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A Menu for the Zodiac Sign Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)

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A big orange round tart littered with tomatoes and lime slices surrounded by individual tomatoes and limes and a slice of the tart on a pink plate.

Scorpio, represented by the scorpion with its armored exoskeleton and venomous sting, has long been a symbol that commands respect and caution. In ancient Egypt, the scorpion played a crucial role in religious and protective iconography. The goddess Serket, known as a woman with a scorpion perched atop her head, was invoked as a guardian against venom and a protector of the dead. Travelers would wear amulets bearing her image, not as a threat, but as a warning to potential assailants that the wearer was under her protection.

This dual nature of the scorpion – dangerous yet protective – mirrors the depth and complexity people often experience in Scorpio individuals.

Action and Resilience in Zodiac Sign Scorpio

The sign itself was named after the constellation Scorpius, which used to take up a great deal more of the sky historically than it does today. Its two claws were separated from the scorpion to form the northern and southern balances making up the constellation Libra.

Scorpios tend to be reserved, not prone to unnecessary aggression, but always prepared to defend what they value. This reserved nature, combined with keen perception, allows Scorpios to observe and understand their environment with clarity, bypassing superficial layers distracting others to get to the heart of matters quickly.

Seeing so much of the world’s complexities and human nature’s darker aspects can breed a certain level of cynicism or contempt, and Scorpios frequently find themselves navigating emotionally challenging terrain. Yet, it’s precisely in these difficult landscapes that Scorpios discover tests and ultimately find their strength. Their style of resilience is easy to spot, because it’s filled with strategy and observation, and is often patient.

Scorpio’s Connection to the Seasons

Scorpio, the zodiac sign, was named after the constellation Scorpius but they are not the same thing. Constellations are groups of stars visible in the night sky, all of different shapes and sizes, and zodiac signs are equal divisions of the Sun’s apparent annual path. The signs anchor to the seasons, not the stars after which they were named.

The twelve zodiacal signs can be grouped into three categories based on their relationship to the seasons. The cardinal signs mark the beginning of each season and are associated with change and new beginnings. The fixed signs fall in the middle of each season and are known for their stability, determination, and resolute nature. Lastly, the mutable signs stand between the close of one season and the start of the next. These signs associate with adaptability, flexibility, and the ability to navigate change with ease.

Characteristics of a Fixed Sign

As a fixed sign, Scorpio heralds the middle of autumn, a season characterized by its deepening darkness and intensifying cold. This enduring quality is fundamental to your nature, dear Scorpion. You thrive in environments that allow you to dive into your interests and maintain your chosen course of action with unwavering focus. Setting and pursuing complex, long-term goals is where you truly excel. Your ability to remain committed to your objectives, even in the face of obstacles or distractions, is something you likely admire in yourself, and others in you.

This fixed nature grants you exceptional perseverance and emotional resilience. However, you may find it challenging to adapt to sudden changes or to shift your perspective once you’ve formed a strong opinion. This steadfast quality influences various aspects of your life, from your career pursuits to your personal relationships, where your loyalty and depth of commitment are unmatched. Like the autumn season that prepares the natural world for winter’s challenges, you excel at preparing for and navigating life’s more demanding phases with strategic patience and quiet determination.

New Goals for the Scorpio Zodiac Sign This Year

  • Blend intensity with vulnerability: While your depth of feeling is a strength, it can sometimes create barriers. Challenge yourself to share your softer side with trusted individuals. Start small, perhaps by expressing gratitude or appreciation more openly, and gradually work towards sharing deeper emotions.
  • Channel resilience productively: Your ability to navigate difficult situations sets you apart. How can you use this strength to support others? Consider mentoring someone facing challenges or volunteering for a cause that resonates with your values. This can provide a positive outlet for your emotional intensity and strategic thinking.
  • Practice flexibility in your convictions: While your fixed nature gives you strength of purpose, it can sometimes lead to rigidity. Set a goal to regularly expose yourself to viewpoints that challenge your own. This doesn’t mean changing your mind, but rather expanding your understanding and enhancing your ability to see multiple perspectives. 

What Qualities Does Scorpio Have?

As a water sign, Scorpio aligns with emotional depth, intuition, and a desire for meaningful connection. In addition to this, water signs tend to approach life with an emotional logic, often relying on their gut instincts to navigate complex situations. Scorpio applies this watery nature to all aspects of life, constantly seeking to understand the hidden currents beneath the surface of interactions and experiences.

Among the water signs, Scorpio stands out for its intensity and strategic thinking. While all water signs are intuitive, Scorpios are especially adept at reading between the lines and uncovering hidden truths. This makes them excellent strategists in various life areas, from personal relationships to professional endeavors. However, this tendency to probe deeply can sometimes lead to over-processing information, potentially opening the door to paranoia if not balanced with objective reasoning. The Scorpio fondness for challenge, combined with their emotional resilience, often leads them to thrive in high-pressure situations where others might falter.

More on Scorpio as a Water Sign

Scorpio, as a water sign, often gravitates towards foods that mirror their phlegmatic nature – cool and moist – drawn to refreshing fruits like watermelon and grapes, or crisp vegetables such as cucumbers and lettuce. Dairy products like yogurt and soft cheeses should also appeal to the Scorpio palate. These foods align with the sign’s innate constitution, providing a sense of comfort and familiarity.

An excess of cool, moist foods can sometimes lead to feelings of lethargy or stagnation, particularly during the colder months when your natural tendencies are amplified by the weather. To counteract this, consider incorporating warming and drying elements into your diet. Experiment with aromatic spices like cinnamon, ginger, or clove in your cooking. Lean proteins such as grilled chicken or baked fish can help provide warmth and structure to your meals. Also, don’t shy away from whole grains like quinoa or brown rice, which can offer a grounding effect.

Remember, Scorpio, your intense nature thrives on seeing things change – let your diet be a tool for balancing and energizing your powerful emotional depths.

Best Foods to Balance Scorpio

For most seasons, these foods are good for supporting the phlegmatic temperament associated with Scorpio:

  • Land: Duck, goose, pork, lamb (in moderation), chicken (roasted).
  • Surf: Salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, trout, cod, oysters, mussels.
  • Grains: Oats, barley, brown rice, quinoa, amaranth.
  • Vegetation: Pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, apples, pears, berries, citrus fruits.
  • Dairy: Aged cheeses, Greek yogurt, kefir, buttermilk.
  • Beverages: Ginger tea, cinnamon tea, green tea, warm water with lemon, vegetable broths.
  • Alcohol: Red wine (in moderation), dark beers, whiskey (in moderation).
  • Spices and Herbs: Ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, turmeric, rosemary, thyme, sage.

In the autumn and winter months, when the phlegmatic temperament may need more warmth and dryness to stay in good health, it’s advisable to emphasize these foods:

  • Land: Beef, venison, bison, turkey (dark meat), chicken (roasted with skin).
  • Surf: Anchovies, swordfish, halibut, octopus, squid, shrimp.
  • Grains: Buckwheat, millet, corn, wild rice, rye.
  • Vegetation: Root vegetables (parsnips, turnips, radishes), bitter greens (arugula, dandelion, endive), chili peppers, ginger, garlic, onions, leeks, mustard greens, dried fruits (figs, dates, prunes).
  • Dairy: Hard aged cheeses (parmesan, pecorino), ghee.
  • Beverages: Chai tea, black coffee, hot toddy, mulled wine, bone broth.
  • Alcohol: Brandy, scotch, spiced rum, full-bodied red wines.
  • Spices and Herbs: Cayenne, black pepper, cloves, cardamom, cumin, coriander, fennel, star anise, horseradish.

The Perfect Menu for Zodiac Sign Scorpio

Starter

Butternut Coconut Soup with Roasted Chickpeas and Pepitas

A meatless butternut soup for when you’re looking to feel lighter and to lighten your eco footprint.

Warming and nourishing, our Butternut Coconut Soup is just what Scorpio needs. It’s full of fresh squash, pepitas, roasted chickpeas, and spices like cloves and ginger. These ingredients make sure to balance out fiery Scorpio with a bit of spice and fresh produce. The best part is you can spend a cool day making this soup with minimal effort at a large payoff.

Main

Muscovy Duck Breast with Blackberry Glaze, Sweet Potato, & Fennel

Slices of duck breast sit on a white plate surrounded by greens and a blackberry sauce.

To help the phlegmatic temperament of Scorpio, cook up a Muscovy Duck Breast. Look to create this winter meal that uses fennel for a cozy bite. Then, make this dish in the springtime with fresh blackberries and sweet potatoes to brighten your palate. Either way, you’ll get your fill of what Scorpio needs to keep moving through the hold and cold days.

Side

Lemon Za’atar Salad

Fresh Lemon Za'atar Salad with Crispy Focaccia Croutons and Colorful Vegetables

Lemon Za’atar Salad is particularly appealing to Scorpios. The intense flavors of lemon and za’atar can resonate with their bold nature, while also supplying what this zodiac sign needs to keep moving. Plus, the salad’s combination of tangy, earthy, and herbaceous elements are a direct reflection of Scorpio’s complex and multifaceted personality.

Drink

Apple Wood-Smoked Manhattan

A short cocktail glass holds a red cocktail with an orange garnish next to a milk glass of smoke.

The smoky spice within our Apple Wood-Smoked Manhattan is perfect for fulfilling the wet heat that Scorpio craves. The base of bourbon whiskey combines with angostura bitters, sweet vermouth, and a brûléed candied apple garnish. Just be careful not to have too many. We also recommend that Scorpios have whiskey in moderation or else their passions may flare.

Dessert

Persimmon and Makrut Lime Tart

A big orange round tart littered with tomatoes and lime slices surrounded by individual tomatoes and limes and a slice of the tart on a pink plate.

The sweet and tart of this indulgent dessert is here to wash over Scorpio with a wave of refreshment. The tart’s rich and creamy texture, combined with the sweet and tangy flavors of persimmon and lime resonate with this water sign. It’s a satisfying way to finish out this menu made up of all the things that make Scorpio the best they can be.

Story by Wade Caves

Wade Caves, based in Brooklyn, NY, is an astrological consultant and educator specializing in problem-solving applications of astrology. He teaches astrological divination and astronomy at the School of Traditional Astrology. Wade also publishes his work on world astrology through Skyscript’s In Mundo publishing desk and hosts the World Astrology Summit, a conference dedicated to the advancement of astrology for global problem-solving. Website: wadecaves.com • skyscript.co.uk/inmundo. Email: hello@wadecaves.com.

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Your 2024 November Full Moon in Taurus Horoscope

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A red full moon sits above the water to represent a November horoscope.

This is an electric full Moon, as it forms in tight conjunction to Uranus on November 15, 2024. Undoubtedly, some shockwaves from the US election will be in the air. There’s plenty of reason to suspect the election will come with its fair share of legal challenge, whoever the victor turns out to be. We shall have to wait and see.

Challenges in November’s Full Moon Horoscope

On a personal level, this full Moon is likely to bring out a sense of things hanging in the balance in the world around you. The mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) will feel this most strongly, as this year has been one punctuated by the awkward dance of Saturn in Pisces and Jupiter in Gemini. Jupiter and Mercury are in opposition this full Moon, but there are themes of finding common ground that should encourage us.

Saturn is finally stationing direct, which is something to celebrate. It will now proceed its dutiful march through the back-half of Pisces, to enter Aries summer of next year. Gemini and Pisces are most advantaged by this change in direction, but all signs will feel the improvement in some way. And this month, the lovely planet of gentle gifts and tender care, Venus, is in great aspect to Saturn – opening up so much opportunity, from romantic to financial to professional.

Your 2024 November Full Moon in Taurus Horoscope

Aries

Aries, your professional life is taking center stage this month. With Saturn stationing direct, workplace chaos should begin to settle, although it may take another few weeks before you can see the tide has truly shifted. Still, it’s an opportune time to ask for that raise or make a significant purchase you’ve been considering. Your financial prospects look promising, especially when you blend them with social activities. Be mindful of your communication, though. The opposition between Jupiter and Mercury in your communication houses could spell trouble if your words don’t align with your actions. Integrity is key now – say what you mean and follow through on your promises. This approach will serve you well in both personal and professional spheres, although this month may bring some vexing complications forward that will take some creative thinking.

Taurus

This full Moon falls in your first house, Taurus, bringing a flurry of activity your way. Uranus, a planet of surprises, is deeply embedded in this full Moon, so I’m afraid I have to share the pithy adage: expect the unexpected. Your ruling planet, Venus, graces your ninth house, making this an excellent time for personal growth. Consider enrolling in a course, learning a new language, or planning that overseas trip you’ve been dreaming about. (Even better if your trip is already planned for this period!) Professional developments look favorable too, thanks to Venus’s aspect with Saturn. Just keep your requests grounded and realistic, as Saturn prefers to deal with things that are measured and thoroughly considered. Watch your spending and avoid erratic investment choices. This month offers mixed opportunities for financial gain, so prudence will be your best ally.

Gemini

Dear Gemini, if you’ve been struggling to connect with a romantic partner or your boss, expect matters to come to a head this month. It seems both parties have been accommodating perceived expectations rather than expressing their own perceptions, and their own hard truths. It’s time for honest communication – let the chips fall where they may. Saturn’s direct station signals relief from recent pressures, though one final test is likely to come near year’s end. Take it easy for now; you’ve weathered a challenging year, and better times are on the horizon. I might suggest you make the most this period and reassess your long-term investment strategy. When was the last time you gave it a thorough review? Are you putting enough away? Are you enjoying the fruits of your labor enough now? These are the things to consider.

Cancer

Cancer, prepare for an enjoyable yet dynamic month ahead. The conjunction of Uranus and your ruling planet, the Moon, infuses this period with erratic energy, and while that can be a bit grating for gentler souls, surprise is one of those spices that adds to life. It’s an ideal time to pursue romantic interests or invest in strengthening existing relationships. Consider that overseas trip you’ve been postponing – with some creativity, you should find a way to make it happen. I would urge a bit of caution this Thanksgiving – you have one of those classic signatures of perhaps indulging a bit beyond what you’d prefer under clearer thinking. Then again, Thanksgiving is such a wonderful time for those of us who love to cook and eat – balance is the key word.

Leo

With Mars in your first house, Leo, you’re brimming with energy during what might otherwise be a slow(er) month. Work might feel like a grind, and you may not feel as appreciated as you deserve. However, senior members are taking notice of your efforts. Don’t hesitate to seek their guidance if needed. Opportunities abroad or in specialized learning look promising – or, if you want something a little less intense, consider reconnecting with the more spiritual side of life. It’s also an excellent time to welcome a pet into your life if you’ve been considering it. Be cautious with speculative activities this month; Mars in your ascendant might prompt hasty decisions. With your income and debt houses at odds, it’s better to hold off on major financial moves until early 2025.

Virgo

Virgo, your ruling planet Mercury’s movements might leave you feeling blocked, especially in work and relationships. I know that’s been difficult, and this has been a bit of a rocky year on those fronts. The good news is that things are shifting, even if movement feels slow. Ride out this storm for a few more weeks – early 2025 promises smoother sailing, with relationship clarity coming even sooner. In the meantime, focus your energy on your home. It’s an ideal time for fall cleaning and winter preparations, and perhaps even a bit of re-decorating. A new paint color can do wonders to lift the mood! If you’ve been considering a loan or need to borrow funds, current conditions favor progressing those negotiations. Remember, this challenging period is temporary – stay focused on your long-term goals.

Libra

It looks like you might’ve taken a little too much on lately, Libra, and are finding yourself managing a bit of the overwhelm. This is a good month for setting some of that straight, as Venus, your planetary ruler, applies to the stabilizing presence of Saturn. Saturn is placed in your sixth house, and so this full Moon it represents where the day-to-day obligations feel heavy. The contact between Venus and Saturn can go a long way toward lifting some of those burdens. The opposition between Mercury and Jupiter, placed in your communication houses, indicates you might be agreeing to more than you can practically manage or sustain. If that sounds possible, start there, and remember – whenever we say ‘yes’ to something, we say ‘no’ to something else.

Discover the Perfect Menu for Zodiac Sign Scorpio

Scorpio

Mars has entered your tenth house this full Moon, Scorpio, and that should indicate you’re feeling more in control, ready to direct, as if you’ve reached an important summit. Next month, Mars will be turning retrograde, so there will be more to discuss then, but for now – consider what you see around you, and where you are instinctually pulled to act and react. That should clue you into the themes likely to be revisited in December and Mars’ retrograde pass. This is a great time for romantic ventures, whether with someone established or someone new. If you’re a writer, or otherwise use messaging for creative purposes, this is due to be a lucky and productive month for you. If that doesn’t describe you, Scorpio, don’t fret – that same luck and satisfaction will show up in reading, signing contracts, and socializing with neighbors and siblings.

Sagittarius 

It might not be a bad idea to go have a read of the Gemini horoscope, Sagittarius, because in some respects, your signs operate as two sides of the same coin. This full Moon chart suggests you’ve been putting too much on your plate for the sake of appeasing others. What happens when they don’t appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made? This is the hard lesson that comes from the opposition of Jupiter and Mercury in Gemini and Sagittarius, respectively. There are good financial prospects for you this month, especially related to fourth house themes like real estate (building, decorating, buying, selling, renovating) and working with the earth (gardening, wells and mining, water infrastructure). If you’re not in these fields, you might consider finding ways to invest in them this month.

Capricorn

Wow, I think you’ve won the good luck award this month, Capricorn. Venus is in your first house, forming a wonderfully supportive aspect to your ruling planet, Saturn. This is great for anywhere you need to drive profit or success. Have a project roll-out you want to see do well? Use this signature. It’s good for making investments (securities or real estate), and for professional advancement. It’s even beneficial for romantic endeavors, whether that means a new face or investing more in the love that’s already present in your life, and for conceiving (if having children is on your mind!). One risk present in this full Moon is the same which afflicted the Cancers – Venus’s impression on your first house, with Jupiter and Mercury opposed in your 6th and 12th houses respectively, could invite overindulgence in the sensual parts of life.

Aquarius

I can see that you’re putting your financial affairs in order, Aquarius, and that there are still a few sacrifices to be made in the final stages of setting a new path. I think you’ll feel quite happy with how things have shifted for you in summer of next year, and you’ll be grateful for all the groundwork you’ve done this year. For the single Aquarians reading, this full Moon beings prospects for some new romantic beginnings, although you may want to be sure who you’re dealing with before pushing the gas pedal to the floor. If you’re already coupled, it may be that your partner is feeling overlooked at the moment. Maybe take the time to bring them front and center, see what that can unlock for you both. The holidays are coming, and Mars is angular for you – go easy on your siblings and cousins, and your in-laws (if you have them).

Pisces

Finally, Pisces, Saturn is stationing direct and is preparing for his final months in your sign. No one enjoys have Saturn pass through their ascendant, but there’s an important maturing that comes along with this transit that you may already be grateful for. Venus in your eleventh house comes to sextile Saturn this month, which should open up some unique and valuable opportunities for you. This could take a romantic tone, but I suspect it’s more likely to be the kind of opportunity that sets you up better for the direction you want your life to take. Your work life is likely to be stacked with a lot of busywork this month. As frustrating as that can be, keep in mind that things like that are typically cyclical, and come and go. I think you’ve got a great month to look forward to.

Story by Wade Caves / Photo Courtesy of Zoltan Tasi

Wade Caves, based in Brooklyn, NY, is an astrological consultant and educator specializing in problem-solving applications of astrology. He teaches astrological divination and astronomy at the School of Traditional Astrology. Wade also publishes his work on world astrology through Skyscript’s In Mundo publishing desk and hosts the World Astrology Summit, a conference dedicated to the advancement of astrology for global problem-solving. Website: wadecaves.com • skyscript.co.uk/inmundo. Email: hello@wadecaves.com.

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Rudolph’s Red-Nose Punch

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A cocktail glass filled with Rudolph's Red-Nose Punch topped with a cranberry and pretzels on the glass.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer had a very shiny nose! Now it can be the sippable centerpiece of your holiday celebration. 

Rudolph’s Red-Nose Punch highlights the the winter cranberry flavor you love. The, it turns it into a deliciously cute cocktail for all party guests. It’s also easy to make this a non-alcoholic drink by leaving out the raspberry vodka and using a pump of raspberry syrup instead. Gather ’round the television with the family to watch this wonderful holiday classic over a glass of sparkly punch.

Where Does Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Come From?

The story of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” originated in a children’s book from 1939. It’s a tale about being proud to stand out from the crowd and finding your own hidden talent, like Rudolph’s red nose. Other reindeers initially mock him for it, but in the end, he saves the day. Gene Autry’s 1948 song about Rudolph warmed so many hearts that then the classic television film based on it came out of that in 1964. The addition of original songs like “The Island of Misfit Toys” were part of what made the film such memorable holiday staple!

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A cocktail glass filled with Rudolph's Red-Nose Punch topped with a cranberry and pretzels on the glass.

Rudolph’s Red-Nose Punch


  • Author: Kylie Thomas

Description

Holiday cheer for all!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 32 oz bottle cranberry juice
  • 2 cups ginger ale
  • 2 cups raspberry vodka
  • Cranberries for garnish
  • Broken pretzels for garnish


Instructions

  1. Pour chilled cranberry juice, ginger ale, and raspberry vodka into a punch bowl. 
  2. Mix ingredients until combined.
  3. Make a small slice in the cranberry (but don’t cut all the way through) and place it onto the rim of a glass.
  4. Take two broken pretzels and balance on the back of the cocktail glass.

Back up a batch of Chai Snickerdoodles for a perfect movie snack accompaniment.

Recipe by Kylie Thomas / Styling by Anna Franklin / Photography by Laura Petrilla

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Red Ryder Punch

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Two red rocks glasses with a spring of rosemary garnish, sitting on a snowy surface with a round Christmas ball that. looks like Santa's outfit.

Red Ryder Punch is a gin based cocktail with the flavor of tangy-tart hibiscus, and a hint of blueberry sweetness. Inspired by Ralphie’s iconic “official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time,” from A Christmas Story, it is a refreshing cocktail that packs a nice punch of flavor. If you drink it without a straw, there’s thankfully little risk of shooting your eye out.

What Makes this Punch Red?

One of the things that gives this cocktail its color might surprising you. This punch isn’t red from any artificial flavoring. Instead, we’ve used over-steeped Reishi Blueberry Hibiscus tea to get a bright, festive shade of scarlet in your glass. Plus, that tea is packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients to balance out the booze.

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Two red rocks glasses with a spring of rosemary garnish, sitting on a snowy surface with a round Christmas ball that. looks like Santa's outfit.

Red Ryder Punch


  • Author: Justin Matase

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cocktail

  • 1.5 oz gin
  • 2  Rishi Blueberry Hibiscus tea bags – Steeped in 1 cup of hot water for 2 hours*
  • 1 oz rosemary simple syrup (recipe below)
  • 1 oz fresh lemon juice

For the Rosemary Simple Syrup

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 46 fresh rosemary springs


Instructions

For the Cocktail

  1. Fill a rocks glass with ice.
  2. Pour all ingredients over ice, stir and serve with rosemary garnish.

For the Rosemary Simple Syrup

1. Bring all ingredients to a boil until sugar is dissolved.
2. Remove from heat and allow to steep/cool.
3. Strain to remove the rosemary.
This can be made up to a week in advance and stored in the refrigerator.

Notes

 

*Note: The tea for this cocktail needs to be over-steeped to get the maximum hibiscus and tannin from the tea bag. You’ll want this to sit for about 2 hours until it comes to room temp. This can be made up to a week in advance and stored in the refrigerator.

Bake a batch of Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies to enjoy while watching the movie.
Recipe by Justin Matase / Story and Styling by Star Laliberte / Photography by Laura Petrilla
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Sweet Potato Sides to Liven Up Your Holiday Meal

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A delectable brunch dish featuring a savory combination of sweet potato and pork belly hash, creating a satisfying and flavorful meal to start the day.

During holiday dinners, it’s easy for the sweet potatoes to steal the show. In fact, there’s a good chance this delicacy will be the first dish to disappear from the table, whether they’re whipped with brown sugar and butter or sautéed for a more savory take. Shake up your traditional side dishes this year with one of these six recipes that offer you a new way to use sweet potatoes.

Sweet Potato Sides to Liven Up Your Holiday Meal

Smashed Sweet Potatoes 

Smashed Sweet Potatoes served on plate with two forks and a cup of drink

These oven-roasted, smashed Japanese sweet potatoes are decadent and wonderful. Layers of flavors build up from the potato foundation into turmeric and chili, and then the umami of crushed sheets of nori and a drizzle of ghee. They’re simply unforgettable!

Kale and Sweet Potato Soup with Pasta and Poached Eggs

A plate of kale and sweet potato soup with a poached egg

This soup from nationally renowned chef Meike Peters will become a warming fall staple to on those sad, gray, wintery days. The combination of kale and sweet potatoes is extremely healthy, and sometimes a cup of soup as a side at a casual holiday table is lovely.

Sweet Potato Stacks

Sweet potato stacks on in a pan, glistening orange

This recipe only takes a half an hour. It’s a filling side, enjoyable for even the pickiest of eaters, and comforting for cold days. These will go very well with ham, poultry, and turkey, and you’ll be making them long after Thanksgiving.

Sweet Potato Rosettes

Flat-lay image of a muffin tin filled with sweet potato rosettes on a weathered table.

At TABLE, we often say “the camera eats first.” These Sweet Potato Rosettes are as delicious to eat as they are beautiful to look at, and they’re a pretty easy recipe to make at home to impress your guests, too.

Sweet Potato and Corn Fritters

An aerial view of seven Sweet Potato and Corn Fritters on an a white plate, surrounded by herbs. Corn Fritters recipe. Vegetable fritter

The freshness of corn and zucchini combines with the richness of sweet potato to become this fritter. This is a cousin of the latke, a winning holiday side plate with a sprig of fennel and radishes for that extra touch of color.

Bistro Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole

A hand slides in from the right of the frame and grabs a scoop of Bistro Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole from a foil serving tray.

The salty, nutty flavor of pecans makes a great accompaniment to sweet potatoes. This casserole will warm you through and through with smooth potatoes, sweet brown sugar, and an irresistible topping. It makes for a perfect side or even an entire meal. 

Spiced Japanese Sweet Potato Pierogi

Spiced Japanese sweet potato pierogi plated with garnish

Spice up your holiday table with pierogis as a new side. You still get the sweet potatoes you know and love but in a new form. Purple Japanese sweet potatoes, red pepper flakes, cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger fold in aromatically with gorgeous shiitake and chanterelle mushrooms.

Homemade Sweet Potato and Black Bean Empanadas

Five homemade Empanadas sit on green wax paper. the Empanada in the middle has half of it eaten. homemade Empanadas recipe

Keep the international-inspired sides going with simple Sweet Potato Empanadas. Empanadas may sound like a challenge but this version allows for store-bought pie crust, making this crowd-pleaser as easy-as-pie.

Baby Yams with Maple Chipotle Compound Butter

Tender baby yams with maple-chipotle compound butter, offering a delightful combination of sweet and smoky flavors, perfect for adding a touch of indulgence to your meal.

This traditionally baked sweet potato impresses with an added kick. Baby yams fresh out of the oven go perfectly with sweet and spicy maple-chipotle compound butter. It’s a complimentary holiday side to any main dish. 

Sweet Potato and Pork Belly Hash

A delectable brunch dish featuring a savory combination of sweet potato and pork belly hash, creating a satisfying and flavorful meal to start the day.

This Sweet Potato and Pork Belly Hash is a homey side you may well find yourself serving again and again. The savory fattiness of pork belly infuses its goodness into the perfectly cooked sweet potato, setting the stage for a wonderful feast. Use this simple recipe as a last-minute addition to any meal.

Story by Kylie Thomas

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Healthy Beet Soup

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Healthy Beet Soup in a large steel bowl with a handle

After a season of feasting, it’s time for some self care, and this Healthy Beet Soup is the perfect home remedy for the soul. Soup is often a good way to stay warm and to undo some of our excesses. This delicious beet soup recipe from Kristina Smodila comes directly from Slovenia…where they know their way around a beet and a bowl of soup! 

The Health Benefits of Beet Soup 

Just a clarifying note, the frontrunner in the beet soup game is the Slavic classic borscht, but unlike borscht, this Slovenian beet soup doesn’t use cabbage. That makes it a great alternative for if you want to use ingredients you might already have to make a hearty bowl of beet-red soup. But besides their beautiful color, there’s a lot to love about beets. They contain antioxidants, which help your body fight inflammation and cell damage, as well as a ton of fiber, which can help your digestive function. If that wasn’t enough, they also contain betaine, which the brain uses to create natural antidepressants. For some other beet soup options, try our Chłodnik (Cold Beet Soup)  or Ada’s Cold Beet Soup with Cucumbers, Radishes, and Eggs. 

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Healthy Beet Soup in a large steel bowl with a handle

Healthy Beet Soup Recipe


  • Author: Kristina Smodila

Description

A Slovenian delight.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 3-4 cups fresh beetroot
  • 2 medium potatoes
  • 1 qt vegetable soup stock
  • 4 T parmesan
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Garnish (per portion)
  • 1 tbsp crème fraiche
  • Pinch of black sesame and fresh herbs to garnish


Instructions

  1. Peel and cut onion and garlic.
  2. Peel, wash and dice beets and potatoes.
  3. Preheat oil in a bigger pot. Add onion and fry until golden.
  4. Add garlic and mix with cooking spoon for a few seconds.
  5. Add beets and potatoes and fry for a minute, constantly mixing with cooking spoon.
  6. Add soup stock, parmesan and salt. Cook over medium flame for about 30 minutes.
  7. Use blender to achieve smooth, silky texture.
  8. Serve warm with a spoon of crème fraiche or sour cream.
  9. Garnish with black sesame and fresh herbs.

Recipe and Photography by Kristina Smodila

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Vegan Chocolate Cake (With Tea & Tarot Cards)

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Chocolate cake served in a plate alongside tarot cards and a cup of tea

“In this house we have chocolate cake for breakfast!” That’s a line from Practical Magic, one of my favorite movies. It inspires us to think about a very ordinary food in an unexpected way. Instead of seeing foods as very specific to times of day, or even times of year, the idea of chocolate cake for breakfast seems like a radical notion. Everyone knows chocolate cake is reserved for desserts only. Preferably after you’ve eaten all your green vegetables. Well, I’ve never been a fan of living life in an expected way, so I was determined to transform chocolate cake into a breakfast food.

Chocolate Cake Can Be Magical

Now I regularly (at least twice a week) enjoy chocolate cake, with tea and tarot cards, for breakfast. I love starting my day on a comforting and happy note, while getting some guidance from my cards. Chocolate cake and tarot conjure up a whole mood, an atmosphere, and I can’t recommend that magical pairing enough. You’ll find yourself much more receptive to magical guidance when you have delicious chocolate cake in your mouth.

In creating this recipe, I wanted to transform what chocolate cake could be. I didn’t want the standard airy-overly-sweet variety, so I worked on it until I came up with something filling, not too sweet, and very magical. I bake the cake into little bundtlettes, because aren’t little personal cakes a magical notion, too? But the recipe can easily be baked in a loaf pan, muffin pan, or 8” round. Feel free to bake this recipe into whatever shape your heart desires.

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Chocolate cake served in a plate alongside tarot cards and a cup of tea

Vegan Chocolate Breakfast Cake Recipe


  • Author: Joseph Cuevas

Description

Enjoy with a cup of tea and a spread of tarot cards.


Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 cup unsweetened soy milk & 1 tbs apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup blended silken tofu
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2/3 cup vegan butter melted
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Whipped cream & berries for garnish


Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F and spray your bundtlette pan with nonstick baking spray.
  2. Mix together the soy milk and vinegar. Leave for about 5 minutes to thicken and form a vegan buttermilk.
  3. In a bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, sea salt, and cocoa powder.
  4. In a separate bowl whisk together the sugar, melted butter, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and tofu. Make sure all the sugar has dissolved.
  5. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix with a rubber spatula. Don’t over mix.
  6. Spoon into your bundtlette pan.
  7. Bake for 23-28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  8. Let cool before removing them from the pan.
  9. Top them with whipped cream and berries.

Notes

  • If your chocolate bundtlettes are domed on their base, you can take a kitchen towel, or paper towels, and carefully press them down to be more flat while they are still warm and in the pan.
  • I use the Nordic Ware Bundtlette pan. It yields six good size bundtlettes.
  • If you are soy free, you can use unsweetened vegan yogurt in place of the tofu, and a different plant based milk instead of soy.
  • Bake with intention! I’m a firm believer that the energy we put out, will be in the food we prepare. So bake this recipe thinking about how much you will enjoy having them for breakfast!

Story, Recipe, Styling and Photography by Joseph Cuevas

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Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate Seeds and Venison Jerky

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Roasted to perfection, these tender and flavorful Brussels sprouts make a delightful side dish, featuring a harmonious blend of earthy flavors and a hint of sweetness, complemented by a subtle smoky undertone.

Who says healhy food has to be boring? This recipe comes to us from Cory Hughes of Fig & Ash, who shared his Thanksgiving recipes based on the mind of “warm, nourishing, stick-to-your-ribs kind of food,” he serves up at his own holiday table. These tender and flavorful Brussels sprouts make a delightful side dish, with a hint of sweetness complemented by a subtle smoky undertone.

Why Venison Jerky?

Well, because beef jerky can be a little boring! But there are also many health benefits to venison jerky. Free-range venison offers has more protein and less fat than other red meats, along with and ton of vitamins and minerals. When venison jerky and brussels sprouts join forces, you get one of the most nutrient-rich, delicious side dishes you can imagine.

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Roasted to perfection, these tender and flavorful Brussels sprouts make a delightful side dish, featuring a harmonious blend of earthy flavors and a hint of sweetness, complemented by a subtle smoky undertone.

Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate Seeds and Venison Jerky


  • Author: Cory Hughes

Description

Roasted to perfection.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 lb Brussels sprouts, bottoms off, split in half
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
  • 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp roasted garlic
  • 1 tsp sherry vinegar
  • 3 tbsp pomegranate seeds (fresh is great, or buy them frozen)
  • 1 ½ oz finely diced venison jerky


Instructions

  1. Place the cut Brussels sprouts in a mixing bowl and toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and roasted garlic. Place on a baking tray in a 425-degree oven for 10-15 minutes.
  2. You’re looking for signs of golden brown, and some tenderness in the Brussels sprouts.
  3. Put the Brussels sprouts in a mixing bowl, toss with the sherry vinegar and pomegranate seeds, and place in a serving bowl.
  4. Top with the venison jerky and some more freshly cracked black pepper.
  5. Serve while hot.

Recipe by Cory Hughes / Photography by Dave Bryce / Styling by Keith Recker 

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Apple Tarte Tatin with Homemade Puff Pastry

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Apple Tarte Tatin with Homemade Puff Pastry served on a plate along side a plate of butter and apples

Executive Pastry Chef Selina Progar shares a perfect autumnal apple tarte tatin recipe for apples that welcomes the evening or morning weather chill. This recipe takes two days, so on those days when it’s dark and cold and you feel like you have nothing to do, roll up your sleeves and take a crack at this recipe.

What is Apple Tarte Tatin? 

A tarte tatin is an “upside down” tart made up of pastry baked on top of caramelized fruit. The Tatin sisters, Carolien and Stéphanie Tatin, who ran the Hôtel Tatin in Lamotte-Beuvron, France in the late 19th century, invented it and served it in their hotel. The tarte Tatin was the signature dish, and it’s now popular all over the world. The tarte Tatin is a cousin of the upside down cake, except that rather than using cake, tarte Tatin uses a pastry base. Special tools you’ll need to make it are a pastry brush, a 6-inch pan or 6 inches cast iron skillet, and a rolling pin.

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Apple Tarte Tatin with Homemade Puff Pastry served on a plate along side a plate of butter and apples

Apple Tarte Tatin With Homemade Puff Pastry


  • Author: Selina Progar
  • Yield: 1 small cast iron pan 1x

Description

Turn that frown right-side up with this upside down treat.


Ingredients

Scale

For the tartin:

  • 6 apples, your choice
  • 1 stick butter, melted
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

For the puff pastry dough:

  • 1 cup bread flour
  • 4 oz pastry flour
  • .5 oz salt
  • 4 oz butter, soft
  • 9 oz water, cold

To roll-in:

  • 1 cup + 2 oz butter, pliable but still cold
  • 2 oz bread flour


Instructions

For the tartin:

  1. Prepare the cast iron skillet by lightly rubbing 1 tablespoon of the butter on the bottom and sides, then laying a 9 inch parchment circle in the bottom. The parchment should be coming up the sides. Using 1 more tablespoon of butter brush the parchment, then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of the cinnamon brown sugar.
  2. Preparing the apples: Peel the apples, and slice them with either a sharp knife or a mandolin to about the thickness of a quarter from the top to the bottom (you want the seed star) of 2 apples. Remove the seeds from the stars and set those slices aside. Continue with the remaining 4 apples cutting them the same way. The pieces that do not have the core set those aside. The pieces with the core, cut just the core out (cutting them into half pieces).
  3. Arranging the apples: Arrange the apples with the seed stars first. Place one star in the center, then shingle the remaining apples around the edge. Overlapping each other. Brush that layer with butter and sprinkle with 1 large spoon of sugar.
    Then using the remaining rounds and halves of your apples do two layers of apples (use the half pieces to lift up the edges, as it tends to crown in the center), brush with butter, and sprinkle with sugar. Repeat until you have run out of apples or have reached the very top of the pan. Brush the top layer with butter and sprinkle with sugar.
  4. Wrap the pan entirely in foil, and bake at 375 degrees for 3 hours in a nonconvection oven. 2 hours with convection. Add more time as needed until the apples are deep caramel brown.
  5. Let cool, stovetop, for 1 hour, then place in your fridge overnight to set the butter.
  6. Prepare the puff pastry, or thaw store bough puff pastry. Roll out slightly on a floured surface, and cut slightly larger than the size of the pan you used for the apples.
    Bake using instructions on the recipe.
  7. Once the puff is baked and cooled so you can touch it, place the baked puff pastry on top of the apples and place back in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and carefully flip over the pan onto your serving tray. Remove parchment paper.
  8. Serve with ice cream.

For the puff pastry:

  1. To prepare the dough, place the flour, salt, butter, and water in the mixer with the hook attachment and mix at low speed until a smooth dough has formed.
  2. Shape the dough into a rectangle the size of a half sheet tray. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper and lightly dust with flour. Transfer the dough to that sheet tray, plastic wrap the tray (This will prevent skin from forming on the dough), and refrigerate for 1 hour to 3 hours
  3. To prepare the roll-in, Place the flour and butter in the mixer with the paddle attachment until smooth. Be sure there are no clumps in the butter but do not whip the butter.
  4. Transfer to a sheet of parchment and form a rectangle 1 cm thick. And about the size of a quarter sheet tray. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm but still pliable. **Do not allow to become hard*** about 15 minutes.
  5. Now we are going to lock in the butter to the dough.
  6. Take the dough from the fridge and unwrap it. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and slightly roll out. Not much bigger than it already is. Using a bench knife or bowl scraper, keep the edges very straight and the corners squared off. As close as you can get to a rectangle. Now dust all the flour from the dough. If you leave excess flour, the dough will not stick to itself, leaving air pockets and uneven lamination.
  7. Place the butter pad in the dough to the right side leaving 1-2 centimeters of space from each end. Fold the left half of the dough over the butter and pinch the dough together. Be sure to really seal the edges. Using the rolling pin, slightly roll it out longways. To connect the dough and butter.
  8. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let set it aside on your counter for 30 minutes. This is to bring the butter and dough to the same temp. Do not refrigerate this step.
  9. Now we are going to administer a 4 fold. Roll the dough out in the long ways direction. Once it is rolled out to about 2 centimeters thick, rotate it 90 degrees, So the long seam is facing you. Fold the right side to the center but slightly greater than halfway, fold the other side to meet it in the ‘middle’ making sure all the lines line up perfectly, fold the entire thing in half again. Press the rolling pin down on the dough. And gently roll in the longways. Let chill for 30 minutes.
  10. Repeat that 2 more times for a basic puff pastry. Repeat 5 total times to create a traditional millefeuille.
  11. Rest dough overnight to allow the gluten to relax. Cut the dough into 4 equal parts. Wrap the other pieces. Either refrigerate and use in 3-4 days. Or freeze in chunks or roll out the sheets, separating them with parchment paper and wrapping well.
  12. Take the 1/4 piece of dough and roll out to the thinness of 1- 2 centimeters.
  13. Cut the size of puff pastry you want by cutting straight down, not to saw the dough as that will “smear the layers.”
  14. Be sure to cut the puff pastry to a size that you can evenly weigh down.
  15. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, If you have a convection setting, set it to 325 degrees
  16. Take a 9 inch round or 10 x 10 inch square of puff pastry and lay it on a parchment-lined sheet tray. Lay another sheet of parchment on top. Followed by another sheet tray. On top of that sheet, tray rest something heat resistant and heavy. Like a heavy Pyrex pan, cast iron skillet or ceramic pot. By weighing down the tray you are stopping the dough from puffing up. You can absolutely do this, but not for a tart tartan. This method can be used for a traditional Voulevant. Bake for 20, CAREFULLY check the color of the puff pastry, and reassemble the weights and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until it is golden brown.
  17. Remove from oven and cool.
  18. Flip the apple tart tatin over onto the puff pastry. Place back into the oven for 15 minutes to heat the apple through. Top with ice cream and serve.

Notes

This recipe is done over two days.

The puff pastry dough can be rolled out, rolled up in parchment, wrapped with plastic wrap, stored in a freezer bag, and frozen for up to 6 months.

Recipe by Selina Progar
Styling by Keith Recker
Photography by Dave Bryce

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Kids Coven: Leftover Halloween Candy Ideas

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Six little girls dressed in black costumes with a skeleton behind them.

When a costumed coven of young sorceresses convenes, magic ensues… and we are reminded of how rich with fantasy and imagination this season is for children. After chatting with and photographing a gaggle of gal-ghouls in a costume of their choice, we incorporated their favorite Halloween candy into sweet treats that even adults can’t resist.

This year, instead of tossing excess candy in the trash or letting it take up space in your cabinets, get creative with these leftover halloween candy ideas.

Leftover Halloween Candy Ideas

Fiona, Favorite Halloween Candy: Reese’s

A little girl in a witch costume next to a plate of quick bread

What costume are you wearing this Halloween, Fiona? Construction worker with friends!

Pretend that the added bananas make this Peanut Butter Cup Banana Bread recipe just a tad bit healthier…

Freya, Favorite Halloween Candy: Twix

Stylish portrait of model in editorial fashion setting with dramatic lighting

Freya, would you rather drink apple cider or eat a caramel or candy apple? Apple Cider.

Snag a few Twix Bars from your little one’s Halloween bag (we won’t tell!) and whip up this no-bake cold cake.

Fauna, Favorite Halloween Candy: Snickers

Creative fashion portrait featuring nature-inspired styling and modern design

Fauna, would you rather be a princess or a witch? A witch.

Give in to an ooey gooey craving with our Snickers Cookies (Levain Bakery Style) recipe.

Scarlet, Favorite Halloween Candy: Hubba Bubba

Bold editorial portrait with striking red tones and expressive styling

Haunted houses… YES or EEK, too scary, Scarlet!? Yes!

You can chew the gum for a moment of super sweetness, followed by a less flavorful, stiff wad of gum to give your jaw a workout, OR… you can infuse your favorite vodka, and create a surprisingly delicious spritz. (Obviously, this one is for the grown ups.)

Amira, Favorite Halloween Treat: Candied Apples

Elegant fashion portrait with soft lighting and contemporary styling

Would you rather be a princess or a witch, Amira? Princess.

If you haven’t had a candied apple in a while, you’ll be surprised at the smile they put on everyone’s face.

Halloween-themed table setting with decorative seasonal styling

More Treats Made with Leftover Halloween Candy

Rum Pecan Candy Corn Blondies

Simple Fudgy Peppermint Patty Brownies

Monster Rice Krispy Treats

Halloween Candy Bark

Rum Buttermilk Butterfinger Cake

Story by Jordan Snowden / Photography by Laura Petrilla / Shot on location at Barebones Productions Blackbox Theater

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