Kristin Madden's MySpace Blog | Words from the Wild

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Saturday, December 05, 2009

Potato Cheese Soup

It's getting seriously cold out there, at least in my area! In honor of the chilly temps and the winter holiday season, I'm sharing another of my favorite Festival Feasts recipes with you.

Enjoy and Stay Warm!

Potato Cheese Soup

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 40 minutes Serves: 4-6

3 large potatoes 1 clove garlic

1 medium onion 2 c. cream

½ red bell pepper ½ green bell pepper

2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese 2 Tbsp. butter

optional” 6 slices Canadian bacon or ham

1. Mince garlic. Chop onion, potatoes, and peppers.

2. In the large soup pot, boil the potatoes until they crush easily with a fork. Drain and blend ½ of the potatoes until smooth. Set other potatoes aside in large bowl.

3. In the soup pot, sauté the onion, garlic, peppers, and bacon or ham in the melted butter until onions are golden.

4. Return potatoes to the pot. Add cream and cheese. Stir well and simmer for 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted.

4:17 PM

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Who eats MREs! Stabbo!

So we're at an international fencing tournament and my son's new coach gives me a bizarre look when I bring up MREs. "They're military rations," I say. "I know what they are ... but who eats them?!" he says. UhhhI do" I replied as my husband tried to conceal his fear and disgust - and it's Sellars fault!

Speaking of Sellars, he brought EK and the not-so-wee one to the tournament this past weekend. Stabbo! he yelled as he watched the smelly fencers poke each other with electrified pointy weapons. Stabbo! he yelled when my son approached after changing clothes. It was sooooo good to see them. We only wished we had more time.

Oh and yeah, my fascination with MREs is Sellars fault. We've all had our nightmare events where we don't get any food for days and have frightening living conditions. Now we toss an MRE or two into a suitcase, just in case. And a fantastic idea it was! I do have to admit that MRE breakfasts really aren't that great.

So the young firespinner did really well until the stomach bug hit. Then it all kind of went downhill. He didn't even fence the last event because both he and his dad were sick. Oh well. It happens. Better luck next time.

4:50 AM

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Cafe Mocha
Current mood:

thirsty

It's always perfect weather for a Cafe Mocha but it snowed like crazy here today (yes, it is sunny and clear now), making me think this would be the perfect recipe to share with you for this Samhain season. Enjoy!

from Festival Feasts by Kristin Madden (2008, Spilled Candy Books)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
Serves: 2

2 Tbs chocolate or unsweetened cocoa powder 1 c. half & half

1 tsp. sugar espresso shot (1 oz.)

½ c. whipping cream ¼ tsp. vanilla extract

Optional: chocolate syrup

1. Start cooking your espresso. If you are using a standard coffee maker, make just one cup if possible. With my stove top espresso cooker, I use the equivalent of two single-shot espresso pods (found in any Starbucks and most good coffee shops).

2. While the espresso is cooking, make your whipped cream and let that sit until you're ready for it. Whip together whipping cream and vanilla on high speed until soft peaks form.

3. Combine the chocolate powder, sugar, and half & half in a small sauce pot. Bring to a low boil over medium-high heat and stir quickly with a whisk for 30-40 seconds.

4. Pour one shot of espresso into each mug. Pour the chocolate milk mixture over the espresso.

5. Spoon in whipped cream and drizzle a little chocolate syrup on top if you like.

9:22 PM

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Monday, October 26, 2009

Come see me in Kansas City!
Current mood:Home

I am finally home once again! This time at least, I got to travel with my boys and the kid was the one that was "working". We made it through the cold rain and snow (what's that line from?) earlier than expected. I have a whole weekend at home this time, then we're off again on Nov. 5.

Speaking of that trip, please come see me at:
Aquarius Books (www.aquariusbooks.com)
3936 Broadway in Kansas City

November 7    The Shamanic Otherworlds (10am-2pm/$20)
   Shamans experience a multiverse of interconnected worlds. In this experiential workshop, Kristin Madden will lead you on a journey of discovery through discussions and trance work. Join her to explore the three main Otherworlds and gain access to the power and wisdom they may offer

November 8    Reclaiming Power (10am-2pm/$20)
    In the shamanic worldview, parts of the soul can splinter off due to trauma, both extreme and minor. This impacts all aspects of one's life and is often experienced as a loss of power. In this workshop, Kristin will discuss what soul loss is and what its effects can be. She will lead you through hands-on exercises and journeys for reclaiming some of your own power and will offer you a glimpse into the practice os soul retrieval.

Aquarius is located in mid-town Kansas City, halfway between downtown and the Plaza, just north of Westport.
Broadway is a major north-south street and we are on the west side of the street just south of 39th street and before Westport Road. The parking lot is behind the store at 3937 Washington.

3:12 AM

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Sunday, October 18, 2009

And home again ... till Friday
Current mood:

happy

I arrived home on the exact same flight from Houston today that I did last Sunday. And it is soooo good to be home again.

The GreenSong Grove Samhain was fabulous! Great people, great site, great fire, great drumming and great Jello shots. It was particularly good to see all the wonderful GSG and FPG folks again. The only thing that would have made it better would be warm showers. It was cold at 5:30 this morning when the outside temp was only 55! I can't imagine not getting to hang out with them every year. It was interesting to be in Cabin 3, where then young firespinner & I usually stayed at FPG and to be in Florida at an event without my side kick. But he was home kicking butt in a fencing tournament and taking the PSATs.

I am done with festivals and planes until next year. The only travel I have left this year is for school and fencing tournaments.

While I'm at a tournament for my son in Kansas City next month, I will also be teaching at Aquarius Books. On November 7, I'll be offering the Shamanic Otherworlds workshop and then on November 8, I'm doing Reclaiming Power. So if you're in the area, come see me!

9:56 PM

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Sunday, October 11, 2009

Life on planes
Current mood:

tired

So I'm home again ... until Thursday that is. I don't have one weekend in my state this entire month! The funny thing is that I arrive home from Florida on the exact same flight, hopefully at the same time, one week from today, when I got home from New Orleans.

Christopher Penczak and I had a fabulous time with Velvet Reith and her group this weekend. We just love D & co, who graciously put us up in their home. They had such great energy, I didn't want to leave. A and her husband have a beautiful house with a new kitchen to die for. A bunch of them set up a beautiful candle labyrinth in the back yard. There was even a chocolate fountain and a mulled wine fountain. These folks know how to party. What a fun, wonderful group of folks! It really was a great time and Christopher & I were perfectly happy to agree to book next year's conference as soon as they set the dates.

Next stop - GreenSong Grove's Samhain next weekend at Boyd Hill in St. Pete, FL! http://www.greensonggrove.org/samhainindex.html Please join us there!!!

10:09 PM

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Friday, October 09, 2009

Top Predator

Adult Great-horned Owls have nothing to fear but humans ... and other creatures know it.

So, I have a new non-releasable Great-horned that just got his equipment on yesterday. I've started training him as a potential education bird and he's doing just great. What a gorgeous guy he is! Anyway, just a little while ago we were sitting out back under the tree, just hanging out and settling in. Things were quite peaceful for about 5 minutes until the resident Cooper's hawks noticed him in their territory. All hell broke loose when they both started in with their "get out of my territory" calls. I've seen Cooper's harrass Great-horneds in the wild too. They know all too well they might just be prey. The owl was unimpressed.

This is a bird that has every reason in the world to give you the "I'm a Great-horned Owl and you're not" look.

10:59 PM

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Friday, October 09, 2009

Festival Feasts
Current mood:

hungry

I just received a lovely message from my fabulous friend Jay! He tried my recipe for Cream of Mushroom and Broccoli Soup and loved it - as did his coven and his work friends. Now, of course, my husband is begging for it. It is getting cold here after all.

Anyway, Jay caught an error in the book. Apparently, we left out the amount of broccoli. It should be roughly equivalent to the amount of shrooms, depending on your personal taste. Thanks Jay!

And with festivals and feasting in mind, I'd like to share my Sweet Potato Chips recipe from the Samhain chapter with you. Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Chips

With all the sugar and chocolate going around at this time of year, why not add a touch of salt and healthy sweetness as you create an appetizer full of the deep orange colors we love at this time of year? These are so good that they will certainly surprise your friends.

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 35-40 minutes Serves: 8-12

1 Tbs. olive oil ½ tsp. sea salt

8 sweet potatoes 1 Tbsp. butter

baking sheet large bowl

1. Preheat oven to 400°F and grease a baking sheet.

2. Slice the potatoes either lengthwise to form spears or across the width to form “chips”.

3. Mix olive oil and salt in the bowl. Add the potatoes and stir to coat well.

4. Butter the baking sheet and place potatoes on top.

5. Bake for 35-40 minutes.

2:59 PM

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Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Chris and Kris in NOLA
Current mood:

excited

My pal Christopher and I will be hanging out and speaking near New Orleans this coming weekend! YAY It will be sooooo good to spend some time with those amazing folks again. I guarantee that it will be one heck of a good time. If you're in the area, please come see us.

http://www.witchvox.com/vn/vn_detail/dt_ev.html?a=usla&id=64274

Price/Donation: $25 a person, $40- couple

Due to our change of CONFERENCE time and venue, Chris Penczak and Kris Madden, our beloved and kind friends, offered to take our suggestion that we would honor them and our community, by hosting a Cocktail and Appetizer event, to honor their determination to bring their lectures, work, and selves to our community and NOLA.
This is the fullfillment of a promise made after BIG K!
So we will have tons of food, drink, fun, book signing, and downtime, as well as lectures from our wonderful guests.
This is a 'dressy witch' event. Why the heck not!?
Kris will be speaking about Shamanic Healing, and our dear brother Chris, will be sharing his own special ideas on Magick, as it relates to his life.
Lectures! Book Signings! Labyrinth! Silent Auctions!
Appetizers, Desserts, Music, Cocktails! Downtime with the Authors! Kris Madden and Chris Penczak will be discussing the works of "Spirits", and new works and ideas.
So do get your tickets at Lady Moon Gifts, from CPWC Clergy, NOLA Merry Meet or Esoterica, available in July til early Oct. You can pay at the door too. This is a 'dressy witch' event..why the heck not?
Hope to see you and your books for signing, at one of our new covensteads. There are soon to be three, when Rev. V's house is done!
This event will also have a candle labyrinth for walking and divining! Blessed Be!

Event Location: 204 Marmandie St. off Jeff Hwy. in River Ridge
Event TIME Details: 7pm til'

Directions: Take Jefferson Hwy, past Little Farms Ave. red light, and go up a few blocks to Marmandie, and turn right...drive down looking toward your left. You will know us when you see us.

Phone: (504-) 828-7169

3:15 AM

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