Autumn soup

A lovely soup to have on a chilly Autumn day...

Ingredients

2 vegetable stock cubes
1 curry stock cube
1 bunch of Coriander finely chopped
3-4 oz of pumpkin
1 marrow diced
4 carrots
3 sweet potatoes
1 onion
1 tablespoon of butter

Method:

Cook everything together in a large pot of boiling water until everything has reduced and cooked, then pour out the soup into a sieve (make sure you catch the liquid underneath into a bowl). Then mash the softened vegetables, put the mashed veg back into the soup and cook until it has further reduced to a runny-thick consistency. This soup is really good served with garlic bread.

Tip: Once served into bowls, lightly pour cold single cream over each soup serving. It adds a lovely flavour and looks great if done in a little swirl.

Pumpkin Pie

A classic for Halloween and very easy to make...

Shortcrust Pastry
4oz plain white flour
4oz butter
tsp sugar
tsp salt
cup of water

Filling
1 cup 1/2 of pureed pumpkin
8 floz of single cream
2 eggs
4-5 oz of brown sugar
1 tsp all spice
1 tsp of ground ginger

Method:

Roll out the pastry over a pie dish and fit into the corners, then mix together the filling in a bowl. Just pour the filling into the pie case and bake in a pre-heated oven at Gas mark 5/ 375degrees F for 40-45 minutes.

Samhain/Halloween October 31st 2011

Happy Halloween to you all!! The 31st of October is known to many people as Halloween, but it is also called Samhain, the day of the dead or just a day for spending time with family. Samhain also marks the end of the Seasonal year, when the cycle of the year finishes and starts again with All Saints day on November 1st.
Now is the time for being thankful for what nature has brought to you, for the fortune that may have come to you this year, for what you have yet to do and for what you need to improve on in the year to come.
Samhain is also the Day of the Dead, when you remember those that have passed away. Taking a walk outside is a brilliant way of clearing your head and fully appreciating the Season.

There are other ways to celebrate Samhain depending on your culture, beliefs and even time you have available to you.

• Put together a party and invite your closest friends and family, make or buy a banquet of little foods.
• Pumpkin Carving is my personal favourite, then use the insides for a homemade soup or pumpkin pie.
• Get busy in the kitchen and do some baking.
• Put together a Samhain alter and make an offering to your chosen Deity.
• Relax at home with your family and have a quiet dinner, make time for your family and have a Halloween themed movie night.
• Go for a walk and collect some fallen leaves to go on your Samhain Alter.
• Get creative and decorate your home
• Work on your Book of Shadows

Those are only a few ideas, there are millions of things you could do on Samhain. I hope everyone enjoys their day! Thankyou for reading!