I mentioned going to my neighbours house where we had a bonfire and made maple syrup. It was a gorgeous spring day, we still have snow but sitting in the sun was pleasant as there was no wind and the temperature did squeak past the freezing point. Mostly it was a day to get out, talk, laugh, eat snacks and drink what ever you were in the mood for. Luckily I had just made apple tarts that morning so I was looking pretty good showing up with a tray of treats, a regular Martha Stewart.
We were making maple syrup, it was a very crude setup like many people do in the country. My sister used to make it when we were teenagers, I had forgotten how much work goes into making it. Many times in the store I feel that the price is too high but after this little adventure, I have a lot of empathy for people making the stuff. I think the number is something like 40 to 1, meaning it takes 40 litres of sap to make one litre of syrup. Basically you take a bathtub full of water and boil it down to a couple of jam jars. That's it, your entire day of work for a jar of syrup. No wonder it's almost ten times the price of gas.
The next day I happened to be in a store and they had maple syrup on sale, a can of syrup for six bucks, I brought it home and poured it into a jar knowing what a super deal it was. I immediately text my neighbour and told her I got my jar of syrup as well, I also mentioned how hard it was turning the can opener (all that effort). My only dilemma now is waffles, pancakes or ooh la la, maybe French toast.
My List
About Me
- Sooo-this-is-me
- Ontario, Canada
- Lived most of my life hidden in the closet and suddenly realized, it's just not working! I started the process of coming out (way back in 2006) and wanted to write about it, hoping to meet people. My blog has shifted a bit now, sometimes gay issues, sometimes every day issues.
17 comments:
It's amazing how expensive it's gotten. But a must for good waffles and pancakes. I still say I'll show you show tricks with maple syrup!!!!!! It's has many more uses.
Steven: Boiling sap for syrup, apple tarts, fellowship with the neighbors -- you're killing me!
Maddie: Other uses for maple syrup? You're killing me too!
Correction: neighbours.
I'd go for waffles. And I'd like an apple tart too.
Maddie, I bet you know some tricks! I don't like anything sticky on me, (yes "that" also for the dirty minds out there). Maybe you could send pictures of you and the Lad as examples for me! Hahaha!
Mike, sorry but you spelled neighbour wrong, you are American so it's neighbor..... hahaha! (Inside joke between us, I'm not giving Mike a hard time). I personally find food is great for after sex, not during but that's just my preference.
RJ, ok I'm sending your tart in the mail but I can't guarantee freshness, or not all crumbled up now that I think about it.
Worse is if you scorch it. Then all that labour has gone to waste.
Mr Lurker, yes and it's very easy to make that mistake. Plus also you need a stainless steel pot, many other types of pots can leave an odd taste on the syrup and once that happens you can't rescue it.
I'll switch back to neighbor, then. Does that make me an American bour?
Mike, as long as you're not called an American boar, that's not good! Lol
All 3.
JP
This post is like a trip to a 1950s Women's institute meeting!
I love it
JP, leave it to you to come up with that answer! Keep that up and soon the next time you go to a beach with Guido, people from Greenpeace will keep trying to push you back into the water! I suspect you also have ideas for maple syrup that doesn't involve food.
Cook's Illustrated says in their maple syrup testing they couldn't tell the difference between brands enough to recommend anything but buy the cheapest - first time I have ever read them say this.
John, I am not sure if my male ego should be offended or my feminine side should feel pleased!
Dr Spo, maple syrup should be maple syrup, any tampering and it's something else. One province (Quebec) has created a whole government department around the making and marketing of it, like the way government will control the sale of pot, sadly this is not a joke.
You can cook for me anytime.
:-)
Walter, your apple tart is in the mail as well! Boy I sure hope the maple syrup doesn't leak out of the envelope.
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