Making syrup..
Today we started boiling our first batch of sap. It only started running a couple of days ago. We tapped a week ago. Our bush is facing due north and is faced by another ridge which makes it very late as far as sap-running. We often start later, and last longer than others in this area. Just freezing night temps and above freezing days make for good sap runs. It didn't get cold enough last night, so there was none to gather tonight. We do things rather the old fashioned way, we use buckets instead of pipeline, and still use pans rather than an evaporator. We cook on wood. It takes longer, but I believe it tastes better. We have some repeat customers that agree! I made 4 pans of popcorn on the furnace today, I think that's the most yet! Those grandkids are getting bigger and hungrier!! I also made 4 apple "camp-pies" , with the pie iron. Grandpa, Uncle Matt, and Daddy are as bad as the little ones!!! The only downside this year is that my Dad isn't able to be here. He is in long-term care for rehab. Doing well, but we miss his presence at the sugar shanty. I think we will finish the 1st batch tomorrow, should be abt 3-4 gal.!
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It seems to be running sweeter this year, abt. 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup. Many years, at least around here it is 45 or 50 to one. By the way, the man-made ,supermarket variety,is maple-flavored corn syrup. Not bad or horrid stuff, but I am so used to "real", that I just can't do it!!
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I am not sure where you are, but I do ship a little. I sell for a lot less than what you've seen!! You can let me know if you're interested.
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I have never... EVER... in my life had real Maple syrup. Honestly. Around here, a tiny bottle sells for about $8, so I stick to the cheaper man-made stuff. I probably don't know what I am missing out on, huh?
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I have the real stuff before, someone gave us a gift bottle from Canada, it is pricey. It's a lot thinner than the man-made stuff we buy at the supermarket. It is really tasty though!! I remember seeing a segment on Martha Stewart once, I had the children watch, it is a very interesting process, the biggest surprise at how much sap it takes to yield a pint of syrup.
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KJB, do you subscribe to "Family Fun" magazine? I think you might like it, as it is full of activities to do with kids, crafts, recipes, and vacation info. I usually keep a magazine in the car to read while waiting for Brianna at school, and while reading it today there was a small article about visiting a farm where the syrup was made! I believe it was in New Hampshire. It was interesting that the warmer spring days and cold nights makes the syrup run! After the tour, they were able to have a snack of doughnuts and PICKLES dipped in maple syrup!! Interesting to say the least :-)
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I actually was a subscriber to the magazine in it's original days, before it was owned by Disney. It used to be independent (and better). Actually, I've been published in the "My Great Idea" section (April 2006); my idea was the feature idea and there is nearly a full page photo of my youngest daughter!!! You get paid $100 if your idea is used. My idea was to use an old 12 slot muffin tin with little metal flower pots in each slot as a tray for sorting color crayons. I've just never mentioned it here as to keep our name and stuff private; but it's been long enough now I don't think it is still out there. It was fun though getting it in the mail opening it up and seeing our daughter. We received several copies of that edition, I have that page on the wall. I've planned many a birthday based on Family Fun ideas.
Last year just before our trip there was an article about Kentucky Horse "tour", which was helpful, but I'm letting the sub. go because for the most part they seem to run the same ideas over and over. I just sort of glance through then it sits around for a while. Good for newer parents, boring for us old ones (ha ha!),it is more directed at "modern" families with working Mom's, and it promotes the modern movement of child-driven parenting, which is in stark contrast to Bible training children (Bible-parent-driven parenting).
For instance, in the recent issue, there was an article about giving a great birthday party, and the children of the author had all these ideas which were quite outlandish and expensive, so her idea of a bargin party was to tell her children that they had a $100 budget for there b-day party. I just laughed, I have spent lots on b-day celebrations in the past, but not anymore, my goal is always to give a great party for as close to $0 as possible; we pulled off a great party for our middle daughter's 10th this past Nov. The feedback was that it was the best b-day party that the guest(s) had ever been to!
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Yes, I just read the $100 birthday party story. Since our girls birthdays are 2 days apart, we have just had a joint party thus far. Matt's family is so big, grilling out hotdogs/hamburgers, chips, drinks, and cake is about all we do. Next time I will have to keep track of cost, but I doubt we are anywhere near $100 for a double-party! However, Miss Brianna is already talking about "friend parties", so hopefully that doesn't start us on the rollercoaster ride!
I am like you in the respect that I am letting my "Parenting" magazine sub. run out. All of my other parenting mags I have let expire. It is really redundant after the first year or two of reading. I am scaling back to Family Fun, Taste of Home, and Martha Stewart Living. I do save these magazines and refer back to them, unlike the others that I just recycle.
On another side note... speaking of commercialism (ie. Disney owning F.F. and having tons of ads in it). How many people here subscribe to Taste of Home? I have subscribed for a looong time, probably 6 years or so. They always prided themselves on being "ad-free", but now there is an ad on every other page. It is a little distracting, but I guess just a sign of the times :P
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I think the thing that is a little annoying is that in articles like the birthday one, they try to make it sound like it is such a good deal! I wouldn't worry, with your creativity and baking skills, friends parties will be no problem keeping costs down, just don't get caught up in the whole idea of "keeping up with the Jones's"
What Taste of Home has gone commerical? My Grandma subscribed and my Mom has to off and on. That is too bad.
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Pickles???? Did it say why pickles????
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Usually the tradition was to pour hot syrup on a dish of freshly gathered snow (or these days shaved ice) which makes the syrup into a really sweet, sticky, taffy-like confection. The plain cake-style donuts and pickles were to give a companion taste to cut the sweetness. Usually coffee is also served for the same reason. Maybe that particular location has cut out the ice/snow base for the syrup which would be really weird. Of course, the whole idea of "sugar on snow" could be considered weird, but boy is it good.
My dad for years would go into restaurants with his little paper sack - not holding his flask, but rather his small bottle of real maple syrup for his pancakes or waffles. :)
Barb, what grade of syrup do you get? Having been used to Grade A Light for years, even tho' it would be more expensive every year, I am amazed to see dark amber sold in the grocery stores here in FL - although the "robust" flavor has its followers too. Where has all the light amber gone?
Kevin, have you encountered maple sugaring among the Amish? -Kay
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Sugar Snow, Little House in the Big Woods!!!!
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Yes, yes it did! I believe it said it was a local tradition or something. I love pickles, so I'm game to try :-)
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i just love real maple syrup, living in northern new york/ northern vermont area it is in abundance around here, i buy a gallon every year........i remember once when i was about thirteen, our neighbor decided one year to start a neighborhood learning project, homemade maple syrup, he cut a fifty gallon drum, rigged it up on legs and set it up next to a pile of wood, then he recruited all us neighborhood kids and our dads to tap all the maple trees in town and hang pails......our village was really small, about five hundred people or so, we started collecting sap, the fire was kept burning round the clock, the sap was stirred with a new kyack oar, and the dads took turns so that some one was with the sap round the clock, after all this work, gathering, carrying, stirring, no sleep, we were so pleased when the syrup was finished, sadly to say but each participating family only ended up with one pint jar.......so, to anyone who makes it, kudos, cuz i know how much work and sap go into each gallon........but on a hot stack of buttery, flaky, tender buckwheat pancakes it is well worth it........mmmm
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