Sylvia Rose

How to Make Old-Fashioned Sauerkraut from Scratch (A Beginner’s Guide)

January 31, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 32 Comments

Jar packed with raw sauerkraut submerged in brine for fermentation"

Before modern conveniences like refrigerators and freezers found a place in every home, folks needed a way to preserve their harvest. While root cellars were excellent for storing potatoes, squash and other hardy produce, a lot would have gone to waste without a means of preservation.

Fermentation is an art that goes way back and is a means to preserve produce, dairy, and even fish. Today it’s a skill that is slowly being reclaimed, although in some parts of the world it still lives strong (ex. Korea’s totally healthy obsession with kimchi). While you can ferment pretty much anything, today we’ll be looking at how to make sauerkraut from scratch.

Related: How to Make Milk Kefir

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Dark Chocolate Ganache Tart from Scratch

January 24, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 6 Comments

A dark chocolate ganache tart makes for a decadent and elegant dessert. Learn how to make this classic French pastry recipe from scratch and be the talk at the dinner table! No one will be able to resist this rich, silky chocolate ganache filling and the crumbly cookie-like crust.

dark chocolate ganache tart with red berries

THIS CHOCOLATE TART IS A BITE OF HEAVEN

If you’ve never had a dark chocolate ganache tart before, you’re in for a treat. It’s not a recipe that’s for the lactose-intolerant, though, that’s for sure!

While I believe it’s important to steer clear of refined sugar as much as possible, I also don’t believe it’s healthy to deprive ourselves from the occasional treat.

That’s why when I do indulge, I make sure it’s something good. This tart is made with the purest ingredients (no vegetable shortening here!) and it will have your dinner guests raving.

So, what on earth makes this classic French dessert taste so darn good?

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5 Natural Cleaning Ingredients to Start Using NOW

January 21, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 18 Comments

Switching over to natural cleaners is one of the best things you can do for your home. It’s an easy way to eliminate unnecessary toxins from your cleaning routine once you have what you need. Here’s a list of 5 natural cleaning ingredients to help get you started on your green cleaning journey!

WHY SHOULD I START USING NATURAL CLEANING INGREDIENTS?

Whether we want to admit it or not, we are surrounded by all kinds of toxins.

It’s not just what we eat (that’s a huge part of it, though), it’s everything we expose ourselves to.

The personal care products, the plastic, the wifi… Then there are the commercial cleaners we keep under the sink.

The way I look at it, anything that gets a huge marketing and advertising budget is something I should stay away from.

Do you want to know why?

Here in Canada, 1 in 2 Canadians is expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. In the States, the CDC reported that allergies in children increased significantly between 1997-2011.

Then there are the growing numbers of people being diagnosed with conditions like Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, heart disease, and infertility amongst others.

Before you scourge me, I am not saying these problems are caused by what you clean your home with. Changing what you clean your home with, however, is an easy way to become more conscious of what you invite into your life.

Switching to natural cleaners is a good first step to reducing the toxins you’re exposing yourself and your family to.

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Sweet Shortcrust Pastry Dough aka Pâte Sucrée

January 17, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Sweet shortcrust pastry dough, or, pâte sucrée, is a classic French recipe that is perfect for tarts. Richer than a standard shortcrust pastry, it is sweet, buttery, and good to the last crumb.

FOR THE BEST TARTS, MAKE A SWEET SHORTCRUST PASTRY DOUGH

The crust, next to the filling, is arguably the most important part of any tart or pie.

A good filling can redeem a bad crust, but why have a sad crust in the first place? They’re not hard to make!

Let me tell you, though, I’m a happy camper whenever I dig into a tart to discover a sweet shortcrust pastry crust.

Pâte sucrée (what I call it at home) is practically a dessert in itself, tasting almost like a cookie.

This makes for one decadent slice that most folks will gobble right up. So? What’s the secret behind it tasting so darn good?

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Sesame Naan Bread: A Cast Iron Skillet Recipe

January 10, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 2 Comments

It’s time to pull out the cast iron skillet and learn how to whip up a batch of this sesame naan bread. It’s the perfect accompaniment for those winter soups and curries!

CAST IRON SKILLET SESAME NAAN BREAD

If you’ve never had naan before, it’s kind of like pita bread that’s found in many Eastern cuisines.

When I think of naan, Indian is the first cuisine that comes to mind, but it’s one of many.

Traditionally, naan is baked in a tandoor oven, but since I don’t have one of those in my kitchen, I always turn to my trusty cast-iron skillet whenever I’m making a batch. This is also the case when I make flour tortillas and breakfast biscuits, so naan bread is a natural fit.

If you’re new to the world of cast iron cooking, you might want to read up on how to use cast-iron cookware, but if you know your way around cast iron, please, continue. Of course.

It’s also possible to use whatever pan you wish, but I hope you give cast iron a shot!

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Cleaning an Oven Naturally without Toxic Cleaners

January 7, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Say goodbye to harsh chemical oven cleaners! Swap them out with something that’s gentle, yet powerful. Similar to using commercial cleaners, cleaning an oven naturally calls for time and a little bit of elbow grease without all the nasty toxins.

CLEANING AN OVEN NATURALLY

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think I’ve met a single person who enjoys cleaning their oven.

Like cleaning the fridge, scrubbing down that hardworking oven isn’t high up on anyone’s list of favourite afternoon activities.

It’s one of those chores that is often put off until it can’t be ignored any longer.

I know my oven is due for a cleaning when every time I turn it on, it smells like smoke from that pile of burned melted cheese that oozed from a frozen pizza.

That’s a clear sign that it’s time to put on the pink rubber gloves and get to it.

Forget about the chemicals or the self-clean option, though. There’s a better way that won’t have you coughing up a storm or fearing for your skin.

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