Getting pounded again

[kimmer]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 28 2008, 03:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do they still make "Log Cabin?" Still remember playing with the empty cans! Great way to populate a sand-lot city! Nice sound when you drop in a fire cracker, too...

Yeah, but it's now a division of Pinnacle Food Groups -- whoever they are. The web site states: authentic maple tasting syrup. Translation? High fructose corn syrup and maple flavors. It's not the real deal and I really hate the stuff. I usually just use butter on my pancakes. I want real-deal maple syrup -- and by gum! I'm gonna get me some.

QUOTE

QUOTE

Sneakers is laid up

Whoa! Surf over to some 'health' sites and download some 'cures!'

HAHAHA! He's doing better. So far we've avoided the visit to the emergency room. We'll see what the weekend brings.

Now to decide what grade of maple syrup to try.  

[chriskleeman]

QUOTE

KIMMER HAHAHA! He's doing better. So far we've avoided the visit to the emergency room. We'll see what the weekend brings.

Now to decide what grade of maple syrup to try.  

AFAIAC, The best place for you to start is Grade A Medium Amber! More maple, a little less sugar than Fancy, less money, mo' bettah. Most folks who live up here use that or Dark Amber for their table syrup. If you like all the sugar you can get, though, then try the Fancy... But the Medium Amber is smack dab in the middle with a great balance of more maple flavor and sufficient sugar. I sent you an e-mail with similar recommendations and a bit more info.

Looks like this maple season might go well into April, when all the darker grades get produced, fyi!

And don't be fooled, they make great syrup in New York, Maine and New Hampshire, and some in Massachusetts too! Of course, we in the Green Mountain State think ours is the best!

YUMM!!!!!  

Chris K

[Paddy]

Kimmer, believe it or not, Costco has very good REAL maple syrup for a very reasonable price, should you be in the vicinity of one any time soon. I used to laugh - in MA, most of it came from Quebec, not Vermont which was right next door!

Trader Joe's in South Portland is another good source if you're in that vicinity. And the Co-op in Corvallis also has it in bulk if memory serves. (Can't find it on their web site, but you have to know the SKU number for that) I still have a plastic squeeze bottle that I bought there and labelled "maple syrup" to re-use for buying it in bulk.

You really don't want to order it online from the smaller producers unless you want to benefit the post office/UPS - the shipping will be a small fortune. I checked one of the suppliers at random and a one quart container shipped to OR would cost over $26! The maple syrup itself wan't too bad at $15.99/quart, but the shipping and insurance is over $10 and that's just USPS.

Last time I bought it at Costco (a couple of months ago) a 1 L bottle, which is pretty close to a quart, was $11.99.

Amazon.com's grocery section also has a fair selection of New England maple syrup - prices are more like $19 for a quart though. But shipping is free over $25.

[chriskleeman]

And what Paddy's not telling you is that U.S. and Canadian Maple syrup co-mingle much more often than you might think!

Chris K

[kimmer]

Thanks for info here and in the email, Chris. You and I think alike.  Scary, isn't it?

Paddy, thanks for the heads up. There are a couple of growers that have free shipping. I just haven't finished comparing prices of syrup.

We still have a Costco membership and are hoping the weather clears so we can go over before we lose it (it's too far and too expensive to use twice a year). I can get free shipping at Amazon anytime -- I'm attached to Amazon, or it's attached to me like a growth (have a prime acct).

Boy would I love to shop at a Trader Joes. *sob*

Sneakers just told me that Ray's here in town carries Vermont Maple Syrup. Let's see -- it's possibly from 2005 and the price is sky high -- but Hey! Let's nail the tourists! HAHAHA

Since I now know that maple syrup freezes (thank you Chris!), I'm gonna invest and get plenty to play with. I have cake and bread recipes and a marinade recipe (it'll quit snowing on the coast eventually, right?) and ... anyhow ... should be fun.

[chriskleeman]

I just want to put one more 2 cents worth about Costco, generic maple syrup, etc.

While I appreciate that that places like Costco and Trader Joes have cheaper syrup, they are buying bulk syrup from God-Knows-Where.

Even though I do appreciate the idea of value with maple syrup from the bulk producers, I almost always get it from my neighbors. It may cost more, it may cost more to ship, but if you've ever helped out your local farmer by buying their produce, then you know what I'm talking about. I live in Chester VT, and I have been buying syrup from producers in Baltimore VT (Go ahead, Google that one!) for a long time. There are two families I've been buying from for many years, and their products have been clearly superior.

My sister lives in New Jersey. She buys from Costco and Trader Joe's in a pinch, and when I send her the real stuff, she is always ecstatic!!!

Just one person's opinion, but I am definitely spoiled by knowing and tasting where the syrup comes from!

Just one more example that you get what you pay for!

Sweetly yours,

Chris K

[Gregg]

Turns out we didn't get any syrup from that storm last week.

[chriskleeman]

Yeah, we didn't either... just froze up all the maple trees after it blew through!

Chris K

[Paddy]

Well, Chris - I've had lots of small grower stuff too - even gone to sugaring off parties and had it straight from the washtub over a fire - and while it may have a certain slight edge in taste all I can say is REAL maple syrup from Costco is WAAAAAAAY better than Aunt Jemima anything!! Sort of like comparing a Lexus to a Lada. The Costco syrup vs. the individual producer is more like comparing a Lexus and a Mercedes.

And I agree with Chris re: taste and grade - stick with the (cheaper) amber or dark.

[chriskleeman]

QUOTE(Paddy @ Mar 31 2008, 08:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, Chris - I've had lots of small grower stuff too - even gone to sugaring off parties and had it straight from the washtub over a fire - and while it may have a certain slight edge in taste all I can say is REAL maple syrup from Costco is WAAAAAAAY better than Aunt Jemima anything!! Sort of like comparing a Lexus to a Lada. The Costco syrup vs. the individual producer is more like comparing a Lexus and a Mercedes.

And I agree with Chris re: taste and grade - stick with the (cheaper) amber or dark.

No doubt! Auntie who???

For me, the small batch/grower thing is about knowing my neighbors, buying syrup locally, etc... but I'm lucky, I live in Vermont!  

But I would agree, especially for cooking, if you can find Grade B or Grade A Dark Amber (the old Grade cheap at Costco or Trader Joe's it's very cost-effective. And if you've got a family to feed, definitely the way to go to put real syrup on the table!

Now I've helped collect sap, but never had it from a washtub over a fire! YUMMM!!!

I'll put my money where my mouth is, watch your mailbox in a few weeks!

Chris K

[RNKIII]

Well, back to the original topic...   We are getting 'hammered' again.....

Right now we have about 3-4" of VERY HEAVY WET SNOW on the ground since 7 this morning!!!

And it's coming down heavy still.....   Schools are closing early, west of here, and I suspect ours will as well..

Looks like it got here a day early.

p.s. my brother and a few friends make maple syrup.... and I'm one of the beneficiaries  
 
Bob K.   rnkiii

[Gregg]

Bob, that looks like a huge system that covers most of Wisconsin, plus a majority of Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and branches down into Missouri. We're warm enough to be getting rain out of it. Lucky you!

[RNKIII]

Yea, thanks Gregg, for the good wishes???
School closed here at noon...

I got called to drive to LaCrosse to pick up a truck... told them yes, but then went outside...  Common/good sense prevailed and I said 'no'.
Don't know if the found someone else... but I feel better about not going..

Bob K.   rnkiii

[kimmer]

Hopefully spring weather is really on it's way -- for all ofus.

Woke up to freezing temps again this morning, but no snow on the ground. I know it's like dandruff to all of you, and I'm not comparing, but I'm honestly tired of waking up to snow on the beach at the end of March. I really am. :-/ I lived a lot of years in deep snow country and grew weary every winter, so I know how you folks feel -- and that's why I wouldn't move back there for love nor money. (Sneakers once considered -- until he saw the look on my face -- a job in Ohio.)

Anyhow, we finally have a sunny day and the temps might break out of the 40's -- which means we are heading back to more normal stuff. So hopefully this nicer weather will begin heading YOUR way.

Now back to the sweeter part of the thread ... ... I wanna try maple syrup straight from the washtub over a fire. WHAAAA! I bought a pint bottle of Grade A Dark Amber at Ray's* the other day and tasted it as soon as I got home. YUMMY! Sneakers has promised to make me pancakes either tomorrow or Thursday.


*I had 3 choices: Canadian $$$$, Canadian $$$ and Californian $. I opted for the Canadian $$$. The Californian $ seemed mighty suspicious to me.

[chriskleeman]

Didn't mean to hijack the thread... really!

Luckily, we started out with some light sleet and snow this morning, and it's changed to light rain, which is much better. Temps are now in the low 40's so nothing's going to freeze any more today!

Tomorrow might be kinda wild, with 50 MPH gusts and Thunderstorms, and the temperature might be up into the 60's in some spots. We've still got substantial snow in the yard and hopefully there won't be too much rain, too fast.

That system that is in the middle of the country looks huge, Gregg and Bob!... supposed to roll through here tomorrow with the above mentioned wild weather, I'll get my helmet out!

Kim, glad to see you got a temporary fix!

Chris K