Happy May Day!

Beltane by Raven Grimassi Few celebrations of May would be complete without the presence of May wine. May wine is made from the earliest harvest of grapes. It is very popular among modern celebrants of Beltane and is also used as an offering of "first fruits" to the Goddess and God. It is easily purchased at most stores that carry even a fair selection of wine. However, there is a quick and easy way to create a suitable May wine if none can be found to purchase. A Quick May Wine Obtain a bottle of white table wine (not a Chardonnay) and pour the contents into a larger glass container that has a lid. Next take a half-dozen to a dozen bruised fresh strawberries and slice them. Then add a few sweet woodruff leaves and the berries to the wine and chill for several hours to allow the flavors to develop. May Serpent Cake Ingredients (makes 2 cakes): 3/4 cup of sugar 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves 1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg grated zest of one orange 1 teaspoon salt 4 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour 1/2 cup unsalted butter 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons honey, boiling 1/2 cup strong brewed espresso coffee 1 egg 1/3 cup amaretto or rum 1/3 cup jam; wild cherry or raspberry coffee beans and candied orange peel for garnish 1 teaspoon baking soda Mix the sugar, spices, orange zest, baking soda, and salt into the flour. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until it is the size of small pebbles. Pour in the boiling honey, coffee, and liqueur and mix until smooth. Let cool and then turn out onto a floured surface. Divide the dough in half. Roll the first half into an 18-inch long cylinder. Make a deep trough down the center and carefully place it, seam side down, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Be sure that the smooth side is up. Bend the dough carefully into a circle and fashion the snake's head at one end, making a triangle shape. Taper the other end to make the tail. Firmly set two coffee beans for the snake's eyes. Bake the cakes at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes.