Spring Brings Change

 So there has been much going on in my house this past month.  We moved again!  There were boxes and packing and moving of the packed boxes.  My kitty loves sitting in empty (or not so empty) boxes, so once we were moved in he was happy.  We've dealt with gas leaks and well troubles and freezing pipes.  Our bookshelves literally fell apart.  But has that stopped us?!  NO!

It hasn't looked much like spring around here.  My sister and I took a walk on our property to scope the place out on the equinox.  We now live on about 5 acres.  Not a terrible amount as far as a walk is concerned... or so you would think.  Those are my footprints in the snow farther back.  The snow has melted more since so cross your fingers that will be normal by Beltane.  


It wasn't all bad.  I did see some signs of spring, like the little beginnings of buds on this branch.  There have also been geese coming back north finally.  I managed a simple altar, since our stuff isn't completely unpacked.  Notice my Frankenstein candles from an earlier post.  I also made a list of goals, per Aradia's cauldron.  I ended up with 9 which is a number I love.

The wooden spoon is one of eight that I want to make into kitchen witch wands to create magical meals.  Since there are 8, I figure I can do one for each Sabbat!

Candle Making Trial and Error

Candle making is harder then you would think.  Oh, I thought, as I asked for a kit several years ago, it's just melting and pouring wax.  Yeah, okay.

Look at them over there!  those are my first attempt at votive candles, and of course I had to make 13 in one sitting.  If you click on the picture you will see a distinct horizontal line from the second pour.  What do you mean, second pour, you might inquire.  

When making candles You have to pour the most of the wax first, whether in a mold or container.  Then once it hardens, the wax will pit in the middle near the wick.  Then you have to heat the remaining wax to a slightly higher temperature so it adheres smoothly and doesn't make horizontal lines in your candles.  Well that, and for votives they have you pour the second pour so that the wax comes above the meniscus (the lip of the mold) but doesn't spill over.

Anywho.  Those candles will be my Full Moon candles.  Starting on the next Full Moon (March 16th)  I will be having tea and divination or creating a charm of some sort.  Along with burning the candles of course.  I made these as an Imbolc project (fitting yes?) and will be consecrating the candles on each New Moon prior to it's burning.

I also made my Frankenstein candle!  I used shades of yellow, white, blue, and mostly green from candles past to make these beauties.  I didn't intend to make two, but the wax makes the decisions around here. 

Aren't they beautiful? *tears up*

 A note to anyone who wants to make candles.  One: it's really quite fun despite setbacks I've had.  Two: make sure you put down paper towels, wax paper, or do your pouring over a cookie sheet.  Otherwise you may get wax in places it does not want to be e.g. under your stove grates or on the floor.  Three: Get a wax pitcher!1@!  The metal pitcher (seen above holding the wax) is a great help in keeping mess to a minimum. 

How to Peel a Rutabaga

Ah, the modest rutabaga.  Intimidating to some, considering the amount of people who have never had one.  The rutabaga is a root vegetable that is purple and yellow on color.  You may find they have a waxy peel, which is normal.  The rutabaga is usually sealed in a wax coating to help it stay fresh.  The wax doesn't hurt the vegetable, as you will be peeling it anyway.  When peeled it is a light yellow. 

Do not take a normal potato peeler to this vegetable.  It won't work well and will dull the blade of your peeler.  Just use a small, smooth-bladed paring knife to peel it in small increments, as shown in this picture.  Then you can cut it up into whatever size you like and cook it.  You can cube it, boil then mash it like potatoes or roast it with carrots. Ooh... I wonder if scalloped rutabaga wit chicken or ham would be good?

ONWARD TO THE RECIPE!

Roasted Root Vegetables

First thing I would like to say is, that when you cut into the rutabaga, it kind of smells like fresh broccoli or cauliflower.  When cooked it's actually a nice subtle flavor, like potatoes.

2 1/2 cups peeled and cut-up root vegetables

1-2 Tbsp oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Simple recipe, yeah?  I used rutabaga and carrot for my version, but you could add or substitute potatoes, turnips, or parsnips.  It makes a great fall/winter side dish, since it uses veggies that are in season.

Preheat the oven to 400°F/204°C/Gas Mark 6.  Cut your vegetables into matchsticks like shown.  This will ensure a short baking time.  Toss the vegetables in your oil of choice.  No, not motor oil, don't be cute.  Just whatever light flavored cooking oil type stuff you have will do.  Then season with salt and pepper to your taste.  I usually use about 1/8 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.  Bake for about 20 minutes or until the veggies are fork tender.

Days 29 & 30 - New Me's and Recipes

Day 29 was about taking a selfie that tells something about the person you're becoming.  I got randomly sick yesterday, and thus was NOT in a photogenic mood.  So I did it today.

Now, what you don't know is that there are a whole bunch of Peanut Butter Blossoms out in the kitchen.  I am eating an apple.  Thus, healthy eating/lifestyle choices being the theme of this photo!

Day 30 is posting a recipe!  I like talking about food.  I was surprised when going back through my blog posts and seeing I only have 4 or 5 recipes!  Simply not done I say!

Flash Fried Chicken

3 cups chicken broth

4 chicken breasts

Grapeseed oil

1 cup flour

1 Tbsp paprika

1 1/2 tsp celery salt

1 Tbsp pepper

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

                                                    1 1/2 cups milk

Heat chicken broth in saucepan over high heat to bring to a boil.  Add chicken and reduce to a simmer.  Boil chicken for 40 minutes.  Remove chicken, pat dry, and keep warm.  Mix all dry ingredients.  Coat chicken in milk then in dry mixture, shaking off any excess.  Heat oil in skillet or saucepan.  Fry chicken in enough hot oil to cover, for 30 seconds to 1 minute.  Serve chicken immediately.

By cooking the chicken first before coating, you are saving yourself a load of fat and calories you would otherwise ingest from normal fried chicken.  

Day Twenty-Eight - One Sentence Saturday

Today at KIOSB we're posting our word for 2014!

Action!  After much deliberation (and a lot of A and P words for some reason) I narrowed it down to Action.  With a capital A.  There are so many things in my life that can only improve by acting on them.  

Movement, following through with things, finishing, doing.  These are all a part of the theme that is action for me.  Wish me luck in this coming year!

Days 25-27 - Catching Up

Well, between holiday festivities and sleeping, I have some catching up to do.  So here we go!

Day Twenty-Five - Holiday Traditions

For our Christmas day tradition, we usually go to bed early.  We wake up at four (yes... a.m.) to open our stockings.  Then at six we would wake up our mom and open gifts, after preparing her coffee of course.

There was one year when we were still young, when my oldest sister and I didn't want to wait.  Our middle sister was asleep and thus had no part in the plot.  We set the designated clock ahead two hours, so we could go down at two instead of four.  We actually woke our parents up at four.  It amazed us both not only how long it took them to figure it out, but that we didn't get in trouble!

Day Twenty-Six - Ten Things in Your Fridge

We went over to my sister's in-law's Christmas party, so no leftovers for us.

1. Silk vanilla soy milk- We have quite a bit of dairy sensitivity in this house.

2. 2% milk- For baking and cereal.  These people don't like the Silk as much as I do, I guess.

3. International Delight butter pecan creamer- For my mother's coffee.  She loves it so much, she buys multiples so she won't run out.

4. Diet Pepsi- We are a Pepsi household.  Yes I know it's bad for you, I am trying to cut down.

5. Eggs- For the occasional breakfast sandwich, but mostly used for baking.

6. Heavy Whipping Cream- For the Yule log I made, soon to be used up in New Year's Chocolate Mousse!

7. Home made chicken stock- In the green tupperware.  I used all of our canning jars to freeze the rest.

8. Pepperoni- For pizza!  I make this fairly often, on days that I want cooking to take a short time... or I forgot to get out meat to defrost.

9. White Zinfandel- My mom's wine of choice, though it's been there awhile.  She doesn't drink much, myself even less so.  I don't care for the taste of alcohol.

10. Tomatoes- Down on the bottom all by their lonesome.  We need to go shopping for fresh vegetables. -_-

Day Twenty-Seven - Final Friday

1. What will you remember about 2013?

Staying at my sister's house to watch her kitties while they went on vacation.  Getting a whole tub full of free costume jewelry to take apart and use.  My mother and sister being happy with their blankets.

2. What are you ready to leave behind?

Fear.  Doubt.  Stagnation.  Arguments.  This house! 

3. What's something you learned in 2013?

How to finger crochet.  Don't leave candles unattended.  EVER.  That cooked tomato does not equal stewed tomato.

4. What would you like to celebrate about this past year?

I made two blankets by hand.  I made cordial cherries and English toffee from scratch and people liked them.  Our finances are actually somewhat stable.  We are moving forward, even though things can be tough at times.

Day Twenty-Four - Holiday Disasters

Today's prompt on KIOSB is to share a tip or story relating to a holiday disaster.  Happy Christmas Eve everybody!

Now this didn't happen during Christmas, but around my sister's birthday, which is in early January.  Some of you Canadians as well as northeastern Americans may remember...The Ice Storm of 98'.  

I was about seven at the time, but remember it well.  We were in northern NY at the time, so right in the thick of the storm.  My parents were smack dab in the middle of their divorce, so we weren't at home when the storm hit.  The snow was nearly as tall as I was and the hail was monstrous.  No one was allowed on the roads but response vehicles, since the roads were either icy, covered in downed tree branches, or both.  

I remember being glad that we had access to a gas stove, so at least we could heat up the snow to cook food or flush the toilet.  This was also my first and only ambulance ride.  The people were nice enough to pick us up and take us all to a fire station, where a bunch of people were sheltered.  They played Men in Black for us kids while the parents and adults did who knows what.  I remember being scared of that movie.

It wasn't too bad a time, to be honest.  I always liked snow and found severe weather exciting.  My sister didn't have a very good birthday though, as it was spent in a hotel with people we didn't really know.  But we all came out of it safe.

Now for tips!  Gas stoves are awesome for power outages, but don't use the oven to heat your house because of the fumes.  Generators-Awesome.  Candles-Always a plus.  Blankets-Have more than you need.  Flashlights and batteries are necessary.  Food/water storage are an excellent idea if you have the space, or you can put some in a garage or shed.