The Witches' Compendium: Samhain

The Witches’ Compendium: Samhain

By Tenae S. The Witch of Howling Creek

Copyright Information The Witches' Compendium: Samhain is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Feel free to share the content in any way you like, just please credit when you do.

Disclaimer The author of this e-book has used their best efforts in preparing this e-book. The author makes no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this e-book. The information contained in this e-book is strictly for educational purposes.

Therefore, if you wish to apply ideas contained in this e-book, you are taking full responsibility for your actions.

Tenae S. is a practicing kitchen witch from the West Coast of the United States where she lives on a small farm known as Howling Creek. She enjoys emphasizing her Celtic heritage in her craft and celebrating the Sabbats and Esbats throughout the year. She writes “The Witch of Howling Creek� blog and is the founder and editor of the free emagazine Pagan Living.

The Witch of Howling Creek Blog Pagan Living Magazine The Witch of Howling Creek on Twitter The Witch of Howling Creek on Pinterest

Table of Contents 1

Foreword

Hearth & Home 4

Decorating with Natural Materials

6

Spooky Samhain Decorations

8

Sweet Samhain Decorations

10

Keeping House (and more) with a Besom

Magick & Witchcraft 13

Samhain Correspondences

14

Samhain Solitary Ritual

15

Blood Moon Ritual

16

Divination Techniques

18

Spell to Banish Negativity

Honor & Celebrate 20

Ways to Celebrate

21

Ways to Honor the Ancestors

22

Cookie Cutter Pumpkin Craft Project

Fete & Feast 24

Witches’ Tea Party

25

Ten Treats for Samhain

35

Samhain Menu & Recipes

Foreword Witchcraft means something different to every single witch but following the seasons is an almost universal thread. October 31st presents us with Samhain, the Witches’ New Year, a day for remembering the past and looking to the future.

Samhain is often considered the most sacred Sabbat of all, the one day a year when witches can be witches without so much as a strange glance!

Decorating for, cooking for and celebrating Sabbats as well as engaging in other related, if relatively mundane, daily tasks is essentially a matter of being in tune with the seasons, an endeavor that is both rewarding and practical.

Decorations, for example, needn’t be extravagant in order to emphasize the meanings, symbolism and ambiance of each season. Samhain décor needn’t be bogged down with storebought plastic skeletons and “RIP” signs (although they can be fun too!) Rather, think beyond the big box stores for your final harvest celebrating. Rather, look to the great outdoors and your own well-stocked cupboards and cabinets for a little inspiration in filling your home with the spirit of Samhain.

Tenae S., The Witch of Howling Creek

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Hearth & Home

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Decorating with Natural Materials Natural materials are abundant in every part of the year and late autumn puts all the symbols of Samhain right at your fingertips: pumpkins, pomegranates, apples, bare trees and fallen leaves. Each offers a unique opportunity for infusing the home with this most sacred of seasons.

Pumpkins

Pomegranates

The most easily recognizable symbol of both Samhain and its secular counterpart, Halloween, pumpkins bring a wonderful joy to any home and herald the witchiest holiday of all. For simple, harvest decoration, pile miniature pumpkins in tin buckets, woven baskets or wheelbarrows. Add interest by using a variety of colors.

Pomegranates came to be associated with Samhain through the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades.

They symbolize the death and rebirth of the world each year as well as fertility and sensuality.

Wire pomegranates to grapevine wreaths and surround with silk or fresh fall blooms, acorn balls or other autumn items and hang on the front door for a warm welcome.

Of course, don’t forget to carve your jack o’lanterns for the most classic of Samhain dÊcor!

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Apples

opposite directions and create a fall arrangement of flowers, apples, pomegranates and leaves in the center. Hang over a doorway or window.

Although apples are also a symbol of Mabon, they take on an even more magickal quality as Samhain approaches. Carve a few to hold tealight candles and float in a large bucket or basin for a fun, homey spin on the classic Samhain game “bobbing for apples.�

Fallen Leaves Colored leaves still attached to branches are fabulous additions to fall flower arrangements but even the fallen leaves can have a decorative purpose. Carefully string dried leaves onto monofilament line or thin ribbon and suspend from a wooden dowel to create an autumn mobile. Or, press fall leaves beneath a layer of glass for a colorful, harvest coffee table.

Bare Trees The image of barren trees, perhaps with a few stubborn leaves still clinging to their branches, is a chilling one, bringing to mind suspenseful movies and late nights around the fire. Bring that spooky wonder inside with dried apple or curly willow branches. Just place the branches in tall glass cylinder vases and frame doorways with them.

For a slightly more involved project, wire the branches together in

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Spooky Samhain Decorations Samhain is a time of unmitigated witchiness, when all sorts of chill-inducing, spooktastic decorations get to come out and play! Here are a few of the very best: 

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Two-Faced Pumpkins: One decoration that has been increasing in popularity in recent years is the ‘two-faced’ pumpkin, where you simply carve two faces off-set from one another in the same pumpkin. It’s really fun if you can set up the back side so it projects onto a wall or shows up in a mirror!

Paper-Cut Spiderwebs: Using the same technique as you would to make paper snowflakes, cut black construction paper into squares, then fold diagonally as many times as you wish. Cut into intricate patterns, then hang in windows, clustered from a chandelier or taped onto a white wall or mirror.

Twinkle Lights: Hang up your Yule lights early but wrap them in black tulle, readily available at most fabric stores, for a super easy, super spooky look.

Black and White Door Wreath: Heavily spray paint a grapevine wreath bright, glossy white then decorate with black and silver items such as ornaments, sprigs of faux flowers and feathers. You could also hang a black sign or silhouette from the top such as ‘Happy Halloween’, ‘Boo!’, ‘Blessed Be’, a cat or a pentacle.

Cheesecloth: Hang torn black or off-white cheesecloth as a backdrop for a buffet, from windows and doors or from chandeliers for an eerie effect.

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Witch Balls: Once considered protection from witches, many modern day pagans hang these pretty glass ornaments from their windows as protection for hearth and home. Making your own is easy with clear glass craft ornaments, acrylic paints in colors like black, red, purple and orange, and lots of ribbon. This is a fun project for kids!

Other-than-Orange Pumpkins: Orange pumpkins may be familiar and a lot of fun but the white variety brings an elegant, refined touch to even the spookiest of celebrations. Also try spray-painting them black and rolling them in glitter (or foam ‘funkins’ for a cheaper version.)

On-Display Altar: Simply bring out your witchiest ritual items for a suitably Samhain vignette on a shelf, desk or table.

Victorian Prints: Replace photographs in your home with printed copies of Victorian anatomy and botany sketches for a cool, creepy look.

Etsy, Antique Stores & Gift Shops: Although you can decorate your house entirely top to bottom with adorably handmade items, don’t forget to check out these great resources near you. Even if you think that swanky gift shop downtown is too expensive, take a walk through it around Halloween and it is almost guarantee you’ll find something you have to have that just so happens to be in your price range!

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Sweet Samhain Decorations Of course, Samhain is about the saccharine as much as it is about the scheming so if you have young children around or just prefer a more homey, harvest environment, try out some of these decoration ideas instead: 

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Pumpkin Pile: Instead of carving your pumpkins into scary faces, just pile them wherever possible. Mounds of pumpkins is both heavy on spirit and incredibly easy to pull off!

Candy Bowls: Candy bowls aren’t just for Grandma’s end table – fill vases, jars and bowls throughout the house with your favorite seasonal treats for simple decoration inspired by trick-or-treating.

Sweet Treat Garland: Hang up a paper garland of alternating orange and black candy pieces. These are great on mantels, windows, doorways, chandeliers, even chair backs.

Harvesttime: Go for a more seasonal than spooky approach and decorate with maize, pumpkins, gourds, wheat and colored leaves.

Luminaries: Create simple luminaries by punching or cutting out cute Halloween shapes such as cats or jack-o-lanterns in brown paper lunch bags, filling them with a few inches of sand and setting a battery-operated or votive candle inside. These are perfect for lining walkways and staircases.

Off-Kilter Colors: Instead of the traditional dark colors of Halloween and Samhain, embrace a lighter side with orange, purple and lime.

Decorations can be as simple as swapping out curtains with a festive new color and a daring contrast for the swag.

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Witchy Vignettes: Create cute scenes with conical hats, brooms, pentacles and other images associated with witches to show off a little more subtly than displaying your entire altar.

Friendly Ghosts: Ghosts can certainly be spooky but take a bit more of a Caspar approach with friendly black and white faces painted on windows or fluttering friends made by tying white fabric around balls of paper and hanging them from the porch.

Victorian Inspiration: Set the scene with ivory lace tablecloths, hurricane lamps, dripping candles and polished silver tea service sets. Add finishing details like old books, magnifying glasses and binoculars for a tasteful Halloween display focused on elegance and refinement.

Signage: Vintage metal Halloween signs are easy to come by in antique stores and online or you can make your own with phrases like ‘Boo!’, ‘Happy Halloween’ and ‘Trick or Treat’ printed on cardstock and decorated with glitter.

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Keeping House (and more) with a Besom Witches have been shown with brooms for hundreds of years and though most don’t fly through the night sky on them, brooms (also known by the term “besom”) do have certain magickal properties.

Any broom can be used as a magickal besom but whether you choose a large push broom for the garage, a storebought broom with molded bristles or a handmade broom of natural materials, it should be cleansed before use in magick or rituals.

To Bless a Besom Lay the broom on a flat outdoor surface such as a porch rail or deck where it will be protected from the elements but exposed to natural light. Sprinkle sea salt over the length of the broom (if you prefer to speak a blessing out loud, this would be the time to do that.) Leave the besom outside beneath a full moon to infuse it with power.

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Of the besom’s many properties, protection and purification are the most potent.

To use your besom for protection, try these handy tips: 

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Hang a wall-mounted curtain rod above the front door on the inside wall.

Using heavy gauge wire, wire a broom you do not intend to use on a regular basis but that has been blessed as a besom lengthwise to the curtain rod so it hangs over the doorway.

Use twine to bind traditional bristle materials like birch twigs with lengths of dried protection herbs such as angelica, thyme and rosemary to a thin ash branch cut to the desired length. Bless as a besom.

Tie two long strands of black ribbon to the top of a besom handle and crisscross them down to the base of the handle. Tie in a bow or knot to secure in place and use the beribboned besom as a broom or as decoration.

To use your besom for purification, try these tips as well: 

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Open a door at the front of the house and a door at the back of the house.

Use a blessed besom to sweep dirt and dust from the front door, through the house and out the back door to encourage bad luck and other nasties to continue on their way without stopping in your home.

Clean by sweeping the broom from east to west (the path of the sun) to sweep away negativity.

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Magick & Witchcraft

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Samhain Correspondences Every Sabbat has colors, spices and other items associated with it, most of which are based on the natural world and the current season. These items are particularly magickal around the time of the Sabbat and are a great place to start when designing rituals and spells.

Colors:

Black Orange Red Brown Yellow

Stones:

Obsidian Bloodstone Onyx Jet

Herbs, Plants & Spices:

Bay Cinnamon Ginger Cloves Pumpkin Rosemary Mugwort Myrrh Sage

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Samhain Solitary Ritual Sit skyclad or loosely clothed. Light a white, brown, black or orange candle and place so the reflection appears in a mirror or bowl of water.

Meditate on the image, reflecting on and connecting with those who have passed on, including family members, friends, pets and ancestors.

Now is your opportunity to perform one of the spells presented on the following pages or a spell of your own creation. Samhain is particularly well-suited to spells involving past lives, banishment and divination.

Take a bite of bread and a sip of wine or cider, alternating until gone.

Blow out the candle.

Blessed Be.

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Blood Moon Ritual The October full moon is most accurately referred to as the “Blood Moon,” a reference to the final harvest: not in fact an agricultural harvest, but that of the last meat of the year before winter returns.

The Blood Moon can be celebrated in any number of ways with a wide variety of interpretations, based on the evocative name. You might take it literally and spend the day mixing your own sausage (run inexpensive roasts through a meat grinder with your own preparation of herbs and spices or simply mix the additions into ground meat) or preparing items for simple winter meals such as stew, chili or tomato meat sauce.

It could also be interpreted as familial blood, prompting an ancestor-related ritual, a protection rite for your home and family or simply sharing a meal together. As the mother aspect of the moon’s cycle, the full phase is always a great time for family-centered rituals to begin with.

Or, you could simply choose to do a simple Blood Moon ritual: Sit skyclad or loosely clothed in view of the full moon if possible. Light a red candle and focus on the moon, absorbing its energy in meditation. Take a bite of a gingersnap and a sip of apple cider, alternating until both are gone.

Blow out the candle.

Blessed Be.

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Divination Techniques Samhain is one of the best times of the year for divination as the thin veil between worlds (whether considered literal, spiritual or metaphorical) allows easier access to the beyond. There are numerous common methods of divination such as tarot and crystal gazing but many witches feel ill-equipped to practice such methods as they tend to require a good deal of knowledge and study.

Luckily, there are also some lovely methods of divination that are far simpler to pick up such as chartomancy and lycnomancy.

Chartomancy Chartomancy is divination by books. It is incredibly simple and, in fact, many people perform it without even realizing it, making it the very best form of magick – that which is instinctive! Simply think of a problem or question you need help with, choose a random book (preferably a novel or dictionary as other non-fiction can be too technical or specific), open to a random page, and run your finger over the page without looking until you feel you are in the right place.

Then read the line or paragraph you have chosen and consider what it could mean in terms of your situation or question. You may want to do this three times in one book in order to get a couple of angles.

For example, in the book The Coral Thief one might open to the words “I had forgotten”, a photograph of two pirate ships (photos are also excellent divining tools) and a paragraph about a woman respected and known by those around

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her, from the well-to-do to the prostitutes. From this one might gather that they will experience adventure and travel, that they will be respected but that it may take hardship to get there and that there may either be things they will wish to forget or that they have already forgotten something they need to remember. As you can see, this is a very personal way to divine the future that is entirely open to interpretation and can be done whenever you feel the need.

Lychnomancy Another easy, interesting form of divination is lychnomancy, divination by candles. Light a plain white candle in a darkened room, away from any sources of air or wind, such as a window or fan. Study the flame while thinking about your problem or question. The following (among other signs) will lead the way:      

If the end of the wick displays a brightly shining point it is a lucky omen.

If the flame moves from side to side it indicates that you will soon travel.

If there are sparks rising from the candle you will need to be cautious.

If the flame seems to twist and spiral it means that your enemies are plotting against you.

If a flames rises and falls it suggests there is approaching danger.

If the candle is extinguished suddenly and without good reason it is a prediction of disaster.

Perform these wonderful methods at your Halloween party or for serious divination of the future!

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Spell to Banish Negativity Compile a list of bad habits and negative situations in your life and write them all down on a sheet of paper. Stir a teaspoon each of cayenne, coffee grounds and ground cloves into 1 ½ cups of hot water.

Wad up a paper towel, dip it into the hot water and drag over the paper to dye it brown. Hang the sheet up to dry (or use a blow dryer.)

Once the paper has dried, burn it in the fireplace or Samhain bonfire to banish the negativity and bad habits.

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Honor & Celebrate

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Ways to Celebrate Honor the many aspects of Samhain, including family, a new year and the death of summer, with these simple, easy activities.           

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Carve pumpkins to protect your home and family.

Make a besom.

Make door wreaths and other decorations.

Toast pumpkin seeds.

Hold a bonfire.

Set up an ancestor altar.

Visit a cemetery and leave flowers for passed loved ones or strangers.

Play Samhain divination games like discovering your true love’s first initial with an apple peel.

Have a costume contest! Offer candy or trinket prizes for Best in Show, Best Couple, Most Creative, Sexiest, etc.

Play classic games like bobbing for apples and eating hanging doughnuts.

Invite pagan friends over for a small ritual, bonfire or meal, even if you are not members of a formal coven. Pray for protection together and family safety and read about the ancient traditions of Samhain.

Start a ‘Good Things’ calendar. Purchase a student calendar which begins in July of the current year. Starting October 31, write one good thing that happened to you every day. At the end of the coming pagan year you will be able to look back on all the good things (big and small.)

Honor Samhain as the pagan New Year: countdown to midnight (or sunset, the beginning of the day in ancient times), offer champagne or another celebratory drink and share a kiss with someone!

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Ways to Honor the Ancestors Ancestors and passed family members are an integral part of the Samhain celebration but coming up with fresh, interesting ways to honor them can be tricky. Try out a few of these ideas to mix it up this year. 

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Gather family photos from your own albums and collect them from your parents, grandparents and other relatives. Frame the photographs and fill a shelf or cabinet with them.

Designate a shelf or cabinet in your house for family heirlooms. Whether they be your mother’s antique perfume bottles, your grandfather’s toolbox or your great-aunt’s recipe book, design a vignette of pieces that have meaning to you and display them prominently.

Do some research on your ancestral heritage and decorate a certain space (or a whole room) with tartans, family crests, family trees and traditional artwork related to your family history.

Set an extra place at your Samhain dinner to represent passed loved ones and ancestors come to visit on such a magickal night.

Begin compiling a family album with more than just photographs: include stories, kid’s artwork, family history and anything that might tell future generations who their ancestors were.

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Cookie Cutter Pumpkins Craft Project Carving pumpkins is a requisite part of the Samhain celebration. The original jack o’lanterns were meant to protect the home and, although their modern counterparts tend towards fun decoration, they can still take on the noble purpose with this equally festive and magickal cookie cutter pumpkins craft project:

Materials Pumpkins Cookie cutters, protective shapes Sharp knives Mallets

Instructions 1. Cut off the top of your pumpkin and set aside. Clean out the pumpkin until it is relatively clean and smooth inside.

2. Place cookie cutters in simple, protective shapes such as stars (the outline of the pentacle) on the surface of the pumpkin.

3. Hammer the cookie cutters into the pumpkin with a mallet. If the cookie cutter does not go all the way through, carefully remove it without damaging the indentation and use a paring knife to cut out the shape.

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Fete & Feast

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Witches’ Tea Party A tea party is a great way to bring the girls together for a little catching up and perhaps even a bit of magick! The center of every tea party is the food and the conversation so be sure to serve a menu with a lot of variety and options, from miniature pumpkin pies to a hearty hot artichoke dip to warm popover rolls!

Offer a wide selection of teas so your guests have lots to choose from. If you like to blend your own teas (or would like to try it out), consider offering a few ingredients so guests can make up their own blends to take home with them.

Some ingredients you might want to include could be dried organic rose petals, dried organic chamomile heads, and dried organic lavender florets.

Finish off the afternoon with a good old-fashioned tea leaf reading: 1. Make a cup of tea by sprinkling about a tablespoon of loose leaf into a lightly colored cup of hot water.

2. Allow the tea to steep 3-5 minutes while you quiet your mind. When the tea is ready, slowly sip it while you consider the problem you wish your reading to focus on (be careful to avoid as much of the floating leaves as possible.) When there is only a few sips left, swirl the cup three times to disperse the leaves and dump out the remaining liquid.

3. Identify any symbols you see in the remaining leaves and jot them down for contemplation.

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Ten Treats for Samhain Entrees Duck Breast with Pears and Balsamic Vinaigrette: Duck is a deliciously underappreciated fall meal. This recipe in particular is especially juicy and tender and the sweetness of the pears is the perfect touch.

Pork Apricot Stew: This recipe simmers in the crockpot all day, making for a delectable dish that is full of flavor and just about falls off the bone.

Sides Cheddar Apple Bundles: These are great for make-ahead breakfasts. Make them up to the point of sealing the dough, then wrap them in plastic wrap and pop them in the freezer. You’d be surprised how long they’ll keep!

Roasted Deviled Potatoes: A favorite recipe year-round, this one is especially great in autumn. It is easily adapted for many tastes too; for example, swap out some of the potatoes with butternut squash for a fall twist.

Homemade Macaroni & Cheese: The original comfort food and a family favorite for the chilly evenings of fall. It’s easy, delicious and tummy-warming.

Spicy Yam Soup: Exactly what it says on the tin. A very spicy yam soup that makes even the most dedicated yam-hater change their colors.

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Desserts Ginger Pumpkin Meringue Pie: If you aren’t a big pumpkin pie fan, this recipe is for you. There are so many flavors and textures going on here, you may not even be able to call it pumpkin pie!

Pumpkin Rum Cheesecake: Another family classic, this recipe has been longpreserved in a 1994 magazine and every year my dad digs it out and sets about making a giant mess in the kitchen. And we’re always happy to be dusting flour off the chandelier the next day because it is that good.

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Duck Breast with Pears and Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe courtesy of BHG.com

diamond pattern. Season duck breasts with salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

2 pears, cored and sliced 2 tablespoons butter 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 4 boneless duck breast halves ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard ½ teaspoon dried thyme, crushed 4 cups fresh baby spinach ¼ cup chopped toasted walnuts

In the same skillet cook duck breasts, skin side down, over medium heat for 5 minutes. Turn and cook about 5 minutes more or until browned. Drain, reserving 2 tablespoons fat. Place pan in a 350 degree F oven; roast, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the breast registers 155 degrees F. Remove duck from pan; cover and let stand for 10 minutes.

In a large ovenproof skillet cook pears in hot butter over medium heat for 810 minutes or until golden brown and tender, stirring frequently. Sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon pepper; remove from skillet and set aside.

For vinaigrette, in a screw-top jar combine reserved duck fat, the vinegar, mustard, and thyme. Cover and shake well to combine. Slice duck breasts. To serve, arrange spinach on individual serving plates. Top with pears, duck breast slices, and toasted walnuts. Drizzle vinaigrette over top.

Trim excess fat from duck (do not remove skin). Score the skin in a

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Pork Apricot Stew 4 pound ham, smoked 2 large onions, sliced 4 garlic cloves, minced ¼ cup all purpose flour 1 14 ½ ounce can chicken broth 1 ½ cups apple cider or juice 1 cup dark beer 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon ground coriander ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup chopped dried apricots ¾ cup chopped pitted prunes Place ham in a large crockpot. Add onions, garlic and flour. Mix in broth, cider, beer, mustard, coriander, cinnamon and salt. Stir in aprictos and prunes. Cover and allow to cook for 6-8 hours. Season with salt and pepper.

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Cheddar Apple Bundles Recipe courtesy of BHG.com ½ cup packed brown sugar ½ cup chopped pecans 2 cups all-purpose flour 8 ounces white cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups) 1 tablespoon granulated sugar ½ cup butter, cut up 6 - 8 tablespoons cold water 2 medium Granny Smith or Jonathan apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (about 2 cups) 3 tablespoons fig jam or apricot preserves j

Combine brown sugar and pecans; set aside. In food processor combine flour, 1/2 cup of the cheese, granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cover and process with one on/off turn. Add butter. Cover; process with several on/off turns until size of small peas. With processor running, slowly add water to make dough come together in a ball. Gently knead until smooth.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Divide dough in 8 pieces. For each bundle, on floured surface roll dough in 8-inch circle. Place 3 tablespoons cheese and 1/4 cup apple in center. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon nut mixture. Brush dough edges with water. Bring up dough edges and press together to seal. Sealed sides up, place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until pastry is golden.

Spoon preserves on each bundle.

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Roasted Deviled Potatoes 3 Russet or 4 Yukon gold potatoes 5 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter 4 teaspoons cider vinegar 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard Rounded 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 475째F. Put 2 large shallow baking pans (1 inch deep) in oven and preheat 10 minutes.

Quarter potatoes, then toss with oil and 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt in a large bowl. Spread potatoes, cut sides down, in hot pans, then roast until undersides are golden, about 12 minutes. Turn potatoes so other cut sides are down, then switch position of pans and roast until potatoes are tender and undersides are golden, 12 to 15 minutes more.

While potatoes roast, melt butter in a small saucepan and whisk in vinegar, mustard, cayenne, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt.

Toss hot potatoes with butter mixture in cleaned large bowl until coated.

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Homemade Macaroni & Cheese 12 ounces uncooked macaroni 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded 3-4 cups soymilk ½ cup butter ¾ cup Panko breadcrumbs, Italian style 1 teaspoon paprika ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cook the macaroni according to the package directions and drain.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan and slowly add the soymilk to it. Slowly add the cheese by handfuls, stirring until smooth and melted.

Grease a 13x9 inch baking dish and pour in the macaroni. Pour the cheese sauce over and stir to mix. Sprinkle breadcrumbs, paprika and remaining mozzarella on top.

Bake for 30 minutes and serve hot.

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Spicy Yam Soup 2 tbsp butter 1 cup chopped onion 2 small jalapenos, seeded and chopped 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried 3 carrots, peeled and diced 1 qt chicken broth 1 ½ lb yams, peeled and diced 1 cup whole milk ¼ cup cream 1 tsp brown sugar 1 tsp salt or to taste Healthy pinch cayenne pepper Heat the butter in a soup pot until bubbly. Add onion and sauté until caramelized, about 10 minutes. Add jalapenos and thyme; sauté 1 minute.

Stir in the carrots, yams and chicken broth. Simmer 30-40 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Use a slotted spoon to transfer the veggies to a food processor. Puree the mixture, adding a bit of the liquid to help the process.

Pour back into the pot. Add milk, cream, brown sugar, salt and cayenne.

Heat soup very gently for 10 minutes to blend the flavors.

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Ginger Pumpkin Meringue Pie combine. Gradually stir in milk and maple syrup.

Recipe courtesy of BHG.com 1 premade pastry shell 15 ounce can pumpkin 1/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 eggs, lightly beaten 2/3 cup milk ½ cup maple syrup 3 egg whites ½ teaspoon vanilla ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup packed brown sugar

Pour filling into pastry shell. To prevent overbrowning, cover edge of pie with foil. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Uncover edges. Reduce oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl let egg whites stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Add vanilla, cream of tartar, and salt. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form (tips curl).

Gradually add brown sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed until mixture forms stiff peaks (tips stand straight).

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare Gingersnap-Graham Crust; bake 4 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Carefully spread Brown Sugar Meringue over hot filling; seal to edge.

Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Loosely cover and refrigerate within 2 hours.

For filling, in bowl combine pumpkin, sugar, ginger, salt and cinnamon. Add eggs.; lightly beat with fork to

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Pumpkin Rum Cheesecake 1 cup crushed gingersnaps ¼ cup ground pecans ¼ cup butter, melted 3 8-oz pkgs cream cheese, softened 1 1/3 cups sugar 3 eggs 3 cups canned pumpkin 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon 1 ½ tsp rum flavoring ¾ tsp ground allspice ¾ tsp ground nutmeg ½ tsp ground ginger ¼ tsp ground cloves

Combine cream cheese and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until combined. Add eggs, pumpkin, the 1 ½ tsp rum flavoring, and spices; beat until just smooth. Pour into crust lined pan.

Sprinkle with additional nutmeg if desired.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 70 minutes or until center appears nearly set when shaken. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen crust from pan sides. Cool 30 minutes more; remove sides of pan. Cool completely. Chill at least 4 hours.

For crust, combine gingersnaps, ground pecans and melted butter.

Press onto bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.

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Samhain Menu & Recipes Serve this unique and delicious menu filled with the hearty flavors of autumn at a Samhain feast with friends and family.

Sweet & Spicy Chili Con Carne Pumpkin Gnocchi with Brown Butter & Rosemary Broiled Apples & Pears with Rosemary S’mores Station

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Sweet & Spicy Chili Con Carne Recipe courtesy of MyGloriousFood.com 2 tablespoons oil 3 onions, chopped 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1 – 2 peppers, chopped into chunks 18 ounces ground beef 3 cans chopped tomatoes 2 tablespoons tomato purée 1 can kidney beans 1 tablespoon paprika 1 – 2 tbsp chili powder Salt and pepper 1 stick of cinnamon 1 ounce dark chocolate, roughly chopped Heat the oil in a large pot and sauté the chopped onion for a couple of minutes.

Add the garlic and peppers and fry for another few minutes before adding the beef. Brown well and add the rest of the ingredients to the pot. Let the dish simmer for at least 30 minutes (longer if possible), taste and add extra chili, salt and pepper if necessary. Serve with rice, bread or nachos.

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Pumpkin Gnocchi in Brown Butter & Rosemary Recipe courtesy of

about 1/2 inch thick. Cut the rolls

ClosetCooking.com

into 1/2 inch pieces and then roll the pieces in flour lightly shaking off any

2 cups pumpkin puree

excess. Roll the pieces over a gnocchi

1 egg yolk

board or a fork to give them the

1 1/2 - 2 cups flour

ridges.

½ teaspoon salt 1 pinch nutmeg

Cook the gnocchi in boiling water in

½ cup butter

small batches until it floats to the

3 tablespoons dried rosemary

surface, about 2-3 minutes, remove

2 tablespoons lemon juice

and set aside to drain.

Mix the egg yolk into the pumpkin

Melt the butter in a pan and cook it

puree. Mix the salt and nutmeg into

until it just starts to brown. Add the

the flour. Mix enough of the flour

rosemary and fry until crispy, about

into the pumpkin puree to form a

1 minute. Add the gnocchi and toss

soft dough that is not too sticky to

to coat. Remove from heat and mix

work with.

in the lemon juice.

Knead the dough for a minute and then roll it out into 4 long thin rolls

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Broiled Apples & Pears with Rosemary Recipe courtesy of Epicurious.com 4 Golden Delicious apples, unpeeled, halved, cored, thinly sliced lengthwise 4 Bosc pears, unpeeled, halved, cored, thinly sliced lengthwise Âź cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary Preheat broiler. Brush 2 large baking sheets with olive oil. Gently toss apples, pears, 1/4 cup oil, and minced rosemary in large bowl. Arrange fruit in single layer on sheets. Broil until fruit is tender and edges begin to brown, watching closely to avoid burning and turning sheets for even browning, about 5 minutes.

Transfer fruit to platter. Sprinkle with pepper. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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S’mores Station 1 package plain graham crackers 1 package chocolate graham crackers 1 large milk chocolate Hershey’s bar 1 large dark chocolate Hershey’s bar 1 bag Reese’s peanut butter cups 1 bag York peppermint patties 1 bag marshmallows Arrange the options on a table near a bonfire along with sticks or roasting tines for guests to pick and choose their s’mores toppings.

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