My kitchen witch is not your typical witch. She doesn't have a pointed hat or a black cat. She doesn't fly on a broomstick, and she doesn't cast spells or create potions. Instead, she works her magic in the heart of the home - the kitchen. She is a master of culinary arts, always experimenting with flavors and ingredients. Her knowledge of food is vast, and she can turn even the simplest ingredients into a delicious masterpiece.
Sources (in spring):
Blooms range from legal pad yellow, whose burnt orange centers look like globs of stick-em to hold the petals together, to russet-petalled blooms with shades in between. Blooms range from legal pad yellow, whose burnt orange centers look like globs of stick-em to hold the petals together, to russet-petalled blooms with shades in between.
Her knowledge of food is vast, and she can turn even the simplest ingredients into a delicious masterpiece. She knows the importance of using fresh, seasonal produce and understands how to combine flavors to create a harmonious blend. My kitchen witch is always on a quest to discover new recipes and techniques.
Witch Hazel for Winter Bloom and Fragrance
‘I miss you like roses in winter’ is a wonderfully evocative line in an old movie whose title I can’t seem to access anywhere in the overloaded mental hard drive. But the wistful longing for bloom and fragrance in the bleak mid-winter is easily accessible to virtually everyone. We ache for a sign that if winter comes, spring can’t be far behind. Fortunately, while roses don’t bloom in winter, witch hazel (Hamamelis) does.
“Even here, with our severe winters, I’ve seen it start as early as New Year’s Day,” says Stephen Breyer, owner of Tripple Brook Farm in Southhampton, MA. “If it turns cold the blossoms will roll back up and will endure sub-zero temperatures. Then when weather warms to 40 degrees again, they open back up.”
Depending on species, witch hazel begins to bloom in late fall or early winter after the leaves have fallen, and continues through February, providing color during the drabbest time of year. Its fascinating blossoms — scraggly little ribbon-petalled clumps, like skimpy cheerleaders’ pompoms — adorn bare branches and light up the landscape. They are also easy to clip and start blooming in the house.
“It’s not like forcing, since winter is when they normally bloom,” notes Breyer. “So when they get inside, they open right up.”
Long used as a medicinal herb by Native Americans to staunch bleeding following childbirth since it acts to tighten muscles, witch hazel is still a primary ingredient in many cosmetic astringents that clean and tighten pores. Additionally, ruffed grouse, squirrels, and wild turkey love the seeds.
“The seed pods, which are interesting in themselves, burst open and can shoot the seeds out as much as 15 feet,” says Breyer.
Witch Hazel Species
There are four primary species of witch hazel: Chinese Witch Hazel (Hamamelis mollis), Japanese Witch Hazel (Hamamelis japonica) and two natives, Vernal Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) and Common Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). Additionally, there are hybrid Hamamelis x intermedia, crosses between the Chinese and Japanese species that boast a range of cultivars, and H. forma rubescens, a rare native type. All are fragrant to one degree or another.
“H. mollis is so fragrant that even in winter, you can smell it at a distance from the tree, but the native witch hazels have a very delicate fragrance,” says Steve Glenn, researcher at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Brooklyn, NY. “If you’re walking in the woods, you can get this faint, spicy aroma wafting through the air.”
Blooms range from legal pad yellow, whose burnt orange centers look like globs of stick-em to hold the petals together, to russet-petalled blooms with shades in between.
“What’s popular now are the orange and red [-flowered] Hamamelis x intermedia,” says Vince Faiella, Nursery manager at Roslyn Nursery in Dix Hills, NY. “The natives, the virginianas and vernalis, are usually yellow flowered. The copper and red colors are generally found in H. x intermedia varieties like ‘Jelena,’ which has a copper orange flower. And there is a new cultivar called ‘Sunburst’ that is an improvement where the flowers are brighter and larger.”
In addition to the draw of winter flowers and fragrance, witch hazels often have beautiful fall foliage. H. ‘Arnold Promise’ is an older H. x intermedia cultivar with yellow flowers and russet and copper fall foliage while the newer ‘Diana’ has a red flower and beautiful fading-sunset yellow, orange, and crimson foliage in fall. Among the natives, the rounded leaves of common witch hazel glow like firelight while the leaves of vernal witch hazel (H. vernalis) ‘Sandra’ turn saffron then morph to a spectacular crimson-orange.
“H. X intermedia ‘Jelena’ [sometimes called ‘Copper Beauty’] is noted for fall color,” says Faiella. “And H. ‘Orange Peel’ also had good orange or red fall foliage color.”
Witch hazels are hardy, adaptable and very forgiving of a variety of soil types and sun/shade positioning.
“You can grow common witch hazel in sunny locations where it will be quite dense, but it will also grow in forest understory shade conditions, where it becomes more definitely treelike in shape,” says Breyer.
“They are sometimes listed as small trees or large shrubs,” notes Faiella. “But it depends on how they are grown. You can train it [by pruning] to a single stem to look more treelike. Prune it right after it blooms sometime in mid-to late spring.”
Because the blossoms are so delicate and the fragrance so welcome in winter, witch hazels make nice specimen trees and are often used as a single focal point near the house or along a path or driveway.
Sources (in spring):
Kingstown Farm Home and Garden
Please note that these are not fragrance oils; they are perfume oils (artisan perfumes presented in oil format). They are meant to be worn on the skin and are not suitable for wax warmers, oil burners, or aroma diffusers. The only difference between our perfume oils and Eau de Parfums is the oil format. Many people prefer perfume oils because they wear close to the skin and unfold a bit more non-linearly than Eau de Parfums. For a more in-depth look at perfume oils, please peruse our knowledge base articles.
She constantly reads cookbooks, watches cooking shows, and experiments with different ingredients. She is never afraid to try something new and is always open to new culinary experiences. But it's not just her cooking skills that make her special. She also has a deep understanding of the power of food. She knows that a well-cooked meal can bring people together, create memories, and nourish the soul. She understands that food is not just something we eat to survive but something that can bring us joy and fulfillment. My kitchen witch takes pride in her work. She creates meals with love and care, putting her heart and soul into every dish. She believes that cooking is an art form, and she treats every meal as a masterpiece. But her magic doesn't just end in the kitchen. She also knows how to create a warm and inviting space. Her kitchen is always filled with delicious aromas and a welcoming atmosphere. It is a place where friends and family gather, where stories are shared, and where memories are made. My kitchen witch is not just a cook - she is a creator, a nurturer, and a magician. She has the power to transform simple ingredients into something extraordinary. She knows that food has the power to heal, to comfort, and to delight. I am grateful for my kitchen witch. She has taught me the importance of cooking with love and passion. She has shown me how food can be so much more than just sustenance. She has inspired me to be adventurous in the kitchen and to create my own culinary masterpieces. So next time you step into your kitchen, take a moment to appreciate the magic that happens there. Embrace your inner kitchen witch and let the power of food enchant you..
Reviews for "Cooking with My Kitchen Witch: Enchanting Recipes for Every Occasion"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I really wanted to like "My Kitchen Witch" because I love cooking and magic, but unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. The writing style was lackluster and the characters were one-dimensional. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
- John - 1 star - "My Kitchen Witch" was a complete waste of time. The story was predictable and the characters were incredibly cliché. The author tried to incorporate magic into a cooking-themed plot, but it felt forced and unrealistic. The dialogue was cheesy, and I found myself rolling my eyes throughout the whole book. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating read.
- Emily - 2 stars - As a fan of magical realism, I was excited to read "My Kitchen Witch," but it ultimately let me down. The premise had potential, but the execution fell short. The writing was dull and lacked depth, which made it difficult to connect with the characters. The magical elements felt superficial and were not fully explored. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book to fellow magical realism enthusiasts.
- Mark - 2 stars - I was disappointed by "My Kitchen Witch." The idea of blending cooking and magic was intriguing, but the story failed to deliver on its promise. The pacing was slow, and the plot felt repetitive and predictable. The characters lacked depth, making it hard to invest in their journeys. While the concept had potential, the execution left much to be desired. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it.