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…

Print

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.

Hi friends, it’s just a few days before Christmas now. Chances are you have some last minute shopping and gifts to buy or make. I’m spending my morning putting together just a few more Gourmet Edible Gifts for Christmas presents and gift baskets. Hoping to pass on a little inspiration.

One of my all time favorite Gourmet Edible Gifts to make and give is Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup. It takes just 5 minutes to put together and is loved by all. (I just capped seven bottles this morning.) Being a New England girl, I rode around on a trailer behind a tractor on our property in Rhode Island, emptying sap buckets when I was a kid. I’ll never forget the amazing memories, mesmerized as the sap boiled down into syrup at Mr. Peck’s sugar house next door. I didn’t discover Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup until I was an adult though. This stuff is golden! A coveted gift with just three ingredients: pure maple syrup, vanilla bean paste and vanilla pods. Tastes divine on waffles, pancakes and ice cream. Or by the spoonful.

Lime Sugared Cranberries  are a delicious addition to any gift basket and one of the best Gourmet Edible Gifts. Simultaneously sweet and tart, these little ruby gems are so sparkly and pretty. Perfect in mixed drinks, as cheesecake or cupcake toppers and for snacking. You’ll be surprised how easy they are to make. Soak the cranberries in hot simple syrup then roll in lime sugar. Delectable!

One last Gourmet Edible Gifts idea that barely takes any hands on time and yields two pounds of addictive snacking is Sugared Pecans. Pecans halves are coated with sugar and spices, then roasted in the oven on low heat for an hour and a half. These spiced nuts are a hit with all ages and I literally have to hide them at my house so they make it into gift baskets and stockings!

These delicious treats are guaranteed to please everyone on your list. Would love to hear if you make any of these Gourmet Edible Gifts!

You may also like: Best DIY Edible Christmas Gifts

The post Gourmet Edible Gifts appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

Back in 2001 when we still lived in the south, my little nine month old baby Jacob and I boarded a plane, Chicago bound.

We headed north for a long weekend to visit my cousin. Made great memories, also some delicious ones.

On Saturday morning, we went out to Walker’s Bros. The Original Pancake House for brunch, enjoyed their famous one of a kind apple pancake. It was to die for, we were all raving about it. My cousin told me she had a wonderful recipe for Apple Puff , similar to the apple pancake we inhaled at Walker’s. She sent us the recipe and we’ve made it regularly ever since.

Melt butter in the preheating oven, then sizzle apple slices in the butter. Then pour the batter (mixed in the blender) over all. Sprinkle with brown sugar and bake for twenty minutes.

Such a beautiful apple pancake, it puffs up big and thick. Dramatically curls up at the corners, chock full of cinnamony apples. Has a crunchy, crackly brown sugar glaze.

So now that little nine month old is fourteen, nearly a foot taller than me. My how things change. And yet some things don’t. Because we’re still making this great recipe several times monthly. Perfect for breakfast or brunch, even a yummy dinner paired with bacon and fruit. This Apple Puff recipe makes a full 9 X 13″ panful, feeds our family of six.

Serve Apple Puff  by the spoonful, with pure maple syrup drizzled on top. Or for an extra special treat, Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup.

Print

Apple Puff

Apple Puff cooks up big and thick, chock full of cinnamony apples. Crackly brown sugar glaze on top. Serve with pure maple syrup. Makes a 9 X 13" panful.

Course Breakfast/Brunch

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Allie Taylor

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 large granny smith apples peeled and thinly sliced
• 8 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup flour
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar

Instructions

• Melt butter in 9 X 13" baking pan in the preheating 425 degree oven.
• Once butter is melted and sizzling, carefully add apple slices, stirring to coat with butter.
• Let butter and apples fry in the oven for about five minutes.
• Separately, blend all remaining ingredients (except brown sugar) in the blender.
• Pour over sizzling apples.
• Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the top.
• Bake for twenty minutes in 425 degree oven, or 'til golden brown and puffed.
• Serve immediately with pure maple syrup.

You may also enjoy: Cheesy Artichoke Oven Omelet

The post Apple Puff appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

So, a question for you. When does the Christmas season officially start? I mean, for you. Because it all starts at a different point for each of us. Is it an event? A favorite recipe? Getting the Christmas tree? I’m just curious what makes it “officially” Christmas for you.

Thought I’d take a couple minutes to share A Few of My Favorite Things from last week. (I hear you loud and clear Julie Andrews. Pipe down. No raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens. Not today.)

I’ve really enjoyed working on Christmas “projects” this week – Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup especially. If you want to try your hand at it, you’ll have just enough time for it to “cure” before Christmas. (If you don’t dilly-dally.) http://throughherlookingglass.com/?p=1156

Had fun playing with this Christmas tree wax seal for the attached gift cards. Love how this seal turned out. It would make a beautiful seal for Christmas cards too. You’ll find this wax seal and many other beautiful ones on Amazon.com. (You’ll need sealing wax too.)  http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Tree-Seal-Stamp-Sealing/dp/B00A3NXBF0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418591926&sr=8-1&keywords=christmas+tree+wax+seal

I loaned my beloved An Orange for Frankie book to a friend last week . She returned it to my porch, with the above. Wow! So gorgeous. Love it! Still haven’t heard the story of where it came from. And exactly what it is. Looks like a pear shaped lemorange to me. (Fill us in, Jen. I’m dying to know.)

Went out to the mailbox and found this beautiful box on the porch. (My porch has been an exciting place this week!)

Take a peek inside. What a gorgeous gift from our neighbors! 

Check out the amazing apples. I now have more compassion for Eve. I could never have resisted these either.

And the pears! Aren’t they lovely? If they last, we’ll have them with Christmas breakfast. One for each of us.  (Thank you, generous friends.)

If you’re still looking for a last minute gift to order for someone special, a gift box from Harry & David is such a special treat to receive. (I know.)  http://www.harryanddavid.com Their presentation is always beautiful.

A dear friend I hadn’t connected with for several years came to tea. And brought this Harney & Sons White Christmas Tea with her. We had a cup and caught up. The tea was absolutely wonderful, the company even better.

Each year I participate in a handmade ornament exchange. It’s always the first week in December. There are several ornament exchange circles going on simultaneously. These are the fun ornaments I received. (How ’bout that peacock?)

Here’s the ornament I gave out. Easy instructions here: http://throughherlookingglass.com/?p=1856

The ornament exchange is just one facet of a fundraiser benefit for New Life Home, a local faith-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation program for women and their children. A group of us meet together in a local home for appetizers, the ornament exchange and to collect anonymous monetary donations for New Life. Then we caravan a few minutes away to New Life Home and throw a Christmas party (desserts and coffee) for the staff and residents. They in turn share individual stories with us about how their lives are changing for the better. And that’s the moment when my Christmas season officially begins: when I hear the inspiring stories of hope, faith and change from courageous women at New Life Home each year. (So much generous participation, we were able to raise $1250 this year.) What a great evening. http://www.newlifehome.org

After the New Life party, I came home to find a box on the kitchen counter from my cousin. (Someone must have toted it in from that magical porch.) She sent us homemade Christmas treats. Also this box of  junket! Ha! I got such a kick out of this. You know why if you read my Junket Is Nice post.  http://throughherlookingglass.com/?p=543   I talk big, but I still haven’t made or tasted junket. But that’s all about to change, thanks to you, cousin.

So these are just A Few of My Favorite Things so far this Christmas season. How ’bout you? What are your favorite Christmas things? And when does your Christmas season officially start?

Inquiring minds want to know. Please share below!

(I know, a poet.)

The post A Few of My Favorite Things appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

Hello friends, and happy weekend! Hope you’re out tooling about, enjoying fun Christmas activities today. Exciting things are going down at Through Her Looking Glass this weekend!

Several years ago, on a frosty December morning, I came down and discovered this sweet scene…

So we’re having a fun Christmas Photo Caption Contest  for the above picture, complete with an awesome prize pictured below:

Christmas gift package from Through Her Looking Glass:

• Yarnball Christmas Ornament    http://throughherlookingglass.com/?p=1530
•  “An Orange for Frankie” by Patricia Polacco  http://throughherlookingglass.com/?p=1677
• Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup    http://throughherlookingglass.com/?p=1156
• Homegrown Mint Extract
• 2 Christmas DIY Bookmarks   http://throughherlookingglass.com/?p=1133

CHRISTMAS PHOTO CAPTION CONTEST Rules:

(Yup. We got rules. Just like “Always (!) Follow the Rules”. Did you miss that funny post? Click here…  http://throughherlookingglass.com/?p=1076 )

• The Christmas Photo Caption Contest runs from the publish of this post, Saturday, December 6th until Sunday, December 7th, 2014 at midnight. Entries after Sunday night midnight don’t count.
• You may enter twice per person. (Additional entries after the second don’t count.)
• My hubby Jon will be the impartial judge. He’ll judge all entries, but won’t know who authored them.
• A winner will be announced on Monday, December 8th, 2014 on the Through Her Looking Glass blog post. Also on Facebook. The winner will also be notified by e-mail.
• My immediate family (my five guys) may submit entries, but are disqualified from winning the prize. (Sorry guys, I’ll bake you a cake or something. Or peppermint bark?)
• Other relatives can participate. (Why should you be penalized just ‘cuz you got stuck in my gene pool?)
• The only entries that count are comments listed here underneath this post, in the order they are received. (Facebook comments, e-mails and Tweets don’t count.)
• Don’t be grinchy, share the fun! Let your friends and family join in on this Christmas Photo Caption Contest. Share this on e-mail, FaceBook, Twitter and Pinterest. Get in the Christmas spirit, the more the “merrier”!

Can’t wait to see your clever captions! AND GOOD LUCK!!!

Update:

Many thanks to all who took time to think of so many fun, creative captions for the Christmas Photo Caption Contest this past weekend, December 6-7, 2014.  It was so entertaining to see your entries come in.

Big congratulations to Linda (pictured with husband Jack) for her winning entry:  “I’ll just close my eyes for a minute…”  

The post Christmas Photo Caption Contest appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.