Rewarding curiosity and gifting magic all over the Pacific Northwest
Rewarding curiosity and gifting magic all over the Pacific Northwest
This blog is an exploration of daily magic, featuring wild plants, creative recipes, meaningful ceremonies, and writings about our shared humanity.
Welcome to the Wondersmith's Writings! Here you can find magical recipes featuring foraged ingredients, musings on food and ceremony, and meaningful rituals to explore your own everyday magic. Though I have been focused on other writing pursuits, I am keeping all of my blog content up as a resource for you. You can use the search bar below to find what you are looking for. (Please note that sometimes you need to refresh the page to see the search results.) Happy reading! If you'd like to support my goal to spread magic far and wide, consider contributing to my patreon program!
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Secret Recipe: Night Woods Cake
Join me for a little winter night magic as we bake this cake full of rich seasonal flavors and black cocoa!
Secret Recipe: Dragon's Blood Punch
When I sculpted these dragon's head rhyta (inspired by both ancient ceramics and tales of magnificent beasts), I knew I needed something special to serve in them. I brewed up this warm wine and brandy-based punch filled with winter spices and flavors such as rose hips, spicebush berries, and fresh ginger... warming, revitalizing, and the perfect drink to accompany a new quest! Whether you are slaying metaphorical dragons or just heading out for a brisk walk, this Dragon's Blood Punch quaffed (in moderation, of course) will set you on your way.
Secret Recipe: Burdock Latkes with Winter Fruit Compote
Foraged burdock stalks add a lovely crispness and slight sweetness to these classic Latkes. Swap out applesauce for a delicious seasonal fruit compote for an extra special treat to celebrate light in the darkness.
Christmas Elixir and Cranberry Cake
The secret ingredient in this luscious celebratory cranberry cake is a homemade herbal elixir meant to add some pleasure to the season. Paired together, this match will definitely make your gathering merry and bright!
Craft Club: Pine Needle Basketry!
In this week’s Wondercrew Wednesday feature, we’re exploring the history, meaning, and technique of weaving beautiful pine needle baskets!
Secret Recipe: Kookoo Sabzi
This flavorful and refreshing fall dish is packed full of herbs and wild greens and makes a welcome appearance at any celebratory table!
Secret Recipe: Lab Samples Drink (Halloween is a Playground!)
In the playful world of Halloween tricks and treats, boundaries are blurred and the taboo becomes inspiring. These refreshing elderflower and pear lab specimen drinks are the perfect intersection of disgust, delight, and pure play.
Secret Recipe: Forest Tea Eggs and Elder Magic
Dive into the mysterious richness of autumnal woods with three recipes that rely on layering many flavors to make a tasty snack and two incredible condiments
Secret Recipe: Ancient Cheesecakes with Bay, Elderberries, and Figs
According to archaeologists, it is believed that some of the very first cakes ever made were simple concoctions of soft goat cheese, honey, and sometimes a little bit of grain. These cheesecake tarts are my homage to those ancient cakes. The flaky pastry crust gets a nutty flavor from buckwheat flour, but has also been adapted to be gluten-free. The filling is an aromatic mixture of homemade bay leaf-infused goat cheese and honey. A gorgeous topping of elderberry honey sauce really dresses these up, and a roasted fig with honey is the perfect compliment to the richness of the cheesecake below.
Secret Recipe: Black Walnut Cinnamon Challah
This beautiful bread is as delicious as it is meaningful! Packed full of autumnal flavor, spices, and color, it’s a fun take on a traditional recipe.
Secret Recipe: Sandcastle Onigiri
Buttery rice flavored with porcini mushrooms hides all sorts of savory surprises in this fun Savory Showstopper - the perfect dish to celebrate the end of summer!
If this mushroom greenhouse looks a little familiar to you, you’d be right! But rather than wood and mycelium block, this treat is 100% edible and made out of confections. (This is what happens when I watch The Great British Baking Show while staring lovingly at my mushroom greenhouse.) Spiced gingerbread and isomalt sugar make up the greenhouse itself, but the true stars lie within: delicious torrone infused with a special ingredient forms the mycelium block, while realistic pink oyster mushrooms sculpted from naturally-colored marzipan adorn the outside. This is an ambitious baking project and stunning showstopper to share with friends or family! I’m sharing it with my patrons as a little extra thanks for their support and patronage. You can find the post right here. I wish I could transmit little slices of that torrone through the internet to you - it really is something special. :)
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Secret Recipes
The Wondersmith
Miss Wondersmith, The Wondersmith, Wildcrafted, secret recipe, pink oyster mushrooms, mushroom greenhouse, marzipan, gingerbread
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