Here's your sweet, sweet, free thread!
March 4, 2024 7:33 AM Subscribe
In Canada, the maple trees are roaring early; some producers started tapping in early February. But not all of that syrup hits the shelves. Some of it winds up in the world's only Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve. What do you use maple syrup for, or do you prefer an alternative plant extract? Or, talk about anything you like!
This is around the time of year I start keeping an eye on the National Phenology Network's Status of Spring maps. It's cool to watch the leaves and blooms flow north like a wave up the beach.
If maple syrup season seems early this year, you're probably right. I'm wondering how much the early spring will affect the cicada emergence, I hope they don't get too confused!
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:38 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
If maple syrup season seems early this year, you're probably right. I'm wondering how much the early spring will affect the cicada emergence, I hope they don't get too confused!
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:38 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
I used to say that I preferred the dark amber Maple syrup, too. But then, one time I drove out into the country in February and bought a jug of the lightest grade stuff that was less than a week out of the tree and it was so good it was m i n d b l o w i n g. And now I live thousands of miles from the sugar bush, and make due with the amber stuff. It's good too.
posted by 3j0hn at 7:39 AM on March 4 [3 favorites]
posted by 3j0hn at 7:39 AM on March 4 [3 favorites]
The best way to consume maple syrup? Pour warm maple syrup in a line in fresh snow, then roll it up with a popsicle stick.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NniZSGxRHU
posted by thecjm at 7:40 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NniZSGxRHU
posted by thecjm at 7:40 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
A good time to mention the The Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, not that there is a bad time to mention it.
Where we are the season just ended, ran about Feb 7-Mar-1 although we didn't tap until I think around valentines day. I think we got about 3 gallons in total, which is on the high side of what we usually get but significantly more than we need for a years worth of consumption and gifts - so into our strategic reserve it goes along with the 2022/2023 overage.
As to alternative syrups, Birch Syrup was a total pain and not worth it at all and I'm never doing that again.
posted by true at 7:45 AM on March 4 [6 favorites]
Where we are the season just ended, ran about Feb 7-Mar-1 although we didn't tap until I think around valentines day. I think we got about 3 gallons in total, which is on the high side of what we usually get but significantly more than we need for a years worth of consumption and gifts - so into our strategic reserve it goes along with the 2022/2023 overage.
As to alternative syrups, Birch Syrup was a total pain and not worth it at all and I'm never doing that again.
posted by true at 7:45 AM on March 4 [6 favorites]
I just made pilgrimage back to Canada and stuffed my suitcase full of maple syrup for my poor deprived British relatives. But I don't entirely believe them that the "Canadian maple syrup" available at supermarkets here isn't as good -- so tonight we're having pancakes for dinner to taste-test my 1L jug of Ontario maple syrup from a random Metro against Lidl's "McEnnedy American Way" allegedly Canadian stuff. Will report back.
(McEnnedy American Way is the funniest thing going at Lidl. It's what Germans think Brits think Americans eat. Do yourself a favour and keep an eye out for American Week if you have access to a Lidl.)
Relatedly, why have those crumbly maple leaf sugar candies become so hard to find? I couldn't find them anywhere except the airport and no way was I paying $20 for a little box! Any tips for hunting them down next time I'm in Toronto?
posted by cabbage raccoon at 7:51 AM on March 4 [7 favorites]
(McEnnedy American Way is the funniest thing going at Lidl. It's what Germans think Brits think Americans eat. Do yourself a favour and keep an eye out for American Week if you have access to a Lidl.)
Relatedly, why have those crumbly maple leaf sugar candies become so hard to find? I couldn't find them anywhere except the airport and no way was I paying $20 for a little box! Any tips for hunting them down next time I'm in Toronto?
posted by cabbage raccoon at 7:51 AM on March 4 [7 favorites]
As to alternative syrups, Birch Syrup was a total pain and not worth it at all and I'm never doing that again.
But with birch syrup you can make birch beer!
posted by thecjm at 7:51 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
But with birch syrup you can make birch beer!
posted by thecjm at 7:51 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
cabbage racoon, I took a photo of the American Week products at my local Lidl a couple of weeks ago. It's both hilarious and horrifying.
I buy my maple syrup at Costco, as the supermarkets only sell tiny little 200ml bottles that they want silly money for. Likewise agave syrup. I use them both in place of honey in recipes that call for liquid sweetness.
A friend of mine in the Hocking Hills, Ohio, has recently started her own maple syrup business, so next time I visit I'll make sure I bring some home.
posted by essexjan at 7:59 AM on March 4 [8 favorites]
I buy my maple syrup at Costco, as the supermarkets only sell tiny little 200ml bottles that they want silly money for. Likewise agave syrup. I use them both in place of honey in recipes that call for liquid sweetness.
A friend of mine in the Hocking Hills, Ohio, has recently started her own maple syrup business, so next time I visit I'll make sure I bring some home.
posted by essexjan at 7:59 AM on March 4 [8 favorites]
I took a look at that Lidl photo. Nothing says "American" like saying maize instead of corn.
posted by thecjm at 8:03 AM on March 4 [8 favorites]
posted by thecjm at 8:03 AM on March 4 [8 favorites]
Last week was quite a good week.
I saw Godspeed You! Black Emperor for the first time--they are a band I am aware of but I have never listened to them--because they were part of the Kingston Film Festival programming.
Also due to the Kingston Film Festival, we went to see Bruce McCulloch's most recent one-man show.
And then we went to Toronto for the weekend and ended up running into Matt Berry.
posted by Kitteh at 8:05 AM on March 4 [7 favorites]
I saw Godspeed You! Black Emperor for the first time--they are a band I am aware of but I have never listened to them--because they were part of the Kingston Film Festival programming.
Also due to the Kingston Film Festival, we went to see Bruce McCulloch's most recent one-man show.
And then we went to Toronto for the weekend and ended up running into Matt Berry.
posted by Kitteh at 8:05 AM on March 4 [7 favorites]
TIL Canadian maple syrup color grading is based on opacity.
posted by thecjm at 8:08 AM on March 4 [1 favorite]
posted by thecjm at 8:08 AM on March 4 [1 favorite]
I keep a strategic reserve of maple syrup at home, I usually order 24 cans at a time from a named cabane à sucre. We seem to go through roughly a can a month. Unfortunately I’m down to my last can so just about to put a fresh order through now.
posted by furtive at 8:10 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
posted by furtive at 8:10 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
A good time to mention the The Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, not that there is a bad time to mention it.
Mentioned on that wikipedia page, there is a documentary about it, episode 5 of the excellent Netflix docuseries "Dirty Money". Recommended.
posted by mcstayinskool at 8:10 AM on March 4 [1 favorite]
Mentioned on that wikipedia page, there is a documentary about it, episode 5 of the excellent Netflix docuseries "Dirty Money". Recommended.
posted by mcstayinskool at 8:10 AM on March 4 [1 favorite]
When we lived in Waterloo region and were running low on syrup, we'd just get in the vehicle and go out into Mennonite territory and look for a hand painted wooden sign that said "MAPLE SYRUP" and go up to the house and ask them for a gallon of extra dark and hand them money and receive an almost black ichor.
Now we live in Toronto and have the stuff mailed in from our honey/maple farmers at Hunnabees (recommended). They do many different kinds of single crop and adjuncted honey. And they're nice people. I keep forgetting to ask them if they're kindly package some of the maple syrup in cheaper containers because I really don't need/want the "glass jug" format that I am undoubtedly paying extra for.
posted by seanmpuckett at 8:19 AM on March 4 [6 favorites]
Now we live in Toronto and have the stuff mailed in from our honey/maple farmers at Hunnabees (recommended). They do many different kinds of single crop and adjuncted honey. And they're nice people. I keep forgetting to ask them if they're kindly package some of the maple syrup in cheaper containers because I really don't need/want the "glass jug" format that I am undoubtedly paying extra for.
posted by seanmpuckett at 8:19 AM on March 4 [6 favorites]
The son of one of my high school buddies has his own little maple sugaring shack at his parents' camp in Norway, ME. They tap the trees around the camp, so they only make a little bit every year. I currently have a surfeit of syrup on hand at the moment, but this thread has reminded me to reach out to get on his list for some Grade B.
Maine Maple Sunday is the weekend of March 23-24 this year. We haven't gone in a few years, but it's generally a good time. My guess is that by the end of March the sugaring will be pretty much done except for whatever sap they save to demo for the visitors that weekend, but the opportunity to eat fresh maple syrup on vanilla ice cream should never be passed up.
Massacuhessts Maple Weekend is 3/16-17
posted by briank at 8:19 AM on March 4 [7 favorites]
Maine Maple Sunday is the weekend of March 23-24 this year. We haven't gone in a few years, but it's generally a good time. My guess is that by the end of March the sugaring will be pretty much done except for whatever sap they save to demo for the visitors that weekend, but the opportunity to eat fresh maple syrup on vanilla ice cream should never be passed up.
Massacuhessts Maple Weekend is 3/16-17
posted by briank at 8:19 AM on March 4 [7 favorites]
I keep a strategic reserve of maple syrup at home, I usually order 24 cans at a time from a named cabane à sucre
Same, but half-gallon jugs from Vermont. We went through a period where my daughter ate (protein + oat) pancakes every day at breakfast for (no joke) like 2 or 3 years, and even dispensing parsimoniously, we still went through multiple gallons a year. We're off that kick now, but I still use a fair amount of syrup in yogurt, in bread recipes, etc.
Upgrading from supermarket syrup to the darkest grade from a real sugar shack is one of the better kitchen upgrades I've made in my adult life.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:20 AM on March 4 [5 favorites]
Same, but half-gallon jugs from Vermont. We went through a period where my daughter ate (protein + oat) pancakes every day at breakfast for (no joke) like 2 or 3 years, and even dispensing parsimoniously, we still went through multiple gallons a year. We're off that kick now, but I still use a fair amount of syrup in yogurt, in bread recipes, etc.
Upgrading from supermarket syrup to the darkest grade from a real sugar shack is one of the better kitchen upgrades I've made in my adult life.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:20 AM on March 4 [5 favorites]
essexjan: What's the name of your friend's business? We frequently visit Hocking Hills and I'm always up for buying local!
I'm on week two of a two week medical leave from work while my mental health meds are adjusted. I'm also using this time to find another job. I have a phone screen today for a position I desperately want and an in-person interview tomorrow for a job I'd be content to do for now but not long-term. Fingers crossed.
posted by cooker girl at 8:20 AM on March 4 [5 favorites]
I'm on week two of a two week medical leave from work while my mental health meds are adjusted. I'm also using this time to find another job. I have a phone screen today for a position I desperately want and an in-person interview tomorrow for a job I'd be content to do for now but not long-term. Fingers crossed.
posted by cooker girl at 8:20 AM on March 4 [5 favorites]
Ontario's "Maple Weekend" is in April this year and I'm wondering WTF tho? What's the point of a maple syrup festival with no snow? Or standing around eating pancakes in the cold? It's going to be like 20C. Baffling.
posted by seanmpuckett at 8:25 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 8:25 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
cabbage racoon, I took a photo of the American Week products at my local Lidl a couple of weeks ago. It's both hilarious and horrifying.
Picture gone :(
posted by rhymedirective at 8:25 AM on March 4
Picture gone :(
posted by rhymedirective at 8:25 AM on March 4
I haven't seen maple syrup for ages, so here we use honey. Or I should now say I use honey.
The kids have moved out this weekend, at the delicate young age of 25. It is very weird. I was fine during the weekend, but today they came over to take the last stuff and clean the rooms, and my daughter mentioned she was homesick already. As soon as they left, I got a massive anxiety attack. For some reason, I have always worried a lot about her. Not that there has ever been an objective reason for worrying, I just feel that way.
There is the fact that she is a lot like me "inside" while she looks a lot like her dad. Her boyfriend often laughs at us because we have so similar opinions and thoughts about stuff, even tastes, like: never mix cream and onions. My older daughter looks almost exactly like me, but has a completely different temper and outlook, and different favorite things. We share some interests, though.
posted by mumimor at 8:29 AM on March 4 [11 favorites]
The kids have moved out this weekend, at the delicate young age of 25. It is very weird. I was fine during the weekend, but today they came over to take the last stuff and clean the rooms, and my daughter mentioned she was homesick already. As soon as they left, I got a massive anxiety attack. For some reason, I have always worried a lot about her. Not that there has ever been an objective reason for worrying, I just feel that way.
There is the fact that she is a lot like me "inside" while she looks a lot like her dad. Her boyfriend often laughs at us because we have so similar opinions and thoughts about stuff, even tastes, like: never mix cream and onions. My older daughter looks almost exactly like me, but has a completely different temper and outlook, and different favorite things. We share some interests, though.
posted by mumimor at 8:29 AM on March 4 [11 favorites]
When I was a child, once a year my mom would buy a small pack of about 6 or 8 maple candies. They were like packed-together crystals of pure maple flavor and I could have eaten them all at once - I'd bite off a piece then hold it in my mouth as it got softer and dissolved and the pure sugar rush hit my veins. Mom had to start hiding them so her own stash of now-and-then treats lasted a few months.
As an adult I still really like maple sugar, but I no longer have much of a sweet tooth. Once in a blue moon I'll make pancakes or waffles with butter and maple syrup (from a quart jug that's possibly a decade or more old at this point), and think to myself how wonderful maple syrup is. Then next day I'll use maple syrup in something else and find it horribly sweet and cloying, shove the jug back to a back corner of the fridge and forget about it again for a few months. I hardly ever use honey either, it invariable crystalizes in the little bear container before I can use it all up.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:33 AM on March 4 [4 favorites]
As an adult I still really like maple sugar, but I no longer have much of a sweet tooth. Once in a blue moon I'll make pancakes or waffles with butter and maple syrup (from a quart jug that's possibly a decade or more old at this point), and think to myself how wonderful maple syrup is. Then next day I'll use maple syrup in something else and find it horribly sweet and cloying, shove the jug back to a back corner of the fridge and forget about it again for a few months. I hardly ever use honey either, it invariable crystalizes in the little bear container before I can use it all up.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:33 AM on March 4 [4 favorites]
We were never a real maple syrup family, so to this day I mostly prefer fake-ass grocery store brand vaguely butter flavoured pancake syrup.
That said, since going keto, I have found that a mixture of melted butter and those barista coffee flavouring syrups in flavours like salted caramel or such makes a pretty good pancake syrup that has no carbs. You can add a bit of xantham gum if you need a bit more texture, but then you have to actually cook it.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:34 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
That said, since going keto, I have found that a mixture of melted butter and those barista coffee flavouring syrups in flavours like salted caramel or such makes a pretty good pancake syrup that has no carbs. You can add a bit of xantham gum if you need a bit more texture, but then you have to actually cook it.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:34 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
For a while, I was on a kick of toaster waffles -- the thick Eggo ones, not the traditional Eggo ones -- and during the Kellog's strike in 2022 we stopped buying their products and never really started buying the waffles again. As a diabetic I buy the sugar-free maple syrup, which is 'maple syrup' in the same sense that apple pie scented air freshener is an apple pie. But, it works and it keeps my carbs down despite waffles being literally all carbs. We still do breakfast for dinner once in a while -- pancakes, bacon, eggs -- so we do use the 'syrup', just not as quickly.
My wife said she didn't like the sugar-free stuff that much so I should go buy her some real syrup. So, I spent like $15 on a little bottle of proper, actually-squeezed-from-a-tree maple syrup. This did not meet her approval, to which she said, no, she meant like Mrs. Butterworths or something.
Here in Minnesota there's locally-sourced maple syrup, but we buy more of a different thick-and-sweet locally-sourced concoction: honey. I'm pleased that there's been an explosion in local beekeepers, there's got to be like 10 of them, because I am a bee fan. My wife works in a high-end-boutique-bodega-sort-of-thing, and they have some really good local honey among the foodstuffs. Make some biscuits, lots of real butter, pour on the real honey, eat them until you're sick but it's oh so good.
General update with some film student stuff: last week was tough, lots of issues and problems; I mentioned the death of my grandmother last Sunday; her funeral was Friday. Work was...work, one of those weeks where everything was broken and there wasn't enough time to get everything done. Monday a basic-cable-tv production company I've worked with before called at about 11am: Can I be in Sioux Falls, four hours south of here, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, like literally jump in your car right now and drive there? I was very conflicted, because I was totally ready to and hate turning down a gig, but I had too much on my calendar to just toss aside responsibilities. I turned them down, which they understood.
Which is good I didn't go, because the 16mm film school assignment I was working on, on Wednesday we learned that the last 30 feet of a 100 foot roll of film got jammed in the camera and releasing it caused light contamination of the film that did feed successfully -- since this is our midterm grade, it's important we get it done, so we were instructed to reshoot all our parts, but (remember this is Wednesday, when I almost skipped to Sioux Falls) we had to have the film shot and returned by Friday morning otherwise we would fail because there'd be no time to get it developed before the project was due. So, I DID skip out on responsibilies, told work I'd be gone all afternoon, and frantically tried to restage my shots. I was rushing and did mess up about 15 seconds, so I couldn't reshoot everything I did, but it's what I got to work with.
But, the week wasn't all that bad. The film festival I'm on a jury for expects us to volunteer for various tasks that keep the festival running while the films are showing. I put my name in for 'hosting', which means introducing films and moderating Q&As, and it looks like I'll be doing this for the mainstage screen on Saturday (a big day), with two director Q&As. Exciting and terrifying, but I'm comfortable in front of audiences, I've interviewed people before, it should be fun.
Then, Saturday night shot my scenes for the last film I'm in that I'm cast in, which was also a good experience. Yesterday I met with my professor/friend and I'm taking on a larger (non-acting) role in a film he's making this summer, which is exciting.
I guess that part of my problem last week wasn't that there was a lot of things going wrong, but that I had a lot of things going on in general, which only increases the chances for things going wrong.
posted by AzraelBrown at 8:34 AM on March 4 [8 favorites]
My wife said she didn't like the sugar-free stuff that much so I should go buy her some real syrup. So, I spent like $15 on a little bottle of proper, actually-squeezed-from-a-tree maple syrup. This did not meet her approval, to which she said, no, she meant like Mrs. Butterworths or something.
Here in Minnesota there's locally-sourced maple syrup, but we buy more of a different thick-and-sweet locally-sourced concoction: honey. I'm pleased that there's been an explosion in local beekeepers, there's got to be like 10 of them, because I am a bee fan. My wife works in a high-end-boutique-bodega-sort-of-thing, and they have some really good local honey among the foodstuffs. Make some biscuits, lots of real butter, pour on the real honey, eat them until you're sick but it's oh so good.
General update with some film student stuff: last week was tough, lots of issues and problems; I mentioned the death of my grandmother last Sunday; her funeral was Friday. Work was...work, one of those weeks where everything was broken and there wasn't enough time to get everything done. Monday a basic-cable-tv production company I've worked with before called at about 11am: Can I be in Sioux Falls, four hours south of here, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, like literally jump in your car right now and drive there? I was very conflicted, because I was totally ready to and hate turning down a gig, but I had too much on my calendar to just toss aside responsibilities. I turned them down, which they understood.
Which is good I didn't go, because the 16mm film school assignment I was working on, on Wednesday we learned that the last 30 feet of a 100 foot roll of film got jammed in the camera and releasing it caused light contamination of the film that did feed successfully -- since this is our midterm grade, it's important we get it done, so we were instructed to reshoot all our parts, but (remember this is Wednesday, when I almost skipped to Sioux Falls) we had to have the film shot and returned by Friday morning otherwise we would fail because there'd be no time to get it developed before the project was due. So, I DID skip out on responsibilies, told work I'd be gone all afternoon, and frantically tried to restage my shots. I was rushing and did mess up about 15 seconds, so I couldn't reshoot everything I did, but it's what I got to work with.
But, the week wasn't all that bad. The film festival I'm on a jury for expects us to volunteer for various tasks that keep the festival running while the films are showing. I put my name in for 'hosting', which means introducing films and moderating Q&As, and it looks like I'll be doing this for the mainstage screen on Saturday (a big day), with two director Q&As. Exciting and terrifying, but I'm comfortable in front of audiences, I've interviewed people before, it should be fun.
Then, Saturday night shot my scenes for the last film I'm in that I'm cast in, which was also a good experience. Yesterday I met with my professor/friend and I'm taking on a larger (non-acting) role in a film he's making this summer, which is exciting.
I guess that part of my problem last week wasn't that there was a lot of things going wrong, but that I had a lot of things going on in general, which only increases the chances for things going wrong.
posted by AzraelBrown at 8:34 AM on March 4 [8 favorites]
One year I tried making botchet mead, with caramelized honey. The same year I tried a blend of maple syrup and honey. The maple mead tasted very similar, with so much less stirring, so I make a batch of that most years. I have the supplies for this spring's batch but am not ready to dig out the brewing equipment.
posted by mersen at 8:34 AM on March 4 [3 favorites]
posted by mersen at 8:34 AM on March 4 [3 favorites]
Can’t believe I’m this far down and the first to post a Pouding Chômeur recipe.
Maple candy
But also: Pets de sœur a l’érable (literally - maple nun farts. Traditionally made with leftover pie crust dough.)
These and other recipes are why we need reserves.
posted by warriorqueen at 8:38 AM on March 4 [6 favorites]
Maple candy
But also: Pets de sœur a l’érable (literally - maple nun farts. Traditionally made with leftover pie crust dough.)
These and other recipes are why we need reserves.
posted by warriorqueen at 8:38 AM on March 4 [6 favorites]
cabbage racoon, I took a photo of the American Week products at my local Lidl a couple of weeks ago. It's both hilarious and horrifying.
Mac Cheese Style! Maize & Potato Snack! Marshmallow Hoops with Citrus Flavour!!
I'm also a big fan (in a horrified way) of Sweet Cashew Hummus and those tubes of ketchup and mustard together. I think they're onto something with a couple of them though -- why *don't* we Americans eat marshmallow flavoured ice cream? Why *isn't* blueberry a standard artificial iced tea flavour?
posted by cabbage raccoon at 8:51 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
Mac Cheese Style! Maize & Potato Snack! Marshmallow Hoops with Citrus Flavour!!
I'm also a big fan (in a horrified way) of Sweet Cashew Hummus and those tubes of ketchup and mustard together. I think they're onto something with a couple of them though -- why *don't* we Americans eat marshmallow flavoured ice cream? Why *isn't* blueberry a standard artificial iced tea flavour?
posted by cabbage raccoon at 8:51 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
We were never a real maple syrup family, so to this day I mostly prefer fake-ass grocery store brand vaguely butter flavoured pancake syrup.
The same, but I went in the opposite direction. When I was a kid we were too poor to afford the real stuff - I didn't even understand there existed "real maple syrup" that was different from the sugar water that came out of the top of the nice lady's head. And then, as a young adult, I had real maple syrup for the first time, and permanently swore the cheap stuff off forever, even if it meant fewer waffles.
posted by 1adam12 at 8:51 AM on March 4 [5 favorites]
The same, but I went in the opposite direction. When I was a kid we were too poor to afford the real stuff - I didn't even understand there existed "real maple syrup" that was different from the sugar water that came out of the top of the nice lady's head. And then, as a young adult, I had real maple syrup for the first time, and permanently swore the cheap stuff off forever, even if it meant fewer waffles.
posted by 1adam12 at 8:51 AM on March 4 [5 favorites]
On the whole, how do we feel about wire hangers?
posted by tigrrrlily at 9:08 AM on March 4 [4 favorites]
posted by tigrrrlily at 9:08 AM on March 4 [4 favorites]
I like touch of maple syrup in my chili.. a little in the baked beans doesn't hurt either
@warriorqueen, "maple nun farts" is too good to be true, I'm so glad it took me this long in life to become acquainted with that term
I've been buying my friend's honey, and a week ago his operation was consumed in a fire, arson is the likely cause, and I'm still trying to grasp at the fact from different angles because it's so monstrous that I don't think I want to fully engage with it. A week ago Saturday he just said "even if I could restart, I don't think I would" and it made me so sad.
we pitched in to finish cleaning my recently deceased friend/coworker's home, his mom and sister have been in town to deal with all that stuff, it's sure something to slowly empty a person's space and clean them all away
posted by elkevelvet at 9:10 AM on March 4 [6 favorites]
@warriorqueen, "maple nun farts" is too good to be true, I'm so glad it took me this long in life to become acquainted with that term
I've been buying my friend's honey, and a week ago his operation was consumed in a fire, arson is the likely cause, and I'm still trying to grasp at the fact from different angles because it's so monstrous that I don't think I want to fully engage with it. A week ago Saturday he just said "even if I could restart, I don't think I would" and it made me so sad.
we pitched in to finish cleaning my recently deceased friend/coworker's home, his mom and sister have been in town to deal with all that stuff, it's sure something to slowly empty a person's space and clean them all away
posted by elkevelvet at 9:10 AM on March 4 [6 favorites]
Maple syrup isn't really a thing over here, we have Golden syrup which I find absolutely vile, gives me an instant headache.
My best moment of the day happened at the vet. One of my rats hid under the vet's laptop stand, and he took a picture of her because she looked so cute.
I'm so impressed with him for still having the capacity to be charmed by tiny animals while working what must be a gruelling job.
He also kept calling her Afrikaans endearments, "liefie" and "skatjie" etc.
Reminds me of one of my other rats, Nicodemus, who crept into another vet's cleavage (he was a baby rat at the time). She was charmed and amused, luckily.
posted by Zumbador at 9:10 AM on March 4 [7 favorites]
My best moment of the day happened at the vet. One of my rats hid under the vet's laptop stand, and he took a picture of her because she looked so cute.
I'm so impressed with him for still having the capacity to be charmed by tiny animals while working what must be a gruelling job.
He also kept calling her Afrikaans endearments, "liefie" and "skatjie" etc.
Reminds me of one of my other rats, Nicodemus, who crept into another vet's cleavage (he was a baby rat at the time). She was charmed and amused, luckily.
posted by Zumbador at 9:10 AM on March 4 [7 favorites]
As an immigrant, now citizen, of Canada, I regret all the childhood years being fed table syrup for my pancakes.
My late grandfather used to make his own cane syrup for pancakes. I hope it's still there on the family farm, but I used to watch him use this huge press to make it when I was a kid.
posted by Kitteh at 9:20 AM on March 4 [5 favorites]
My late grandfather used to make his own cane syrup for pancakes. I hope it's still there on the family farm, but I used to watch him use this huge press to make it when I was a kid.
posted by Kitteh at 9:20 AM on March 4 [5 favorites]
If I had a maple syrup company, I would have to name it Strategic.
posted by pracowity at 9:24 AM on March 4 [4 favorites]
posted by pracowity at 9:24 AM on March 4 [4 favorites]
If I had a maple syrup company, I would have to name it
oh, can I play?
SWEET JESUS
posted by elkevelvet at 9:33 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
oh, can I play?
SWEET JESUS
posted by elkevelvet at 9:33 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
Not a pancake or waffle eater. Blessed to love very close to Canadian border here in Western N Y. Tons of choices to get local maple syrup. I put it in cake frosting and cookie icing of course. Brush baked ham with it...brush on bacon and then pan fry equals bacon candy..
A bit in my black coffee in the morning ....or some added on top of plain youghert
posted by Czjewel at 9:40 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
A bit in my black coffee in the morning ....or some added on top of plain youghert
posted by Czjewel at 9:40 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
I think I've had maple syrup maybe once or twice in my life? Way too sweet for me, and not really a thing in Finland anyway.
It's winter holiday (hiihtoloma, literally skiing holiday) weeks here, and while that has no influence in my life what so ever I AM traveling for the first time since last summer for a little getaway. On Wednesday I take a train to city of Tampere, about five hours train ride, and stay in a quite nice looking airbnb for six nights! I was invited to a party of an old friend, her band plays on saturday, then they have a kind of a double-apartment-warming party since her boyfriend reportedly bought the other apartment from the same floor of the building, so now they have a whole floor to themselves and are having a party! Don't know what kind of building, but sounds quite nice so far.
Apart from seeing old friends I'm planning on going to used book shops and flea markets, maybe check out some art exhibits and just chillax, it is SO NICE to get out of town.
posted by fridgebuzz at 9:41 AM on March 4 [4 favorites]
It's winter holiday (hiihtoloma, literally skiing holiday) weeks here, and while that has no influence in my life what so ever I AM traveling for the first time since last summer for a little getaway. On Wednesday I take a train to city of Tampere, about five hours train ride, and stay in a quite nice looking airbnb for six nights! I was invited to a party of an old friend, her band plays on saturday, then they have a kind of a double-apartment-warming party since her boyfriend reportedly bought the other apartment from the same floor of the building, so now they have a whole floor to themselves and are having a party! Don't know what kind of building, but sounds quite nice so far.
Apart from seeing old friends I'm planning on going to used book shops and flea markets, maybe check out some art exhibits and just chillax, it is SO NICE to get out of town.
posted by fridgebuzz at 9:41 AM on March 4 [4 favorites]
Maple syrup in the frosting for cinnamon rolls adds something really tasty.
posted by cooker girl at 9:42 AM on March 4 [3 favorites]
posted by cooker girl at 9:42 AM on March 4 [3 favorites]
Not a fan of maple syrup, I prefer apple butter, blackberry jam or lemon curd on my breakfast breads. Spouse loves the stuff, so more for him to enjoy.
Also due to the Kingston Film Festival, we went to see Bruce McCulloch's most recent one-man show.
I've been rewatching the Gilmore Girls episodes with McCulloch and he absolutely kills as Tobin. Menacingly adorable.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 9:54 AM on March 4 [3 favorites]
Also due to the Kingston Film Festival, we went to see Bruce McCulloch's most recent one-man show.
I've been rewatching the Gilmore Girls episodes with McCulloch and he absolutely kills as Tobin. Menacingly adorable.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 9:54 AM on March 4 [3 favorites]
Living in the American South has caused me to adapt to eating pancakes and waffles with fruit and powdered sugar or fruit and reddiwhip, because the restaurants down here all have this abomination of pancake syrup that is Just Wrong (except Cracker Barrel, which has Other Problems but does have actual maple syrup). We do have proper maple syrup in the house, but man, restaurant syrup is terrible.
In two months I am moving back to Canada and maple syrup in restaurants is on the list of things I am genuinely excited to have properly again.
posted by joannemerriam at 10:05 AM on March 4 [8 favorites]
In two months I am moving back to Canada and maple syrup in restaurants is on the list of things I am genuinely excited to have properly again.
posted by joannemerriam at 10:05 AM on March 4 [8 favorites]
except Cracker Barrel, which has Other Problems but does have actual maple syrup
Not since 2009 or so. They still call it "100% pure syrup," but it's only 55% maple (the rest is cane syrup).
posted by uncleozzy at 10:13 AM on March 4 [1 favorite]
Not since 2009 or so. They still call it "100% pure syrup," but it's only 55% maple (the rest is cane syrup).
posted by uncleozzy at 10:13 AM on March 4 [1 favorite]
I've been rewatching the Gilmore Girls episodes with McCulloch and he absolutely kills as Tobin. Menacingly adorable.
The one-man show we saw he wrote during the height of the pandemic as he moved his family back to Toronto. It was surprisingly sweet and very humanist. He said that even though he is (in his words) "a weird little fucker, I am filled with love for you and you and you. It is overwhelming."
posted by Kitteh at 10:17 AM on March 4 [3 favorites]
The one-man show we saw he wrote during the height of the pandemic as he moved his family back to Toronto. It was surprisingly sweet and very humanist. He said that even though he is (in his words) "a weird little fucker, I am filled with love for you and you and you. It is overwhelming."
posted by Kitteh at 10:17 AM on March 4 [3 favorites]
On the whole, how do we feel about wire hangers?
I hardly ever pour maple syrup on them.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:17 AM on March 4 [7 favorites]
I hardly ever pour maple syrup on them.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:17 AM on March 4 [7 favorites]
When I was a kid, the maple syrup we got from one of my cousins was the best, on account of it's freshness, plus the fact that it was just a little smoky from being boiled in a little shack over a hearth. My way of approximating how I remember it is to eat bacon with maple syrup.
posted by lastobelus at 10:27 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
posted by lastobelus at 10:27 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
I make fabulous blueberry pancakes and I insist that maple syrup is the only syrup that can be used on them. My kids have come to understand through this, that Log Cabin et. al. just won't serve.
I usually just have small container in the pantry, and I restock when it's empty.
posted by OHenryPacey at 10:28 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
I usually just have small container in the pantry, and I restock when it's empty.
posted by OHenryPacey at 10:28 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]
On the whole, how do we feel about wire hangers?
I hardly ever pour maple syrup on them.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:17 AM on March 4
damn. add it to the list, G_A
posted by elkevelvet at 10:35 AM on March 4
I hardly ever pour maple syrup on them.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:17 AM on March 4
damn. add it to the list, G_A
posted by elkevelvet at 10:35 AM on March 4
When I have more time I need to research how maple syrup is made, I always worry it hurts the trees somehow. From their POV we are vampires taking their blood.
posted by emjaybee at 10:45 AM on March 4 [1 favorite]
posted by emjaybee at 10:45 AM on March 4 [1 favorite]
Yesterday I left my house to walk the dog and saw a plastic bottle attached to the side of my neighbor's maple tree in the hell strip. Walked over there and saw the tubing snaking around to the opposite side of the tree, where it was tapped. Must be something their cute little kids got up to. Anybody know why the tap and the bottle are on opposite sides?
posted by HotToddy at 10:50 AM on March 4
posted by HotToddy at 10:50 AM on March 4
Here in Sweden I tapped a single large tree this year, which ought to give me about 25 liters of sap a week, and a full day of tending a fire to get a pint or so of syrup (pardon my mixing of units). The first week, as last year, produced a much lighter syrup with more maple sand then later weeks, and a distinct vanilla flavor. The weather last week was mild and the sap didn't run at all, but we ought to have a good run this week as it'll be below freezing every night and bright and sunny during the day. Last year I did two trees which had good runs for about a month and yielded in total about a gallon of syrup, but I tired of cooking the last batch and when it had reduced by about 3/4 I decided it was at the right sweetness to make beer, and flavored it with spruce tips which were just coming it. The resulting brew is interesting, and worth pursuing further. I don't recall the yeast I used, probably something Belgian as that's what I tend to have on hand.
My folks were friendly with Charles Townes and his wife when they lived in Berkeley and were gifted a bottle of syrup made from some grove of trees they had off in New England somewhere, which was gifted onwards to me. That was a pretty special bottle of syrup while it lasted: Nobel-laureate syrup to treat guests with. Otherwise in Sweden the McEnnedy stuff from Lidl is generally the best value. I have half a dozen bottles of that in the back of a cupboard somewhere for my own strategic reserve.
posted by St. Oops at 11:18 AM on March 4 [8 favorites]
My folks were friendly with Charles Townes and his wife when they lived in Berkeley and were gifted a bottle of syrup made from some grove of trees they had off in New England somewhere, which was gifted onwards to me. That was a pretty special bottle of syrup while it lasted: Nobel-laureate syrup to treat guests with. Otherwise in Sweden the McEnnedy stuff from Lidl is generally the best value. I have half a dozen bottles of that in the back of a cupboard somewhere for my own strategic reserve.
posted by St. Oops at 11:18 AM on March 4 [8 favorites]
On the whole, how do we feel about wire hangers?
I like 'em fine, but one of those 'affordable luxury' things is to replace them with wood hangars, which are not really that much more expensive, but feel like they are. I think most people replace them because they can rust, especially in humid environments, which plastic hangars don't do.
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:34 AM on March 4
I like 'em fine, but one of those 'affordable luxury' things is to replace them with wood hangars, which are not really that much more expensive, but feel like they are. I think most people replace them because they can rust, especially in humid environments, which plastic hangars don't do.
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:34 AM on March 4
I have no deep thoughts on maple syrup. Never ate all that much of it, it can get much.
I spent 8 days in a row running a 3 hour long musical and I am TIRED even though it's a super easy show, and my throat dried out after the last show and then I had an audition. There were 34 people there for not that many parts and there's no ensemble in this show, so I won't be getting in. My singing teacher (in the audition) said I did well, but that doesn't mean anything because I come in the wrong packaging. Also, almost everyone else was practically doing opera, long big booming notes, and here I was with a "talky" comedy bit. In the dressing room one of my castmates who's like me (not tiny, not thin, nerdy) asked how you actually get parts and the thin and tiny ones were all, "just do a good job, directors have their vision," but nobody has A Vision of a fat old nerd doing well, anything. Oh well, I did the best I could at the time, it's now done, now I wait three more weeks for the next audition, which I can probably get into because way fewer people audition at that theater.
I ran into the ex-friend briefly and apparently they don't hate me enough to briefly talk to me/hug me after the show, but that was all. I'm still not sure what to make of that.
I turned in my car to the repair shop for the week and now have a rental, I am paying a lot a day to hopefully not get hit. Unfortunately I do need to drive it the next few days for job interviews and driving friends around, I hope I don't have any incidents. I paid a lot of money in case I do have an incident so they will keep it off my record.
I AM SO TIRED. I really don't want to do today's driving errand, but it really should be done ASAP because the store is going to go bankrupt this week and I'm busy the next few days. I hope my energy rallies soon.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:37 AM on March 4 [7 favorites]
I spent 8 days in a row running a 3 hour long musical and I am TIRED even though it's a super easy show, and my throat dried out after the last show and then I had an audition. There were 34 people there for not that many parts and there's no ensemble in this show, so I won't be getting in. My singing teacher (in the audition) said I did well, but that doesn't mean anything because I come in the wrong packaging. Also, almost everyone else was practically doing opera, long big booming notes, and here I was with a "talky" comedy bit. In the dressing room one of my castmates who's like me (not tiny, not thin, nerdy) asked how you actually get parts and the thin and tiny ones were all, "just do a good job, directors have their vision," but nobody has A Vision of a fat old nerd doing well, anything. Oh well, I did the best I could at the time, it's now done, now I wait three more weeks for the next audition, which I can probably get into because way fewer people audition at that theater.
I ran into the ex-friend briefly and apparently they don't hate me enough to briefly talk to me/hug me after the show, but that was all. I'm still not sure what to make of that.
I turned in my car to the repair shop for the week and now have a rental, I am paying a lot a day to hopefully not get hit. Unfortunately I do need to drive it the next few days for job interviews and driving friends around, I hope I don't have any incidents. I paid a lot of money in case I do have an incident so they will keep it off my record.
I AM SO TIRED. I really don't want to do today's driving errand, but it really should be done ASAP because the store is going to go bankrupt this week and I'm busy the next few days. I hope my energy rallies soon.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:37 AM on March 4 [7 favorites]
I'm lucky in that I have quite a few neighbours who do maple syrup and inevitably we get a bottle as a thank-you for doing something neighbourly, or just because they are being neighbourly themselves.
I enjoy it in coffee, as well as the usual on French toast and pancakes. On a buttered English muffin is also good. Dessert at my grandparents used to be plain toast cut into fingers and then dipped in maple syrup.
On the whole, how do we feel about wire hangers?
For general use I find them annoying to use, personally. But I do keep a handful around because you can shape them to dry mittens, boot liners, and other tricky-to-hang items.
posted by eekernohan at 11:59 AM on March 4 [1 favorite]
I enjoy it in coffee, as well as the usual on French toast and pancakes. On a buttered English muffin is also good. Dessert at my grandparents used to be plain toast cut into fingers and then dipped in maple syrup.
On the whole, how do we feel about wire hangers?
For general use I find them annoying to use, personally. But I do keep a handful around because you can shape them to dry mittens, boot liners, and other tricky-to-hang items.
posted by eekernohan at 11:59 AM on March 4 [1 favorite]
For those asking about the soft maple sugar candies, I can confirm that the airport is about the only place I ever see them anymore, and they are indeed hideously expensive. It's my favorite way to eat maple though, so when I am leaving my mom's house I always get some. Luckily for me, my partner and my kid both think they are too sweet, so I don't have to share.
We ended up at a maple festival yesterday at Malabar Farm, completely by accident, and I procured maple popcorn and maple fudge. Was dismayed to find the fudge has palm kernel oil in it, I guess to make sure the texture isn't grainy? We can also acquire local maple syrup and while I do look down my nose slightly at the Ohio of it all, I can't get to Vermont or Quebec on a whim. Rural Ohio dwellers make do.
My school field trip for Féstival du Voyageur always featured the warm syrup poured in a trough of fresh snow and then they would hand you a popsicle stick to make your own rolled candy, best best best.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 12:35 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
We ended up at a maple festival yesterday at Malabar Farm, completely by accident, and I procured maple popcorn and maple fudge. Was dismayed to find the fudge has palm kernel oil in it, I guess to make sure the texture isn't grainy? We can also acquire local maple syrup and while I do look down my nose slightly at the Ohio of it all, I can't get to Vermont or Quebec on a whim. Rural Ohio dwellers make do.
My school field trip for Féstival du Voyageur always featured the warm syrup poured in a trough of fresh snow and then they would hand you a popsicle stick to make your own rolled candy, best best best.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 12:35 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
am I the only one who wants to know what a Lawn Beaver is?
posted by elkevelvet at 12:41 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
posted by elkevelvet at 12:41 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
I haven't tried them, but one of the places I've ordered syrup from also sells candies and, honestly? $26 for 4lbs of maple sugar candies sounds like a pretty good deal if you need want that many (you can also buy smaller quantities, but why would you?).
posted by uncleozzy at 12:44 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
posted by uncleozzy at 12:44 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
Chiming in a bit late to say a few things:
a) that I love maple syrup as a substitute for energy gels or goos when I'm doing long-distance bike rides. It naturally contains decent amounts of the electrolytes that you need to replace after physical exertion, it's not too thick so you can get it down quickly, and it's way cheaper than the fancy stuff made by honey stinger, clif, gu, et al,
b) that my wife will never let me forget the morning after we first spent the night together at her place, when I not only threw her pancake syrup in the garbage, but walked all the way to the grocery store to get the real stuff, and
c) also Vermont Maple Syrup is far superior to any other kind and I will not be taking questions at this time.
posted by turbowombat at 12:49 PM on March 4 [4 favorites]
a) that I love maple syrup as a substitute for energy gels or goos when I'm doing long-distance bike rides. It naturally contains decent amounts of the electrolytes that you need to replace after physical exertion, it's not too thick so you can get it down quickly, and it's way cheaper than the fancy stuff made by honey stinger, clif, gu, et al,
b) that my wife will never let me forget the morning after we first spent the night together at her place, when I not only threw her pancake syrup in the garbage, but walked all the way to the grocery store to get the real stuff, and
c) also Vermont Maple Syrup is far superior to any other kind and I will not be taking questions at this time.
posted by turbowombat at 12:49 PM on March 4 [4 favorites]
I made maple syrup for an elementary school science project in 1st or 2nd grade...it was a lot of fun! I grew up on nature reserve that has a decent grove of mature sugar maples. We tapped about 40-50 trees and collected the sap from them everyday for about a month. Boiling the syrup down took days because the ratio is about 30 gallons of sap for one gallon of syrup. My brother burned his hand very badly by climbing onto the stove while we were making maple candy...he was fine (eventually) and now as a chef he burns his hands all the time anyway!
In adulthood, I worked at Trader Joe's for about a decade, during which maple syrup was changed from having Grade A (the light stuff) and Grade B (the dark good stuff) to only Grade A with two colors. I joked that the Canadians wanted everything to be Grade Eh!
posted by schyler523 at 1:17 PM on March 4 [6 favorites]
In adulthood, I worked at Trader Joe's for about a decade, during which maple syrup was changed from having Grade A (the light stuff) and Grade B (the dark good stuff) to only Grade A with two colors. I joked that the Canadians wanted everything to be Grade Eh!
posted by schyler523 at 1:17 PM on March 4 [6 favorites]
I had maple cookies from Canada once. Incredible. Would have eaten them all if I could.
Word to my mother for continually asking me how I am, even if it's hard to answer. What can I say? Trauma and grief are gifts that keep on giving (she knows). And I don't know what orifice I can pull a therapy co-pay out of.
Which makes my sister's innocuous comments about "not counting calories but eating right" comment annoy my [trying-to-ward-off-an-anorexia-relapse-because-it's-been-over-a-dozen-years-since-the-last-one] widowed, depressed self.
Oh yeah, and it'll be 5 years this summer since we lost Mr. Bill. :(
But oh yeah, birthday month. lol
posted by luckynerd at 1:26 PM on March 4 [6 favorites]
Word to my mother for continually asking me how I am, even if it's hard to answer. What can I say? Trauma and grief are gifts that keep on giving (she knows). And I don't know what orifice I can pull a therapy co-pay out of.
Which makes my sister's innocuous comments about "not counting calories but eating right" comment annoy my [trying-to-ward-off-an-anorexia-relapse-because-it's-been-over-a-dozen-years-since-the-last-one] widowed, depressed self.
Oh yeah, and it'll be 5 years this summer since we lost Mr. Bill. :(
But oh yeah, birthday month. lol
posted by luckynerd at 1:26 PM on March 4 [6 favorites]
a lifetime ago I attended a weekend get-together of exchange students, I was a tag-along with my exchange student brother, and at one point the Swedish girls started making fun of the "eh" I appended to every other sentence and that is when I realized it is indeed A Thing
posted by elkevelvet at 1:27 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
posted by elkevelvet at 1:27 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
I live in Maine, we have Maine Maple Sunday coming up(waves at BrianK), where some sugarmakers will open to the public, sell syrup and candy, it's really fun and causes weird rural traffic jams. Visited my cousin when he was sugaring, interesting. Maine is secure in its syrup excellence, we do not feel the need to argue with our neighbors, though my Dad, from northern VT, always insisted on the Vermont version.
I mostly just sometimes pour a tiny sake cup of maple syrup to drink. I like the idea of using it as an energy gel. It's delicious boiled down a little more, on ice cream, as it will harden and get chewy and that filling needed to be replaced anyway. Fresh creamy maple sugar candy is so good. I don't like it in many recipes; it's a distinctive flavor. And, of course, on waffles or pancakes, with butter.
Fake maple syrup is nasty - corn syrup with fenugreek - so if I order pancakes at a restaurant, I get blueberry syrup.
The change to Daylight Savings time is Saturday. I'm trying to go to bed earlier, get up earlier, and failing. Sunset is at 5:34 today, next Tuesday it will be at 6:40 or so, and this sparks joy. Equinox is Tue, Mar 19.
posted by theora55 at 1:30 PM on March 4 [5 favorites]
I mostly just sometimes pour a tiny sake cup of maple syrup to drink. I like the idea of using it as an energy gel. It's delicious boiled down a little more, on ice cream, as it will harden and get chewy and that filling needed to be replaced anyway. Fresh creamy maple sugar candy is so good. I don't like it in many recipes; it's a distinctive flavor. And, of course, on waffles or pancakes, with butter.
Fake maple syrup is nasty - corn syrup with fenugreek - so if I order pancakes at a restaurant, I get blueberry syrup.
The change to Daylight Savings time is Saturday. I'm trying to go to bed earlier, get up earlier, and failing. Sunset is at 5:34 today, next Tuesday it will be at 6:40 or so, and this sparks joy. Equinox is Tue, Mar 19.
posted by theora55 at 1:30 PM on March 4 [5 favorites]
On the whole, how do we feel about wire hangers?
I kinda hate them. Not, like, Mommie Dearest hate them, but I don't routinely use them in my house.
For most clothes, I like those velvety ones that used to be the province of overpriced late night infomercials and can now be bought at the dollar store. They keep stuff on the hanger so much better.
They tend to be a bit fragile for heavy coats, so there I either use wooden hangers or wire hangers that have been visited by the spirit of my grandmother.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:35 PM on March 4 [4 favorites]
I kinda hate them. Not, like, Mommie Dearest hate them, but I don't routinely use them in my house.
For most clothes, I like those velvety ones that used to be the province of overpriced late night infomercials and can now be bought at the dollar store. They keep stuff on the hanger so much better.
They tend to be a bit fragile for heavy coats, so there I either use wooden hangers or wire hangers that have been visited by the spirit of my grandmother.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:35 PM on March 4 [4 favorites]
All the way here to be the first to say: Boiled. Apple. Cider. Find a local purveyor (king arthurs is a pale imitation) and live in absolute apply syrup bliss.
posted by holyrood at 1:36 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
posted by holyrood at 1:36 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
When I lived in Maryland, "Apple Butter Festivals" seemed to be a big, big deal. I never went to one though, because I was young and stupid. (Now I am just old and dumb.)
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:39 PM on March 4 [2 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:39 PM on March 4 [2 favorites]
I too have taken pictures of the American section at Lidl. They are ridiculous but I still buy the maple syrup there. I don’t have any sugar maples to tap in my Swedish neighborhood. Like another poster, I grew up on the pretend maple stuff and discovered a tasty world of difference when I got the real deal. But you don’t know it’s the real deal if you’ve never had it before. Or you may just not like it as much. I was having brunch billion years ago add a place in Saint Helena in the Napa Valley. This was an expensive place, so I assumed that it was serving real maple syrup. I asked to make sure before I placed my order for waffles.
The server assured me that I was getting genuine maple syrup and then they brought me some thing that was absolutely not genuine maple syrup. And I decided that server, like me, had grown up on the other stuff and so didn’t know any better. In other news, there’s a place in Oakland that used to make really delicious chicken and waffles with apple cider syrup. I am a fan of many different kinds of syrups, I’m just not fond of fake maple syrup even though I was taught how to make it in Home Ec because I am an old person. In my high school or junior high, girls were taught how to make maple syrup with granulated sugar, water, and maple flavoring. Ick.
posted by Bella Donna at 1:56 PM on March 4 [4 favorites]
The server assured me that I was getting genuine maple syrup and then they brought me some thing that was absolutely not genuine maple syrup. And I decided that server, like me, had grown up on the other stuff and so didn’t know any better. In other news, there’s a place in Oakland that used to make really delicious chicken and waffles with apple cider syrup. I am a fan of many different kinds of syrups, I’m just not fond of fake maple syrup even though I was taught how to make it in Home Ec because I am an old person. In my high school or junior high, girls were taught how to make maple syrup with granulated sugar, water, and maple flavoring. Ick.
posted by Bella Donna at 1:56 PM on March 4 [4 favorites]
On a different topic, I finally got around to using my new Vitamix to puree the absolute hell out of some dried/de-seeded/toasted/reconstituted chiles last night. I started the actual chili cooking process today at lunch so the whole house is wonderfully chile-scented. I was a little concerned because I used 5 dried Habaneros for the "spicy" element instead of the usual 4-5 Arbols, and wasn't sure if that was going to be overkill, but a taste test confirms that I got the perfect amount of heat - not too fiery, just a lovely warmth suffusing my entire head and throat. Looking forward to dinner.
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:07 PM on March 4 [4 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:07 PM on March 4 [4 favorites]
Cooker Girl, I've emailed you at the address in your profile about Hocking Hills Maple Syrup.
posted by essexjan at 2:10 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
posted by essexjan at 2:10 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
I love maple syrup. Alas on Saturday COVID knocked out my sweet, salty, and bitter tastebuds. It's hard to enjoy maple syrup and pancakes with only slightly impaired sour and umami available to me.
(yes, I have done literally everything to avoid COVID except quit my job. yes, I'm immuncompromised. yes, this all sucks. But right now I'd just like to be able to taste maple syrup. And stop coughing.)
posted by hydropsyche at 2:31 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
(yes, I have done literally everything to avoid COVID except quit my job. yes, I'm immuncompromised. yes, this all sucks. But right now I'd just like to be able to taste maple syrup. And stop coughing.)
posted by hydropsyche at 2:31 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
→
Unless they haven't reopened for the year, Hunnabees have effectively shut down their website.
I like maple syrup, but in moderate quantities. I don't know if (Famous!) Ted's Diner uses it. I'm pretty sure Markham Station (the only 24 hour diner in Scarborough) doesn't.
posted by scruss at 2:43 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
honey/maple farmers at Hunnabees
Unless they haven't reopened for the year, Hunnabees have effectively shut down their website.
I like maple syrup, but in moderate quantities. I don't know if (Famous!) Ted's Diner uses it. I'm pretty sure Markham Station (the only 24 hour diner in Scarborough) doesn't.
posted by scruss at 2:43 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
I remember as a kid it being extra special when we'd go out to Village Inn for breakfast because they'd bring a rack of four different syrups for your enjoyment and one of them would be boysenberry.
And then later I discovered you can buy boysenberry syrup to have at home! That was an amazing day for teenage me.
posted by hippybear at 2:45 PM on March 4 [5 favorites]
And then later I discovered you can buy boysenberry syrup to have at home! That was an amazing day for teenage me.
posted by hippybear at 2:45 PM on March 4 [5 favorites]
elkevelvet, "lawn beaver" is what I've been calling the groundhogs since we moved to Ohio - there are more here than anywhere else I've lived. seemed like a good username.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 3:09 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
posted by Lawn Beaver at 3:09 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
I usually have jelly on my pancakes because getting real maple syrup can be difficult at chain restaurants.
posted by luckynerd at 3:32 PM on March 4
posted by luckynerd at 3:32 PM on March 4
And then later I discovered you can buy boysenberry syrup to have at home!
🎶 Down at Dino's Bar'n'Grill
The drink will flow and syrup will spill
And if the boys wanna eat, you better let 'em
The boysen's back in town (the boysen's back in town) ... 🎵
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:50 PM on March 4 [5 favorites]
🎶 Down at Dino's Bar'n'Grill
The drink will flow and syrup will spill
And if the boys wanna eat, you better let 'em
The boysen's back in town (the boysen's back in town) ... 🎵
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:50 PM on March 4 [5 favorites]
I've often thought about a mixtape that included The Boys Of Summer and The Boys Are Back In Town and maybe a few other Boys songs if they can be found and then others to fill out some kind of loose plot about what happens during the times the Boys are gone and they come back.
posted by hippybear at 3:53 PM on March 4 [6 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 3:53 PM on March 4 [6 favorites]
The drink will flow and syrup will spill
Darn it, I should have gone with "the jacks will flap"...
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:59 PM on March 4
Darn it, I should have gone with "the jacks will flap"...
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:59 PM on March 4
On the whole, how do we feel about wire hangers?
tigrrrlily, I replaced every single wire hanger in my house with either heavy duty wood ones (jackets and coats etc), or the velvet style ones.
It's right up there with treating myself with a fresh dish sponge in terms of happiness-making.
posted by ninazer0 at 4:06 PM on March 4 [2 favorites]
tigrrrlily, I replaced every single wire hanger in my house with either heavy duty wood ones (jackets and coats etc), or the velvet style ones.
It's right up there with treating myself with a fresh dish sponge in terms of happiness-making.
posted by ninazer0 at 4:06 PM on March 4 [2 favorites]
I'll never forget a diner in Philly that served a wonderful-looking French toast, like we're talking TOASTHENGE here, and then only had corn syrup-based "maple syrup" to go with it. I asked for jam, but that was mostly corn syrup too.
Locally in London I can get a brand of maple syrup called Buckwud, but there's not a lot of choice apart from that. Still, it goes nicely over oatmeal with almond milk, cinnamon and either blueberries or bananas.
(Rules of oatmeal: if using actual milk, sweeten with brown sugar and add bananas, raisins and/or toasted nuts. If almond milk, use maple syrup as above. Cinnamon all over everything always.)
Today a pigeon shat on my hat. But at least I was wearing one. Small mercies.
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:10 PM on March 4 [5 favorites]
Locally in London I can get a brand of maple syrup called Buckwud, but there's not a lot of choice apart from that. Still, it goes nicely over oatmeal with almond milk, cinnamon and either blueberries or bananas.
(Rules of oatmeal: if using actual milk, sweeten with brown sugar and add bananas, raisins and/or toasted nuts. If almond milk, use maple syrup as above. Cinnamon all over everything always.)
Today a pigeon shat on my hat. But at least I was wearing one. Small mercies.
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:10 PM on March 4 [5 favorites]
The other day I booked tickets to visit a family member in New England, but they're not until next month - I wanted to be within striking distance of the path of totality for the 2024 solar eclipse.
I'm not exactly regretting scheduling my visit for the eclipse, but all this maple syrup talk has me mildly regretting that the eclipse's timing isn't closer to peak syrup harvest.
Feedback, should you have any, on where to go in New England, upstate New York, or southern Quebec for good chances at eclipse viewing is encouraged on my AskMeFi post.
posted by Nerd of the North at 4:20 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
I'm not exactly regretting scheduling my visit for the eclipse, but all this maple syrup talk has me mildly regretting that the eclipse's timing isn't closer to peak syrup harvest.
Feedback, should you have any, on where to go in New England, upstate New York, or southern Quebec for good chances at eclipse viewing is encouraged on my AskMeFi post.
posted by Nerd of the North at 4:20 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
All the way here to be the first to say: Boiled. Apple. Cider. Find a local purveyor (king arthurs is a pale imitation) and live in absolute apply syrup bliss.
I have a new mission for my life.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 4:58 PM on March 4
I have a new mission for my life.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 4:58 PM on March 4
Today a pigeon shat on my hat. But at least I was wearing one. Small mercies.
My grandfather - who was an avid outdoorsman, and from whom I apparently inherited male pattern baldness (which started to manifest in my early 20s) - always counseled me to wear a hat outdoors. It was mainly so that I didn't experience skin cancer on my scalp like he did, but Protection From Birds is also a totally valid reason.
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:17 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
My grandfather - who was an avid outdoorsman, and from whom I apparently inherited male pattern baldness (which started to manifest in my early 20s) - always counseled me to wear a hat outdoors. It was mainly so that I didn't experience skin cancer on my scalp like he did, but Protection From Birds is also a totally valid reason.
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:17 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
Because of this thread I tried my maple syrup flavoured tea that I got from Japan. It was expensive for tea, and I only have 5 teabags but at least I didn't have to go all the way to Canada.
So I know opinions differ on flavoured tea, but I like them unless they are too artificial tasting. This one was nice, thankfully. I did try adding maple syrup to ordinary black tea when I was trying to get my maple tea fix...and no, just no.
posted by pianissimo at 6:37 PM on March 4
So I know opinions differ on flavoured tea, but I like them unless they are too artificial tasting. This one was nice, thankfully. I did try adding maple syrup to ordinary black tea when I was trying to get my maple tea fix...and no, just no.
posted by pianissimo at 6:37 PM on March 4
I'm not big on maple syrup, but I do use dried fenugreek leaves when I make masoor dal. Fenugreek leaves are rich in the dominant flavor compound of maple, enough so that their extract is often used for artificial maple flavoring. If you pour some dried fenugreek leaves into your hand to roughly measure when you put them into the pot, you can expect your hand to smell faintly like maple for hours, they're pretty strong.
posted by notoriety public at 6:58 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
posted by notoriety public at 6:58 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
This thread inspired to look in the back of my kitchen cupboard and find a bottle of French Canadian Maple Syrup: Ooh, fancy! I've been saving it for a special occasion since (a long time ago) and it is three years past its Best-By date. But it will still be ok won't it?
posted by Coaticass at 8:09 PM on March 4 [2 favorites]
posted by Coaticass at 8:09 PM on March 4 [2 favorites]
For work-related reasons, I happen to have a ton of maple syrup links. Some of these will be to buy syrup, some of these will be to buy syrup-related products (including candies, sauces, etc.) I'm just going to cut and paste and hope they haven't suffered from too much link rot.
For recipes using maple as an ingredient see: https://maplefromcanada.ca/recipes/
Different colours and flavours of syrup:
https://www.maplesyrupworld.com/sweet-trilogy/ (dark, golden and amber syrup, Canadian with US shipping)
https://intermiel.com/en/product/maple-syrup/ (golden, amber, dark, very strong, Canadian with US shipping)
https://www.finemapleproducts.com/produits/pure-maple-syrup-canada-a-dark-robust-taste-3x540ml-copie/ (golden, amber, dark, Canadian with US shipping)
https://www.domainedes15lots.com/en/product-category/maple-sirup/ (golden, amber, dark, Canadian with US shipping)
https://escuminac.com/collections/all (amber, dark and late harvest, Canadian with US shipping)
https://sinaigourmet.com/product/real-canadian-maple-syrup-grade-a-organic/ (gold, amber, dark, ultra dark, Canadian with US shipping)
Other classifications of maple syrup
As with wine (and almost any product these days), syrup producers are looking for ways to distinguish their products from the competition. For some, that means offering a high-end gourmet product, for others, they promote their syrups as certified organic, or Kosher or “single-forest origin.” Others add flavours to the syrup.
Select: https://deepmountainmaplestore.com/products/2012-sugarmakers-select (Vermont)
Select: https://pasouliereselection.com/shop/ (Canadian, unsure if available in the US
Organic and Kosher: https://andersonsmaplesyrup.com/product-category/organic/ (Wisconsin)
Organic https://www.coswebb.ca/shop-online (Canadian with US shipping)
Organic first tap https://mapleterroir.com/products/first-tap-organic-pure-maple-syrup-limited-edition-250ml (Canadian with US shipping)
Flavoured:https://deepmountainmaplestore.com/collections/flavored-syrups/products/ginger-maple-syrup-8oz (Vermont)
Barrel aged in cognac, bourbon and scotch barrels: https://escuminac.com/products/barrel-aged, Canadian
Infused with vanilla, cinnamon and yuzu: https://sinaigourmet.com/product/infused-gold-maple-syrup-premium-organic/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Other maple-based products
Beyond simply syrup, however, lovers of sweet treat can find it in a variety of forms including sugar and butter. It also becomes a key ingredient in candy, cookies, tea, coffee, and chocolate.
Maple sugar, maple vinegar, maple mustard, maple butter (Canadian with US shipping): https://shop.fortunefarms.ca/collections/maple-products
Maple candies, salad dressing, maple taffy, maple syrup: https://intermiel.com/en/maple-products/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple candies and sweets: https://www.finemapleproducts.com/product-category/sweets-candies-lollipops/pure-maple-soft-sweets/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple spreads: https://www.finemapleproducts.com/product-category/maple-spread-fruits/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple teas (including icewine maple tea): https://www.finemapleproducts.com/product-category/maple-teas/maple-teas-and-herbal-teas/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple caramel popcorn, flavour infused syrups (fruits and alcohol), candies and sweets, jellies and jams, candles and soaps : https://fallenleavesmaple.ca/products/maple-caramel-popcorn (Canadian with US shipping)
Chocolates: https://mapleterroir.com/collections/chocolates (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple gift baksets (including maple coffee and maple tea): https://mapleterroir.com/products/maple-enthusiast-home-set (Canadian with US shipping)
Wine and spirits aficionados can also imbibe syrup that has been turned fermented into wine, combined with gin, rye, rum, and blended with liqueurs or fruits.
Maple wine: https://archibaldswinery.com/product/canadian-maple-wine/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple wine: https://www.quaiduvin.com/product/maple-wine/38 (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple wine https://www.snowfarm.com/shop/ (Fox Hill Maple, Vermont)
Maple bourbon: https://www.boydenvalley.com/maple-bourbon (Vermont)
Maple wine vermouth type: https://intermiel.com/en/product/1534/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple brandy liquor: https://intermiel.com/en/product/gelinotte/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple whiskys: https://www.sortilegewhisky.com/en/ (Canadian, unsure if available in the US)
Note: I can't vouch for any of this stuff, but I thought I'd just offer up what I have on hand.
posted by sardonyx at 8:37 PM on March 4 [10 favorites]
For recipes using maple as an ingredient see: https://maplefromcanada.ca/recipes/
Different colours and flavours of syrup:
https://www.maplesyrupworld.com/sweet-trilogy/ (dark, golden and amber syrup, Canadian with US shipping)
https://intermiel.com/en/product/maple-syrup/ (golden, amber, dark, very strong, Canadian with US shipping)
https://www.finemapleproducts.com/produits/pure-maple-syrup-canada-a-dark-robust-taste-3x540ml-copie/ (golden, amber, dark, Canadian with US shipping)
https://www.domainedes15lots.com/en/product-category/maple-sirup/ (golden, amber, dark, Canadian with US shipping)
https://escuminac.com/collections/all (amber, dark and late harvest, Canadian with US shipping)
https://sinaigourmet.com/product/real-canadian-maple-syrup-grade-a-organic/ (gold, amber, dark, ultra dark, Canadian with US shipping)
Other classifications of maple syrup
As with wine (and almost any product these days), syrup producers are looking for ways to distinguish their products from the competition. For some, that means offering a high-end gourmet product, for others, they promote their syrups as certified organic, or Kosher or “single-forest origin.” Others add flavours to the syrup.
Select: https://deepmountainmaplestore.com/products/2012-sugarmakers-select (Vermont)
Select: https://pasouliereselection.com/shop/ (Canadian, unsure if available in the US
Organic and Kosher: https://andersonsmaplesyrup.com/product-category/organic/ (Wisconsin)
Organic https://www.coswebb.ca/shop-online (Canadian with US shipping)
Organic first tap https://mapleterroir.com/products/first-tap-organic-pure-maple-syrup-limited-edition-250ml (Canadian with US shipping)
Flavoured:https://deepmountainmaplestore.com/collections/flavored-syrups/products/ginger-maple-syrup-8oz (Vermont)
Barrel aged in cognac, bourbon and scotch barrels: https://escuminac.com/products/barrel-aged, Canadian
Infused with vanilla, cinnamon and yuzu: https://sinaigourmet.com/product/infused-gold-maple-syrup-premium-organic/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Other maple-based products
Beyond simply syrup, however, lovers of sweet treat can find it in a variety of forms including sugar and butter. It also becomes a key ingredient in candy, cookies, tea, coffee, and chocolate.
Maple sugar, maple vinegar, maple mustard, maple butter (Canadian with US shipping): https://shop.fortunefarms.ca/collections/maple-products
Maple candies, salad dressing, maple taffy, maple syrup: https://intermiel.com/en/maple-products/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple candies and sweets: https://www.finemapleproducts.com/product-category/sweets-candies-lollipops/pure-maple-soft-sweets/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple spreads: https://www.finemapleproducts.com/product-category/maple-spread-fruits/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple teas (including icewine maple tea): https://www.finemapleproducts.com/product-category/maple-teas/maple-teas-and-herbal-teas/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple caramel popcorn, flavour infused syrups (fruits and alcohol), candies and sweets, jellies and jams, candles and soaps : https://fallenleavesmaple.ca/products/maple-caramel-popcorn (Canadian with US shipping)
Chocolates: https://mapleterroir.com/collections/chocolates (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple gift baksets (including maple coffee and maple tea): https://mapleterroir.com/products/maple-enthusiast-home-set (Canadian with US shipping)
Wine and spirits aficionados can also imbibe syrup that has been turned fermented into wine, combined with gin, rye, rum, and blended with liqueurs or fruits.
Maple wine: https://archibaldswinery.com/product/canadian-maple-wine/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple wine: https://www.quaiduvin.com/product/maple-wine/38 (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple wine https://www.snowfarm.com/shop/ (Fox Hill Maple, Vermont)
Maple bourbon: https://www.boydenvalley.com/maple-bourbon (Vermont)
Maple wine vermouth type: https://intermiel.com/en/product/1534/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple brandy liquor: https://intermiel.com/en/product/gelinotte/ (Canadian with US shipping)
Maple whiskys: https://www.sortilegewhisky.com/en/ (Canadian, unsure if available in the US)
Note: I can't vouch for any of this stuff, but I thought I'd just offer up what I have on hand.
posted by sardonyx at 8:37 PM on March 4 [10 favorites]
Most of the process of making it is boiling it for hours and hours so unless you see mold or something in the bottle it should be fine because everything should be killed.
posted by hippybear at 8:39 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 8:39 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
JoAnn's is probably going bankrupt this week. I ran to two of them today to get all the stuff I've postponed buying. This really bums me out.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:58 PM on March 4 [5 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:58 PM on March 4 [5 favorites]
tigrrrlily, I replaced every single wire hanger in my house with either heavy duty wood ones (jackets and coats etc), or the velvet style ones.
It's right up there with treating myself with a fresh dish sponge in terms of happiness-making.
I replaced all the wire hangers with velvet *petite size* hangers! After a lifetime of stretching out the shoulders of my tiny clothes, I now have hangers that actually fit them!
posted by HotToddy at 9:21 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
It's right up there with treating myself with a fresh dish sponge in terms of happiness-making.
I replaced all the wire hangers with velvet *petite size* hangers! After a lifetime of stretching out the shoulders of my tiny clothes, I now have hangers that actually fit them!
posted by HotToddy at 9:21 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
Having nothing of especial interest in my own life at the moment, and no experience of maple syrup, I offer this minor drama from the Hull Daily Mail of 1895:
SIMPSON AND THE TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Technical Instruction Committee was held last night at the Technical School, Mr Morton presiding.—Mr Lister said he had written to Holt, asking that he should return the slide used to illustrate the lectures on fish, but Mr Holt had left the town, and his letter was returned.— It was decided that the Town Clerk should be consulted.posted by paduasoy at 1:14 AM on March 5 [3 favorites]
JoAnn's is probably going bankrupt this week. I ran to two of them today to get all the stuff I've postponed buying. This really bums me out.
ffs. Of course not until after they ran all the independent and small chain arts and crafts and fabric stores out of business. Ours replaced a Hancock Fabrics, which was always well stocked and had lots of staff who knew a ton about fabric and fiber crafts. The last time I went in there, there was a single person working in the entire giant Joann's.
posted by hydropsyche at 1:59 AM on March 5 [3 favorites]
ffs. Of course not until after they ran all the independent and small chain arts and crafts and fabric stores out of business. Ours replaced a Hancock Fabrics, which was always well stocked and had lots of staff who knew a ton about fabric and fiber crafts. The last time I went in there, there was a single person working in the entire giant Joann's.
posted by hydropsyche at 1:59 AM on March 5 [3 favorites]
Actually, there is something else I'll say. Have been helping a friend clear out decades of family stuff. We had some help identifying a couple of items on Ask (and I also went down a rabbit hole with the tags mystery object and whatisthis). There was also a roll of old engineering diagrams. They were mostly dated 1913-1915, with one 1933. As they had the names of local shipbuilding firms on them, I said I'd approach the local archives to see if they wanted them. I honestly expected that they would say no, as I'm aware their funding and resources have been squeezed to almost nothing, but was really pleased to get a speedy reply saying they would love to have them as their records of these companies are fairly sparse. Win-win - friend gets rid of something and it's available for researchers in the future.
posted by paduasoy at 2:49 AM on March 5 [10 favorites]
posted by paduasoy at 2:49 AM on March 5 [10 favorites]
JoAnn's is probably going bankrupt this week.
Nooooo. I guess I should stock up floss and backing then. Once Michael's killed off Pat Catan around here, JoAnn's was the best alternative (and there are two of the BIG stores within driving distance). If JoAnn's dies, then I'm left with Hobby Lobby and I come out of that place feeling like I need a shower and deprogramming.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 4:54 AM on March 5 [4 favorites]
Nooooo. I guess I should stock up floss and backing then. Once Michael's killed off Pat Catan around here, JoAnn's was the best alternative (and there are two of the BIG stores within driving distance). If JoAnn's dies, then I'm left with Hobby Lobby and I come out of that place feeling like I need a shower and deprogramming.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 4:54 AM on March 5 [4 favorites]
except Cracker Barrel, which has Other Problems but does have actual maple syrup
Not since 2009 or so. They still call it "100% pure syrup," but it's only 55% maple (the rest is cane syrup).
posted by uncleozzy at 12:13 PM on March 4
BETRAYAL.
posted by joannemerriam at 6:25 AM on March 5 [3 favorites]
Not since 2009 or so. They still call it "100% pure syrup," but it's only 55% maple (the rest is cane syrup).
posted by uncleozzy at 12:13 PM on March 4
BETRAYAL.
posted by joannemerriam at 6:25 AM on March 5 [3 favorites]
If JoAnn's dies, then I'm left with Hobby Lobby and I come out of that place feeling like I need a shower and deprogramming.
Same. There's a Hobby Lobby right next to where I work, and I've never even been inside because they took away a bunch of people's right to reproductive healthcare. They're so gross. My students say they're very easy to steal from because they still insist on sticker price tags instead of barcodes (number of the beast nonsense)
posted by hydropsyche at 8:17 AM on March 5 [4 favorites]
Same. There's a Hobby Lobby right next to where I work, and I've never even been inside because they took away a bunch of people's right to reproductive healthcare. They're so gross. My students say they're very easy to steal from because they still insist on sticker price tags instead of barcodes (number of the beast nonsense)
posted by hydropsyche at 8:17 AM on March 5 [4 favorites]
I use maple syrup for grilling and making wing sauce, since we're not much of a pancake etc household. Recently though I've been roasting slices of kabocha squash and drizzling maple syrup on the last 10 minutes, and discovered that the really good bottle we'd been gifted was all gone. Time to track down some more of the actual stuff. I can't sub honey, as to me the flavors are quite different.
No, Joann's?! They're not optimal but the only fabric game around, and here I am finally with space and 2 sewing machines to mess around, curtains and pillows and whatnot.
Always keep a wire hanger or two, very useful household pokey tools; also a good flat skeleton frame in a Halloween pinch.
posted by winesong at 9:30 AM on March 5 [1 favorite]
No, Joann's?! They're not optimal but the only fabric game around, and here I am finally with space and 2 sewing machines to mess around, curtains and pillows and whatnot.
Always keep a wire hanger or two, very useful household pokey tools; also a good flat skeleton frame in a Halloween pinch.
posted by winesong at 9:30 AM on March 5 [1 favorite]
Needed to do stool samples for the doctor. Forgot to do them yesterday, did them this morning. And you'd think, you have these plastic containers that are in plastic bags that contain papers with all the identifying information about who and where and what... you'd just have to take these to the office and drop them off, right?
Oh, no!
For some reason, she's asking my name and birthdate, and then is talking about making me an appointment in the computer, and she's fucking up that process and starting it all over.
Meanwhile, I have a panic disorder that I didn't get under control enough to go hang out in public, but did enough to go run a fast errand which this was turning out not to be. So as she's muttering to herself about how to find the right code to enter in for the reason for my appointment that I didn't know I needed to make, I'm slowly dissolving into a panic at the counter.
After about 10 minutes, she notices that I'm having problems and asked if I'm doing okay. "No! I didn't put myself together well enough to be standing here!" At which point she tells me that I can leave and she will finish it up. And as I'm panic exiting the building, I'm wondering to myself why I had to stand there if suddenly should could wrap it up without me...
Anyway, now they have my shit to analyze. Maybe they'll find a thing!
posted by hippybear at 9:45 AM on March 5 [5 favorites]
Oh, no!
For some reason, she's asking my name and birthdate, and then is talking about making me an appointment in the computer, and she's fucking up that process and starting it all over.
Meanwhile, I have a panic disorder that I didn't get under control enough to go hang out in public, but did enough to go run a fast errand which this was turning out not to be. So as she's muttering to herself about how to find the right code to enter in for the reason for my appointment that I didn't know I needed to make, I'm slowly dissolving into a panic at the counter.
After about 10 minutes, she notices that I'm having problems and asked if I'm doing okay. "No! I didn't put myself together well enough to be standing here!" At which point she tells me that I can leave and she will finish it up. And as I'm panic exiting the building, I'm wondering to myself why I had to stand there if suddenly should could wrap it up without me...
Anyway, now they have my shit to analyze. Maybe they'll find a thing!
posted by hippybear at 9:45 AM on March 5 [5 favorites]
Fellow crafters of the needle type, let me introduce you to embroidery.com.
posted by cooker girl at 11:21 AM on March 5 [5 favorites]
posted by cooker girl at 11:21 AM on March 5 [5 favorites]
I'm a big fan of 123stich.com because they had certain DMC colors in stock in 2020 when no one else did, their shipping charges are low, and their packaging efficient (lots of stuff just comes in an envelope).
posted by hydropsyche at 11:39 AM on March 5 [5 favorites]
posted by hydropsyche at 11:39 AM on March 5 [5 favorites]
Since it looks like JoAnn is going away, if anyone has any good/great online small businesses that sell some of what they do (fabric, quilting, paper, yarn...) I would be eternally grateful. (Thank you hydropsyche, I have bookmarked!)
I can afford shipping fees, and quite frankly I'd rather pay them than have to go out of my way to shop at Michael's. I've never been in a Hobby Lobby and I never, ever will.
posted by sharp pointy objects at 11:51 AM on March 5 [4 favorites]
I can afford shipping fees, and quite frankly I'd rather pay them than have to go out of my way to shop at Michael's. I've never been in a Hobby Lobby and I never, ever will.
posted by sharp pointy objects at 11:51 AM on March 5 [4 favorites]
I love both of the above named needle craft sites, but they don't provide the lovely fugue state I enter after spending an hour wandering a super JoAnn's.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 11:52 AM on March 5 [5 favorites]
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 11:52 AM on March 5 [5 favorites]
Last summer I tasted an entirely new to me liqueur in Quebec: Coureur de bois. We liked it so much that we bought two bottles (with and without cream) to bring back to the U.S. Glad we did, as it appears to be pretty hard to get in the states.
posted by cupcakeninja at 4:32 PM on March 5 [4 favorites]
posted by cupcakeninja at 4:32 PM on March 5 [4 favorites]
if we're talking gloriously sweet alcoholic things from Quebec, may I introduce you to Cidre de glace? It's a dessert wine made from frosted apples. It tastes like liquid sunshine. It's beautiful.
If only I had a penguin...'s chance comment taught me of the airnxtz saga from 2005. It seems - with only some very cursory searching - that the dude is still living in Bakersfield. Sheesh.
posted by scruss at 5:09 PM on March 5 [3 favorites]
If only I had a penguin...'s chance comment taught me of the airnxtz saga from 2005. It seems - with only some very cursory searching - that the dude is still living in Bakersfield. Sheesh.
posted by scruss at 5:09 PM on March 5 [3 favorites]
We tried that! It was so good, and we, uh, might also have brought some of that back.
posted by cupcakeninja at 5:26 PM on March 5 [2 favorites]
posted by cupcakeninja at 5:26 PM on March 5 [2 favorites]
I hope that you are all having a fine day.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:44 AM on March 6 [3 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:44 AM on March 6 [3 favorites]
Thank you, DirtyOldTown! I hope you and everyone else are all having a fine day, too!
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 10:40 AM on March 6 [1 favorite]
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 10:40 AM on March 6 [1 favorite]
I've had two more interviews this week and a third scheduled for next week. Both went well.
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:00 PM on March 6 [11 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:00 PM on March 6 [11 favorites]
I read Lindsay Gibson's, "The Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents" and have spent the last week or so discussing it with my 2 adult children (35 and 37). Not one of us was blown away by what is, we agreed, a deeply flawed work, but as my son said, "it points in a good direction." To put it mildly, I found the talks and even more, my realisations about myself and the impact on my 2 children of the emotionally volatile and unpredictable home life my wife and I created, exhausting. At every step of the way my relentless ego was looking for somewhere to hide, preferably a dark deep cave of self pity. I just about stayed the course not least because of their kindness and generosity with me.
It's calmer now and I have a strong sense that issues are out in the open, everything is on the table and can be discussed and curiously, a secondary sense that now that there has been an acknowledgement of the past and my manifold shortcomings, there seems less need for discussion. I do not pretend to know how that works but do not especially care so long as it does work.
I have never been more impressed by the two of them and their openness and willingness to change and grow. They are fantastic young people and I am blessed.
posted by dutchrick at 5:56 AM on March 7 [8 favorites]
It's calmer now and I have a strong sense that issues are out in the open, everything is on the table and can be discussed and curiously, a secondary sense that now that there has been an acknowledgement of the past and my manifold shortcomings, there seems less need for discussion. I do not pretend to know how that works but do not especially care so long as it does work.
I have never been more impressed by the two of them and their openness and willingness to change and grow. They are fantastic young people and I am blessed.
posted by dutchrick at 5:56 AM on March 7 [8 favorites]
Wow that sounds painful and kind of wonderful too, dutchrick. I hope you also find some peace and ease in the process.
posted by Zumbador at 7:58 AM on March 7 [3 favorites]
posted by Zumbador at 7:58 AM on March 7 [3 favorites]
Thank you, Zumbador. Your words are greatly appreciated and accurate. It was painful and it is wonderful that it happened. There was no name calling, no resentment. "You've got to be able to see, call and critique your parent's behaviour but there's no need for anger or resentment. There is no such thing as a perfect human and so no perfect parents. You loved us. You weren't always wise" said my daughter. I had moments of acute and well deserved shame but knew I had to sit with it. This was about them and for them, not me. I was so tired afterwards I slept for 11 hours! I love them and want them to be well. That's all that matters. Thanks again.
posted by dutchrick at 12:20 PM on March 7 [3 favorites]
posted by dutchrick at 12:20 PM on March 7 [3 favorites]
Thank you, Zumbador. Your words are greatly appreciated and accurate. It was painful and it is wonderful that it happened. There was no name calling, no resentment. "You've got to be able to see, call and critique your parent's behaviour but there's no need for anger or resentment. There is no such thing as a perfect human and so no perfect parents. You loved us. You weren't always wise" said my daughter. I had moments of acute and well deserved shame but knew I had to sit with it. This was about them and for them, not me tho I have found it healing too. I was so tired afterwards I slept for 11 hours! I love them and want them to be well. That's all that matters. Thanks again.
posted by dutchrick at 12:21 PM on March 7
posted by dutchrick at 12:21 PM on March 7
Today in kitchen tales:
- I threw out 3lbs of salted butter due to mold. I know exactly when and how it happened, I’m just mad at myself for not checking it sooner. And now we are completely out of butter.
- I soaked, deseeded and cut up dried ancho and guajillo chilies to make chili this weekend. Apparently, only fresh super hot chilies are sold near my house, the milder varieties are either dried or unavailable.
Kiddo said the water smelled like tea, which I think came from the ancho, it had a lovely, smokey scent. I also showed him how to remove the seeds. And I remembered to throw any fabrics that came in contact with the peppers into the laundry immediately.
In other news: kiddo made the team for a sport he has never played before and I’m pretty proud of him for trying something different.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 2:42 PM on March 7 [1 favorite]
- I threw out 3lbs of salted butter due to mold. I know exactly when and how it happened, I’m just mad at myself for not checking it sooner. And now we are completely out of butter.
- I soaked, deseeded and cut up dried ancho and guajillo chilies to make chili this weekend. Apparently, only fresh super hot chilies are sold near my house, the milder varieties are either dried or unavailable.
Kiddo said the water smelled like tea, which I think came from the ancho, it had a lovely, smokey scent. I also showed him how to remove the seeds. And I remembered to throw any fabrics that came in contact with the peppers into the laundry immediately.
In other news: kiddo made the team for a sport he has never played before and I’m pretty proud of him for trying something different.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 2:42 PM on March 7 [1 favorite]
Apparently, only fresh super hot chilies are sold near my house, the milder varieties are either dried or unavailable.
That's pretty common in my experience. Best I can tell is that fresh chiles have a brighter flavor and a more immediate up-front heat, while the flavor of dried chiles is more complex and the heat (if any, depending on variety) has a slower release. Of course, once they're thoroughly cooked that difference might get lost anyway...
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:57 PM on March 7
That's pretty common in my experience. Best I can tell is that fresh chiles have a brighter flavor and a more immediate up-front heat, while the flavor of dried chiles is more complex and the heat (if any, depending on variety) has a slower release. Of course, once they're thoroughly cooked that difference might get lost anyway...
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:57 PM on March 7
Speaking of fresh super hot chiles...
We've been ordering Hatch Green Chiles from this place for over a decade, and they do an amazing job.
They'll do a lot of processing for you if you want, but I'm linking to their fresh green chile page.
What happens is they pick chile in the field and put it into a Priority Mail box and it gets to your house in 2-3 days, which is faster than it would be at the grocery store. Only farmer's market could be fresher.
Anyway, when the order arrives we spend hours roasting and freezing in recipe size bags... the chile will steam and the skins will separate and after freezing they're super easy to peel and de-seed and use in recipes.
I'm just a satisfied customer making a recommendation to others. They also have started shipping roasted, frozen so if you don't want to be bothered... and other things. When we were first ordering from them, it was just a farm with a bunch of Priority Mail boxes.
posted by hippybear at 3:08 PM on March 7 [5 favorites]
We've been ordering Hatch Green Chiles from this place for over a decade, and they do an amazing job.
They'll do a lot of processing for you if you want, but I'm linking to their fresh green chile page.
What happens is they pick chile in the field and put it into a Priority Mail box and it gets to your house in 2-3 days, which is faster than it would be at the grocery store. Only farmer's market could be fresher.
Anyway, when the order arrives we spend hours roasting and freezing in recipe size bags... the chile will steam and the skins will separate and after freezing they're super easy to peel and de-seed and use in recipes.
I'm just a satisfied customer making a recommendation to others. They also have started shipping roasted, frozen so if you don't want to be bothered... and other things. When we were first ordering from them, it was just a farm with a bunch of Priority Mail boxes.
posted by hippybear at 3:08 PM on March 7 [5 favorites]
Hatch are good chilis...
So, woke up this morning, youngest dog wouldn't get off her bed to go outside...
That's odd.
Then, she wouldn't eat breakfast nor even peanut butter. That's really odd...
Our vet had only one doctor today, and their sister clinic was booked, so off to the 24/7 urgent care place. She has a very high fever, and very, very low white blood cell counts on one of the white blood cell lines. No one is sure why.
So it's going to be $7000 and at least a night in their hospital to figure out wtf is going on with her. Oh well, I guess that is why we have money. Waiting for a call back from the imaging. Hope she isn't scared...
posted by Windopaene at 5:43 PM on March 8 [5 favorites]
So, woke up this morning, youngest dog wouldn't get off her bed to go outside...
That's odd.
Then, she wouldn't eat breakfast nor even peanut butter. That's really odd...
Our vet had only one doctor today, and their sister clinic was booked, so off to the 24/7 urgent care place. She has a very high fever, and very, very low white blood cell counts on one of the white blood cell lines. No one is sure why.
So it's going to be $7000 and at least a night in their hospital to figure out wtf is going on with her. Oh well, I guess that is why we have money. Waiting for a call back from the imaging. Hope she isn't scared...
posted by Windopaene at 5:43 PM on March 8 [5 favorites]
Best wishes for her and you both, Windopaene.
posted by cupcakeninja at 6:52 PM on March 8 [3 favorites]
posted by cupcakeninja at 6:52 PM on March 8 [3 favorites]
hippybear, thank you! I have several recipes requiring Hatch and I’ve never been able to adequately substitute. The website is perfect.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 5:20 AM on March 9
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 5:20 AM on March 9
Thank you cupcakeninja!
Appears Mab, (Queen of the Fairies) has some sort of canine meningitis. But she seems to be getting better, and did have to have a spinal tap, ugh, but will likely get to come home this afternoon.
posted by Windopaene at 1:10 PM on March 9 [1 favorite]
Appears Mab, (Queen of the Fairies) has some sort of canine meningitis. But she seems to be getting better, and did have to have a spinal tap, ugh, but will likely get to come home this afternoon.
posted by Windopaene at 1:10 PM on March 9 [1 favorite]
I had this idea for a screenplay. A mock doc called Uncle Sam Will Kill Us All. It's set in a Midwestern town where a slasher returns every year on July 4th and wreaks havoc. But no one leaves or does anything differently. They're just like, "Yeah, that happens." The killer(s) are avenging a tragic fireworks accident years ago and kill to avenge it every time the town uses fireworks. But they don't stop using fireworks. They buy more and the town display gets bigger and bigger. And the slasher (Uncle Sam) keeps coming back and killing people every summer. And they're like, "Eh, what can you do?" People use fireworks as a point of pride to show they're not afraid.
Anyway. I hate guns.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:02 PM on March 9 [5 favorites]
Anyway. I hate guns.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:02 PM on March 9 [5 favorites]
And to add a nice conclusion...
Mab is home. Totally whacked out on drugs, and taking a nap. She may be on the street in a few days trying to pick up some fentanyl, (codeine three times a day, wow). But I know just how great the opioids are when you have horrendous wounds and pain.
Tax
posted by Windopaene at 6:33 PM on March 9 [7 favorites]
Mab is home. Totally whacked out on drugs, and taking a nap. She may be on the street in a few days trying to pick up some fentanyl, (codeine three times a day, wow). But I know just how great the opioids are when you have horrendous wounds and pain.
Tax
posted by Windopaene at 6:33 PM on March 9 [7 favorites]
trying to pick up some fentanyl
Come to Portland while the gettin's good...
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:26 PM on March 9
Come to Portland while the gettin's good...
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:26 PM on March 9
Bravo for her! Opioids stronger than codeine make me suicidal which I know is not a normal reaction but hurrah for no heroin addiction! Anyway, I wish Mab all the recovery vibes in the Universe.
posted by hippybear at 7:29 PM on March 9 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 7:29 PM on March 9 [1 favorite]
Come to Portland while the gettin's good...
posted by Greg_Ace
Greg could, if he decided to exert the effort to find the network, Greg could become the MeMail supplier to MF Members.
Let me know when you've assembled your network of suppliers and I'll submit my order.
posted by hippybear at 7:31 PM on March 9
posted by Greg_Ace
Greg could, if he decided to exert the effort to find the network, Greg could become the MeMail supplier to MF Members.
Let me know when you've assembled your network of suppliers and I'll submit my order.
posted by hippybear at 7:31 PM on March 9
When I was in the hospital for 3 1/2 weeks back in 2022, I had been given all the Oxy they could give me. And a nasty thing was about to happen. And they said, "we can give you some fentanyl". I was all, "heard of that". Blew my mind. Helped though...
And Mab is a fucking lightweight. Just standing around, staring off into space when she's not asleep. "Do you want to go out?"
"What? What is this out of which you speak? I'm freaking out about these stairs..."
posted by Windopaene at 7:49 PM on March 9
And Mab is a fucking lightweight. Just standing around, staring off into space when she's not asleep. "Do you want to go out?"
"What? What is this out of which you speak? I'm freaking out about these stairs..."
posted by Windopaene at 7:49 PM on March 9
Greg could become the MeMail supplier to MF Members.
Mnyeh, sounds like work.
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:53 PM on March 9 [1 favorite]
Mnyeh, sounds like work.
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:53 PM on March 9 [1 favorite]
Somehow , Reniassance : A Film By Beyoncé ended up on YouTube. I'm watching it quick before it's gone. It looks like it was QUITE a show. I'm not quite sure how or if she's going to tour the country album.
Speaking of the Beyoncé country album, is there just one dance for Texas Holdem? Because I think i've seen at least a half-dozen different dances on YouTube and they seem to be competing?
Did Bey release an official line dance, or are they making this up on their own?
posted by hippybear at 3:33 PM on March 10
Speaking of the Beyoncé country album, is there just one dance for Texas Holdem? Because I think i've seen at least a half-dozen different dances on YouTube and they seem to be competing?
Did Bey release an official line dance, or are they making this up on their own?
posted by hippybear at 3:33 PM on March 10
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posted by seanmpuckett at 7:34 AM on March 4 [14 favorites]