Here are some tips for preparing a magical meal:
1. Plan your meals ahead of time. This way you will save money and make sure you have the freshest ingredients.
2. Buy local. If you can't get local, buy organic. If you can't get organic, buy it cheap. That's assuming you didn't grow it yourself, which is best. Seeds planted with intent lead to vegetables grown with intent, food prepared with intent and ultimately powerfully magical meals. To facilitate all of this, cook in season.
3. Begin by cleaning your workspace and evoking your Hearth God or Goddess. Light a candle and invite His/Her presence and blessing. Leave the candle burning while you work and then snuff it when have completed your work. This helps remind you that you are performing great work here, not just throwing something together to silence the hungry masses.
4. Copper, cast iron, glass and ceramic/porcelain are the only materials that your pots and pans should ever be made out out. Nonstick is poison, don't give those people money. Acidic things should be cooking in glass or porcelain, never in copper.
5. Kitchen witchery should be drawing magic. Don't try to cook banishing magic into your food! Stirring sunwise helps enhance drawing energy but don't get overly obsessive about this. Sometimes it's a good idea to alternate directions.
6. Focus! While you are stirring, cutting, kneading, etc. stay focused on your intent and remember to think positive. Sing while you're cooking, like the Swedish Chef from the Muppet Show. While things are rising, simmering, baking and boiling, you don't have to focus so much but you can take this time to clean up your work area, plan tomorrow's meal, research your ingredients or meditate on what a great meal you're making. You should not take this time to go watch TV, have a bath or take a nap (unless you're using the slowcooker) because this leads to scattered energy and burned food.
