This syrup is from Orchard Hill Farm, the land of Russell and Roger Crane, in South Woodstock Vermont. This 6th generation farm has produced this fine nectar since it was first homesteaded in the mid 1840’s.
In the late 1840’s, in the fall of the year, the family would gather togather all the supplies needed for sugaring; buckets, spouts, cooking pans, and pack them up and head out to the mountain. They would stack and cover everything in the fire pit there, and gather a supply of firewood. When springtime came, they would climb the mountain and dig the supplies’ out of the winters’ snow, tap the trees and wait for the sun to warm the mountain until the sap would flow. Then, the sap was gathered and boiled down in large pans over a wood fire in the mountain fireplace. At the end of the season, the hogshead, or large barrel, full of Maple Syrup would be pulled by oxen down the mountain to the farm. This was their sweetener for the year. It was cooked down further to make maple sugar for cooking and baking, and candy. Any recipe that called for sugar, maple syrup was used instead.
While the process remains the same, the routes are far less traveled. Still, pipelines must be threaded through the landscape the proper route, connected, then tapped into the maple trees. When the sap begins to flow it is collected and boiled until it becomes this thick, rich maple syrup.
The recipes that have evolved are tremendous, and too numerous to mention. This is a perfect substitute for either white or brown sugar, however, cut the required volume in half. Personally, the most impressive use are such times when you may be cooking something that is high in acid content such as tomato based sauces, or that might cause stomach problems such as dry beans, or peas, use a tablespoon or two of Maple Syrup rather than baking soda. Not only does it eliminate both problems, it will add a special hint of flavor that can only be detected by the creator. Folks whom are privileged enough to partake of these creations will makes comments like “this is great”, “what is that special flavor” Share the answer if you like, I usually smile and say “family secret”.