Home & Hearth

30 Foods Our Great-Grandmothers NEVER Bought

September 6, 2021 by Sylvia Rose 6 Comments

Making these foods from scratch is not only healthier, but it’ll save money, too! How many of these staples are you making at home?

I’ll admit it. Making food from scratch isn’t always the easiest thing to do, especially when you’re balancing multiple plates. Work. Kids. Cleaning. Meals.

In the case of my own great-grandmother, she stayed at home to take care of her family.

It was pre and post-war Germany, so food was scarce and while some of the things on this list weren’t within her scope, everything she placed on the table was homemade.

I personally stay at home, so I have the time to make food from scratch, but if that’s not you, don’t worry.

I’ll explain how you can start making some of your own pantry staples without getting overwhelmed.

Because at the end of the day, food prepared at home not only tastes better, but it’s healthier and cheaper, too.

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27 Vintage Bucket List Ideas for Fall (how to make it magical)

August 23, 2021 by Sylvia Rose 6 Comments

Fall bucket list ideas with a vintage twist to make your autumn days (and nights) cozy, bright and memorable.

blue vintage pick up truck full of pumpkins

Autumn is a gorgeous season. Don’t let it go to waste!

Here are 27 vintage-inspired bucket list ideas for fall to help you make the most of this stunning season.

Whether it’s heading outside to make the most of the cooler days, celebrating the holidays, or staying warm and cozy inside, there’s something for everyone on this list of old-fashioned autumn activities!

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Hate Grocery Shopping? Stock up the Pantry this Fall!

September 3, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 3 Comments

Do you hate grocery shopping as much as I do these days? Here’s how to preserve the summer harvest this fall. Let’s fill up that larder!

stocking up the pantry with homemade salsa

STOCKING UP THE PANTRY THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY

Once upon a time, grocery stores weren’t the primary destination to put a meal on the table.

Soup didn’t come out of a can, a helper didn’t come out of a box, and fast food had to be caught.

Families worked long and hard together to store up enough food to last them through the winter, and the majority of that supply was produced on their own land.

Before the dawn of modern refrigeration, almost every home had a root cellar or some sort of cold room to store their goods.

Potatoes, carrots, cabbages, and other hardy vegetables were carefully packed away.

There were bushels of apples, large crocks of homemade sauerkraut, and cured meats.

In the attic, there might be braids of onions and garlic and herbs hanging to dry for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

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Making Homemade Vanilla Extract (Edible Gifts)

July 3, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

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

MAKING VANILLA EXTRACT FROM SCRATCH

To some, making a 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 months’ worth of patience.

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Making and Maintaining a Sourdough Starter (it’s easy!)

June 19, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Why bother with store-bought yeast when you have your own sourdough starter in the fridge? Learn how to make and maintain this old-fashioned leavener with only three ingredients: flour, water and time.

SOURDOUGH: A NOURISHING TRADITION

Sourdough first came on my radar when I read through Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series as a child.

I would have given almost anything to take a bite out of one of Ma Ingalls’s good sourdough biscuits!

Indeed, sourdough has been around for a long time, much longer than most people would guess.

Did you know that sourdough bread dates back to at least 3700 BC?

While sourdough was shelved away for a while (like a number of other old-fashioned skills and traditions) it is experiencing a resurgence.

When yeast was hard to come by in some areas, sourdough was back in popular demand, and it’s no small wonder why!

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Preparing for a Food Shortage the Vintage Way

May 22, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 13 Comments

When preparing for a food shortage, it isn’t a bad idea to revive the vintage skills that sustained our ancestors through many a tough season. They knew what to do when times got tough and so can you. Self-sufficiency is everything!

ARE WE IN FOR HARD TIMES?

I don’t want to be an alarmist, but we may be in for some tough times. At the time of writing this, there are signs that the food supply chain is breaking down. There are fast food joints that can’t make everything on the menu because of supply issues.

In Canada, there are now “flexitarian” burgers up for sale that mix ground beef with veggie ground round to stretch the supply. The price of meat is shooting up so fast that it’s leaving people dizzy.

Believe it or not, I wrote this article a year ago, and the headlines are still telling the same story .

These are uncertain times, there’s no doubt about that. Instead of getting worked up, let’s prepare ourselves.

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