Posted on 12/17/2024 8:08:46 AM PST by Red Badger
NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP DAY
Get the flapjacks ready for National Maple Syrup Day. December 17th calls for orders of pancakes, french toast, or biscuits topped off with butter and delicious maple syrup.
#MapleSyrupDay
It is usually from the xylem sap of sugar maple, red maple, or black maple trees that maple syrup is made from although it is not limited to those maple species.
These trees, in cold climates, store starch in their trunks and in their roots. In the spring, the starch is then converted to sugar that rises in the sap. The maple trees are then tapped by boring holes into their trunks and the released sap is collected. After the sap is collected, it is processed by heating to evaporate much of the water, leaving the concentrated syrup.
The indigenous peoples of North American first collected, processed, and used maple syrup. European settlers adopted the practice and gradually refined production methods. In the 1970s, technological improvements further refined the process of making syrup.
A maple syrup production farm is called a sugarbush or a sugarwood.
The sap is boiled in a sugar house which is also known as a sugar shack, sugar shanty, or a cabane à sucre.
Up until the 1930s, the United States led in maple syrup production. Now, Canada produces the most maple syrup. Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the United States.
HOW TO OBSERVE MAPLE SYRUP DAY
Serve up a breakfast worthy of real maple syrup. Learn more about tapping trees for sap to make syrup in the spring. Whether you crave pancakes, biscuits, or some light crepes, be sure to share them using #MapleSyrupDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP DAY HISTORY
It's a sticky subject, but National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this sweet holiday. Pass the syrup!
Maple Syrup FAQ
Q. When is tapping season for maple syrup?
A. Weather conditions determine the best time to tap trees for sap. Tapping maple sap beings as early as the middle of February and continues through April.
Q. What color is maple sap when it comes out of the tree?
A. Maple sap is a clear liquid when it is tapped from the tree. The process of heating and boiling the sap creates the darker color of maple syrup.
Q. What states produce maple syrup?
A. Vermont produces the most maple syrup. However, these states also make maple syrup:
New York
Maine
Pennsylvania
New Hampshire
Wisconsin
Michigan
Q. Is maple syrup only used as a topping?
A. No. You can also use maple syrup for making baked goods and candy.
Notable Birthdays for December 17 Samuel Jones (1819-1887) - Major General for the Confederate Army.
Frederick Tracy Dent (1820-1892) - General for the Union Army.
James T. Holtzclaw (1833-1893) - Brigadier General in the Confederate Army,
Willard Libby (1908-1980) -Chemist who helped discover radiocarbon dating that is still being used in archaeology and palaeontology.
Burt Baskin (1913-1967) - Co-founder of Baskin-Robbins.
James McGaugh (1931-Still Living) - Neurobiologist and co-founder of the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory.
Cal Ripken Sr. (1935-1999) - MLB player, coach, manager and later scout.
James Booker (1939-1983) - Pianist often referred to as the Black Liberace.
Ernie Hudson (1945-Still Living) - Award winning actor who had major roles in Ghostbusters, The Crow, and Congo.
Wes Studi (1947-Still Living) - Actor recognized for his roles in Dances with Wolves and The Last of the Mohicans.
Laurence F. Johnson (1950-Still Living) - Founder and CEO of EdFutures.org.
Mike Mills (1958-Still Living) - Founding member of the rock band R.E.M.
Giovanni Ribisi (1974-Still Living) - Actor who had significant roles in Gone in 60 Seconds, Public Enemies, Sneaky Pete and Friends.
Memorable Events for December 17 1791 - The first one-way street is created in NY City.
1862 - General Ulysses Grant expels Jews from TN.
1895 - The Anti-Saloon League of America is formed in D.C.
1900 - The Ellis Island Immigration Station is completed.
1924 - The first diesel electric locomotive begins running in NY.
1944 - US Army announces the end of detaining Japanese Americans and beings their release.
1965 - The largest newspaper (Sunday NY Times) is sold for 50 cents for 946 pages.
1999 - International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women is created.
2003 - International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers is created.
Roses are Red,
Violets are Purple,
Sugar is Sweet,
And so’s Maple Surple....................
I’m not a cook so it’s bacon and Eggos.
From yesterday:
To: laurenmarlowe
In the late 60’s a friend had a teepee near White River Junction, Vt. He used to give presents of AA Light Fancy syrup at Christmas. In warmer seasons we used to partake
in a few headshrinkers (half grapefruit juice, half vodka) and visit his dairy farmer neighbor’s pasture for cow riding. Farmer’s name was...Donald.
My family loves maple syrup - but ONLY the real stuff, not the fake “maple flavored corn syrup.”
But, if you want it real, you gotta pay for it and around here it is very expensive - we are a long way from maple syrup country.
Why is Maple Syrup so damned expensive?....................
Why is Maple Syrup so damned expensive?....................
I always assume it’s b/c of needing a tremendous amount of maple sap to boil down to what actually becomes the syrup.
I’ve also read reports that maple syrup production is declining b/c of climate change - which has caused warming which prevents the trees from producing enough sap to make the syrup.
You can tell that to my relatives in upstate Pennsylvania and New York who are experiencing true ice box conditions right now.
Was it any good?
My husband was from maple syrup country and would surely know the difference - he insisted on the real stuff, even here in So California.
I was a kid, so it tasted fine to me. Was kinda thin though. The first time I tried real Maple Syrup, it was thinner than I expected, so maybe he knew what he was doing........
Maple Pots de Crème
Gourmet dessert's pure maple taste shines topped w/
bourbon-spiked whipped cream and bitter chocolate.
Ing 4 lge egg yolks 2 tbl packed br/sugar 1/3 cup maple syrup ¼ tsp salt 1 ½ c h/cream 1 tsp vanilla Bourbon-spiked cream: ¼ cup h/cream 1 tsp bourbon Shaved bitter chocolate, sea salt flakes garnishes
Steps cook slowly/stir to simmer whisk-combined egg yolks, br/sugar, maple syrup, salt, 1 ½ c cream. In about 7 minutes, it will bubble and get thick. Immediately set off heat; strain into bowl. Stir in vanilla.
Chill spooned into 4 small individual cups. Saran dishes, chill 2 hours minimum. When ready to serve, beat the ¼ cup cream and bourbon together until soft peaks form. Top pots de crème w/ whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a dusting of flaky sea salt.
My husband would have said feeding that to you is child abuse.
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/152002/homemade-maple-syrup/
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/46976/simple-maple-syrup/
He was from the Oregon/Washington state area so I assumed he knew what Maple Syrup was suppose dto be like................
About the same procedure for making molasses.............
I buy Michigan since I’m there a lot
Cheaper and good enough
Amber or dark amber
Fancy is for salad dressing
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