FOOD MAGIC

CAKES, SWEET BREADS, COOKIES, PIES
By Morgan Atergatis

Humans have enjoyed eaten sweetened foods since honey was discovered around
8,000 B.C.E., as shown in the ancient caves paintings.  Sweetened breads, cakes, 
and cookies have always been linked to religion and folk magic through many 
cultures of  people around the world.

In ancient times Babylonians baked cakes for the Goddess ISHTAR in the shape of
the male and female genitalia which were served during the fertility festivals. 
SELENE was honored with crescent shaped cakes, HERMES with those in the form of  
a herald's rod.  Cakes in the images of horns of the moon were giving to
ASTARTE . Our great Goddess  ARTEMIS was honored each month with round cakes 
with burning candles placed on it .  In some European cultures sweet breads
where formed into human and animal images in place of living sacrifices.

* All cakes, sweet breads, and cookies are ruled by the planet Venus and the
   element of water.
* The difference between sweet bread and cakes is that the bread contains yeast 
and
   the cakes do not.
* We still bake sweet breads during religious festivals around the world today 
for
   OSTARA (Easter), ALL SOULS DAY OR SAMHAIN ( Halloween), YULE
    (Christmas).

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                             HISTORY OF THE HOT CROSS BUNS

Ancient European celebrated the coming of  the Spring Solstice with a ritual in 
honor of the sun and earth usually around March 21 - 24th .  Certain traditions 
eat the hot cross buns on Easter Sunday others on Good Friday to bring them a 
year of good luck. Some dedicate small sweetened buns to the Goddess EOSTRA to 
encourage the return of fertility.  This is where the word EASTER is derived. In 
Europe, as Christianity spread, the pagan breads were altered to the comfort of 
the new faith.  The phallic symbols were regarded as unnatural and replaced by a 
cross.  The cross buns have retained their magical energies in the modern minds.  
There used to cure illness, placed in houses to guard against fire and evil , 
also placed in American cupboards to ensure no hunger for ages. 
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                                       RECIPE - CROSS BUNS

Ingredients :

* 7 - 8      Cups   Flour
* 1/2        Cup    Sugar
* 1           tsp.    Salt
* 2           pkgs. Dry granular yeast
* 2           Cups  Milk
* 1           stick  Sweet butter
* 3           Eggs
* 1           Cup   Seedless raisins    (optional addition)
* 1           Cup   Chopped candied orange peel  (optional addition)

Directions :

Combine yeast and sugar in 1/4 cup warm water, and set aside until doubled in 
volume.  Heat milk to a scald, then let it cool to lukewarm.  Add the yeast 
mixture to the lukewarm milk.  In large bowl, combine yeast, sugar, milk, Add 
butter, salt, eggs  and 3 cups of flour. Beat until frothy, blend in remaining 
flour a little at a time.  Add optional additions if desired.  Turn dough out on 
to a lightly floured board and knead until elastic and smooth (about 10 mins). 
Shape dough into a ball and place in a large greased bowl.  Cover with a clean 
towel and keep in a warm place until double its size (approximately 1 hour).  
Punch down dough and divide into 18 - 24 ball shaped pieces, Place on a greased 
baking tray lightly covering them again, put in warm place until double in size 
(approximately 1 hour).

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                                 RITUAL

Using a white handled knife, slash two lines on the round breads to form the 
solar cross saying:

* BY NORTH AND BY SOUTH,
* BY EAST AND BY WEST,
* BY THE GODDESS ( NAME),
* THESE BREADS ARE BLESSED.
* BLESSED BE !

Bake in preheated oven 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until they sound hollow 
when tapped with the finger.  Within one minute after removing from oven, brush 
with white icing in the shape of a cross  "X".

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                           ICING RECIPE

* 1/2     Cup      Confectioner's sugar
* 1 1/2   Tsp.     Milk

Mix until creamy.