Gladys Laing may have been born and raised right here on the Peninsula, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t had her share of adventure.

She has lived in several areas of the province, including Prince Rupert for 20 years when her husband, Athol, worked for the coast guard.

The couple even lived in a lighthouse at Cape St. James on the southern tip of the Queen Charlotte Islands, an experience Laing described as “pretty scary.”

It’s no surprise Laing and her husband ended up back in South Surrey – her roots in the community run deep.

Her family arrived here in 1937, and she spent the first 21 years of her life on the Peninsula. Though hesitant to admit it, Laing was even a contestant in the first ever Miss White Rock beauty pageant in 1957.

Nowadays, Laing’s community ties revolve mainly around the Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary Society Kwatcha Group, for which she and Athol have volunteered for the past eight years.

The Kwatcha Group is busy as ever getting ready for their popular New to You linen and collectable sale, held Oct. 23 and 24 at the First United Church.

“It’s quite popular,” Laing said of the sale. “We have people coming from different towns, even some from the Island.”

The event has raised more than $100,000 in the 10 years it’s been held, and this year, money raised is going towards new birthing rooms at Peace Arch Hospital.

Laing said the heavy workload involved – which includes collecting, sorting, washing, ironing and delivering the linens – is worthwhile because the group knows it’s for a good cause.

“We have a good time doing it, too,” she added.

Laing is sharing a recipe for Austrian strudels – which her cousin Earl helped her prepare – made popular in their family by their grandmother.

“We used to sneak over and eat at her place quite often, especially when she was having strudels,” Laing said.

For more information about the New to You linen sale or the Kwatcha Group, call 604-535-3090.

Austrian strudels

Ingredients:

1 cup tepid water

1/2 an egg (optional)

4 tsp vinegar

3 cups wheat flour

pinch of salt

Filling:

10 medium grated apples

3/4 cups raisins

1 cup sugar

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tsp lemon rind

1 cup browned breadcrumbs

*Other filling options include cabbage, poppy seed and cottage cheese.

Instructions:

Combine all pastry ingredients quickly with fingers. Divide in half. Knead each piece on a floured breadboard until dough stops sticking to your fingers.

Cover dough with warm towel and let rest for 20 to 30 minutes. Pat pastry flat on floured cloth on card table, then brush with butter or margarine. Stretch dough, starting at corners and working underneath, while still brushing with butter.

Spread filling over pastry. Lift cloth to roll strudel; it should roll up easily. Place on greased dish or cookie sheet and dab with butter. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, baste and bake a further 10 to 20 minutes.