Friday, May 7, 2010

Cooking under the Moon

Most people don't understand why they can whip up the exact same recipe, to have it turn out great sometimes, but flop on others. Some of this problem could be due to the stage of the moon as well as the sign that the moon is transiting through. There actually are moon phases that are more conducive to certain cooking activities.

The best time to make fresh sauerkraut is within a few days after the Full Moon in the signs of Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces.

The best times to brew wine or root beer (not beer) is when the moon is in Taurus or Pisces. If the moon is sextile or trine to Venus (direct motion), the batch is likely to be fuller bodied. Best to avoid the dates when the moon is forming any aspects to Mars or Saturn.

Brewing other drinks is best when started during the 3rd or 4th quarters and the moon is in Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces.

Baked goods are usually best when the moon is in the signs of Gemini, Libra or Aquarius, and when the moon is forming positive aspects to Mercury or Venus while not in retrograde motion. Creating works of arts from food, i.e. decorating cakes, sculpting with ice or food, etc., is likely to be enhanced while the moon is transiting through the sign of Taurus or Libra and in favorable aspect to Venus direct.

Canning one's own food is a large project that can be enhanced by knowing the best dates to begin. Canning and/or freezing fruits or vegetables when the moon is waxing in the signs of Cancer or Pisces tends to improve the outcome and quality. Making jams, jellies and preserves is best during the waxing moon while the moon is transiting through Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces.

Drying herbs is best during the 3rd quarter of the moon while the moon is transiting Aries, Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius or Aquarius.

Cooking in a crock pot or cooking on the stove over low heat is best when done while the moon is transiting Cancer, Pisces or Scorpio.

Roasting foods in the oven tend to turn out best when the moon transits Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn and in a favorable aspect to Mars.

Drying or smoking of meats or produce is best when initiated during the waxing 3rd quarters while the moon is in the signs of Aries, Gemini, Leo or Sagittarius. The process is enhanced if the moon was moving into a favorable aspect to Mars when the process was started.

You can find some other best days at Moontracks' Daily Activities chart.

If terms or phrases in this article do not make sense, click on the glossary of terms link in the right column under "Pages."