Old-Fashioned Skills

Lacto-Fermented Chilli Lemon Carrot Sticks

February 21, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Tangy lacto-fermented chilli lemon carrot sticks make a tasty probiotic-rich snack and have just enough kick. Learn how to make this easy small-batch ferment and prepare yourself to get addicted!

making lacto-fermented chilli lemon carrot sticks

FERMENTED CARROTS: THE PERFECT SNACK

Not to knock regular carrot sticks, but lacto-fermented chilli lemon carrot sticks are a whole other ball game.

Do you know how carrots are brimming with vitamins? Well, fermenting them not only gives carrots a vitamin booster but also enriches them with probiotics.

Probiotics are key for a healthy gut and help to strengthen the immune system. Also, did I mention that they’re more delicious?

Lacto-fermented chilli lemon carrot sticks are still raw, which is why there are so many amazing benefits. Depending on how long you ferment them, the carrot sticks retain their crunch factor but are easier to chew.

My toddler has a hard time eating regular carrot sticks, but he has no problem when they’re fermented. In fact, he likes them more! And why wouldn’t he? They’re tangy and flavourful.

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Old-Fashioned Skills We Should Reclaim

February 18, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 12 Comments

Here are 15 old-fashioned skills worth keeping alive to start saving money and become more self-sufficient. How many are you proficient at?

harvesting herbs practicing old-fashioned skills

OLD-FASHIONED SKILLS FOR ENRICHING YOUR LIFE

I don’t know about you, but I’m a strong advocate for simple living.

While there’s nothing simple about simple living, it does come with a reward.

Simple, old-fashioned living is about self-sufficiency, gratitude, and connection.

Here are 15 old-fashioned skills we should learn to live more simply and abundantly.

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How do I Quarter a Chicken?

February 14, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Buying and quartering a whole chicken is a lot more economical than picking up a couple of chicken breasts. When you make the switch from purchasing pieces to a whole bird, the question needs to be asked: How do I quarter a chicken?

kefir brined chicken on carrots and onions

READY, SET, QUARTER

So you went to the grocery store and bought a whole chicken, now what?

First off, look at you, you savvy shopper! Buying a whole chicken is a much more economical option in the long run because you can get three or four meals out of it and you won’t need to buy chicken broth if you make your own.

There are so many options when you bring home a whole chicken.

One route to go is throwing it in a roaster with some veggies, herbs, and salt and pepper, like my paprika roast chicken recipe.

Another is to quarter up the bird for more meal variety and more flavourful stock. Let’s take a look at what we will need to get started.

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Victory Garden Revivalism

February 11, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 8 Comments

As food prices continue to soar and industrial farming practices continue to impoverish the soil and its produce, more and more folks are going back in time. The 1940’s victory garden is making a comeback, only this time, we’re facing a different war: the war on our health and food supply.

If you’re unfamiliar with what a victory garden is, we’re going to rewind to the 1940s.

The world was at war and every household had to deal with strict rationing.

While I’m sure many grumbled about this, many were eager to do their part to contribute to the war effort, doing everything they could to help on the homefront.

To supplement rations, and to also help reduce the cost of the produce that had to be purchased to feed the troops, the victory garden was born.

“Digging for victory” was the name of the game, and governments encouraged citizens to participate. There were educational handbooks, pamphlets and videos sharing tips on what to plant and how to grow and preserve food.

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Making Sauerkraut from Scratch for Beginners

January 31, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 13 Comments

Making sauerkraut from scratch is not only a rewarding experience it is also fairly easy to do. If you’re new to the traditional art of fermentation, homemade sauerkraut is a great place to start. Let’s get started!

RECLAIMING A LOST SKILL

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).

Related: How to Make Milk Kefir

While you can ferment pretty much anything, today we’ll be looking at how to make sauerkraut from scratch.

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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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