In the 1950s, rural women had many questions about building or renovating their farm home, selecting and adapting to new electric appliances, how to launder and remove stains from new types of textiles and how to plan healthy meals for their families, among a long list of topics. A young farm wife, Mrs. Emmie (Ducie) […] Read more
Tag Archives recipes
Salads add colour, freshness, nutrition to holiday meals
Whether it is for the turkey dinner or for another time during the holiday season, salads add colour to the table and freshness to the menu. They also add nutrients. These are a few winter salads that may pique your interest. Prosciutto, pear & burrata salad Burrata is a ball-shaped Italian cheese made from cow’s […] Read more
Tinned Fish
Tinned fish has made a big comeback. Once seen as an economical way to feed the family, tinned fish is showing up in gourmet markets. It is one of this year’s trendiest foods. Tinned fish is also healthy. It is a good source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential nutrients and […] Read more
New developments make food preparation easier
With the end of the Second World War, the rationing of foods, building materials and consumer goods lessened. Farming incomes improved and families on the Prairies began to rebuild their lives. As metals were no longer needed for the war effort, farm equipment, vehicles, pots and pans, and appliances began to come onto the market. […] Read more
Imaginative touch helps make Christmas giving special
Gifting is as much fun as receiving. I have brought together some ideas for the person who loves to be in the kitchen. Gift cards are always welcomed. They are offered everywhere — wine stores, kitchen shops and grocery stores. Clubs and subscriptions are also popular. Monthly or quarterly deliveries for cheese, coffee and baking, […] Read more
Tart little cranberries will spruce up any holiday menu
Tis the season of glistening red cranberries in our menus. This tart little berry will spruce up any salad, main course dish and baking and complete a refreshing punch. Part of the appeal is the red pop of colour, but also the antioxidants that a cranberry provides is impressive. When shopping, choose only brightly coloured, […] Read more
Warm spicy menus provide nourishment and comfort
The light of day is growing shorter, the nights are cool and crisp and the stars are gleaming as we edge into winter. Out of my window, I have seen the first snowflake gently falling. So come on in from the cold, curl up with a cozy blanket, read a book, watch a movie or […] Read more
Pate a choux is a unique way to bake for the holidays
Christmas baking is wonderfully predictable. We love shortbread cookies, Nanaimo bars, butter tarts and fruitcakes. But if you have a hankering for something different think about making Pate a choux. The Christmas wreath is especially apt for the season. The choux puffs can be made in advance and frozen. Pull them out and crisp them […] Read more
Creative solutions found for wartime shortages in 1940s
The shortage of certain foods because of food rationing during the Second World War led to innovative recipes in many kitchens. Farm women and government home economists shared new recipe ideas and food saving preparation tips in newspaper columns, at club meetings and in cookbooks. Many unidentified readers submitted suggestions to The Western Producer that […] Read more
Autumn is the season to revel in Mother Nature’s bounty
After many years of travelling with you through the seasons in this column, autumn is always the most fun to prepare. I am inspired by the aroma of sweet apples on the countertop, the bright red ripe tomatoes that pack a nutritional punch, seasonal pumpkin and spices to warm us, fresh dug potatoes that still […] Read more
