Imbolc February 2nd
So for me Imbolc is the feats of warm hearty foods. I make a potato soup.
Old fashioned Irish Soda bread
I also make these things called Bannocks - which are scones.
I make mine with dried cranberries.
This feast day is a little less full of food than the others because it is the mid-winter feast and food was scarcer.
It is also the day we sweep out the negative energies.
For candle colors I use white, red, pink and brown. The crystals I lay out are turquoise, amethyst, garnet and onyx.
It is a day to honor the sun's warmth, light and life bringing as the days continue to lengthen. The candles are the spark of life, creativity, hope, fatefulness and safety. The broom is used for cleansing and as a sign of fertility and abundance. Water is used for cleansing, healing, washing away negativity. Fire is as firs is always - purification, transformation and rebirth.
Stay warm everyone.
"May the life stirring underground stir new dreams to life within you. May the flames of inspiration and passion be ignited in your soul"
The Seasonal Soul
I gained 4 pounds just reading this article. bacon in the potato soup? yes please.
Only way to make potato soup.
looks like it could be eaten with a fork, my favorite kind of soup.
My mother used to use mashed taters - I prefer CHUNKS.
I cook a lot of hot soups and stews in the Winter months. A friend of mine asked what ingredients I used for each. She was surprised when I told her that I mostly pretty much use the exact same ingredients for each.
(If I put in too much water its "a soup"--- if I use much less water then its a different dish...its a stew!)
P.S: Like you I much prefer thick stews-- chunky stuff, usually not much liquid. Warm, comforting, nourishing in the Winter).
Blessed Imbolc to you and yours.
Thank you. It was very very nice. Food was hearty and I even made donuts, which are now gone.
The Three Sisters are proud of you, Veronica.
I love Bannock.
My daughter loves them & I make them for 2 feast days. She thinks I should make them every week.
I like your articles like this one
Thank you.
Potato soup is one of my favorite soups.
My family loves it. Thick and hearty.
If only you could bottle that ... the nation needs a lot of purging.
I agree whole heartedly on that. So negative out there.
Interesting that Imbolic is the same time as Chinese Spring Festival.
Your bannocks made me think of Zongzi, a glutinous rice cone that is stuffed with such things as pork, or pineapple, or nuts, etc and wrapped in vine leaves to be cooked and opened when ready to eat. They are a special treat to be eaten during Dragon Boat Festival. They can be bought already prepared at a supermarket, but for us my wife makes them.
This is a photo from the internet
.
Here is my wife making Zongzi
I am going to have to try to make those. They look wonder.
BTW your wife is gorgeous.
I've noticed that most cultures that go back a long way mostly have similar festivals at the same time of year-- and often similar symbolism as well.
For example Christmas and Chanukah. At first it might seem the meanings of those 2 holidays have nothing in common. But IMO many cultures are aware of certain prevalent "energies" that are strong at certain times of years. So vastly different cultures (intuitively being aware of that) have major festivals/religious observances during the same time period).
P.S: The symbolism is important. For the two I mentioned the symbol of light: Christians put up Christmas lights on their houses...and even on Christmas trees. And historically . . . a source of light (a star) appears! For the Jewish holiday of Chanukah light symbolism is also important-- candles are lit on the Chanukah menorah.
The start of a season also-- for example holidays at the start of Spring...in nature a time of "rebirth"...(dormant plants seeds begin to sprout, animals com out of hibernation...etc
And my guess is that most religions-- from the ancient festivals/holidays of indigenous peoples to the more "modern" religions. They mostly happen at the same time of year. And probably use similar symbols each time...-
You just need to search "How to make zongzi" and lots of methods come up. As for my wife, how could you tell she was gorgeous from that photo? Here she was when we married...
And more recently...
She will ALWAYS be beautiful. Shi shi for the compliment.
I could tell.
In addition to beauty, gazing into her eyes in that photo, what I see some uncommon traits. She is extremely intelligent. Also a very "strong" personality. Also a really fine person.
Right on all three, and there are a lot more as well, but those traits are not that uncommon, it's a matter of degree.
I love soda bread. Do you have a recipe you can share?
Sure do. I will type it up (it's my grandmothers so it is on a recipe card).
Thank you!
Today is 2 of 2 of 22. Universal Couples Day.
Huh, I never heard that. Hubby & I celebrated it & didn't even know it - wink wink....
Is that based on numerology?
(If so, do most Indian Nations use Numerology?)
Blessed Imbolc, Veronica.
Potato soup is one of my favorites. I need to make a pot.
Those scones look delicious
it's groundhog day...he saw his shadow....AH I HATE THAT VARMINT!
The whistle pig died before he saw his shadow. That's not a good omen.
That was the varmint from Milltown, NJ. The varmint in Punxsytawney, PA is still alive and gnawing on cabbage leaves
I read former NYC Mayor de Blasio dropped and mortally injured one...
I wouldn't touch one. They have giant rodent teeth
They're also mean when cornered.
Thank you. It was great.
My family loves it when I have a pot of soup on the stove. Then they can help themselves when they want it. My stepmother started me doing that.
Grammy’s Irish Soda Bread
Preheat Oven to 375
Oil cast iron skillet (or parchment paper lined cookie sheet)
Ingredients:
4 cups flour 4 TBSP sugar
1 TSP baking soda 1 TBSP baking powder
½ TSP salt ½ cup butter room temp
1 cup buttermilk 1 egg
¼ cup butter melted ¼ cup buttermilk
Mix flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, & salt in large bowl. Using pastry blender cut in room temp butter. Stir in 1 cup buttermilk and egg – blending until mixed. Turn out onto floured surface – knead twice – do not over knead. Form ball & put in skillet & press down to form circle. If using cookie sheet place in center & form a circle by pressing down. Make “X” on top with serrated knife & brush with melted butter & ¼ cup buttermilk mixture (do this again 1/3 the way through cook time – then again at 2/3 the way through cook time).
Bake for 60 minutes for cast iron skillet – 45 to 50 minutes for cookie sheet. Start checking for doneness at 40 minute mark.
Just got back from the grocery store with buttermilk and baking powder. The other ingredients, I already had.
You sound excited to get baking.
I've been looking for a good Irish soda bread recipe. I bought a few mixes, but they're not the same.
Yeah, I found that to be true also. I tried so many mixes over the years . Then a couple of years ago my mother passed my grandmother's cookbook to my sister, my cousins and myself. We all copied what we wanted & my sister as the oldest granddaughter kept the original book. That recipe book was amazing....it was handwritten by my grandmother.
I hope it works out for you.
My grandma was the type of cook who never wrote anything down, so as far as I know, nobody has her recipes. They went with her.
My mom is the same way, but she tried writing stuff down when my dad started getting off work earlier than she did. She got close enough on her cornbread recipe that eventually, he went from "can't boil water" to "makes a mean pan of cornbread."
Ever try Beer bread?
I haven't.
I will dig out my recipe & send it to you. It is really good.
Thanks!
Beer bread is very good as a side for soup, especially potato soup. I wonder how it would word for s grilled cheese sandwich?
3 cups flour 1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt ¼ cup sugar
1 12oz can beer ½ cup melted butter
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix dry ingredients and beer.
Pour into a greased loaf pan.
Pour melted butter over mixture.
Bake 1 hour, remove from pan and cool for at least 15 minutes
This is very hearty.
I usually do this with my soups. Cream of broccoli, potato and sometimes tomato.
Good idea about the grilled cheese - I will have to try it.
I made the soda bread last night. It turned out pretty good. I had to add a bit more buttermilk to get the dough to stick together.
I am glad it turned out for you. I sometimes have to add, too. I think sometimes my egg is not the largest so I have to add more liquid. Who knows.
It's the same when I bake yeast bread. You have to add flour or water until it feels right.
I have discovered over the years most things have to be tweaked to come out right.