Are you a Kawartha Lakes foodie with a favourite time-honoured recipe and a story behind it?
The City of Kawartha Lakes has launched the “Recipe Revival” project to collect, document, and celebrate recipes that reflect the region’s cultural heritage, whether Indigenous, agricultural and industrial, or immigrant.
“By bringing these recipes back to life, the program ensures that the flavours and stories of the past continue to inspire present and future generations,” reads a media release.
The Recipe Revival project will collect recipes submitted by the community as well as recipes from the City of Kawartha Lakes historical archives.
The Recipe Revival website at www.kawarthalakes.ca/recipes has launched with three recipes, one submitted by someone with a family connection to the area and two from the archives: Nana’s Fudge by Fenelon Falls seasonal resident Barbara Hooey (submitted by her granddaughter Kirsten Meehan), tea biscuits from Abbott Sisters’ Recipe Book (Maryboro Lodge Collection), and coleslaw from The Lady Hughes Chapter (I.O.D.E Coronation Cook Book).
Each recipe comes with a story. For example, the tea biscuit recipe explains how the Abbott sisters operated the Maryboro Lodge in Fenelon Falls from 1913 until it become a museum in 1963. The sisters best remembered for the teas they hosted under the ancient oak grove. Every year, Maryboro Lodge still celebrates that heritage by offering a formal afternoon tea.
Kawartha Lakes residents, food enthusiasts, and history buffs are invited to participate in the Recipe Revival project by visiting the website to submit their family’s favourite recipes, along with any associated anecdotes, memories, stories, and photos.
Community submissions will be curated and available to the public on the website.
