In the March 2013 issue of Downhome, we get an inside look at the fast-paced world of auctions from St. John's-based Fitzpatrick's Auctioneers, Liquidators and Appraisers. The founder shares the tricks of his trade, as well as some of the oddities that have been sold on his auction block over the years. Actually, auctions are the perfect p...
Everyday Gourmet Goes Mexican
Mole Poblano is a labour intensive dish, traditional to Puebla and Oaxaca, Mexico. It has been made for centuries, and in the days before modern blenders and food processors, the sauce was ground in the large community molcajete (mortar and pestle-style grinder) to reduce the labour for individual housewives. It was not uncommon to see them get together to make a big batch, share the work and then, share the rewards with their families. This
Crafts of Christmases Past Downhome staff started putting their not-so-crafty hands to work showing you how to make cute Christmas crafts in December 2004. Since then, we've glued, stitched and sewn together more than 40 holiday decorations for the pages of Downhome magazine. We hope you've enjoyed making them with your family as much as we enjoyed coming up with them. This month, we've taken some time to look back at all of those past decorations, and we've
Pumpkin Carving Stencils
This Halloween, Downhome is helping you have the best-decorated house on your street. Don't settle for carving a standard jack o'lantern, with the triangles for eyes and a jagged grin - it's been done, people! Instead, we've created great downhome-oriented stencils that you and your family can try out this fall - or carve out your own creative design (see below for downhome-inspired stencils). When your masterpiece is complete (whatever the design), snap a photo
Unique Yards
It's summertime and many folks are enjoying "staycations," giving them time to work on their gardens- whether it's tending to plants or adding individual accents to make a yard unique! Have a gander at some of the interesting folk art, funky planters, and other personal touches Downhome submitters have spotted on lawns!
Grounded
"This unusual flower pot was discovered during a backpacking trip west of Burgeo."
Bouillabaisse
After all the delicious overindulgence of the holidays, we have a recipe for you that's full of goodness but light and healthy - bouillabaisse (pronounced BOO-ya-baze).
This delightful seafood soup originated in Marseilles in the south of France. It is traditionally flavoured with olive oil, garlic, saffron, bay, fennel and orange peel, and includes at least three kinds of fish found in their waters, such as scorpionfish, sea robin and conger. But over the
Local Cookbooks, Reviewed By Alyssa Fowler
Cookin' Up a Scoff 2: Second Helping Gertrude Jeans
Nfld. In Focus
$14.95
A big meal or a "scoff" is just what you'll be cooking when you try recipes from Cookin' up a Scoff 2: Second Helping! As the sequel to the traditional Newfoundland cookbook, Cookin' up a Scoff, this edition provides more authentic local dishes with more old-time ingredients.
This book brings home-cooked recipes right to your table,
How to Handle Annuals
An annual is a plant that completes its life cycle in a single growing season. That means it germinates from seed, grows stems and leaves, produces flowers, sets seed and dies all in the same season. Some annuals are produced from cuttings and some do not produce seed. Annuals do not survive the winter and must be planted every year, although there are a few exceptions like calendula that seed themselves and grow again the
Aboriginal Inspired Innu Tea Dolls
These gorgeous creations are an excellent example of the remarkable resourcefulness that is inherent in the Innu of Labrador. Travelling was a way of life for these people, as they followed the migration of the fish and animals they depended upon for survival. To reduce the amount of items they had to travel with, they created the tea doll, which started out as a "functional toy." The dolls, made of broadcloth and
