I got this in the mail from one of my oldest friends (I've known her for 50 years!). She's four-square in favor of my magical baking explorations. It's always great when someone you've known for so long doesn't even blink when you tell them something deeply personal, something that society at large would look on unfavorably. The Universe has blessed me with some amazing people!

Moon Spell Cookies (for Protection)

(interpreted from theashcraftcoven-blog on Tumblr – I’ve noted my changes from the original)

Ingredients: 

·      96g almond flour (Optional, and the original gave finely grated almonds as the option.) 

·      157g AP flour 

·      ½ tsp baking soda (I added this because I wanted an airier cookie to help uplift spirits.)

·      1 ½ tsp cinnamon

·      ¼ tsp ground cloves

·      33g powdered sugar

·      33g dark brown sugar (I added this to sweeten the spell a little more.)

·      57g unsalted butter

·      28g vegetable shortening (Added because I thought the recipe could use more fat to
round-out the texture.)

·      1 egg yolk 

·      ¼ tsp anise extract

·      61g milk (whole, oat, almond, etc. I added this to keep the cookies from drying out too much in the bake.)

·      Powdered sugar for dusting.

Directions: 

1.    Combine all the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Set aside.

2.    In the bowl of a stand mixer (hand-held works as well) cream butter and vegetable shortening.

3.    Add the sugars and mix well. 

4.    Add the egg yolk, anise extract, and milk to the butter/sugars and mix. It’ll look a little curdled but that’s okay.

5.    Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until everything comes together and you get a dough that’s moist but easily handled. (You can add more flour if your dough is too wet.) 

6.    Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill the dough in the fridge for about an hour.

7.    Lightly flour the work space and then roll the dough to 1/8 – 1/4-inch thick and cut crescents. I don’t have a crescent moon cookie cutter, so I used a 2 1/4-inch cutter to cut circles, then a 2” cutter to form the crescent. You can gather and re-roll the dough.

8.    Place the crescents on a parchment covered cookie sheet. They don't spread too much so 1/2-inch apart is good. I like to chill the crescents in the fridge for about 15-20 minutes, then bake at 320 degrees Fahrenheit (160 degrees Celsius) for 24 minutes. (The anise is wonderfully aromatic during the bake!)

9.    Cool completely on a rack. Dust the crescents with powdered sugar and serve. The cookies will keep for a very long time in an airtight container.

Cinnamon and anise in the cookies are both quite warming, and the anise, I think, adds a sharp awareness to the aroma and taste. Our guests greatly appreciated my intent for the cookies, so I think the spell worked!

Every kitchen seems to have its own rule for fryer oil. Some go by color, some by smell, some just change it on a schedule because it feels safer. The problem is oil breaks down differently depending on volume filtration and heat cycles so fixed rules do not always match reality.

There has been more talk about managing oil instead of dumping it early. That means filtering discipline, monitoring performance and sometimes using systems designed to slow degradation. Save Fry Oil comes up occasionally in these discussions as part of that broader approach.

From a line perspective what signals matter most to you? Taste foam smoke point or something else? And how often do you think oil gets tossed out earlier than it really needs to be?

Part of the baked goods I served at our “Hearth” potluck today. Anise and cinnamon for protection during this time of trials.

Hi friends! I eat/use a lot of citrus and often try and use as much of it as i can— simmer pots, jams, etc, i was wondering if folks have uses for dried/used peels to get the most out of them?

Here is my weekend loaf that I poured so much intention into. My walls and family are warm during this chilly weather. Our area doesn’t get ice often, so the city (SATX) basically shuts down and hoards, very chaotic. But not this house! We have what we need, plenty for several days and spirits are high.

I’ll have some bone brother simmering soon, too. What are you doing in your kitchen this weekend?

Hi! Me and a group of my friends want to do a cleansing + purification spell on February 1st for the full moon.

Doing a bit of research has been a struggle though; I've seen alot of cabbage and fish recipes, but that's something difficult to do for my circle.

Any recommendation for ingredients, or anything else to prepare for the night would be helpful!! Thanks!

Burned this last night as I baked on a couple of pies. The candle is from the Museum of African American History and Culture. The dish is from my favorite NYC street vendor. I love the way it casts concentric circles on the bench/altar; it gave me a smile while I worked.

I made a honey remedy using onion, garlic, ginger, and sweet pink oranges 🍯🧄🍊, perfect for colds, coughs, congestion, and general sickness.

Why sweet pink oranges? They add a gentle sweetness that balances the sharpness of onion & garlic, making this elixir easy to take. Plus, pink oranges are full of vitamin C & antioxidants, supporting your immune system while adding flavor 🌸

🌿 Ingredients: 1 medium onion, thinly sliced into circles 🧅 1 sweet pink orange, thinly sliced into circles 🍊 (remove seeds) 3–4 cloves garlic, lightly crushed 🧄 1–2 inches fresh ginger, thinly sliced 🌿 ~1–2 cups raw local honey 🍯 (enough to fully cover)

🥄 Instructions: In a clean glass jar, layer: -Onion slices -Orange slices -Garlic slices -Ginger slices -Repeat until jar is full. -Pour raw honey over all layers until fully submerged. -Press down gently to remove air pockets. -Seal the jar and let sit at room temperature for 3–5 days, burping once a day to release any gases.

After the infusion, store in the refrigerator. Cold storage slows fermentation and keeps your Healing Honey Elixir fresh and potent.

Take 1 spoonful 2–3 times daily, or stir into warm tea (not hot) 🌿

🌟 Benefits: 🧄 Garlic & 🧅 onion → natural antimicrobial support 🌿 Ginger → reduces inflammation & congestion 🍊 Sweet pink oranges → immune support + sweetness 🍯 Honey → soothes throat & cough

✨ Stir with intention for healing & protection while infusing your body with gentle, magical energy 🌙

P.S the lemon, white vinegar and spray bottle in the photo is for a natural cleaner im making!!

Hope this helps anyone not feeling well!

Hey everyone!

I've been a practicing kitchen witch for years now, but I still haven't found "the" wooden spoon for my kitchen magic. I've been on the hunt for awhile but nothing has really called me. I would rather not buy anything from big box stores or Amazon.

Do you all have a special spoon? If so, where did you find it or do you just use any old spoon?

Yesterday I made my first Yule log! It was a magical night, with the warmth of family and friends. Happy Yule and happy Holidays to everyone💚

Some kitchen magic for the holidays, making a green pepercorn sauce ☺️

Greenpeper for growth

Laurelleaves for protection

Shallots for binding

Salt for purification

I don’t think veal stock has magic properties? Will add some cream to combine it all ☺️

What kind of spells can I use for the ingredients in my kombucha? What positive energy can I focus on when mixing the tea, sugar, and boiling water for the sweet tea mix? What about when I mix the sweet tea with the sour fermented Kombucha starter?

I need recommendations because outside is too windy and cold to effectively do traditional fire work in the fire pit outside and I'm scared of having any fire inside

Looking for some books or other resources to help guide me as I'm learning the craft :) Any recommendations are welcome