The Wondersmith
Rewarding curiosity and gifting magic all over the Pacific Northwest
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This blog is an exploration of daily magic, featuring wild plants, creative recipes, meaningful ceremonies, and writings about our shared humanity. 

Welcome to the Blog!

Welcome to the Wondersmith's Writings! Here you can find magical recipes featuring foraged ingredients, musings on food and ceremony, and meaningful rituals to explore your own everyday magic. Though I have been focused on other writing pursuits, I am keeping all of my blog content up as a resource for you. You can use the search bar below to find what you are looking for. (Please note that sometimes you need to refresh the page to see the search results.) Happy reading! If you'd like to support my goal to spread magic far and wide, consider contributing to my patreon program!

Don’t see what you are looking for? Just search for it in the bar below! (Note: sometimes you need to refresh the page to see the search results)

Featured
A New Chapter
A New Chapter

Big changes are coming… are you ready?

Secret Recipe: Night Woods Cake
Secret Recipe: Night Woods Cake

Join me for a little winter night magic as we bake this cake full of rich seasonal flavors and black cocoa!

Secret Recipe: Dragon's Blood Punch
Secret Recipe: Dragon's Blood Punch

When I sculpted these dragon's head rhyta (inspired by both ancient ceramics and tales of magnificent beasts), I knew I needed something special to serve in them. I brewed up this warm wine and brandy-based punch filled with winter spices and flavors such as rose hips, spicebush berries, and fresh ginger... warming, revitalizing, and the perfect drink to accompany a new quest! Whether you are slaying metaphorical dragons or just heading out for a brisk walk, this Dragon's Blood Punch quaffed (in moderation, of course) will set you on your way.

Secret Recipe: Burdock Latkes with Winter Fruit Compote
Secret Recipe: Burdock Latkes with Winter Fruit Compote

Foraged burdock stalks add a lovely crispness and slight sweetness to these classic Latkes. Swap out applesauce for a delicious seasonal fruit compote for an extra special treat to celebrate light in the darkness.

Christmas Elixir and Cranberry Cake
Christmas Elixir and Cranberry Cake

The secret ingredient in this luscious celebratory cranberry cake is a homemade herbal elixir meant to add some pleasure to the season. Paired together, this match will definitely make your gathering merry and bright!

Craft Club: Pine Needle Basketry!
Craft Club: Pine Needle Basketry!

In this week’s Wondercrew Wednesday feature, we’re exploring the history, meaning, and technique of weaving beautiful pine needle baskets!

Secret Recipe: Kookoo Sabzi
Secret Recipe: Kookoo Sabzi

This flavorful and refreshing fall dish is packed full of herbs and wild greens and makes a welcome appearance at any celebratory table!

Secret Recipe: Lab Samples Drink (Halloween is a Playground!)
Secret Recipe: Lab Samples Drink (Halloween is a Playground!)

In the playful world of Halloween tricks and treats, boundaries are blurred and the taboo becomes inspiring. These refreshing elderflower and pear lab specimen drinks are the perfect intersection of disgust, delight, and pure play.

Secret Recipe: Forest Tea Eggs and Elder Magic
Secret Recipe: Forest Tea Eggs and Elder Magic

Dive into the mysterious richness of autumnal woods with three recipes that rely on layering many flavors to make a tasty snack and two incredible condiments

Secret Recipe: Ancient Cheesecakes with Bay, Elderberries, and Figs
Secret Recipe: Ancient Cheesecakes with Bay, Elderberries, and Figs

According to archaeologists, it is believed that some of the very first cakes ever made were simple concoctions of soft goat cheese, honey, and sometimes a little bit of grain. These cheesecake tarts are my homage to those ancient cakes. The flaky pastry crust gets a nutty flavor from buckwheat flour, but has also been adapted to be gluten-free. The filling is an aromatic mixture of homemade bay leaf-infused goat cheese and honey. A gorgeous topping of elderberry honey sauce really dresses these up, and a roasted fig with honey is the perfect compliment to the richness of the cheesecake below.

Secret Recipe: Black Walnut Cinnamon Challah
Secret Recipe: Black Walnut Cinnamon Challah

This beautiful bread is as delicious as it is meaningful! Packed full of autumnal flavor, spices, and color, it’s a fun take on a traditional recipe.

Secret Recipe: Sandcastle Onigiri
Secret Recipe: Sandcastle Onigiri

Buttery rice flavored with porcini mushrooms hides all sorts of savory surprises in this fun Savory Showstopper - the perfect dish to celebrate the end of summer!

Easy Recipe: Colorful Plant-Based Crudite!

New to foraging? Learn more about ethical and safe foraging (plus how to get started) here!

With my health on the decline, I have decided to start focusing more on simple, easy-to-prepare recipes that still feel delightful and magical! Think of these posts as little snacks - just a quick yummy bite of a blog post. (And don’t worry, I’m still writing - but it’s going towards something secret so I can’t share it here yet!)

Anyone else been craving fresh and crunchy lately? My dad always called spreads like this "rabbit food", haha! I made this lovely Crudité Platter after a trip to the local farmers' market and just wanted to show off all the pretty colors, textures, and flavors of spring! Then I whipped up 3 easy vegan dips and set it out during a visit from my family. I was surprised at just how fast such a big spread disappeared...maybe there *are* a few rabbits among us.

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