Rating: 
Summary: A True Culinary Adventure
Review: "Cooking By Moonlight" is one of the most original and delightful cookbooks I have ever experienced! The concept of preparing foods, according to the phases of the moon, takes the process to new levels, while focusing on the needs of the whole person ... mind, body, and spirit. Our western food culture seems to be dominated by unhealthy fast foods, as the simple pleasure of cooking with whole unprocessed ingredients, has become a lost art to so many folks. "Cooking By Moonlight" takes us on a journey of rediscovery, of the wonderful gifts Mother Earth has always had available to us.The recipes in "Cooking By Moonlight" take us back to a time, when food was much more than a quick fix, to satisfy our hunger pains. While calling for fresh whole ingredients, Karri Ann Allrich has created a fabulous collection of recipes. She includes a shopping list, as to how to stock our pantries; which will enable us to create kitchen magic, to our hearts' desires. Also, she presents "a suggested list of easy-to-find herbs, spices, and flavorings for cooking by moonlight" (Allrich 33), which explains the spiritual/healing powers, of these ingredients, in addition to what foods are complimented by them. "Cooking By Moonlight" teaches us to rethink food, and how it truly works into our lives. Indeed, food is something to be respected, savored, loved, and enjoyed. Karri Ann Allrich shows us the way, to once again, return to a place where food and the art of cooking, can be an uplifting spiritual part of our daily lives.
Rating: 
Summary: A great cookbook with a neo-pagan spin
Review: Advice on what to keep stocked in your kitchen, as well as attributes of various 'love foods', which foods are best to eat under which moon and season, and why. Excellent recipies, most of the ones with meat ingredients have vegetarian alternatives, which, being a vegetarian, I consider very thoughtful. I do own a few cookbooks, but they're quite dusty, as I don't generally cook. I've got a few recipies and things I know how to assemble, but that number doesn't top a dozen. And half of them simply require adding milk to a package of dried flakey bits. If it can't be made in 10 minutes or less I dunno how. But a cookbook was sent with a neo-pagan spin, and how could I resist giving it a go? I made the Cinnamon Zucchini Bread (pg. 117), the ingredients were simple enough, but I had no idea what it meant to 'fold in the zucchini', I called my sister who is a baker, and she told me, thinking I was an idiot for not immediately understanding. This easily could have been idiocy on my part, but an apendix of 'Baking Terms for Dummies' would have been helpful. At any rate, the bread turned out to be absolutely delicious. Very Gooddess-centric (there is little mention of the God throughout this book) it contains many references to 'Wise Woman' (though none to Cunning Man), this is a cookbook clearly meant for women. Though I'm sure both sexes will appreciate the tastey recipies found within, however it would have been nice to see a bit more of a nod to the fellas. That, and a gloassary would be my only complaints, otherwise it's a delightful book, an excellent addition to the library of any kitchen witch.
Rating:
Summary: soul food that nourishes us, body & spirit
Review: Cooking By Moonlight reminds us that food is not merely fuel; food that feeds us body and soul nourishes us on many levels. Magic in the kitchen is food stirred with love and a smattering of spice and intention. Kitchen alchemy is right at our fingertips. With clear guidance from author Karri Ann Allrich readers will discover how to use the waxing and waning energies of the thirteen moons to conjure delicious edibles for all seasons. From Kitchen Blessings (beautiful prayers for each moon phase) to stocking a moonlit pantry, from tips on love magic and igniting passions, to specific foods and herbs that help heal relationships or invite protection and prosperity, there is a wealth of information here for any aspiring kitchen witch, adept cook or would-be moon goddess. The recipes are creative and mouthwatering, from Blue Moon Berry Crisp to Lemony Chicken Caesar Salad. There is something to please everyone. This is truly a divine cookbook!
Rating:
Summary: Delicious, healthy, wholesome and inspiring!
Review: From it's gently inspiring introduction, through intuitive and wise guidance for the foods to be eaten at certain moon phases and times of year, Cooking by Moonlight is a feast for body and spirit. The recipes are crafted with love and a wholesome attention to our physical requirements as well as our need for nourishment that tempts the appetite. Karri Ann Allrich?s approach is holistic: it is clear how well she understands the link between feeding the body and keeping the other aspects of our natures (mental, emotional and spiritual) functioning at their optimum. The explanations of the energies of the moon?s phases and the moon at different seasons are fascinating, as are the lists of food qualities in the chapter on love foods and practical magic. This book manages to combine nurturing and the indulgence of the senses without sacrificing well-being. The main body of the work contains page after page of gorgeous recipes, with something for everyone, whether they are vegetarian or ?omnivarian?. As I live in Europe, I especially appreciate the appendices giving US to UK conversions for ingredients, measurements and oven temperatures. Harmonious, generous, giving, this is a recipe book to treasure.
Elen Hawke: Praise to the Moon; In The Circle; The Sacred Round
Rating:
Summary: Magical Recipes
Review: I was very fortunate to receive this book as a gift by someone who shares my interests and tastes. I especially loved the chapter on Love Foods and Practical Magic. The author has a wonderful way with words and a true connection with the power of foods.
The recipes are both creative and delicious, with Coconut Whipped Winter Squash and Flourless Dark Night Cake being my favorites of the ones I have tried thus far.
There are so many heavenly recipes in this book I am undecided which to try next.
Rating:
Summary: Moonlight and magical recipes
Review: I'll be the first to admit that I picked up "Cooking By Moonlight" simply because of the bewitching title, but it was the content of folk lore combined with the delectable recipes that convinced me to order 4 copies. (One for me, three for my friends who also explore culinary magic.)And that's just it... the recipes are magically easy to prepare, and when the dishes are brought to the table, they are savored with every bite. Also love the hints of romantic aura that Karri Allrich infuses in her book. It's just a plain great read, and she induces you to try every blessed recipe in that book! Have you tried the flourless dark night cake? Or the portobello and chicken stroganoff? Or the melted goat cheese and balsamic peppers with crostini? The list goes on and on, and I'm wondering as I write this what recipe I'm going to try for my dinner tonight. Karri Allrich is a creative cook, and a gifted writer. The two together make for a cookbook that must be first in line on your bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: LET THE FEAST BEGIN!
Review: Imagine a monthly tribute to the Old Ways, in the form of a natural and healthy feast! I thumbed through this book with a friend, and after countless groans and mouthwatering noises, my friend instructed me to make "Athena's Olive and Artichoke Chicken on Angel Hair Pasta." This dish has white wine, capers, and feta cheese. "Go ahead," she said, "you have all those things, I've seen them in your house! I'll get the feta cheese." "Cooking by Moonlight," helps you cook with harmony to the seasons and moon phases. You could choose dishes at random, anything from drinks, to appetizers, salads, entrees, and desserts. Learn how to make a simple winter wassail with cider and wine, salmon and sun-dried tomato dip, Santa Fe chicken soup, Indian fry bread, Grecian quiche, creamy garlic grits, and something I'm already hoping to taste on my birthday, "flourless dark night cake." It is "for those who prefer their chocolate as intense as possible!" If you prefer a menu with more structure, meal suggestions for each moon can be found, here is an example of February's "menu for the quickening moon" : pesto artichoke hearts baked in parmesan, white bean soup with Rosemary, creamy garlic grits, savory muffins, baked chicken breasts in lemon tarragon cream, lemon-ginger green beans, coconut-whipped winter squash, baked croissant pudding, and dream-walker tea. Yummy! Natural and organic foods are suggested, and there are many recipes helpful to vegetarians also. "Cooking by Moonlight" keeps moving to the top of my book pile, and already has many bookmarks and projects I can't wait to try. This title will be a part of your kitchen for many years!
Rating:
Summary: Inviting, delicious recipes
Review: In a world that often seems to be veering dangerously out of control, it seems vital to try to connect to the Earth in any way possible; what could be more fitting or satisfying than to make such a connection through food. In this elegant and poetic book, Ms. Allrich makes a strong and mouthwatering case for using ingredients specific not only to the seasons, but to each of the thirteen moons of the year. This is hardly a sacrifice, not with dishes like Olive and Rosemary-Raisin Focaccia; Pesto Artichoke Hearts Baked in Parmesan; Lemon Vegetable Penne with Pine Nuts; Sweet Potato Cakes with Lime Cream; and Frozen Margarita Pie. The recipes seem (to this novice cook) to be sophisticated, yet surprisingly easy to follow and quick to prepare. Be forewarned, however: looking through it on an empty stomach is guaranteed to produce severe hunger pangs.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous
Review: Karri Ann Allrich does it again in this new cookbook, Cooking By Moonlight. In this book, she explains what foods, herbs and spices should be eaten with each lunar phase as well as which season, and provides details why these food items are so important to us physically and spiritually, as well as why each lunar phase is so important to us as well. She includes a dictionary that gives explanation to the meaning behind each food item, plus ways in which to utilize them.
The book includes ideas on how to stock your pantry, which is extremely useful if you are new to cooking on a regular basis, or if you are trying to eat healthier as one will if you use this book. She also offers menu ideas for each moon, and describes the meaning behind that lunar month. She also clarifies how we should listen to out bodies as to what they need. The manner in which she described this made so much sense to me, it made me feel better about my body size and shape. Her recipes are easy to read, effortless to prepare and delicious to eat. Examples of some of the delectable dishes you too can enjoy from this book are: Santa Fe Rice, Grapefruit and Spinach Salad, Balsamic Roasted Chicken With Peppers, Chilled Cucumber Soup, and Strawberry Snow. This cookbook was so good, I also recommend Karri Allrich's new cookbook entitled: "Cooking by the Seasons".
Rating:
Summary: Seasonal Moonlit Culinary Magic
Review: LOVE this book!! The blessings are very nice, and I like how she explains the concept of seasonal eating, and how different foods are complimentary to the seasons. This information goes well with her other book 'Cooking By the Seasons', which I also highly recommend.
My favorite recipes are: chilled roasted red pepper soup, chilled avacado soup with lime, savory muffins, balsamic roasted chicken with peppers (this one is DIVINE!), crabmeat enchiladas (not authentic Mexican food, but not meant to be; VERY good!), and lemon herb cookies, pumpkin cheesecake (yummy!). Like her other cook book, the recipes are exotic enough to be exciting, but not so exotic that it's hard to find the ingredients. Unlike her other cook book, this one is NOT vegetarian.
If you are a Pagan, then you will probably love this book. If you are not, then you should try to look past the things that you don't like and go straight to the recipes. They are worth any skimming you might have to do.
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