It's All About Maple

Maple Walnut Brownies

I admit it, extra maple glaze drizzled on my piece.  I just didn't
want to throw the last little bit away.  Shhhh

Maple brownie, maple tea and read a wonderful book that our dear
friends gave us,  People Who Live at the End of Dirt Roads.
 It hits home for us.

Friends are great, near and far.  An "over the hill"  friend posted a recipe for these Maple Brownies on my homepage.  I have a feeling from all the talk of my love for Maple Syrup he knew I would try this.  Which I did and it is now filed away for the cookbook.  The brownies are delicious, not an over sweet brownie but bursting with maple flavor.  The maple glaze adds just enough sweetness.  If you don't like walnuts leave them out.  We prefer the extra crunch they add to a brownie.  So if you are looking for a quick desert this is it.  I bet a big scoop of Maple Walnut Ice Cream and maybe an extra drizzle of Maple Syrup on top would make this a winner for that extra "wow".  The recipe is from the King Arthur Flour site:  I like to share what I make so I doubled the recipe, it turned out fine. 

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups (5 1/4 ounces) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 cup (5 5/8 ounces) brown sugar
1/3 cup (3 1/4 ounces) maple syrup
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon maple flavor
1/2 cup maple Flav-R-Bites®, optional (never heard of them, left out)
3/4 cup (3 ounces) chopped walnuts

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8" square pan.  I used a 9 x 11 cake pan.

Whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder; set aside. Melt the butter and brown sugar together in the microwave or over a burner; remove from the heat and stir in the syrup. Allow the mixture to cool to lukewarm. Stir in the eggs one at a time, then the maple flavor. Stir in the dry ingredients, and finally the Flav-R-Bites and walnuts.

Pour into the prepared pan, and bake for 25 minutes, just until the edges pull away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the oven, and cool before cutting and glazing. Yield: sixteen 2" brownies.

Maple Glaze

1 cup (4 ounces) glazing sugar or confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 to 2 tablespoons milk or cream

Whisk everything together, adding more liquid if necessary to make a pourable glaze

Today was all about reading a good book which is my second go around for it.  I like the book that much, it reflects so much of how I grew up and how I feel and think now as I go down the road looking at memories from my past.  It's nice to see other people think as I do, guess there are more wandering minds in this great big country we live in, even in the world.  I have three FB friends that are from Norway, France and Euphratis.  What do we all have in common?  We are housewives, love to cook, the outdoors and of course knit and crochet.  That is how we met on line, posting of recent projects.  One thing led to another and we go back and fourth about the weather, projects or about our life and what is going on in our countries.  I know for sure, we are the same for the love of life.  So often we think of people in other countries different than we are, in my case we are all quite alike.  I would love to meet them personally to see how they live and the beauty of their countries, maybe learn a few of their knitting and crocheting techniques.  With the world in evil times, especially Americans traveling it will not happen.  I will be satisfied with enjoying their pictures and posts. 

Today is boiled dinner day, the last of the season.  We woke up to a light snow on the ground, March 6th.  The week is predicted to be in the 50s and 60s, bring on the change of our eating pattern.  Every change brings excitement for the foods we love.  The forever maple season, wild leeks, trout season and of course asparagus from the garden.  Maple is already in full swing with local producers offering all you can eat pancake breakfast on the weekends.  Last year we went to Hamiltons on Collins Hill in Ulysses.  It was a great breakfast that they also gave samples of their maple products.  Very nice, clean and friendly place.  This is where I buy my maple tea, a product of Canada.  Wild leeks will soon be showing their green, maybe within two weeks.  Then we will be having our "Spring Tonic" as Vernie Howard use to call it.  Vernie was Virg Howards dad.  Let's see how many of Vernie's kids I can name.....Virg, Vince, Hank, Joe, Ella, Aola, Jackie and Yvonne.  If there are more I didn't know them.  When I was 16 and just bought my 90 Bridgestone motorcycle Hank (he was about 32) jumped on the back and said take me for a ride!  Now this guy was well over 6', broad shouldered, good looking and.....drunk!  What a sight, his arms flailing as he was singing as loud as he could.  I was so lucky, made it down Honeoye St, up Academy and literally dropped him off at his dads.  Looking back I feel I was pretty darn good balancing that bike and keeping it upright with Hank on the back.  Good times and this memory just jumped into my thoughts from leeks, spring tonic to Hank Howard, now that is a trip of the memory!

Take time, do the unusual, enjoy the ride and always "pass it on".