Unraveling the Spells and Enchantments of Ranni the Witch Hat

Ranni the Witch Hat is a captivating story that combines elements of magic, adventure, and friendship. The story revolves around a young witch named Ranni, who possesses a special hat that grants her extraordinary powers. At the outset of the story, we are introduced to Ranni, a kind-hearted and curious young witch living in the magical forest of Soran. Ranni is known for her mischievous nature, as well as her innate ability to communicate with animals. She spends most of her time exploring the depths of the forest and helping those in need. One fateful day, Ranni stumbles upon a small, tattered witch hat hidden deep within a cave.

While the store sells seaweed as a vegetable, many people just aren’t that keen on it, according to Jamgochian.

Abundance aside, the sea vegetable offers a broad range of minerals for the everyday diet, according to Madia Jamgochian, a nutrition consultant at New Leaf. Abundance aside, the sea vegetable offers a broad range of minerals for the everyday diet, according to Madia Jamgochian, a nutrition consultant at New Leaf.

One fateful day, Ranni stumbles upon a small, tattered witch hat hidden deep within a cave. Little does she know, this hat holds great power and has been dormant for centuries. Intrigued by its mysterious aura, Ranni decides to take the hat with her.

Seaweed harvester Ian O’Halleran wants to make ocean vegetable mainstream

Ian O’Halleran and Madia Jamgochian will lead a seaweed cooking class at New Leaf Community Market on the Westside. O’Halleran’s Seaquoia Wild Seaweeds harvests many varieties of seaweed from the wild to sell to grocery stores. (Dan Coyro -- Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Ian O’Halleran and Madia Jamgochian will lead a seaweed cooking class at New Leaf Community Market on the Westside. O’Halleran’s Seaquoia Wild Seaweeds harvests seaweed from the wild to sell to grocery stores. (Dan Coyro -- Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Madia Jamgochian holds a handful of seaweed harvested near Santa Cruz. She and Ian O’Halleran of Seaquoia Wild Seaweeds will lead a seaweed cooking class at New Leaf Community Market on the Westside. (Dan Coyro -- Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Show Caption By Calvin Men | [email protected] and Santa Cruz Sentinel | Santa Cruz Sentinel PUBLISHED: September 19, 2017 at 12:00 a.m. | UPDATED: September 11, 2018 at 12:00 a.m.

Ian O’Halleran wants to make seaweed a sexy food and bring it beyond the salad at sushi bars.

Most grocery stories have kelp pills or dried sheets of seaweed to snack on. But O’Halleran wants people to start noshing while it’s fresh and raw.

He’s sliced the fronds off some seaweeds — the leafy part — as samples in New Leaf, where he sells the briny vegetable.

“When I have the seaweed out, people are like ‘So what do I do with it?’” he said.

You can eat it raw as a snack. You can pickle it. You can dry it out. The 27-year-old Santa Cruz resident is the founder of the Seaquoia Wild Seaweeds, a company focused on harvesting and distributing seaweed. It’s a one-man company driven by O’Halleran and his youth.

Naturally his passion for seaweed came in part because of his love for the ocean. He grew up surfing in Ventura and seaweed was a regular part of his life. So much so that he majored in tropical horticulture at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

“Out on the big island, (seaweed is) a staple food for Hawaiians and it has been for years. I got really into it and I realize how many amazing varieties we have out here in California,” he said.

Despite seaweed being a way of life in Hawaiian food culture, the aloha state’s seaweed varietals pale in comparison to the one’s found in the golden state.

O’Halleran can easily rattle off the common seaweeds in the area: sea palm, cat’s tongue and bull kelp. The last one is the one that typically washes up along beaches and are recognized for the fist-sized pods people poke at.

But his seaweed endeavors didn’t start with putting seaweed onto dinner plates. It was the push to create a seaweed fertilizer business. While he was busy trying to build that business, some distributors began asking him to harvest seaweed to sell the sea vegetable. He found areas along the California coast that are redwood forests of the sea.

Harvesting alone is a chore, with his hours following the moon cycles instead of the traditional 9-to-5 schedule.

“Sometimes I’ve got to go out at 3 in the morning,” he said with a sly grin. At those hours, the tide is out and he can access specific seaweeds.

There are nights where he wanders around in his wetsuit looking for specific varieties that grow in the deep end of the ocean. Other times, he carefully paddles out on his kayak to stick his head into the water. He harvests anywhere from 50 to 100 pounds each week.

Abundance aside, the sea vegetable offers a broad range of minerals for the everyday diet, according to Madia Jamgochian, a nutrition consultant at New Leaf. Some of the minerals inherent in the vegetable are calcium, magnesium, potassium and iodine.

While the store sells seaweed as a vegetable, many people just aren’t that keen on it, according to Jamgochian.

“Maybe they don’t know how to use them. Or they’re a little grossed out by seaweed. Maybe it’s an acquired taste. But there’s so many different ways to eat it,” she said.

O’Halleran is not shooting from the hip when it comes to harvesting. He carries a commercial kelp harvesting license from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. More importantly, he’s careful not to take more than he should and careful that cuts the plants so that they can grow back.

“It’s going out, being really conscious of the reproductive cycle of the plant,” he said.

It’s a practice that O’Halleran wants to teach others. There are times when he’s harvesting and sees teachers tide pooling with their students. The groups are mindful of not squishing sea anemones and to watch out for other animals but they’re stepping onto seaweeds.

He wants people to look at the ocean as their community garden.

“In your own garden, are you going to be stomping around your plants or are you going to have pathways?” he said. “People don’t know that this is edible, that this is food.”

If You Go

What: Learn all about how to harvest, prepare and eat wild seaweed off the California coast at one-day cooking class hosted by Ian O’Halleran, founder of Seaquoia Wild Seaweeds.

Where: Westside New Leaf, 1101 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz

When: 6-8 p.m. Sept. 28

Cucumber Carrot Seaweed Salad

2 English or hothouse cucumbers

2 large carrots

2 cups fresh sea palm fronds

1 teaspoon sea salt

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 tablespoon fresh lime or lemon juice

2-3 tablespoons honey, to taste (may sub maple syrup or coconut nectar)

1 teaspoon Toasted sesame oil

1/2-1 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

1 scallion, sliced

1: If you have a spiralizer, use it to cut the cucumbers and carrots into long noodles

2: Place the spiralized cucumber into a strainer and toss with 1 teaspoon sea salt. Let the cucumber drain for 15-20 minutes to remove excess water.

3: Bring a small pot of water to a boil and blanch the sea palm fronds. They will turn bright green. Remove and place in an ice water bath for 2-3 minutes, then rinse with cold water. Use a pairing knife to cut fronds into bite-sized strips.

4: In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, whisk together the vinegar, lime juice, honey, sesame oil and sesame seeds.

5: Once the cucumber has drained for a bit, spread it onto a layer of paper towels, or a clean dish towel, and gently pat out as much moisture as you can. Place the cucumber, carrot and sea palm noodles into a large bowl, and add 2-3 tablespoons of dressing to coat. Toss to combine, then garnish with additional sesame seeds, sliced scallions, and fresh cilantro.

6: Serve immediately.

As Ranni begins wearing the hat, she quickly discovers its magical capabilities. The hat grants her the ability to control the elements, bend time and space, and even speak any language known to mankind. With these newfound powers, Ranni embarks on a journey that takes her to distant lands and introduces her to an array of unique characters. Throughout her adventures, Ranni realizes that her hat not only enhances her magical abilities but also carries a responsibility. She learns that power, if used recklessly, can have dire consequences. With this newfound awareness, Ranni becomes determined to use her powers for good, to help those in need, and to protect the forest she calls home. However, as Ranni encounters different challenges and adversaries, she begins to question the true origins of her hat. She discovers that her hat was once used by an evil sorcerer who caused chaos and destruction wherever he went. Determined to break free from her hat's dark past, Ranni seeks the guidance of the wise elder witches of Soran. Under their mentorship, Ranni learns to channel her powers for the greater good, using her wit and intellect to outsmart her enemies rather than resorting to violence. She also discovers that the key to breaking the dark spell surrounding her hat lies in the power of friendship and love. As the story progresses, Ranni forms deep bonds with her newfound friends – a mischievous forest sprite named Lumi and a wise old owl named Ophelia. Together, they embark on a quest to restore the hat's true magical nature and bring balance to the forest. In the climax of the story, Ranni confronts the evil sorcerer who once wielded her hat's power. With the help of her friends and her own determination, Ranni manages to break free from the sorcerer's control, ultimately transforming the hat into a symbol of hope and unity. Ranni the Witch Hat is a tale that highlights the importance of using power responsibly, the strength of friendship, and the power of love to overcome darkness. It teaches readers that everyone has the ability to change their own destiny and make a positive impact on the world. With its engaging storyline and memorable characters, Ranni the Witch Hat is a magical journey that will captivate readers of all ages..

Reviews for "Ranni the Witch Hat and the Power of the Coven"

1. Jane - 2 stars

I found "Ranni the Witch Hat" to be quite disappointing. The story was predictable and lacked depth. The characters were one-dimensional and their actions felt forced and unnatural. Additionally, the writing style was juvenile and did not capture my attention. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this book to others.

2. Mark - 1 star

"Ranni the Witch Hat" was a complete letdown. The plot was unexciting and seemed unfocused. The protagonist, Ranni, lacked any real development and her choices were illogical at best. The dialogue was poorly written and the humor fell flat. I was unimpressed by this book and would not recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and well-written fantasy novel.

3. Sarah - 2 stars

I was not impressed with "Ranni the Witch Hat." The story felt clichéd and unoriginal, following the typical tropes of a young witch discovering her powers. The pace was slow, making it difficult for me to maintain interest. Additionally, the lack of world-building left me feeling disconnected from the magical elements of the story. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to fellow fantasy enthusiasts.

4. Michael - 2 stars

"Ranni the Witch Hat" fell short for me. The characters lacked depth and their motivations were unclear. The plot meandered and the conflicts were resolved too easily. The writing style also felt amateurish, with awkward sentence structures and repetitive phrases. Unfortunately, I was left unimpressed and would not recommend this book to others.

5. Emily - 1 star

I was highly disappointed in "Ranni the Witch Hat." The story felt rushed and the writing was filled with grammatical errors. The dialogue was stiff and lacked authenticity. The plot twists were predictable and did not provide any sense of surprise. Overall, this book failed to engage me and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a well-crafted fantasy novel.

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