Maple
Syrup Canadian
Gold!
(Too much of a good thing? Here's some ideas
for doing away with the extra!)
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The
winter of 2002 was a classic here in Quebec -
great snow, cold days, colder nights. When spring
finally arrived - it was also perfect - warm
days and cold nights. What does that have to
do with Maple
Syrup? A lot! Maple
Syrup starts off as sap - running up inside maple
trees in the spring. Actually to make lots of
great Maple Syrup - you want the sap to run up
and down, up and down, and up and down. So now
it's finally spring - we're finally in the Syrup!
To get sap to run properly - nature has to help
out with warm days and cold nights. At night, the
sap sinks back, during the warm sunny days - the
sap starts moving up again. Maple Syrup producers
tap the trees - and when the sap moves - it not
only provides for the tree - it also leaks out
the tap into buckets or hoses that gather the sap.
The farmer brings the sap to the maple house -
and starts boiling it. Maple Sugar time here in
Quebec is short - exciting - and demanding. Farmers
will spend the next 6 to 7 weeks working non-stop
to get the sap in, and boiled before nature takes
away the harvest for another year. |
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» Maple
Syrup and Ice Cream
Nothing
- but nothing
goes with
ice cream
like Maple
Syrup. You
can just
pour it on
- or use
this delightful
recipe for
a Maple Soda:
Take
1/3 cup vanilla
ice cream, 3 tbs Maple
Syrup, and
1 cup seltzer water
(substitute club
soda if nec.)
Place
vanilla
ice
cream
at
the
bottom
of
glass.
Pour
over
Maple
Syrup,
stir
to
make
a
smooth
paste.
Now
pour
on
the
seltzer
water,
using
the
back
of
a
spoon
to
keep
it
from
fizzing
too
rapidly.
Scoop
off
foam
to
make
room
for
all
the
water.
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» Frozen
Maple Mousse
Take
1 cup Maple
Syrup, 2 egg whites,
Pinch of salt, 1 cup heavy cream
Start by beating the egg whites and salt until
they hold firm peaks. Now beat the heavy cream
until it forms soft peaks.
Meanwhile,
boil the syrup over medium
heat. Heat until syrup
reached 260 degrees,
or until large bubbles
start turning into smaller
bubbles. Remove immediately.
Using an electric beater,
pour the hot syrup into
the egg whites. Fold
whipped cream into maple-egg
white mixture. Turn into
pretty bowls - Freeze
for 2 hours before serving!
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» Maple
Biscuits
Take
Any commercial biscuit mix and real Maple
Butter
Prepare
biscuits as called
for in the recipe.
Use a knife to
spread Maple
butter on top.
Bake as normal.
Try to get one
for yourself
before they are
gone!
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» Quick
Maple Pork Chops
Take
Pork chops -
either standard
cut or butterflied,
Prepared Mustard
(either standard
yellow - or Dijon), Maple
Syrup,
and Brown Sugar
Use 2 parts Mustard to 1 part Maple Syrup and 1
part brown sugar. Blend with a fork.
Spread
mixture on top of pork chops
- broil in oven apx 15 minutes.
Turn chops, spread on more
mixture - continue broiling.
Depending on the thickness
of the pork chops - cook
until meat is gray (but do
not over cook - over cooked
pork is dry and tasteless!).
Serve
Variation: No maple syrup in the house? No problem.
Use 1 part Mustard to 1 part brown sugar. It will
still taste great! (but what are you doing without
some maple syrup in the house?) |
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» Maple
Glazed Ham
You'll
need a 2 lb ready-to-serve
ham, Whole cloves,
1/2 cup maple
syrup,
and1 tsp dry
mustard
Here's a delightful variation for next time you
are serving ready-to-serve ham. In a roasting pan,
heat ham in 325 oven according to package directions
(about 1 hour). Score fat, stud with whole cloves.
Mix together maple syrup and mustard, pour over
ham. Return to oven and bake, basting frequently
for 20 to 30 minutes until ham is glazed. Yum. |
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» Maple-Bacon
Glazed Turkey
Makes
just one loaf
- dates replace
raisins and seasonings
are a touch different
- still yummy
though!
Ingredients:
2 cups flour, 3/4 tsp
baking powder, 3/4 tsp
cinamon, 1/2 tsp soda,
1/2 tsp cardamom, 1/4
tsp allspice, 1/4 tsp
salt, 3/4 cup dates in
pieces, 1 cup sugar,
2 eggs, 1/2 cup oil,
1 cup grated zucchini,
3/4 cup walnuts.
Preheat oven to 350. Grease 1 loaf pan. Line with
waxed paper. Sift dry ingredients into a bowl.
Sprinkle 1 tbs of mixture on dates. Set aside.
Combine sugar, eggs and oil, beat at medium speed.
Add flour and zucchini to egg mixture, mixint well.
Stir in dates and nuts. Pour into pan. Bake until
done - about 70 to 75 minutes. Cool in pan for
10 minutes, turn out - let cool completely! |
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Maple
Syrup Sites
» Quebec
Maple Syrup
Federation:
This is the single best resource for information
about Maple Syrup in general and Quebec Maple
Syrup in particular. It's actually the official
site of the Quebec Maple Syrup Federation - and
they are determined to entertain, inform - and
impress you! *** I really like the section on
History, and the Production Techniques will take
away a lot of the mystery.
» About.com
- French Culture:
Lots
of great
Maple based
recipes!
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