Picture Book Buds are a fun and easy way to incorporate literacy into nature study. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related activity and snack suggestions!
Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch
Written by: Barbara Cuoghi, Illustrated by: Elenia Beretta, Translated by: Genni Gunn
Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch is a picture book that has been translated from its original Italian which tells the story of Befana the Winter Witch. If you have read my blog before you may know that I am a huge fan of Befana (check out my Befana bread here) and always include her in our Twelfth Night festivities, I have even considered writing a picture book about her because all of the ones that were on the market (until this one came out) tell the christianized version of the story which isn’t as interesting. I am kind of glad I didn’t, because Barbara Cuoghi did a truly beautiful job. This book is visually stunning, the illustrations are whimsical and perfect with unexpected touches of neon color that I LOVE. The writing is gentle and subtle and perfect for a story about the winter witch. I really can not recommend this book enough!
If you aren’t familiar with Twelfth Night/ Epiphany, learn more about this holiday here.
Craft:
Winter Witch Seed Bombs
One of Befana’s most important jobs in mythology is flying over the fields on her broomstick to ensure they are fruitful in spring. There are winter witch archetypes in a number of cultures and like Befana, they are all personifications of nature, they are the cold dark winter part of the year getting ready for the light and growth of spring. Across cultures people use stars to symbolize them, the light in the dark. (Befana cookies are nearly always stars.) So what better way to celebrate the winter while also looking forward to spring than with star-adorned seed bombs? Now if you haven’t read some of my other posts about winter seed bombs, you might be thinking… ummm you know you don’t grow plants in winter right..? But here is the thing. You don’t grow tender annuals in winter. Nearly all native plants require cold stratification, which is a fancy way of saying that they need a period of cold before they can germinate (start growing) in spring. This makes winter the perfect time to scatter native plant seed bombs, they will get the cold they need and be ready come spring- just like Befana flying over the fields.
Materials:
- white air dry clay (ensure it is non-toxic and no salt dough!)
- native seeds from your area
- small star cookie cutters (optional)
Method:
Take a small pinch of clay and roll it into a ball. flatten it out into a disk.
Place a pinch of seeds into the center of the disk and pinch the sides together like a little dumpling. Roll it into a ball again.
Gently press the cookie cutter into the ball to mak a star impression. You aren’t trying to cut through, just leave a star shape. Allow to dry out completely.
Throw outdoors in a place where the plants will be safe growing and check back in the spring!
NOTE: I often include potting soil in my larger seed bombs, but these guys are meant to sit outside all winter which means that by spring the clay will have completely dissolved and the seeds nestled into the ground so the extra soil is unnecessary.
Snack:
Befana’s Coal Candy
Befana leaves naughty children coal, just like another more famous winter spirit. She also leaves candy for good children, but most often she leaves a little of both which I think is funny (and accurate…) Candy coal for/from Befana is very traditional in Italy and after translating a bunch of recipes I found they are all nearly the same. My addition to the world of candy coal was to get rid of the synthetic black food coloring and add activated charcoal. It both gives the candy the perfect color and I think it’s funny that it’s made with actual charCOAL. This candy pretty much just tastes like sugar. Like sugar cube sugar. I might lay with adding some other flavorings some day. It does look shockingly like coal, it has the grainy texture and the smooth shiny bits. My kids didn’t even realize it was edible until I told them!
Ingredients:
- 1 egg white
- 1 cup + 1/2 cup powdered sugar divided
- 1 TBS edible activated charcoal
- 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- small muslin bags (optional but cute)
- 8×8″ heatproof pan
- 5 quart saucepan
- candy thermometer
Method:
Grease and line an 8×8″ heatproof pan with parchment paper.
First prepare the egg white solution:
Whisk together the egg white, 1 cup of the powdered sugar, the charcoal and the lemon juice in a bowl.
Whisk in the remaining 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. The mixture should be stiff and thick and cling to your whisk, If it doesn’t add a little more powdered sugar.
Set aside.
Next prepare the sugar syrup.
Add the granulated sugar and water to a deep pan (I like 5 quart- sugar bubble a lot when it cooks) Using a heatproof spatula, stir them together, it will take some muscle to get the sugar evenly wet. (It’s almost scraping or mashing more than stirring)
Turn the heat to medium/ medium high and stop stirring. Insert your candy thermometer and cook undisturbed until the mixture reaches 260°f It will still look pretty grainy and may begin to caramelize a bit. (In fact, most Italian recipes refer to it as a caramel, but I think that’s a stretch.)
As soon as you hit 260°f, dump the egg white mixture you prepared earlier into the pot and stir carefully with a heat proof spatula. It will foam and bubble and thicken very quickly.
Once it looks well mixed, pour it into the 8×8″ pan you prepared and allow to cool completely. Once cool and hard, lift out of the pan with the parchment and bash on the counter to break into pieces. Tuck them into a little muslin bag if using. Distribute to naughty individuals.
NOTE: I added some torrone in my title picture for the “nice” candy, but have not included the recipe.
