Old Black Witch! [And the Tea Room]

Old Black Witch! is a cute children's story book that doesn't delve into the dark side of witchcraft.  It's about a boy [Nicky] and his mother who purchased an old house in New England to turn into a tea room.   On their first night in the house Nicky builds a fire in the fireplace, only to find he had awakened the Old Black Witch who had been asleep there for a hundred years.   They promise her she can remain in the house if she stays up in the attic.

 

The day finally arrives when the tea room ["The Jug and Muffin"] opens for business.  One day the tea room was so busy that Nicky's mom went upstairs to seek the help of the Old Black Witch in the kitchen.   Even though it had been a hundred years since she had cooked, she discovered her blueberry pancakes were simply wonderful.  Soon she was not only making them in the kitchen, but serving them to the guests as well. 

 

In the end, she saves The Jug and Muffin tea room from a calamity.  I'll let you get the book from Amazon.com to read to the children in your life, and find out "the rest of the story!" 

 

On the back cover of the book is an illustration of the Old Black Witch standing in front of the stove making blueberry pancakes.  The recipe is provided.

 

Bewitching Blueberry Pancakes

 

1 1/4 cups flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg, beaten

3/4 cup milk

3 tablespoons oil

1/2 cup washed blueberries

 

As you stir in the blueberries [this is the magic part] say three times:

 

Gobble dee gook

With a wooden spoon,

The laugh of a toad

At the height of the moon!

 

Pour on a hot griddle and watch.

 

You can make things disappear just like Old Black Witch.

Put three pancakes in front of any hungry boy or girl and watch them go!

 

Note:  The plates in the above photo are by Debbie Mumm which happen to go perfectly with the story book.