This is the earliest childhood memory I have of making cake and magic. I was taught to believe in its magic by my mother and grandmother that it always worked whenever I needed to find something, it was miraculous indeed!
Saint Phanourios is the saint of lost things, lost souls, lost or misplaced anything really and is celebrated on the 27th of August. His name comes from the Greek word “Phanerono ”, meaning “I reveal”.
The cake is traditionally prepared with 7 ingredients. The number 7 is a highly spiritual number, that is associated with intuition, mysticism, wisdom and deep inward knowing. In Greek Orthodox religion it symbolises the seven sacred mysteries and 7 days of creation.
Ingredients:
360gr Vegetable Oil
360gr Orange Juice
300gr Sugar
1tsp Cinnamon
500gr Self Raising Flour
100gr Walnuts
100gr Sultanas or Cranberries
Method:
Mix all wet ingredients with sugar, walnuts and sultanas. While mixing add your intent and wish to find what you are looking for or what you want revealed.
Sift flour and add to the mixture.
Bless and bake at 170C for 50 minutes.
Allow to cool and if you wish you can light a candle and let it burn or take it to church if you prefer for a priest to bless it.
You can also dust with icing sugar which is optional.
The cake is then traditionally cut into 40 pieces and shared.
I hope you enjoy this recipe and find whatever you have lost.
This recipe post is dedicated to the loving memory of my grandmother Polixeni who passed away 4 years ago on the 10/05/2017.
Making koliva is a common greek custom. Koliva is the sweet offering we make to honour our loved ones who have passed at their funeral or their memorial. They are prepared and taken to the church service to be blessed during the prayers for the dead. We then scoop them into paper bags or cups to distribute to the church goers . At that point we say «Αιωνία τους η μνήμη», meaning “May their memory be eternal”
Meaning behind the ingredients of koliva: The wheat kernels express belief in everlasting life. Just as a new life rises from the buried kernel of wheat, we believe the one buried will rise one day to a new life with the universe/god.
There are a variety of ways to make koliva based on the region people are from but also the season (i.e if fresh pomegranates are available – this could also be going back to connected with Persephone). also sugar, nuts , parsley (again connected to Persephone) the more I research and study witchcraft the more I realise these are connected.
Ingredients:
200gr Wheat Berries
50gr Raisins
60gr Slivered Almonds
60gr Walnuts
60gr Pomegranate
1/2 teaspoon of Cinnamon
6 Mint Leaves
6 Parsley Leaves
100gr Toasted Plain Flour
150gr Sesame Seeds
200gr Icing Sugar
Method:
Rinse wheat with cold water.
Place wheat in a pot, bring to a boil and simmer for 90 minutes.
Drain wheat in a colander and allow to cool.
Place a tea towel on a baking tray and spread out the wheat, then cover with another tea towel on top for approximately 3 to 4 hours. (This helps remove the excess moisture. You can also place it in the fridge like this overnight and continue in the morning).
In a blender place sesame seeds, almonds and walnuts. Process until it’s a medium size crumb.
To toast the plain flour place in a non stick frying pan over a low heat and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until toasted and remove from heat.
Transfer wheat into a mixing bowl, add toasted flour, nut mix, cinnamon, raisins, chopped herbs, pomegranate and mix.
To decorate place Koliva in your desired bowl/dish. Press down the Koliva and cover it with the icing sugar and decorate with nuts, pomegranate and herbs. You can make patterns and symbols on the top.
Bless with your intentions and place on your altar to charge for 10 minutes. You can also light a candle at this point.
Mix and serve immediately.
You can also offer a small serving to the goddesses Dimitra and Persephone if you wish.
*A food safety note you should be aware of when making koliva is the bacterium called Bacillus cereus, which can lead to food poisoning. This is a type of bacterium found in cereal and under certain conditions, it can multiply very quickly. There are two things you should keep in mind if you want to avoid any unpleasant situations. Add the icing sugar only before serving and store in the fridge any koliva you have left. This is the reason why the typical Greek koliva is first covered with the flour and then with the sugar. That way the sugar doesn’t come in contact with the wheat berries.
I hope you enjoy this recipe and let me know how you go.
I was at chocolate tasting masterclass where they make real chocolate from beans to bar. I kindly ask if I could take home a container of the leftover hulls from the beans and they very generously did. The scent of the hull is hypnotic, just like chocolate and it gives you this warm happy boost.
I wanted to create a beauty product that I could you use as a self love ritual for myself whilst being natural and upcycling this beautiful hull from the freshly roasted cacao beans.
*Please note, do not use if you have allergies to any of the below ingredients and always do a test patch before using.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup of cacao hull
20ml sweet almond oil
3 drops neroli essential oil
Method:
Grind the hull in coffee grinder or mortar and pestle until fine.
In a bowl combine hull, sweet almond oil and neroil. Stir sensually until it becomes a runny paste.
Your scrub is ready to use!
I like to use it on both face and body, paying attention to my energy and sending love to myself and skin with every stroke. Taking in the scent of the beautiful cacao and the warm uplifting buzz it gives me.
Tip: You can set a vibe with music before you start working.
I find that with spring here in the Southern Hemisphere my mood is starting to shift and brighten. Observing the flora and fauna I wanted to make a refreshing simple dessert to reflect just that!
This is a simple 4 ingredient vegan friendly recipe. Beautifully scented with tea, refreshing, a delicious treat to enjoy in afternoon in your backyard or even as palate cleanser in between courses as it acts like a smooth cleanser and removes food residue from the tongue and heavy scents allowing one to more accurately assess a new flavour.
Ingredients
1/2 Cup Caster Sugar
1 & 1/2 Cups of Moon Water
1/4 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
2 tsp Kohli Coconut & Lime Splice Tea
Method
Combine sugar, water and tea in a saucepan over low heat and simmer for 2 minutes.
Remove, strain and cool.
Add lemon juice and pour into an ice cream churn.
Churn on sorbet setting for up to 40 minutes.
Serve with fresh herbs or garnish of choice. I personally use fresh mint from my garden.
For as long as I can remember my mother and grandmother made this for me every time I was sick with a sore throat or unwell.
This warm tincture is best made by a spouse, or partner, or parent, or other wonderful person, with love, for maximum effect – if this is possible.
And then, as they are delivering the drink to you in bed they can fetch the tissue box, rub your back or even hold your hand and tell you how wonderful you are, despite feeling like you have been run over by a bus. However, if you are single, either as a status or temporarily for the evening, make the warm drink yourself…….Oh and did I mention it tastes amazing???
Ingredients:
1 cup hot water (boiled)
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon Metaxa
Method:
Combine all ingredients and stir.
Consume and go straight to bed for a good nights sleep.
The main magick comes from the feeling of wanting to genuinely send love, light and healing blessings as you prepare and stir this hot drink for your loved one or self.
These beautiful savory muffins were inspired by Thursday’s energy to bring in luck, abundance and good health. They contain three types of herbs that are blossoming in my garden at the moment and I can feel that spring is near.
What I love about using fresh herbs in my cooking is the scent that fills my kitchen from when I chop them, to infusing them in the food, when I’m cooling the muffins after baking, to the best part of consuming the delicious end product.
You and your whole kitchen will end up buzzing from the amazing energy and benefits that the scent from these herbs release throughout the process.
How do you nourish yourself in the kitchen and in the bedroom?
Life is all about what you desire. What you want and wish. What you need and cannot live without. These are part of our personal preferences.
Quickies exist for the same reasons as fast food. You use them when you need to. Satisfaction shouldn’t have to wait! You have to eat and must satisfy.
Now, if all you’re having is cheap, fast sex, ask yourself how healthy is that in the long run?
A note on cheat meals — the person you’re really screwing over is yourself. Hopefully you don’t bring anyone else down too.
The fact is a gourmet meal is like gourmet sex. Both take time, money, magic, loving energy, and a lot of intention to create. Multiple courses to craft with attention to detail, light and garnish a great scene. If you ask me, your appetite for food matches up to your appetite for sex.
There are many similarities in the way you are nurturing yourself in the kitchen and the bedroom. Regardless of where you fit on the spectrum of self awareness and skill with food (or sex), your natural urges of feeling hungry will always be coming.
Remember that feeling. Honor those sensations. They are part of your intuition. Like that feeling of being full and the satisfaction of fulfillment.
Keep learning to listen to your body’s authentic desires and you’ll always be creating the most delicious meals and sex you and your lover can imagine.
Savouring the pleasures of food and being ‘in the moment’ is key to sensual living.
Awakening our senses, creativity and sensuality are core concepts associated with being blindfolded.
Dining in the dark can be deeply sensuous and sensual. It can take the experience to the next level because your other four senses are heightened when vision is taken out of the equation.
The idea is that the taste and smell of the dishes will be more intense since your brain doesn’t have to worry about interpreting what it looks like, being that other senses are sharpened to an animal state of hyper-awareness by the loss of your eyesight.
There’s also a certain beauty in the suspense and being game to try whatever’s on the plate in front of you or what you are being feed by a partner.
You can go deeper into the experience to connect yourself with the wine and the food and have those beautiful recalls.
Did you know letting go and moaning is even easier in total darkness??
Put on your blindfold and get ready to experience a sensual foodgsam!!!
I created these sweet truffle bites of heaven after I tasted a hand blended tea by Kohli Tea Emporium. They carry the beautiful energy and benefits of the tea blend plus the addition of joy and hopefulness though the euphoric and uplifting taste and scent of theses truffles.
Ingredients:
200ml Cream 35% Fat
180gr Caramel chocolate
2 tbs Chocolate Truffle Tea
Desiccated Coconut
Method:
Heat the cream with the tea and bring to a boil, then let it steap for 3 to 5 minutes depending on you preference of strength.
I have to confess I love infusing dairy products with herbs, spices, tea and flowers.
And milk is a great carrier of scent!
Strain and add your tea infused cream to your caramel chocolate over a bain-marie and stir slowly, lovingly and patiently until incorporated.
Cover it and let it cool in the fridge overnight.
Prepare a bowl with desiccated coconut and place it on the side.
Before you start rolling your truffles keep in mind that it is best to work in a cool environment, that’s why it’s better working with chocolate during winter months.
I personally prepare my hands by placing them on my marble slab that I have specifically for chocolate making – this helps cool down the temperature of my hands. I close my eyes and visualise my intentions and the loving energy I want to pour into the truffles.
I then get a spoonful and roll it into a ball with my hands and then into the coconut.
I have placed mine on a silver stand to serve – this is a double benefit because the truffles will charge up with the healing benefits of sliver too, as well as looking luxurious while serving.
They pair well with drinking tea, champagne and sharing with friends you love.
This is a tea scented blessed bath oil to calm, soothe, moisturise dry winter skin, and make you feel like the goddess you are during your bath time ritual. With simple ingredients you probably have in you pantry or can find at a local health food shop.
Ingredients:
10gr Dry Chamomile Flowers
5gr Dry Calendula Flowers
5gr Dry Hippophaes Berries
200ml Grapeseed or Sunflower Oil
7 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil
*please be mindful if you have allergies to any of the above flowers or ingredients.
Method:
Place all ingredients apart from lavender into a Bain-marie and simmer on low for 45 minutes.
This bath oil is made using a steeping method so it is important to keep the lid on the whole time. By keeping the lid on you trap the steam of the flowers and therefore infuse you oil better.
Use a chux or muslin cloth to stain and pour into a bottle and add lavender drops.
Let it cool and charge on your alter.
I have charged mine on a grid board, with tea light candles and crystals placed around. You can tie a charm with string around the bottle, I have chosen a simple made with love charm to attach.
I have also placed an oracle card representing blessings of Brigid’s Fame to bring in her energy, to honour her and the element of fire as Imbolc is approaching soon.
Light the tea light candles and let them burn all the way.
Your bath oil is ready!
Some suggestions to make indulge and enjoy your bath ritual:
I personally like creating a pleasing atmosphere by lighting candles, placing crystals, having something to represent all of the elements, and music or a guided meditation also works.
Pour a generous amount into your warm bath and soak in all the magic.
I like to sensually massage the oil on my skin while I’m in the bath as it absorbs better and is a practice of self love.
Towel dry your skin and message any excess oil into you skin.
Brew yourself a cup of herbal tea and surrender to the end of your bath ritual.
Sensual Chef 