Tag Archives: maple syrup

Spring 2022 Newsletter

May 21, 2022 | Blog, Featured Article, In The News

Welcome Springtime!

Sugaring season in the northeast ended in mid-April. The taps have been pulled and our sugar maples are now in the phase of growing leaves which will begin the process of making next year’s sugar through photosynthesis. We are also continuing the cycle of preparation for next year’s season. Right now the most pressing job is to cut, split and dry wood to be used in our wood fired evaporator. Read on for more news from the farm and delicious, maple inspired recipes!

Sugarers were concerned when March started off with 60 degree temperatures, but the season quickly looked up as freezing nights returned.

Maple sap starts at 1% or 2 % sugar and the rest is water and various nutrients. Maple syrup is 67% sugar. The nutrients remain and a lot of water is evaporated. We boil over a wood fire for the best caramelized flavor. Matt is always a fast moving blur during sugaring!

After several hours…maple syrup is poured off!

The finished product is hot packed into our new custom glass.

All our firewood is sustainably harvested. Most comes from trees downed in windstorms. Being on a mountain means lots of wind damage!

Finally we are seeing spring flowers! Check out this fun guide to Vermont’s Spring Flowers.

The songbirds are back! Our sugarbush is certified as Bird Friendly through the Audubon Bird Friendly Maple Project. Every spring we are amazed at the number of birds who make their home on our hillside until late summer. Learn how to Bird By Ear in this fun article by Gwendoyln Causer.

King of the sugarbush! On April 1, we celebrated two years with our our little pandemic sugar dog, Archie. As a stray from Texas it’s taken a couple of years for Archie to feel comfortable in the woods and with Vermont weather. He has come around though, and spent lots of time helping with sugaring this spring.

Finally we’re getting some heat in Vermont! As a full-time teacher I spend most of the day inside. As soon as I get home, Archie and I head out to the sugarbush to look for Matt, check on the songbirds or just enjoy the beauty of quiet nature.

Sweet Treats for Spring

Maple Sugar Bars

These delicious bars are reminiscent of pecan pie, yet the maple and walnut create a much more robust flavor. Serve once they have cooled, maybe with a dollop of whipped cream to create a special dessert.

Ingredients

Base

½ cup butter, softened
¼ cup Couching Lion Maple Sugar
1 cup flour

Topping

1 cup Couching Lion Maple Syrup
¾ cup Couching Lion Maple Sugar
½ cup walnuts, chopped
¼ cup butter
2 eggs
2 tbsp flour
pinch of salt

Instructions

Base

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine butter, maple sugar and flour and stir until the mixture is crumbly. Press mixture into an 8 inch greased baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove and set aside.

Topping

In a saucepan, combine the maple syrup, maple sugar and walnuts and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add butter and stir until melted.
In a bowl, beat the eggs with the flour and salt. Add egg mixture to maple syrup mixture and stir to combine. Pour over the base and bake for another 25 to 30 minutes, or until set. Cool completely before cutting.

Extra Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

These pancakes are extra fluffy due to a shot of seltzer. See how it stacks up against your favorite pancake recipe!

Ingredients

Serves 4

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons Couching Lion Maple Sugar

1¼ teaspoons baking powder

1¼ teaspoons baking soda

1¼ teaspoons kosher salt

2 large eggs

1¾ cups buttermilk

½ cup cold seltzer water or club soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more

Pure Vermont Couching Lion Maple Syrup (for serving)

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl and wet ingredients in a second small bowl. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir. The batter will be slightly lumpy and should not be over stirred.

Heat a greased griddle or frying pan. Scoop out batter in 1/4 cups, leaving plenty of space for the pancake to expand. Look for bubbles to form and then flip.

We always heat the maple syrup for pancakes! Add about 2 tablespoons per serving to a small pan. Heat slowly and watch carefully. Maple syrup boils over quickly!

Serve immediately and enjoy the rest of the morning (or evening if you’re having pancakes for dinner….an actual real thing we do in Vermont)!

Enjoy springtime wherever you are! We look forward to sharing this season’s maple syrup with you. Click the green links or the button below to shop for your own springtime sweet maple syrup!

XO From Huntington,

Chaska, Matt and Archie

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Rustic Maple Apple Compote

September 26, 2021 | Featured Recipe, Recipes, Sweet

Rustic Maple Apple Compote

Maple syrup and Vermont apples are a classically delicious combination. This recipe combines the two to create a chunky, rustic compote. It’s delicious on its own or serve with ice cream, yogurt and a sprinkle of granola or as a side with savory dishes. You can choose to peel the apples or cook unpeeled. Either way is delicious!

2 pounds apples,

Maple Sugar Strawberry Sauce

April 30, 2020 | Recipes, Sweet

Maple Sugar Strawberry Sauce

It’s May in Vermont and the stores are packed with strawberries. Our own local strawberries won’t be available until June, but it’s hard to resist buying this delicious little fruit as soon as it becomes available. This sauce can be used in a myriad of ways. Try it over cheesecake, ice cream or Greek yogurt. It’s also a fantastic addition to savory dishes. Serve it alongside a roasted pork loin or on a cheese platter.

Maple Shortbread With Maple Glaze

February 8, 2020 | Recipes, Sweet

Maple Shortbread With Maple Glaze

This recipe comes to me from a great friend and baker, Joanna Beall. She has created endless delights using maple sugar and maple syrup! This recipe also calls for maple extract, which is a natural flavoring and will enhance the maple-y flavor. Bake up some cookies for those you love!

1 cup cold butter cut into cubes
8 tbsp Couching Lion Maple Sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp maple extract

Mix flour and salt,

Aunt Myra’s Maple Vinaigrette

January 19, 2020 | Recipes, Savory

Aunt Myra’s Maple Vinaigrette

This vinaigrette has been part of family gatherings for as long as I can remember. My aunt Myra is a great cook, with a focus on health and well being. This vinaigrette is amazing on sales butalso great on steamed vegetables.

Maple Vinaigrette

YIELD

Makes about 1/2 cup

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
2 Cloves garlic
2 tablespoons balsamic,

Peaches in maple whiskey syrup

September 8, 2019 | Featured Recipe, Recipes, Sweet

Peaches Canned in Maple Whiskey Syrup

We have had an exceptional peach season here in Vermont! This is the first time my trees really produced and the branches are bent right to the ground. I was worried the tree might break so I picked a bunch of peaches to remove some of the weight. Naturally I found a way to preserve them with maple syrup!