Ambrosia “Salad” in the 80s

Ambrosia salad was one of those attempts at healthier eating in the 80s that was delicious and questionable. It’s roots are claimed by southern states but I was chatting with two people from South Africa yesterday and they were saying that their mothers made it for their families all the time as well. It was […]

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Making the most of Black Currant Mash

Over the past two days I have shared some black currant recipes that I had been playing with over the long weekend. The jelly and curd left me with cooked berries that were definitely still useful. This post is all about what other options are available for the left over mash. Black currants grow locally […]

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Black Currant Curd

A fruit curd is a usually tangy, sweet spread used in cakes, on scones, for tarts and pies and as a topping on ice cream, pancakes or waffles. Lemon curd is probably the most well known flavour. Lemon meringue pie, began as lemon curd topped with a meringue. Black currants are another tangy fruit, currently […]

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Tansy Pudding

Sweet baking, dairy products, and honey are all contributors to a Beltane celebration. This traditional Celtic dessert has them all. Tansy, an herbaceous, perennial plant, is well known in England. It is considered a special addition to Medieval Easter celebrations. Tansy is native to Europe, making it’s way across the pond and then across the […]

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Summer Pudding

Summer Pudding is an English recipe I have wanted to try for decades. It is perfect for Lammas as it combines two of the sacred foods of the season, bread and fruit. In Britain, pudding is used as a term to denote all kinds of desserts. It can be, but is not necessarily, a thickened, […]

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Fall Fruit Crumble with Oat & Hazelnut Streusel

Fruit Crumbles are a tasty addition to a Mabon celebration. It is also nice that everything goes into one dish and there are no fiddly bits that need extra care and attention like the red pepper spiral on this black bean and coconut rice dish. This crumble contains apples, oats, and hazelnuts, all traditional Mabon […]

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Mabon Cheese

Mabon is a recent addition to the wheel of the year. Although the name comes from a Welsh God, there is evidence that this celebration was not originally Celtic. Mabon ap Modron and Modron were possibly deities from earlier legends. Mabon means “Great Son” and together this mother-son pair reflect similar aspects of the Demeter-Persephone […]

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Peaches and Basil

Yesterday there were still fresh peaches at the local farmers market! Reason enough to share this quick combination, great for ice cream, cheesecake, vanilla pudding, panna cotta, waffles, pancakes and salads just to name a few. Basil and citrus fruits go well together. Here is a basil and lemon glaze on a nectarine pie from […]

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Walnut Squares with Lemon, Rum & Cardamon

May 25th is Brown Bag It Day and something easy to cut and package seemed like a tasty treat for your workplace. Working from home? May yourself a cuppa and enjoy. Walnuts are actually a drupe. The nut is the “stone” inside the shell and will release when it is fully ripe. It takes between […]

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Rhubarb Orange Ginger Pudding with Hazelnuts

On the west coast of British Columbia, I wait for the first rhubarb of the year. It is usually here by Beltane and I am so happy to be able to make anything with rhubarb. This year has been colder than normal and things are a little bit behind. I was thrilled when the local […]

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