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Harvesting "Liquid Gold"

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Good morning everyone… it's been a busy weekend….Maine Maple Syrup weekend! ‘Tis the time to boil and boy did we boil! The kids and I pulled a wagon loaded with a trash can plus a 5 gal bucket of sap all in one run on Saturday. We set up the funky homemade sap evaporator and set to boiling. We boiled for two days and have rejoiced in the harvesting of our “liquid gold”. It seems to be a right of passage for us here in Maine. The snow is still all around our house as we live in the woods. The driveway is ankle deep in mud ,the songbirds are showing up at the feeder, ole man porky pine has taken up residence in one of the kids climbing trees and the sap is flowing….it’s these signs we get rejuvenated from. Knowing that winter has officially passed and spring is all around us. Most folks look for flowers….well ours will surface months from now….the sap gives us hope to hold us to the daffodils.

Another tradition we have here is pancake Sunday. Sawyer wanted to share with all you one of his favorite rccipes to go along with your choice of “liquid gold”…enjoy

Banana Cakes

Makes approx. twelve 4’ cakes

6 T. Butter
1 ½ c. flour
2 T. sugar
2 ½ t. baking powder
¼ t. salt
1 very ripe banana, peeled
1 c. milk
2 eggs
½ t. vanilla
liquid gold of your choice, for serving

Cut the butter into 3 equal parts. Melt two of the pieces in a pan and save the third part for cooking the pancakes. Mix in a bowl the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
Mash the banana in a different bowl. Add the milk, eggs and vanilla to the banana. Then mix the dry mix to the banana mix. Batter should be a little lumpy. Spoon batter on griddle and cook until a few holes form on top of each pancake and flip. They should rise a little and turn golden brown. Serve hot with warm “liquid gold” syrup.
Enjoy!

Have a great day! Be well. Do good. Happy Sap Day!

Comments

Bill said…
Barry and Jen,
Just wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying reading your blog. Each entry gives me a little taste of life in Maine and a little insight into your warm and generous way of thinking. I'm glad that Sara is with you.
Fair winds to you,
Susan Andreatta
March 30, 2007 at 5:29 AM
Michele B said…
These pancakes are delicious! Try using a combination of wheat and white flour for a bit of crunch and more fiber. Yummmm!
April 4, 2007 at 8:45 AM
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