With Christmas Just Around The Bend, Make Sure to ServeTraditional Meat Pie During the Holidays.

Tourtiere or Meat Pie
 

Growing up in Atlantic Canada, one of my favorite memories of my childhood, was eating Meat Pie or if you are of Acadian heritage, Tourtiere. My mom would make this traditionally at Christmas. Meat pie was served after Christmas Eve Mass, all our family would gather to enjoy his holiday speciality.
When I was little, the pie was called rabbit pie as it had rabbit in it along with deer meat, beef and pork, all cooked up and shredded into fine pieces, then mixed with cooked onions and seasoned with pepper and salt. The meat mixture was then placed in a bisque dough pie crust and covered in a delicious beef gravy, with the top layer of crust placed on top and cooked in an oven of 350 degrees for about 3/4 of an hour or until the bisque crust was cooked. This depends on the size of your pie, my mom always made a large pie in a 11 X14 inch pan, and she would make lots of extra gravy to pour over the pie when it was served. I think other than the visit from Santa, this was my favorite part of Christmas. We would usually enjoy the pie and hear stories of Christmases from years gone by and usually end up by watching Scrooge on TV before being ushered off to bed.
In later years we stopped using rabbit and deer meat and substituted chicken and veal to mix with the other meat. When I was a child my father would go hunting for the deer and rabbit, but as I grew older, I couldn't bear to think of harming a rabbit or deer just to go in a pie.
Now that I have a family of my own, the meat pie is still made and served up on Christmas Eve and enjoyed just as much by my children and grandchildren. Some traditions just have to be continued.

Recipe:

1 Large beef roast  - cook in oven with onion and seasoning
1 large pork roast  - cook in oven with onion and seasoning
1 large chicken  - cook in oven with onion and seasoning.
1 pkg. of ground veal - cook in fry pan with seasoning and onions, make sure to drain any fat before adding to the other meat.
Pepper and salt to taste
2 large onions
Directions:
Cook all of the seasoned meat and onions, usually I cook the onion with the beef and the pork roasts, retaining the juice and the onions from the beef for the gravy.
When your meat is cooked, and you have started to shred the roasts and other meat, prepare your bisque dough, and place the bottom crust into your sprayed pan. When meat has cooled, shred the meat and mix together. Place the meat in the crust and cover with a good amount of the beef gravy. Cover with the top crust, cut slits in the crust and brush a little milk over the crust to give the pie a beautiful brown finish when cooked. Cook in a pre heated oven of 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes until pie crust is done. Serve the cooked pie and have a dish of beef gravy on the table for those who like extra gravy on their pie. And enjoy.
I hope with Christmas just being a couple of months away, you may want to try this dish during the holidays.

The Island Steppers Host Their First Haunted House Event at the Tara Lynne Community Centre October 18 & 19

The Island Stepper's Haunted House Event.

The Island Steppers are doing their first Haunted House Event. If your children, pre-teens and teenagers enjoy going to haunted house leading up to to Halloween, they will definitely want to take in this event being held on October 18 and 19 at the Tara Lynne Community Centre in River Bourgeois.It will be fun for all ages. The hours for the Haunted House are from 6pm to 9pm both nights for the pre teens and teens, and then from 5pm to 6pm for the younger kids on Saturday, October 19. The event on Saturday from 5pm to 6pm is geared up to be age friendly for younger haunted house visitors, with the light on. No need for the younger set to miss out on the same fun events as their older brothers, sisters, and friends who will be going from 6pm to 9pm. Admission is $5.00 per person. There will be Canteen services on site, with chips, bars, pop,and water at $1.00 each. So join the Island Steppers Dance Group for this fun filled event, what a great way to lead up to Halloween. So, come to the haunted house and see what the dancers have in store for you, If You DARE!!!

Celtic Colours International Festival is Only Days Away, Come to Richmond and Join in the Experience.

Just 6 days to the beginning of the Celtic Colours Festival on Cape Breton Island, and it is going to be one amazing festival for sure. Come and join in the experience.

Here are some of the events that will be taking place in Richmond County and the surrounding area during the festival that will offer you amazing entertainment, cultural experiences and community meals.

Friday, October 11

7pm: - En Spectacle avec CY at La Picasse in Petit de Grat. Tickets are $12.00 Advance or $15.00 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at La Picasse or by calling 902-226-0149.

8pm – 11pm: - Grand Dance in Grande Anse. All ages are welcome at this Richmond County family round and square dance. $5/person $12/family. Venue: Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 47, Grande Anse. Hosted by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 47. Contact: Linda Buchanan (902) 345-2290 -lindab570@gmail.com

8:00pm - 11:00pm: - Echo is playing Chanter's Pub at the Dundee Resort & Golf Club in Dundee, it's going be a great time.

Saturday, October 12

 8:00-11:00pm: - Brett Pierce Live at The Island Nest in Arichat. Admission is a $5.00 cover charge.

10am – 1pm: - Isle Madame Public Market at LeNoir Landing in Arichat. At this market you will find fresh local produce, crafts, baked goods, works by local artisans and much more. Admission is FREE. Hosted by: Development Isle Madame Association. Contact: Joan Clannon at 902-226-1918 or joan@dimans.ca. 

2pm – 4pm: - Brown Bag Sale & Tea at the Grand River Fire Hall, in Grand River. Price $5.00.

 

Sunday, October 13

8am – 11am:  - Hungryman’s Breakfast at the D’Escousse Civic Improvement Centre in D’Escousse. Lots of variety at this community breakfast: sausages, ham, bologna, beans, pancakes, eggs, corncake, tea, coffee, juices and fruit cocktail. Cost is $8/adults, $4 kids aged 10 and under. Hosted by the D’Escousse Civic Improvement Society, Contact: Ronnie LeBlanc, 902-227-8069 or ronnieleblanc@eastlink.ca.

5pm: - Richmond Roast Pork at the Riverdale Community Centre in Lower River. Enjoy roast pork stuffed with a savory dressing in a spiced apple sauce, roasted potato and steamed vegetables with homemade dessert and tea or coffee. 5:00 pm, $20/person. Hosted by Riverdale Community Centre. Contact: Ken Reynolds, 902-631-4871 or ken.reynolds@ns.sympatico.ca

 

2pm: -  Celtic Colours Festival Event - The Strait Area Theatre Society presents One Hundred Thousand Welcomes – A comedic Musical Love Letter to Cape Breton Island at Shannon Studio at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre. All performances are family friendly. Tickets are $10.00, available at the Civic Centre box office, or at tickets.phcivic.com.

Monday, October 14

1:30pm – 3:45pm: - Stories and Songs from the Hearth at LeNoir Landing in Arichat. Visit one of the oldest stone buildings on Cape Breton Island and experience the traditional art of blacksmithing. Enjoy a demonstration as well as stories, folklore, and songs. Refreshments will be served. Admission is $8.00. Hosted by: Isle Madame Historical Society. Contact: Isle Madame Historical Society (Susan Terrio) at islemadamehistoricalsociety@gmail.com - 902-226-9364.

 

4pm – 6:30pm: - Isle Madame Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner at OLA Parish Hall, Arichat. Hosted by: Friends of Notre Dame de l’Assomption. Contact: Friends of Notre Dame de l’Assomption (Valerie Boudreau)  valerieednaboudreau@hotmail.com. There are two sittings to choose from (4:00 - 5:15 or 5:15 - 6:30 pm) for this home cooked roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings, dessert and tea or coffee. 4:00 - 6:30 pm, Cost is $18.00.

 

1pm – 5pm: - Quilt Show and Sale hosted by the Highlighting local quilters, at the St John’s Centre for the Arts, Arichat.

1:30pm- 3:30pm: - Square Dance Workshop at the St. Peter’s United Church Hall. Instruction to “Roddies Square Set” a popular square set from the 50’s-60’s in the St. Peter’s area that was revived about 10 years ago by a local dance group. The distinguishing feature with this set is the four figures where most sets have just three-so all four figures will be slowly walked  through and “set” terminology explained in a relaxed atmosphere. This is followed by a light Cape Breton, lunch – tea, biscuits, scones and then the live musicians and caller will have the participants out on the floor to “step it out” to Roddie’s Set. See you there. Admission is $10.00.  Hosted by: Roddie’s Square Dancing Society. Contact: Reg Landry, 902-535-2093, boolabat@gmail.com

 

7:30pm: - A Good D’Escousse for a Party - Official Concert at the D’Escousse Civic Improvement Centre in D’Escousse. It’s a beautiful drive to D’Escousse and tonight’s concert gives you a very good excuse to do just that. Part of the purpose of this year’s theme, “lively youth”, is to give a platform for young voices and perspectives. We’ll see plenty of that here tonight. Janelle Boudreau is a fiddler and dancer from nearby Arichat who has entertained visitors at concerts and dances around the Island. She’ll be joined by her father James on guitar and Joël Chiasson on piano tonight for her Celtic Colours debut. East Margaree fiddler Hailee LeFort will be making her fourth appearance with us, backed by some musical friends from P.E.I. Boston based harp and fiddle duo Jenna Moynihan and Màiri Chaimbeul,  and Scottish trio Talisk will keep the youthful energy up as we see just what these young performers are capable of. Tickets are $30/$25. Hosted by: D’Escousse Civic Improvement Society. Tickets: https://tickets.celtic-colours.com/. 2 Tickets still available for this concert.

Tuesday, October 15

1pm – 5pm: - Sounds and Songs by the Sea at Lobster’s R Us in L’Ardoise.  Drop in to the local lobster pound which has been transformed into a community hall with a Ceilidh beginning at 1:00 pm and the meal being served at 3:00pm. Supper is served with 1½ pound lobster, salads, dessert, coffee or tea (ham dinner available for those who prefer). There will also be a tent section for local artisans. Please contact Vernon at the L’Ardoise Men’s Club to reserve your spot. Tickets are $35.00. Hosted by: L’Ardoise Men’s Club (Nils Adamson) 902-587-2778 or mensclub1975@outlook.com.

7:30pm: - A First Time for Everything - Official Concert at the Riverdale Community Centre in Lower River.Celtic Colours has a way of facilitating, inspiring, or conspiring to create opportunities for new collaborations among artists. And in some cases, a knack for rekindling old ones. While this isn’t exactly the first time some of the folks in this show have played together, it is certainly a first time for Celtic Colours audiences. Bringing performers together in new combinations makes for an exciting time on stage, as well as for those listening in from the audience and that’s sure to be the deal with Jeremy Kittel, Josh Pinkham and John Doyle, three extraordinary players who have teamed up just for Celtic Colours. Cape Breton fiddler Hailee LeFort will be performing in a new trio with fiddle and piano player Ward MacDonald and guitarist Jesse Périard from P.E.I., while Shetland fiddler and past Artist in Residence Chris Stout will take the stage with Scottish piper Finlay MacDonald. We’ll also see Nipper MacLeod step out from the Men of the Deeps to sing a few Cape Breton classics in that unmistakeable baritone voice of his. Tickets are $30.00. Hosted by: Riverdale Community Services Society . Tickets: https://tickets.celtic-colours.com/. 6 tickets available for this concert.

7pm – 9pm: - Jam Session at the MacBouch Restaurant & Lounge in St. Peter’s

Wednesday, October 16

7:30pm: - Ceilidh on the Canal - Official Concert – 2 tickets left!!!

Thursday, October 17

7:30pm: - A Full Slate - Official Concert – Limited tickets available.

Friday, October 18

4:30pm – 7pm: - Fish Supper will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 150 in Arichat.

7:30pm: - Lively in Louisdale - Official Concert – Sold Out!!

4pm – 6pm: - Irish Dinner at the Rocky Bay Irish Club in Rocky Bay. Come to an Irish settlement for traditional Irish Stew supper with homemade rolls, biscuits, coffee or tea and dessert. Rocky Bay is located on Isle Madame, and is just a 20 minute drive to the evening concert Lively in Louisdale. Tickets are $15.00. Hosted by: Rocky Bay Irish Club. Contact: Rocky Bay Irish Club (Catherine Mae Kehoe) cathermae57@hotmail.com - 902-631-1555.

Saturday, October 19th

2pm – 4pm: - Celtic Colours event - Celebration of Dance - Célébration de la danse at La Picasse in Petit de Grat.  Event will showcase different styles of dance (step, square, highland). This interactive event will have participants learning simple dance steps. There will also be a traditions/ history of dance component. Tickets are $10.00. Hosted by: La Picasse Centre Communautaire Culturel Contact: Josette Marchand, 902-226-0149 or direction@lapicasse.ca.

 

Sunday, October 20

9am – 12pm – Community Breakfast at the St. Georges Channel Hall in St. Georges Channel. This is an amazing breakfast experience. Come out and enjoy the event.

2pm: - An Island Night to Remember at the St. John’s Centre for the Arts, in Arichat. A theatrical / musical presentation. Contact: Cameron Jones (902-299-8997).