The winter solstice, also known as Yule, is an important event in pagan traditions and is celebrated in various ways. One aspect of this celebration is the food that is prepared and enjoyed during this time. Traditional pagan winter solstice food often includes ingredients that are seasonal and have symbolic meanings associated with the winter season. One popular dish during the winter solstice is the Yule log cake. This cake is shaped like a log and is usually made from chocolate or sponge cake, covered in icing and decorated with marzipan mushrooms or other edible decorations. The Yule log cake represents the celebration of the return of the light and the renewal of life during the darkest time of the year.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
The first book in the delightful Johnny Dixon series by the author who provides suspense and action aplenty Booklist , The Curse of the Blue Figurine is a good old-fashioned Gothic adventure. Although life in a new house is strange, Johnny s Grampa listens to his favorite ballgames, takes him on long walks, and tells him stories of the strange mysteries that lurk in the shadows.
The Yule log cake represents the celebration of the return of the light and the renewal of life during the darkest time of the year. Another traditional food that is commonly associated with the winter solstice is mulled wine. This warm, spiced wine is often made by simmering red wine with spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and orange peel.
The Curse of the Blue Figurine by John Bellairs
I thought it would be fun to blog about books I loved as a kid that also scared the crap out of me. I clean out books on a fairly regular basis because I buy so many of them, and I donate many to Little Free Libraries around my city. So while cleaning out my books the other day, I came across a stack of children’s and young adult books I’d kept for years and had some pleasant nostalgia when I saw The Curse of the Blue Figurine by John Bellairs. It features the character Johnny Dixon, a young boy who lives with his grandparents in Duston Heights, Massachusetts, in the 1950s. He’s a bookworm, kind of nerdy, loves to read and loves radio drama, and loves chocolate. Well, we can all relate to that!
Johnny is befriended by Professor Roderick Childermass, who is a hilarious character. He reenacts famous sea battles with plastic ships in his bathroom, is a professor of history who is extremely opinionated, plays chess like a wizard, and makes a mean chocolate cake. Naturally, he and Johnny become pals, which is fortunate because when Johnny discovers a mysterious book and a blue figurine in the cellar of his church that once belonged to the evil priest Father Remigius Baart, the curse comes back to haunt Johnny. A blue ushabti figurine – ushabti are small figures found in ancient Egyptian tombs with mummies usually representing servants expected to do certain agricultural labors required of the deceased in the land of the dead – contains the actual curse and when Johnny takes both the book and the figurine, all hell breaks loose.
An example of ushabti figurines.
My edition also features the unique artwork of Edward Gorey, who I absolutely adore! Anyway, this book was a wonderful nostalgic trip down memory lane for me, taking me back to the days when I would sneak books under the covers and read by flashlight after my mom and stepdad had gone to bed and I was supposed to be asleep. I think I always particularly loved the friendship between Johnny and Professor Childermass, because I always was in search of an adult who would treat me as a peer and not a a kid, and these two definitely bond as friends over chess and chocolate. This is one of my favorite passages:
Johnny excused himself and went across the street. He had a great time that evening. The professor was a crafty and merciless chess player. He was every bit as good as Johnny was, and maybe even a bit better. As for the cake….well, Johnny had theories about chocolate cake. He felt that the cake part of the cake was just an interruption between the layers of frosting. As it turned out, the professor’s opinions about cake were similar to Johnny’s. The cake he served had three or four thin layers and the rest was a huge amount of good, dark, thick, fudgy frosting. And he served second helpings, too.
In honor my sister’s birthday, I tried my hand at a four-tier, old-fashioned chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, with focus on the ganache frosting. I decorated it for Halloween, in honor of this high holy season of horror!
INGREDIENTS FOR THE GANACHE FROSTING
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups dark chocolate chips, 70% cocoa solids
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon Amaretto
METHOD
Make your cake tiers with whatever chocolate cake recipe you have to hand. Make sure they are completely cool before frosting them.
In a metal saucepan, heat the heavy cream until small bubbles just start to form around the sides and you see steam rising. Don’t overheat the cream or it will curdle. Turn off the heat immediately.
Pour in the chocolate chips and make sure they are covered by the hot cream. Add the almond extract, the vanilla extract and the Amaretto. Cover and let sit for 15 minutes.
Remove the lid, and whisk the mixture for 5 minutes. You’ll see the chocolate ganache start to amalgamate as you continue to stir, thickening into a luscious frosting.
One layer at a time, frost the top of each cake layer and stack them on a cake stand, until you have this magnificent layer cake. Proceed to frost the cake top and sides.
Decorate however you want. I tried to find little blue mummies but could not, so I just went full on Halloween instead. The result? Cute, kitschy, and ultimately delicious!
Just look at those fudgy layers! Johnny Dixon would be proud!
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After Professor Childermass tells of the mysterious disappearance of the former rector of their church, Johnny finds a book that was once owned by the Remigius Baart stashed in the basement of Saint Michael's. Disobeying the words on the scroll that it - and a strange blue figurine - should not be removed from the church, Johnny takes the book home that begin a series of nightmarish events that only come to a conclusion high in the White Mountains.
Mulled wine is enjoyed during the winter solstice as it helps to warm the body and brings a sense of comfort and joy during the cold winter months. Roasted chestnuts are also a popular food during the winter solstice. Chestnuts are typically roasted over an open fire or in the oven and are enjoyed as a snack or added to various dishes. They symbolize warmth and abundance, and their earthy flavor adds a comforting element to winter solstice meals. In addition to these dishes, other seasonal fruits and vegetables are often incorporated into traditional pagan winter solstice food. This may include hearty root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and parsnips, as well as fruits like apples and pears. These ingredients are harvested during the autumn months and can be stored throughout the winter, making them a staple in winter solstice feasts. Overall, traditional pagan winter solstice food celebrates the abundance of the season and the return of light and life. It incorporates seasonal ingredients and flavors that bring warmth and comfort during the darkest time of the year. These dishes not only nourish the body but also serve as a reminder of the natural cycles and the importance of embracing the changing seasons..
Reviews for "Food for the Soul: Traditional Pagan Winter Solstice Recipes to Bring Light to Darkness"
1. Emily - 1/5
I was really disappointed with the traditional pagan winter solstice food. I found the dishes to be tasteless and lacking any real flavor. The main course was a dry and overcooked roast, and the side dishes were equally unappetizing. The dessert was an odd combination of ingredients that didn't work well together. Overall, I would not recommend this food to anyone.
2. Mark - 2/5
The traditional pagan winter solstice food was not what I expected. The flavors were quite strange, and I didn't enjoy the combination of ingredients used in the dishes. The main course was too heavy and greasy for my liking, and the side dishes lacked creativity. The dessert was too sweet and didn't offer any unique flavors. I wouldn't want to try this food again in the future.
3. Sarah - 2/5
I had high hopes for the traditional pagan winter solstice food, but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The main course lacked seasoning and was quite plain. The side dishes were forgettable and didn't add much to the overall meal. The dessert was the only saving grace, but even that wasn't outstanding. I wouldn't go out of my way to try this food again, as there are much better options available.