The first thing you must do if you want to make homemade maple syrup is to collect some maple sap. You can achieve this by locating at least one maple tree. Sugar Maple is the type of maple tree with the highest amount of sugar.However, you can also use the sap from other maple tress types like Ash-leafed Maple, Silver Maple and Red Maple but you will not get sap as sweet as that of Sugar Maples. The Sugar Maple is the best to use for making pure maple syrup or maple syrup recipe. Furthermore, you need to be certain that the trees you pick have at least a diameter of ten inches and a height of four and a half feet.
The next thing you should do is to drill a hole in the trunk of the tree.This hole must be 2-3 inches deep and 7/16 inch wide. If there are some loose wood, clean it out of the hole. After doing so, tap a spout lightly into the hole using a hammer. You can purchase a spout at farm supply stores, feed shops or hardware stores.
Get a clean bucket and hang it onto the spout to catch the maple sap as it drips out. This bucket should be non-corrosive. Furthermore, a container with a lid is recommended because this will prevent any matter such as wood, insects and rainwater from falling into the sap.
Once you have collected enough sap, put it in containers and have it refrigerated until you are prepared to proceed to the boiling process and turn it into syrup. Note that if you want to make a lot of maple syrup, you also need to collect more than a lot of sap. This is because only one gallon of maple syrup can be made from 40 gallons of sap!
You need to boil the sap fresh from a maple tree because it contains only about two percent of sugar while the rest is water content. Therefore, in order for much water to evaporate, you need to boil it. Use a pot or pan that is made of stainless steel for boiling. It is better to boil the sap outdoors because there will surely be intense steam.
The sap with better quality is the sap that boils faster. Once the sap boils, measure its temperature and write it down. Later on, you will need again this initial temperature. Once the sap begins to thicken, go back indoors and finish the boiling process there, controlling the heat. Take the temperature of the sap occasionally. When the temperature measured is higher than its initial temperature by at least seven degrees Fahrenheit, then it is ready.
When the syrup is done, strain it using a clean and food-approved strainer, filter or a cheesecloth. And that is it; you have now created your very own maple syrup at home! You can even make different grade b maple syrup.
Archive for July, 2009
How to Make Maple Syrup for Eating in Your Kitchen
Monday, July 13th, 2009The Facts You Need to Know about Maple Syrup
Sunday, July 12th, 2009Simply put, maple syrup is a natural sweetener that is produced from the sap of the maple tree. It is usually eaten with French toast, waffles and pancakes. Other uses include desserts, candy and flavouring in the production of beer. I enjoy many maple treats including maple cookie recipe. It is believed that the Native Americans were the first to ever collect and use maple syrup. Its use was later adopted by the European settlers.
A majority of maple syrup supply is currently produced in North America and most people associate the syrup with Canada. In fact, about 80% of the world’s maple syrup supply comes from Canada, with the majority of production coming particularly from Quebec. However, maple syrup can still be made anywhere that maple trees grow as long as the right weather conditions are present. In fact, Vermont is also a large contributor to the world’s supply and is considered the largest U.S. producer of the syrup. Many kitchen cupboards are graced with Canadian maple syrup.
The syrup is usually taken from either the sugar maple or the black maple because these two maple species have significantly high sugar content in their sap. The type of syrup or grade depends on what type of tree and there are many types like grade b maple syrup. Traditional harvesting of the syrup involved tapping a maple tree and collecting the sap in a bucket. This was, however, a very labor-intensive method and required daily collection of the sap so producers found easier harvesting techniques such as the installation of plastic pipelines. These pipelines allow the sap to flow directly into the sugar house, where it is boiled to form maple syrup.
The period between February and April is the ideal time for maple syrup production because the warm days and freezing nights help induce the abundant flow of sap. About 40 litres of sap has to be boiled to produce a litre of syrup. During the cooking process, a hydrometer is used to measure the syrup’s density. The correct density of about 66% sugar has to be reached because a density that is too low will result in spoiling and a density that is too high will result in crystallization. Variations in the boiling process are also done to produce maple taffy, maple cream and maple butter.
Consumers will be happy to know that maple syrup not only tastes good, but it is also good for the health. The reason is that it is very rich in the minerals zinc and manganese. Manganese has strong antioxidant properties and is also a natural energy booster. Zinc is also a potent antioxidant and even helps protect our hearts from damage normally caused by LDL cholesterol and oxidized fats. Furthermore, manganese and zinc help strengthen the body’s immune system and a deficiency of these minerals has been known to compromise the body’s ability to fight off ailments and diseases.
There is even more good news for the male population. In a human body, zinc is mostly found in the prostate tissue, which means getting zinc from maple syrup can help you avoid prostate cancer. It has even been proven to reduce prostate size. And manganese can give you reproductive health bonuses because it plays a significant role in the body’s production of sex hormones.
The Beneficial Aspects of Maple Syrup and Other Maple Products
Sunday, July 12th, 2009Maple syrup is popular because of its sweet and unique taste that blends perfectly with waffles, pancakes and other pastry foods. However, maple syrup is not only good because of its taste but also because it of its health benefits. Maple syrup is, firstly, a purely organic substance. It is created by taking fresh sap from maple trees and boiling this sap until it thickens completely into syrup. There are certainly no added preservatives! It has also a lower amount of calories compared to sugarcane but is 3 times sweeter! Therefore, it is a perfect sweetener and ideal for the diabetics. Instead of using white sugar or honey for your coffee or baked pastries, many people are using maple syrup as the substitute. In the US, organic grade b maple syrup are classified that way based on their color and flavor. No matter if you choose Vermont maple syrup or some other variety, you will be healthier for it. The health benefits of maple syrup equipment are numerous.
Maple syrup also contains manganese, which is very essential for antioxidant defenses and in the production of energy. This is because the so-called “powerhouses” of our body, mitochondria, require manganese for it to be able to produce energy. The enzyme superoxide dismutase that functions in oxidation by disarming free radicals also needs manganese to function properly. The daily consumption requirement for manganese is 22% and this can be given already by just one ounce of maple syrup.
In addition to this, maple syrup contains zinc making it good for the heart.Aside from antioxidant purposes, zinc also helps in considerably decreasing the progression of the heart condition atherosclerosis. Endothelial cells also need it in order to function properly. It has been proven that cells in the endothelium that are low in zinc are more prone to injury.
Furthermore, the doy’s immune system needs these two minerals, zinc and manganese, contained in maple syrup to perform its function correctly. Many immune system cells depend on zinc to properly function optimally, specifically in children. It has been shown in studies that a deficiency in zinc also causes a decrease in the number of white blood cells and the ability of the immune system to respond properly. Also, manganese helps in reducing inflammation of wounds and other sores, thereby promoting healing. It also acts as a stimulant of the immune system.
Maple syrup is also very beneficial to reproductive health, especially that of men. This is due to the fact that zinc is more highly concentrated in the prostate area than in any other locations in the body. It was also discovered from studies that low levels of zinc in the prostate gland is associated with greater risks of developing prostatitis and prostate cancer. As a matter of fact, many health care professionals use zinc as a therapeutic remedy that helps reduce the size of the prostate. Manganese, on the other hand, also contributes to reproductive health since it is a participating mineral in the production of sex hormones.
Maple Syrup: Good for Your Mouth, Joyous for Your Health
Sunday, July 12th, 2009Got a sweet tooth? Yes, sugar can give you an energy boost, but that’s only temporary. In fact, too much sugar is bad for your health. Refined with sugar contributes to lower B-vitamin amounts, cholesterol accumulation, and tooth damage. The body needs nutrients and fiber for better functioning, and sugar doesn’t have any of them. Instead, it has a high calorie content that are converted to fats if not used up by the body.
There’s a healthier alternative that’s just as sweet as sugar: maple syrup. Include maple syrup in your diet, and you get the best of both worlds—sweet flavor plus healthy body. You can find many uses for maple syrup in your daily life including maple candy and maple cookie recipe ideas. An amber liquid with viscous consistency made from maple tree sap, maple syrup provides a lot of health benefits. Maple syrup is a more nutritious sweetener than sugar, even if it has a high sugar content. Compared to honey and sugar, maple syrup has fewer calories and more minerals. A quarter cup of maple syrup has more potassium than a banana and more calcium than milk. Maple syrup also contains B vitamins, iron, and phosphorous—nutrients that are crucial to your bodily functions. What’s more, you have lower risk of diseases when you use maple syrup instead of sugar.
Because it contains manganese, maple syrup can help improve your energy production and antioxidant defenses. Manganese also helps in faster healing and lessening inflammations. Just one ounce of maple syrup a day can provide 22 percent of the recommended amount of manganese in the body. The manganese content of maple syrup is good for the immune system. Maple syrup is also an excellent source of zinc, a mineral that can boost immune defenses. And because maple syrup contains zinc, it can also keep your heart healthy. An essential trace mineral, zinc can minimize the likelihood of heart problems such as stroke, heart attack, and atherosclerosis or the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries. When it comes to reproductive health, men benefit a lot from maple syrup since its zinc content reduces the risk of prostate cancer. Male reproductive health also gets a boost from maple syrup that increases the production of sex hormones.
Maple syrup is not dangerous to health compared to processed white sugar. In fact, it has a very low sodium content (2 mg. per 50 mL. serving). Low sodium content means maple syrup won’t pose a threat to people with high blood pressure, kidney ailment, or diabetes. Maple syrup is free from substances such as oxalates, goitrogens, and purines that can get in the way of proper bodily functions. And it doesn’t trigger any allergic reaction.
Sweet taste and good health can go hand in hand when you use maple syrup as a substitute to unhealthy sugar. Thus, it pays to lessen your intake of sugar and make sure that you buy your own supply of maple syrup on your next visit at the local supermarket. Making sure that you have maple syrup equipment can mean the difference between an unhealthy and a healthy you.
Information You Need to Know About Maple Syrup and Maple Foliage
Sunday, July 12th, 2009Maple is one of the most useful trees species in the world and is the source of the all-favorite maple syrup, which we eat with pancakes, waffles, and French toast. The syrup is also an ingredient in making candy, baking, and dessert recipes. One of my favorites is maple sugar candy. It is also used as a flavoring agent for beer. Maple trees however produces a wide array of other products apart from maple syrup.
Maple is characterized by its pointed leaves as could be seen in the emblem on Canada’s national flag. Where the maple tree grows is part of how we classify the type of maple syrup like organic maple syrup. If you are interested in maple syrup then there are many different areas you could do research. There is about 125 maple species worldwide, growing at an average of ten to 45 meters tall. Maples produce wood and timber, which is used for furniture, musical instruments, baseball bats, bowling pins, and many others. Maples also contribute to agriculture as they produce pollen that help the successful cultivation of honeybees.
Maple syrup is a very popular in the United States and Canada, the latter producing more than 80% of the world’s supply. The discovery of the technology to turn sap from the maple tree into maple syrup is attributed to the Native Americans. Later on, European settlers learned to produce maple syrup as well. The black maple and the sugar maple are two known maple species that produce maple syrup as their sap has relatively high sugar content.
Other Maple Products
Maple sugar. Maple sap is also used to create sugar. Maple sugar, sweeter compared to granulated sugar, is what remains after sap from the sugar maple tree is boiled past the point needed for making syrup or maple taffy. The solid residue is pressed and turned into compact translucent sugar cubes.Granulated maple sugar is now also available in the market.
Maple taffy. Maple taffy is created by boiling the maple sap longer than needed to make maple syrup but not as long as required to make maple sugar or maple butter. The resulting syrup is then poured out onto clean snow then lifted using a popsicle stick or a small wooden stick. The confection makes up a small part of Quebec and New England traditions. Presently, children can also enjoy maple candy pops, toffee, and hard candy.
Maple butter. Maple butter is not a dairy product as its name indicates but it is used as a spread and frosting. It has the smoothness and the creaminess of peanut butter. It is also sometimes called maple cream and maple spread in various parts of Canada.
Maple coffee and maple tea. Maple coffee and maple tea, though not necessarily manufactured purely out of maple, are popular products in Canada. Maple sap essence is used with to enhance the natural flavors of coffee and tea.
As ornaments, maple trees have proven beneficial for the tourism and agriculture industries. Their physical characteristics and overall beauty inspire leaf-watching activities in Japan, bonsai production, photography, horticulture, and many other activities.
Fresh Pizzas Made With Tender Loving Care And The Freshest Ingredients
Saturday, July 11th, 2009Pizza is one of the most popular foods in the world right now. And a lot of people believe that the best pizza must have the perfect crust. In fact, in a recent poll majority think that the most important part of the pizza is the crust. So what makes a perfect crust?
The best pizza crust must have the right combination of texture and flavor. The fundamental ingredients include water, yeast, flour, shortening, sugar and salt. Water plays an important part as it combines the other ingredients together into a perfect mixture. But the key to make sure you create the perfect crust is by choosing the right kind of flour. It certainly makes the simple ingredients so mouthwatering.
The best pizza dough should be smooth and stretchy but not too sticky, which results in a mouth-watering crust. If you want to add pleasing flavor, keeping the dough in the refrigerator might help or you can also add corn meal to give it a yellowish color. It should be kept fresh wrapped in a plastic bag in the coldest part of the fridge. Freezing the dough will prevent the yeast to ferment that could turn the taste into a bit like a beer.
For those who are conscious about their health, a whole-wheat pizza crust which has becoming more popular nowadays, is the best for you. But a healty and nutritious pizza at home is quite simple as well. You can control what ingredients goes in your pizza and you can also save money in the long run.
So which pizza crust is the most popular? According to statistics, thin crust is the preferred by the majority. Whatever the style is, the crust is definitely an important part of a good pizza.
Come and see us for the very best Home Delivery Pizza Mallorca
Preparing Fish – My Personal Tips
Friday, July 10th, 2009Are you looking for great fish recipes? One of the best ways to cook an oily fish, such as mackerel, is to use a cedar board. Make sure you clean and gut the fish, removing any scales. Brush the cedar board with a light coating of olive oil. Stuff the body cavity of the mackerel with herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves. An old trick in reducing oily fish is by adding half a lemon to the cavity of its body cavity. After placing the fish on the board, cook 30 minutes at 400 degrees in the oven, remove, cool two to five minutes, and then serve.
Not many people cook oily fish, because they don’t know about this fun and exciting way to spice it up. Check back often for more exciting fish recipes. My favorite way to make grilled fish is to baste it with a sauce made of soy sauce, garlic paste, ginger paste, and a small amount of ground cayenne. I place the fish in foil and grill the fish till it is browned. At the same time, I grilled onions, garlic, potatoes, as well as ripe mangoes.
I brown those and then serve the fish surrounded by the veggies and fruit with more of the ginger soy sauce on top. The kind of fish that you utilize is up to you but if you really want the vegetables and fruits to stand out I recommend that you use a milder kind. While cookong this grilled fish dish is easy and makes a person feel like a gourmet chef, the better choice would be the fish with the stronger robust taste. Serve this with a light, fruity white wine! My husband and several of his boating buddies have a fishing tournament every year.
They fish on Lake Erie and try to get perch and/or pickerel. They then count the fish, I;m not sure if the winner gets a prize, though. It might just be for bragging rights. Later on, they have a great big fish fry at someones house. The families of everyone involved are brought, and they bring side dishes. Then, some of the guys fire up their deep fryers and make deep fried fish and some onion rings and French fries, too. Fried fish taste great, but it may not be the best thing for most people to eat, in the middle of the summertime because of the heat.
Such a large quantity of beer may be too much for some people to handle. Not having an iron constitution myself, I opt for just a little piece of fried fish and just go crazy trying all the different side dishes!
How I Made Chicken Crockpot
Friday, July 10th, 2009We had a great time with a fun loving, jovial and witty friend who visited us from the United States after a long time We being pure vegetarians served him only pure vegetarian stuff for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In short, we made him eat everything vegetarian other than grass! One day, suddenly he had an urge to eat Chinese cuisine and we decided to go to a famous Chinese restaurant. There again, we ordered vegetarian food and our dear friend wanted to eat chicken.
He ordered something he liked from the menu which we did not know anything about. When the item came, he ate it with great relish (may be because we had subjected him to only vegetarian items for so many days). Then he ordered one more plate and polished it off in no time! The recipe was a trade secret, which the manager refused to give up when he asked for it. Then, after much coaxing, cajoling and promise of confidentiality, our guest elicited his asian chicken recipe. We vociferously warned him to try his recipe after he went back to United States!
For a painless, no hassle meal, crockpot chicken meals are definitely the way to go. Wake up in the morning, (brush your teeth first nobody likes stinky breath) place the desired seasonings and vegetables in the crockpot, add some chicken stock and a quartered chicken, and place the crockpot on the low setting. Let the slow cooking magic of the crockpot take over. By the time you return home from work, a glorious smell will be permeating through the entire house. After working hard all day and coming home exhausted and hungry, dinner will be quick and easy if you use a crockpot chicken recipe.
Guaranteed, the chicken inside of the pot will not be dry. It will be so soft and moist, that it will be quite literally falling off of the bones. A big advantage of a crockpot is it cooks a lot of food at once, and a large family can eat the leftovers for days. Consequently, crockpot chicken recipes are good for anybody with a large family. Since I grew up in New York I didn’t eat much Mexican food but I made up for it on my first vacation to California. That was when I was in my mid-20s. I became enamored with the genuine traditional flavor of rice and beans, burritos, tacos, and many other classic dishes.
I knew that I wanted to learn to make all of this wonderful Mexican food when I returned home. The only issue I have with the food was the fact that most was made with pork or beef and I don’t really like either. So in addition to collecting recipes for rice and bean dishes, I set out to find at least one mexican chicken recipe that I could learn to prepared in the traditional way once I returned to the big city. It was easier than I thought, since almost any recipe that is made with pork or beef can be made with chicken or even with vegetables.
I have now been making Mexican dishes for many years, and my absolute favorite is chicken enchiladas with a jalapen sause that is very creamy. Its wonderful, and whenever I serve it to family and friend, they always want the recipe. So if you should ever find yourself at my house for dinner, you can be assured that this recipe is on the menu!
Municipal Water Treatment and Processing of Surface Water
Friday, July 10th, 2009Early on in its existence, no one had to think about treating America’s wastewater. Left to nature’s care, the purification process occurred slowly but surely. However, now that the population has grown by leaps and bounds and more contaminants are being pumped into the water supply, actions need to be taken in order to assist with nature’s cleaning process. The Clean Water Act of 1972 was enacted to be used as a foundation for maintaining the nation’s most critical resource, clean water. Municipal water treatment has become a part of our daily lives.
Up until the mid twentieth century, the nation’s waterways in highly-populated areas were loaded with pollutants, but no one was overly concerned about it. In today’s world, however, we not only understand that clean drinking water is a precious commodity but also that clean water is crucial to maintaining the ecosystems of our world and vital in maintaining national health. Cities, then, have became responsible for taking the steps necessary to disinfect the wastewater generated in their community and eliminating unhealthy pollutants. Municipal water treatment plants were built to handle the issue of filtering the water and making it clean enough for drinking again.
Different types of filtration have been tested with varying amounts of success. Back in 1892, there were only 27 American cities that supplied wastewater treatment for their citizens. Now we have more 16,000 water treatment facilities located throughout the country. Municipal water treatment systems are initiated when wastewater flows into the treatment plant where it passes through screens of differing densities. Some screens with holes about ?” square eradicate large contaminants from the water, while screens with finer mesh remove even extremely small particulates.
Ion-exchange resins are often indispensable in the water purification process. These are made up of insoluble beads with a surface punctured highly-structured pores in which ions are easily trapped and let go. Ion-exchange resins are incorporated successfully to eliminate poisons and heavy metals from water. Sometimes the resins are mixed with an activated-charcoal filter which has the capabilities to remove organic contaminants from water.
The filtration modes used by municipal water treatment plants are complex. After all, wastewater can be loaded with microorganisms or pathogens that trigger human diseases. Therefore, the processes used to sanitize the water are all important in the lives of everyone.
In America, there have been several types of filtration with varying amounts of success dating back tp 1892. Today, we have modern Municipal water treatment systems that ensure our water will be free from parasites and other toxic organisms that could pose a hazard to our health and well being.
Some Tips For Preparing Chicken With Chili
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009There is not contest, without a doubt the best appliance for saving time is the slow cooker/crockpot; I don’t know who thought of the idea, but it was a good one! This is simply the simplest meal to prepare: toss all the essential ingredients in a pot, and keep it at a slow simmer all day. Thats when you come home from work to a delicious, fragrant, hot meal. And you didnt even have to slave over the stove, even though it may taste like a gourmet dinner. Although the crockpot does a great job with any meat, I think my favorite food to cook is chicken.
The flavors will soak into the chicken from the seasoning you use so it is a great start for any meal. Because Im so enthusiastic about poultry, my mother got me a book of chicken crockpot recipes that is filled with over 500 different variations on slow cooker chicken. I am especially fond of combining pineapple with chicken for a wonderful sweet and exotic flavor. You will never run out of chicken and pineapple recipes, since there are over 40 recipes in this crockpot chicken book.
Tonight Im making teriyaki chicken with pineapple citrus glaze. Yum! If you love chili but are trying to stay away from beef, because its higher in fat and cholesterol, you may want to consider trying a recipe for chicken chili. The first time I heard of chicken chili, I thought it probably must taste awful. You can make your chili mild or spicy with the same amount of heat and perfect seasoning whether you use the traditional beef recipe or try it with chicken. My favorite chicken chili recipe turns out to be a white chili, meaning that it uses fresh yellow tomatoes, shredded chicken, chili peppers, onions, and canned white beans, plus the usual seasonings and spices that give it a smoky and rich flavor.
The only ingredient that may be difficult to find are the yellow tomatoes, since they are not always in season. You can use a rotisserie chicken to save time, or roast your own. Just make sure you simmer everything in a large pot for several hours until the chicken is tender and the flavors meld together. Once you try this chicken chili recipe, you wont want to go back to beef again! Some baked chicken breast recipe can be the main dish of a wonderful and healthy meal. By buying the boneless and skinless chicken breasts in frozen bags, you can thaw only the amount you will need for your meal.
This is often the least expensive way to purchase chicken for your family. If you like variety, baked chicken breast can be seasoned in many different ways to avoid monotony. You can season the chicken breast with pre-made marinades, homemade marinades, or dry seasonings. If you choose to use marinades you can thaw chicken the night before and place it in a freezer bag with the marinade of your choice and it will be ready to go when you are ready to cook your dinner.
You can also season your chicken with dry seasonings like garlic or onion powder. If you mix onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder and cumin and use this mix to season a chicken breast, you will have a southwestern type dish. Sprinkle this mixture on both sides of your chicken breasts and bake.