The Kitchen Witch Recipe File
I’ve shared plenty of recipes since I began this blog, and figured it was high time I put together some sort of index page. Especially since I seem to be repeating myself!
So, here you have it. The Kitchen Witch Wednesday Recipe File
- Chicken enchiladas with sweet potato
- Chicken cottage pie
- Chicken soup
Batch cooking – chicken enchiladas, and more
Batch cooking – chilli burritos and fish pie mix
Sticky Chocolate Pudding with a Candy Bar Sauce
17 Comments
Writings of a Pagan Witch 
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For me, the only hard and fast rule is to harm none – and that certainly includes animals, as well as any other sentient being. I’m wondering how a non-vegan Witch resolves this issue?
I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but I have no conflict with eating meat.
The ingestion of food is part of the circle of all life. I feel no more guilt for eating meat than I do for eating fruits or vegetables.
Whether animal or vegetable taking it into my body for nutrients and survival will result in a death, but also a continuation of life.
Have you watched documentaries that show what animals actually go through on factory farms (e.g., “Earthlings”)? They live short, brutal lives. I can’t imagine enduring even a minute of the hell they live through every single day – including rape, kidnapping, torture and slaughter (due to increased line speeds, sometimes the skinning process even begins before the animal is dead). This is in no way, shape or form, natural.
That is aside from the fact that humans are not in any way “designed” to eat meat, and we are much healthier if we do not consume animal products at all. One documentary you might be interested in from the health standpoint is “Forks Over Knives.” There are also some excellent books, including Dr. Michael Greger’s “How Not to Die,” and “The China Study,” by Thomas Campbell and T. Colin Campbell.
Also, animal agriculture is literally destroying the planet. I recommend the documentary “Cowspiracy,” for more information on the environmental aspect.
The best vegan YouTuber in the known universe is Emily Moran Barwick of Bite Size Vegan. I highly recommend any and all of her videos, as well. Her videos are extremely well-researched and informative, and she approaches veganism from every angle you can imagine. Definitely worth your time to check her out.
I realize that in the real world it isn’t possible to cause no harm at all, and none of us is perfect, but we can strive to cause the least harm possible.
I finally learned after nearly 50 years on this planet that I do not have to justify my choices in life.
I respect your decision to not eat meat. I ask that you respect my decision to eat meat.
Yes, I have seen some of these documentaries. No, I don’t agree with everything that is presented within those documentaries. Especially the falsehood that *all* humans have evolved to *not* eat meat.
Masai, Samburu, and Rendille warriors of East Africa
Inuit
Chutotka
steppe nomads of Mongolia
Sioux of South Dakota
http://www.diagnosisdiet.com/all-meat-diets/
I do what I can to make sure the foods I purchase are ethically reared and sourced. Not because of the Wiccan rede, because I’m not Wiccan and I don’t follow the Rede, but because I think it’s the right thing to do.
Thank you for your response and for sharing that article. Certainly, those who engage in extreme daily activity and intermittent fasting can get away with poor dietary choices much better than the average Western couch potato. However, that still doesn’t mean they are eating the best diet for their species or that they don’t get heart disease. Here is an article that addresses some of the myths regarding these meat-eaters:
http://nutritionstudies.org/masai-and-inuit-high-protein-diets-a-closer-look/
I’m just curious, but when you said that you’ve seen some of these documentaries, have you specifically watched “Earthlings”? This one is freely available on YouTube:
Another great one is “Vegucated,” if you get the chance to watch it, and, as I mentioned before, “Cowspiracy” is a must for anyone concerned about the environment.
I would not say that choosing to eat meat is a “poor dietary choice”
No, I have not seen the ones that you link to specifically, but I have seen enough of the propaganda from the meat-is-evil brigade to know what is being talked about.
No, I will not be going to watch them.
It will not change my views nor will my discussion change your views.
And that’s okay – I don’t need to get you to see things my way in order to validate my opinions.
For 55+ years, I kept my eyes averted as well. Then, when I finally did open my eyes to the reality of what happened to the animals on their way to my plate, it changed everything for me. I’ve been vegan now for about 3-1/2 years. I understand where you are now, because that’s exactly where I was for most of my life. Yes, my health changed for the better in so many ways after I stopped eating all animal products, but that wasn’t the primary reason for going vegan – it was just a bonus.
The hard part about going vegan isn’t so much the change in your diet – that’s actually pretty easy in itself. Being vegan is simply not socially acceptable in most circles. When you go vegan, no one wants to invite you to social events – except, perhaps, other vegans. When you tell someone you are vegan, they’ll get that “stinky poo” look on their face, stare at you like you are completely insane, or just turn away from you completely – or perhaps all three. You’ll really start to feel like a pariah.
So if being socially acceptable is the most important thing to you in your life, I can tell you right now that you will not be able to withstand the pressure that society puts on you to be like them. I wouldn’t think that is such a problem for most Pagans, who are generally made of sterner stuff and tend to stand apart from the crowd anyway.
I wish you the best in your journey, NanLT.
Being socially acceptable is the least of my concerns in life.
I have tried a diet low in animal proteins. Do you know what happened?
I got ill. Not, oh a bit of a tummy upset and a headache for a few days. I became ill.
When I eat a diet low in animal proteins I have terrible mood swings – severe depression, anxiety attacks, I am jittery all the time. I have severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and gut pain. I get severe pain over my liver. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms flare to the worst they have ever been.
It may be that going vegan was the best thing that you could do for yourself. It would be the worst thing I could do for me.
I’m curious, were you eating a 100% organic, whole-foods, plant-based diet, consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, unprocessed grains, nuts and seeds? Or did you eat a lot of processed junk foods? Did you consult with a plant-based a nutritionist or naturopathic doctor to help you determine how to get all the nutrients you need in a plant-based diet?
You might find this site very helpful in regard to nutrition information:
http://nutritionfacts.org/
100% organic? As much as it existed in the midwest America 30 years ago. Yes, I made sure that I had a variety of whole foods, as I still do today.
Did I consult a doctor or nutritionist? Nor do I see any reason why I should have. I know fully well what is and is not good for me. And I am fully able to make decisions and judge the effects they are having on my body without consulting someone else.
I am fully capable of reading and understanding research studies, nutritional guidelines, and advice. I am also fully capable of analysing my reactions to different food items and making decisions on whether or not they are healthy for me.
This it sounds like your body was detoxing, and yes, that can make you feel kind of miserable for a week or two (though it shouldn’t be unbearable). But then you should start feeling better after a fairly short time, and continue to improve from there on out. I know you are capable of looking up information, but I would like to offer some assistance to you, if you would be willing to accept it. Here is one article that discusses the detox effects that many people suffer when switching to a healthier diet:
http://www.myhdiet.com/healthnews/qa/why-do-i-feel-awful-when-i-stop-eating-meat/
Yes, I suspected it may have been a detox at first – because I did look into these things before changing my diet.
But then it continued past 2 or 3 weeks, and it didn’t improve but got worse.
No, I do not need assistance from you. I have no need to change my diet. I am happy and healthy as an omnivore.
I realise that there is none so pious as the newly converted, but I have no desire to be converted to your religion of veganism.
*Then* it sounds like…
No, veganism isn’t a religion in any way, though it is logically consistent with my spiritual beliefs. I understand the cognitive dissonance you are experiencing, and realize that there isn’t anything I can do to help someone who wants to believe they already know it all. I will leave you to walk your own path, and wish you well.
I have no cognitive dissonance. And yes, you are treating being vegan like your religion. And yes, I will continue to walk my own path.
Although vegetarianism may be a choice for some, but it is just that. A choice. Human beings are omnivores, just like many other animals. If we were not supposed to eat meat then we would not be able to digest it. Also people who live in rural areas know the importance of keeping the popluation in balance of deer and other rapidly popluating species in check. If these animals were not harvested in a efficient manner then it throws the whole ecosystem in chaos. I understand your concern about the meat factories, I personally do not partake in those and choose to gather my meat straight from the forests or raise it myself.