This week on Hydrating Through History, we’re looking at Bettie’s Banana Punch from Chorus Niagara’s 2000 fundraising cookbook. More than a recipe collection, the cookbook is a historical record of local food traditions, showing how community recipes bring neighbours together, support shared goals, and promote the choir’s role in Niagara’s arts scene.

In August 1916, the St. Catharines Standard featured a recipe for switchel, a refreshing summer drink popular among farmhands in New England. The recipe combines ginger, sugar, and vinegar, often enjoyed with rum. Today, switchel is revisited with modernized ingredients for contemporary enjoyment, highlighting its historical significance.

Welcome to Hydrating Through History, our summer mini-series all about cooling off with recipes from the past!