MHR Ep 23 Love is in the Air!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

is Love all you need? Well, I’d say, Love....and a garden!

February is the Month of Love and with Valentine day coming up this week, The topic was  LOVE FROM THE GARDEN! So much magick tied to the month of February, as it is the beginning of spring in the ancient agrarian calendar, and spring is the time of awakening! In the garden, this looks like little buds coming through the snow, or perhaps a bit of BONE work going on, with the prep and planning of hard architecture, fencing and cleaning.

February is often under rated in terms of what kind of GARDEN LOVIN’ there is going on! Many people think of it as a rest time, or a fallow time, and really it is...but Depending on your climate, February is full of garden tasks to do!

So if your February is...

Hot: Start seeds of hardy veggies, annuals, herbs outdoors. Aerate and feed the lawn. Harvest fruits and veg daily to foil critters and promote new production.
Warm: Clean and sharpen your garden tools. Protect plants against late-season frost. Clean and repair your bird houses.
Mild: Start seeds of veggies, annuals and herbs indoors. Use sterile mixes to prevent damping off of young seedlings.
Cool: Get seed-starting equipment ready, including sterile mixes, trays, pots and lights. Be patient--spring will come! Repot any house plants that need more growing room.

This is also a great time to plan and start a kitchen garden.

A Dash of Magick

Self Love

Self love is probably the most powerful protection amulets around, and it is the most under utilized protection guard we have available to us! To many, the mention of Self-love seems kind of airy-fairy, new agey,, hippie dippy, but i think these notions keep us in a trap of fear of truly loving ourselves. Self love really encompasses simple actions--for instance, how we talk to ourselves, who we say Yes or No to, taking some time to do things that make us feel good.

One of the best things I have found from experience is reciting simple mantras to reinforce and solidify the beliefs in myself over time. Every time you catch your reflection in the mirror, tell yourself, “I Love You!” At first you might feel silly...but soon, you will notice a subtle change within your mindset. If you are doing this faithfully, without fail, every single time you notice yourself in a mirror or a reflection, the “I Love You” mantra will solidify in your mind and take root, and soon there will be no doubt whatsoever that you do, In fact, love yourself!

Witches Bottle

During the episode Dawn mentioned the use of witches bottles. She mentioned that she could not remember which book of Christopher Penczak's that had an in-depth look at making witch bottles.  Dawns favorite guide comes from The Witch’s Shield. His advice gives a great “recipe” for protective herbs, crystals and other symbols, identifying your intent and what else to include in your bottle and where to place it.

MHR Ep 22.. And we are back!!!

After a nice and well needed break we are back..
Happy Imbolc Everyone.

We had great show. It was chuck full of information. So if you didn't catch it when it aired. By all means listen. Just click the little widget for Blog talk and enjoy.

Can you believe that we are now in February? We neither can we. we are just happy to be back! With Spring right around the corner. There is must to be done in the garden.


Now is the time to...cut back brambles, plan and build your hard structures such as greenhouse and raised beds. Also time to plan your watering systems



Plants to sow indoors:  Cabbage,  Celery,  Endive, Kale, Leeks,  Lettuce, Mache, Onions, bulb
Radicchio Scallion (green onion)  and Spinach
Herbs: Chives, Fennel, Leaf  Marjoram,  Parsley,  Rosemary, Sage Savory, Summer  Thyme
Transplants: Asparagus and  Rhubarb

(Of course this will very depending on where you are on this planet)

Today’s Magickal Imbolc menu:

• Colcannon
• Soda Bread with Caraway Seeds
• Home made butter
• Jen's Green Soup

Homemade Butter: This so EASY!!!!!

1. Take a quart size mason jar. 
2. Fill 1/2 to 5/8 full of cream. 
• Here you can add some salt or herbs to taste.
3. Place lid.
4. Shake
• This was a great activity to get the kids help with. Pass it around.
  (We did this during our Imbolc Ritual, it is full of blessings and magick)
5. After about 15 min a shaking, There should be a clump of butter in liquid, If so, drain the the liquid, we added this to our offerings. Place the butter on a plate and enjoy!

Green Soup: 

With spring so close we coming to a period of the season where we want warm comfort food that is on the lighter side. This green soup base is a go to food  for me (Jen). What I love best about this soup is that  other than it being full of greens, is that it is a kitchen sink soup, anything goes. There are no exact measurements. This will make a nice size pot of soup. to adjust your ingredients based on your pot. 

1.  Caramelize 2-3 large Onions. 
• Thinly slice onions
• In skillet over medium low heat: drizzle Olive Oil or a pat of UNSALTED Butter (There is a reason for the unsalted butter... Adding salt during the caramelizing process,will prevent the very thing you are trying to accomplish) 
• Place onions in pan and cover. Stir occasionally 
• Cook till caramelized. (when you think it is ready cook a little longer)
2. Add to Stock pot:
• Caramelized Onions. 
• Stock ( I make a Big pot so i use about 93 oz of stock. This could be chicken or veggie stock.)
• Toss in 2-3 cloves of peeled garlic
• 1 Bay Leaf (if you don't have that is OK, I like how it helps meld all the flavors)
• Add herbs of choice at this point
• 3 Tbsp of white rice (This will give you our creamy texture with out adding dairy.
• Cook for about 15 min at a good soft simmer.
3. Add Greens
• Spinach, Kale, Mustard or Turnip Greens or what ever combination of greens that your heart desires. (Just remove the thick stems... save those for your next batch of stock)  
4. Simmer for about another 15 minutes.
5. Remove Bay leaf ,Salt and Pepper to taste.
6. Then blend with a immersion blender. (not everyone has one of these. I did not think i really would use this. but I end up using this 2-4 times a week. it was work the $20 I paid for it.) 
7. Garnish : Anything goes here... I like hot sauce, lemon and a drizzle of sour cream topped with croutons.  You can diced ham and cheese. Or like my girlfriends do. Put it in a bowl and leave it alone. 

Love Custard!!!!

Ok everyone, If you listened to the  MHR Episode Sweet Lavender, you have heard us mention "Love Custard!"

Well, I have put together a recipe modification that combines the element of scent and taste for Pumpkin and Lavender in a custard.  Here it goes...

The sugar and cream in this recipe is infused with lavender Flowers, instructions below.

"Love Custard"

Ingredients

15 ounces pureed cooked pumpkin

2 eggs

1 cup half-and-half cream*

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon salt

Lavender Sugar*

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients; beat until smooth. Pour into four greased 10-oz. custard cups.

Place in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan; pour hot water around cups to a depth of 1 in. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes.

When ready to serve, sprinkle approximately 2 teaspoons of Lavender sugar over the custard.

For best results, use a small hand-held torch. Hold the torch 4 to 5 inches from the sugar, maintaining a slow and even motion. Stop torching just before the desired degree of doneness is reached, as the sugar will continue to cook for a few seconds after flame has been removed.

If you don't have a torch, place custard 6 inches below the broiler for 4 to 6 minutes or until sugar bubbles and turns golden brown. Refrigerate  at least 10 minutes before serving. 

Yield 4 servings.

*Here is a link on how to make Lavender Sugar.

* To infuse the 1/2 & 1/2 Place in sauce pan add 1 tbs of lavender flowers(or more if you like) and heat gently. strain and cool.

MHR Thanksgivings - Dash of Magick

It’s time to add A Dash of Magick! Today I wanted to share a Wonderful Spell/Ritual I came across a couple years ago.
Bountiful Ritual To Increase the Good Things in Your Life by Amerindea 

This is a wonderful ritual to do around Thanksgiving, but it can be done anytime of the year that you want to be grateful for what you have and make sure that the good things,such as money, love, success and health, keep coming to you.
November is a time when psychic thoughts are strong. Doing this ritual in November brings an abundance of love, prosperity and health.
For great abundance of love, prosperity and health do this ritual on Saturday or Sunday before the full moon this month's full moon is the Full Beaver Moon: November 28, 9:46 A.M. (which is ThanksGiving weekend! Sunday would be a great time to do this Ritual) This ritual should not be done more than 3 times a year. The items you will need are: Gemstones: Rose quartz for friendship and love Unakite for a healthy mind Agate for strong protection Garnet for good luck, love and money Citrine for success and good luck Carnelian for health and money Emerald for love and health Smoky quartz for energy and prosperity Sodaltie for harmony 3 votive candles in clear glass holders 1 white votive, 1 orange votive and 1 green votive Vase with water and evergreens (can be ivy, holly or pine) 1 penny, 1 dime and 1 quarter A small dish or bowl (silver, brass or clear glass) 1 teaspoon of honey and a small piece of bread on a white plate 3 tablespoons of red wine or grape juice in a clear glass A list of 10 or more things for which you are grateful Clean your stones: Clean your stones in the method you like.
The night before the ritual write your grateful list and have your evergreens in the vase.

Prepare your altar: Put all the items on your clean altar. Put the candles in glass holders, have the matches close by. Place the candles from left to right white, green and orange.

Place the gemstones in an order that is meaningful to you in front of the candles. For example, if love is most important for you now, then put the love stones first starting on the left or if health is the most important, then the health stones. The order of the stones may be changed each time you do this ritual.
Put your grateful list under the white candle, put the vase with the evergreens behind the green candle and the coins behind the orange candle.
Place the small bowl to the left of the candles
Put the plate with the honey and bread and the wine or juice to the right of the candles. Light the candles starting at the left with the white candle and say: I have love and friendship in my life Light the green candle and say: I have a strong and healthy body with a clear mind Light the orange candle and say: I have success and prosperity in my life
Say the following lines in order as you pick up each gemstone one at a time with your right hand and place the gemstone in your left hand. After you recite each line gently blow on the gemstone and then put it in the bowl. I deserve love and friendship in my life I deserve a strong and healthy body with a clear mind I deserve success and prosperity in my life I feel the flow of love and friendship around me I feel the flow of health in my body and clearness in my mind I feel the flow of success and prosperity around me I accept the increase of love and friendship into my life I accept the increase of having a stronger and healthier body and a clearer mind I accept the increase of success and prosperity into my life
After the nine stones are in the bowl, dip the bread in the honey and say: I have much sweetness in my life! (Eat the bread and honey.) Take the wine and say: I have much joy in my life! (Drink the wine.) Let the candles burn out. Take away the bread plate and wine glass, but leave everything else on the altar for the next 3 days. On the third day, wrap the coins in your grateful list, take this and the evergreens to a tree you like and bury the wrapped coins at the base of the tree, then place the evergreens on top and say: So I give what I receive in abundance!

Magickal Harvest Thanksgiving Special

Dawn and I are gearing up for a Magickal Harvest Radio Thanksgiving special on 11/17/2012 1:00 PM MST  We would like to Hear from all of you! 
A: One thing that you are grateful for.
B: A special family tradition. (This can be a special Recipe/dish, activity etc.)


Send us an email with your Thanksgiving traditions to be shared on the air. You can drop us a line at MagickalHarvest@gmail.com or message us via www.MagickalHarvest.com or Facebook. We look forward to to hearing from all of you!

MHR Ep 13 Fall Planting

Hello everyone. I do hope that you had a chance to Listen to Magickal Harvest Radio's show this week. Dawn and I had a great time talking about Fall planting, We learned a great many things about Cool season and overwintering plantings.  So here is a Recap:

What to Grow:

Cool-season vegetables:

Brussels Sprout

• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts 
• Carrots 
• Cabbage 
• Cauliflower 
• Lettuce

• Radishes 
• Rutabaga
• Spinach
  
  

Overwintering: 

• Broad Beans
• Asparagus
• Peas 
• Garlic
• Onions, Spring onions & Shallots
• Winter Lettuces 
• Spinach 
• Spring cabbage

When to Plant:

Good to Know: Estimated Frost Dates by Zone

Zone 3 - Sept 1st - 30th
Zone 4 - Sept 1st - 30th
Zone 5 - Sept 30th - Oct 30th
Zone 6 - Sept 30th - Oct 30th
Zone 7 - Oct 15th - Nov 15th
Zone 8 - Oct 30th - Nov 30th
Zone 9 - Nov 30th - Dec 30th
Zone 10 - Nov 30th - Dec 30th
Zone 11 - Frost Free



Here is a link to the Farmers Almanac Frost Chart for United States

1. Check out when your last frost date is; In the Boise/Nampa Id  area it ranges about the first week of October.
2. Check the desired plants length to maturity, then subtract the required days from your frost date. (I would pad a week or two, just in case, unless you are using cold frames or other protection)  Pretty Easy HUH?

Ways to Extend your growing season.

Example of  Cold Frames: Here are a bunch of DIY links
http://www.instructables.com/id/Winter-Harvests-With-a-Cold-Frame/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cold-Frame-Insulated/

DIY Cloches & Crop Covers.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-your-own-Cloche-Dome-individual-plant-gree/








http://www.instructables.com/id/Quick-and-easy-homestead-uses-for-Plastic-Bottles-/step4/ColdframeCloche/

How to Build a Greenhouse in 1 Hour

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-Greenhouse-in-1-Hour/

A Dash of Magick

Appalachian Folklore: (Thank you everyone for all the folklore shared on the web..there are to many of you to list! but our thanks is great)

The Weather

• After you hear the first fall cricket, it will be 6 weeks until frost.
• If squirrels gather nuts after sundown in October, it will be a hard winter.
• The first three days of each new quarter will determine the weather for that quarter. For example, the first three days of January will indicate the weather for January, February and March. The first three days of April will determine the weather in April, May and June. The first three days of July will determine July, August and September, and the first three days of October determines the weather for October, November and December. A quarter starts on the first day of the month following a solstice
• If the first week in August is uncommonly hot, the coming winter will be snowy and long.
• If the first frost hasn’t occurred before the full moon in October, then there won’t be a frost until the full moon in November.
• If you see a ring around the moon, and it has stars inside the ring, that will tell you how many days until there is a big storm.

Garden

• Gardens do better if seeds are planted on even-numbered days of the month.
• Crushing rosemary into a glass of wine will boost mental powers.
• Conduct most of your garden chores during the waxing of the moon. Light nights make light crops: never plant when the moon is full.
• All above-ground crops should be planted with the new moon.
• Root crops should be planted under the sign of Taurus for quicker growth.
• Planting on Friday is bad luck, unless the zodiac sign is right.
• It's good luck to steal herbs.
• Beans planted on dark nights will grow the best crops
• Onions should be planted in the old of the moon (that is waning to dark phase).
• If two people's hoes hit together, they will work in the same field next year.

So Munch Mint... recipes...

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Lime + Fresh Mint

This cool summer salad (which just so happens to be vegan and naturally gluten-free). What makes a quinoa salad taste so fabulous? Fresh mint, lime juice and good tasting/quality extra virgin olive oil.
Ingredients:

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa

• 2 tablespoons fruity extra virgin olive oil

• Juice from 2 limes

• 2-3 fresh mint sprigs, leaves removed and chopped

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves or parsley

• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

• A handful of sweet and ripe cherry or grape tomatoes, quartered

• 2 tablespoons diced red onion- or use 2 chopped scallions

• 1 garlic clove, minced

Instructions:First, rinse your quinoa in a sieve (it's tiny so the usual colander might not do).
Cook the quinoa as you would raw rice: boil in 2 and 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups fresh salted water, covered, until all of the water is absorbed. (Dawn’s note here: I prefer to toast my quinoa before boiling it. the toasting gives it a nuttier flavor and also cuts the startchiness...)
Scoop the cooked quinoa into a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients, tossing lightly with a fork until combined.Taste test and adjust seasonings.
(Dawn’s note here: I would add toasted pine nuts to this right before serving for texture and taste! Also, a variation would be to add curry powder for a mediteranean/middle eastern taste treat!)
Cover and chill- the longer, the better. In fact, I think this salad tastes better the second day- so plan ahead and make it the day before.
Makes 4-6 servings.
Read more: http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2008/08/lime-quinoa-salad-with-mint.html#ixzz20nqCp4by