Today was a neat day to collect sap because we had snow on the ground like they do in New England when they do their sap gathering. I wanted to use today’s sap to make the maple candy, but the trees just wouldn’t cooperate as much as they did two weekends ago. We did get almost two gallons of sap today, which yielded about 6 ounces of syrup, but it wasn’t until late in the day. Here is a picture of one of our maple trees in the snow with a bucket waiting to be filled up. Our dog, Mammoo, is protecting the area I hope:
Since the sap didn’t come today early enough to make candy, I used some of the syrup from our previous sugaring day. We decided to experiment with one of the jars that we had boiled a bit too long which had caused the syrup to crystal up. I spooned it into a pan and heated it up on the stove. I was surprised how quickly it came to a boil, and how quickly the temperature raised to well above boiling.
I was trying for soft maple candy and I had read that you should bring it to about 30 degrees above boiling. Then you should let it cool in another pan until the temperature dropped back down to about 200 degrees and then stir it until it became a plastic consistency. It reached above 230 degrees very quickly. It also cooled very quickly; too quickly in fact! Maybe it was because I was using such a small amount (just a half pint). It turned to a plastic consitency so quickly that it started to harden before I could pour it into the molds. Instead I packed it into the molds which worked ok, but wasn’t exactly what I had wanted.
Here is a picture of the first maple candy made at Pure Water Hollow Homestead:
I don’t know if the candies turned out perfect, but they sure were good! They had a “melt in your mouth gradually” sensation, sort of like those soft peppermints you can get that fall apart as you suck them. I think the children loved these maple hearts for Valentine’s Day! And the amazing thing is that it is 100% all natural, straight from the tree!
I will need to try the process some more to perfect it. I’ve read that if you are able to pour the syrup the outside will have a glossy look to it, which I think would be better.
Something I was more pleased with than the candy, was the maple sugar I made. After the candy had hardened too much to be able to put into any more molds, I decided to see what would happen if I crushed the remainder of it into powder. Maybe it would resemble sugar? I crushed and sifted it and it stayed dry and fluffy, just like granulated sugar! Maybe I got it finer than granulated sugar? I was very happy with it! Here are a couple of pictures of the first maple powdered sugar made at Pure Water Hollow:
This sugar should work as well as store bought white sugar, but I believe it is much healthier! It is 100% natural and organic, but it is oh so sweet!
I also took a picture of the new syrup bottle I bought today next to the sugar bowl. The syrup that is in the bottle is Valentine’s Day maple syrup made today from Valentine’s Day maple sap collected today!
Today has been a nice Valentine’s Day but I am really looking forward to celebrating with my Valentine this Saturday evening. I am taking Lisa to dinner and a Doyle Lawson concert while Erica babysits for us. I am so in love with my wife, Lisa! I can’t really put into words how I feel, but I know that I have so much more than I deserve! A beautiful woman who loves and cares for me and who allows me to love her. I feel like God has blessed me greater than He could ever bless anyone else!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 comments
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mom on February 15, 2008 at 8:03 am
That was a nice post! We have not gotten any sap this week. Today is going to be a bit warmer, so maybe today we will get sap.I ordered 20 more spots from Lehmans, but they are back ordered. I was hoping to have them for this weekend.
The candy and sugar look good!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debbie on February 15, 2008 at 8:57 am
My it look like you are having too much fun. It also looks like you are busy around the homestead. Your maple sugar reminded me when I bought some maple sugar. It was great. I loved putting it in my tea to have the extra flavor of maple. Great stuff. I've never had maple candy though. I'm glad to see that things are good at the homestead. Thanks for posting all this wonderful information.
Debbie
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schatzi on February 15, 2008 at 11:48 am
What a great post….reminds me of my grandparents letting us help make maple syrup and candy.
Have a great "date night"
Connie
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chas on February 15, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Hi there! I was just thinking about you guys and how you should be getting close to having a new little one very soon! I am glad to read that you are all doing well.
That candy and sugar looks wonderful… I would love to do something like that!
You are an inspiration!!!
Have a great weekend!
Chas
No comments:
Post a Comment