(An excerpt from The Thelemic Cookbook: Cooking with Correspondences)
In each chapter a menu is presented, followed by all the recipes for each menu offering. After each recipe is a short section which gives the magical correspondences for each food in the recipe. Generally, each menu offers three to four appetizers, a soup and bread, salad, main course, two to three side dishes, three to four desserts, and a list of beverages including juices, teas and alcohol.
Here is a sample recipe from the menu for the astrological sign of Leo. The elements and ruling planets are also explained, but now the explanations have the added dimension of the astrological sign.
Bison Bake with Orange Barbecue Sauce
A main course that would fall under the sign of Leo was a little harder to decide on. Lion is going for $500 per pound, so we are left with what a lion might eat. They predominantly feast on zebras, giraffes, pigs, antelope, Cape buffalo and wildebeests, along with some smaller game. The pig is reserved for another menu, so the best option is buffalo or bison. Buffalo and bison are not the same. Buffalo is known in Africa and Asia but only the bison is known in North America.
Ground bison meat is more common in the marketplace now at less than $10/pound, because people are finding out that bison has less fat, lower cholesterol, less calories, and more protein than beef. Unlike beef, bison meat is more finely marbled, it has almost a sweet smell, and the meat is juicy, tender, and light with still a hearty meaty flavor. The sauce is an orange barbecue sauce that really adds a great dimension.
Ingredients
3 pounds ground bison meat
3 cups yellow onions, chopped
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup safflower oil
1 tablespoon rosemary, dried
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Parsley sprigs for garnish
Sauce Ingredients
2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon fresh garlic, minced
Directions
In a medium frying pan heat the safflower oil and saute the garlic and onions until translucent, and aside to cool.
In a large mixing bowl beat the eggs, and mix in the mustard, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Add the garlic and onion mixture, the breadcrumbs and ground meat. Mix well and form into a large meat roll that will fit into an oiled 9” x 13” pan.
In a medium bowl make the sauce. Pour in the orange juice and whisk in the vinegar, sugar, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder and minced garlic. Use a pastry brush to brush the top of the meat loaf with a portion of it, retaining the remainder to serve at the table. Bake the pan in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 1 hour until the juices run clear. Remove and let the loaf sit for at least 10 minutes before turning out on a serving platter. Heat the remaining sauce, brush the top of the loaf again, and serve the rest at the table. Garnish the loaf with sprigs of fresh parsley. Cut wide generous slices.
Correspondences
Brown sugar is air of Venus in Libra, and tomato paste is water of air of Venus in Libra. Worcestershire sauce is water of Jupiter in Pisces. Chile powder, garlic, mustard, and pepper are fire of Mars in Aries, and onion is water of fire of Mars in Aries. Breadcrumbs from wheat flour are air of earth of Venus in Taurus. Parsley is air of Mercury in Gemini. Eggs are water of the Moon in Cancer, and red wine vinegar is fire of water of the Moon in Cancer. Rosemary and safflower oil are fire of the Sun in Leo, and orange juice is water of fire of the Sun in Leo.
