Witchcraft for Wayward Girls | Sweet & Salty Witches Brooms
I am in constant awe of Grady Hendrix’s ability to write from a teenage girl’s perspective and get it right. The thoughts, the feelings, the vocabulary of women and girls in different parts of history. The guy does his research. This is my second book of his that I’ve read and it has solidified him as one of my favourite horror authors. He’s so good at evoking a certain place and time. His books make you think and feel and are so much more than shock and awe.
In Witchcraft for Wayward girls we follow Fern, a teenager who is sent to a home for unwed mothers. Through research and the experiences of those close to him Grady captures life in the 1970’s and the absolute vitriol everyone felt towards girls who dared to get pregnant.
As Fern and her new friends experience constant victim blaming, harassment, judgement and dismissiveness, they get the urge to fight back and take their future for themselves. Enter the librarian. A witch who promises them power and revenge. The girls quickly get in over their heads and band together to fight the evils without and within.
“The last time she’d been here it had been Miss Parcae’s nighttime lair, glowing with candles, shimmering with the smell of smoke and pine needles and spice.”
For this book I decided to make Sweet & Salty Witches Broom snacks, based on an iconic scene from the book representing the girls taking back what freedom they can. These are an incredibly easy and delicious Halloween treat. Simply dip pretzels in melted caramels and press on some hickory sticks. Simple and so cute!
Sweet & Salty Witches Brooms
1/2 cup unwrapped caramels
2 cups hickory sticks
36 pretzel sticks
Place caramels in a bowl set over a steaming pot of water on the stove. Stir with a rubber spatula until melted. Keep warm throughout the process as the caramel will set up quickly at room temperature.
Dip the pretzels into the melted caramel covering about 1/3. Take shorter pieces of hickory sticks and press them along the bottom half the caramel, all the way around. Take longer pieces and place them along the top of the caramel all the way around. Press everything together gently but firmly, adjusting the shape as needed. Place on a piece of parchment to cool.
Notes
You may need less or more of the ingredients. This is just an estimation.
The caramel will cool quite hard and be difficult to get out of the bowl if you have any extra. I would advise scraping any excess onto a piece of parchment paper while still warm, then you can chop it up once cool to eat later.
Hi I’m Cheri, I’ve been staying up too late reading since I was a kid hiding under the covers with a flashlight.