The Witches’ Compendium:

Mabon

By Tenae S.

The Witch of Howling Creek

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The Witches' Compendium: Mabon is licensed under a

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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 e-

magazine 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 Decorating with Burlap & Lace

7 Decorations of Wine & Revelry

8 Magickal Fall Cleaning

Magick & Witchcraft

11 Mabon Correspondences

12 Mabon Solitary Ritual

13 Harvest Moon Coven Ritual

15 Spells

Honor & Celebrate

17 Ways to Celebrate

18 Ways to Give Thanks

19 Saying a Pagan Grace

20 Stamping with Apples Craft Project

Fete & Feast

22 Infusing Oils & Vinegars

23 Potluck Pie Social

24 Magickal Popcorn Mix-Ins

26 Mabon Menu & Recipes

32 Magickal Pear Recipes

1

Foreword Witchcraft means something different to every single witch but following the

seasons is an almost universal thread. Mid-September presents us with Mabon,

the Witches’ Thanksgiving, a day for reflection, peace and harmony.

Mabon ushers in that most beloved of seasons, when witches begin to dust off

their pointy hats and pick the first pumpkins of the year. Mabon is the quiet hush

that reminds us of the importance of each and every Sabbat and the layers of

meaning behind each.

When I was growing up, my mother would wait, albeit impatiently, until mid-

September when she could justify putting up her fall decorations. She was never

big on Halloween but loved the crisp chill and delicious flavors of the harvest. At

the time, I was utterly unaware of the connection to Mabon and the deep

spirituality of the season.

Living in Northern California, I find myself driving through the Napa Valley on

a relatively regular basis and when Mabon is close and the crush is on, the air

literally smells of intangible violet. The vines have turned to orange and yellow

and the few grapes still left on them are a rich, vibrant purple and I know that

autumn has arrived.

2

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. Although certain Sabbats,

along with a few secular holidays, offer more opportunities to “go all out,” mid-

September is rife with wonderful materials, fabrics and found objets d’art.

Think beyond the big box stores and traditional meals for your fall celebrating.

Rather, look to the great outdoors and your own well-stocked cupboards and

cabinets for a little inspiration to fill your home with the spirit of Mabon.

Tenae S., The Witch of Howling Creek

3

Hearth & Home

4

Decorating with Natural Materials

Natural materials are abundant in every part of the year and autumn puts all the

symbols of Mabon right at your fingertips: maize, cornucopias, apples, wheat

and wine. Each offers a unique opportunity for infusing the home with the

autumn season.

Maize

Maize is often readily available at

pumpkin patches and harvest fairs.

Simply fill a bowl with the colorful

corn for quick, easy decoration.

For a bit more involved project, try

creating a garland by tying maize

together with lengths of raffia. Hang

it from your porch, over a mantel or

even on a canopy bed to bring

abundance to your house.

Cornucopias

Cornucopias are perhaps the

simplest way to decorate for Mabon:

simply pick one up at your local craft

store, stuff newspaper in the back

and fill the front with season-

appropriate items like apples,

grapes, pears and squash.

The unusually shaped baskets are

also quite lovely filled with flowers

and other autumn items including

wheat stalks and grape leaves.

5

Apples

Apples, known as the most magickal

of fruits due to the pentacle hidden

in the center of each, provide endless

craft and decoration opportunities.

For example, press sunflower seeds

into the top half of a whole apple

and short wooden dowels into the

bottom half; then hang outside with

natural twine to create a feeder for

the last of summer’s birds.

Alternatively, use apples as tealight

holders. Carve holes just large

enough to fit a tealight candle in the

top and place the apples in clusters

as a centerpiece or throughout the

house.

Wheat

Place wheat stalks in a vase as a

kitchen centerpiece or weave them

into a grapevine wreath for a pretty

autumn door decoration.

Grapes

Grape leaves make a beautiful

addition to a wild, escapist flower

arrangement and can often be found

at flower shops and craft stores.

Or, bind whole bunches of red

grapes to picks with floral wire and

add to tabletop centerpieces.

6

Decorating with Burlap & Lace

Mabon decorations needn’t be limited to the great outdoors, however. Burlap

and lace, at first glance an unlikely combination, perfectly resemble the

masculine and feminine energies as well as the rustic elegance of autumn.

Burlap is available at most craft stores both in bolts and in ribbon. The

ribbon is wonderful for adding a bit of rustic pizzazz to anything from

vases to cake stands to fabric lampshades.

Make good use of a bolt of burlap by trimming large pieces with wide

crocheted lace and using as curtains over a picture window. To really

make a statement, use a curtain rod or tacks to hang burlap curtains in a

wide entryway or hallway and tie back with lace.

Wrap small rectangles of burlap around mason jars or other glass

containers and tie off with a piece of narrow lace. These are great for

flower arrangements or everyday containers for loose change or pencils.

Tie bundles of herbs together with burlap and lace ribbons and hang

upside down in a kitchen or dining area to dry and serve as decoration.

Burlap and lace are a great duo and make for handsomely subtle autumn

decorations in any part of the house.

7

Decorations of Wine & Revelry

Mabon has many themes: thanksgiving, harvest, abundance. But, in a nod to the

Roman god Bacchus (and his Greek counterpart, Dionysos), wine and revelry are

also a part of the autumn celebration. Luckily, there are a wide variety of

decorative materials available to emulate the cheerful and wise spirit of these

gods.

Purchase one or more wine barrels from a supplier or winery to use as a

table. Cut in half, one barrel can become two end tables or a plank can be

placed across two barrels to form a sideboard.

Peel the labels off of empty wine bottles and run them through the

dishwasher. Once clean, they make excellent bud vases for single flowers

such as roses or chrysanthemums.

Using a glass cutter, cut off the bottom three inches of clean, empty wine

bottles and sand down the sharp edges. Fill the bottom pieces with soy

wax and a wick to create a custom candle. Fit the neck pieces with small

lightbulbs and tightly wire to a metal ring to create a rustic chandelier.

Place cut neck pieces over burning tealights for a wonderfully soft

ambiance and to protect the flames during ritual.

There are a myriad of possibilities for Mabon decorations. Whether you embrace

the season as a whole or focus in on a particular aspect, decorating for Mabon is

all about connecting to the brilliant colors and crisp chill outside.

8

Magickal Fall Cleaning

With October and the holidays just around the bend, now is the perfect time for a

little decluttering, freshening up and reorganizing. Although it is common to do

a thorough, deep cleaning once a year in the spring, both equinox seasons are

excellent times for it. The equinoxes and the weeks surrounding them represent a

time of balance, when day and night are equal partners, neither dominant.

This is the perfect time for finding balance in your own life and in your home.

(From a less spiritual but equally important perspective, we also tend to be

busiest during summer and winter so the in-between times are good for

cleansing.) Here are several ways to make your fall cleaning a bit more magickal

and perhaps even a bit more interesting:

Make your own organic cleaning supplies and add ground herbs or

essential oils for a little magickal oomph. Sage is always a good tool for

cleansing but rosemary, bay and juniper are also popular.

Play classical or other relaxing music while you work so that your mind is

clear as well as your home – get off to a nice, fresh start!

Sweep dirt out of your home by starting in one corner and working

clockwise around each room. (First you might perform a blessing spell on

your broom so that it will sweep away negativity and leave a clean space

for blessings to come!)

9

While on the subject of brooms, why not make your own? Handmade

items almost always function far better in terms of magick and energy

than those that are store-bought. If you use a besom in ritual, you might

not want to use the same one for actual cleaning so you may choose to

make two: one fancifully decorated and one very practical for everyday

use.

Make purification charm bags with herbs such as sage, rosemary, bay and

juniper and place in your vacuum bag. Not only will you be cleaning up,

you will also be perfuming the room with a beautiful, magickal scent that

makes way for good things!

Assemble a “magickal cleaning kit” using a toolbox, available at most

hardware stores. Include typical cleaning supplies like sponges, rags and

Windex alongside magickal supplies like a sage smudge stick, purification

charm bags and homemade or organic sprays.

Cleaning the house will never be fall’s most exciting endeavor but it doesn’t have

to be quite the dreaded hassle it often is. You will find when you bring magick

into the most simple, mundane activities, they become unique spiritual events.

10

Magick & Witchcraft

11

Mabon 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: Brown

Violet

Red

Orange

Gold

Stones: Carnelian

Smoky Quartz

Yellow Agate

Herbs, Plants & Spices: Apple

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

Vines

Sage

Oak

12

Mabon Solitary Ritual

Sit skyclad or loosely clothed. Light a white, brown, purple or gold candle,

reflecting on what you have to be thankful for.

Now is your opportunity to perform one of the spells presented on the following

pages or a spell of your own creation. Mabon is particularly well suited to spells

relating to home, family and blessings.

Cut an apple in half to show the five-pointed star

in the center and eat in quiet reflection with a glass

of cider.

Blow out the candle.

Blessed Be.

13

Harvest Moon Coven Ritual

Rituals come in all shapes and sizes, preferences differing from witch to witch.

But every ritual has a sense of serenity, a feeling of purpose to it. Rituals are a

time to reflect, to center oneself and to connect with something larger, not to

mention with the people close to you when in a coven setting. This ritual for the

Harvest Moon, the full moon nearest to Mabon, is easily adapted for many

different Traditions or even a solitary working.

Decide on an area outdoors that will be in view of the Harvest Moon come

nightfall if the weather is cooperative (or in an open space indoors if it is too cold

or wet outside.) Set up a card table in the center of the space and drape in a

white, chocolate brown, purple or other fall colored tablecloth. Place a white

pillar candle, a bottle of olive oil, a small bowl, jars of cinnamon, nutmeg and

allspice and a clean, stripped food can on the table.

After dark, gather as a coven and sit or stand in a circle around the card table.

Ask each coven member or guest to bring at least one can of food to be donated

to a local shelter or charity and have them place their donation on the card table.

Cast a circle and call the quarters, if desired.

Pass out short white, brown or purple taper candles with drip guards. The leader

of the group should light the pillar candle, then use its flame to light each of the

tapers. As each person’s candle is lit, they should state something they are

thankful for, as Mabon is the Witches’ Thanksgiving. When each of the candles is

lit, the group leader should return the pillar candle to the card table, still lit.

14

The group leader should then fill the small bowl with olive oil and sprinkle in a

pinch of each kind of spice, explaining to the coven that the cleaned can is going

to represent the entire donation of food and that they are going to bless it so that

it may bring success and prosperity to those that eat it. The group leader will

then walk around the circle, having each person dip two fingers into the oil and

anoint the can, saying “for success and prosperity” as they do so.

The group leader should gently blow out the pillar candle, saying “Blessed be,”

followed by each member of the circle doing the same with their own candles.

The ritual may be over but the party doesn’t need to be! Have a pot of hot apple

cider and Cinnamon Crescent Cookies waiting after the ritual along with a large

box to pack the donation food into. Alternatively, turn the refreshments into a

group activity: set out the ingredients ahead of time and have everyone help

make the cookies. They will be all the more delicious infused with the energy of a

coven!

15

Spell to Keep Blessings in One’s Life

As they come to you, write down at least five blessings in your life. Tear the

paper into small pieces and either:

Mix in a sachet with appropriate herbs and spices such as broken

cinnamon sticks, whole nutmeg, sage, oak leaves or dried apple peel. Tuck

the sachet somewhere it will always be near to you to always keep the

blessings close.

Mix in a small jar, vial or muslin bag with appropriate herbs and spices

such as cinnamon, nutmeg, sage, oak leaves or dried apple peel. Bury the

container near your home to always keep the blessings close.

Spell to Protect the Home

Gather a piece of eucalyptus, sage leaves and an oak twig (preferably with leaves

still attached.)

Cut a piece of twine at about 18 inches and center a cedar “hang-up” on the

string. Lay the oak, eucalyptus and sage on top of the piece of cedar.

Wrap the twine around the cedar and other ingredients several times. Tie a knot

at the back of the piece of cedar so it is tight enough to hold all the pieces

together. Hang up in a closet or other location to purify and protect the home.

16

Honor & Celebrate

17

Ways to Celebrate

Honor the many aspects of Mabon, including thanksgiving, the autumn season

and an abundant harvest, with these simple, easy activities.

Volunteer at a soup kitchen.

Donate canned food.

Hold a family feast with a wide spread of food.

Create gift baskets of baked goods, seasonal crops and wine or ale for

friends and family.

Fill a cornucopia with seasonal fruits and vegetables and place in the

center of the family table.

Visit a pick-your-own farm and gather apples and pumpkins.

Make a centerpiece by filling a vase with wheat stalks, colored leaves and

dry branches.

Hang apples on a tree as natural birdfeeders.

Set up a Mabon altar on the mantelpiece with items such as fall leaves to

represent earth, brown and gold candles to represent fire, a fan of brown

feathers to represent air and driftwood to represent water.

Add a bit of Mabon spirit to your technological world by using a fall-

related photo (such as an orchard in fall colors) as the background on your

computer or smartphone.

Go for a hike in a local park and take a picnic with you to enjoy outdoors.

Harvest the last of your homegrown fruits and vegetables and clean out

the garden for next year. Use the plants to create a compost pile (or add

them to an existing one.)

Perform your final harvest at night by the light of the Harvest Moon.

18

Ways to Give Thanks

The Witches’ Thanksgiving offers a variety of opportunities to give thanks for all

the blessings in our lives, no matter how big or small.

Write “thank you” notes to people who have made a difference in your

life over the past year.

Provide paper and pens for guests at your Mabon dinner to write down

what they’re thankful for and then share after the meal.

Compile the notes from the Mabon dinner into a scrapbook and note the

year and name on each page. The scrapbook can then be added to each

year with new blessings.

Spread the wealth: try to give someone else something you have that

you’re thankful for such as a good meal or warm clothes.

Give thanks to the earth or Mother Nature by planting a tree or cleaning

up the garden before winter sets in.

19

Saying a Pagan Grace

‘Grace’, the practice of saying a blessing or prayer before a meal, is very common

among Christians, to the point that it is almost taken for granted. Yet giving

thanks for food and blessings is hardly unique to Christianity and suits

paganism quite well.

Saying a simple blessing over the most mundane of meals is a lovely idea,

especially at Mabon, an entire season devoted to thanksgiving. It can be quite an

uplifting feeling whether you hold hands with your neighbors or simply clasp

your own in front of you.

Giving thanks is an important part of being in tune with nature and our

surroundings and it helps us focus on what’s really important during difficult

(and even abundant) times.

Goddess, Mother

Thank you for this meal before us

Thank you for friends and family around this table

Thank you for love, grace and harmony this Mabon night

Blessed Be

20

Stamping with Apples Craft Project

Apples are an incredibly magickal fruit that suit all sorts of spell and ritual

purposes but it is the hidden pentacle inside each and every one that truly sets

them apart. A fun way to show off the magick of apples this Mabon season is

with an easy stamping project:

1. Cut an apple in half from top to bottom.

2. Pour a small amount of paint onto a paper plate and tip so that it forms a

puddle a little larger than the apple.

3. Dip the cut-side of the apple into the paint, then press onto a piece of

paper, leaving behind an apple imprint, star included.

These stamps make great additions to Book of Shadows pages, fall cards, canvas

totebags and kids’ placemats.

21

Fete & Feast

22

Infusing Oils & Vinegars

Olive oil has long been a staple in Italian kitchens like the one I grew up in and is

becoming more and more popular as a healthier replacement for vegetable oils

and even butter. Olive oil is also delicious in its own right, however, and is

wonderful paired with vinegar and fresh, warm bread.

Mabon is the perfect time for infusing olive oil with all sorts of delicious

ingredients, fresh from the garden (or at least the farmer’s market.) Rosemary is a

popular herbal choice, along with basil and thyme, but fruits such as kumquats

and apricots are also excellent options.

How to Infuse Olive Oil

1. If using, gently pound herbs with a pestle to release the flavor.

2. Place bruised herbs and/or fruits in a bottle and pour olive oil over them.

3. Cork and place in a cool, dark place for two weeks or more. For a little

more variety, try creating infused vinegars in the same way.

23

Potluck Pie Social

Pie bridges the gap between summer and autumn, in the in-between weeks that

are the end of August and the beginning of September. So why not celebrate the

end of summer or beginning of autumn with a Potluck Pie Social for friends and

family or your coven?

A pie social is the easiest of parties to pull off and it’s great for Sunday afternoon

mixing and mingling. Set up a buffet area on a kitchen counter or table with cake

plates (sans lids) and sturdy boxes covered in fabric to act as risers and add

interest to the display.

Each guest should bring a pie of their choosing (it’s best if you ask ahead of time

what flavor they’re bringing so as not to end up with duplicates.) Cut 3×4 pieces

of cardstock or parchment paper, fold in half and place in a basket along with

pens so when guests arrive they can label their flavors.

As host or hostess, you should provide the savory snacks necessary to break up

the onslaught of sweetness. Arrange a variety of crackers and sliced cheeses as

well as a wheel of brie with cheese knives on a large platter. Pair with bunches of

red and green grapes, sliced apples, prosciutto and salami. Traditional antipasto

items such as whole scallions, sautéed mushrooms and olives are also

appropriate.

Potluck socials are great fun for any group and a nice way for covens to mingle

outside of rituals and Sabbats. It doesn’t have to stop with pie either: why not try

a Chili Social or a Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Social?!

24

Magickal Popcorn Mix-Ins

There is something extraordinary about the crunch of light, fresh popcorn, a

simple pleasure we too often deny ourselves in favor of the convenience of the

microwaveable version. Next time you’re looking for a sweet or savory afternoon

snack, however, turn to the stove instead of the microwave.

Pour about a tablespoon of olive oil in the bottom of a small saucepan, then add

two tablespoons of uncooked popcorn kernels. Cover, turn the stove on to

medium heat and leave it be until the popping subsides. In the meantime, melt

two to four tablespoons of butter (you can use the microwave for this part) to

pour over your freshly popped popcorn, along with a pinch of salt.

To give your snack a little extra magickal oomph (not to mention flavor), try one

of these simple, tasty recipes:

Spicy Aphrodisiac Popcorn for Steamy Romance

2 tablespoons uncooked popcorn kernels

1 tablespoon olive oil

2-4 tablespoons butter, melted

Salt, to taste

Dark chocolate shavings, to taste

Pinch of ground cayenne pepper

25

Nutty Popcorn for Wealth

2 tablespoons uncooked popcorn kernels

1 tablespoon olive oil

2-4 tablespoons butter, melted

Salt, to taste

¼ cup pecans, chopped and roasted

¼ cup almonds, chopped and roasted

Autumn Herb & Berry Popcorn for Courage

2 tablespoons uncooked popcorn kernels

1 tablespoon olive oil

2-4 tablespoons butter, melted

Salt, to taste

½ cup dried cranberries

1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped

26

Mabon Menu & Recipes

Serve this unique and delicious menu filled with the flavors of fall at a Mabon

feast (or any other autumn special occasion!)

Turkey Pot Pie

Roasted Shiitake, Portobello

& Crimini Mushrooms

Turnip Gratin

Mulled Wine

Applesauce Coffee Cake

with Crumb Topping

27

Turkey Pot Pie

1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup thinly sliced peeled carrots 1 cup diced potatoes

½ cup diced celery 7-8 oz diced cooked turkey ¼ cup frozen green peas, thawed

1 cup gravy 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme 1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley 1 egg yolk + 1 teaspoon water, beaten 1 9-inch purchased pie crust

Melt unsalted butter with extra-

virgin olive oil in heavy large skillet

over medium-high heat. Add

chopped onion and sauté until

golden, 7 to 8 minutes. Add sliced

carrots; cover and cook until carrots

soften slightly, about 2 minutes. Add

remaining vegetables. Add diced

turkey, gravy, and chopped fresh

thyme.

Bring filling mixture to boil; reduce

heat to low and simmer to thicken if

necessary. Season to taste with salt

and pepper. Mix in peas and

chopped parsley. Pour filling into 9-

inch-diameter glass pie dish and

refrigerate until cool, about 30

minutes.

Lightly brush rim of filled pie dish

with egg glaze. Place crust atop

filling and fold edge of dough over

edge of pie dish. Pinch dough rim to

seal crust all around and press down

on top edge of crust with fork tines

to seal decoratively. Chill 10

minutes.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly brush

top of pie with glaze. Make three to

four 1/4-inch slits in center of pie to

allow steam to escape. Bake pie until

crust is golden and filling is

bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove

from oven and let cool 10 minutes.

28

Roasted Shiitake, Portobello & Crimini Mushrooms

Recipe courtesy of Epicurious.com

1 ¾ pounds mixed shiitake, baby portobello, and crimini (baby bella)

mushrooms, shiitakes stemmed, all mushrooms cut into 1 ½-inch pieces

2 large fresh rosemary sprigs, cut into ½-inch pieces

5 large garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 500°F. Combine mushrooms, rosemary, and garlic in large bowl.

Mix in oil. Spread mushrooms in single layer on large rimmed baking sheet;

sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Roast mushrooms until brown, stirring occasionally, about 18 minutes. Transfer

mushrooms to bowl and serve.

29

Turnip Gratin

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 ½ pounds medium turnips, trimmed and left unpeeled

1 tablespoon chopped thyme

½ tablespoon fennel seed

1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon dark chili powder

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in middle.

Melt butter in an ovenproof 12-inch heavy skillet, then cool.

Roughly slice turnips, then arrange one third of slices, overlapping tightly, in

skillet, keeping remaining slices covered with dampened paper towels. Sprinkle

with about a third of thyme, fennel, kosher salt, and dark chili powder. Make 2

more layers.

Cook, covered, over medium heat until underside is browned, about 10 minutes.

Add cream and cook, covered, until center is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

Sprinkle evenly with cheese, then bake, uncovered, until golden and bubbling, 10

to 15 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

30

Mulled Wine

48 ounces dry red wine

18 cloves

4 cinnamon sticks

4 twists of lemon peel

5 teaspoons superfine sugar

1 teaspoon allspice

Combine all ingredients in a small, heavy saucepan and heat, but do not allow to

boil. Strain into a pitcher.

31

Applesauce Coffee Cake with Crumb Topping

For topping

¼ cup all purpose flour

¼ cup brown sugar, packed

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room

temperature

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

For cake

1 ½ cups sifted all-purpose flour (sift

before measuring)

2 ½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 egg, beaten

¾ cup sugar

1/3 cup applesauce

½ cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375°. In small mixing

bowl, combine topping ingredients.

Blend with fork until crumbly. Set

aside.

Sift flour with baking powder and

salt into a bowl. In a medium bowl,

beat together beaten egg, sugar and

applesauce. Add milk and vanilla.

Fold in flour mixture and mix well.

Pour batter into a greased and

floured 8-inch square or 9-inch layer-

cake pan. Sprinkle topping crumb

mixture evenly over batter. Bake for

25 to 30 minutes.

32

Magickal Pear Recipes

Pears are a light, refreshing fruit perfect for sweet, spiced desserts as well as

warm, comforting entrees. While not quite as magickal as their autumn cousin

the apple, they are still potent both in kitchen witchery and delicious fall dishes.

Due in part to their feminine shape, pears are often used in love and lust spells.

The easiest way to use them, of course, is to simply imbue a pear dish with your

intent but you can also use dried pear pieces or skin in charm bags for more

focused magick. Also, spray on a little pear-scented perfume as a sweet

aphrodisiac! (As always, use GREAT CAUTION when practicing magick related

to matters of the heart.)

Herb-Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Pears

Crispy Prosciutto Cups with Pears

Pear Tarte Tatin

Gingerbread Pear Muffins

33

Herb-Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Pears

Recipe courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

2 pork tenderloins (about 1 ½ pounds total), excess fat and silver skin removed

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 Bartlett pears, quartered and cored

Preheat oven to 475 degrees. With a paring knife, cut 10 small slits in each

tenderloin. Stuff slits with garlic and thyme; season pork with salt and pepper. In

a large ovenproof skillet, heat oil over medium. Add pork, and cook, turning

occasionally, until golden brown on all sides, about 10 minutes.

Add pears to skillet. Transfer to oven, and cook, tossing pears once, until an

instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of pork registers 145 degrees,

about 10 minutes. Transfer pork and pears to a platter; let rest 5 minutes. Season

pan juices with salt and pepper, and pour into a gravy boat or small bowl. Slice

pork, and serve with pears and pan juices.

34

Crispy Prosciutto Cups with Pears

3 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced

1 ripe Bartlett pear, finely diced

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon sea salt

Grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut prosciutto into 24 two-inch squares. Place one

square (overlapping any tears) in each cup of a mini cupcake tin. Bake until fat

turns golden, about 15 minutes. Using a fork, immediately transfer to a paper

towel to drain; cool completely.

In a small bowl, combine pear, juice and salt. Place 1/2 teaspoon mixture in each

cup just before serving. Top with Parmesan cheese.

35

Pear Tarte Tatin

Recipe courtesy of

MarthaStewart.com

All-purpose flour, for rolling

1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from a

17.3-ounce package), thawed

½ cup sugar

1 ½ teaspoons cider vinegar

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 firm, ripe Anjou or Bartlett pears,

each peeled, halved, cored, and cut

into 6 wedges

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a

lightly floured work surface, roll

puff pastry to an 11 1/2-inch square;

using a plate as a guide, cut out an

11-inch round. Refrigerate until

ready to use.

In a medium cast-iron or ovenproof

nonstick skillet, combine sugar,

vinegar, and 2 tablespoons water.

Cook over medium heat, without

stirring, until golden, 12 to 15

minutes. Stir in butter. Arrange pear

wedges in a circle along the edge of

skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low,

and cook until pears are crisp-

tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove

skillet from heat.

Drape chilled pastry round over

pears, tucking edge under. Place a

small oven-safe plate or pot lid on

top of pastry; bake 15 minutes.

Remove plate; continue to bake until

pastry is golden brown, about 15

minutes more. Let tart cool in skillet,

15 minutes. Run a knife around edge

of skillet, and carefully invert tart

onto a serving plate. Serve warm.

36

Gingerbread Pear Muffins

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons ground ginger

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

2/3 cup mild-flavored molasses

¼ cup applesauce

¼ cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

½ cup boiling water

2 small pears, cut in 6 wedges each

3 ounces dark or bittersweet

chocolate broken in small pieces

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly coat

twelve 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with

nonstick cooking spray and flour.

In large bowl combine flour, baking

powder, ginger, cinnamon, baking

soda, and salt. In a second bowl

whisk together molasses,

applesauce, brown sugar, and egg.

Pour into flour mixture. Stir until

combined. Whisk in boiling water.

Divide evenly among muffin cups.

Add 1 pear wedge to each muffin,

press lightly.

Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until

toothpick inserted into center comes

out clean. Sprinkle with raw sugar.

Add chocolate piece to top of

muffins. Cool in pan on rack 10

minutes. Use table knife to smooth

melted chocolate. Remove from

cups. Cool completely on wire rack.

Makes 12.