Cakes

Waterloo Reads 2017: Pumpkin Bundt Cake

Back in the Spring, I was asked to be a champion. Now, before you ask, no this isn’t some scripted thing that blurs the line between sports and entertainment. I was asked to be a champion.  Of a book. To read, understand, and passionately defend at  Waterloo Reads: Battle of the Books (Canada 150 edition). […] Read more…

25-31 August 1916: The Bread Police

Kitchener will come in quiet The city would inaugurate its new name in silence. The aldermen held a special meeting to discuss the momentous day. Alderman Cleghorn introduced a resolution that declared the city fathers were “of the opinion that no greater tribute could be paid by the residents of this city to the memory of the […] Read more…

11-17 August 1916: Sausages in the summer kitchen

What’s the holdup? One could easily imagine the name changers stamping their feet and stirring the air with pointed fingers, as they tried to rile local Britishers. Why hasn’t the name changed yet? How could the important and patriotic city of Berlin be subjected to such indifference? Who was to blame?  The Berlin Daily Telegraph’s doggedly […] Read more…

Canadian War Cake - ryeandginger.ca

21-27 Apr 1916: A big, warm time was had by all

St Julien Day 22 April 1915 marked the first time a large quantity of deadly gas was deployed in battle.  On that date, the Germans unleashed 160 tons of asphyxiating gas on Allied soldiers at Ypres.  The unsuspecting men were not equipped to handle the yellow-green chlorine cloud that smelled of pineapples and pepper. Some […] Read more…

Chocolate Cake - ryeandginger.ca

14-20 Jan 1916: Have you mothered a MAN?

Parliament re-opens Freed of most of the usual frills and fanfare, the new Canadian Parliament’s session opening was also freed of Prime Minister Borden, who was too ill to attend. When he addressed the MPs, Canada’s war contributions front-and-centre, from the bumper crop of wheat to the steady stream of munitions. He also echoed Militia Minister […] Read more…

Chard

01-06 January 1916: Clang, clang, clang went the trolley

  Happy New Year! On to business Berliners welcomed 1916 with the usual democratic business: JE Hett was acclaimed for a second term as mayor and would preside over a 15-man council. Allegiances were known: roughly half the aldermen were with the Board of Trade and a quarter were aligned with the Labour and Trades […] Read more…