"national maple syrup day" news and stories

Happy National Maple Syrup Day!

The discovery of this breakfast staple can't be definitively pinpointed, but the practice of collecting sap was instilled as early as the 1650s by American Indians living along the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, who would barter them to settlers. One British chemist marveled at the commodity, describing a tree "whose juice weeps out of incisions and, if permitted to exhale, its superfluous moisture will congeal into a sweet and saccharine substance." Perfected by American Indians and French-Canadians alike, it became the default household sweetener in American homes until the start of the 20th century.

Most frequently used to adorn pancakes, waffles, and other sweet breakfast foods, maple syrup can be used on an endless variety of other foods, from desserts to meats. What's your unique use for maple syrup? Share your recipes in the comments!

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In honor of National Maple Syrup Day, we've decided to conduct a little experiment. In observing the above photo, do you feel somewhat ill-at-ease or alarmed at the dauntingly naked pancakes? Do you feel a strange urge to reach into the photo and pour syrup all over the painfully undressed cakes? If so, consider yourself a true maple syrup fan.

We can't get enough of the buttery-sweet nectar -- and no sweet-flavored brunch would be complete without it. But maple syrup is well enjoyed past the morning hours and we love the subtle sweetness it adds to any dish. In honor of National Maple Syrup Day, get creative with these suggested recipes:

• Smashed Spiced Sweet Potatoes
• Maple-Basted Delicata Squash
• Blueberry-Maple Caiprissimo Cocktail
• Turkey Fingers with Maple-Mustard Sauce
• Chicken with Black-Pepper Maple Sauce
• Carrot Cake with Maple-Cream-Cheese Icing
• Nutmeg-Maple Cream Pie

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Today is National Maple Syrup Day, and while it's common to pour maple syrup on breakfast foods such as pancakes and waffles, maybe we can do something a little bit different today.

You could make a Monte Cristo Sandwich, though the recipes I'm finding online don't have maple syrup listed in the ingredients. That's the way I've had them in the past, so maybe you can try it that way too. Having pasta tonight? Forget all about tomato sauce and put some maple syrup on it! Making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Maybe a dollop or two of maple syrup might make things interesting.

And then top it off with a cocktail made with maple syrup, The Misty Maple Leaf.