Mabon is a wonderful holiday from the wheel of the year. The start of my favorite season. Where warm colors like orange, red, and brown start peeping from the trees. Pumpkins and squash are available at local farms. The air gets a little bit cooler, and a gentle breeze whispers to me that Autumn is here. From September 20th through the 24th, Mabon Is a time to celebrate all that we are grateful for, and to remember the blessings the year has brought us.
In February, my family lost our mother. something we are all still working through. Though grief hovers over us, I do find myself grateful for all of the many memories I shared with her. From gardening with Mom to her loving words at my wedding, there are so many happy memories to be thankful for. This post is dedicated to her during this time of reflection.
Mabon is a time to meditate on the obstacles we’ve overcome, a time to harvest the fruits of our labor, be grateful for life’s blessings and small wins. And with this, I welcome you to see a bit of what I did to celebrate. Maybe this will spark your imagination as well.
In this post:
Mabon Magical Foods!
Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread
First, I prepped the dough for a gluten free cinnamon raisin bread. This tried and true recipe from Bob’s Red Mill – Full Recipe: Gluten Free Cinnamon Bread – is what I chose as a base. This on its own is delicious! I did tweak it a bit and omitted the topping. You can also swap the Gluten Free flour for real baking flour.
Ingredient List:
- 1 cup milk or non-dairy alternative
- ¼ cup Olive Oil
- 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Egg
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 cups Bob’s Red Mill 1-1 Ratio Gluten Free Flour
- 2 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- ½ tsp Baking Powder
- ½ tsp Salt
Directions:
- Start by preheating your oven to 350
- Then, grease a 9×5 loaf or use non-stick spray
- Mix together in one bowl the milk, oil, vinegar, egg and vanilla
- In another bowl, mix sugar, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt
- Next, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet as you mix slowly
- If you are adding the raisins, follow the below step next
- Pour the batter into the bread pan
- Finally, place the batter-filled pan into the oven and set a timer for 50-60 minutes
- You can test if bread is done by inserting a toothpick into the bread after the first 50 minutes. If it comes out clean, the bread is done.
To add raisins:
- First, soak 1 cup of raisins in a bowl of hot water for 15 minutes
- After this is complete, drain the raisins
- Then add the raisins to the prepared dough, mix thoroughly before adding to bread pan
Cinnamon can be used for luck and prosperity, but I chose to focus on spirituality and ancestral ties. For centuries, it has been used for magical and practical uses. Cinnamon was used in anointing oils, part of the embalming process, and for healing. For this celebration, I focused on pulling in warm memories of my Mom, my late sister, and all other women in my life who had passed on. For me, this Mabon was about harvesting the nostalgic feelings of kitchens past. That was magic in itself.
Rosemary Thyme Crispy Chicken Thighs
There must be ten thousand chicken thigh recipes in the world. Chicken thighs bake so well, though, as it’s difficult to overcook them. That extra five minutes you took to feed the cats or check your social media won’t kill the juicy outcome of this recipe. By adding a little extra fat and moisture from the pads of butter, this chicken will instantly have your family’s mouth-watering from the second it comes out of the oven.
With the chosen herbs, I decided to focus my intention on dispelling the negative energies from the Spring and Summer. Our family had a wonderful time venturing to the ocean, visiting family, and hosting a few dinners for friends. Yet, some of the negativity that had been looming overhead needed to go. Even just believing in it disappearing helped!
As I prepped the chicken, I envisioned the sunlight enveloping our home. I peeked out the window to see the warm orange hues of the sky hugging the earth. I knew there was no room for the dust of days past in the upcoming season.
Optional Incantation
With thyme and fragrant rosemary
Autumn brings positivity
love, protection, clarity
and dispels past negativity
With harm to none, so mote it be
Ingredients
- Oven safe cooking sheet, glassware, or cast iron
- 2lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 3 TBS Olive Oil
- 1tsp salt, 1tsp black pepper
- 1 TBS Rosemary – protection, love, clarity
- 1 TBS Thyme – strength, healing, attracting happiness
- Or you can use 1-2 fresh sprigs of each
- ½ TBS garlic powder – warding, purification
- ½ TBS onion powder – healing, dispelling negativity
- 2 TBS butter, sliced into thin pads
Directions
- First, preheat oven to 425°
- Grease pan or spray with oil
- Mix olive oil, salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, garlic, and onion powder in a small bowl.
- Place chicken skin-side up in the pan
- Gently pour the olive oil mixture onto the chicken
- Using your fingers or basting brush, spread the mixture evenly across and under the skin.
- Going under will ensure a crispier skin
- Place the pads of butter between the chicken, spreading out evenly
- Bake for 35 minutes or until 165°
Free Recipe Card below! Save to your phone or print it out. This is a great back-pocket recipe.
Crockpot Spiced Apple Cider
Mmmm. Warm, comforting apple cider on a chilly day. It brings me back to Christmas tree farms with my dad. We would search for the perfect one to cut and bring home. When he paid, we would grab a cup of hot apple cider and sip on it as the farm workers loaded the tree onto the family van.
Crockpot Spiced Apple Cider was the perfect ending to our Mabon. We all savored the spices that sat for hours and truly elevated this drink. This is really easy to make, and could be served at holiday parties, and even spiked with a splash of your favorite spiced rum.
