Nourishment is ritual. Food is grown under the sunlight, moonlight, and stars, tended to, harvested, baked, cooked, stewed, and arranged into meals in our communities, cultures, and homes. Certain dishes remind us of ancestors who have passed through the veil, a specific memory, or a time in our lives. They may be indicative of a holiday we celebrate with loved ones. The very scent of a spice can transport us. This is the definition of magic.
Kitchen witchery is the practice of preparing food with the foundational belief that food is medicine, food can be imbued with intention, and food can heal. Try practicing Kitchen Witchery by speaking healing intentions over a dish as you prepare the food, singing over the food, or humming healing notes.
Another way to connect with food as medicine is to practice presence while eating, focusing on each bite and savoring all the delicious work that goes into your food. Kitchen Witches also cook with specific healing culinary herbs such as garlic, rosemary, sage, thyme, and more for healing magic in your meals.
Saying thank you is always a spell. To practice gratitude, you can bless the meal before eating, sing a song of thanks, or pray to the sun, moon, and farmers.
A Recipe for Gathering: Vegan Pumpkin Pie
During the holidays at the end of the Gregorian year, there are many gatherings and blessings to be celebrated and honored, as well as grounded practices to be implemented amongst the chaos of the time.
Try crafting a recipe to share with your loved ones, practicing a little Kitchen Witchery. Speak a spell of the season into this Vegan Pumpkin Pie, sending love and Winter Solstice blessings into the crust. Share abundantly!
This vegan pumpkin pie recipe comes from For Love and Lemons here. For this recipe, you’ll need three cups of Canned Pumpkin Puree, 13.5 fl oz Coconut Cream, ¾ cup Brown Sugar, ¼ cup Cornstarch, one tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice, two teaspoons Vanilla Extract, ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt, and one Vegan Pie Crust.
Place the pumpkin puree, coconut cream, brown sugar, cornstarch, pumpkin spice, vanilla, and salt in a blender. Blend until smooth. Next, assemble the pie. Pour the filling into the chilled pie crust, and use a spatula to smooth the top. Then, bake. Place the pie on a baking sheet. Bake on a low oven rack in a 350°F oven for about an hour until the crust is golden brown, and cracks form in the filling. The middle of the filling will still look jiggly. That’s ok! Finally, let the pie set up. Allow it to cool to room temperature before covering it with foil or a kitchen towel and transferring it to the fridge. Chill for at least four hours or overnight before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Art: Irving Penn's "The Empty Plate," 1949.