Author Archive: My Kitchen Wand

We all have leftovers that sometimes sit in the fridge until they no longer useable. Filo pastry is one of those things that can dry out very quickly if not cared for properly. Which bascially translates as keep away from air. I had several sheets wrapped up in the fridge. This morning I decided that […]

Without getting into a full discussion about the differences between crumble, cobbler, crisp, grunt, slump, buckle or brown Betty, let us just say that in a buckle the batter is underneath the fruit instead of on top as it would be in a cobbler. As it bakes, the cake expands around the fruit, while the […]

A traditional confectionary recipe for marshmallows includes egg whites and corn syrup. Some recipes omit the egg whites and up the corn syrup content. This one does not have either. It is honey, raspberry puree and lemon juice with some gelatin to bind it all together. Honey, lemon and raspberry all hold attributes related to […]

Summer brings the opportunity for light meal options to combat the heat. This watermelon, ricotta and smoked turkey salad fits that bill, served either as a full meal or a side for a Lammas potluck. You probably have seen recipes for watermelon with feta but this is a way to bring all your fresh herbal […]

Okay! a little history abour drinking or sipping vinegars. They are hot right now and new to many people but truly they are old and have been around the world, literally. Ships captains used to ensure a daily dose if not two to the sailors onboard. It was thought to fight off scurvy, perk up […]

I live in a valley with major fruit growing operations. This time of year, driving down many streets includes waiting while the big picking machines move from field to field to brush the blueberry bushes and gather up the bounty. There are lots of recipes for cakes that include cooked fruit but this time of […]

Lammas is one of the greater Sabbats in the Witches calendar year, celebrated on the first of August above the equator. It is known as a celebration of the first fruits and first corn (grain) harvest of the year; a little out of sync with the rhythm of the land here the last few years. […]

Summer time is upon us and with that hopefully, more time outdoors or at the very least more time with the doors open. With fresh breezes can come creepy crawlies and their aerial cousins. One way to encourage bugs to not be so friendly is with aromas they don’t like. This is a simple mixture […]

Our ancient ancesters knew wild raspberries well. Various dig sites across Europe, Asia, and Northern America have revealed the remains of raspberry canes. In Greek myths, raspberries were white until Ida,  Zeus’s nursemaid pricked her finger and stained them all red for all time, linking raspberries to fertility, women’s health and children. That tale is […]

Probably the most common symbol of Summer Solstice is the sun itself. Litha after all is a celebration of the longest day and all the benefits that come with the sun’s lifegiving light and heat. In hot weather appetities are smaller and lighter dishes are popular. This frozen dessert/fruit salad is a simple way to […]