| Maple syrup is derived from sap of the maple | | | | produced in the south by slaves. During World |
| tree. It is sweet tasting substance which is often | | | | War II food rationing people located in the |
| eaten on pancakes, French toast, waffles, or | | | | northeastern portion of America were generally |
| cornbread. It may sometimes be used as | | | | encouraged to compliment their sugar rations with |
| ingredients in cooking or baking, candy making or | | | | the use of maple syrup. Several War cookbooks |
| for preparation of deserts. Surprisingly it is also | | | | can still be found that were printed to assist the |
| occasionally used for flavoring in the manufacture | | | | American housewives to use this sugar alternative |
| of beer. Maple syrup was initially used by Native | | | | in their foods. |
| American who instructed the early settlers in its | | | | There are many maple flavored syrups which are |
| use. | | | | imitations. Most of these syrups do not contain |
| Generally maple syrup is found in the northeastern | | | | any maple syrup at all. In these syrups their |
| portion of North America from the sugar maple | | | | primary ingredient is usually corn syrup that is |
| trees or the black maple. These particular trees | | | | flavored with something called sotolon. They are |
| have high sugar content within their sap. To | | | | usually much thicker then the real maple syrup. |
| process the sap one would boil it in what was | | | | I would like to present my own version of |
| designated a "sugar house". This is a building that | | | | non-maple syrup that could be used in emergency |
| is louvered near the top to allow the steam to | | | | situations when no real syrup could be obtained. |
| vent outside from the resulting boiled sap. In | | | | Below I have listed the recipe for this item. |
| America the largest producer of maple syrup is | | | | Ingredients |
| the state of Vermont with 450000 gallons per | | | | 6 medium potatoes |
| year. | | | | 2 cups of water |
| Traditionally, one would harvest maple syrup by | | | | 1 cup of regular white sugar |
| tapping through the bark of the tree and letting | | | | 1 cup of brown sugar |
| the sap drip into a bucket. You would then collect | | | | Procedure |
| the buckets of sap on a daily basis. Production | | | | 1. Boil the six medium, unpeeled potatoes in the |
| would usually be during the months of February | | | | water |
| to April. With most maple trees freezing evenings | | | | 2. Continue to boil until one cup of liquid is left |
| plus warm days are required to induce the sap to | | | | 3. Removed the potatoes from the mixture |
| flows. | | | | 4. Continue stirring the liquid until you reach the |
| The processing procedure is extremely slow due | | | | boiling point once again |
| to the vast sum of water which must boil out of | | | | 5. Add the white sugar |
| the sap. It takes about 40 liters of maple sap to | | | | 6. Add the brown sugar |
| create a single liter of maple syrup. | | | | 7. Continue to boil until they have dissolved |
| Maple syrup as well as maple sugar was | | | | completely |
| prominently used during the Civil War and in the | | | | 8. Replace the pan on the stove |
| years just prior to the civil war due to the fact | | | | 9. |
| that most of the cane sugar or molasses was | | | | |