recipe corner.

Yes guys and girls all pagans should at least know how to make beans on toast. I've never met a pagan who can't cook for themselves, and here's a few fun and easy recipes to start you off ^_^

Bread

500g strong white flour , plus extra for dusting
1 pinch of salt (honestly I'm not a fan of using salt in my cooking, but for bread I allow a pinch)
7g sachet fast-action yeast
3 tbsp olive oil
300ml warm water (not hot)
Mix the flour and salt together in a large bowl. Add the yeast to the warm water and stir gently before adding to the mix. Then ad the oil and mix into a dough. Kneed then leave to sit in a warm space, covered, for ten minutes. Place on an oiled tray and bake at 200°C for 30 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. 

Biscuits

You'll need them. They're great for use instead of cake as they're a heck of a lot easier to store and carry. They taste great and you can cut them into any shape you like.

3oz granulated sugar,
6oz butter,
7oz plain flour,

Crumble sugar and butter together then fold in the flour into a dough. (add water if it doesn't hold) then roll out and cut before placing on a greased tray and cook on 150°C until golden brown. Don't cook too long as they can swiftly turn into rocks. If you like crunchy biscuits leave to cool. Otherwise, eat warm.

You can add a fourth ingredient if you wish, this will often symbolise the dark of the moon and I always add this out of respect. You could add honey, chocolate, cocoa, cinnamon or fruit. In fact anything you like, you're the one baking.

Cough relief steam

We all get those colds, those sniffles and coughs. Nothing can really stop them in the long run, but there are ways to sooth the cough.

1 bowl of boiling water,
1 towel,
3 drops of eucalyptus oil,
2 tbsp of honey,
2 tsp of salt,
1 teabag,

Place the ingredients with the boiling water in the bowl, pop the towel over your head, close your eyes and relax letting the steam soothe that cough away.
(Jenjen recommends a good cup of tea afterwards ^_^ Just use a new teabag.)

Oils

There are many uses for oils, from helping you sleep, to anointing yourself. Always use a good quality base oil such as extra virgin olive oil, as many essential oils are not safe to put onto skin neat.

Lavender- Sleep and healing.
Jasmine- said to be the scent of the goddess.
Citrus- aids alertness and concentration.
Peppermint- healing of the stomach.

These are just a small handful to start you off. Please research the oils fully before using.

Your kitchen
No I don't mean remodelling. Here's a few things you should always have in your kitchen so you'll never be caught short. 

Flour (this one is obvious, it has so many uses that of course you need it.)
Salt (once again, so many uses and not all for cookery.)
Ground ginger (perfect for when you're having stomach troubles)
honey (antiseptic, soothing and amazing on toast.)
Eggs (a main part of any cake)
Oats (if all else fails, porridge will do)
Milk (Got to have that calcium.)
Fruit (fresh or tinned)
Veg (whatever you like)
Meat (for feasts or sandwiches, gotta have that protein)