookie Cutter Pumpkin Craft Project
Fete & Feast
24 Witches’ Tea Party
25 Ten Treats for Samhain
35 Samhain Menu & Recipes
1
Foreword Witchcraft means something different to every single witch but following the
seasons is an almost universal thread. October 31st presents us with Samhain, the
Witches’ New Year, a day for remembering the past and looking to the future.
Samhain is often considered the most sacred Sabbat of all, the one day a year
when witches can be witches without so much as a strange glance!
Decorating for, cooking for and celebrating Sabbats as well as engaging in other
related, if relatively mundane, daily tasks is essentially a matter of being in tune
with the seasons, an endeavor that is both rewarding and practical.
Decorations, for example, needn’t be extravagant in order to emphasize the
meanings, symbolism and ambiance of each season. Samhain décor needn’t be
bogged down with storebought plastic skeletons and “RIP” signs (although they
can be fun too!) Rather, think beyond the big box stores for your final harvest
celebrating. Rather, look to the great outdoors and your own well-stocked
cupboards and cabinets for a little inspiration in filling your home with the spirit
of Samhain.
Tenae S., The Witch of Howling Creek
2
Hearth & Home
3
Decorating with Natural Materials
Natural materials are abundant in every part of the year and late autumn puts all
the symbols of Samhain right at your fingertips: pumpkins, pomegranates,
apples, bare trees and fallen leaves. Each offers a unique opportunity for infusing
the home with this most sacred of seasons.
Pumpkins
The most easily recognizable symbol
of both Samhain and its secular
counterpart, Halloween, pumpkins
bring a wonderful joy to any home
and herald the witchiest holiday of
all. For simple, harvest decoration,
pile miniature pumpkins in tin
buckets, woven baskets or
wheelbarrows. Add interest by using
a variety of colors.
Of course, don’t forget to carve your
jack o’lanterns for the most classic of
Samhain décor!
Pomegranates
Pomegranates came to be associated
with Samhain through the Greek
myth of Persephone and Hades.
They symbolize the death and
rebirth of the world each year as well
as fertility and sensuality.
Wire pomegranates to grapevine
wreaths and surround with silk or
fresh fall blooms, acorn balls or other
autumn items and hang on the front
door for a warm welcome.
4
Apples
Although apples are also a symbol of
Mabon, they take on an even more
magickal quality as Samhain
approaches. Carve a few to hold
tealight candles and float in a large
bucket or basin for a fun, homey spin
on the classic Samhain game
“bobbing for apples.”
Bare Trees
The image of barren trees, perhaps
with a few stubborn leaves still
clinging to their branches, is a
chilling one, bringing to mind
suspenseful movies and late nights
around the fire. Bring that spooky
wonder inside with dried apple or
curly willow branches. Just place the
branches in tall glass cylinder vases
and frame doorways with them.
For a slightly more involved project,
wire the branches together in
opposite directions and create a fall
arrangement of flowers, apples,
pomegranates and leaves in the
center. Hang over a doorway or
window.
Fallen Leaves
Colored leaves still attached to
branches are fabulous additions to
fall flower arrangements but even
the fallen leaves can have a
decorative purpose. Carefully string
dried leaves onto monofilament line
or thin ribbon and suspend from a
wooden dowel to create an autumn
mobile. Or, press fall leaves beneath
a layer of glass for a colorful, harvest
coffee table.
5
Spooky Samhain Decorations
Samhain is a time of unmitigated witchiness, when all sorts of chill-inducing,
spooktastic decorations get to come out and play! Here are a few of the very best:
Two-Faced Pumpkins: One decoration that has been increasing in
popularity in recent years is the ‘two-faced’ pumpkin, where you simply
carve two faces off-set from one another in the same pumpkin. It’s really
fun if you can set up the back side so it projects onto a wall or shows up in
a mirror!
Paper-Cut Spiderwebs: Using the same technique as you would to make
paper snowflakes, cut black construction paper into squares, then fold
diagonally as many times as you wish. Cut into intricate patterns, then
hang in windows, clustered from a chandelier or taped onto a white wall
or mirror.
Twinkle Lights: Hang up your Yule lights early but wrap them in black
tulle, readily available at most fabric stores, for a super easy, super spooky
look.
Black and White Door Wreath: Heavily spray paint a grapevine wreath
bright, glossy white then decorate with black and silver items such as
ornaments, sprigs of faux flowers and feathers. You could also hang a
black sign or silhouette from the top such as ‘Happy Halloween’, ‘Boo!’,
‘Blessed Be’, a cat or a pentacle.
Cheesecloth: Hang torn black or off-white cheesecloth as a backdrop for a
buffet, from windows and doors or from chandeliers for an eerie effect.
6
Witch Balls: Once considered protection from witches, many modern day
pagans hang these pretty glass ornaments from their windows as
protection for hearth and home. Making your own is easy with clear glass
craft ornaments, acrylic paints in colors like black, red, purple and orange,
and lots of ribbon. This is a fun project for kids!
Other-than-Orange Pumpkins: Orange pumpkins may be familiar and a
lot of fun but the white variety brings an elegant, refined touch to even the
spookiest of celebrations. Also try spray-painting them black and rolling
them in glitter (or foam ‘funkins’ for a cheaper version.)
On-Display Altar: Simply bring out your witchiest ritual items for a
suitably Samhain vignette on a shelf, desk or table.
Victorian Prints: Replace photographs in your home with printed copies
of Victorian anatomy and botany sketches for a cool, creepy look.
Etsy, Antique Stores & Gift Shops: Although you can decorate your house
entirely top to bottom with adorably handmade items, don’t forget to
check out these great resources near you. Even if you think that swanky
gift shop downtown is too expensive, take a walk through it around
Halloween and it is almost guarantee you’ll find something you have to
have that just so happens to be in your price range!
7
Sweet Samhain Decorations
Of course, Samhain is about the saccharine as much as it is about the scheming so
if you have young children around or just prefer a more homey, harvest
environment, try out some of these decoration ideas instead:
Pumpkin Pile: Instead of carving your pumpkins into scary faces, just pile
them wherever possible. Mounds of pumpkins is both heavy on spirit and
incredibly easy to pull off!
Candy Bowls: Candy bowls aren’t just for Grandma’s end table – fill
vases, jars and bowls throughout the house with your favorite seasonal
treats for simple decoration inspired by trick-or-treating.
Sweet Treat Garland: Hang up a paper garland of alternating orange and
black candy pieces. These are great on mantels, windows, doorways,
chandeliers, even chair backs.
Harvesttime: Go for a more seasonal than spooky approach and decorate
with maize, pumpkins, gourds, wheat and colored leaves.
Luminaries: Create simple luminaries by punching or cutting out cute
Halloween shapes such as cats or jack-o-lanterns in brown paper lunch
bags, filling them with a few inches of sand and setting a battery-operated
or votive candle inside. These are perfect for lining walkways and
staircases.
Off-Kilter Colors: Instead of the traditional dark colors of Halloween and
Samhain, embrace a lighter side with orange, purple and lime.
Decorations can be as simple as swapping out curtains with a festive new
color and a daring contrast for the swag.
8
Witchy Vignettes: Create cute scenes with conical hats, brooms, pentacles
and other images associated with witches to show off a little more subtly
than displaying your entire altar.
Friendly Ghosts: Ghosts can certainly be spooky but take a bit more of a
Caspar approach with friendly black and white faces painted on windows
or fluttering friends made by tying white fabric around balls of paper and
hanging them from the porch.
Victorian Inspiration: Set the scene with ivory lace tablecloths, hurricane
lamps, dripping candles and polished silver tea service sets. Add finishing
details like old books, magnifying glasses and binoculars for a tasteful
Halloween display focused on elegance and refinement.
Signage: Vintage metal Halloween signs are easy to come by in antique
stores and online or you can make your own with phrases like ‘Boo!’,
‘Happy Halloween’ and ‘Trick or Treat’ printed on cardstock and
decorated with glitter.
9
Keeping House (and more) with a Besom
Witches have been shown with brooms for hundreds of years and though most
don’t fly through the night sky on them, brooms (also known by the term
“besom”) do have certain magickal properties.
Any broom can be used as a magickal besom but whether you choose a large
push broom for the garage, a storebought broom with molded bristles or a
handmade broom of natural materials, it should be cleansed before use in magick
or rituals.
To Bless a Besom
Lay the broom on a flat outdoor surface such as a porch rail or deck where it will
be protected from the elements but exposed to natural light. Sprinkle sea salt
over the length of the broom (if you prefer to speak a blessing out loud, this
would be the time to do that.) Leave the besom outside beneath a full moon to
infuse it with power.
10
Of the besom’s many properties, protection and purification are the most potent.
To use your besom for protection, try these handy tips:
Hang a wall-mounted curtain rod above the front door on the inside wall.
Using heavy gauge wire, wire a broom you do not intend to use on a
regular basis but that has been blessed as a besom lengthwise to the
curtain rod so it hangs over the doorway.
Use twine to bind traditional bristle materials like birch twigs with lengths
of dried protection herbs such as angelica, thyme and rosemary to a thin
ash branch cut to the desired length. Bless as a besom.
Tie two long strands of black ribbon to the top of a besom handle and
crisscross them down to the base of the handle. Tie in a bow or knot to
secure in place and use the beribboned besom as a broom or as decoration.
To use your besom for purification, try these tips as well:
Open a door at the front of the house and a door at the back of the house.
Use a blessed besom to sweep dirt and dust from the front door, through
the house and out the back door to encourage bad luck and other nasties
to continue on their way without stopping in your home.
Clean by sweeping the broom from east to west (the path of the sun) to
sweep away negativity.
11
Magick & Witchcraft
12
Samhain Correspondences
Every Sabbat has colors, spices and other items associated with it, most of which
are based on the natural world and the current season. These items are
particularly magickal around the time of the Sabbat and are a great place to start
when designing rituals and spells.
Colors: Black
Orange
Red
Brown
Yellow
Stones: Obsidian
Bloodstone
Onyx
Jet
Herbs, Plants & Spices: Bay
Cinnamon
Ginger
Cloves
Pumpkin
Rosemary
Mugwort
Myrrh
Sage
13
Samhain Solitary Ritual
Sit skyclad or loosely clothed. Light a white, brown, black or orange candle and
place so the reflection appears in a mirror or bowl of water.
Meditate on the image, reflecting on and connecting with those who have passed
on, including family members, friends, pets and ancestors.
Now is your opportunity to perform one of the spells presented on the following
pages or a spell of your own creation. Samhain is particularly well-suited to
spells involving past lives, banishment and divination.
Take a bite of bread and a sip of wine or cider, alternating until gone.
Blow out the candle.
Blessed Be.
14
Blood Moon Ritual
The October full moon is most accurately referred to as the “Blood Moon,” a
reference to the final harvest: not in fact an agricultural harvest, but that of the
last meat of the year before winter returns.
The Blood Moon can be celebrated in any number of ways with a wide variety of
interpretations, based on the evocative name. You might take it literally and
spend the day mixing your own sausage (run inexpensive roasts through a meat
grinder with your own preparation of herbs and spices or simply mix the
additions into ground meat) or preparing items for simple winter meals such as
stew, chili or tomato meat sauce.
It could also be interpreted as familial blood, prompting an ancestor-related
ritual, a protection rite for your home and family or simply sharing a meal
together. As the mother aspect of the moon’s cycle, the full phase is always a
great time for family-centered rituals to begin with.
Or, you could simply choose to do a simple Blood Moon ritual:
Sit skyclad or loosely clothed in view of the full moon if possible. Light a red
candle and focus on the moon, absorbing its energy in meditation. Take a bite of
a gingersnap and a sip of apple cider, alternating until both are gone.
Blow out the candle.
Blessed Be.
15
Divination Techniques
Samhain is one of the best times of the year for divination as the thin veil
between worlds (whether considered literal, spiritual or metaphorical) allows
easier access to the beyond. There are numerous common methods of divination
such as tarot and crystal gazing but many witches feel ill-equipped to practice
such methods as they tend to require a good deal of knowledge and study.
Luckily, there are also some lovely methods of divination that are far simpler to
pick up such as chartomancy and lycnomancy.
Chartomancy
Chartomancy is divination by books. It is incredibly simple and, in fact, many
people perform it without even realizing it, making it the very best form of
magick – that which is instinctive! Simply think of a problem or question you
need help with, choose a random book (preferably a novel or dictionary as other
non-fiction can be too technical or specific), open to a random page, and run your
finger over the page without looking until you feel you are in the right place.
Then read the line or paragraph you have chosen and consider what it could
mean in terms of your situation or question. You may want to do this three times
in one book in order to get a couple of angles.
For example, in the book The Coral Thief one might open to the words “I had
forgotten”, a photograph of two pirate ships (photos are also excellent divining
tools) and a paragraph about a woman respected and known by those around
16
her, from the well-to-do to the prostitutes. From this one might gather that they
will experience adventure and travel, that they will be respected but that it may
take hardship to get there and that there may either be things they will wish to
forget or that they have already forgotten something they need to remember. As
you can see, this is a very personal way to divine the future that is entirely open
to interpretation and can be done whenever you feel the need.
Lychnomancy
Another easy, interesting form of divination is lychnomancy, divination by
candles. Light a plain white candle in a darkened room, away from any sources
of air or wind, such as a window or fan. Study the flame while thinking about
your problem or question. The following (among other signs) will lead the way:
If the end of the wick displays a brightly shining point it is a lucky omen.
If the flame moves from side to side it indicates that you will soon travel.
If there are sparks rising from the candle you will need to be cautious.
If the flame seems to twist and spiral it means that your enemies are
plotting against you.
If a flames rises and falls it suggests there is approaching danger.
If the candle is extinguished suddenly and without good reason it is a
prediction of disaster.
Perform these wonderful methods at your Halloween party or for serious
divination of the future!
17
Spell to Banish Negativity
Compile a list of bad habits and negative situations in your life and write them
all down on a sheet of paper. Stir a teaspoon each of cayenne, coffee grounds and
ground cloves into 1 ½ cups of hot water.
Wad up a paper towel, dip it into the hot water and drag over the paper to dye it
brown. Hang the sheet up to dry (or use a blow dryer.)
Once the paper has dried, burn it in the fireplace or Samhain bonfire to banish
the negativity and bad habits.
18
Honor & Celebrate
19
Ways to Celebrate
Honor the many aspects of Samhain, including family, a new year and the death
of summer, with these simple, easy activities.
Carve pumpkins to protect your home and family.
Make a besom.
Make door wreaths and other decorations.
Toast pumpkin seeds.
Hold a bonfire.
Set up an ancestor altar.
Visit a cemetery and leave flowers for passed loved ones or strangers.
Play Samhain divination games like discovering your true love’s first
initial with an apple peel.
Have a costume contest! Offer candy or trinket prizes for Best in Show,
Best Couple, Most Creative, Sexiest, etc.
Play classic games like bobbing for apples and eating hanging doughnuts.
Invite pagan friends over for a small ritual, bonfire or meal, even if you
are not members of a formal coven. Pray for protection together and
family safety and read about the ancient traditions of Samhain.
Start a ‘Good Things’ calendar. Purchase a student calendar which begins
in July of the current year. Starting October 31, write one good thing that
happened to you every day. At the end of the coming pagan year you will
be able to look back on all the good things (big and small.)
Honor Samhain as the pagan New Year: countdown to midnight (or
sunset, the beginning of the day in ancient times), offer champagne or
another celebratory drink and share a kiss with someone!
20
Ways to Honor the Ancestors
Ancestors and passed family members are an integral part of the Samhain
celebration but coming up with fresh, interesting ways to honor them can be
tricky. Try out a few of these ideas to mix it up this year.
Gather family photos from your own albums and collect them from your
parents, grandparents and other relatives. Frame the photographs and fill
a shelf or cabinet with them.
Designate a shelf or cabinet in your house for family heirlooms. Whether
they be your mother’s antique perfume bottles, your grandfather’s toolbox
or your great-aunt’s recipe book, design a vignette of pieces that have
meaning to you and display them prominently.
Do some research on your ancestral heritage and decorate a certain space
(or a whole room) with tartans, family crests, family trees and traditional
artwork related to your family history.
Set an extra place at your Samhain dinner to represent passed loved ones
and ancestors come to visit on such a magickal night.
Begin compiling a family album with more than just photographs: include
stories, kid’s artwork, family history and anything that might tell future
generations who their ancestors were.
21
Cookie Cutter Pumpkins Craft Project
Carving pumpkins is a requisite part of the Samhain celebration. The original
jack o’lanterns were meant to protect the home and, although their modern
counterparts tend towards fun decoration, they can still take on the noble
purpose with this equally festive and magickal cookie cutter pumpkins craft
project:
Materials
Pumpkins
Cookie cutters, protective shapes
Sharp knives
Mallets
Instructions
1. Cut off the top of your pumpkin and set aside. Clean out the pumpkin
until it is relatively clean and smooth inside.
2. Place cookie cutters in simple, protective shapes such as stars (the outline
of the pentacle) on the surface of the pumpkin.
3. Hammer the cookie cutters into the pumpkin with a mallet. If the cookie
cutter does not go all the way through, carefully remove it without
damaging the indentation and use a paring knife to cut out the shape.
22
Fete & Feast
23
Witches’ Tea Party
A tea party is a great way to bring the girls together for a little catching up and
perhaps even a bit of magick! The center of every tea party is the food and the
conversation so be sure to serve a menu with a lot of variety and options, from
miniature pumpkin pies to a hearty hot artichoke dip to warm popover rolls!
Offer a wide selection of teas so your guests have lots to choose from. If you like
to blend your own teas (or would like to try it out), consider offering a few
ingredients so guests can make up their own blends to take home with them.
Some ingredients you might want to include could be dried organic rose petals,
dried organic chamomile heads, and dried organic lavender florets.
Finish off the afternoon with a good old-fashioned tea leaf reading:
1. Make a cup of tea by sprinkling about a tablespoon of loose leaf into a
lightly colored cup of hot water.
2. Allow the tea to steep 3-5 minutes while you quiet your mind. When the
tea is ready, slowly sip it while you consider the problem you wish your
reading to focus on (be careful to avoid as much of the floating leaves as
possible.) When there is only a few sips left, swirl the cup three times to
disperse the leaves and dump out the remaining liquid.
3. Identify any symbols you see in the remaining leaves and jot them down
for contemplation.
24
Ten Treats for Samhain
Entrees
Duck Breast with Pears and Balsamic Vinaigrette: Duck is a deliciously
underappreciated fall meal. This recipe in particular is especially juicy and
tender and the sweetness of the pears is the perfect touch.
Pork Apricot Stew: This recipe simmers in the crockpot all day, making for a
delectable dish that is full of flavor and just about falls off the bone.
Sides
Cheddar Apple Bundles: These are great for make-ahead breakfasts. Make them
up to the point of sealing the dough, then wrap them in plastic wrap and pop
them in the freezer. You’d be surprised how long they’ll keep!
Roasted Deviled Potatoes: A favorite recipe year-round, this one is especially
great in autumn. It is easily adapted for many tastes too; for example, swap out
some of the potatoes with butternut squash for a fall twist.
Homemade Macaroni & Cheese: The original comfort food and a family favorite
for the chilly evenings of fall. It’s easy, delicious and tummy-warming.
Spicy Yam Soup: Exactly what it says on the tin. A very spicy yam soup that
makes even the most dedicated yam-hater change their colors.
25
Desserts
Ginger Pumpkin Meringue Pie: If you aren’t a big pumpkin pie fan, this recipe is
for you. There are so many flavors and textures going on here, you may not even
be able to call it pumpkin pie!
Pumpkin Rum Cheesecake: Another family classic, this recipe has been long-
preserved in a 1994 magazine and every year my dad digs it out and sets about
making a giant mess in the kitchen. And we’re always happy to be dusting flour
off the chandelier the next day because it is that good.
26
Duck Breast with Pears and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Recipe courtesy of BHG.com
2 pears, cored and sliced
2 tablespoons butter
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
4 boneless duck breast halves
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
½ teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
4 cups fresh baby spinach
¼ cup chopped toasted walnuts
In a large ovenproof skillet cook pears
in hot butter over medium heat for 8-
10 minutes or until golden brown and
tender, stirring frequently. Sprinkle
with 1/8 teaspoon pepper; remove
from skillet and set aside.
Trim excess fat from duck (do not
remove skin). Score the skin in a
diamond pattern. Season duck breasts
with salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
In the same skillet cook duck breasts,
skin side down, over medium heat for
5 minutes. Turn and cook about 5
minutes more or until browned. Drain,
reserving 2 tablespoons fat. Place pan
in a 350 degree F oven; roast,
uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes or
until an instant-read thermometer
inserted into the breast registers 155
degrees F. Remove duck from pan;
cover and let stand for 10 minutes.
For vinaigrette, in a screw-top jar
combine reserved duck fat, the
vinegar, mustard, and thyme. Cover
and shake well to combine. Slice duck
breasts. To serve, arrange spinach on
individual serving plates. Top with
pears, duck breast slices, and toasted
walnuts. Drizzle vinaigrette over top.
27
Pork Apricot Stew
4 pound ham, smoked
2 large onions, sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup all purpose flour
1 14 ½ ounce can chicken broth
1 ½ cups apple cider or juice
1 cup dark beer
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped dried apricots
¾ cup chopped pitted prunes
Place ham in a large crockpot. Add onions, garlic and flour. Mix in broth, cider,
beer, mustard, coriander, cinnamon and salt. Stir in aprictos and prunes. Cover
and allow to cook for 6-8 hours. Season with salt and pepper.
28
Cheddar Apple Bundles
Recipe courtesy of BHG.com j ½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup chopped pecans
2 cups all-purpose flour
8 ounces white cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
½ cup butter, cut up
6 - 8 tablespoons cold water
2 medium Granny Smith or Jonathan apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (about
2 cups)
3 tablespoons fig jam or apricot preserves
Combine brown sugar and pecans; set aside. In food processor combine flour, 1/2
cup of the cheese, granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cover and process
with one on/off turn. Add butter. Cover; process with several on/off turns until
size of small peas. With processor running, slowly add water to make dough
come together in a ball. Gently knead until smooth.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Divide dough in 8 pieces. For each bundle, on
floured surface roll dough in 8-inch circle. Place 3 tablespoons cheese and 1/4 cup
apple in center. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon nut mixture. Brush dough edges with
water. Bring up dough edges and press together to seal. Sealed sides up, place on
parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until pastry is golden.
Spoon preserves on each bundle.
29
Roasted Deviled Potatoes
3 Russet or 4 Yukon gold potatoes
5 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
4 teaspoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Rounded 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste
Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 475°F. Put
2 large shallow baking pans (1 inch deep) in oven and preheat 10 minutes.
Quarter potatoes, then toss with oil and 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt in a large
bowl. Spread potatoes, cut sides down, in hot pans, then roast until undersides
are golden, about 12 minutes. Turn potatoes so other cut sides are down, then
switch position of pans and roast until potatoes are tender and undersides are
golden, 12 to 15 minutes more.
While potatoes roast, melt butter in a small saucepan and whisk in vinegar,
mustard, cayenne, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt.
Toss hot potatoes with butter mixture in cleaned large bowl until coated.
30
Homemade Macaroni & Cheese
12 ounces uncooked macaroni
3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
3-4 cups soymilk
½ cup butter
¾ cup Panko breadcrumbs, Italian style
1 teaspoon paprika
½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cook the macaroni according to the package
directions and drain.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan and slowly add the soymilk to it. Slowly add
the cheese by handfuls, stirring until smooth and melted.
Grease a 13x9 inch baking dish and pour in the macaroni. Pour the cheese sauce
over and stir to mix. Sprinkle breadcrumbs, paprika and remaining mozzarella
on top.
Bake for 30 minutes and serve hot.
31
Spicy Yam Soup
2 tbsp butter
1 cup chopped onion
2 small jalapenos, seeded and chopped
2 tsp chopped fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried
3 carrots, peeled and diced
1 qt chicken broth
1 ½ lb yams, peeled and diced
1 cup whole milk
¼ cup cream
1 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp salt or to taste
Healthy pinch cayenne pepper
Heat the butter in a soup pot until bubbly. Add onion and sauté until
caramelized, about 10 minutes. Add jalapenos and thyme; sauté 1 minute.
Stir in the carrots, yams and chicken broth. Simmer 30-40 minutes or until
vegetables are tender.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the veggies to a food processor. Puree the
mixture, adding a bit of the liquid to help the process.
Pour back into the pot. Add milk, cream, brown sugar, salt and cayenne.
Heat soup very gently for 10 minutes to blend the flavors.
32
Ginger Pumpkin Meringue Pie
Recipe courtesy of BHG.com
1 premade pastry shell
15 ounce can pumpkin
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cup milk
½ cup maple syrup
3 egg whites
½ teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare
Gingersnap-Graham Crust; bake 4
minutes. Cool on wire rack.
For filling, in bowl combine pumpkin,
sugar, ginger, salt and cinnamon. Add
eggs.; lightly beat with fork to
combine. Gradually stir in milk and
maple syrup.
Pour filling into pastry shell. To
prevent overbrowning, cover edge of
pie with foil. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or
until knife inserted near center comes
out clean. Uncover edges. Reduce
oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl let egg whites stand at
room temperature for 30 minutes. Add
vanilla, cream of tartar, and salt. Beat
with an electric mixer on medium
speed until soft peaks form (tips curl).
Gradually add brown sugar, 1
tablespoon at a time, beating on high
speed until mixture forms stiff peaks
(tips stand straight).
Carefully spread Brown Sugar
Meringue over hot filling; seal to edge.
Bake 15 minutes or until golden
brown. Cool on wire rack. Loosely
cover and refrigerate within 2 hours.
33
Pumpkin Rum Cheesecake
1 cup crushed gingersnaps
¼ cup ground pecans
¼ cup butter, melted
3 8-oz pkgs cream cheese, softened
1 1/3 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 cups canned pumpkin
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 ½ tsp rum flavoring
¾ tsp ground allspice
¾ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground cloves
For crust, combine gingersnaps,
ground pecans and melted butter.
Press onto bottom of a 9-inch
springform pan.
Combine cream cheese and sugar in
a large mixing bowl. Beat with an
electric mixer until combined. Add
eggs, pumpkin, the 1 ½ tsp rum
flavoring, and spices; beat until just
smooth. Pour into crust lined pan.
Sprinkle with additional nutmeg if
desired.
Bake in 350 degree oven for 70
minutes or until center appears
nearly set when shaken. Cool 10
minutes. Loosen crust from pan
sides. Cool 30 minutes more; remove
sides of pan. Cool completely. Chill
at least 4 hours.
34
Samhain Menu & Recipes
Serve this unique and delicious menu filled with the hearty flavors of autumn at
a Samhain feast with friends and family.
Sweet & Spicy Chili Con Carne
Pumpkin Gnocchi with
Brown Butter & Rosemary
Broiled Apples & Pears with Rosemary
S’mores Station
35
Sweet & Spicy Chili Con Carne
Recipe courtesy of MyGloriousFood.com
2 tablespoons oil
3 onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 – 2 peppers, chopped into chunks
18 ounces ground beef
3 cans chopped tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato purée
1 can kidney beans
1 tablespoon paprika
1 – 2 tbsp chili powder
Salt and pepper
1 stick of cinnamon
1 ounce dark chocolate, roughly chopped
Heat the oil in a large pot and sauté the chopped onion for a couple of minutes.
Add the garlic and peppers and fry for another few minutes before adding the
beef. Brown well and add the rest of the ingredients to the pot. Let the dish
simmer for at least 30 minutes (longer if possible), taste and add extra chili, salt
and pepper if necessary. Serve with rice, bread or nachos.
36
Pumpkin Gnocchi in Brown Butter & Rosemary
Recipe courtesy of
ClosetCooking.com
2 cups pumpkin puree
1 egg yolk
1 1/2 - 2 cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 pinch nutmeg
½ cup butter
3 tablespoons dried rosemary
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Mix the egg yolk into the pumpkin
puree. Mix the salt and nutmeg into
the flour. Mix enough of the flour
into the pumpkin puree to form a
soft dough that is not too sticky to
work with.
Knead the dough for a minute and
then roll it out into 4 long thin rolls
about 1/2 inch thick. Cut the rolls
into 1/2 inch pieces and then roll the
pieces in flour lightly shaking off any
excess. Roll the pieces over a gnocchi
board or a fork to give them the
ridges.
Cook the gnocchi in boiling water in
small batches until it floats to the
surface, about 2-3 minutes, remove
and set aside to drain.
Melt the butter in a pan and cook it
until it just starts to brown. Add the
rosemary and fry until crispy, about
1 minute. Add the gnocchi and toss
to coat. Remove from heat and mix
in the lemon juice.
37
Broiled Apples & Pears with Rosemary
Recipe courtesy of Epicurious.com
4 Golden Delicious apples, unpeeled, halved, cored, thinly sliced lengthwise
4 Bosc pears, unpeeled, halved, cored, thinly sliced lengthwise
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
Preheat broiler. Brush 2 large baking sheets with olive oil. Gently toss apples,
pears, 1/4 cup oil, and minced rosemary in large bowl. Arrange fruit in single
layer on sheets. Broil until fruit is tender and edges begin to brown, watching
closely to avoid burning and turning sheets for even browning, about 5 minutes.
Transfer fruit to platter. Sprinkle with pepper. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, if
desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.
38
S’mores Station
1 package plain graham crackers
1 package chocolate graham crackers
1 large milk chocolate Hershey’s bar
1 large dark chocolate Hershey’s bar
1 bag Reese’s peanut butter cups
1 bag York peppermint patties
1 bag marshmallows
Arrange the options on a table near a bonfire along with sticks or roasting tines
for guests to pick and choose their s’mores toppings.
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