Making a Sanctum Sanctorum (and Soup!)
A guest blog by novelist Mara Dane, after a short note from Red!Â
Note: some links to follow are amazon affiliate links
Before we get into the thick of it, I just want to say, Maraâs book Her Immortal Guardian is one of the best Iâve read in years. It truly satisfied my quirky, Southern Indiana, magic-loving heart!
Fortunately for me, Mara is a close friend, and Iâm thrilled she agreed to share a vegan recipe and some of her own kitchen witch secrets with my readers today. If you, too, are into Kitchen Witchery, catch my latest book for free on Kindle before this promotion vanishes.
Plus! OMG! Not only does Mara share kitchen secrets, but she shares photos of her fantastic writing spaceâan office any witch or wizard would be thrilled to inhabit. Having witnessed first-hand how much time, work, and love the Dane family has put into their home remodel projects over the years, I must say: this lady knows her magic!
Making a Sanctum Sanctorum (and Soup!)Â
I was so happy to read an early copy of My Life as a Kitchen Witch by Red Tash! Red, aka Leslea, is both a good friend and a great writer. Iâve enjoyed her magical fiction (and her real-life hospitality), so it was exciting to watch her mix those two elements of her life together.Â
Life as a mom, spouse and creative person is a crucible worthy of any alchemist. The pressure to be Insta-perfect can be intense. Speaking of pressure, one of the best parts of the book is the section on your âmagic cauldronâ (aka âInstant Pot pressure cookerâ)!Â
As what I like to call an âintermittent vegan,â Iâve found this device a real sanity-saver, too. It may not be Hogwarts-style magic, but if I canât have Hermioneâs time-turner, the ability to turn dry beans into delicious soup in an hour is the next best thing.Â
Wanna steal my recipe? Saute some aromatics using the âSauteâ setting and your preferred plant-based oil (coconut, olive, canola, etc.) Use chopped garlic, onions, celery, carrots, bell peppers - whatever you like and have on hand. Toss in a bag of your preferred dry beans. We like pintos at the Grey Cottage, but navy or fifteen bean blend are also tasty. Pour in 10 cups of liquid (water works just fine, but if you want to be fancy, veggie broth is also good).Â
And finally my secret ingredient ⊠Liquid Smoke.Â
Liquid Smoke seems like magic to me, in that itâs exactly what it sounds like. A liquid distillation of smoke - all natural, no preservatives, and no artificial flavors. Itâs just smoky flavored water. If you love the taste of ham and bacon, but want to go plant-based, Liquid Smoke is your BFF.Â
Once everythingâs in the Instant Pot, seal the lid and set it on High to pressure cook, and in an hour youâll have delicious, flavorful smoky bean soup.Â
Now that youâre all cozy, hopefully with a cup of hot tea and a bowl of soup, I want to talk about another way to keep your creative batteries charged up and ready to make some magic.Â
Yes, friends, I am talking about The AestheticTM.     Â
A big part of creative work is staying inspired. After four years working from home, I was feeling ⊠trapped. I had a designated office space, but it was clearly still a repurposed bedroom. It also ended up being a catch-all. It felt like a tiny, sad room where I was stuck all day.Â
Decorating the space to my specific taste made a gigantic difference in my attitude and energy. As a working wife and mom, it often feels like everything is a compromise. I made a pact with myself that my work space - my Sanctum Sanctorum, if you will - was MY space. If it ended up looking like a Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper exploded, but I liked it, that was all that mattered.
I cleared out (most) of the clutter. I hung up some word art, and a few paintings to remind me to reflect on the inner journey in my writing. I got a dreamy curtain with star cut-outs, and a couple of dreamcatchers to help funnel inspiration my way. My grocery storeâs decor section had some decorative beakers and test tubes on sale - great reminders to experiment like a mad scientist!Â
Now, my work space feels full of good energy. Itâs where I can make magic happen, a creative retreat I can go back to every day. I canât recommend it enough. If you canât decorate an entire room, find some space for yourself. It could be a bulletin board, or a single wall. Claim that space, and turn it into your own personal Power-Up spot.Â
As women, we have a hard time claiming our space. We have a hard time believing in our own power, in a world where many want to see us dis-empowered. Viv, the main character in my paranormal rom-com, Her Immortal Guardian, has a hard time believing in her power, too. Even after a gorgeous, ancient Egyptian warrior shows up to tell her sheâs destined to save the world.Â
Itâs a fun read, full of magic, romance and pop culture references, and itâs free on Kindle Unlimited (or just $0.99 if youâre not on KU). Check it out! I hope it helps you rediscover a bit of magic in your own life.Â
Thanks, Mara! I love you!
Red here, againâŠI confess, I was skeptical that an ancient Egyptian warrior could be a turn on, even to a quirky Midwestern gal. In my mind, this leading man was going to be an old, stinky mummy. I could not have been more wrong! Not only is HIGâs Khen smoking hot, but the book feels like a vacation to your favorite cozy small-town. I even liked the spicy parts, and thatâs saying a lot. Did I mention lots of nerd puns and geek culture await you?Â
Get Maraâs book, you wonât regret it!
