Tag Archives: Maple Syrup

Earth Day Treat!

Posted on by

2

As I was looking for a recipe to make in honor of Earth Day (04.22.12), I was going through all the different parts of the world and tried to find what they were the best at growing to make a dessert. It became a bit overwhelming to put all the ingredients together and make something “good” that would represent Earth Day. In between a million different bookmarks, I stopped and asked myself what does this day means to ME as a baker, and came up with the fact that I wanted to create something local and organic. In fact, Earth Day is a reminder that challenges us to make positive changes to our daily habits for a better world. When it comes to food, cooking and baking with local, sustainable and organic produces can make a difference! So out the window with my first idea and came this idea that honors my own part of the world, Canada.

When you think Canadian produce you think; oats and dairy (Prairies), apples (Ont, BC and PQ), maple syrup (PQ), berries and honey. What could I make that represent us and incorporate all those delicious produce together? Humm… Organic honey-apple muffins, with an oat & maple syrup crumble, made to share with all your friends on Earth Day!

Honey-Apple Muffins

Makes 12 delicious muffins to share or not!

  • 2 cups organic whole wheat flour or
  • 1 cup organic whole wheat flour and 1 cup never bleached all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup organic honey
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup organic milk
  • 1/3 cup organic unsalted butter
  • 2 organic eggs
  • 1 cup shredded organic apples*(about 3 apples)
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Maple-Oat topping

  • 1/2 cup organic oats
  • 1/3 cup organic whole wheat flour
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 3 tbsp cold organic butter
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon

How to make it

  1. Preheat oven at 375°F.
  2. In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients. Reserve.
  3. In a mixer, combine eggs and butter, mix well.
  4. Add honey (mix for about 3 min).
  5. Add vanilla.
  6. Alternate by adding dry ingredient and milk.
  7. Add apples, just mix until they are all incorporated in the batter. Do not over mix.
  8. In a muffin tin put unbleached baking cups, add batter to about half.
  9. For the topping, combine flour, oats, cinnamon and maple syrup.
  10. Work in cold butter and mix until texture is crumbly (I use my hands, it’s much easier).
  11. Spoon over 1 tbsp of topping over muffin mixture.
  12. Bake for about 18-20 min.

*You can interchange apples for any fruit that is locally grown in your part of the world. I debated between apples and berries since we also grow beautiful ones here but couldn’t find fresh ones at this time of the year.

Serve the muffins in a recyclable egg cartons, it’s cute and good for the environment!

Enjoy this sweet remedy for planet earth!

Maple vanilla cupcake with maple butter + Maple Milk = Maple LOVE

Posted on by

0

We wanted to create a maple snack for the march maple madness, so we came up with a simple but delicious way to enjoy it.

I always keep vanilla cupcake in the freezer so I can create last-minute dessert if I am in a jam. Vanilla cupcake, I find, are very hard to make because it is easy to make them tasteless or dense and crumbly. With my cakepop company I had to create a vanilla cakepop and it took me about 20 recipes before I found THE ONE.

Once your cupcakes are done or unfrozen, just had a nice maple butter on top and, if you desire, a little decoration. I do suggest that you keep them a bit warm. As you pour your maple butter on top, it just melt a bit and make it even better. Here’s the recipe for the perfect vanilla cupcake!

Vanilla cupcake

  • 2 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup canola oil
  • 2 tsp vanilla or 1 tsp vanilla and 1 vanilla bean
  • 1 cup buttermilk or 1 cup of milk with 1 tbps white vinegar

Sift flour, bp, bs, and salt; set aside

In large bowl beat the eggs and the sugar for about 5 min (this is crucial, makes you cake fluffy)

Mix in the oil and vanilla (low speed)

Add the flour mixture and buttermilk (barely mix just so ingredients are wet)

Bake at 325°F for 20-25 minutes

Once barely cooled, pour your maple butter and then decorate to taste.

As for the maple milk, we were just going to serve plain and simple milk but since we are in maple month why not go all the way? Again easy to make:  add 2 tsp of maple syrup to 1 1/2 cup of milk. It is absolutely delicious.

For milk

  • 1 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 tsp maple syrup

Happy Sweet Remedy!

Easy Pillsy “Pet de Soeur” or shall we say Nun’s Farts

Posted on by

0

I got this recipe from my younger DD’s teacher Mme Bernier, and when my DD told me the recipe I kind a laugh because this recipe is made with ready-to-use Pillsbury Crescent dough. As I am a passionate baker and do ALL my recipe from scratch, there was no way I was going to make this. BUT after two days of begging from both my kids I gave in and made it. WELL WELL WELL little did I know this recipe turns out to be delicious. It took about 5 min to make and was so easy that it may have opened a whole new world to me! (ok maybe just a little world). Even my husband who always says “I am not a dessert guy” loved it. So thanks to Mme Bernier you can also enjoy this easy “Pillsy” recipe.

FYI, “Pet de Soeur” is a traditionally French Canadian recipe that literally translates to Nun’s Farts. However my recipe is a bit different as it doesn’t include cinnamon (optional!) and it’s not rolled. Here is a more elaborate description from Serious Eats : “So, why a flatulence reference for such a delicious pastry? There are a few theories. One points to the noise that doughnuts make while being fried. Another explains that a nun farted in a kitchen causing another nun to crack up so hard, she dropped some pastry in hot oil and hey whaddyaknow, it tasted pretty good.” Read more about it here.

Easy “Pillsy” Pet de Soeur

  • 1 Pkg of Pillsbury Crescent dough
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1 cup cooking cream (15%)
  1. Heat oven at 350° F
  2. In sauce pan heat the cream, add the maple syrup and the brown sugar
  3. Boil for about 5 min (keep your eyes on it)
  4. Take the dough out and cut in slices (it will make 10-12 slices)
  5. Place the slices in a 9 x 12 dish
  6. Pour the hot sauce in between the dough
  7. Bake for 25 min

Voila! Done. Eat. (Fart?). We’ll leave the last one up to you…

You can serve it with maple ice cream or whip cream.

Happy Sweet Remedy!

Sticky strawberries!

Posted on by

0

During the maple madness we always tend to eat super fatty foods paired with sugary maple products. In this simple treat, we have decided to cut some of the excess sugar by pairing maple toffee with fresh strawberries!

1- Simply dip the strawberries into Maple Toffee.

Here you have three options: the grocery store maple toffee (in the picture) which is a cheap and easy way out, making your own maple toffee by boiling down maple sugar at a precise 115º which is rather complicated if you don’t have the proper tools (candy thermometer) + some practice or finally the upscale classy option to get your cider flavored -Neige Première- maple toffee from Point G. If your bought your toffee, make sure it’s smooth enough to dip in! You may have to microwave it for a few seconds.

2- Want to go a step further and make your kids (or your inner kid) smile? Double dip the strawberries into fizzy sugar! For more info on the popping sugar visit Molecule R‘s website . This will make your mouth pop and everyone crack up! Fun guaranteed!

3- By simply placing the strawberries on sticks in a flower pot full of snow, you can create a super cute maple quick fix! Be creative and have the kids paint the wooden sticks or write funny things on them.

This cool and easy snack is perfect for everyone trying not to overdose on a sugar high! Enjoy!