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Original Vintage Recipe: 1 cup brown sugar ½ cup butter 2 eggs beaten separately 4 tablespoons sweet milk 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 ¼ cup flour ½ teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon almond flavouring Beat well together then fold in lightly 4 cups of Kellogg’s toasted corn flakes, drop on buttered pan. Recipe from Miss. Parker. August 26th, 1923. Our first recipe comes from Miss Parker, Etta Blakely’s daughter, and transports us to her kitchen in 1923. Oh, how things must have changed in 98 years … the types of stoves, kitchen appliances, electricity, and places to get ingredients. Can you imagine milking your cow for milk, churning your butter, or chasing after your chickens to get eggs, all to make some dang cookies! One of the items that has remained the same is Kellogg’s Corn Flakes. This cereal first arrived in Canada in 1914 and continues to appear on families' breakfast tables today. We thought there was no better way than to start off this blog by using this mainstay ingredient. So, let’s get baking… This quick and easy recipe for macaroon cookies will no doubt become an essential part of your own home cookbooks. Since the required ingredients are everyday kitchen staples, all you have to do is dump everything into a bowl. We would recommend that when “dropping” them on to the baking sheet, like Miss Parker explains, you use spoons to help yourself out. I used my hands and … well it got pretty messy. Oops! Since the recipe doesn’t specify exactly how long to bake them for, we experimented with the bake time. I felt like a little kid again, sitting in front of the oven, and peaking in with excitement while expectantly waiting on the treats we just made. We determined that, like most cookies, baking at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes seemed to be the sweet spot. So, how did they turn out … Although the recipe is simple, both in terms of taste and preparation, the Kellogg’s Toasted Corn Flake Macaroons are delicious! Both Lauren and I agreed that they would be lovely with a nice cup of tea. The Corn Flakes become crunchy on the outer edges but maintained a nice chewy texture in the center. The almond flavour gives them a simultaneous sweet yet savoury and nutty taste. It also made our kitchen smell heavenly (the best bonus of baking!) and Lauren noted that the scent of these cookies was absolutely made for old wooden stoves. We would definitely serve this recipe on Our Vintage Table. - Danielle

Vintage Recipe: Fudge (Made from packaged pudding powder) 1 pkg. cook-and-serve pudding powder, any flavour preferred (Do not use instant pudding!) 1 cup sugar ⅓ cup milk 2 tbsp. butter Combine pudding package, sugar, and milk. Boil slowly until it forms a soft ball in cold water. Remove from heat and add 2 tbsp. of butter. Beat till thick. Pour on buttered pan and score in to squares. Mrs. T.H. Jackman’s Fudge I remember as a kid, Valentines Day was filled with construction paper crafts, mailboxes for cards from class, and candy, lots and lots of candy! So this week’s recipe is all about eating sweets and making a gift for your Valentine… or yourself! This easy fudge recipe is great for the amateur candy maker (Hi, that’s me!), it is quick to make and only calls for 3 ingredients. This simple recipe uses a cook-and-serve pudding package, a nice nod to 50’s cooking, and takes the usual stress of fudge making away. We used butterscotch here, but choose whatever flavour is your favourite! When you combine the ingredients and start the boiling process remember to go LOW and SLOW. It took about 15 minutes to boil the mixture to the right temperature and consistency. When adding the butter at the end, remember to mix vigorously…but don’t lose your spoon in the pot like we did! We recommend using a standard loaf pan lined with parchment paper for easy portioning and removal. Mrs. T.H. Jackman, who provided this recipe in the Farm Women’s Union of Alberta cookbook, first settled with her family in the Ardrossan area in 1902. The family were integral to the formation of both the United Farmers of Alberta (UFA) and United Farm Woman of Alberta (UFWA). Mrs. Jackman and her family have made multiple contributions to the community of Strathcona County for generations. We can see why Mrs. Jackman shared her fudge recipe with the UFWA - a quick indulgent treat for the family. Making a smooth fudge takes practice, and we would be lying if we said our first batches turned out well. But once we got it right it was an excellent treat, especially to share with your Valentine. We would serve this on Our Vintage Table…if made correctly, haha! - Lauren

Hey everyone, Danielle here! You’ve asked to learn a little bit about the people behind this blog so we are happily sharing! A little about me… I am always cold… like, hands are basically icicles. I thrive in 25+ weather which does not bode well considering I live in a place which has 8 months of winter. Bones and skeletons fascinate me. My first degree is in Anthropology and I focused on biological anthropology and archaeology. I am itching to go on another archaeological dig somewhere! I love to learn. Whether that be from school, lectures, museums, articles, books, or physically doing something. I’m a big nerd what can I say… there is something comforting to me knowing that there is something new I can learn. What do you love about food…? The memories associated with food. Some of my happiest memories of my family and friends are intertwined with food. My grandpa (aka Gogo) cooking bacon at the lake when I was little, planting my grandmas garden every spring, Christmas dinners, endless chats over coffee, or wine and cheese in a small Italian town. Food is meant to be shared with loved ones! What is one of your favourite activities…? One of my favourite activities to do is to go to markets. I love to browse and people watch (in a non-creepy way), and markets are the perfect venue for both! There is something special about a hot summer’s day, eating fresh produce, and looking at beautiful pieces. I have made it a point on my travels that I go to a local market! What is one thing you have learned / discovered while working on Our Vintage Table…? How much food rationing affected the daily lives of people. Learning about the ingenuity, sense of community, and how everyone helped each other during these times has been one of the most eye opening experiences. Funny story … I frequently ask my grandparents questions about projects I am working on at the Strathma. One day I asked what cookies they made or ate around the holidays when they were little (late 1930’s/during WWII). My grandma briskly answered, “We didn’t have cookies, we were poor!” Mmm yep, fair enough haha at least she was honest. Danielle's Table Talk Interview

Interested in volunteering at Strathma? Check out our page to learn how to join the Strathma team! Become a Volunteer Why volunteer at Strathma? Hands-On Experience: Work directly with artifacts, specimens, and archival documents. Skill Development: Acquire cataloging, artifact handling, and database management skills. Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals in the field for career advancement. Contribution to Community: Preserve and maintain cultural heritage, giving back to the community. Educational Opportunities: Valuable and applicable museum and archives training. Career Exploration: Explore a potential career in museums, archives, or cultural institutions. Personal Growth: Develop problem-solving skills and confidence through diverse challenges. Cultural Appreciation: Deepen appreciation for history, and cultural preservation. Flexible Commitment: Accommodate volunteering around work or study schedules. Engagement Assistant We are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to join our team as onsite Engagement Assistants. Responsibilities include: Public Engagement: Greeting and engaging with museum visitors, recording visitor statistics and demographic surveys, and giving brief museum introductions. Administrative: Assisting with light administrative duties (if interested). Educational Programming: Helping to execute special educational programming. Marketing: Assisting the team with social media content development (if interested). This primarily public-facing role is ideal for anyone wishing to gain valuable experience in museum programming and community engagement. It is also a great way to meet new people and contribute to our vibrant cultural community. Commitment: We ask that interested volunteers be able to contribute a minimum of two shifts per month. Special Events and Outreach Volunteer Pool Offsite: Volunteers will join us during various events around the county to support staff in delivering off-site programming. Responsibilities may include assisting in the delivery of on-site programs, supporting off-site exhibit displays at Farmers’ Markets and community events, delivering outdoor Strathma Explorers programs, and interacting with the public. Onsite: Strathma hosts a variety of onsite events throughout the year. Volunteers can sign up for events as they become available, with further details provided as event sign-up opens. Roles may include public-facing and behind-the-scenes tasks such as helping with set-up/take-down of events, checking in or supervising guests, bartending, and more. Events include: Ardrossan Parade, Canada Day, Trail Days, Alberta Farm Days, Sherwood Park Highland Gathering, Playdays, Spooky (our annual Halloween party), and more. Commitment: This is a casual role, perfect for those who cannot commit to a regular volunteer schedule but still want to be involved. This position is accepting applications. Requirements: Open to ages 14 and up (if under 18, parental consent required) Volunteers 18 and above must provide a Criminal Record Check (free with a letter from us) Must be able to get to and from event/ program locations independently Off-site events will be offered at a variety of locations. These may include, but are not limited to: the Strathcona County Community Centre, Emerald Hills (Canadian Tire parking lot), Broadmoor Lake Park, South Cooking Lake Community Hall, and Ardrossan Memorial Hall. Education & Engagement As part of the Education & Engagement team, you’ll play a crucial role in sharing the history of Strathcona County through hands-on programs, activities, and special events. We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities within this team: Collections & Archives As a Volunteer Collections and Archives Assistant in our Collections Department, you'll be instrumental in maintaining, preserving, and showcasing the Museum's fascinating artifact and archive collections. Responsibilities may include, but are not restricted to: transcribing oral histories; scanning and digitizing archival materials; aiding in the proper maintenance, handling, and storage of artifacts; conducting artifact photography; and engaging in artifact research and cataloging. Note: The volunteer positions listed below are not currently open. However, they are important roles within our Collections Department and may become available in the future. We encourage you to check back periodically, as opportunities can arise based on departmental needs. Collections Researcher We are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to join our team as a Collections Researcher to conduct research on artifacts in the collection to help us learn what an object is, where it came from, its history of use, etc. Responsibilities include: Collection Research: Investigating objects, artifacts, or archival materials to provide context, provenance, and historical significance. Cataloging & Documentation: Assisting in updating or creating records in the museum's database, ensuring accurate descriptions and metadata. Exhibition Development: Supporting curators in researching themes, artifacts, or narratives for upcoming exhibitions. Report Writing: Compiling research findings into reports, articles, or presentations for museum staff and the public. This role is ideal for anyone wishing to gain valuable experience working with museum and archives collections. The Volunteer Should have strong research and analytical skills, familiarity with academic sources, archives, and databases, and attention to detail and experience with documentation. This role will be have brief training on artifact handling but will mostly be done independently. This position is not currently accepting applications. Requirements: Open to ages 16 and up If under 18, parental consent required Volunteers 18 and above need a free Criminal Record Check with a letter from us Preference for long-term commitments Ability to lift 50lbs is a plus English language learners are welcome to apply Shifts are available weekdays between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. A minimum commitment of 3 hrs per week. Saturday’s shifts are available on case per case basis. Artifact Support Assistant We are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to join our team. As an Artifact Support Assistant in our Collections Department, you'll play a crucial role in preserving and protecting our museum’s artifacts by assisting with storage organization, artifact housing, and preventive conservation efforts. Responsibilities include: Storage Reorganization: Assisting in the re-organization of artifact storage spaces to improve accessibility and preservation. Artifact Handling & Movement: Safely handling and relocating artifacts within storage areas following best museum practices. Protective Housing: Creating garment bags, padding hangers, and constructing custom storage boxes to ensure proper artifact support. Preventive Conservation: Implementing storage solutions that help protect artifacts from environmental and physical risks. The volunteer should have an interest in museum collections and artifact care, strong attention to detail, and the ability to handle delicate objects safely. They will work directly with the Collections Assistant and receive training in artifact handling and care, though some tasks may be completed independently. This position is not currently accepting applications. Requirements: Open to ages 18 and up Volunteers need a Criminal Record Check, free with a letter from us Preference for long-term Saturday commitments Ability to lift 50lbs is a plus English language learners are welcome to apply Shifts are available between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. A minimum commitment of 3 hrs per week. Guest Services As a front desk volunteer at Strathma, you help create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all visitors. Your role is vital in making guests feel at home while supporting the museum’s daily operations. Responsibilities include: Greeting Visitors: Welcome guests warmly upon arrival, provide basic information about the museum or exhibit spaces, and direct them to appropriate areas or staff as needed. Light Administrative Tasks: Perform routine clerical duties such as data entry, organizing files, and maintaining accurate inventory records. Responding to General Inquires: Answer visitor and staff questions in person, by phone, or email, providing clear and helpful information about museum services. Improving Guest Experiences: Assist in creating a positive and engaging environment for visitors by offering help proactively, gathering feedback, and supporting interactive or educational initiatives. A strong volunteer candidate will have a genuine interest in history, museums, or cultural preservation. They should be detail-oriented, approachable, and eager to learn. Good communication skills, reliability, and a collaborative attitude are essential. This role is ideal for individuals looking to gain experience in a museum setting while supporting the care and appreciation of historical collections. Commitment: We ask that interested volunteers be able to contribute 7 hrs per week. This is an temporary role that occurs on Saturdays and Sundays between 10:00am and 4:00pm, this will run from late may until late august. This position is currently accepting applications. Requirements: Open to ages 18 and up Volunteers need a Criminal Record Check, free with a letter from us Preference for weekend commitments English language learners are welcome to apply Shifts are available between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. A minimum commitment of 7 hrs per week. Gardening Help The Strathcona County Museum & Archives preserves the stories and heritage of our community. Our garden celebrates these roots, connecting people to the land and traditions of Strathcona County. With the help of volunteers, it grows as a symbol of community, learning, and care. Responsibilities include: Garden Bed Upkeep Watering Planting Weeding And More We're looking for someone who enjoys gardening and being outdoors. You should be happy to get your hands dirty, pay attention to detail, and be gentle with plants. Commitment: We ask that interested volunteers be able to contribute minimum of 1 hr per week. This is a summer role. This position is currently accepting applications. Requirements: Open to ages 18 and up English language learners are welcome to apply Shifts are available between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. A minimum commitment of 1 hrs per week. Board Members Our local gem of a museum—STRATHMA—is looking for new board members! Are you interested in local history and sharing cultural interpretation and interesting exhibits with our community and County visitors? We are Strathcona County Heritage Foundation, the board operating Strathcona County Museum & Archives (Strathma). We are building a progressive and inclusive group with diverse interests to ensure Strathma’s future. We are currently looking for candidates with these life or career experiences: Education Grant Writing Positive attitudes towards volunteering! Interested in becoming a Board Member team? Please email your resume to Deb Krahn. Requirements : Open to ages 18 and up Volunteers need a free Criminal Record Check with a letter from us. English language learners are welcome to apply

Spring Paint & Sip Night Homeschool Program Trivia Night: Nature & Wildlife Spring Paint & Sip Night 1/5 Button Upcoming Events Newsletter Sign-Up Donate Online Event Title Event Time Event Date Change the event description to include your own content. Adjust the settings to customize the style. April 2026 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING Cute little museum. It's worth a visit. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. A small space with a big impact—full of meaningful stories that bring the past to life. [The museum] far exceeded expectations… I only wish I’d gone sooner. Leave us a Review

Meet the Strathma staff! Rencontrez l'équipe Strathma Kristiana Clarke Administration & Marché ting admin@strathma.ca Alessandra Capot Collections Leigha Chmiliar Assistante de musée Alessandra Capot Collections Education & Engagement Coordinator Miranda Holt Collections Miranda Holt Collections Miranda Holt Collections Leigha Chmiliar Assistante de musée Leigha Chmiliar Assistante de musée Leigha Chmiliar Assistante de musée Leigha Chmiliar Assistante de musée Leigha Chmiliar Assistante de musée Leigha Chmiliar Assistante de musée