Raines Realm

Lammas is a special holiday (aren't they all), that is shared by many belief systems and paths. It is generally celebrated on August 1st, although some start the celebration the day before. Lammas is centered on the beginning of the wheat harvest with loaves of bread from the first harvest being baked and blessed for the celebration. It is also the time when Summer metaphorically dies in preparation for Winter. You can read a very basic description of Lammas  here . This time is looked upon as a time of reflection and new beginnings. The first chills of the change in seasons can sometimes be felt. It is bittersweet. Focusing on the future while acknowledging the past is a wonderful way to celebrate this beautiful time of the year. Traditionally, several cultures will make corn dollys during this celebration in preparation for Spring. It represents the promise of future seed for the next harvest and is typically a shape made of wheat fibers that is filled with seeds from...

Nothing can quite bring people together like cake. And what better way to celebrate our unity as a country during this trying time than with a traditional cake reserved for just this occasion. Historically, election day was a celebratory affair, filled with food and drinks. People would travel to the polls, visiting family and friends along the trip. There were dances and special balls to commemorate the occasion. During this special time, women would bake election cakes and give them to men at the polls to encourage voter turnout. Voting was harolded as an American right and that was something worth celebrating. (And it still is, in my opinion.) This sourdough cake is a cousin to the fruit cake and a batch could feed an entire community. Typical recipes could call for 10 lbs of butter, 13 lbs of sugar, and 3 dozen eggs among other ingredients! Election day was a reminder of the principles that America was founded on. With all of the stress associated with this election...