Following is a wonderful, easy recipe for Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup. It’s a great treat for breakfast and brunch or makes a gourmet gift. (If you can part with it.) Keep in mind it takes two weeks to “cure”, so now’s the perfect time to make a few bottles for holiday gifts!My Mainer grandfather knew a good thing. Most nights after dinner he treated himself to a large bowl of vanilla bean ice cream doused in a river of pure maple syrup. Other nights he poured himself a bowl of maple syrup, slurped it straight up, spoonful by golden spoonful. Like I said, he knew a good thing.

Last spring I tasted Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup for the first time at the Cabot Cheese store near where I was staying in Smuggler’s Notch, Vermont.

I know a good thing too. Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup is out of this world, seriously the best thing I’ve ever tasted. I took a taste from the tiny spoon at the sampling counter. And then another. And yes, another. I had to stop. I knew it was unethical to down an entire sample bottle. I might get arrested and carted off to jail. That day I bought a precious bottle of Butternut Mountain Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup. My boys and I finished it off in mere days.

So I did a little experimenting and I’m SO excited to share this recipe with you! You’re gonna love it. It’s simple to make with guaranteed great results. I gifted it for Christmas last year, birthday gifts too. If you like the syrup flasks I used, here’s the best deal I found ordering in bulk on-line:  Container and Packaging (They sell the screw-on caps separately, don’t forget to buy those too.)

I bought four gallons of pure Vermont maple syrup from Collins Tree Farm and Sugarhouse in Putney, Vermont. Martin and Jean Collins couldn’t have been more accommodating and gracious, gave me excellent service, shipped it straight to my door. I love supporting local family businesses.

Yeah, so I made lots of  Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup last year! Lots of happy campers on Christmas morning…

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Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup

Simple recipe, Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup is wonderful on everything from ice-cream to pancakes. But mostly, straight from the spoon. Warning: highly addictive.

Course Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Allie Taylor

Ingredients

• 8 oz. pure maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
• 1 vanilla bean pod

Instructions

• Slit the vanilla bean lengthwise.
• Place vanilla bean in a sterilized 8 or 8.5 oz. jar or flask.
• Bring the syrup to a near boil.
• Gently stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste.
• Using a funnel, carefully pour the hot syrup over the vanilla bean into the jar.
• Screw on the cap, then cool.
• Refrigerate for two weeks 'til ready.
• ENJOY!!!
• (Keep refrigerated.)

Notes

I made four gallons of vanilla bean maple syrup. Initially, I refrigerated it for two weeks, then moved it to the chest freezer to pull out individually for Christmas gifts.

Did you know? Maple syrup doesn't freeze solid. (It's the high sugar content.)

I bought excellent quality Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans from Amazon.

And isn’t this the cutest little maple syrup bird house ever?  Eighty-three year old Vermonter Bob Gelineau of Stone Soup Creations created this unique and genuine “Vermont Birdhouse” by using  boards from a 19th century barn. The roof is a sap bucket cover and the perch, a spout used to harvest maple sap in the Vermont Maple sugaring tradition. I recently found this little bird house at a lovely boutique Country on the Common  in Chester, Vermont.

Do let me know if you make this awesome Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup and tell me how you like it!

Related Post: Cheese and Maple Syrup sampling at Sugarbush Farm in Woodstock, VT

The post How to Make Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

This silly “conservation” soap, manufactured in Cranston, RI is sure to bring a smile and can be found at The Vermont Country Store.  http://www.vermontcountrystore.com  I found it in the store but not on-line, FYI. (I don’t suggest gifting this soap cavalierly!)

It’s far more bless-ed (fun!) to give than receive. We all know that. I’ve been having fun planning my gifting for Christmas. It’s not necessarily the what or the dollar amount, but the thought behind the giving that brings me joy.

This week I’m thinking about stocking stuffers and creating The Sophisticated Christmas Stocking. So let’s up the ante a little. Not in dollars, but in joyful, thoughtful giving. Yes, let’s up the “thoughtfulness” ante. Here are some ideas:

How about a little mousie cheese board and spreader from New Hampshire Bowl and Board?  www.newhampshirebowlandboard.com  (I found this one at 103 Artisans Marketplace in Chester, Vermont  www.103artisanmarketplace.com )

You’ll need  some gourmet Vermont cheese for the board. Check out Cobb Hill. I liked the Ascutney Mountain.  cobbhillcheese.com/buy-cheese  Or choose something extra special from Cabot Cheese.  http://www.cabotcheese.coop/pages/our_products/  I love Cabot’s Artisan Reserve Cheese. http://www.cabotcheese.coop/artisan-reserve-cheddar  A stick of hard salami would be a great addition to The Sophisticated Christmas Stocking!

How about a personalized coupon date book for your sweetheart from www.datevitation.com? They give you over five hundred ideas and make it easy for you to design online.

This mason jar soap dispenser turns an ordinary mason jar into a soap dispenser. Cute for the kitchen or bathroom. I found this at the Vermont Country Store. http://www.vermontcountrystore.com

How about a set of specialty extracts for The Sophisticated Christmas Stocking? I got these at King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont. I use the Maple Flavor for Maple Walnut Biscotti. The Fiori Di Sicilia flavors cakes and muffins. I’ve used the Eggnog Flavor in sugar cookies. You’ll find a huge assortment of high quality flavorings and extracts at http://search.kingarthurflour.com/search?w=extracts%20and%20flavoring&af=type:products

I loved this book Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of Charles Lindbergh. It will make you think, in a good way. Anne was amazing: a gifted author, wife and mother. She was a thinker.  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_14?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=gifts+from+the+sea+by+anne+morrow+lindbergh&sprefix=gifts+from+the%2Cstripbooks%2C236

I devoured the above insightful book in about three hours on a flight to California last summer. Check it out here. http://www.amazon.com/Essentialism-Disciplined-Pursuit-Greg-McKeown/dp/0804137382/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418266528&sr=1-1&keywords=essentialism+the+disciplined+pursuit+of+less&pebp=1418266531516

Not all spices are created equal. A friend gave me this set for my birthday last year. WOW! She’s a great gift giver, and I love these. The Vietnamese cinnamon is wonderful. Penzeys is known for their high quality spices and mixes. https://www.penzeys.com  Penzeys Spices is located in Arlington, Massachusetts.

I just discovered this wonderful hand and body scrub locally at Arcadya Salon & Spa. This month’s specialty is Ginger and Vanilla, made of European Dead Sea Salts and natural oils. Arcadya actually makes it! It smells so incredible you’ll want to eat it from the jar with a spoon. (Don’t.) This is a rare treat, and the same product used for the pampering treatments at Arcadya Spa. Message my friend Joni for more information or to order.  www.ArcadyaSalon.com

You could make some homemade Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup. That would be a very welcome gift. Directions here: http://throughherlookingglass.com/?p=1156

You can buy this rich nourishing cream at the Moon Dog Cafe in Chester, Vermont. You can also get it at Amazon.com.  http://www.amazon.com/Naturally-European-GINGER-Luxury-Butter/dp/B004JEV2GE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416949776&sr=8-3&keywords=ginger+%26+lime+luxury+cream  

How about a nice garlic press?  Check out this one: http://www.amazon.com/Prepworks-Progressive-International-GIGP-93-Non-Stick/dp/B0000DZ10V/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1418267296&sr=8-8&keywords=garlic+press 

A funky roll of duck tape would be nice. Everyone needs duck tape. I got mine locally at Five Below. http://www.fivebelow.com

A favorite cocktail or martini recipe attached to a shot would be nice. (Or a couple coupons redeemable for different bottles of international beer you’ve previously stashed in the fridge.)

Give a “coupon” for a homemade pizza date night “in”. Attach it to this great Pizza Dough Flavor from King Arthur Flour. The cheeses and spices make homemade pizza dough extra special. http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/pizza-dough-flavor-4-oz-jar

A few more ideas:

• A  delicious bottle of wine mead from www.Artesanomead.com in Groton, Vermont.  “Located in beautiful Groton, Vermont, Artesano produces high quality, hand crafted meads from local Vermont honey and fruit. Small batch sizes and attention to detail transform one of nature’s sweetest gifts to a fine wine that can be enjoyed throughout the year.”
• Carwash coupon book
• Gourmet coffee and tea
• Starbucks giftcard
• Movie tickets
• Homemade treats – peppermint bark, sugared pecans, jams and jellies
• Nuts and fruit

Have fun spoiling the wonderful people in your life this Christmas. Hope this list was helpful. Please comment below and share your stocking stuffer ideas with the rest of us!

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My cousin first told me about the treasure of Simon Pearce Glass in Quechee, VT several years ago. Funny, since she’s in Chicago and I live here in New England. Simon Pearce is known worldwide for his artistic glass blown pieces and designs.

The gristmill was operational here in Quechee beginning in 1778. Over the next few hundred years it changed hands two dozen times, with almost a hundred owners/partners along the way.

In 1981 Simon Pearce and his wife Pia bought the gristmill and transformed it into the gorgeous property we see here today.

I fell in love with the imposing side entrance doors.

Look skyward and feast your eyes on the blown glass pendant lighting. Bonus: great exposed beams and ductwork.

Today glassblowing takes place in the basement.

This is one fiery hot kiln. Simon Pearce employs nearly fifty glassblowers.

Antique glassblowing molds.

It won’t be long ’til this molten glass will be sparkling on the showroom shelf. It’s amazing to watch a glassblower create a masterpiece from start to finish.

Just off the glassblowing area, there’s an outdoor viewing deck of the dam and covered bridge.

There are classic, elegant touches everywhere at Simon Pearce.

Here’s a gorgeous finished glass on the second floor showroom, along with glass ice cubes. There are many exquisite pieces besides drinking glasses for sale. You’ll find pitchers, decorative bowls, platters, and any kind of wine goblet or cocktail glass you can imagine.

Enough handblown glasses for you? Sparkle and warm wood tones, every direction you look.

If you love carved wooden bowls and accessories, these are the smoothest you’ll find anywhere. (Love that exposed brick and hardwood floor. This showroom is absolutely stunning.)

What a sparkling presentation!

The second floor also houses the award winning Simon Pearce Restaurant. The Restaurant overlooks the dam and covered bridge, and is known across the region for its creative menu and award winning chefs. I’ve had the creamy Vermont Cheddar Soup with Cabot cheddar cheese (http://cabotcheese.coop).  A+++. The Restaurant is an incredible experience and worth the trip. The wine list is extensive.

Simon Pearce Restaurant is the perfect place to celebrate a milestone birthday, anniversary or special occasion.

I took a dear friend (and her sister) for her 80th birthday last spring and we had a fabulous experience all around.

So after my cousin filled me in about Simon Pearce, I did a little research on my own and was personally surprised by what I found. The Pearces have four boys. Like we do. They have a son with Down syndrome. Like we do. They have a son who suffered a traumatic brain injury. Like we do. I was overwhelmed with the similarities.

Several months later, I had the pleasure of connecting with Pia Pearce one evening at a fundraiser for a local agency that supports families with disabilities and special needs. The Pearce’s son Kevin (who suffered the traumatic brain injury) spoke about raising brain injury awareness through his social movement “Love Your Brain”. Check it out at www.kevinpearce.com

Here’s a short clip to fill you in on his story.

Kevin was recently featured in “Crash Reel”. This 2013 documentary was shown in theaters across the country. It recounts Kevin’s fall and rise following a traumatic brain injury while snowboard training for the Olympic trials in 2009.

The glassblowing, restaurant and showroom are all a one of a kind treat at Simon Pearce Glass. But it’s the intense family loyalty of the Pearce family and their huge hearts that captured mine. Be sure to visit if you get the chance, you won’t be disappointed.

http://www.simonpearce.com

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So last summer my boys and I stumble-tripped our way along windy Route 15 towards Cabot, VT. We were coming from my aunt and uncle’s lake cottage in lovely West Danville, VT. It was a cloudy day, but the scenery and mountain vistas were still breathtakingly beautiful.

We passed the most photographed scenic valley in Vermont on our left. It’s directly across the road from Al May’s house.

Who is Al May? Why he was the wonderful Man with the Derby Hat, an auctioneer in Cabot for nearly fifty years. Talk about a character! The stories he could tell.

I’ll have to fill you in more another day. Sadly he’s no longer with us, but he’s pictured above with his dear wife Velma. Jon and I visited Mr. May and his barn when we honeymooned in VT in the summer of ’93. I use the term visit loosely.

We picked through the floor-to-ceiling pile of for-sale antiques (and random junk!) in the ramshackle barn overflowing with leftover treasures from his auctioneer days. But that’s a story for another day. (I will say, I’m so glad we had our ’84 pick-up truck along!) We continued east on VT 215, rounded a few more bends and landed in Cabot.

  Just one more left turn and we arrived at Cabot Creamery.

We saw this in the parking lot. (Vermonters take their snow-mobiling very seriously.)

We  toured the Creamery. It was big, impressive. (And we obediently kept our paws off the windows.)

We were amazed by the ingenuity and foresight of the  dairy farmers who banded together back in 1919 as a Cooperative Creamery to ensure the survival of their dairy community. (It worked! And how.)

There are  so many wonderful dairy products in the Cabot Creamery store. Our favorite is the Artisan Cheddar Cheese, packaged in red wax. (Not  pictured here.) We sampled. And sampled. (And sampled some more!)

And then it was time for dessert. Have you ever had one of these incredible Butternut Mountain Farm Maple Leaf Cookies? They are absolutely amazing. Even more so with a hot cup o’ joe. If you love maple syrup, these are the cookies for you.

And if you’ve been searching high and low for a pair of men’s hot pink moo-moo boxers, you can find them here! (None of my boys seemed interested.)

They also have a wonderful selection of organic honey products. Mmmmm.

Bar none, my favorite product in the store was the Vermont Maple Syrup with Vanilla Bean from Butternut Mountain Farm.  I took one taste, shut my eyes, opened them again. My feet were still firmly planted on earth. The essence of vanilla beans combined with maple syrup is heavenly. I loved it so much that I came home and researched bottling some myself. I’m very excited to share that simple recipe with you very soon. (Hint: it would make a great Christmas gift.)

We had such a wonderful visit to the Cabot Creamery. I hope you get to visit someday.  http://www.cabotcheese.coop

As a bonus, we found this cute little furry guy in the parking lot on our way out!

Do you have a wonderful Vermont memory? Please share in the comment section today! (Especially if you saw a moose!)

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