Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen - Scott Cunningham 1990

Appetizers
Scott’s favorite recipes

The fresh chives, parsley, basil, and garlic in the following recipe charge this toast with superprotective energy.

Magic Herb Toast

8 French rolls, sliced horizontally into 3⁄4-inch-thick pieces

1⁄2 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon fresh chives, chopped

1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped

1⁄2 teaspoon fresh basil, chopped

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

Cream the butter together with the chives, parsley, basil, and garlic until it forms a smooth, spreadable paste. Spread this on sliced French rolls. Broil until light brown.

Yield: 4 servings.

Magical uses: Protection.

Halloween is a popular holiday in both the United States and in Scotland, where it originated. Many foods have become associated with this magical night and, indeed, often seem to taste even better when made only on October 31. Foods specifically associated with Halloween are: apples, nuts (especially hazelnuts), ginger, and, of course, pumpkins—the pumpkin is the United State’s addition.

Roasted Jack-O-Lantern Seeds

1 pumpkin

Salt

1 tablespoon vegetable oil (optional)

Heat oven to 350°F (177°C). Slice open pumpkin and scoop out seeds. Wash seeds until all strings and orange insides have been removed. Pat seeds dry with a cotton dish towel. Spread seeds on an ungreased cookie sheet or shallow baking pan. Bake until a light golden brown, stirring every few minutes for even browning. Remove from oven, add salt to taste, let cool, and serve. Store any leftover seeds in a tightly covered jar.

Yield: About 2 cups.

Editor’s note: Vegetable oil may be used to grease the cookie sheet to prevent the seeds from sticking to the pan.

Magical uses: Festival food—Halloween/Samhain.

Most supermarkets and hardware stores sell special Halloween cookie cutters during September and October. These cookie cutters are usually shaped like bats, cats, Witches, brooms, cauldrons, owls, and other appropriate figures. The older cutters were made of metal; today, plastic is being used. No magical kitchen is complete without a set of these cutters, which are used in the following recipe.

Sandwiches

8 slices white or wheat bread (your favorite)

3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1 peeled cucumber, thinly sliced

Lightly spread two pieces of bread with cream cheese. Generously cover one piece with cucumber slices. Place second piece of bread on top of cucumber covered slice. Press a Halloween-shaped cookie cutter (or simply star- and crescent-shaped cutters) into the center of the sandwich. Remove the outer bread and discard. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Yield: 4 servings.

Variation: For children, you can make sandwiches out of any type of sandwich: bologna, peanut butter and jelly, and so on. Warning: these are known to disappear.

Scott’s note: I don’t let the outer edge of the sandwiches go to waste; I always eat them.

Magical Uses: Festival food—Halloween/Samhain.