A Taste of Haldimand – June 19, 2025

If you’ve ever enjoyed a pie from the Grace United Church ladies of Caledonia, there’s a good chance you ate one of Margaret Crawley’s. Margaret happily retired from being an occupational health nurse at West Haldimand General Hospital, affording her time to be actively involved with the United Church Women’s catering and pie making (both fruit and meat pies) as a year-round fundraiser.  The Women’s Institute is another organization she enthusiastically participates in. She belongs to the Sims Locks branch, but also volunteers at the district and area levels. Margaret also enjoys reading, knitting, crocheting, and travel. Margaret and her husband, Keith, have visited many places, including Scandinavia, Australia, and Africa.

Margaret and Keith built a new home in rural Caledonia seven years ago. The house may be new, but the land has been in Margaret’s family since 1784. Henry Nelles settled in the area at that time, so the land is known as the “Nelles Tract”. There are many branches of this family. Margaret and Keith’s immediate family consists of two sons, John and Peter, and three grandchildren.

When Margaret and I were discussing recipes, she mentioned two in particular as her grandchildren’s favourites. The snickerdoodle recipe came from a surprising source. In her youth, Margaret read the comic “Katy Keene” and its included recipes, where she found this recipe. Margaret usually uses margarine, or butter can also be used as a substitute for the listed shortening. The hot water gingerbread is a cake that can be made year-round. This recipe was from the “Cereal Shelf 4-H Club” that Margaret joined in 1962. She has served it as dessert with the lemon sauce ladled over top, or accompanied with ice cream. It’s a very versatile recipe. Enjoy!