Happy Samhain Season!
Here's what to cook for Samhain!
Last year, we knew this particular turn of the wheel would be weird and uncomfortable. We face a US presidential election season in November, and we haven't been healthy here.
It's not just the United States but most of the world that is polarized, angry, and tired. Many systems are about to break, and we have no idea how, when, or what the final fallout will be. We don't have replacement systems ready.
Most of us struggle daily with gas prices and grocery gouging. Too many are also fighting to find housing and employment that someone can live on. We are not a world of haves and have-nots; we are in a world where power is wildly out of balance. We struggle with "have alls and looking to take even more."
Given the energy-consuming events—Hurricane Helene, climate change in general, the US Presidential election, rising gas and grocery prices—we have a lot to deal with. I felt like we all needed a solid, grounding meal. Our ancestors who have walked with us in this chaos deserve nourishing.
For inspiration, I looked to France. One aspect of French culture I admire is that they understand that pleasure matters in life. Frivolity is healthy. Working to live is the only way, and work should not subsume someone's entire identity. Meals are slow. The walks are long. Beauty is a gift.
The French don't have easier lives than the Americans. They had to fight off some stuff this year and last. Living the way the French do, they still triumphed. Their success came from valuing the importance of rest and enjoyment.
Samhain heralds the beginning of winter, and it's an opportunity to reset the energy for the year going forward. It's a suggestion, but if you're looking for a meal that builds that resilience, here's what to cook for Samhain.
Every aspect of the meal has some form of prosperity, creativity, fertility, or abundance attached. Consume it slowly, savoring both the food and the company. If you invite your ancestors to sit at your table, especially enjoy their company. Ask for their advice about handling hard times. Ask them to help you recognize what you do have control over. Ask them how to handle leaders who only serve themselves.
The menu I am suggesting is as follows:
A cassoulet - a navy bean stew adapted from French cuisine.
Steamed zucchini with a side of yogurt dressing seasoned with garden herbs such as winter savory, garlic, and dill
Cornbread is a classic US farmer's treat that pairs well with apple and pumpkin butter. It can also be made gluten-free.
Olive oil cake - another dish borrowed from the French. Add lemon zest and juice to clear a year of bad luck; add orange juice and zest to invite a year of prosperity. If you want to make one of each and have the energy to do so - fantastique!
Warm, non-alcoholic apple cider or ginger, clove, and cinnamon tea for the beverage. Apple cider represents preserving health going into the new year, and ginger and cinnamon ease digestion. All herbs are ruled by Mars and have a way of "getting the show on the road."
We wish you the most amazing Samhain season! Eat, get grounded, rest, and listen to the advice of your healed ancestors.
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