Star Crossed Botanicals

11/11/2024

Attended a Basket Weaving class at the Dr. James Still historic site in Medford, NJ. I was intrigued by the cough syrup recipe. The little garlic basket weaving class was great!

27/05/2024

Peppermint tea and gathering Calendula seeds. It's the little things!

25/05/2024

Feverfew decided to volunteer in my Bay Laurel and now it's trying to take over! The Valerian in the background was a feature flower at the Chelsea Garden show this year. Now I'm trying to figure out other places to grow it!

17/05/2024

17/05/2024

This morning, I was greeted by a stunning flower explosion that left me in awe.

17/05/2024

Welcome Spring!

16/02/2024

Canning tomato sauce today with the frozen Romas from our garden last Summer.

24/11/2022

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=499145645572640&id=100064316274732&mibextid=Nif5oz

This Triple Chocolate Cheesecake with a buttery chocolate graham cracker and almond crust makes a wonderful offering for Hekate's Night. (Recipe link below)This celebration is held on November 16th and while no historical precedent for this date can be found, Hekate's Supper (food offerings) are left by contemporary devotees at crossroads to obtain her favors. Despite her reputation as Queen of the Witches, I see Hekate much as my ancestors in ancient Athens once did, not just as a goddess of the Underworld but as “Mother of All Who Bore Love ” and the “Bringer of the Light”. And since November is the month of the ever-deepening dark as winter closes in, it feels propitious to bake a cake to invoke her protection from ill winds and baleful spirits.

Made with a blend of dark, milk and white chocolate, lightly spiced with cardamom and lavender, wild fennel seeds, and (just a touch) of the earthy, loamy flavor of freshly ground Licorice Fern Root, this cheesecake may not be historically accurate but is my “homage” to what I see as an incredibly beautiful rite of ancestor veneration, household protection and blessing, and most especially, food magic. And it is in this spirit I honor Hekate on November 16th. I think it’s a pretty offering – and I hope it will curry her favor. After all, if Hekate was pleased she would bless the household, family, and city-state with protection, give rulers wisdom in their judgments, ensure family harmony and bestow prosperity on the common people.

https://gathervictoria.com/2018/11/14/dark-chocolate-cheesecake-an-offering-for-hecates-night/

04/07/2022

Artemisia pontica. I started this plant after taking the Fermentation, Ale and Mead course ar HANE. I wanted to try making an Absinthe Ale. The Ale really didn't turn out because I believe I used more Wormwood than recommended. It was so bitter! But the recipes that I saw on old time Absinthe recipes included Artemisia pontica. This little plant was hard to come by, but it's certainly becoming one of my favorites.

24/10/2021

Do you need a natural boost to your health? Here are 3 recipes to boost your health with matcha tea!

23/10/2021

Learn the various methods of preparing acorns for food, then reward that hard work with a hearty vegetarian meatball sub, made out of acorns!

17/10/2021

Eaten raw or cooked with warming herbs, nutritious and tasty apples make a great addition any diet. These apple recipes are perfect for the family table!