Stirring up nostalgia with this classic vintage Chicken Stew and Dumplings recipe

Like most people, I find that there are certain foods that remind me of my childhood more than any others. Over the years, I've shared several of them (such as Hamburger Pie, Schill Family Spaghetti Sauce, and Cheddar Green Onion Cheese Ball) here with you and am sure others will follow as time goes on. In fact, we're shining the spotlight on one here today that suits these last few icy cold weeks of winter extremely well: Hearty Chicken Stew and Dumplings.

My mom makes an incredible chicken (ditto for turkey and beef, too) stew with dumplings, which was truly a cornerstone of our family meals when I was growing up. Economical, easy to freeze and reheat, and a huge crowd pleaser with everyone under our roof, this was a classic dish that I could never get enough as a youngster and which, albeit in gluten-free form, I still make each fall, winter and early spring to this very day.

There is something so powerfully comforting about the rich, creamy broth of a hearty meat and vegetable stew, which, already filling unto itself, becomes a true stick-to-your-ribs meal with the inclusion of a classic biscuit topping that is cooked right on top of the simmering liquid.

I have only to think of this dish and suddenly I'm seven years old again, coming inside from hours spent making snow forts and snow angels alike in the backyard. Or, I'm 10 and its games of street hockey in the driveway of the elegant little Edwardian house we lived in at the time. 12 and I've just gotten back from selling cases of Girl Guide cookies around our neighbourhood, and at 15, it's enjoyed with my girlfriends before we stay up into the wee hours of the night for a sleepover.

This dish represents the often forgotten warm side of winter. It hugs and comforts the stomach and soul alike. Easily multiplied for a large groups, it is equally at home when serving one person. Shortly after those aforementioned memories, I was living on my own and making meals like stew and dumplings to eek every last cent that I could out of my extremely modest income at the time.

These days, it's a fond reminder of decades past and a way for me to nourish my own family, as well - coming full circle - as my parents when they come 'round for a winter eve's dinner of stew and biscuits.

We need foods like this in our life. They don't have to be this exact dish by any means, just so long as they’re ones where we’re uplifted and filled in ways far surpassing our actual bellies by recipes that have constant companions throughout the decades. They're everyday traditions that are worth their weight and gold and which will always provoke a happy sense of nostalgia in us, while also being the bedrock for future meal related memories, too.



{This delicious mid-1950s Chicken Stew and Dumplings recipe is wonderful as it sits, but can also be modified to suit your family's tastes and what you've got in your fridge at the moment. Stews are very versatile dishes and can usually take a lot of alterations in stride, so they're well worth turning to often throughout the dark, chilly winter months, when a nourishing bowl of steaming how stew not only fills a person up, but also brightens their mood as well. Vintage recipe image source.}


Of course, if you're not a meat eater, you can easily opt instead for an equally satisfying vegetable only stew, with or without biscuits (which can easily be made vegetarian or vegan). When going this route, I'll often take things in a French or Mediterranean direction, sometimes starting with a tomato base and adding in whatever suitable veggies I have to hand at the moment.

I usually like to partner stew with a light side vegetable and/or green salad, some buns/rolls or bread for dipping up every last morsel of the delicious stew liquid, and a refreshing dessert, such as vanilla ice cream with spiced poached pears, chocolate mousse, or a chilled cheesecake afterwards, especially if I'm serving such a meal to company.

Whatever foods evoke a positive wave of nostalgia in you, I hope that you're able to tuck into at least a few this season and well on throughout the rest of the year. Such dishes remind of us of where we came from, what life was like when we were growing up, and
how important it is to keep everyday meal traditions alive even in the midst of our hectic, mile-a-minute adult lives. Something that I will definitely raise a glass - and a spoonful of stew - to anytime!

Ten fantastic online sources for vintage style crinolines

Over the years one of the vintage fashion related topics that I've received quite a few questions about via email and Facebook PMs has been in regards to where where I source my crinolines from.
 
Crinolines are also known as petticoats or pettiskirts, though, historically speaking in North American parlance at least, both of those (usually) differed from the tulle/netting/otherwise poufy garment that we call a crinoline today.

In the 21st century, the three are often used fairly interchangeably (and the terminology will often vary from country to country). However, for the sake of simplicity in this post, I will refer to this type of garment as a crinoline, which was certainly one of their most common names during the 1950s - the decade that, above all others, saw an epic vogue for this flouncy undergarment.



{Though nowadays they’re often associated largely with the youth culture of the 1950s, back in the late 1940s (where they got a serious boost from Dior's New Look) through to the early 1960s, this skirt volume boosting garment was sported by ladies from all ages and walks of life, and many ads featured adults in their 20s and 30s modeling the crinolines on offer. Vintage crinoline ad image source.}


Believe it or not, prior to the age of 25 (as discussed in this 2010 post), I had never owned a crinoline. Nope, not a one - despite adoring them something fierce. Well, I've definitely made up for lost time in the years since then and now own quite a few, including this rainbow stunner.
 
I don't wear them on a daily basis, but it's rare for more than a few weeks to pass at any point in the year without one coming out to play as part of a 1950s ensemble. I tend to prefer a small to medium amount of poof to my crinolines (and thus rarely double, triple, etc mine up - a handy technique that can land you tons upon tons of crinoline fullness), but do own some - including the aforementioned rainbow beauty - that have a square dance worthy amount of fullness to them.
 
As more traditional vintage styles and pinup looks alike have continued to explode in popularity in recent years, the array of online sources that we have at our disposal to source crinolines from has also grown in leaps and bounds.
 
Naturally, many sites that stock a range of vintage reproduction, rockabilly and/or pinup looks sell the same brands of crinolines and it wouldn't make a great deal of sense to list too many of those here in today's post.
 
You'll find some such options, but I've purposely tried to wrangle up an array of sites that sell their own exclusive brands/designs of crinolines, to help give the pettiskirt connoisseur ample shopping options on this front.
 
So without further ado, let's jump right in and explore ten wonderful sources for 1950s style crinolines.




1. Pettiskirt Style: One of my absolute go-tos for fabulous, well made crinolines in a huge range of colours (including the dusty rose chiffon beauty above that I would absolutely love to add to my closet!), plus various lengths, numbers of tiers, materials, and degrees of fullness. In addition to stocking women's crinolines, Pettiskirt Style also has a fabulous selection of children's styles, too.




2. The House of Foxy: From the UK comes The House of Foxy's wonderful array of classic (typically 26 inch) length and style chiffon crinolines in a bevy of seriously covetable colours, such as the St. Patrick's Day perfect Kelly Green example shown here.




3. Blue Velvet Vintage: This beloved US seller of vintage, vintage reproduction and vintage style garments delivers a lovely assortment of modern, 1950s style crinoline offerings. I own a light blue crini that is very similar to Sky Blue one highlighted here and am constantly delighted by just how many colours this sweet, classical hue partners splendidly with.




4. Unique Vintage: Classic colours, elegant lengths, and high quality crinolines like this chic, endlessly wearable 1950s Style Black Tea Length Ruffled Chiffon Petticoat Crinoline are always available from US seller Unique Vintage and make for a perfect pairing with tons of the 1950s style skirts and dresses this powerhouse of an online vintage style clothing shop carries.




5. Malco Modes: Presented in a modest sized array of different vintage and modern lengths (their Melonie crinoline, pictured here, is the longest version that they presently offer), Malco Modes crinoline offerings are reasonably priced, available in a broad spectrum of hues, and a well known go-so source for many in the dance and costuming world who use crinolines as part of their attire.




6. Pinup Girl Clothing: For those who are acquainted with this site's stellar array of vintage and pinup style offerings - which include scores of beautiful skirts and dresses - it will likely come as little surprise that Pinup Girl Clothing also sells a slew of crinolines in a lovely assorted of lengths and colours (including this dark red number that I'm swooning up a storm over!).




7. Retro Glam: To all of my fellow Canadian vintage adoring gals out there (and my international sisters who want to take advantage of the weak Canadian dollar these days), I happily present Retro Glam's delightful crinoline selection, which includes styles from brands such as Banned Apparel and Hell Bunny (such as the stunning navy blue version above that has been on my wardrobe wishlist for about a year and a half now).




8. Doris Designs: Romantic, voluminous and available in the most enchantingly pretty colours (like the dreamy aquamarine blue version pictured here), UK based Doris Design's crinolines are made of softer materials than many other versions on the market today and have the added bonus of coming in three different lengths for many styles (the 26" inch would be the most 1950s appropriate length for the majority of wearers).




9. Atomic Cherry: Those stylish crinoline adoring ladies in the Australia will definitely want to check out Atomic Cherry's selection of 1950s style crinolines, which currently include options from both Chic Star and Hell Bunny (like the elegant dark purple petticoat shown here).




10. Lindy Bop: Wonderfully well priced (even for those outside of the UK), Lindy Bop's fabulous array of different coloured, fluffy crinolines - like this 28 inch mint green gem - are sure to have you hitting the "add to cart" button faster than you can say sockhop! :)

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In addition to modern sources for crinolines, one does of course have the option to buy the genuine 1950s (or occasionally older, and sometimes newer) deal as well.

Such crinolines are often priced, both online and off, fairly comparably to good quality 21st century options. They may be a touch more fragile/time worn, but many have held up surprisingly well and will naturally partner sublimely with genuine mid-century garments, particularly circle skirts and wide skirted dresses.

If you're on the hunt for such, try eBay, Etsy, The Best Vintage Clothing, various other independent vintage shops, local vintage, thrift, antique, and second hand shops, as well as costume and dance wear shops, some of (the latter of) which do occasionally stock vintage items on top of their modern inventory.

New (vintage style) crinolines can be found at a wide array of price points, from less than $20.00 USD on eBay to hundreds of dollars for custom made offerings.

Thankfully, most fall closer to the first number and a vast array of beautiful, stylish, good quality crinolines can be had for under $125.00 from a range of stockists around the world (with comparable prices in UK pounds and Euros, for those in Europe).

To date, I've not paid more than $100.00 USD for any of mine and have been genuinely pleased with the construction, fit, length and material of all of my modern crinolines.

Though there are exceptions to most every rule, remember that - as in most things in life - you usually get what you pay for. The jump in price between a $25 crinoline on eBay and a $50 one on a repro site might not seem that big, but it could mean the difference between a stiff, inflexible, cheaply made crinoline and a comfy, softer tulle version that lasts for years.

You certainly don't have to break the bank when shopping for crinolines and the fact that they do tend to hold up well means that you'll often get a very low cost per wear ratio out of your pettiskirts as time goes on.

I hope that the sites in today's post help give you some fun new sources for your own crinoline needs, whether you're shopping for your first, have twenty in the closet, or are on the hunt for a particular hue - and of course, if you have any favourite sources for new or vintage crinolines alike that weren't mentioned here, please don't hesitate to share them in the comments below.

These voluminous old school wardrobe styles are a blast to wear, channel the look of the 50s superbly, and even have the added bonus of provided some much needed warmth to the lower half of your body when sported during the colder months. If that isn't worth doing a twirl (in your favourite crini) over, I don't know what it is! :)

10 fun Valentine's Day questions answered

At least a couple of years ago I started to see the the questions in today's post make the round in the blogging and YouTube worlds, but hadn't had a chance to answer them yet.

Like on most holidays, Valentine's is not a time when I want to delve into lengthy posts or heavy topics, so taking a stab at these today seemed like the ideal light and fun post. If you'd like to play along - today or any time - by all means feel free to do so as well.




1. What is your favorite Valentines Day treat? Ooohh, that's a toughie! I'm partial to a rich Black Forest cake, berry topped cheesecake, or double chocolate brownie, but really, am open to most sugary treats on this sweetest of special occasions.





2. Sweethearts or chocolate covered strawberries? It's chocolate covered strawberries all the way for me. Tony adores them, too, so I usually whip up a batch with chocolate dipped banana slices and marshmallows, too (sometimes sprinkling a little toasted coconut on top for extra crunch and flavour).




3. Are you pro Valentine's Day? Massively so! I've said it before and I'll happily say it again, I love love and beyond that, I think that this day is the perfect time to reflect on, and be grateful for, all of the people and things that we adore and are blessed to have in our lives, so I'm in favour of Valentine's Day big time!




4. What movie would you rather watch on Valentine's Day: Pretty Woman or You've Got Mail? Definitely Pretty Woman! I grew up with that (now) classic and it will always be one of my favourite romantic movies (that I quote lines from surprisingly often :)).




5. What celeb would you not mind having as your Valentine? Grumpy Cat! I know that she isn't exactly famous for being a fan of, well, most anything (positive), but I think that with enough cuddles and kitty treats, I could bring her around to the pro Feb. 14th camp (and if not, hey, I'd still get to spend the day with Grumpy Cat! :D).




6. What would you do on your perfect Valentine's date? Spending it with my sweet husband, Tony. Beyond that, anything is just the icing on the (heart shaped) cake. I think that it would be incredible to celebrate it one year in his homeland of Italy - arguably, after all, one of the most romantic countries ever!




7. Red or pink lips on Valentines Day? I'd say it depends on the colours in my outfit, but as a general rule, red (specifically my beloved MAC Russian Red) wins out.




8. What is your ideal Valentine's Day outfit? I love sporting red and/or pink on this day (especially in velvet form), but will often swap one or both for burgundy as well, with black, grey and/or gold being frequent supporting players. Beyond that, some thoroughly Feb. 14th approved jewelry (say, a vintage heart shaped brooch, for example) and red shoes + purse cap off my look, which varies from year-to-year.




9. Homemade or store-bought gifts? Either is 100% okay and very sweet. Who doesn't love a thoughtful gift of any type?




10. Would you wear your hair up or hair down for a date night? Ideally up, but that's something of a challenge as a full-time wig wearer. Instead I'll usually sport a partially pulled back 'do with a festively hued chapeau.

{Please click on an image to be taken to its respective source.}

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So fun! I love a great, speedy little tag like that. :) Now a question for all of you: how will you be spending this February 14th?

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! With all my heart, however you like to celebrate, I hope that you have a beautiful, fun filled holiday!


*PS* And speaking of questions, this week I had the immense honour and pleasure of being interviewed by none other than the beautiful trio that is the Boyer Family Sisters over on their equally lovely blog. They asked me some really stellar questions - including who my biggest role model is - and I can't thank them enough for our awesome digital chat!