Kitchen & Garden

Healthy Snacks That Support Simple Living (and Happy Kids)

April 18, 2025 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Why I Don’t Believe in Snacking (Most of the Time)

I don’t usually snack. I’m also not in the habit of eating after 6 p.m. But last night? I gave in to my body’s craving for something nourishing and fell into bliss with peanut butter stuffed dates. They hit the spot. Healthy snacks for the win!

Truth be told, I consider myself lucky. In the grand sweep of history, the habit of snacking is a relatively new one. For most of human history, people didn’t eat between meals—not because they were especially disciplined, but because they didn’t have the option.

Snacking is a byproduct of food abundance, industrialization, and clever marketing. And while I appreciate a good homemade snack now and again, I try not to make it a habit.

Snacking: A Modern Habit

…

9 Ways to Give Vanilla Bean Scraps A New Life

April 24, 2023 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Don’t toss those precious pods in the compost after scraping out that fragrant black gold — get everything you possibly can out of them!

Maybe you finished up a pastry project that has left you with vanilla pod fragments. Perhaps you have spent vanilla beans from making homemade vanilla extract. Either way, one of these ideas is bound to inspire you to turn something from what’s often considered nothing.

If your pods are coming from a near-empty jar of extract, then yes, the alcohol has extracted everything good from those fragrant orchid beans. However, they’ve been marinating in their own extract which makes them fair game. Don’t let them go to waste!

WATCH THE VIDEO

If you’re more of a visual learner, here is the accompanying video for this post. I’m more active on YouTube these days than I am on here, so be sure to subscribe to my channel if you consider yourself old-fashioned at heart and would like to follow along.

…

The BEST Liver and Onions Recipe – Old-Fashioned Comfort Food That’s Easy to Make!

October 23, 2022 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

This recipe for liver and onions is a comforting, old-fashioned dish that’s easy to make. It features bacon and gravy for a delicious, hearty meal.

Liver and onions is one of those classic dishes that seems to have fallen out of favour over the years. Even though it’s been lost on the palate of the younger generations, this traditional meal still has a lot to offer!

If you thought spinach was a superfood, you haven’t met liver. This variety meat is one of the most nutrient-dense foods around town. Brimming with vitamins A, B, and C, liver is also rich in iron, folate, and copper, to name a few (source).

Despite its rockstar status, not everyone likes liver. Made right, however, it stands a far better chance of making a regular appearance on the dinner table. Let’s get to it!

…

20 Rationing Tips from WWII (in case you need them)

January 17, 2022 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Rationing tips were plentiful during WWII. Here are twenty vintage pointers that might help you, too, if you ever find yourself in a pinch.

Source: World War 2 Ration Books And Stamps D. D. Teoli Jr. A. C.

In 1940, Britain began rationing; in 1942, Canada and the US followed suit. Goods that had previously been taken for granted either became scarce or cost dearly.

Ration stamps were distributed to every household, granting families a purchasing allowance for meat, butter, sugar, coffee, tea, dairy and preserves. Needless to say, this changed the way folks ate.

Since resources were being focussed on the war effort, there was a massive shift from importation to local production and consumption. To do their part on the homefront, women had to be creative in the kitchen, making do with what they could buy for their families. There’s a lot we can learn from them.

…

Maple Bourbon Pumpkin Pie (so good, you won’t want to share)

November 15, 2021 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

This maple bourbon pumpkin pie is naturally sweetened and lightly spiked. It makes for a fun twist on this holiday favourite!

maple bourbon pumpkin pie slice with whipped cream

If you’re a sucker for a good old-fashioned pumpkin pie, then you’re going to love this punched-up version. It’s rich, maple sweet and has just enough spice.

The bourbon takes it to a whole new level; a slight twist of orange livens things up. If the orange sounds weird to you, don’t worry, I was skeptical, too. It works, though, and it helps make this holiday classic top-notch.

…

Easy Sauerkraut & Bacon Quiche Recipe

October 18, 2021 by Sylvia Rose 7 Comments

This sauerkraut and bacon quiche recipe will tickle your tastebuds in the best possible way. It’s super easy to make, too!

Quiche is a versatile dish that can be served at practically any meal. Leftover quiche makes a quick and easy breakfast, and no one is going to complain if there’s a fresh quiche at the brunch table. In the winter, eat it warm, just barely out of the oven. In summer, serve it cold to help beat the heat.

If you don’t welcome gluten in your life, turn it into a frittata, eliminating the crust to make it keto-friendly. And the flavour! Oh my gosh, it’s superb. Raw sauerkraut is tamed with smoky bacon, sauteed onions, and a hint of dry white wine.

I think you’re going to love this unique quiche recipe, but try it out and see for yourself…

RELATED: Homemade Raw Sauerkraut Recipe

…