Local Maple Syrup

It's hard to imagine while digging out of the recent snowstorm that the maple syrup season is just around the corner.  I have very fond memories of going to the sugar bush!  Every year a group of us would go to a neighbour's sugar bush that was close enough for me to bike to in the warmer weather.  We used to go there for campfires too.  It was their family homestead, generously used for many church and Girl Guide outings.  We would watch them collect the sap from the maple trees, replacing each bucket as they emptied it.  The sap was carefully carried to the huge boiling trough.  Later we loved eating the sugar candy - hot maple syrup drizzled on clean snow to harden.  To this day, maple syrup remains one of my favourite natural sweeteners!

We buy maple syrup directly from local producers whenever possible but I also keep a bottle of store bought maple syrup on hand just in case.  We were at our vacation home for most of October, flying home for three weeks then back down for five weeks.  Those three weeks were exciting but chaotic.  Our flight was delayed by a day so we got in on the Wednesday, rushed to the GTA to greet our newest grandchild, then back in time for my husband to leave for hunt camp that Saturday. 

He was gone for a week.  It was a successful hunt so he came home with venison.  He also surprised me with a litre of locally produced (near the hunt camp) maple syrup.  Maple syrup bought this way is usually a little half the cost of store bought.  Buying directly from the source makes a lot of sense.  It's a great way to get to know your local food producers.  My mouth is watering just thinking of the yummy dishes this maple syrup will be used in.  Delicious!