Sweet Treats

How was it discovered that by collecting the sap from a particular kind of tree, at a very particular time of year, that it could be turned into one of the sweetest treats of the land? Many legends abound about maple syrup production but it is indisputable that the aboriginal peoples brought this culinary delight to the settlers of Eastern Canada. Native people used it as a sweetener and medicine, and early settlers used it as a substitute for sugar.

You can learn more about how to harvest this sweet treat with books from the Muskoka Lakes Public Library. In the children’s picture book section, Sugarbush Spring by Marsha Wilson Chall, At Grandpa's Sugar Bush by Margaret Carney, and Maple Moon by Constance Brummel Crook all have beautiful pictures that will delight the young ones and adults alike. The Maple Syrup Book by Marilyn Linton traces the harvesting of maple syrup, from native legend to commercial enterprise. It is full of historical information, puzzles, riddles, science projects, maple syrup recipes, and more while A Day at the Sugarbush : Making Maple Syrup by Megan Faulkner is a photographic journey of class trip to the sugarbush.

Of course the famous pairing of pancakes and maple syrup is familiar to most everyone, but the distinct maple flavour also features in recipes from soups to salad dressings, meats to vegetables, desserts and drinks in cookbooks by Elaine Elliot and others found in the Dewey decimal 651.6 section of the library.

A reminder to all that enjoy coming to the library in Port Carling for story and craft time on Wednesday mornings that there will be no organized meeting on March 16 during the school break. The activity room will, however, be available during March break for children and parents to create together a make-and-take craft using a variety of craft materials that will be set out for use during regular library hours.