Jack-O-Lanterns have a specific function in folk magic, y'know?
Listen. You know, I know, we all know: it's been a busy October. So busy, in fact, that we may have missed out on one of our favorite activities: carving pumpkins for our front step!
If that's the case, then have no fear: these jack-o-lantern hand pies are perfect for catching the magic of the season (and they're sure to delight your kids, if you have any). Better, you could also change out the savory filling of a chorizo hand pie with a fruit filling and have a sweet pastry to enjoy, too. But to really make this match the theme, it's best to use a savory filling, because that's how you can fill it with all kinds of evil-repelling ingredients like onion, garlic, and peppers. Add an egg wash for egg's protective qualities, and there it is: a jack-o-lantern for your protection needs as the veil gets thinner.
But to make the magic the most effective against the troublesome spirits wandering around, it's good to know why jack-o-lanterns and onions are effective to begin with.
Magic in Jack-o-Lantern Chorizo Hand Pies
When the major holiday being celebrated this time of year was still Samhain, out there in the Emerald Isles of Ireland, there was a belief that the veil thinned and allowed all kinds of spirits through—be they kind ancestors or dangerous fairies. As a result, the people would carve faces into vegetables like turnips, as these scary faces were thought to spook the fairies and keep them at bay. As the Irish moved around, they came to use pumpkins in America, but the idea lived on. Combine that with something stinky like onion, stinky things having a long history of keeping spooks away, and the combination of scary faces and stinky, harsh smells will send any spirits running from your doorstep this Halloween!
While the qualities of Pluto and water may help you rebuild from within and get in touch with yourself this Halloween season, you bet the rest of this meal—all fiery and Mars-focused—will keep away annoying and harmful spirits just as well as any actual carved pumpkin might. It’ll also give you the boost of luck and power you need to make the most of any partying or trick-or-treating you do, granted that you’re doing your part to observe proper behavior and safety in public (as no amount of magic can save you from your own dangerous decisions)!
Jack-o-Lantern Chorizo Hand Pies
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 40-50
Makes 2-3 servings
Ingredients:
Two 9in pie crusts
5 links of chorizo
1 onions diced
1 pepper, diced
1 Tbsp crushed red pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese
1 egg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
Dice onion and fry in a skillet until translucent.
Add chopped garlic and crushed red pepper, frying until fragrant.
Remove chorizo from casings and add to pan with bell pepper, frying until almost cooked through.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cut out eight to ten near-hand sized pumpkin shapes.
On half of the shapes, cut out jack-o-lantern faces.
Set shapes on a tray and spoon a good amount of filling onto the bottom pumpkins.
Add a bit of cheese, then cover with the decorated pumpkin tops and press the edges together with a fork.
Brush with a beaten egg, then bake for 20-30min or until the pie crust is golden brown.
These are the cutest things for both a delicious dinner and a fun little craft project! If you've got pie dough that needs to be used up and a penchant for getting creative in the kitchen, these will definitely pay off (and they're so satisfying to eat). Try it out! ♥
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Sara Raztresen is a Slovene-American writer, screenwriter, and Christian witch. Her fantasy works draw heavily on the wisdom she gathers from her own personal and spiritual experience, and her spiritual practice borrows much of the whimsy and wonder that modern society has relegated to fairy-and-folktale. Her goal is to help people regain their spiritual footing and discover God through a new (yet old) lens of mysticism.
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