A Taste of Haldimand – May 29, 2025

Some of the simplest recipes carry a lot of weight. By this I mean memories of the family cooking together, sitting for a meal with those you love, funny things that have happened along the way, and so much more. The pancake recipe shared this week is one of those. 

This recipe came from Pauline Carty. She and her husband Bern made Caledonia their home over 43 years ago when they bought their first house. Pauline’s connection to Caledonia runs deep, as her mother was raised in town and her grandparents, the Vlachos, owned the “Greek Restaurant” many years ago. They raised three daughters: Stephanie, Adele, and Danielle. The family now includes three husbands and five grandchildren: David, Connor, John, Charlotte, and Cameron, aged 2-6. When the grandchildren stay at their home overnight, they expect to be helping their grandmother make pancakes for breakfast. They consider themselves ‘chefs in the kitchen’.

Pauline & Bern Carty with their grandchildren

Cooking has been an integral part of Pauline’s life for as long as she can remember. Her parents were of European descent, so food was central to family life. Growing up, they always ate together as a family, sitting around the table. Food was always made from scratch and it’s important to Pauline to keep that tradition alive. She prefers to prepare a large family meal rather than bake, although she does both. She is hoping, once the grandchildren are a bit older, to pass along some of the cultural dishes she makes. Baklava, a Greek dessert, and Spanikopita, an appetizer made with spinach and feta cheese, are two of her favourites.

The chicken wing recipe is one her family has always loved. Pauline disclosed that the secret to crispy wings is to let them sit in the refrigerator after they are prepared, but before cooking. You need at least four hours or can leave them overnight. Space them out on the baking tray. Once they are baked and removed from the oven, let them sit for 5 minutes before topping with your sauce. There are so many different sauces you can choose, so have fun trying different ones. I was impressed with how crispy the outside of the wings turned out. You can easily add spices to the flour mixture if you like. Enjoy!