Cooking by Moonlight: A Witch's Guide to Culinary Magic (Paperback)

by Karri Ann Allrich (Author) "Each night in the dark sky above, we are witness to an ever-changing display, a starlit allegory reflecting simple truths about our human nature, our..." (more)
Key Phrases: green chili tomato sauce, seasonal intuition, season with sea salt, Serving Suggestion Serve, Garnish Fresh, Main Dishes (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Karri Ann Allrich's Cooking by Moonlight pursues the revival of interest in foods relating to natural and feminist religions. Commencing with a description of the importance of following nature's cycle of waxing and waning moons, Allrich prescribes invocations to assorted goddesses and notes what sorts of foods are appropriate to the moon phases as they recur throughout a lunar year. Allrich advocates for organic foods, and she presents a complement of recipes without red meat. Recipes include cheesecake and other modern dishes, and they call for popular contemporary ingredients such as balsamic vinegar, coconut milk, and dried cranberries. But most of Allrich's recipes are for simple, uncomplicated dishes on the order of quesadillas, Roasted Tomatoes Provencal, Raspberry-Peach Cobbler, and Chocolate-Mint Brownies. Mark Knoblauch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"...a worthy addition to any cookbook collection and a boon to those wanting to bring spirituality into the kitchen." -- Ink 19, April 2003, Bettie Lou Vegas : Print Reviews

"The thought of keeping an eye on the lunar cycles intrigues us. We like the ideas behind Cooking by Moonlight." -- Chicago Sun-Times, March 19, 2003

...inspires readers not just to create seasonal meals - but culinary magic. -- Home News Tribune, March 12, 2003

This is a wonderful book, with great ideas and recipes to delight the tongue and heart...a "must have". -- Book Views, Boudica, February 2003

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (February 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567180159
• ISBN-13: 978-1567180152
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #630,851 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tempting Moonlight Tidbits, February 9, 2003

By	Boudica (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Ms. Allrich presents us with a cookbook to compliment Her "Cooking by the Seasons" with recipes that are inspired by the cycles of the moon.

From kitchen blessings to pantry essentials to herbal necessities, Ms. Allrich lays the foundation to begin working your own personal magic at each of the moons of the year. Recipes like Crab Cakes with Cranberry-Orange Salsa for the Long Night's Moon (December moon) to Sherry-Walnut Goat Cheese Spread for the Flower Moon (May Moon), there are recipes that are seasonal, well balanced menus and mouth watering temptations.

The idea of this book is to eat foods that are in time with the seasons and to prepare meals that are healthy and well balanced. To many of us this might seem almost impossible, but the introduction of the book says it all; "By consciously setting aside time to mark this Wheel with celebration and tuning into the wisdom of seasonal foods, we deepen our connection to nature's lessons; we create meals that are not only healthful, but sacred as well - food that nourishes both body and soul."

I have to admit I am "kitchen challenged" and some of the dishes seemed at first glance to be beyond my limited capabilities of ordering out. But you just can't get dishes like "Summer Tomato Salad with Fresh Basil" from the take out center, and it does not require anything more than a knife and a few minutes. Also she offers some helpful hints, like do not refrigerate tomatoes or they will lose their sweet texture. Gee, I didn't know that.

Ms. Allrich offers some wonderful recipes, some good advise and a way for us to get into the cycles of the land a bit more than just following the seasons or the cycles of the moons. Taking what the earth has to offer in the way of foods and bringing them to the table is one more bond we can make in our connection to the land.

This is a wonderful book, some great ideas and some recipes I am sure will delight the tongue and the heart. It is a "must have" for any pagan who cooks even if it is only occasionally.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Seasonal Moonlit Culinary Magic, September 11, 2004

By	Jolene Barber "nepenthesea" (Colorado City, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

LOVE this book!! The blessings are very nice, and I like how she explains the concept of seasonal eating, and how different foods are complimentary to the seasons. This information goes well with her other book 'Cooking By the Seasons', which I also highly recommend.

My favorite recipes are: chilled roasted red pepper soup, chilled avacado soup with lime, savory muffins, balsamic roasted chicken with peppers (this one is DIVINE!), crabmeat enchiladas (not authentic Mexican food, but not meant to be; VERY good!), and lemon herb cookies, pumpkin cheesecake (yummy!). Like her other cook book, the recipes are exotic enough to be exciting, but not so exotic that it's hard to find the ingredients. Unlike her other cook book, this one is NOT vegetarian.

If you are a Pagan, then you will probably love this book. If you are not, then you should try to look past the things that you don't like and go straight to the recipes. They are worth any skimming you might have to do.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful to serve, and delicious to consume, April 16, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

The recipes comprising Cooking By Moonlight: A Witch's Guide To Culinary Magic are in balance with the seasons and in harmony with the phases of the moon. From Pesto Artichoke Hearts Baked in Parmesan; Orange-Walnut Scones; and Creamy Garlic Grits; to Maple-Pecan Roasted Squash; Strawberry Snow; and Blue Moon Berry Crisp, Cooking By Moonlight recipes are easy to prepare, delightful to serve, and delicious to consume. Of special value to Wiccans are the additional chapters devoted to "Love Foods and Practical Magic", "Using Herbs and Spices Magically", "Lunar Lessons and Moonlit Menus", and "Goddess-Worth Beverages".