Chestnut Roasting and Other Preparations. Posted by Ms. Dashwood. Thursday, October 18, 2012.

"Foraging for Wild Chestnuts in Portland." By Cassandra Profita. Ecotrope. October 16, 2012.
http://ecotrope.opb.org/2012/10/foragingforwildchestnutsinportland/

The Christmas song mentions "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..." and many of us are reminded of the warm, nutty smell of roasted chestnuts on the street corners of large cities, or perhaps in the country.

Yet, actually roasting them involves a bit of a process.

The article "Foraging for Wild Chestnuts in Portland" by Cassandra Profita, on Ecotrope, October 16, 2012, reviews chestnut basics, with clear photos:

According to the article, first make sure you are roasting edible chestnuts. Avoid horse chestnuts.
Chestnuts purchased at the store may be easier to cook and eat than wild chestnuts.

The Comment section is lively with advice about various ways to cook chestnuts. As for finding them, one poster suggested old graveyards, perhaps a nice late October Halloween activity, during the afternoon, and not evening, of course.

Wiccan Moonsong Has Traditional Herbal Names

For Halloween and other occasions, lots of info here on herbs and nature.
This blog provides a list of herbs and their traditional names.
Who would guess that Bird's Eye is Pansy, or that Bird's Nest is Carrot?

"Herbs and Their Witchy Names." Wiccan Moonsong. October 14, 2012
http://wiccanmoonsong.blogspot.com/2012/10/herbs-and-their-witchy-names.html

Wolf Pack Creed by Del Goetz

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Wolf_je1-2.jpg

Reworked version of Image:Wolf_je1.jpg by Manfred Heyde
Original-Description: (Uploaded by Benutzer:Softeis)

 

The Merry Rose Home and Garden and Farm

Respects the Part of Wolves in Our Lives.

Good Farm Management Means Including Knowledge of All Aminals.

 

 

The Wolf Pack Creed

Respect the elders

Teach the young

Cooperate with the pack

Play when you can

Hunt when you must

Rest in between

Share your affections

Voice your feelings

Leave your mark

- Del Goetz

via Wiccan Moonsong

 

 

Lakehouse Buttery Flaky Pie Crust

It's late autumn, and soon the days will become cold, windy, rainy, just begging for a warm kitchen filled with the smells of baking fruit pastry. Here are links to a recipe for buttery, flaky crust. Fill with fruit filling.

According to Elise, on Simply Recipes,

"One of the secrets to a flaky pie crust is to work with very cold butter. Cut the butter into cubes and freeze, at least 15 minutes, best over an hour or even overnight."

Carol, on Allrecipes.com, gives a simple recipe for rhubarb pie, with about 4 cups of diced rhubarb, 1 cup of sugar, and 6 tablespoons of flour.

Here are the resources and links to the recipes:

Simply Recipes. Perfect Pie Crust. Posted by Elise. June 01, 2005.
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/perfect_pie_crust/

All Recipes. Fresh Rhubarb Pie. Posted by Carol.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/fresh-rhubarb-pie/

Make Your Own Potpourri

With the autumn weather bringing cooler nights, especially in the Pacific Northwest, this is a nice time to collect and dry herbs and flowers for potpourri. Here's a reciepe:

How to Make Your Own Potpourri
http://wiccanmoonsong.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-to-make-your-own-potpourri.html

Cakes and Wine Cakes

Wine cakes offer a sweet dessert. They accompany wines, teas, or coffees.

Traditionally, wine cakes require a basic recipe of one cup creamed butter, 2 cups sugar, 4 beaten eggs, and 3 cups of flour, before adding a cup of red wine to the batter.

Additional ingredients can include, but are not limited to, 3 cups of chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts, or a jar of maraschino cherries or raisins. The batter is usually cooked at 300 degrees for an hour and half, with a half hour cooling in the pan.



If you are short on ingredients, you can make a modified wine cake in a shorter time.
This recipe divides the batter into non-wine for a base.
Then the wined batter is poured on top in the center.

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Heat a 1/2 cup of butter in a pan on the stove top over medium heat.
As the butter is melting, stir in 1/2 cup brown sugar.
Then stir in 1/2 cup white sugar.
When the butter is melted, turn off the heat.
As the butter cools, continue to stir the sugar for a creamy, blended texture.
(It may look like carmel, but not sticky.)
Then, add one egg and stir it in quickly before it cooks in the warm batter.
Add one or two teaspoons of vanilla. (Bourbon vanilla adds a nice flavor.)
Then add 2 cups of flour.
Stir the mixture together.
Add more flour for a stiffer cake if you like.
In a greased cake pan, pour 2/3 of the batter.
With the remaining batter, stir in 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of red wine.
Pour the wined batter into the middle of the regular batter.
Place the cake pan into the oven to cook for about 1/2 hour.
Then, carefully check the wine cake for doneness by pressing down on the center.

It's often better to take this cake out sooner rather than later.
You can tinker with this recipe, and add oatmeal, nuts, or fruit.
Then, slice the cake, and place it on pretty plates.
Brew some tea or coffee, or pour a small glass of red wine.
Enjoy the wine cake and the time.

Additional Notes:

While wine cakes, wines, coffees, and caffine teas are delicious, they are best taken in small quantities. And yes, this advice is easier to give than to follow. The European custom is to follow dinners and desserts with herb teas that aid digestion and provide a calming influence.
Try chamomile or peppermint teas after the wine cakes.

Dandelions Can Help US Be Healthy

While a dandilion-filled yard may bring neighbors offering to spray Round-up on your lawn, a look at the health benefits of dandelions gives a new reason to keep some of these herbs around.

Dandilion contains vitamins, including A, B complex, C, and D. The leaves can increase appetite, settle stomachs, and act as a diuretic. Yet, as always, check with your health care provider, especially if other medications or physical symptoms are present.

Dandilion. University of Maryland Medical Center.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/dandelion-000236.htm

Dandilion. "How to Use Dandilion for Cooking and Health." By Erin Froehlich. April 21, 2010. Hello Life. net
http://www.hellolife.net/living-healthy/b/dandelion-for-cooking-and-health/