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Sylvia Rose

9 Ways to Give Vanilla Bean Scraps A New Life

April 24, 2023 by Sylvia Rose 25 Comments

There are no two ways around it: vanilla bean pods are expensive. Instead of tossing those precious pods in the compost after scraping out that black gold, get everything you possibly can out of them!

making vanilla sugar

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.

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Filed Under: Baking, Culinary Know-How, Frugal Living, Old-Fashioned Skills Tagged With: zero waste kitchen tips

How to Save Energy the Vintage Way – 9 Old-Fashioned Tips

January 15, 2023 by Sylvia Rose 37 Comments

Here are 9 old-fashioned ways to help you reduce your energy consumption and give your wallet a break.

snuffing out a candle

Let’s rewind to a time when folks didn’t rely on electricity to get by to the degree that most of us are accustomed to. At the peak of summer’s sweltering heat, air conditioners didn’t run the way they do today. Depending on the time period, people would go somewhere communal that was air-conditioned, like the movie theatre. In the winter, people bundled up for extra warmth.

It’s not that way anymore, at least, not in North America.

As a Canadian, I would have to say that most people have gotten lazy when it comes to energy consumption. The ways of our forefathers (and mothers) have been forgotten. Convenience is king, but it comes at a cost.

The costs that may come to mind are environmental and financial. Energy based on fossil fuels isn’t as affordable as it once was. In fact, it’s become downright expensive.

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Filed Under: Frugal Living, Old-Fashioned Skills

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

October 23, 2022 by Sylvia Rose 2 Comments

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

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!

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Filed Under: Cast Iron Cooking, Main Dishes, RECIPES, Traditional Recipes

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

January 17, 2022 by Sylvia Rose 6 Comments

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

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

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Filed Under: Frugal Living, Old-Fashioned Skills

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

November 15, 2021 by Sylvia Rose 14 Comments

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.

RELATED: Maple Bourbon Cranberry Sauce Recipe

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Filed Under: Baking, Holidays, RECIPES

Cleaning With FlyLady Plus for a Sparkling Home (it’s easy!)

November 1, 2021 by Sylvia Rose 4 Comments

FlyLady Plus is an app and cleaning system that’s a total gamechanger when it comes to keeping a tidy home. And best of all, it’s FREE!

microfibre cloths and cleaning spray

Do you have a hard time keeping your home tidy? Have you made cleaning schedules for yourself that always get abandoned? Or perhaps it’s a matter of never having enough time to tend to the cleanliness of your home? No matter the story, I’m willing to bet that FlyLady can help you with your struggle.

It’s possible that you’ve never heard of the FlyLady app before. I certainly hadn’t! But when I kept hearing about it, I had to investigate.

It completely changed the way I clean.

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Filed Under: Cleaning, Old-Fashioned Skills

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Welcome to the Kitchen!

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I’m delighted to have you here!

Hi! I’m Sylvia, a vintage-loving gal. Join me weekly as I share old-fashioned tips and recipes to help you become more intentional and self-sufficient. Want to get to know me better? Please join me over here.

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