Angels…a brief introduction.
I’m sure I’m not going to say anything here in this post that you don’t already know. I am new to paranormal writing/reading, but I am not new to the interest in angels and demons. I come at this from a religious/theological interest and curiosity. I no longer attend organized church, however, I am still incredibly fascinated with theology.
We find angels to be quite prevalent at this time of year. I have a whole collection of them on the fireplace mantle. One, handmade, the others holding some significance to me in one form or other. Most of mine are playing flutes. I could decorate an entire tree with small flute playing angel ornaments.
Angels are created beings, just as humans are.
Angels are messengers.
Angels are warriors.
Angels are often shown with wings in drawings and art. This comes from Hebrew bible descriptions.
Archangels…Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Azrael. These are said to be of the highest rank of angels.
Fallen Angels…those having been banished from heaven. Lucifer is said to have been cast out of heaven by Michael for refusing to bow before man, God’s greatest creation.
There are references to angels in nearly all religions, in one form or other. They are said to be more knowledgeable than humans, but they are not omniscient. They are said to be beings between God and humans, interceding when necessary.
At this time of year, there are no shortage of songs referring to angels…
Angels We Have Heard on High, Hark the Herald Angels Sings, Angels from the Realms of Glory, The First Noel.
There are holiday pageants and nativity scenes and productions all surrounding the message from the archangel Gabriel bringing good tidings of great joy…
For many, angels give hope and bring light. They guide paths and look out for those that are troubled and in need. They are sought for comfort, for prayers, for winging souls to heaven that have passed from the earthly body of humans. They intercede on our behalf, helping us fight the good fight. Angels are seen as a sign of good, of help and healing, of love.
Angels are considered asexual and associated with neither gender. However, I, as an author took liberties and created my own world of angels and demons. My angels are male or female, and there are different factions. I have focused on one in particular, a half angel half demon that thrives on the intimacy and emotional connection that comes from mating with a man in my Ellora’s Cave novella, The Demon is an Angel. This has allowed me to study angels and demons in general, their attributes, their design and the why of their creation. Hopefully, I’ll be able to bring something to these blogs every third Friday that will give you, the reader, something to think about, comment on, or just say ‘hmmm, I didn’t know that’.
Now, I can’t leave a blog generally without some reference to baking. And so, I’m sure you can all guess that what I’m going to leave with you is a recipe for…you guess it, Angel Food Cake. Once upon a time it was referred to as Silver Cake, which I assume is due to the sheen the cake batter takes on when it is ready to be put into the pan. There is no definitive origin of the cake. It is said that it originated with slaves in the South because it required a good deal of labor to make. It is also said to have been a favorite of First Lady, Lucy Webb Hayes (1822-1893). It is also said to have been a recipe that came from the East, being India.
This recipe is from The Pilot Club Cookbook: Cake Favorites (1965) that my husband’s grandmother gave to me many years ago.
Angel Food Cake
1 C sifted cake flour
1 1/2 C sugar
12 egg whites
1 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 tsp. vanilla or almond extract
Sift flour with 3/4 cups sugar, 4 times. beat egg whites with cream of tartar, salt and vanilla until stiff enough to hold up in soft peaks, but still be moist and glossy. Add remaining 3/4 cups sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating after each addition Sift 1/4 cup of flour over whites; fold in. Fold in remaining flour by fourths. Bake in ungreased 10-inch round tube pan at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Invert pan; cool.
Angel Biscuits, sometimes called ‘high biscuits’ (from Smokehouse Ham, Spoon Bread, and Scuppernong Wine, The Folklore and Art of Southern Appalachian Cooking by Joseph E. Dabney. A celebration of foodlore handed down from Scotland, England, Ireland, Germany, and the Cherokee Nation)
4 Tbsp sugar
1 packet yeast
2 Tbsp warm water
1 C crisco
4 c self-rising flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 C buttermilk (room temp.)
Dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water. Combine flour and soda and cut in shortening. Add buttermilk and yeast mixture. Knead about 2 minutes. Roll or pat dough and cut with biscuit cutter. Place on baking sheets. Let stand and rise before baking. Bake at 4oo degrees for 15-20 minutes. Makes 40 biscuits.
Do you believe in angels?
~lissa
Lissa Matthews is an erotic romance author, published with Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. Her website is http://www.lissamatthews.com and you can reach her at lissa@lissamatthews.com
