Last week we said we were hoping to be boiling sap this week and we were right. The temperatures have been just right and the sap is filling up the bags to the brim. Always amazes me that you can take something that looks like water and turn it into golden sweetness. The first batch we did of course was reason to celebrate and we treated ourselves to homemade waffles, homemade butter, and of course homemade syrup. Sooo delicious and love when we can make an entire meal out of something we all had a part in making.
MAPLE FACTS – wismaple.org
Pure maple syrup is only made on a commercial scale in North America – nowhere else in world.
Maple syrup is generally produced in the states and provinces that surround the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River to the Atlantic Ocean.
Maple sap is collected in the early spring, when temperatures get below freezing at night and above freezing during the day.
It takes approximately 40 gallons of maple sap from the trees to make one gallon of pure maple syrup.
Nothing is added to the sap, only water is evaporated away, to make pure maple syrup.
Once concentrated to the correct density, pure maple syrup is filtered and “hot pack”- bottled.
A tree large enough to tap can be re-tapped year after year, although a new tap hole must be drilled each season.
Each tap can yield up to 10+ gallons of sap per season on a gravity system, resulting in approximately one quart of finished syrup.
Pure maple syrup is a great natural food. It contains no preservatives, colorings or other additives.
A gallon of maple syrup weighs 11 pounds compared to 8 pounds for a gallon of water.
While it does feel like Spring with the mud and brown grass, I would like to see more sun. Regardless, the chickens are enjoying getting out of their winter home and grazing the day away out in the yard . . . and my flower beds. It will be a lot to clean up once warmer weather returns, but I can’t complain too much because it is nice to see them out and about again. I always enjoy watching the chickens as they are quite humorous and fascinating.
WAFFLE MIX
2 eggs
2 cups All Purpose Flour
1 ¾ cup milk
½ cup vegetable oil
1 T white sugar
4 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp vanilla
Preheat waffle iron. Beat eggs in large bowl with hand beater until fluffy. Beat in flour, milk, vegetable oil, sugar, baking powder, salt and vanilla, just until smooth.
Spray preheated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Pour mix onto hot waffle iron. Cook until golden brown. Serve hot. Courtesy of AllRecipes.com