Nutmeg

Nutmeg has become my spice of choice recently. I was given whole nutmeg as part of a yule gift so I have been grating a little into my coffee. I grated some over my banana and honey mixture. I have always like the kick that nutmeg added when sprinkled on eggnog and various fruit desserts. I have to say I enjoy the taste of freshly grated nutmeg much more than the already grated spice.

So a little bit about nutmeg

Nutmeg, spice consisting of the seed of the Myristica fragrans, a tropical, dioecious evergreen tree native to the Moluccas, or Spice Islands, of Indonesia. The trees may reach a height of about 65 feet (20 metres). They yield fruit 8 years after sowing, reach their prime in 25 years, and bear fruit for 60 years or longer. The nutmeg fruit is a pendulous drupe, similar in appearance to an apricot. When fully mature it splits in two, exposing a crimson-coloured aril, the mace, surrounding a single shiny, brown seed, the nutmeg.

Correspondences
Folk Names: Qoust, Sadhika, Wohpala, Bicuiba Acu
Element: Fire
Planet(s): Jupiter
Astrological: Pisces, Sagittarius, Aries, Leo
Gender: masculine
Sabbat(s): Yule
God(s): Lugh, Danu, Cerridwen

Complementary Magical Herbs
Alfalfa, Allspice, Bayberry, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Irish Moss, John the Conqueror

Complementary Minerals
Mercury

Magical Uses: Prosperity, divination, love, luck, clarity of mind, protection, uplifting and healing.

Long carried as luck charms, and can be strung with star anise and tonka beans for a potent herbal necklace. Specifically, nutmegs are carried to ward off rheumatism, cold sores, neuralgia, boils, and sties. Carrying nutmeg in your pocket or purse will bring you good luck, ward of negativity and attract abundance. Nutmeg is also known to attract happiness and joy, could that be why it finds it way into so many of the Samhain and Yule recipes?

Ground nutmeg can be sprinkled on your green candles to attract prosperity/money. Both Nutmeg and Mace (its outer coating) are often used in incense and sachet recipes to increase psychic and cognitive abilities.

Cooking of Course

Individual Pear Cobblers

INGREDIENTS

4 pears, such as Bartlett or  Anjou
1 cup flour
¾ cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
¼ tsp Ground Nutmeg
½ cup butter

PREPARATION

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Peel and slice the pears and place in individual buttered baking dishes. Combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the pears. Bake the cobblers for 30-35 minutes or until they are hot and bubbly. Try serving with whipped cream or ice cream with an additional sprinkle of nutmeg[freshly ground].