Welcome to Hydrating Through History, where we are looking back at some refreshing historic recipes the people of St. Catharines used to beat the heat!

This week, we are looking at a recipe for Bettie’s Banana Punch from a cookbook published in 2000 by Chorus Niagara.

Chorus Niagara was founded in 1963, originally as the Niagara Symphony Chorus. With a mission to, “be a cornerstone of the Niagara arts community through creative and passionate programs that entertain and enthrall,” the choir has since grown from 24 members to 100 members. Printed and published in November 2000, this cookbook was made as a fundraising initiative for the choir.

Books like these eventually become valuable historical documents. They offer a snapshot of the ingredients, recipes, and resources available at the time, and because they were created in St. Catharines, they also provide insight into the foods prepared and enjoyed by members of this community. As fundraising tools, community cookbooks also reveal how local organizations brought people together to support shared goals. They show how recipes, volunteer efforts, and everyday food traditions could help raise funds, sustain community programs, and strengthen connections among neighbours.

Original Recipe

The original recipe makes a very large batch, 1 1/2 gallons or 5.6 L of punch. We recommend cutting it in half or reducing it to one-third.

Joshua Yoon is a program assistant at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre.