Quiet Spice Blog

A comforting meal to thaw the chill of winter’s arrival. A Winter Day in Calgary It was the day after the first snowfall here in Calgary, Alberta. Outside our apartment window, fluffy snow covered the side roads, parked cars, and trees. Frost traced delicate patterns on the patio door glass, and the thermometer blinked a cold –11°C . It was the kind of day meant for staying indoors — the roads were slick, cars were stuck, and even the buses struggled through the slush. Thankf

A simple dessert that tastes like nostalgia and sunshine 🕒 Prep Time: 15 minutes  🕯️ Cook Time: 30–35 minutes  🍽️ Serves: 12 📝 Ingredients 1 box of vanilla or yellow cake mix 3 eggs 1 cup water ⅓ cup vegetable oil 1 can (300 ml) sweetened condensed milk ¼ can (100 ml) evaporated milk 1 container (500 ml) whipped cream 1 can mandarin orange slices, drained 🥣 Instructions Prepare the cake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch pan. In a large bowl, combine ca

It was a cloudy, cool autumn afternoon when I reviewed my weekly menu and audited my fridge. I noticed that I had coffee cream set to expire in the next couple of days. I knew I wasn't going to finish it in time, so I needed a recipe to use up this ingredient. As I went through the cupboards, I rediscovered another forgotten ingredient—pomegranate molasses. I'd used it once in a Persian recipe with chicken breast and walnuts but sadly hadn't found a use for it since. After sc

“A quiet celebration with a little glow of our own.” A Walk for a Pumpkin It was the day before Halloween, and I was out for my daily walk. I had promised my boyfriend I’d pick up a pumpkin for him to carve. I didn’t want to buy one too early, afraid it might spoil before the festivities. The day was cool, brisk, and cloudy — perfect autumn weather. I put on my trench coat and newsboy cap and set out. The sun peeked through the gray clouds as I walked in the early afternoon.

Prep time:  15 minutes Rest time:  3–4 hours (or overnight for stronger flavour) Total time:  About 4 hours Difficulty:  Easy Keywords:  homemade pickles, easy pickled vegetables, quick pickling recipe, DIY food gifts A Saturday Afternoon Pickling Adventure It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and I had just come back from a walk carrying a somewhat heavy load—an assortment of vegetables from a discount grocer, ready to be transformed into something delicious at my partner’s re