By Marie Fagan Peart | marie@haldimandpress.com
It was the email I received from a good friend of Rosaline Boekee’s that prompted me to contact her. Her friend Leah raved about her baking. And she was right. Within minutes of stopping by her home, Rosaline offered me one of her delicious tarts.
Many readers may remember Rosaline from the Libro Credit Union. She credits her high school accounting teacher, Mr. Skelding, for her career. At the end of Grade 12, he had arranged an interview for her with the Haldnor Credit Union, and she got the job. She spent nearly 30 years with the organization, taking a 16-year break to raise her family. Rosaline and her husband Cor have four children and 11 grandchildren.
By the sounds of it, baking and cooking come naturally to Rosaline. She said, “It’s my love language.” Those tarts I mentioned – her husband is lucky to get one in his lunch every day. You will find the recipe below.
The chicken pot pie is her ‘go to’ recipe when she wants to drop off a meal to a family, whether at a time of loss or when a new baby has arrived. It’s easy to make and convenient, being prepared in one dish.
I asked about her famous cookies that Leah had mentioned. Rosaline said that they are just chocolate chip cookies, but everyone seems to like them. She recounted a humorous story when her son Steven was running for student council president in his Grade 8 year. He promised everyone in the school one of his mother’s homemade chocolate chip cookies if he won. Sure enough, he did win! She said there were bins of cookies all over her kitchen as she baked for the 300 students. She also mentioned that many times her children would come home from school with Vachon cake wrappers in their lunch bags. She was confused because she never put store bought snacks in their lunches. Turned out, her children were trading those delicious homemade cookies! In retirement Rosaline spends lots of time with her family and friends, participates in a knitting group and is an enthusiastic volunteer at the school and in her church community. Enjoy!
Aunt Mary’s Overseas Tarts
¾ cup sugar
2 teaspoons cream (or milk)
1 cup coconut
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Butter about the size of an egg
(a generous Tablespoon or 2)
Tart shells
Raspberry jam
Mix the first six ingredients in the order given, beat well. Put 1 teaspoon of raspberry jam in the bottom of a tart shell, then add some coconut mixture on top. Makes about 1 dozen. Bake at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes.
Note: Doubling recipe will make 30 tarts. Freezes well.
Source: Kinette Cookbook
Chicken Pot Pie
3 cups cooked chicken
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1 can cream of celery soup, undiluted
¼ cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups chicken broth
¼ teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
¼ teaspoon pepper
Biscuit topping:
½ teaspoon pepper or lemon pepper
seasoning
1 cup half and half cream
½ cup butter, melted
1 cup self-rising flour
(*or see substitute below)
In a saucepan, combine chicken, veggies, soup, onion, and flour. Mix well. Stir in broth, rosemary, and pepper.
Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Boil 1 minute. Pour into an ungreased shallow 2½ quart baking dish.
For topping, combine flour and pepper in a bowl. Stir in cream and butter until moistened. Spoon over chicken mixture. Bake 425°F for 25 minutes or until golden.
*As a substitute for self-rising flour, place 1½ teaspoons baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt in measuring cup, adding enough flour to equal one cup.
Source: Jarvis Community Christian School Cookbook
