There are a lot of different types of maple trees – at least128 species. Some grow better than others. Some are a harder wood, making them ideal for use on bowling alley floors, while others are considered a weed maple because they grow too big, too fast and too soft.
有银枫树,红枫树,曼尼托巴枫树,日本枫树,梧桐,苏格兰枫树等等。但也许最受欢迎的枫树是糖枫,在加拿大东部和美国东北部很常见。
The official tree of Canada, this sturdy maple tree produces a sap each spring that is higher in sugar than the sap from any other species of maple tree. It’s the sap that makes this tree so special.
Our Sugar Maple Trees
When we first moved to the country, I was delighted to notice that our property was home to several sugar maple trees. There were other maple trees as well, specifically the Manitoba maple. However, it was unruly, large and toppled over, precariously close to the house, during violent winter storms.
I was fascinated with the idea of having my own plot of sugar maples. Was this the time to start a traditional cabane à sucre? French Canadian for a “sugar shack” in the woods that specializes in, you guessed it, maple sugar products and the maple sugar experience?
我有了这些树,我所需要做的就是敲打它们,在2月底到3月,有时到4月,收集树汁,把树汁煮成浓稠的糖浆,最好是在火上煮,这样可以省电。不是很难,对吧?
The Process Of Making Maple Syrup
Actually, it’s a rather simple process, when you think of it. The boiling process is the kicker. You have to boil it at the right temperature for many hours until the sap is about 1/35th of its original volume. It’s not something you can do in the house. Well, I suppose you could, but you would have a very sticky mess to clean up.
Have you ever boiled syrup for candy? The steam emitted creates a very sticky substance that coats anything and everything nearby. Imagine boiling a sticky, sweet syrup for hours, even days. You’ll be cleaning up the mess for just as many days after.
What has started out as a simple process of collecting sap, has now become a little bit more complicated. A cabin of sorts is needed, nothing fancy, but someplace where the sticky steam can do its damage without covering the contents of your home.
Consider A Maple Co-Op
Alternatively, you could join a co-op with like-minded neighbors. Perhaps someone already has a cabin for cooking the sap. That’s what we did. A local farmer was tapping the trees in the neighborhood and sharing the finished product.
With several large sugar maples on our property, we could become the proud recipients of a large jug of maple syrup. And the boasting rights to say it came from our trees without the messy process to clean up after.
然而,事实证明,我们只有一颗糖枫树足够大,可以用来开采。树干的直径至少为10英寸。我们唯一的糖枫直径只有10英寸。每增加8英寸的直径可以插入额外的水龙头,最多四个水龙头为一棵树。
找到唯一的一棵树后,农民在离地面约2英尺的地方钻了一个洞,在树上钻了约2.5英寸。他敲打着金属壶嘴,壶嘴上挂着一个大的、已经清空干净的塑料饮料瓶——最好是回收利用。我们在做生意。
For the next six weeks, or however long the weather obliged, the farmer came and emptied the container every morning and took it away for boiling.
As I drove around the countryside, I was amazed at the number of tapped trees on people’s front yards. Even the local church, with its century-old sugar maples, was tapped.
Reaping The Benefits Of Our Maple Trees
We had a good season that first year. It began late February and continued into April. The ideal conditions to make the sap flow are -10°C at night and just above 0°C in the day. The sap flowed well and it was considered a good year for maple syrup.
We avoided the sticky mess as we learned the process. With only one usable tree, we had a few years ahead of us before we would be ready to collect the sap and produce our own maple syrup. In the meantime, we helped out, from the collecting to the boiling over a wood stove in a cabin, away from the farmer’s house. And we enjoyed the fruits, or should I say, syrups of our labors.
It was well worth the effort and we certainly stocked up on the farmer’s supply, lining our larder with jugs of maple syrup and maple sugar. With growing concerns over the use of refined cane sugar and the need to consider healthier, more natural sweeteners, maple syrup and maple sugar is something worth considering.
A Healthier Sweetener
Maple syrup is considered to be one of healthiest foods available. It contains fewer calories and a higher concentration of minerals than honey and many other sweeteners. Two teaspoons of maple syrup has only34 calories(每日摄入量的1%)。它还含有每日所需的22%的锰和3.6%的锌,这些都是对身体很重要的营养物质,对心脏和免疫系统尤其有益。
If you can’t harvest your own, there are ways and means of obtaining maple syrup and maple sugar products to use in your cooking and baking. I have long since converted, and even though our single sugar maple tree doesn’t make a big supply of the product, I purchase and always keep on hand a substantial supply for my cooking and baking needs.
Maple Salmon And Asparagus
Ingredients
- 4 salmon steaks (fresh or frozen)
- 16 spears asparagus
- 12 mini potatoes (white, yellow or red)
- 1/2 c. maple syrup
Directions
- Lightly grease a large 9 x 12-inch flat glass casserole with extra light olive oil. Lay out the salmon steaks.
- Cut off the ends of the asparagus and wash well. Lay beside and around the salmon.
- Wash the mini potatoes and distribute evenly around the salmon and asparagus.
- Pour the maple syrup over everything.
- Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for about 40 minutes, or until salmon is tender and flaky.
- Serve hot. Makes 4 servings.
Maple Cinnamon Bread
Ingredients
- ¾ c. warm water
- 1 tbsp. maple syrup
- 1 tsp. yeast
- ½汤匙。extra light olive oil
- 2 ¼ c. all purpose flour
- ½ tsp. sea salt
- 2 tsp. extra light olive oil
- ½ c. finely ground maple sugar
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
Directions
- In a large glass measuring cup add yeast to warm water and maple syrup. Let rise 5 minutes. Add ½ tablespoon extra-light olive oil.
- In a large mixing bowl, measure flour and sea salt. Make a well in the center.
- Add liquid mixture and stir well until too hard to work with the spoon.
- 根据需要加入面粉,继续用手揉面。
- Place dough in a large bowl. Cover with a slightly damp cloth. Place in a warm place free from drafts and let rise for 1½ hours.
- Meanwhile, prepare one loaf pan by greasing with extra-light olive oil and dusting with flour (or line loaf pan with parchment paper).
- Once the dough has risen, move to a floured surface and knead again for a couple of minutes.
- With a rolling pin dusted with flour, roll dough into a large rectangular shape. Brush with 1 teaspoon extra-light olive oil. Sprinkle with half of the maple sugar and cinnamon.
- Roll tightly and seal ends. Place in prepared loaf pan.
- Brush the top with remaining 1 teaspoon extra-light olive oil and sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup of maple sugar.
- Cover again with the slightly wet cloth and place in a warm place free from drafts. Let rise for another hour.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove to a cooling rack and let cool for about 20 minutes. Makes one loaf.
Maple Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- ¾ c. extra light olive oil
- ¾ c. finely ground maple sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 c. all purpose flour
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. cream of tartar
- ¼ tsp. sea salt
- ¾ c. semisweet chocolate chips (I use the soy-free, dairy-free variety)
Directions
- Blend first three ingredients. Add flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and sea salt. Mix well.
- Stir in chocolate chips.
- 在烤盘上抹上超淡橄榄油。
- Roll cookie dough into small balls and place on prepared cookie sheet. Flatten with fingers.
- Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 7-10 minutes or until lightly brown.
- Remove to a cooling rack. Makes about 2 dozen.
Chocolate-Covered Maple Shortbread
Ingredients
- ¾ c. extra light olive oil
- ¾ c. maple syrup
- 2 c. all purpose flour
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- ¼ tsp. sea salt
- 1 c. semisweet chocolate chips (I use the soy-free, dairy free variety)
Directions
- Cream together extra-light olive oil and syrup.
- Blend in flour, baking soda and sea salt.
- Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten with fingers.
- Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 13 to 15 minutes.
- 从烤箱中取出,在每个饼干上小心地放6到8块巧克力片,趁它们还热。
- 当巧克力变得有光泽且柔软时,用刀涂抹。
- Remove to a rack to cool. Makes 2 dozen cookies.
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