Today’s Best Recipe is Maple Syrup Shaved Ice.
You can substitute the shaved ice for fresh snow for an incredible treat.
The basics of life before preservatives and man-made sweeteners seem more and more appealing.
Remember when food tasted like food?
I’m thrilled to share with you that maple syrup isn’t just for pancakes.
I kid you not!
Pure Canadian Maple Syrup used in place of refined white sugar (and trust me I love that stuff) promotes natural and sustainable energy.
According to Science Daily, a scientific study conducted by the University of Rhode island also found maple syrup contains 20 antioxidant compounds linked to human health.
According to the Journal of Medicinal Food, pure maple syrup can fight against diabetes.
Then there’s the battle of the bulge, Pure Canadian Maple Syrup contains fewer calories than corn syrup and honey.
In the kitchen, pure maple syrup can be used as a healthier alternative to refined white sugar in both savory and sweet dishes, from glazes and sauces to desserts and baked goods. We love it in our protein balls recipe.
The best part is it is easy to implement:
To substitute maple syrup for white sugar, use a one-for-one substitution and reduce the number of liquid ingredients in the recipe (water, milk, juice) by a ΒΌ of a cup
Maple syrup may also serve as a one-to-one substitution for other liquid sweeteners, such as corn syrup, honey, and molasses.
My family was sent four different grades of Pure Canadian Maple Syrup to review.
We each had our own grade we preferred, the children liked the light while I am a fan of the dark.
We experimented in the kitchen, using the Pure Canadian Maple Syrup in our recipes.
I’ll save you some time and share some findings:
Let’s face it syrup is sticky.
I found it made the process easier if I sprayed non-stick spray into the measuring cup before pouring in the Maple Syrup.
It eliminated the stick and it was a more precise measurement.
The darker your maple syrup the more potent the maple flavor
The Amber Grade works well in batters like cake, doughnuts, etc, while the Light Grade is my choice for icings and glazes.
Maple Syrup is NOT a good substitute if you make jelly!
Decrease your oven temperature by 25 degrees for better results.
Here’s a recipe we all loved using the Pure Canadian Maple Syrup:
I substituted the sugar with the syrup and it really yielded a great flavor that put a new spin on a favorite recipe!
My children’s favorite thing to do with the Pure Maple Syrup, regardless of the grade was this:
Maple Syrup Shaved Ice:
Ingredients:
1 cup shaved ice
warm maple syrup
Directions:
Pour warmed Pure Maple Syrup over ice and enjoy!
Make Maple Syrup Snow Candy:
This recipe requires a little more preparation than Maple Syrup Shaved Ice.
It’s also called Maple Taffy.
It’s super sticky and can cause dental damage, especially to braces.
Place shaved ice in a shallow bowl or pan. Place in the freezer while you prepare.
If you are using snow: Gather snow in a shallow bowl or pan (if it’s snowing place the bowl outside to collect it while your prepare.)
Over medium heat, in a small saucepan, add the maple syrup and the butter and heat until a candy thermometer reads 235-degrees, about 25 minutes. Keep a careful watch on this–if it looks like it is going to boil over, reduce the temperature.
Once the syrup reaches the temperature, remove the pan from heat and let rest for 5 minutes.
Whisk the mixture and spoon, one tablespoon, over shaved ice or snow.
It should sit on top of the snow and create a caramel.
If it doesn’t, return the pan to medium heat for 2-3 minutes and repeat the tablespoon test.
Once it creates the caramel, drizzle the syrup over the shaved ice or snow. You can create patterns or blobs.
When it is cool enough to pick up with your fingers, it’s time for the best part–eating the candy.
Fun Fact:
Pure maple syrup will not freeze solid but it becomes very thick and it will expand so be sure that there is sufficient room in the open container to allow for expansion.
Try out Pure Canadian Maple Syrup in your kitchen.
I bet, like me, you’ll find it a fun experience that adds a new flair to tired recipes–and think of the health benefits!
