Happy Friday!
I wanted to discuss the BLUE MOON the other day but was so busy with graduation that I didn’t get the chance.
I tried to blog about it yesterday but my site kept erasing my post every time I pasted a link on it. Hopefully this will post correctly because I need to get ready for work!
What is a Blue Moon? A blue moon is when there is a full moon twice in the same month. It doesn’t happen very often, hence the saying “Once in a blue moon”.
“There are even instances of two blue moons (using the more recent definition) occurring in the same year happens approximately once every 19 years. 1999 was the last time a blue moon appeared twice, in January and March.
The months of the double blue moons are almost always January and March. That is because the short month that falls in between them, February, is a key ingredient in this once-every-19-year phenomenon. For January and March to each have two full moons, it’s necessary for February to have none at all. Since February is usually 28 days long, and the average span between full moons is 29.5 days, if a full moon occurs at the end of January, it’s possible for the next full moon to skip February entirely and fall in the beginning of March.” http://www.spellcasting.com/2012/04/once-in-a-blue-moon-2/
What does the blue moon have to do with my book? Well, in The Silver Cord, there is much discussion about the moon phases. Wiccans (and other pagan faiths) believe that the moon’s phases can help or hinder a spell or project. Even farmers use the phases of the moon to plant or harvest crops.
Here is a blue moon wishing spell courtesy of www.justwicca.com
“Once in a Blue Moon Wish Spell October 30, 2012 by Lady Raven Moon
This is a great spell it is intended for the Blue Moon, but you may do this spell on any full moon with similar results.
This spell is to be done on the night of the Blue Moon. The next Blue Moons dates are : August 31 2012 – July 31 2015 – January 31 2018 – March 31 2018 (two chances in 2018!). The Blue Moon is a time for goal setting for the Wiccan. Because the times in between the Blue Moons vary giving you plenty of time to complete your goals.
What You’ll Need:
Take the candle in your power hand. See yourself filling with white light until it overflows surrounding you with white light. See the white light gathering in your hand and flowing into your candle.Light your candle and make your wish. Spend time mediating on the outcome. Let the candle burn out.
Wish spells are probably the second most popular type of white magick spells. This really speaks to the hearts and minds of people. We all want love. We all want to fulfill our dreams. Wish magick may be deemed wishful thinking by some, and for me its not offensive! Our thoughts not only become things but they dictate they way we see life. Holding to the concept of out thoughts become things, this wish spell will require some pretty intense thought. Wish spells have been cast through the centuries, whether tossing a silver coin into your wishing well, making you own daily wishing well, wishing on a star, breaking a ‘wish bone’ or blowing out your birthday candles, we all have used our thought energies to make a wish. Have you ever had a wish come true?”
Other Blue Moon info: It’s my favorite beer!
Someone posted this recipe to my Facebook page last week and I was thrilled – Blue Moon cupcakes made with my favorite beer! What a way to celebrate the Blue Moon!!This recipe is from www.thehobokitchen.com
Blue Moon Cupcakes
(makes ~15 cupcakes)
* Here's a very important tip that I wish I was someone had thrown out there prior to my diving into the cupcake-making process. Unfortunately, I ended up learning the hard way: 1 shot glass does NOT equal 1 ounce. 1 shot glass actually equals 1.5 ounces. Thankfully I had plenty of buttermilk and Blue Moon beer, so I didn't need to run to the grocery store when I had to restart my cupcake batter after Step 3.
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Melt butter and set aside to cool down.
3) Whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, beer, vanilla, and orange zest in one bowl, and mix together the sugar, flour, coriander, and baking soda in another. (Here's another tip: You can make buttermilk by combining 1 tbsp lemon juice and enough milk to add up to 1 cup. So easy!)
4) Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in two parts, using a mixer to combine. Add the melted butter and combine.
5) Pour batter into cupcake cups and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool.
I initially attempted to make the Blue Moon cream cheese frosting that was posted with the cupcake recipe. Somehow, I ended up with a huge clumpy cream cheese mess. I'm not sure what went wrong here (although I suspect there's a typo in the recipe). Prior to executing a mad dash to the grocery store for additional frosting supplies, I decided to change my frosting approach. Since the first attempt didn't pan out, I went online in a search of an orange-flavored cream cheese frosting replacement. Ten minutes later, I found...
Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
(adapted slightly)
1) Blend the cream cheese, butter, orange juice, orange zest, and Blue Moon in a large bowl, using an electric mixer set at medium speed, until smooth.
2) Add the sugar and continue to beat until light and creamy -- about 3 more minutes.
The actual recipe calls for the frosting to be chilled until time for use. Since I was running late for the party, of course, I just used it right away. I don't think I've frosted cupcakes this quickly in my life! However, I think the frosting would have been significantly firmer (and probably prettier) if it had been chilled. I guess that mean I need to bake these again!
Check out the Blue Moon Calendar: http://www.moongiant.com/Blue_Moon_Calendar.php
Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!
I wanted to discuss the BLUE MOON the other day but was so busy with graduation that I didn’t get the chance.
I tried to blog about it yesterday but my site kept erasing my post every time I pasted a link on it. Hopefully this will post correctly because I need to get ready for work!
What is a Blue Moon? A blue moon is when there is a full moon twice in the same month. It doesn’t happen very often, hence the saying “Once in a blue moon”.
“There are even instances of two blue moons (using the more recent definition) occurring in the same year happens approximately once every 19 years. 1999 was the last time a blue moon appeared twice, in January and March.
The months of the double blue moons are almost always January and March. That is because the short month that falls in between them, February, is a key ingredient in this once-every-19-year phenomenon. For January and March to each have two full moons, it’s necessary for February to have none at all. Since February is usually 28 days long, and the average span between full moons is 29.5 days, if a full moon occurs at the end of January, it’s possible for the next full moon to skip February entirely and fall in the beginning of March.” http://www.spellcasting.com/2012/04/once-in-a-blue-moon-2/
What does the blue moon have to do with my book? Well, in The Silver Cord, there is much discussion about the moon phases. Wiccans (and other pagan faiths) believe that the moon’s phases can help or hinder a spell or project. Even farmers use the phases of the moon to plant or harvest crops.
Here is a blue moon wishing spell courtesy of www.justwicca.com
“Once in a Blue Moon Wish Spell October 30, 2012 by Lady Raven Moon
This is a great spell it is intended for the Blue Moon, but you may do this spell on any full moon with similar results.
This spell is to be done on the night of the Blue Moon. The next Blue Moons dates are : August 31 2012 – July 31 2015 – January 31 2018 – March 31 2018 (two chances in 2018!). The Blue Moon is a time for goal setting for the Wiccan. Because the times in between the Blue Moons vary giving you plenty of time to complete your goals.
What You’ll Need:
- a blue pillar candle
- myrrh oil
- black marker
Take the candle in your power hand. See yourself filling with white light until it overflows surrounding you with white light. See the white light gathering in your hand and flowing into your candle.Light your candle and make your wish. Spend time mediating on the outcome. Let the candle burn out.
Wish spells are probably the second most popular type of white magick spells. This really speaks to the hearts and minds of people. We all want love. We all want to fulfill our dreams. Wish magick may be deemed wishful thinking by some, and for me its not offensive! Our thoughts not only become things but they dictate they way we see life. Holding to the concept of out thoughts become things, this wish spell will require some pretty intense thought. Wish spells have been cast through the centuries, whether tossing a silver coin into your wishing well, making you own daily wishing well, wishing on a star, breaking a ‘wish bone’ or blowing out your birthday candles, we all have used our thought energies to make a wish. Have you ever had a wish come true?”
Other Blue Moon info: It’s my favorite beer!
Someone posted this recipe to my Facebook page last week and I was thrilled – Blue Moon cupcakes made with my favorite beer! What a way to celebrate the Blue Moon!!This recipe is from www.thehobokitchen.com
Blue Moon Cupcakes
(makes ~15 cupcakes)
- 3/4 a stick/6 tbsp butter, melted
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 4 oz buttermilk*
- 6 oz Blue Moon beer*
- 2 tsp vanilla
- zest of one orange
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp baking soda
* Here's a very important tip that I wish I was someone had thrown out there prior to my diving into the cupcake-making process. Unfortunately, I ended up learning the hard way: 1 shot glass does NOT equal 1 ounce. 1 shot glass actually equals 1.5 ounces. Thankfully I had plenty of buttermilk and Blue Moon beer, so I didn't need to run to the grocery store when I had to restart my cupcake batter after Step 3.
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Melt butter and set aside to cool down.
3) Whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, beer, vanilla, and orange zest in one bowl, and mix together the sugar, flour, coriander, and baking soda in another. (Here's another tip: You can make buttermilk by combining 1 tbsp lemon juice and enough milk to add up to 1 cup. So easy!)
4) Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in two parts, using a mixer to combine. Add the melted butter and combine.
5) Pour batter into cupcake cups and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool.
I initially attempted to make the Blue Moon cream cheese frosting that was posted with the cupcake recipe. Somehow, I ended up with a huge clumpy cream cheese mess. I'm not sure what went wrong here (although I suspect there's a typo in the recipe). Prior to executing a mad dash to the grocery store for additional frosting supplies, I decided to change my frosting approach. Since the first attempt didn't pan out, I went online in a search of an orange-flavored cream cheese frosting replacement. Ten minutes later, I found...
Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
(adapted slightly)
- 1 package(s) (8-ounce) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup(s) (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon(s) fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon(s) grated orange zest
- 5 cup(s) confectioners' sugar
- 1.5 oz Blue Moon beer
1) Blend the cream cheese, butter, orange juice, orange zest, and Blue Moon in a large bowl, using an electric mixer set at medium speed, until smooth.
2) Add the sugar and continue to beat until light and creamy -- about 3 more minutes.
The actual recipe calls for the frosting to be chilled until time for use. Since I was running late for the party, of course, I just used it right away. I don't think I've frosted cupcakes this quickly in my life! However, I think the frosting would have been significantly firmer (and probably prettier) if it had been chilled. I guess that mean I need to bake these again!
Check out the Blue Moon Calendar: http://www.moongiant.com/Blue_Moon_Calendar.php
Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!