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Posted by Runa Troy on

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Whether you grow your own pumpkins or pick one up at the local farm stand or grocery store, you get two bits of goodness out of it, not only the pulp as in our featured Roasted Pumpkin Soup, but also the seeds.

If you have enough seeds saved for your garden next year, then roast those babies up and have yourself a yummy and healthy treat.

Pumpkin seeds have a good amount of fiber in them, are a great low-carb treat, and pack a protein punch. They also are a good source of Omega-6s and Vitamin K. Careful of how much salt you put on them and you’ve got yourself a guilt-free munchie!

Equipment:

Baking sheet pan

Parchment paper or cooking spray

Oven

Mixing Bowl

Ingredients:

Fresh pumpkin seeds (**)

Oil of choice

Salt

Spices of choice(***)

Instructions:

Heat oven to 300 degrees F. Line your baking sheet pan with parchment paper, otherwise you may want to do a light coating of cooking spray. Put the seeds in a bowl, Add about 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 tsp of salt per 1 cup of seeds. Mix thoroughly. Put the oiled and salted seeds in a single layer on the prepared roasting tray. Make sure they aren’t too crowded. The more space between them the better. Feel free to roast your seeds in batches if you have carved up a larger pumpkin. Roast for about 20 minutes. Keep an eye on them, because they can go from perfect to perfectly burnt quickly. When a light golden brown (a bit darker if you’ve put spice on them), remove from oven. Cool for about 5 to 10 minutes on the pan and then enjoy. Keep in an airtight container for up to 4 days; however, they never last that long in Runa’s house.

(**) You can wash your seeds until they are clean like the above photo, just be sure they aren’t soaking wet when you go to roast them, ensure they are as dry as possible or they won’t roast properly. Otherwise, you can just get the big chunks of pumpkin off and roast them as is. Runa likes to do the later and the bit of pumpkin that remains on the seeds, cooks off in the oven and adds an extra bit of flavor to them.

(***) Runa makes hers with paprika and black pepper; but you can experiment — you could even do a little nutmeg and cinnamon to echo a pumpkin pie. Your call. But salt is a best partner regardless.)

Posted by Runa Troy on

Season 3; Episode 13

That’s What I said!

In this episode we talk about Apotropaic Magic and what that means. We teach you a tea-time self-care ritual, brew up some pumpkin soup, give you tips on healing the earth, and divine tarot and runes. As always we leave you with a spell for the week. Next episode we’ll be talking about Gratitude. Have questions for us? Please leave a comment below.

Posted by Runa Troy on

Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Runa makes this for the Night of Hecate, but it’s easy to make any time during pumpkin season. Runa grows her own pumpkins, but you can procure any kind of pie pumpkin for this recipe.

Fresh foraged mushrooms are a thing this time of year, too. If Runa has chanterelles or Oyster mushrooms on hand she uses those. But some nice cremini mushrooms work, too.

Runa also brews up her own stock to use in this recipe. But you can use store bought, or simply water.

If you’re lucky enough to have a larder with homemade apple sauce, use that in this as well — but only if it’s an unsweetened variety. Otherwise use a fresh apple.

Runa loves to serve this with a swirl of sour cream accompanied by hunks of farmer’s cheese and sourdough biscuits. But you do you, witch.

The roasted goodness is so nutritious and yummy that you’ll want to make it all through the year! Don’t forget to either save the seeds for planting next year or roast them up as a great autumn treat!

Equipment:

Roasting Sheet Pan

Cauldron

Immersion blender, or heavy-duty blender, or food processor

Ingredients:

1 pie pumpkin (about 4 lbs.), de-seeded and quartered

13 fresh foraged mushrooms of choice or cremini mushrooms (you can use any mushroom of your choice)

6 whole, peeled garlic cloves (up to 13 can be used if you like things more garlicky)

7 mini sweet peppers, topped and de-seeded (leave as whole as possible)

1 large sweet onion, peeled

1 half-pint of unsweetened apple sauce or one large fresh apple, peeled, cored and cut into chunks

3-4 cups of stock of your choice (Runa used vegetable broth) or water

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. salt (with more to taste)

1 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. paprika (optional)

Sour cream (optional)

Grated Cheese of choice (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray. Put pumpkin quarters, garlic, peppers, onions, and mushrooms on pan and roast for 40 minutes. Let cool until you can touch the pumpkin without burning your hand (about an hour).

Peel the pumpkin and put the roasted pulp into a greased cauldron (cooking spray or a splash of your favorite oil is fine), put all the rest of the roasted veggies in with the pumpkin, add the cut up apple, and about 1 cup of your stock (or water). Immersion blend. (If you don’t have an immersion blender, put all the veggies in a food processor or blender and puree). Add the spices and the rest of the broth and simmer on stove until slightly thickened. Serve with a dollop of cream or shredded cheese and a good hunk of bread.

Posted by Runa Troy on

Season 3, Episode 12

Heritage Day

Heritage Day. What is it & where can you find out more about it?! Take a Listen! A Huge Shout out to a Special Lady!! And as always we talk self care, R3, Witches Brew, Tarot for the Collective, and leave you with a Spell. Special recognition of paintedgoddess.com

Posted by Runa Troy on

Season 3, Episode 11

Never Too Late to Celebrate

The season is very heavy and self-care is a priority. Join MareLin and Runa for our Samhain Episode… Not too late. With the election coming up, things are heavy and election protection spells are on many a mind of the pagan community. We talk about Time and how its passage affects our magic, especially where Ancestors are concerned. We talk about the start of Scorpio season. We talk about self-care focuses, R3, a spell of the day and a tarot reading for the collective.

Posted by Runa Troy on

Season 3, Episode 10

The Veil, The Crone, and The Initiation

Join MareLin and Runa as they discuss the Lifting of the Veil, The Turning of the Wheel into Crone and The Celebration of Dedicants into Initiates on The Path of the Moon. In this episode we talk about the journey for new witches to old crones. We continue our preparations for Samhain. We brew some Fire Cider and how washing in cold water can save not only the planet but is easier on your wallet. As always we give you a tarot reading and leave you with a spell for the day. Are you a new witch or an old one?

Posted by Runa Troy on

Season 3, Episode 9

The Reality of Shadow Beauty

In this episode we talk about the reality of Shadow work and it’s not necessarily what every witch thinks. Canceling things in life as we’re just barely out of New Moon is well, the angst of the times is thick and brutal. We’re all burning sage like banshees. But it’s the season of the witch and all the planetary influences are all about transitions. We brew up some detox and talk about buying nothing so we’re reducing our impact on the planet. We pull a tarot card for the collective and leave you with a healing spell. Tell us about your transformations for this time of year.

Posted by Runa Troy on

Season 3, Episode 8

Preparing the Booze & The Moon Water

In this episode we talk about the pull for nesting as we enter into the darker part of the year. Mars is in still retrograde, so it’s a great time for brewing 4 thieves. We discuss a great way to reduce plastic. As always we have a tarot reading, and a spell of the day from the fabulous PNW Priestess MareLin.

Posted by Runa Troy on

Season 3, Episode 7

Samhain Preparations

In this episode we talk about the first of the four major Sabbats for witches, Samhain and how each of us is preparing for it. We talk about our current spell work, and share an easy witches brew, and our R3 focuses. The veil is thinning and we’re both feeling it. How about you?