The District of Saanich’s annual online community cookbook is now available to all members of the public and consists of recipes new and old—some of which date back as far as 1936.
To recognize BC Heritage Week, the District puts out a new edition of the Saanich Community Cookbook every year, featuring newly submitted recipes from local residents alongside archival recipes from throughout the years
This year, the theme for cookbook submissions was “stir the pot.”
The Saanich Community Cookbook is 88-pages-long and includes not just recipes for delicious, cultural food, but also stories from Saanich residents.
The goal of this cookbook is always to bring all generations together at the dinner tables, picnic blankets and at other celebrations.
The Saanich Community Cookbook includes an array of recipes for main dishes, baking, desserts, drinks and preserves.
Some recipes highlighted by Saanich include:
- Moroccan carrot dip – a bright, garden-forward dip with cumin, coriander, garlic, ginger, herbs and optional harissa
- Fruit-ade – a concentrated citrus “ade” made with oranges and lemons—both juice and rind
- Stuffed butternut squash – a “set it and forget it” meal that balances the sweetness of squash with savory beef
- Barry’s bourbon baste – a bold, BBQ-friendly baste/marinade with Dijon, bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic and vinegar
- BC lentil gardner’s pie – a vegetarian comfort-food take on a traditional pie, featuring beluga lentils, herbs and a mashed potato topping
- San Mateo whole seed mustard – a from-scratch whole-seed mustard using yellow and brown mustard seeds with vinegars and a touch of sweetness
- Bananas with bacon – a warm dish prepared using variation of the en papillote (in paper) cooking technique
“Whether you’re exploring the cookbook for the stories, trying a new dish or revisiting a family favourite, we hope you are inspired to share a meal, swap a recipe and keep local history alive—one pot at a time,” wrote the District in a media release.
Anyone can access the Saanich Community Cookbook. It is available via the District’s archives department, and can be found online here.
