A Taste of Haldimand: August 22, 2024

By Marie Fagan Peart   |  marie@haldimandpress.com

I am not a gardener but admire those with beautiful flowers and functional plants, where one can slip out the back door, pick something, and create a unique dish. This is what I experienced on my recent visit with Donna Clarke Blake. Donna and her husband Bob live along the Grand River with an amazing view from their front door. She had invited me to her home as we had been discussing her garden and the rubs and mixtures she creates. She had prepared things so we could make some recipes together. Donna grows a wide variety of plants including herbs. She uses what herbs she can as a fresh addition to her recipes. This allows for great taste without using additional salt. The rest she will dry and store for future use.

Donna Clarke Blake with her herbs

To dry the herbs, start by washing the leaves. Place herbs on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. If it isn’t a windy day, set out in the sun. Otherwise, place in the oven at the lowest setting until they are crispy. Once dried, crumble them and keep in an airtight container. Donna explained she also freezes basil by mixing the leaves with some water in a blender to create a mash. The mash is placed in ice cube trays and frozen.

Together Donna and I mixed the taco seasoning and the chicken rub. I tested the taco seasoning by serving tacos to my three grandsons when they were visiting. We had the taco meat on tortilla chips, and covered this with melted cheese. They all said it was good but two thought it was a bit too spicy while the third grandson would have liked more spice! The chicken rub was delicious on chicken breasts, which I sliced and added to a fresh garden salad.

Donna is not only creative within the kitchen. As a mature student, she returned to university and graduated with a degree in Fine Arts. She has dabbled in pottery, paints landscapes and portraits, and, most recently, has been working with pastels. This summer, she was recognized with a special award at the Haldimand County’s Juried Art Show held at the Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre. The award was for her painting entitled “A Cool Morning on the Grand River,” in recognition of the Grand River’s 30th anniversary of its heritage designation. Congratulations Donna! I hope you enjoy her recipes.