Good morning!
This will be my last post until next Wednesday since I am off to Dragon Con for the weekend!
I wanted to discuss ingredients again, primarily those that I mention in the book.
In the beginning, Kat and Jess do a home blessing spell and Kat spills out all her ingredients on the floor to look for something specific to the spell. I mention lavender, dragon’s blood incense and a tonka bean.
What’s a Tonka Bean??
“Tonka beans are an unusual spice that you don’t see in everyday cooking, but have a very unique flavor that has won them a lot of fans. The beans are actually seeds from a type of flowering tree found in South America. They are roughly an inch high, are very firm and have a somewhat wrinkly appearance. Tonka beans taste similar to vanilla beans, but have distinctly fruity and spicy elements to them where vanilla is more floral. Also like vanilla, the flavor of the tonka bean can be very complex, but can also be very subtle when it is used in a recipe – which means that it can be difficult to pinpoint the origin of those flavors unless you know that the tonka is in there. It is not unheard of for chefs to use this ingredient in recipes (and some home chefs will find suppliers and use the beans, as well) to add another layer of flavor to something and simply not mention where some of that flavor comes from.”
(Info from Baking Bites)
What do they have to do with magic?
They are associated with luck, money and love spells.
They are also called “love wishing beans” because of their sweet smell.
Tonka beans are used in mojo bags for drawing money, and 7 beans can be thrown into a creek or river to make a wish come true.
Where can I get one…or seven?
You can buy tonka bean oil from Azure Green
You can buy the actual beans from Scents of Earth
Have a great Labor Day weekend everyone and be prepared for a ridiculous amount of photos when I get back.
CHEERS!!
This will be my last post until next Wednesday since I am off to Dragon Con for the weekend!
I wanted to discuss ingredients again, primarily those that I mention in the book.
In the beginning, Kat and Jess do a home blessing spell and Kat spills out all her ingredients on the floor to look for something specific to the spell. I mention lavender, dragon’s blood incense and a tonka bean.
What’s a Tonka Bean??
“Tonka beans are an unusual spice that you don’t see in everyday cooking, but have a very unique flavor that has won them a lot of fans. The beans are actually seeds from a type of flowering tree found in South America. They are roughly an inch high, are very firm and have a somewhat wrinkly appearance. Tonka beans taste similar to vanilla beans, but have distinctly fruity and spicy elements to them where vanilla is more floral. Also like vanilla, the flavor of the tonka bean can be very complex, but can also be very subtle when it is used in a recipe – which means that it can be difficult to pinpoint the origin of those flavors unless you know that the tonka is in there. It is not unheard of for chefs to use this ingredient in recipes (and some home chefs will find suppliers and use the beans, as well) to add another layer of flavor to something and simply not mention where some of that flavor comes from.”
(Info from Baking Bites)
What do they have to do with magic?
They are associated with luck, money and love spells.
They are also called “love wishing beans” because of their sweet smell.
Tonka beans are used in mojo bags for drawing money, and 7 beans can be thrown into a creek or river to make a wish come true.
Where can I get one…or seven?
You can buy tonka bean oil from Azure Green
You can buy the actual beans from Scents of Earth
Have a great Labor Day weekend everyone and be prepared for a ridiculous amount of photos when I get back.
CHEERS!!