It would be an understatement to say grocery prices have gone up. Particularly when some of these items have not only doubled in price; but tripled; over just the last couple of years. I find Springtime especially expensive. Any food items that we saved from our kitchen garden harvest, like apples and dried herbs, have mostly been used up. Preserves like canned tomatoes & relish are getting low and likely the jam is all gone. So how can we get everything we need this time of year; and also end our grocery trip having spent a little less money?

I start by looking at my shopping list. I keep mine on paper but some people use their phone or keep it in their head.

The food items are the most difficult. Sometimes you simply have to pay the price. But the best thing to do to avoid this (of course) is to buy these items on sale. I check the flyers (online & on paper) and only buy non-perishable staples at that time. If you can get your timing right (and have a few stores at your disposal), you can usually do this for perishable items as well. Some of the points programs are good too. But I'll only use them if they are truly free, offer a physical card and actually accrue enough points to offer money off, at least a few times a year. Don't forget to check the 50% off racks in the bakery, deli & frozen section at your stores. Store-made made pizzas and flat breads are often 50% off, and can be easily frozen.

But what about the other items on your list? There are actually many items we buy that can be eliminated with creative solutions. Or there are lower cost options. Here's some ideas. I can't help you with the milk though; unless you have a neigbour with a cow. Actually, I can! Most recipes will work just fine if you use 1/2 the milk and make up the difference with water.

Plum Sauce/Soy Sauce/Ketchup: Hey, you pay for those little packets the restaurant includes in your order when you've treated yourself to take-out! Save them in a bowl in the fridge. You only need 1 or 2 soy sauce packets to dress up rice. Plum sauce is great for dipping chicken & fries but a few packs also works nicely in a stir fry. We all know what to do with the ketchup! But it's also great on top of meatloaf mixed together with a little brown sugar & dried mustard. These little packages also work great in lunch boxes.

When you go over your shopping list, check each item and see if there's a free solution you hadn't thought of before. Or try and find a lower cost option.

Happy Shopping .. and Saving!

Hide the Silver!

Silver cutlery and dishes were once coveted and included in the home for their beauty, usefulness and of course, as a status symbol. But they also represented a practical investment.

Cutlery and dishes were a needed item, and silver was durable, long-lasting, could be traded, pawned, handed down to the next generation; and at the end of the day ... sold to be melted down and re-used. Hence the saying "Hide the silver!" when someone was expected to visit the household with whom you weren't acquainted; or had reason to be suspicious of their poor character. It is also why many buffets and china cabinets had locks. Real silver is often very heavy and is hallmarked with various numbers and symbols which are helpful in tracing their age, place of origin and value.

Affordable Silver Plate

Silver plate became popular as a cost-effective alternative to silver and made it more widely available for the common public to attain. It is physically lighter than solid silver (though can be heavy if it has an encased lead plug for weight and stability). Silver plate items range from unmarked to marked with country of origin, a declaration of lead mounts/plug and can also be hallmarked or include the company name. I am not an expert, but to the best of my knowledge the lead content is not considered dangerous as it is not exposed at all. The lead is a contained "plug" fully encased within the item (usually within copper with the silver plate over top).

I have found multiples uses for vintage silver plate other than serving food anyway. A few are shown here ... and I keep finding more inspiration with each piece I add! You can polish away the tarnish, which looks nice in the shabby chic, romantic home ... or leave the patina for the more eclectic, bohemian, dark or magically witchy home.

Is there anyone who doesn't love lasagna? In the immortal words of Garfield the Cat; "I never met a lasagna I didn't like." This incredibly well-stacked lasagna is easy to make and one that hardly anybody will say "no" to!

All measurements are approximate since I never measure when I make this lasagna - I just throw it all together! I have also purposely chosen pre-made ingredients for speed; but you could "gourmet" this recipe up with freshly-made noodles, fresh tomatoes, spinach and finely chopped onion. And if you don't have ready-made Italian Seasoning in your cupboard, you can make your own concoction with dried or fresh oregano, basil, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, sage and savory, or any combination of these herbs.

Soups are wonderful meal items that can be easily altered to suit your taste and preferences ... and I've altered the original version a good deal! For this recipe, I prefer using frozen kernel corn but it is also great to boil up and strip cobs of corn that would otherwise go to waste. Or tinned corn works as well. Vegetarians can omit the bacon and use vegetable stock. You may also increase/decrease quantities of corn and potato to what you have on hand and substitute leek or other onion varieties. All types of potatoes work in this recipe. Makes a nice solid meal with crackers or buns and a sharp white cheddar. Enjoy!

When I made this meal ... I realized I didn't have any carrots. Then I remembered that I still had some out on the front brick patio (mid-January!) in a suspended iron planter. I had grown some in pots, elevated, away from the slugs which had ravaged our garden this year. Anyway - they were just enough to complete this meal. These winter carrots were lovely, fragrant, crisp and sweet.
You can always scrape a meal together somehow!

Dec 1 - Open your advent calendar
Dec 2 - Send pretty Christmas cards to friends
Dec 3 - Watch classic movies like:  A Christmas Carol or It's a
              Wonderful Life​
Dec 4 - Make a bowl of oranges studded with cloves - they smell
              wonderful

Dec 5 - Trim your cedar or holly tree and leave out the free trimmings for your neighbours ...
              or go on the search for pine cones or free trimmings someone left out for you!
Dec 6 - Decorate your front doorway with cedar boughs, holly & pine cones
Dec 7 - Build a snowman ... if you have snow, or watch Raymond Briggs' The Snowman
Dec 8 - Haul out the Christmas decorations and deck those halls
Dec 9 - Put up and decorate your Christmas Tree (save a few branches from the bottom)
Dec 10 - Make a wreath for the front door from stray branches cut from your Christmas tree
Dec 11 - Wrap up all those gifts you kindly purchased from Meadow Sweet Grove! Cut up old
                Christmas cards to use for tags
Dec 12 - Make catnip bags for the kitties or homemade treats for the doggies
Dec 13 - Do your grocery shop (online if you can) to gather all the Christmas fixings together for
                 the big day
Dec 14 - Put together a Christmas puzzle with a child, spouse, roommate or by yourself with a
                 glass of wine of course!
Dec 15 - Bake sugar cookies and cut into old-fashioned shapes like trees, stars, & snowmen
Dec 16 - Drop some of those cookies off on a neighbour's doorstep, knock, walk away and wave
                from a safe distance
Dec 17 - Watch funny movies like:  A Christmas Story or Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean
Dec 18 - Make a cup of fancy hot chocolate
Dec 19 - Clean your little abode from top to bottom while listening to Christmas music
Dec 20 - Walk around the neighbourhood and look at all the Christmas lights           

You will need:
2 handfuls of fresh rose petals
boiling water
1 covered dish
metal tea strainer and funnel
witch hazel
2 same size containers
1 dark glass bottle

Step 3.  Measure out an equal amount of pure witch hazel to your rosewater.  Pour both the witch hazel and rosewater together into a dark glass bottle, cap tightly and shake gently or rotate bottle to mix. Store in a dark, cool cupboard. Apply to skin with a cotton ball.

Rosewater is anti-inflammatory and has anti-bacterial qualities and so soothes irritated or acne-prone skin. As a natural astringent; it tones skins and tightens pores as well as reducing the appearance of wrinkles. It is also used to hydrate, revitalize and moisture all skin types as it balances the serum of the skin. Witch hazel has similar benefits as it pertains to toning, tightening and cleansing the skin.

And since the beautiful Queen Cleopatra is said to have washed her face in rosewater and indulged in milk baths heavily laced with rose petals; as part of her beauty regime ... I think that is good enough for me to incorporate some rosewater into my daily skin care routine!

May was never supposed to be a month of isolation for those who celebrate May Day or Beltane... or just love the official beginning of summer.  It's the Merry, Merry, Month of May! Accompanying that should be all kinds of outdoor May revels like a procession or parade, Morris dancing or weaving ribbons while dancing around the maypole and crowning a Queen of the May. It's time for "strolling through the park one day" and perhaps having your heart stolen away by a pair of roguish eyes. We certainly weren't meant to be sitting inside missing all the lovely May flowers that were brought to us by April showers!

But as the saying goes "When God closes a door, he opens a window". There is always a way to work the magic of May into your year - no matter what befalls it.  So take that COVID! 

More people are baking and cooking at home during this time, so here's a delightful recipe for that perfect May treat - the Victoria Sandwich.  A variation on the traditional Sponge Cake, the Victoria Sandwich is named for Queen Victoria and we have the Victorians to thank for the addition of butter to the recipe. This formed a more solid, flatter sponge that allowed for the construction of a "built cake", which appealed to their engineering mentality.  This recipe (wording altered) is from the "The Victorian Kitchen" series of books - "The Book of Cakes and Cookies". Enjoy!

As we're all inside right now in an effort to slow down the spread of Coronavirus; the timing seems very auspicious for a bit of a Spring Clean. This article won't focus on de-cluttering since it is probably unwise or indeed impossible to donate items to charities right now ... and besides, I'm one of those people that keeps everything! However, with all the extra cleaning products that many bought in order to keep their families and homes safe and free from the virus; a deep cleaning is indeed possible for some ... whether or not I will do one; remains to be seen! The zest for cleaning right now is brought about from the hope of eradicating an invisible foe; any and all traces of this terrible virus, that if missed, can cause sickness. Ironically, there is a likening here to one of the goals of magic - which is to replace bad energy with good energy. Both the virus and magic are invisible, but both exist.

I think this year I will focus instead on a simple, slow, yet thorough Spring Cleaning ... liberally sprinkled with magic intended to remove bad energy and replace it with good energy.

Wash it and make it yours: (Element - Water)
Most of us are spending lots of time disinfecting and cleaning groceries and other packages received at our homes at this time. There is a magical, as well as prosaic, premise to this. The Coronavirus is invisible but it can be likened to the "bad energy" that we are doing our very best to remove with disinfectants and lots of soap and water.

This isn't new for me as I buy lots of used and vintage items. I always take the time to wash, repair and mend my new treasures. If I can lather my purchase up with soap and completely immerse it in water ... or put it through a washing machine, I do. For delicate figurines, I often use an old toothbrush and Q-tips to clean into all the little crevices. Clothing is washed and any tiny repairs made. The magic in this process is that by cleaning, repairing or altering an item; I know I have made the item mine. I feel that I have removed all traces of its prior ownership. The dirt (visible) is removed and the vibes and any germs (invisible) are likewise removed.

Windows, sunlight & prisms: (Element - Air)
A big facet of magic is changing your outlook and improving your circumstances.  One quick and easy way to improve your "outlook" is to clean your windows. Give all of your windows a good clean inside and out; at least those that you can safely reach. This provides an immediate positive change to your ability to "look out" on the world, as there is little as depressing as gorgeous sunshine struggling through a dirty window (and revealing all the smudges). Clean them and let the sun shine in - literally.  If this is heavy work for you; just clean one window a day - with the amount of time we may have to stay isolated, there should be time enough for all of those windows to sparkle!

If you have some prisms going spare, now is the time to hang them up and lure some good light energy into your home. Don't have a prism and are avoiding the store? Take a look in your jewellery box - many earrings, pendants or crystal bead necklaces reflect the light beautifully. Maybe you have a cut crystal tumbler, wine glass or bowl. Experiment with what you have around the house by holding the item into the sun's rays and see what good vibes you can catch and reflect around your magical home!

Rugs, incense and a magical journey: (Element - Fire)
If you are fortunate enough to have a Persian rug (or any other richly patterned or pretty rug), first start by giving it a good vacuum. Take that wool beauty outside and beat it with a broom or rug beater if you have one. Then take the time to sit down on your newly cleaned carpet, light some incense or a scented candle (in a fire safe holder of course) and go back in time with one of the "Tales from the Arabian Nights". If you have a small child to read aloud stories of magic - that's a very special bonus.  Afterwards, close your eyes, let your mind wander and see where your travels take you on your very own magic flying carpet. Since we likely won't be boarding a plane for quite some time, you could also use your carpet whenever you want to visit the lands and places you are missing.

Note:  Make sure you inspect your rug for any indication of moths. If you find any damage, and the rug is expensive or dear; it pays to get a professional assessment. If the rug is not valuable, take it outside and give it an extra deep vacuum, top and bottom. When you return it to your home, sprinkle with lavender and/or place cedar wood liberally on the carpet. Continue this process every few days.

Clear the air: (Element - Air & Fire)
Don't forgot to open all those doors and windows! Pick a nice sunny and breezy Spring day if you get one. The air in your home gets stagnant and there you have that heavy, negative energy. Just like magic, you can't see poor air, but you can feel its effects. A good airing out of your home with honest-to-goodness fresh air helps to get rid of indoor air pollutants, stale food odours and moisture. This is especially important in bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms as well as any shut or closed rooms. Let the carbon dioxide out and the oxygen in! Your living room probably smells heavenly now from that excursion on your magic flying carpet so extend that to the rest of your home by burning incense, scented candles or doing a sage smudging.  (Note: Always use proper fireproof holders when burning any incense or smudges and do not leave candles or other lit items unattended.)

The goal of a Spring Clean is usually to clean every room - top to bottom. To polish furniture, wash curtains and windows, shake out and turn rugs and mattresses, wash floors, clear clutter ... and well, wash and wipe down everything else! This year, I'm focusing on priority cleaning of items and surfaces - to try and keep us safe from the virus and to remove that "bad energy".  At the same time, I'm utilizing some of the magical tricks and tips in this article to infuse as much "good energy" into our home as I can.

Flowers: (Element - Earth)
Last but not least, don't forget to enjoy Mother Nature and bring in some new Spring flowers from your garden or rare walks outside. The beauty of nature and the aroma of flowers are among the top magical additions that are sure to bring good energy into your home.

Important Note: Nothing in this article should be construed as advice on protecting yourself from COVID19 (the Coronavirus). Follow the advice of your local health authorities.

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2020

There are lots of little natural touches you can add to your home to "bring in the green" this Winter Solstice, Yule and Christmas Season!  Here's a few quick and easy ideas:

• Orange and clove pomanders
• Trim the corners of your doors with sprigs of holly
• Make a wreath starting with a wicker frame and add branches from your Christmas tree, some holly, winter berries, pine cones and anything else you can find in your garden or nature walks; add ribbon or bells
• Fill a crystal or glass bowl with pine cones, bundles of cinnamon sticks and fancy ornaments

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2019

Running short of money a couple of days before payday or trying to stick to a budget? Don't have time (or the energy) to run out to the store? If you've got a can of salmon or tuna, and a healthy spice cupboard, you might just have dinner.

This recipe is inspired by "Salmon Chops" from Patricia R. Wagner's "Depression Era Recipes" and I altered it a little bit to suit my taste ... and with what was available in my cupboard!  I often turn to her recipes as they are easy, use few or low cost ingredients, and make a good meal in a pinch. 

The beauty of this recipe is that you likely have most of these items already ... and the ones you don't have are easy to stock up on, and don't spoil by storing.  It pays to keep your pantry stocked up on basic items such as the ones used in this "Salmon Cakes" recipe.  The Depression was a time when people had to make do with what they had, and also what was available.  I like to apply that to today by just living simply ... which usually saves money to boot!

Preparing the salad:
In a large mixing bowl create bed of torn spinach and iceberg lettuce.  Add 1/2 cup of red pepper, chopped to desired size, and halved cherry tomatoes. Chop up deli meats and cheese and thinly slice boiled eggs.  Add on top of mixture.
 
Preparing the dressing:
In a small mixing bowl add grape seed oil and slowly combine vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire sauce and extremely finely chopped garlic.  Then add dry ingredients (paprika, salt, crushed red pepper and dry mustard).  Use a fork or small whisk and blend well.  Drizzle over salad and toss lightly.