Drinks

How to Make Beet Kvass in a Mason Jar

August 30, 2021 by Sylvia Rose 3 Comments

Beet kvass is a fizzy fermented drink. Tangy and traditional, this elixir is flush with health benefits. It’s also easy to make!

If you’ve never had beet kvass before, you’re in for a treat.

Making beet kvass is a simple fermentation project for beginners and only takes a week or two until it’s ready to drink.

It can be ready in less time, too, if you have whey to speed along the fermentation process.

Some people love kvass, others hate it, but there’s only one way to find out which camp you belong in.

Are you an initiate when it comes to this wonderful elixir? Let’s begin.

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A Vintage Lemonade Recipe (and a modern one, too)

July 17, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 2 Comments

This simple vintage lemonade recipe will quench any thirst, and so will the modern recipe for a frosty and frothy blended basil lemonade!

THE INSPIRATION FOR A VINTAGE LEMONADE RECIPE

A few years ago, my mother came across a well-loved copy of Canada’s Favourite Cook Book in an antique shop.

It’s aged and ragged with faded sauce stains and bonus recipe cards that were cut out of cereal boxes.

This book dates back to 1910 and is a compilation of recipes sent by ladies from both Canada and the United States who were eager to share their best recipes.

The only problem?

Well, if you’re the least bit familiar with vintage recipes, you’ll know that they can be a bit vague…

Canada's Favorite Cook Book antique copy

Lemonade should be made in the proportion of one lemon to each large goblet. Squeeze the lemons and take out any seeds. If you do not like the pulp strain the juice. Sweeten the drink well though that is a matter of taste. The pleasant tart taste should be preserved. Add water to the juice and when serving put cracked ice and a thin slice of lemon to each glass.
E. J. C. (a contributor to Canada’s Favorite Cook Book)

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Four Easy Elixirs to Keep You Warm This Winter

December 27, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 4 Comments

Whether you need a way to keep warm or something to relieve an aching throat or sinuses, these easy elixirs are bound to make you feel better. Learn how to make these hot drinks so that you can make them when you need them the most!

In Canada, winter brings so many wonderful things that I look forward to every year. Unless I’m going somewhere, I love being hit by huge snowstorms and digging my way out. Ice skating and skiing hold a special place in my heart, as do long winter walks. I usually focus on the things I like, which makes an otherwise harsh season more bearable, but there are two things I am constantly battling with: keeping warm and staying healthy. These easy elixirs check both boxes, and if you are feeling under the weather, they will help to soothe and perk you up. The best part is that you probably have all of the ingredients you will need!

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Spiked Eggnog from Scratch (serve it hot or cold!)

November 29, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 1 Comment

Holiday eggnog, anyone? 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!

HOMEMADE HOLIDAY EGGNOG

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 Lumimarc glasses, she often served the family eggnog in her treasured collection. 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.

SPIKED EGGNOG FROM SCRATCH VIDEO

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The Spicy Green Caesar Smoothie (a powerful fibre-packed green smoothie)

August 13, 2019 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

This spicy green caesar smoothie is not your average green smoothie. Blend this up to get in your daily servings of vegetables and a zesty kick to jumpstart your day. It’s everything your body craves!

IS A SPICY GREEN CAESAR SMOOTHIE LIKE AN ACTUAL CAESAR?

First off, the spicy green caesar smoothie is missing almost all of the elements that make a real caesar cocktail. For one, there’s no tomato clam juice, nor is there Worcestershire sauce, nor Tabasco. Not even vodka. “How dare you!” you might say hotly, your finger pointed accusingly at me. “That’s not a caesar, that’s cocktail appropriation!”. Well, yes, but let’s not be hasty! Allow me to make my plea.

MAKING THE GREEN SMOOTHIE: A VIDEO

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Three Classic Bourbon Cocktails for Summer

June 28, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 6 Comments

There are a lot of quintessentials for summer, and a good cocktail on the patio is one of them. Here are three easy classic bourbon cocktails–one with a sparkling twist!

MAKING REFRESHING COCKTAILS WITH BOURBON

Of all the whiskeys that are out there, bourbon takes the crown. At least, that’s the case in my book because I find bourbon tastes sweeter than other whiskeys. When people sip on Scotch, for example, they make comments about how it’s smoky, peaty, floral or fruity. When I sip on Scotch, all I feel is burning and I always regret giving it another shot (no pun intended). I tried hard to like Scotch, really, I did. I can tolerate it in a Scotch and soda, but I guess it’s one of those drinks that aren’t meant to be mixed in a cocktail. That’s why I like bourbon, there’s a lot you can do with it.

SUMMERY BOURBON COCKTAILS VIDEO

If this is your first time visiting the kitchen, you’re about to find out why I call my kitchen vintage… If you like my style, please consider subscribing to the Vintage Kitchen Vixen YouTube channel!

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