CHEF'S NOTE​​
​

I grew up without religion. I wouldn’t say I was raised as an atheist; I feel that would imply that my lack of religion was in some way meaningful. For me, I was simply religionless. My friends would talk about which block their churches were on and what they had done at Sunday School. I would attend bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs, and we would all have sleepovers afterwards, which would end in them speaking in hushed Hebrew and laughing at my confusion.
When my Grand-Papa passed away, my Grand-Maman gifted me his favourite leather-bound bible and his antique rosary. She recalled my younger self regarding it with loving eyes as he read me stray verses and answered my questions. It wasn’t fact for me. It was a storybook with age-stained pages and fancy golden font. 
​​When I found witchcraft, it all felt so normal. I was able to express the magick I had loved and believed in all my life and celebrate my own wonderful traditions and holidays with the people I loved. One of those celebrations that I was introduced to was Samhain, a pagan religious festival originating from a Celtic religion.
Samhain (Gaelic - pronounced “SAH-win”) is celebrated on what is now widely known as Halloween to welcome in the harvest and begin “the dark half of the year.” Celebrants believe that the boundaries between the physical world and the spirit world collapse during Samhain, enabling further communication between humans and denizens of the Otherworld.
In witchcraft, everything has emotions, objects or happenings that, if properly used, might be brought or encouraged. This goes with baking as well; all ingredients in this recipe correspond to something positive, activating when the dish is eaten, made, or offered.
The flour in this recipe represents fertility and prosperity, the sugar love and passion. Salt stands for protection, as well as the spices, which also represent luck, healing and health. Pumpkin represents abundance, while water is cleansing and eggs symbolize fertility. Vanilla is for love and mental prowess and nuts represent health and wishes. Reflecting and manifesting which parts of your life you wish to be affected by the ingredients will aid in their capacity.
This is what my mother and I challenged ourselves to do along with messing up our kitchen space. It was a wonderful time, and one we will not have to wait until the next Samhain to repeat; we will make our own traditions and cherish the memories we form.

PART 1 : SAMHAIN PUMPKIN BREAD

 INGREDIENTS​​

  •  1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups white sugar
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 (15 ounce) can canned pumpkin
  • ⅓ cup water
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • ​½ cup chopped walnuts​​


​DIRECTIONS
  • ​Step 1
    Preheat an oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celcius). Grease 2 loaf pans using  butter or your choice of substitute.
  • ​Step 2
    ​In a large bowl, stir together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, water, eggs, vanilla, and vegetable oil. Gradually pour the wet mixture into the dry while whisking until everything is well blended and smooth. Fold the walnut chunks into the batter. Divide the batter between the two prepared loaf pans.
  • Step 3
    ​Bake in the preheated oven on the middle rack for 50-60 minutes, or until the top is golden and bounces back when lightly pressed. Allow to cool 20 minutes before removing from the pans.


​PART 2 : AUTUMN BUTTER
​

INGREDIENTS

  • ¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, made by combining:
    • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
    • ¼ tsp nutmeg
    •  ¼ tsp ginger
    • ​⅛ tsp cloves
  • ¼ whipping cream
  • ​1 cup butter, softened to room temperature​

DIRECTIONS

  •  Step 1
    If pumpkin pie spice was unavailable, assemble it using cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
  • Step 2
    ​Combine all ingredients in a bowl until well blended. Refrigerate for a more dense texture; leave room temperature for a softer consistency.​