What's In YOUR Maple Syrup?

Photo of me coveting one of Mama Maple's leaves last fall.

Here's what's in my Log Cabin Original Syrup:

~Corn syrup
~High fructose corn syrup
~Water
~Contains 2% or Less of: Salt, Natural and Artificial Maple Flavor, Cellulose Gum, Preservatives (Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate), Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Caramel Color, Mono and Diglycerides.

Yum. I love that the brand website shares this little factoid: "There is a good chance our grandfather’s grandfather grew up using Log Cabin syrup." Not THIS Log Cabin syrup, pal!

So now, of course, my mind has turned once again to tapping our two maple trees. Last winter, I verified that Mama Maple and Sister Maple were indeed tap-worthy species (shhhh... don't tell them I didn't know!), but as is my way, I hmmed and hawed about actually doing the tapping. I didn't have the equipment, I wasn't sure what I was doing, I'd really rather see a demonstration before I go tearing into my two beautiful tree companions, we don't use maple syrup all that often anyway, the neighbor spawn--er, kids-- will wreak havoc on my little operation, etc. The excuses are neverending. Will I take the plunge this year and go a-tappin'? Only time will tell.

Now I'm off to do some more research. ;)

Got Crisco?

The Husband and I have a running argument--er, debate--going on which is better: Crisco or lard? Can you guess which I prefer...? Hint: It ain't the Crisco!

Regardless of the fact that I'm the one that does 99% of the cooking around here, The Husband does do some cooking for himself, so we somehow managed to obtain one of those big blue cans of Crisco. *sigh* Since it's there, I have to use it for something, right? And I'll be damned if I'm gonna cook with it! So, Sleepytime Balm it is. Only, I don't like that recipe. LOL Doesn't it seem that orange essential oil would be stimulating rather than relaxing? Instead, I used:

1/4 cup of room temperature Crisco
10 drops Chamomile essential oil
2 drops St. Johns Wort

We've missed A LOT of sleep around here lately with all the coughing and sickness nightmares, so we put this balm right to work...

Shhhhh...