UpCountry sugarhouses share favorite maple recipes

MAPLE BAKED BEANS

Recipe courtesy of Harlow’s Sugar House

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds yellow eye or soldier beans, dried
• ½ pound salt pork or bacon
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons dry mustard
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ¾ cup maple syrup, Grade A: Dark Color/Robust Taste or Grade A; Very Dark/Strong Taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Place the beans in a bowl and cover with cold water. Cover the bowl and allow the beans to soak overnight.
2. The next day, drain the beans and rinse thoroughly. Put the beans in a stockpot or Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring the beans to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the husks curl when you blow on them. Drain the beans in a colander and rinse with hot water.
3. Preheat oven to 325 to 350 F.
4. Place beans back in the Dutch oven and place salt pork on top of the beans. In a bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients. Pour mixture over the beans, along with a ½ pint of boiling water. Cover. Bake for 5 to 6 hours, adding water and additional maple syrup (for desired flavor) as needed.

AWESOME APPLE MAPLE PIE

Courtesy of Ioka Valley Farm

INGREDIENTS

Pastry:

• 2 ½ cups flour
• 2 sticks (1 cup) butter
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Alternative: Use 2 ready-made pie crusts.

Filling:

• 8 cups tart apples, peeled and sliced
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup maple sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
• ¼ cup whipping cream

Over crust:

• 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
2. Make pastry or prepare ready-made pie crust. Place 1 pie crust in an ungreased, 9-inch glass pie plate. Mix filling ingredients together, except for whipping cream, and spoon into bottom crust. Dot with butter pieces. Pour whipping cream over apple mixture. Add top crust, brush with milk and sprinkle with maple sugar. Bake for 65 to 75 minutes.

ROB’S MAPLE LEMONADE

Courtesy of Ioka Valley Farm

Experiment with different maple syrup grades to achieve desired maple flavor.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup maple syrup, Grade A: Amber Color/Rich Taste
• 1 cup real lemon juice
• 6 cups of water

DIRECTIONS

In a pitcher, stir together ingredients. Chill before serving.

MAPLE CHEESECAKE

Courtesy of Ioka Valley Farm

INGREDIENTS

• One 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 8 ounces whipped topping
• ½ cup maple sugar
• 1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust

DIRECTIONS

Mix all the ingredients together and pour into the pie crust. Chill overnight.
Sprinkle with additional maple sugar before serving.