Magical Cooking #69 - 29th Jan 2025

Imbolc Recipes

As it draws towards Imbolc, it seems a reasonable time to drop a couple of Imbolc recipes into the magical cooking section.

Imbolc literally translates to "in the belly" and refers to the growth of new life in the womb, lactation and birth. It falls on the February 1st and is a cross-quarter sabbat that welcomes back the start of Spring. The goddess Brigid, pronounced Breed, is referred at this time, as she is considered the goddess of animals, the harvest and hearth and home.

Foods such as Milk, Cheese and Butter are staples at Imbolc, but other things in the pantry such as dried fruits, nuts, canned goods, root vegetables, warming spices, grains, flour, onions, rosemary and garlic all fit the brief too. (Don’t forget, it was literally what was available at that time if year. Brigid was partial to a blackberry or too, so although they aren’t around at that time of year, the odd frozen one thrown into a muffin would also be ok. Basil represents new life in magic and so can also be added to recipes at this time.

If you want something really simple, then cheese on toast or fired egg on toast is quick, simple and has the perfect ingredients to celebrate the Sabbat. But for those of you who maybe want something a little more thrilling why not try this:-

Ingredients: Imbolc Honey Cake

• Cup of Black Coffee

• 200g Granulated Sugar

• 180g Brown Sugar

• 340g Honey

• 4 Eggs

• 125ml Oil, Vegetable or Sunflower work well

• 1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice

• 1 Teaspoon Orange Juice

• 40g Mixed Peel

• 680g Plain Flour

• 3 Teaspoons Baking Powder

• 1 Teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda

• 1 Teaspoon Allspice

• 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon

• 1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg

Preheat oven to Gar mark 4, 350F 180C

Place the coffee, honey, brown sugar and granulated sugar into a pan bring to the boil and then allow to cool.

In a separate bowl, combine eggs, oil, orange and lemon juice & mixed peel.

In another bowl combine the flour, baking powder, bicarb soda and spices

Add coffee mixture to egg mixture first and then dry ingredient mixture until all are well blended. You will need a large bowl for this

Pour mixture into a greased & floured 9″ x 12″ pan and bake in an oven for around 70-90 minutes. Check with a skewer to make sure the centre is set

Our cake took 90 minutes but I did reduce the heat to gas mark 2-3 for the final 20 minutes as I didn’t want the top to go any darker. This is a really moist cake, the spice isn’t overpowering and it would stand more if you like a strong taste.

Enjoy making the cake and don’t forget the earlier Magical Cooking Blogs that explain about how to incorporate magic into the process and ingredients as you go along.