Maple Syrup 101 with Butternut Mountain Farm + Giveaway
Over the weekend we tapped our maple tree and hope to be making our homemade maple syrup soon. While we love this new tradition we never make enough syrup to last the whole year. I always end up buying a big jug or two of pure upstate syrup in Cooperstown whenever we visit. Over the years people have told me they find buying maple syrup intimidating and wonder if it is even worth it. All the grades can seem confusing and it is more expensive then the fake manufactured syrup you find in most grocery stores. So, today my friend Emma from Butternut Mountain Farm is here to clear up any confusion and share a few fun facts about maple syrup.
I am also excited to be giving away two bottles of her delicious Vermont maple syrup which her company is now packaging in squeeze bottles. Emma knows what happens when you mix syrup jugs with small children (a huge mess!) and had the genius idea of making maple syrup easier for kids to handle. I love her ingenuity!
Real Syrup vs. Fake: There is pretty much no comparison between real and fake syrup. When you read the back of a maple syrup container it should have one ingredient: pure maple syrup. Since maple syrup takes time and expense to make companies have tried to manufacture the flavor in their kitchens for years. Corn syrup and maple flavoring is not maple syrup! Maple syrup comes from the sap of maple trees that is boiled down until a rich, golden syrup forms. It is a natural process that only requires heating and cooling.
Health Benefits: Pure maple syrup is rich in vitamins and minerals including potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, iron, and selenium. (Fake maple syrup has no health benefits!) Pure maple syrup makes an excellent natural sweetener for both sweet and savory dishes. It is also good for soothing sore throats and sweetening hot teas and cocktails. Next week I am going to share a lot of my favorite recipes that use maple syrup as a main ingredient!
About Maple Syrup Grades: Recently the International Maple Syrup Institute revised the maple syrup grading system to reduce confusion amongst producers and consumers. As you can see by this nifty infographic below, the grading is now all Grade A and is based on color and flavor. The descriptions Golden, Amber, Dark, and Very Dark are very straightforward. The darker the color the stronger the syrup flavor. This grading system is now uniform across all states, provinces, and countries and will serve everyone well going forward.
I am so glad Emma was able to share some of her knowledge about maple syrup and clear up any confusion. Next week we’ll be sharing some great recipe ideas for maple syrup-based dishes that are completely family-friendly. I can’t wait! In the mean time, come enter to win some delicious syrup of your own.
Win two squeeze bottles of Butternut Mountain Maple Syrup!
1) Check out Butternut Mountain Farm’s recipe page and tell me a dish you’d like to try!
2) Follow Kelsey Banfield on Facebook.
3) Contest runs from March 19th through March 26th. Winner will be announced in the March 27th newsletter. Good luck!
(Disclosure: Infographic above ©Butternut Mountain Farm, used with permission. I was sent the product to sample by my friend Emma from high school and loved it and am pleased to share it with you.)
I would love to try the Vermont Style New Potato Salad!
I would like to try the Maple cinnamon Donut holes!
I follow KB via FB!
I’d love to try the herb grilled scallops. i use maple syrup in your granola recipe all the time.
I would love to try the cocktail recipes!
I’d love to try the Maple Cinnamon Donut Holes!
Maple Cinnamom Donut Holes
MAPLE CINNAMON DONUT HOLES
I would like to try the Maple Glazed Pork Tacos in the SlowCooker. Sounds delish!
Maple Walnut Pie – YUM!!! And I follow you on FB as Susan Christy
Beet and Sweet Potato Maple Chips!
Beet and Sweet Potato Maple Chips, they sound amazing! Especially for a good day out hiking.
For sure, the maple bacon and blue cheese pizza!! There cannot be anything wrong pizza, maple, bacon, and blue cheese!
The Spicy Maple Roasted Pumpkin Seeds!!!
I follow you (Kelsey) on FB
I want to try the Maple Cinnamon Donut Holes recipe
elena150980@yahoo.com
I like you on facebook as Elena Istomina
Wow! Great recipes. I had to bookmark them so I can share them & save them. I think I’d go with the Maple Roasted Pears as my first choice. But the Dsep Dish Apple Pie and Bacon Maple Blue Cheese Macaroni. Yum!!!
My daughter and I are going to try the Sweet and Spicy Parsnip Fries, followed by the Maple Pecan Ice Cream with Maple Caramel Sauce. That is enough for a dinner, don’t you think? 🙂
Cardamom Glazed Salmon! Love the idea of squeezable real maple sugar! In our house I have to ration out the portions to my kids and husband or else they make swimming pool-sized puddles!
Maple glazed root veggies!
(I follow on FB!)
Maple Cinnamon Donut Holes
I Follow Kelsey Banfield on Facebook.
The Maple Cinnamon Donut Holes look great.
Vermont maple old fashioned? Yes please!
maple roasted pears
I’d like to try the multi grain waffles slathered with fresh butter and pure maple syrup!
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp with a Heritage Oat Maple Crumble sounds really really good
I follow @KelseyBanfield on facebook.
Rosemay Carmelized Onions sound so good and versatile.
Maple Cinnamon Doughnut Holes…sounds yummy!
I’d like to try the Maple Walnut Pie.
I’d like to try the Maple Blueberry Tart.
I follow you on Facebook.
I’d like to try the Maple Walnut Pie
Karen Goodwin Delaney follows you on Facebook
follow on FB
I’d like to try spicy maple pumpkin seeds
I would make the beet and sweet potato maple chips
I would try mini maple apple pies
FB follower
I follow you on FB
I’d try the Maple Whiskey Caramels
I’d like to try theMaple Vanilla Chia Pudding
I like you on Facebook as Carolsue Anderson
[…] much fun seeing what recipes you want to try from Butternut Mountain Farm. Don’t forget, the maple syrup giveaway is continuing until Thursday so please come by and […]
I’d like to try the Maple Cinnamon Donut holes!
I want to try the maple bacon cheese pizza. YUM!
Maple Cinnamon Donut holes
Follow you on Facebook.
The sweet autumn baked french toast looks devine!
I follow you on FB as well.
Oh wow, there are so many yummy looking recipes on Butternut Mountain Farm’s website, but I was immediately drawn to the Maple Roasted Pears and the Beet and Sweet Potato Maple Chips – yum!
The Vanilla Maple Granola recipe at Butternut Mountain Farm’s website sounds fabulous! I think it will be a big hit at our house.
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I’m a Kelsey Banfield follower on Facebook. Thanks!
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