SHAWVILLE UNITED CHURCH WOMEN PREPARE A TRADITIONAL TURKEY DINNER FOR OVER 350 GUESTS EVERY NOVEMBER
Preparing a turkey dinner for a crowd can be a daunting task. The larger the crowd, the bigger the task. Just ask Elaine Lang and the United Church women. For as long as most can remember, the UCW has served a crowd of over 350 every year for their Annual Christmas Dinner and Bazaar.
” Many hands make light work, “ said Lang, Social Convener for the group for the past decade. “We bring a lot of experience to the job. Generations of women have taken part in this event, baking pies, carving turkeys, preparing salads, serving dinner, clearing tables and washing up the dishes.”
How many turkeys? According to Lang, a feast of this size requires no less than 11 turkeys, 23 salads, 150 pounds of potatoes and 35 pies of three varieties: lemon, apple and pumpkin. Christmas pudding is also served.
“I always think of Peggie Sheppard when we make sauce for the Christmas puddings. It was her job to stir the sauce for the puddings to make sure that it did not burn. Peggie started thinking about the Christmas dinner in about July,” says Lang.
It’s traditional as traditional can get and serves as the kickoff to the Holiday Season. People come from as far as Wakefield to enjoy the meal. The early birds begin arriving at 3:00 p.m. with the rush of families trickling in around 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. As they arrive, guests are given a number and take a seat in the church while they wait to be called to the dining hall. It’s a terrific time to catch up with friends and neighbours. There is Christmas music playing and people are getting into the spirit of the Holidays.
While they wait, guests can browse through the bazaar in the church basement where they will find all manner of baked treats and handmade treasures.
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