Vintage Kitchen Vixen

Holidays

Making Homemade Vanilla Extract (Edible Gifts)

by Leave a Comment

Making vanilla extract from scratch is a reward all on its own. Whether it’s to save a bit of money, to enhance your baking experience, or to make a thoughtful handmade gift, there’s something special about extracting your own vanilla flavour.

homemade vanilla extract

This Homemade Vanilla Extract post may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase something after clicking on one of the links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

HOMEMADE VANILLA EXTRACT VIDEO TUTORIAL

In this video, I will go over everything you need to know about making vanilla extract. To find more videos like this one, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

MAKING VANILLA EXTRACT FROM SCRATCH

To some, making vanilla extract from scratch seems out of the realm of possibility. The truth is, it couldn’t be easier to make! No matter how many different ways you roll the dice, vanilla is expensive. Taking the DIY approach, however, will save you a few bucks and give you a cool kitchen project. All you need is a handful of vanilla beans, a half-pint mason jar, 80-proof alcohol, and six month’s worth of patience.

…

Read More

A Simple Christmas Tale of Rustic Longings

by 1 Comment

This is a personal reflection on what Christmas was like growing up and how all I ever wanted was a simple Christmas.  In a consumer-driven world, getting back to basics is more important than ever…

snowy evergreen trees
Photo by Jeremy Gallman

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase something after clicking on one of the links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

First off, it’s December 24th. Usually I’m in my kitchen, but today I’m in the country, celebrating Christmas in a rustic family cottage. This is the first time in years that the cottage has been opened for Christmas. It’s cold and we’re all bundled up in sweaters and slippers, huddling around a blazing fire. It’ll get colder when we go outside to go to church together, but it always feels warmer coming in from the cold. There’s good food, fine wine, and family all around. This is what it’s all about.

…

Read More

Eggnog French Toast with Bourbon Maple Syrup

by Leave a Comment

When the Christmas holidays roll around, breakfast calls for an extra sparkle. Drizzled with a boozy bourbon maple syrup, this eggnog French toast recipe will put you in a right jolly mood!

serving eggnog french toast

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase something after clicking on one of the links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

EGGNOG FRENCH TOAST RECIPE VIDEO

Here’s the video tutorial walking you through A to Z. If you like what you see, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

IT BEGINS WITH THE BREAD

The word for french toast in French is “pain perdu” which, translated, means lost bread. This classic breakfast used to be a means to use up stale bread. Waste not, want not and such. It’s one of my frugal kitchen rules, not letting stale bread go to waste. Nevertheless, a truly exceptional french toast recipe begins with the bread.

…

Read More

The Best German Christmas Treats

by 10 Comments

From marzipan to lebkuchen, these German Christmas treats make excellent stocking stuffers. Served on a platter, they make it especially easy to surprise and delight guests with something special and sweet.

a plate of the best german christmas treats

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase something after clicking on one of the links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

A VIDEO REVIEW OF THE BEST GERMAN CHRISTMAS TREATS

Watch it or read it, here’s the video review for you. If you like what you see, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

…

Read More

French Canadian Tourtière Recipe

by 2 Comments

This French Canadian tourtière is the taste of the holidays for many Quebecers. A flavourful beef and pork filling wrapped in a flaky pâte brisée pie crust, how can anyone go wrong?  

holding a French Canadian tourtière

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase something after clicking on one of the links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

FRENCH CANADIAN TOURTIÈRE RECIPE VIDEO

If you feel more like watching than reading, here’s the video! If you like what you see, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

…

Read More

Spiked Eggnog from Scratch

by 1 Comment

Unlike commercial eggnogs, which are full of sugar and unsightly additives, a glass of this won’t leave you feeling too guilty. Learn how to make spiked eggnog from scratch and get a bonus vintage recipe to boot!

drinking spiked eggnog

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase something after clicking on one of the links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

SPIKED EGGNOG FROM SCRATCH VIDEO

Spiked eggnog is a snap to make. Here’s my video tutorial demonstrating how it’s done. If you like what you see, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

THE TASTE OF THE HOLIDAYS

The first time I remember having eggnog, I was four or five years old. My mom coated the rims of her dinner glasses with green coloured sugar sprinkles and from that moment on, I was an eggnog fiend. My mother only bought eggnog for Christmas, never before, never after. A collector of ruby red glass, she often served the family eggnog in her treasured wine glasses. It was always beautiful and festive, and I couldn’t get enough of that sweet, creamy, and spicy nog. I still can’t. If my mom had known just how much sugar and additives were lurking in those cartons of eggnog, she would have made her own from scratch.

…

Read More