Batch #3 - my biggest ever

[Run Forest Run!]

This batch is more than my total from all of 2012. I was too tired to take photos last night, so here goes...

7570


Also, here's a visitor that came deliciously close to being maple glazed with I was boiling...

7571

[PerryW]

sure is pretty isn't it? Looks like very good quality light amber.

[Cindee]

Wonderful pictures. We are cooking 60 gals today. Suppose to be 50 here in northern WI so the sap is just getting started.

[happy thoughts]

That's absolutely gorgeous, Karen! :)

[wnybassman]

Nice looking stuff!!

[DonMcJr]

Looks like some nice light Syrup! and Mr. Tom woulda been history with Maple Glaze! LOL!

I haven't had much that was real light this year...

[Run Forest Run!]

Yeah, Mr. Tom was only about 15 feet from me while I was busy boiling. I guess he figured we were having ham for Easter and the coast was clear.

[valleyman]

Tom sure is lucky I wasn't around. I just love maple smoked turkey!

Great looking syrup and nice photos.

[MapleLady]

Tom sure is lucky that you already had a ham for Easter! :o That's a nice looking batch Karen!

[Dennis H.]

Wow, that is some light syrup.
Great job Karen.

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

I was going to say the same thing, WOW so light!! All of mine was dark amber all season long...Im still new so im not sure if its what I should always expect or what?? lol

Nice Job Karen!

[Run Forest Run!]

Thanks everyone.

It's weird but I've never made any other type of syrup than light. It's all I got last year, and all I've got so far this year too. I'd like to have a couple of different grades after this season comes to a close.

[Trout Brook Maple]

I just make it for home and giveaways. I realized some of the darker, and tastier, stuff I made this year I gave away!

Of the 5 or so gallons (I'm not one for keeping track of my maple-related data, otherwise I probably wouldn't be so eager to do it each year), maybe 2 were darker (medium amber?). Half of that darker syrup I gave away. Not smart, if you want the "good" stuff. (Note to self - give away the cherished first run syrup)

Somewhere on the forum there is a neat link to an article about the attraction of lighter versus darker syrup. Goes back to Colonial times, and very interesting.

[Run Forest Run!]

Boiled today and decided to finish the batch instead of saving it as sweet for another day. I got 1.5 litres (.26 gallons) from 58.5 litres (15.45 gallons). That's 39:1. Another really light batch. Of course. It's even lighter than the stuff I bottled yesterday. Maybe I have pale trees. :confused:

[dufftj]

Karen,
Just a thought mabey the light syrup has to do with how you boil? Two weeks ago I boiled off about 6 gallons on a propane burner and ended up with very light syrup, but yesterday I boiled off thirty plus gallons on my block arch and it came out a nice red amber color. First large batch of the season for me. Anyways I've read that candies come out better when made with the lighter syrups.....I'd try making some sugar or better yet fudge out of that stuff:)

Tim

[Run Forest Run!]

You may be on to something there Tim. You can bet that I'm going to be loving having all this syrup around this year to use for different cooking ideas, and candy is at the top of the list!

[TerryEspo]

Nice stuff Karen...and great pic of the bird too !!

All my syrup so far is exactly same color as yours. I am sure though soon it will start to come out darker as the season progresses.

Thanks for sharing.

Terry

[Run Forest Run!]

Hmmm, maybe what we are making is Northern Light. ;)

[ShLUbY]

Nice photo Karen! That looks great!!

[100GallonsOrBust]

Goooooold!!! Looks beautiful Karen, nice work! :)

[5050racing]

Nice stuff and I'm sure it's great tasting!!! You were waiting for that!