I wanted to share a great giveaway going on at a GREAT blog I love to follow….check it out here:
Memorial Day Giveaway
Happy Memorial Day all!
Peek
~a~
Boo
BABY!
I got some flowers & my tomatoes planted today ~ I’m just praying that it stays warm & doesn’t freeze at night….I’m not very good at babying my plants & don’t want to go thru the steps of covering them! Soon after I got my tomatoes in, it started down pouring! Rain ~ it’s a blessing isn’t it? We’re not super dry here right now, but the rain is needed as we are in the process of getting crops in, sure makes for less dust flying around.
The kids thought the down pour was great fun too!
They had a great time, jumping & getting nice & wet! The dog didn’t enjoy it though, not only does she NOT like getting wet, but she hates the squeak of the trampoline, not sure what she thinks she’s accomplishing by biting it, but it is a daily ritual!
How bout’ you, how did you spend your Sunday? Hope you all enjoyed it ~ Rain or Shine!
I’m guilty…I buy IT, or let me make a pledge here, have bought in the past, to never do again ~ there, now since I said it in writing I’m committed, right? Anyhow, as I was saying, I have up until now, been buying IT ~ that nice big $10 gallon of Mrs. Butterworth for our pancake syrup. I can give myself a point for frugal, as it is definitely cheaper to buy it by the gallon than the pint or quart in the regular syrup aisle. However, have you ever looked at the list of ingredients that you are dumping on your pancakes?
High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Cellulose Gum, Molasses, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Natural and Artifical Flavor (Caramel Color, Corn Syrup), Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Mono and Diglycerides.
I’m not going to try & break down The Good, The Bad & The Evil here in the above list, at least not today….but my first instinct is it is more bad & evil than good.
So on with what I was posting today…
I was lucky enough blessed to obtain 5 gallons of the REAL, God-given sticky stuff, Maple Syrup (did you notice in the ingredients above, the word maple doesn’t even appear!?!)
When I was first inquiring about maple syrup & found out I had to get 5 gallons at a time, I thought, what would I do with that much?, especially since I thought I would have to store it in my fridge, um no room there!
Thank goodness I was informed I could can it! So here ya go, this is how I canned my first batch of maple syrup. May I say all 8 quarts, 38 pints & 4 half-pints sealed beautifully? Of course, I suppose it will be weeks/months before I might know if they’ll stay this pretty-caramel-clear color & goodness me ~ hopefully not mold or cloud up?!?
HOME CANNING MAPLE SYRUP:
Get water boiling in a large pan, put very clean jars & rings in boiling water.
Pour syrup in large stock pot & slowly bring up to 180-degrees.
Fill hot jars with hot syrup, I think the fuller the better like within 1/4″ from the top ~ I just hope mine are full enough, wipe top & edges to get any syrup off. Dip lids in boiling water & place on top of jars, screw on lids nice & tight. Place on counter & leave alone for the next 24 hours.
After any of my canning has sat for a day or two, I like to take the rings off, wash the jar of any food/stickiness & store in my pantry without the rings. I had peaches once I thought I got all the sticky off, but there was some under the rings & attracted little icky ants….
Got some that didn’t seal? Just put them in your fridge & eat um’ up ~ YUM! Aren’t they pretty?
I’ll admit, my kids were a bit hesitant….the results? They love it! The only complaint? It isn’t as thick as the non-maple Mrs.B ~ so is that just something they get used to? Or is there something I could do different to make it thicker? How about you? Do you love or hate the REAL STUFF? What do you use it for, just pancakes, or other yummies? How do you can it, any secret tips? Share away…..
