The sap's running! Yay!! :-) - DPChallenge Forums

03/20/2013 07:55:15 AM · #126

Was just on Mapletrader looking for the list of reported flvours that maple syrup can taste like. Vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, cotton candy and marshmallow are all in there...so is lemon, molasses and at the opposite end of the spectrum, vinegar! That's usually when you pull your spiles.

Also here's a post from another MT member on some of the funny ideas peeps have about sugaring:

I was explaining to a visitor how the sap started and stopped each day depending on the freeze-up the previous night. I was saying how it started to run around lunch time as the sun warmed the trees. This was around daylight savings change weekend. I commented that when the time changes it will mess up our collecting schedule as the trees don't start to run until an hour later each day. The person thought that the trees knew it was time change weekend and adjusted their flow accordingly.

Here's another: I have collected "beaver chews" - short pieces of hardwood the beavers skin and cut to short lengths - from the brook near here. I use them in the camp for angle braces on the corners of the walls. A visitor once asked:"how do you get the beaver to cut them that length?" I replied that I cut the branch, stuck a post-it note on it with my desired measurement, and dropped it off at the lodge and picked it up a few days later. Thinking she would see right through this, she didn't and asked: "What about this one that is half cut off?" (one of the braces is cut partially through by the beaver) to which I replied "that spot is where I stuck the note. The beaver didn't read carefully and thought it said "cut here.""

Message edited by author 2013-03-23 08:58:28.

03/22/2013 11:08:34 PM · #127

The weather looks perfect this week for the sap! +5 in the day and -5 overnight...get out your housecoat and start boiling that sap!

03/23/2013 08:56:59 AM · #128

Originally posted by Enlightened:

The weather looks perfect this week for the sap! +5 in the day and -5 overnight...get out your housecoat and start boiling that sap!

LOL! Oh trust me, Tracey, I've been calling the EnviroCan Weatherline 2x a day ever since the season started. Three of my trees have been starting up slowly, now the other three have to get their barky butts in gear :-)

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

03/23/2013 11:30:47 AM · #129

Snaffles, as one of your dedicated lurkers in this thread, I must confess to cooking up french toast with maple syrup three times in a row this last week. (Calories be damned)

Additionally, this New England native got to recalling the last time I went East for any length of time, and wandered around during 'leaf-peeping' season in Vermont, Maine and more.

My memory of ambrosia? Entering one of those local diners at breakfast on a crisp October morning and ordering oatmeal with maple sugar sprinkled on top.

Keep that syrup flowing!

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

03/23/2013 02:06:35 PM · #130

Attagirl Alice! There's just no comparison between the real stuff and so-called *table syrup* and other synthetic monstrosities. I've been known to bring my own syrup with me to brunch at restaurants :-) Whereabouts East did you grow up?

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

03/23/2013 03:32:03 PM · #131

Originally posted by snaffles:

I'm a Connecticut Yankee, Susan, but also spent a lot of time in Pennsylvania and Upstate New York.

And the 'breakfast syrups' you reference are a travesty, indeed. Remember "Karo Syrup?
:)

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

03/23/2013 03:45:18 PM · #132

Originally posted by sfalice:

Remember "Karo Syrup?
:)

a.k.a. "high-fructose corn syrup" -- the current villain in the industrial food crisis ...

FWIW "imitation maple flavor" is based on fenugreek seed, an entirely natural product.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

03/23/2013 06:35:16 PM · #133

Woohoo, finally put about 6l of sap on to evaporate today...it's been so long, I can't think of any other lull lasting over a week. But then, I've only been sugaring since '08.

@ Alice...I don't think I ever tried Karo syrup, maybe next time I go to Price Chopper in Odgensburg I'll look for it. How far north in upstate NY did you live?

@ Paul...cool, I had no idea fenugreek seeds were the base for imitiation maple flavour. Might have some kicking around in my spice cupboard, will go give a sniff and see if it's at all maple-y. Though seeing that this year's syrup is tasting almost of everything else but true strong maple, that could be tough :-)

Message edited by author 2013-03-23 18:54:53.

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

03/23/2013 07:31:08 PM · #134

Originally posted by snaffles:

Susan, if you try Karo syrup at your (er) local Price Chopper, make sure you get it from a product demonstrator. For goodness sake, don't BUY the stuff.
In more or less reverse order: Syracuse, Marcellus (getting close on the "towns" of Marietta/Amber). But that whole area was my playground for a long time. Bought myself an MG TD and took it lots of places as a young un.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

03/23/2013 08:12:26 PM · #135

Originally posted by snaffles:

There are several cheeses that use fenugreek seeds - quite awesome.

03/23/2013 09:58:42 PM · #136

Cory's right, I have encountered fenugreek in cheeses...but it never reminded me of maple! They must do something to it to get the maple-y flavour. I'll ask on Mapletrader, surely someone there knows more about this.

Oh yeah, during earth hour went out and collected another 2l sap, using my headlamp. Good trees, coming back from their little staycation so well :-)

03/24/2013 07:24:17 AM · #137

What, isn't anyone else up at 7:20 on a Sunday morning?! ;-)

Collected a grand total of 9 litres yesterday, and my last collection was at 11pm...so now dying to see how much I get today. Going to be busy!

03/24/2013 08:22:07 AM · #138

Only 7:20...lazy! I rolled out of bed at 6 to get my daughter to work by 7! I could have popped over to help you! Drink the liquid gold that is! maybe even have some pulled taffy!

03/24/2013 12:47:45 PM · #139

Got 3 1/2 l at 11pm, will probably collect again around 3 or 4 and then at 8ish. Maybe 11 again too if feeling like it.

Tracey, you must put a helluva lot of kms on your car if you live in Ottawa and work in Morrisburg! I live a lot closer to M'burg and went to McHaffie's today, round trip for me going by backroads is 120km easy.

And hey they guy who used to be the baker at UCV has been resident baker at the B&H in Kemptville for the last 3-4 years, pretty good stuff.

03/24/2013 01:07:41 PM · #140

Fun fact of the day re fake maple syrup, from Wiki:

In the United States, "maple syrup" must be made almost entirely from maple sap, although small amounts of substances such as salt may be added.[70] "Maple-flavoured" syrups include maple syrup but may contain additional ingredients.[71] "Pancake syrup", "waffle syrup", "table syrup", and similarly named syrups are substitutes which are less expensive than maple syrup. In these syrups, the primary ingredient is most often high fructose corn syrup flavoured with sotolon; they have no genuine maple content, and are usually thickened far beyond the viscosity of maple syrup.[72] The fenugreek seed, a spice with high amounts of sotolon, can be prepared to have a maple-like flavour, and is used to make a very strong commercial flavouring that is similar to maple syrup, but much less expensive; one such syrup, Mapleine, was popular during the Great Depression.[73][74]

American labelling laws prohibit imitation syrups from having "maple" in their names.

[75] In Canada, syrup must have a density of 66Â° on the Brix scale to be marketed as maple syrup.[28] QuÃ©bÃ©cois sometimes refer to imitation maple syrup as sirop de poteau ("pole syrup"), a joke referring to the syrup as having been made by tapping telephone poles.[76]

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

03/24/2013 01:21:09 PM · #141

Originally posted by snaffles:

I try not to think of the kilometers I put on my car!!! It's 220km round trip and with gas prices today it's starting to add up! but it is a beautiful place ot work. I love it there.

If we keep up with this weather you'll have enough syrup to fill allof yur DPC orders!

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

03/24/2013 01:25:39 PM · #142

"pole syrup" -- I'll have to remember that one ...

I've used Mapleine before ... for some reason maple syrup is one agricultural market California hasn't been able to get into ... ;-)

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

03/24/2013 05:00:21 PM · #143

Originally posted by snaffles:

I hate to break the news to you snookums, but some of us had showered, dressed, ate breakfast and were in their offices a few hours before you even got up... and some of them are much, much older than you. :o)

Ray

03/24/2013 05:48:07 PM · #144

Yeah, Uncle Raymee, I know...life's tough innit? ;-) And you're only 20 yrs my senior!

@

Enlightened...yep Tracey at the rate I've been bringing in sap, I do believe you're right. I now have to use the regular electric stove to do some boiling. Don't worry the windows are open!! BTW exactly what do you do at UCV? And I bet little Lost would enjoy a very educational trip to your workplace :-)

ETA: Found this on Mapletrader, who's brave enough to try it?

Ultimate Maple Syrup Cocktail
This one is dangerous if you like Bourbon and well we all love our Syrup . Here we go

2 Shots of top shelf Bourbon (ok if your not a Bourbon Snob any will do)
2 Table spoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 Table spoons of Light/Fancy Maple Syrup

Pour contents listed above into a shaker with plenty of ice cubes , Shake very well and dump entire delicious contents into your favorite tumbler .
Enjoy !

Message edited by author 2013-03-24 18:00:05.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

03/24/2013 08:12:55 PM · #145

Just try this instead! It's Very good!!

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

03/24/2013 08:50:13 PM · #146

Originally posted by snaffles:

Yeah, Uncle Raymee, I know...life's tough innit? ;-) And you're only 20 yrs my senior!

@ Enlightened...yep Tracey at the rate I've been bringing in sap, I do believe you're right. I now have to use the regular electric stove to do some boiling. Don't worry the windows are open!! BTW exactly what do you do at UCV? And I bet little Lost would enjoy a very educational trip to your workplace :-)

ETA: Found this on Mapletrader, who's brave enough to try it?

Ultimate Maple Syrup Cocktail
This one is dangerous if you like Bourbon and well we all love our Syrup . Here we go

2 Shots of top shelf Bourbon (ok if your not a Bourbon Snob any will do)
2 Table spoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 Table spoons of Light/Fancy Maple Syrup

Pour contents listed above into a shaker with plenty of ice cubes , Shake very well and dump entire delicious contents into your favorite tumbler .
Enjoy !

Hell, even Crown Royal is in on the game now.

ETA: This stuff made me sad that I quit smoking all tobacco products. It would be simply fantastic with a nice cigar.

Message edited by author 2013-03-24 20:50:56.

03/24/2013 09:55:26 PM · #147

I've sampled a few interesting maple/booze combos...maple whiskey, beer flavoured with maple (by Beau's in Vankleek Hill) and a maple wine by Blue Gypsy Winery. In all of them the maple takes a backseat to the prime alcoholic flavour, but is definitely there and not overwhelming.

@ Cory...grats on quitting smoking, but maybe with a nice clove cigarette? Or an e-ciggie? Or is there an e-cigar? :-D

03/25/2013 10:26:30 AM · #148

Hey, what happened to the post I put up here this morning?