Kearsley's Kitchen

Matzah Ball Soup ✡︎ feelin grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the diverse cultural traditions alive on our planet through the medium of food.

Thank you for teaching me the way of schmaltzy Matzo & the rich symbolism of Israelite liberation from Egyptian slavery stewed into every bite of Passover Seders. Cara shared with me some of the ritual foods she spends all day cooking:

“hard boiled eggs in salt water to remember the tears and spring cycle of life, apples with cinnamon, walnuts, & wine to remind us of the building materials used when we were slaves, bitter herbs & greens to remind us of being slaves, & matzo ball soup” (matzo was eaten when the Jews fled Egypt because they didn’t have time to leaven their bread)

Celebrating unleavened wheat, social justice, & friends who care to share the stories thrumming in the bones of humanity

✡︎ Happy Passover, friends ✡︎

HARVEST ৹ MOON

Moon of gathering, assessing.
The crisp winds of Autumn send energy recoiling below the Earth. Our bodies wane & the inward gaze draws us deep into ourselves. Gather your most vital energy, draw back your tendrils, & stock your stores with nourishment. This moon is a deliverance into the descent, & I’m gathering many a thing, including

𖥸 chestnuts fallen beside my haus to roast on skillets & grind into cornbread

𖥸 harvesting the mugwort, tulsi, goldenrod, & passionvine for medicines & teas

𖥸 a reflective writing course crafted by to guide me to my marrow

𖥸 focus & courage to finish & publish a recipe, remedy, & ritual guide I’ve envisioned for years. I am . So. Close.

𖥸 flannels.

Blessed Harvest Moons, Magickal Ones
What are you gathering?

:: Elder Tree ::
Brewed this basket of elderflower into a folk tincture for my apothecary - an ally I’ve leaned on the past few days as I’m warding off some sort of illness floating around our community.
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Famous for keeping cold & especially flu virus at bay, elderflowers are also diaphoretic & expectorant in action~ helping our skin shield sweat out invaders (especially with yarrow) + our respiratory system clear out mucus... elementally, they cleanse out unwanted water from the body // in Ayurveda, reducing kapha//ama.
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There is a reason she is called Elder... venerable Wise One... keeper of many medicines & magick...& I’m grateful for her gracious gifts.
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A few bottles of Elderflower Tincture + more info shared in the shop, may the medicine find its way to those in need.

Been working on roasting the perfect chicken for quite some thyme & finally feel like I earned a 🏆Mamas Best Chicken badge after reading “Salt Fat Acid Heat” aka the culinary bible (seriously y’all, buy her book) & learning about SPATCHCOCKED CHICKEN. Ya the name is real silly but what’s more silly is how crispy & succulent my chicken is.
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1. Grab a pastured chicken from your local farmer friend- pat dry with a towel & Salt! Generously- all over that sweet birds body. Hit them crevasses. Sprinkle some Scarborough Fair magick on it.
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2. Leave it in the fridge *uncovered* overnight. This helps dry out the skin for that crispy reward you’re seeking.
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3. SPATCHCOCK: use kitchen shears to cut out the spine & wing tips, lay it flat & press till the breast bone snaps. Toss cut bones in a freezer bag for later broth use.
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4. Heat large skillet medium heat. Add some ghee. Sear the bird breast side down for 6-7min till brown & resist the urge to move it. Resist.
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5. Flip over (cut spine side down) & place skillet in top rack of 425 oven with handle facing left for 20min. Turn handle to right, promoting even cooking, & cook for 25 min.
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6. Pull from oven, let cool for 20 minutes before carving, & revel in the delicacy (preferably with friends who can cherish this with you)
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Who would you share a crispy chicken with?
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