“Oh, hello there, so glad you could meet me. Do you smell that? I think they’re boiling down the maple sap into maple syrup. Let’s go and see if we can get some maple syrup to make a simple, wonderful maple taffy treat all Quebecers enjoy. Come along with me.” Make sure to use 100% pure maple syrup, it tastes so good! You may be familiar with Fancy Grade “A” maple syrup but for this recipe, the Grade “B” or #2 Amber is packed with flavor and will give you the best results. You can use Grade ”A” Light Amber if that is all you have. Choose your cooking method: microwave is very quick but it can also be made easily on the stove top even if you don’t have a candy thermometer. 1 Maple Taffy On-the-snow microwave method INGREDIENTS: • • • 1 cup/240ml pure maple syrup Butter Fresh snow or crushed ice YOU WILL NEED: • • • • Measuring cup Large glass container Wooden stir sticks or a spoon, or a fork Shallow baking dish or pie plate GET STARTED! • Put some clean, fresh snow in a baking dish or a pie plate. Pack it down so it will be very compact and the top should be smooth. Store in the freezer until you are ready with the maple taffy. 2 • Pour the maple syrup in your microwavable glass container and butter the rim; this will prevent the maple syrup from boiling over and making a mess in your microwave! • Microwave at high for 8 minutes. • Remove from oven and be very careful as container and syrup will be extremely hot. • Transfer maple syrup into a small container with a pouring spout, such as a glass measuring cup or pitcher, and drizzle in short strips on the packed snow. • After about 20-40 seconds, it firms up to soft taffy and you can then roll it onto a wooden stir stick or popsicle stick to eat it. • Be careful: it’s still hot but it will melt deliciously in your mouth! 3 Maple Taffy On-the-snow stove top method INGREDIENTS: • • 1 cup/240ml pure maple syrup Fresh snow or crushed ice YOU WILL NEED: • • • • • Measuring cup Deep Pot Candy thermometer (or a clear glass of cold water) Wooden stir sticks or a spoon, or a fork Shallow baking dish or pie plate GET STARTED! • Put some clean, fresh snow in a baking dish or a pie plate. Pack it down so it will be very compact and the top should be smooth. Store in the freezer until you are ready with the maple taffy. 4 • In your deep pot over medium heat, bring the maple syrup slowly to boil without stirring, until the thermometer indicates 235oF /113oC, or the “soft-ball” stage, which can take up to 40 minutes. • SOFT-BALL STAGE: When you drop a small amount of syrup in cold water, it becomes a soft, flexible ball and would flatten quickly when removed from the water. • Transfer maple syrup into a smaller heat-resistant container with a pouring spout, such as a glass measuring cup, and drizzle in short strips on the packed snow. • After about 20-40 seconds, it firms up to soft taffy and you can then roll it onto a wooden stir stick or popsicle stick to eat it. • Be careful: it’s still hot but it will melt deliciously in your mouth! 5 To enjoy some more next week, you can even roll a few extra sticks and store them in the freezer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or waxed paper. Enjoy this traditional sugar shack treat from Quebec! By Annie Boulanger © 2010 www.MyWorldKitchen.com 6