As a child Leslie Jones attended Sunday school, at Central Presbyterian Church, in Hamilton. She sees her young self, heading for church, in a tartan skirt with straps, a puffed- sleeved blouse and patent leather Mary Jane shoes. (The uniform of little girls in the 1940s and 1950s.)
Leslie fondly recalls long-ago Sunday school picnics. In her mind’s eye it’s a June day with the bluest skies. There are egg-and-spoon competitions, three-legged races and Dixie cup ice-cream with little wooden spoons. But above Leslie thinks about potato salad a la Dorothy (Harkness) Jones. The feature that made her mother’s simple potato and green onion salad so memorable was her homemade boiled dressing. Leslie still salivates, when she thinks about this dressing, and vows to boil up a batch as soon as she can get to the kitchen.
Leslie also attended Canadian Girls in Training (CGIT), at the church, or as everyone used to say Cutest Girls in Town. Central Presbyterian Church has a special history. The present structure was erected in 1908 after the original building burnt down. It was designed by John MacIntosh Lyle (1872-1945) who was the minister’s son and also a prominent architect associated with a prestigious New York firm. Lyle was involved in the design of the monolithic New York City library, on 5th Avenue, but his most famous commission was the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto. He both designed and supervised the construction of this handsome Beaux-Arts building. When the theatre opened, in 1907, King Edward VII granted it royal designation. Today it remains the only royal theatre in North American. In 1987, the Royal Alex became a National Historical site of Canada and it is still a vital fixture in Toronto’s Entertainment District.
Reminiscing, about old-fashioned potato salad, reminds Leslie if her mother didn’t make her own dressing she used Bojack for the salad and also for devilled eggs. Bojack (Bojak?) was a bottled dressing, much like mayonnaise, but more vinegary. At least, until the 1960s, it was available in all Ontario grocery stores. If any readers know anything about the fate of Bojack or have memories of it, please let us know.
BOILED SALAD DRESSING
¼ cup flour. 1Tbsp dried mustard. 1 Tsp salt. ½ cup of sugar.
3 egg yolks or two whole eggs. 1½ cup milk.
3/4 cup cider vinegar.
¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp butter.
Pinch of cayenne or white pepper.
METHOD
Mix all dry ingredients in a heavy sauce pan.
Beat eggs & milk together. Add to dry ingredients in the pan.
Stir in vinegar.
Bring mix to a boil, over medium heat. Stir constantly. Simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat. Stir in butter and pepper.
Chill, bottle and keep in refrigerator.
