HONEYCAKES

Honeycakes

2/3 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp honey (I like orange blossom or wildflower)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp white wine / apple cider (I use cider more often - I like the taste of apple in the cakes)
1 tsp herbs or spice for your intention (charged as usual - see note at bottom)
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt2 tbsp oats

Directions:
Cream shortening, sugar, eggs, honey, vanilla and wine/cider. Add herbs or spices. Blend in baking powder, flour, salt, and oats. Mix well.

Spoon batter onto a cookie sheet, or roll out and cut into the shape of a crescent moon. (I usually go with the quicker spooning method). Bake at 350 degrees F for 9 to 10 minutes.

As with this kind of cookieish recipe, if the cakes look brown and done in the oven, they are overdone.

Some herbs I have used for Samhain:
thyme - for courage and communing with the deceased
lotus - for aiding spirits in reincarnation. It's sold as a paste or as seeds in some asian groceries.
chervil - aid in communing with the deceased, and in guiding spirits to peace and serenity
apple - I have used little bits of dried apple in the cakes, since apples are part of most (including mine) Samhain rituals.