Cranberry Sauce

When I was growing up, cranberry sauce was one my favorite things to help make for Thanksgiving.  I loved adding extra ginger and citrus--both the zest and the juice--and letting the tangy scent of cranberries and sugar perfume the kitchen as we cooked for the big feast.

Even now, I often whip up a batch of this cranberry sauce to have on hand during the winter months; it is great on pancakes or as a thick jam on toast and pairs well with cheeses like sharp cheddar or manchego. 

I don't like a lot of sugar in my cranberry sauce, so I usually start with 1/4 cup of sugar and taste test my way to the perfect balance between tart and sweet which can vary from batch to batch depending on how sweet the citrus is.  I use three kinds of ginger (candied, fresh, and powdered)--a trick I learned from my mom--to lend depth to the heat of this root.  I use the zest of the lemon and orange so it is important to use only organic fruits.  If you want a thicker sauce, let it simmer on the stove longer.

Ingredients:

12 oz (one bag) of organic cranberries

1 cup water

1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar

1 organic lemon, juiced and zested

1 organic orange or grapefruit

1 tbsp candied ginger, minced

1-inch fresh ginger, grated

Pinch of cinnamon

Pinch of clove

Place cranberries and water in a saucepan and let simmer on medium heat until the berries begin to soften about 10-15 minutes.  Then add sugar, three gingers, cinnamon, and clove.  Stir until sugar has dissolved and reduce heat to medium-low heat. Add zest of citrus and juice of lemon.  Cut the pith from the zested orange or grapefruit and slice the citrus segments.  Squeeze any remaining citrus juice into the sauce along with the segments.  Stir and let sauce simmer on low for 5-15 minutes.  Cool completely before storing in fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for several months (I store the sauce using ice cube trays so I can defrost the exact amount I was for a particular dish).  Makes about 2 cups.  Enjoy!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Pumpkin Pie Body Scrub

Remember that wonderful pumpkin face mask I wrote about in October?  Well, meet its mate, my pumpkin pie body scrub!  It's made with actual pumpkin--in this case, powdered pumpkin I purchased from amazon.com--which means it has the same complexion nourishing ingredients like magnesium, iron, and a host of vitamins that bring back your natural glow during these colder months.  The touch of pumpkin pie spices bring anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities of your scrub.

It's also a great easy-to-make holiday gift for your loved ones in need of a little extra self-care this upcoming holiday season.  What better way to indulge in a little TLC than to enjoy the exfoliating effects of this scrub that perfumes your bathroom with the smell of pumpkin pie?

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar (or Epsom salts)

1/2 cup powdered pumpkin

3/4 cup coconut oil or olive oil

1/4 cup pumpkin spice (or cinnamon)

Mix all dry ingredients together first and then slowly add in oil until fully combined.  Store in a mason jar.  Enjoy!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Sweet Potato & Kale Medley

Lately, I have been in need of a light but hearty satisfying dinner that is easy to fix during a busy workweek.  This recipe came about as I tried to figure out what to do with some extra roasted sweet potatoes and a large handful of kale.  My empty tummy decided it would be the makings of a perfect quick dinner--and it was SO right!

The trick to elevating the flavors of this dish (and removing some of the bitterness of the kale) is in browning the slices of roasted sweet potato in ghee and then sautéing the rest of the ingredients in more ghee and spices.  After trying some variations on this recipe, I still prefer roasting the potatoes first before sautéing because it ensures they are fully cooked through and lends a richness to their flavor.  I think this dish is perfect on its own, but if you feel like you need a little more substance to it, it tastes equally great as a side to sausage or a good pork chop.

Ingredients:

1 medium roasted sweet potato

1 cup shredded kale

1/2 sweet onion, sliced into half-moons

1 glove garlic, minced

1 tsp ground cumin

About 4 tbsp ghee

Salt to taste

Preheat saucepan on medium, adding 2 tbsp ghee to melt.  Slice roasted sweet potato in half longways and then slice each half into half-moons.  Place half-moons in saucepan and let cook until brown on one side, about 2-3 minutes; flip the half-moons and let cook on the other side another 2-3 minutes.  When the potato is browned, add onion slices, garlic, and cumin and sauté for 2 minutes, until onions begin to soften.   Then add more ghee and kale.  Reduce heat and let simmer on medium-low until kale begins to wilt, about 5-7 minutes more.  Add salt taste.  Serves one (so double the recipe for you and your loved one!).  Enjoy!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Chocolate Dipped Seckel Pears

I've been on a quest lately to develop healthy dessert recipes that satisfy my sweet tooth without loading me down with sugars and bad fats.  I don't need a big piece of cake or a large bowl of ice cream; instead, I like diminutive nibbles that allow me to enjoy the pleasures of a dessert to close a nice meal on the weekend.  I also don't want cookies and brownies hanging around during the week, so my goal in crafting my sweet treats has been to develop easy, healthy, and bite-sized desserts for a nice dinner.

The Seckel pear, a tiny little fruit no bigger than a golf ball, became the perfect canvas for chocolate and nuts for this treat.  Although I love my pumpkin and peanut butter fudges (and my chia seed pudding for that matter), I find that some of the best desserts are the ones that highlight the gorgeousness of in-season fruit.  You can adapt this recipe to suit your tastes or what you already have on hand, swapping white chocolate for caramel, for example, or pecans for peanuts.  Look for pears that still have their top; it makes dipping easier.  If they don't have one, stick a toothpick in them.

Ingredients:

5 Seckel pears

1/2 cup white chocolate

1/2 cup dark chocolate

1/2 chopped pecans

Melt white chocolate in 20-second increments in microwave until melted (about one minute), making sure to stir the chocolate between heating.  Dip pears into white chocolate until completely coated and let dry on wax paper in fridge for about 10 minutes.  In the meantime, melt dark chocolate just as you did the white chocolate and pour pecans into a shallow bowl for dipping. When white chocolate has hardened, remove pears from fridge and dip them halfway in dark chocolate and then immediately roll them a fourth of the way in the nuts to coat their bottoms.  Return to fridge and let set for about 10 minutes.  Enjoy!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Pumpkin Spice Blend

Ahhhhh, pumpkin spice!  That heady mixture of cinnamon and other spices is the perfect embodiment of autumn goodness.  Happily for non-pumpkin lovers, it contains none of that squash. I love using it not just for Thanksgiving pies, put in my coffee for a festive kick (a trick I learned from my mom!) or on pancakes to make them just a little yummier.

This spice blend is surprisingly easy to make and less expensive if you mix it on your own.  A small 2-ounce jar will run you anywhere from two to four dollars whereas if you buy the spices in bulk, you can get the same spice mix for half the cost and you are guaranteed fresher ingredients.  I like to make mine in small batches, but the beauty of this recipe is that it is easy to double or triple depending on your pumpkin spice needs.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp ground ginger

3/4 tsp ground allspice

1/2 tsp ground clove

Mix ingredients together and store in a small spice jar.  Makes about 1/4 cup.  Enjoy!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Vegan Peanut Butter Fudge

Peanut butter and chocolate are one of the best pairings of all time, like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.  I developed this recipe as a riff on my Pumpkin Fudge, complete with the little layer of chocolate on top.  It is the perfect little dessert--sweet but not too sweet--and packed with good-for-you ingredients. 

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut butter

3/4 cup organic creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

4 tbsp whole milk

Warm coconut butter in saucepan on low heat until melted.  Then transfer to a bowl and combine with other ingredients, except the chocolate and milk.  Transfer to a shallow 8x8 dish and spread evenly.  In the meantime, melt the dark chocolate and milk in a saucepan on low.  Layer melted chocolate across top of fudge.  Let sit in fridge for 2-3 hours. Cut into one-inch squares and store in fridge until ready to eat.  Enjoy!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Old Fashioned Devil Cocktail

This is option three in my round of Halloween-inspired cocktails, sans sugary neon additives that have no business in a real cocktail.  I'm a sucker for a good old fashioned; my recipe adds a playful twist to this drink by adding activated charcoal to give it a devilishly smoky flair.  Activated charcoal is a common natural health aid used to improve skin tone, whiten teeth, detox the body, and even reduce bloating.  It has even become a favorite new ingredient in for cocktail makers.

I've also omitted the traditional sugar cube that goes in this drink because I feel this drink is already sweeter than sin without it, thanks to the rich Silver Coyote Whiskey I use.  The trick to making a good old-fashioned is to pay attention to the details, which make sense, because, as they say, that's where the devil always finds himself.

Ingredients:

4 dashes angostura bitters

2 oz silver coyote whiskey

1 splash club soda

small pinch of activated charcoal (no more than half of 1/8 teaspoon)

1 slice of organic orange skin, minus the pith

1 orange slice (for garnish)

1 black cherry (for garnish)

ice

In a shaker, muddle orange skin, bitters and activated charcoal together until the oils have released.  Add ice and whiskey and shake until mixed.  Pour into a glass and top with a splash of club soda.  Garnish with orange slice and black cherry.  Serves one--so double the recipe and share with your favorite devil.

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

I Put A Spell On You Cocktail

This cocktail is sister to my Green Fairy, another concoction whipped up to celebrate Halloween without the sugary additives and fake colorants used in most drink mixers.  This drink has a lovely pale green color, much like its absinthe-infused sister. This title comes from the idea that all cocktails or liquors act as proverbial potions in one way or another: inspiring courage, brewing up love or acting as unconventional oracles of a sort.  Thus, this drink was born.

I used apples this drink because they are long considered an integral part of Samhain, Halloween's pagan ancestor.  Apples symbolize immortality and so, on the night where spirits can walk the earth, are a perfect offering to the powers that be.  I also added ginger, a heating root, purported to ensure success when spell working; lime is added for its healing properties. 

So what is this spell then?  Let's think of it as a longevity-inducing-healing-good-vibe-making potion spiced up with whatever (benevolent) intentions you add as you blend the ingredients.  At the very least you'll have a refreshing drink to enjoy with friends!

Ingredients:

1/2 green apple, juiced*

1/2 oz ginger, juiced* 

1/2 lime, juiced

2 oz gin or vodka

ice

Muddle ginger and lime juice in a shaker, then add apple juice, vodka or gin, and ice.  Shake thoroughly.  Pour into chilled martini glass.  Enjoy!

* I juice the apple by grating it and then putting the grated pieces in a cheesecloth and squeezing out the juice, much like I do to remove excess moisture from my shredded zucchini for my zucchini fritters.  You can purchase ginger juice at your gourmet grocery store or simply shredded about 1/2 inch fo ginger and strain it through the cheesecloth like you do the apple.

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Green Fairy Cocktail

Halloween is a great excuse to whip up a fun seasonal cocktail.  Unfortunately, most of those drinks are saturated with super sugary neon hued gunk in the form of cheap schnapps and other liquors that have less to do with a quality cocktail and more to do with getting the right Halloween-y looking drink drowning in artificial syrups. Horrifying!

And yet this dilemma presented me with a perfect challenge: making festive cocktails that are made from quality ingredients.  Personally, my tastes in cocktails run towards the classics--martinis, gimlets, old fashioneds--simple drinks with a few superb ingredients.  Now all I needed was appropriately spooky or mercurial twists on these standards. So, my challenge began.

The result?  This absinthe-based cocktail, for starters.  Absinthe, once banned in America for the purported insanity-causing properties of wormwood (one of its chief ingredients), struck me as the perfect base for a Halloween-inspired cocktail.  An insanity causing liquor with a shady history?  The sipper of choice among artists and writers ever in search of that elusive muse?  The green fairy that is said to emerge when this high-proof liquor is diluted with water and turns a cloudy green color?  Sounds to me like the perfect foundation for an inspiration inducing potion that mimics the seductive playfulness of the Green Fairy herself.

I used Mephisto Absinthe, rich with not only anise but herbs like sage and cinnamon.  These other herbs round out the licorices flavor so that it is not overly cloying.  The use of gin contributes to the herbaceous note of this cocktail, and the lime juice adds a pop brightness.  What you end up with is a faintly green glass of goodness--and maybe a little creative inspiration for that next project of yours.

Ingredients:

1/4 oz absinthe

2 oz gin

3/4 oz fresh lime juice

2-3 dashes grapefruit bitters (optional)

ice

In a shaker, combine ingredients and shake vigorously.  Let sit for half a minute, long enough for the ice to melt and dilute potency of the absinthe.  Pour into your cocktail glass and enjoy!  Serves one, so double the recipe and see if you and your friend have any other green fairy sightings!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Coconut Butter Pumpkin Fudge

With Halloween coming up, the stores are full to bursting with big bags of candy in preparation for the flurry of trick-or-treaters.  As much as I love the festivity of this holiday, including handing out candy to excited little ones decked out in their wild costumes, I don't really enjoy traditional candy anymore.  Most of the store bought stuff is too sweet and full of bad-for-you ingredients.  I find that over the years I have enjoyed this yearly indulgence less and less, so much so that I never eat even the one fun sized candy that I so used to look forward to.

Now when I'm looking for a fun autumnal treat, I turn to this pumpkin fudge recipe.  I first tried this recipe last year when I was looking for a tasty dessert that wasn't too sweet or calorie laden.  Thanks to Coconut Mama, I was able to make this fudge (and adapt it to make other flavors) which satisfies my sweet tooth while offering me the healthy benefits of its ingredients. I also added the extra touch of a dark chocolate top layer over these little fudge pieces because my family of chocolate lovers would be disappointed in a dessert without it!

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut butter

3/4 cup organic pumpkin puree

1/3 cup maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

4 tbsp whole milk

Warm coconut butter in saucepan on low heat until melted, about 5 minutes.  Then transfer to a bowl and combine with other ingredients, excepting the chocolate and milk.  Transfer to a shallow 8x8 dish and spread evenly.  In the meantime, melt the dark chocolate and milk in a saucepan on low.  Layer melted chocolate across top of fudge.  Let sit in fridge for 2-3 hours. Cut into one-inch squares and store in fridge until ready to eat.  Enjoy!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Coconut Butter

Coconut butter is one of those foods that can be super expensive and seemingly complicated to produce.  But the reality couldn't be further from the truth! One bag of unsweetened organic coconut flakes costs less than four dollars and, after a few spins in your food processor, is turned into this luxurious butter.  I like to use it in place of butter on toast, as a way to make my morning oatmeal just a little richer, or as a base for my healthy fudge recipe.

Ingredients:

2 cups unsweetened organic shredded coconut

Place coconut shreds in food processor and blend for five minutes.  Using a spatula, scrape off any coconut bits from the side and return to middle of food processor. Repeat until coconut bits have released their oils and turned into a soft butter, about 3 or 4 times. Makes about 3/4 cup.  Store at room temperature indefinitely.  Enjoy!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Pumpkin Face Mask

Tis the season of pumpkin everything.  Pumpkin lattes.  Pumpkin pies.  Pumpkin pancakes and stews.  Even pumpkin colored clothes are par for the course during the autumn season.  So why not put pumpkin on your face?

You might think that I'm taking all this pumpkin love to an uncomfortable level by applying it to my cheeks, but this face mask works wonders on your skin!  The pumpkin is full of vitamins A, C and E, magnesium, potassium, and iron--all good for your complexion.  The addition of honey is antibacterial and moisturizing.  The whole milk, also packed with important vitamins and minerals, acts as a gentle exfoliate and moisturizer.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp organic pumpkin puree

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp whole milk

Combine ingredients and apply to clean face.  Let sit for 20 minutes and remove with warm water.  Enjoy the glow of your skin afterward!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Cinnamon Sugar Body Scrub

Cinnamon is one of my favorite spices because it is the perfect balance of earthy, fiery, and sweet.  This time of year cinnamon can really shine when paired with apples and cinnamon, making it that much more enjoyable.

Another great way to enjoy this spice is with my cinnamon sugar body scrub, especially during the changing season when our skin needs a little extra TLC.  The anti-inflammatory proprieties of cinnamon soothe while the sugar removes dead skin and the oil hydrates.  Plus, it makes your bathroom all cinnamony, like baked goods fresh from the oven!

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup olive or coconut oil
10 drops of cinnamon essential oils

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl until combined.  Then add oils and stir until fully incorporated.  Store in a mason jar.  Enjoy!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Apple Crisp Overnight Oats

Cinnamon and apples are pretty much right up there with pumpkins for evoking autumnal goodness.  This time of year I can't get enough of apples and cinnamon--I find a way to use them for everything from cocktails to my breakfast, to a quick snack and even dinner!  

The best part about this recipe here is that while it may conjure up the flavors of an apple pie--apples cooked in sugar and ghee, topped with nutty oats and spices--it is healthier for you.  I sometimes use homemade granola to finish off this meal and give it the additional crunch that a crisp offers. 

Ingredients:

1 cup multi-grain oats

2 tablespoons chia seeds

2 tablespoons almond meal

2 tablespoons flax seed meal

3 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups milk

4 apples, chopped

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon ghee

1/2 cup granola (optional)

In a saucepan, heat ghee until melted and then throw in chopped apples.  Allow to cook on low until softened and lightly browned, about ten minutes.  Then add 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon and all of the brown sugar and cook for another 5 minutes, until sugar has coated apples.  Set aside to cool.

Mix all dry ingredients (including remaining cinnamon) except the granola together in a bowl and set aside.  In a separate bowl, mix together all the wet ingredients until combined.  Then begin to add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients slowly, until thoroughly mixed.  Finally, stir in cooked apples.  Divide mixture evenly between 4 mason jars and let sit overnight in fridge. Top each mason jar meal with 1/8 cup of granola before serving (optional).  Makes 4 servings.  Enjoy!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Pumpkin Overnight Oats

Who doesn't love pumpkin everything this time of year?  Okay, I actually know a (very) few people who don't, but that means there is more of this delectable squash for the rest of us!  Now that the days are cooler, I relish waking up in the morning to these tasty pumpkin overnight oats.  They chase away the chill of autumn and leave me feeling full and indulgent at the same time. 

Ingredients:

1 cup multi-grain oats

2 tablespoons chia seeds

2 tablespoons almond meal

2 tablespoons flax seed meal

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground clove

3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup milk

1 can pumpkin puree

Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.  In a separate bowl, mix together all the wet ingredients until combined.  Then begin to add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients slowly, until thoroughly mixed.  Divide mixture evenly between 4 mason jars and let sit overnight in fridge.  You can top with Greek yogurt and a dusting of cinnamon if desired. Makes 4 servings.  Enjoy!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Apple Cider Margarita

Oh yes, I went there.  And I went one step further and published this with just enough time for you to get the ingredients for your weekend cocktail!  This margarita came about last Friday when I found myself in need of one, but with not enough limes to do the job; I only had 1/2 oz of freshly squeezed lime juice, to be exact. 

Cut to me eyeing my newly purchased jug of local apple cider.  A plot was hatched.  Why couldn't I take the autumnal bliss that is cider and marry it with my traditional Friday night margarita?  I did just that and was rewarded with a wonderfully smokey (from the tequila), tangy (from the lime and cider) sweet (from the apples and triple sec) concoction.  I'm addicted.  But there's only one way to see if you will be too--try it out!

Ingredients:

1.5 oz tequila

1/2 oz triple sec (optional)

3 oz fresh apple cider

1/2 oz lime juice

ice

Combine all ingredients in a glass and stir until combined.  Serves one.  Drink immediately.  Better yet, double the recipe and invite a friend over to enjoy this blissful fall cocktail on your porch!

Want more liquid autumn? Try my Cinnamon Apple Cocktail.

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Sexy Tiger Mama Stretch Mark Cream Recipe

Stretch marks.  Those beautiful tiger stripes that tell everyone you brought life into this world.  I think there is nothing more beautiful than these stripes of honor.  That said, a little stretch mark cream on rubbed onto a mama-to-be's belly as the baby grows nourishes the skin and fades stretch marks.  Rubbing your belly with this also, according to my pregnant sister, becomes enjoyable mother-baby time (and yes, sometimes mother-baby-father time).

I adapted my recipe from Wellness Mama, swapping out some oils with vitamin E oil and adding beeswax to help lock in the healing moisture as you rub that perfect baby belly.  This is also great for skin in general, especially if you have scars.  I tested this concoction on myself before whipping up a batch for my sister and found that one of my scars (from a run-in with a jellyfish--another story, for another time) actually began to fade under the repeated application of this cream.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Shea butter

1/3 cup coconut butter

1 tablespoon vitamin E oil

1 tablespoon beeswax

Place the saucepan on low heat and fill halfway with water. Then place the clean tin can in the center of the saucepan.  Put the beeswax in the tin can and let melt on low, about 5-7 minutes.

 Slowly add other oils one at a time into tin can with beeswax and melt on low until fully combined.  The new oils may cause the contents of the tin to solidify for a little bit, but just keep itti on low heat and it will eventually mix and melt.  Remove from heat and pour into mason jar.  Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Cinnamon-Apple Cocktail

Fall is officially here!  What better way to celebrate than to whip up an autumnal cocktail?  You'll get to learn about my Apple Cider Margarita later this week, but perhaps you are looking for something a little more sophisticated for Saturday or Sunday night...sophisticated or bourbon-y.  This cocktail tastes like autumn in a glass: spicy cinnamon, tart apples, caramel-like bourbon.  Bliss!

The surprise ingredient in this drink is apple cider vinegar.  I tiny splash of it adds brightness and contrast to the drink, preventing it from being overly sweet.  But be careful: more than a hint of the vinegar and your drink will be too tart.

If you want to give it a little extra sparkle, you can garnish it with a cinnamon-sugar rim and a dried apple piece as pictured here.  Simply mix together equal parts cinnamon and sugar (about 1/8 cup total) in a shallow bowl or plate; next dip the rim of your cup in water and then place it in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.  Finally, slice a dried apple piece almost halfway through and perch on the side of your glass.

The drink, of course, tastes equally delicious without this fancy wrapping!

Ingredients:

dash of cinnamon

1.5 oz bourbon (I used Maker's Mark)

3 oz fresh apple cider

1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

ice

Prepare garnish on glass, if you want to make your cocktail hour an event.  Then place a dash of cinnamon at the bottom of your empty glass.  Combine the remaining ingredients in a shaker and shake until combined.  Strain shaker over cocktail glass until empty. Enjoy!  Serves one--so double the batch and drink it with a special friend while enjoying the fading autumn light for the evening.

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Dried Apples

I am sitting at my writing desk, crafting my next blog post, and enjoying the autumnal scent wafting from my kitchen: apples baking in my oven.  Apple slices dusted with cinnamon drying in my oven, to be exact.  I wish this scent could be bottled because if it was, I would wear it as perfume; it has the tangy sweetness of apple cider and rich earth, with the spicy heat of cinnamon.  My mouth is watering with the knowledge that in just a few short hours, I will be able to pull these apples from my oven and enjoy these dried morsels resembling fruit chips as a mid-afternoon snack (naturally with a cup of autumn harvest tea). 

When I was younger, my family had a dehydrator that we would use to make beef jerky and these dried apple slices.  This time of year, I find myself longing for those dried apples; they are a perfect grab-n-go snack or an ingredient that can enhance everything from a tea blend to cocktails to salads.  They are also a good way to preserve apples when you find yourself with more than you can eat.  But alas, I have no dehydrator.  This lack makes me get creative, and I've found I can get these same dried apples by using my oven.  The crisper you want your apple slices, the longer you keep them in the oven.

Feel free to dry as many or as few apples as you would like for this recipe.  As a general rule of thumb, I don't work with less than two apples at a time, but you can dry as many as six in the oven at a time.  I don't skin or core my apples; the skin provides healthy nutrients and not coring the apples leaves a pretty star shaped center.  It's best to make this recipe when you can spend several hours at home.  The prep is under ten minutes but then you need to let the apples slow bake in the oven for a couple hours to dry out. The cinnamon here is optional, but a great addition if you want the full flavors of fall. 

Ingredients:

2 large apples (at least)

cinnamon for dusting (optional)

Preheat over 200 degrees.  Slice apples about 1/8 inch thick.  Lay slices on a baking pan lined with parchment paper.  Dust with cinnamon if desired.  Place pans in oven and let cook for at least two hours (the longer they are in the over, the crispier they get).  Remove from heat and let cool completely before storing in an airtight container.  Stores for one week on the kitchen counter or up to a month if in the fridge.  Makes approximately one cup of dried apples.  Enjoy!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Teacher's Survival Tea Kit

I love my tea--brewing it, drinking it, blending my own healing mix--all of it!  Of course, this should come as no surprise, considering how much I write about it; for those of you who see me beyond the writer's desk, you know I am never without a good cup or thermos of this magical elixir.  And I love teaching, too---the lesson plans, the classes, yes, even the grading.  But most of all, I love the way tea helps me stay refreshed and nourished while tackling those important teacher duties, especially this time of year when the first term papers beginning to rolling in.  

I look to my herbal tea to revive me in (healthier) ways that caffeine or sugar just can't, to sooth me to sleep at night, or to keep me from getting that bug going around the office...the list goes on and on.  Tea is my personal toolkit for self-care during a busy workday.  So here I offer you three of my favorite teas every tea-lovin' teacher should have in her stash to help her plow through those first round of papers or take a breather between classes.

1. Warrior Tea Blend: Teachers are warriors of the mind, right?  Whatever your answer to that, this warrior blend is chock-full off nutrient dense herbs to keep your body nourished between meals while you go from class to class.

2.  Winter Wellness Tea: This tea is the miracle cold and allergy prevention blend to drink the very second you think you might be coming down with something.  The elderberries, especially, ease congestion while the tulsi helps your body adapt to stress. 

3. Sleepy Time Tea:  A teacher needs her shut-eye if she's going to be a grading wizard and look good doing it, so this tea helps you unplug from your day and wind down for an evening of sweet dreams.

What teas do you drink to keep going through the day?  What else is in your Teacher Survival Kit?

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!