By Marie Fagan Peart | marie@haldimandpress.com
I believe everyone has a special talent, even if they don’t realize it. But once in a while you meet a person whose gift is extraordinary. That’s what I was thinking when I met Joan Gee.
She is a soft-spoken woman with a twinkle in her eye, a quick wit, and a very talented artist. Joan said when she paints it doesn’t feel like she is the one who is actually painting – there is an inspiration that takes over and guides her.
Joan has been a Haldimand County girl all her life, hailing from the Selkirk area. It was at a “Teen Town Dance” at the community centre that Joan Hamilton met her future husband, Larry Gee. They married, raised two daughters, and moved to Cheapside Road, where they have resided for the last 50 years. Readers may remember Joan as the owner, for nearly 20 years, of the Pet Store in Hagersville. She loves cats and at one time raised Persian kittens. She was thrilled to have won the prestigious award “Best Kitten in Canada.”
When I questioned Joan more about her artwork, she revealed she’s never been formally trained. As a child she was always drawing something. She took art class in high school but that was it. Once her family came along, she put away the paint brushes for over 50 years. A request to paint a picture re-ignited her love for drawing. It was the 180th Anniversary of Chalmers Presbyterian Church. She was asked to paint a picture of the church on a tin shingle taken from the original building. This was to be a gift to a former member of the church. One picture turned into eight and she has been painting ever since.
The recipes Joan has shared are two she regularly takes to get-togethers with family or friends. There are never any leftovers, and she says everyone comments on how much they enjoy them. The chocolate cake recipe was found online and is so easy to make. The taco salad recipe was originally from her niece. Enjoy!
Chocolate Cake
1 box devil’s food cake mix
1 package chocolate instant pudding
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
½ cup warm water
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, eggs, and water. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into a well-greased, 12-cup bundt pan.
Bake 50-55 minutes at 350ºF. Insert wooden toothpick; if it comes out clean it’s done.
Cool 1 hour before inverting. Dust cake with confectioner’s sugar to serve.
Taco Salad
1 pound of ground beef
1 package taco seasoning
1 tomato, chopped
1 can kidney beans, drained
1 red onion, chopped
1 head of lettuce, chopped
1 bag of Doritos
Dressing
¾ cup sugar (or use ½ sugar, ½ sweetener)
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup ketchup
½ package taco seasoning mix
Brown ground beef and add the package of taco seasoning mix.
In a large bowl, combine the beef, tomato, beans, onion, and lettuce.
In separate bowl mix together all the dressing ingredients.
When ready to serve, pour dressing over salad and stir in Doritos. Serve immediately.
