Vintage Kitchen Vixen

Making the Most of Staying at Home (how to not go crazy)

April 28, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Making the most of staying at home is the only thing we can really do during a lock-down. Here are some coping mechanisms to help keep you afloat!

making the most of staying at home country airbnb

IT’S NOT EASY

Last November I decided to quit my job to stay at home with my little boy.

It was an easy decision for me to make because it’s what I’ve always wanted to do.

I’m a homebody and I love taking care of my family. Still, this CV crisis hits hard.

My husband’s been working from home for over a month, I can’t take my little one to the park, and my social outlets are missing.

Then there’s the fear which is the hardest part for me.

I hate bearing witness to the panic, fear and anxiety that’s gripping so many people.

As someone who usually stays at home, here’s what I do to thrive.

…

Asparagus and Cherry Tomato Sesame Salad

April 24, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

This asparagus and cherry tomato sesame salad is as striking as it is flavourful. Tossed in an Asian-inspired vinaigrette, this summery salad aims to please.

THE BEST ASPARAGUS SALAD EVER

The idea for this salad probably would have slipped by me completely had I not worked in pastry.

For a couple of years, I worked for a boulangerie that not only sold bread and pastries, but also breakfast, lunch and dinner. This included hot meals, sandwiches, soups and salads.

One of these salads was this asparagus and cherry tomato salad with an Asian-inspired dressing that always knocked my socks off.

It was (and still is) my favourite salad in the whole wide world, but despite working there for two years, would you believe I never got the recipe?

…

Cracking Open a Coconut (and what to do with it!)

April 21, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Cracking open a coconut for the first time is quite the experience. If you have a coconut sitting on your kitchen counter that you don’t know what to do with, let me walk you through it!

“I GOT YOU A COCONUT”

This is not what I was expecting to hear when my husband came home from doing errands while I was filming.

Normally he surprises and delights me with chocolate, kombucha and cinnamon rolls from the local bakery, but a coconut? I wasn’t expecting that one.

What was I going to do with it? Throw it?

My little boy did. He thought it was a ball.

It can be intimidating, being presented with something new.

I mean, I adore coconut, but it’s usually already flaked, shredded, or creamed, so I don’t need to do anything.

If I want coconut water, I go to the store and buy it.

Instead, “I got you a coconut”.

The coconut sat on my counter for a week, patiently waiting for me to come around.

I didn’t want to give it the time of day, but then when I was filming my videos for perfect scrambled eggs and pesto tuna melts, my husband suggested I crack open the coconut on camera.

Well, okay. Here’s what I did.

…

Pesto Tuna Melt Sandwich: an Easy Lunch Idea

April 17, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Whipping up a pesto tuna melt makes for a quick and easy lunch. A crusty baguette topped with pesto butter, pesto tuna salad, and melty mozzarella cheese.

PESTO TUNA MELTS: AN EASY LUNCH

Whenever I’m stumped on what to make for lunch, I know my pantry will have the answer.

That’s the best thing about a pesto tuna melt–or any tuna melt, for that matter. I almost always have everything I need to whip a couple up. Here’s what you’ll need!

…

Perfect Scrambled Eggs (They’re So Creamy!)

April 14, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 2 Comments

Once you get a taste for how velvety and scrumptious scrambled eggs can be, it’s hard to go back. Perfect scrambled eggs can’t be rushed, but they’re so worth it!

Some of you might not want to hear this, but the secret behind making perfect scrambled eggs is time and patience!

To get flavourful, velvety eggs, you need to give yourself a bit of time.

There’s a reason why most restaurants don’t serve up perfect scrambled eggs: it takes too long!

The key is cooking them low and slow.

Are you ready to begin?

…

What I’m Planting in My Victory Garden

April 7, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

It’s finally happening. Victory Gardens are making a resurgence. Here’s a peek at what I’ll be growing in my second year of victory gardening. Will you be digging for victory, too?

what I'm planting Swiss chard for victory garden

MY LITTLE VICTORY GARDEN

In February 2020, I wrote about why victory gardens should make a comeback.

While I view self-sufficiency as a virtue, when you grow your own food, you’re connecting with your food, getting exercise, and declining to support industrial farming practices.

I had a feeling a victory garden resurgence was coming, but I didn’t know that it would be so soon or that it would be sparked by an illness.

2019 was my real first year of gardening, so naturally, I made a bunch of mistakes.

Still, I wanted to expand the garden, which is precisely what I did. My patch is more than double the size for the growing season ahead.

In true victory garden style, the goal is to make my land as productive as I possibly can.

To augment garden yields, I’ll also be growing with containers and converting one of my flower beds into a lettuce bed.

Ready to see what I’m planting?

…