A Taste of Haldimand – March 21, 2024

Recently, like a lot of people in Haldimand County, my friends and I enjoyed the latest Jarvis Lions Variety Show. As with any community event of this magnitude, it takes an army of people working in the background to make things successful. One of the highlights of the show is the “Candy Sale” during intermission. I had the opportunity to talk with two of the many ladies who have been making fudge for this sale for many years – Ellen Craddock and Linda Feeney. As far as they know the candy sales have been a part of this show since its inception, 69 years ago.  It has traditionally been the Lion members’ wives that make fudge that is sold at the shows. When asked about this event, Linda said she was told to make sure the fudge had a firm consistency. If the fudge is too soft it will not hold up. Ellen explained that a few days prior to the first show, ladies will gather to cut and fill small bags with an assortment of fudge, storing them in the refrigerator until the evening of each show. On performance night, at intermission, the ladies make their way to the kitchen, pair up and take a tray of fudge to pass along each row. As the tray is passed from one person to another, audience members leave a cash donation in the cup and select a bag of candy. Simple enough, according to Ellen, but for some reason there are always issues with people not fully understanding they need to “pass the tray along the row!” Nevertheless, it is a tremendous fundraiser put on by the Jarvis Lions who do so much for our community. Hope you enjoy these two fudge recipes.