I will be at the "Simsbury Farmers Market" at Simsmore Square on Thursday, August 30th from 3p to 6p. The Theme This Week is: "Dog Days of Summer". Simsbury's Animal Control Officer will be there as well as other exhibits and info for your pets. Be sure to stop by the vendors to purchase some great, local farm fresh food for the family.
Make a point to say "hello" at my booth and pick up a copy of my favorite maple syrup recipes. Learn how to make maple sugar candy or cream. My husband Mike is letting me bring one of his maple spout collections - from a sample of what the Indians first used to gather sap to modern day spouts.
Mike was inducted in the Maple Hall of Fame this spring. He has been a “sugarmaker” for over 50 years, won numerous awards for his maple syrup and been president of the North American Maple Syrup Council. He also started the Maple Syrup Producers Association of CT. Connecticut happens to be hosting the annual international maple conference this October in Groton.
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He’s taught me so much about sugaring from how to use the hydrometer, listen for leaks in tubing, how to use a refractometer, how to install mainline and tubing in the woods and how to taste and grade syrup. I’ve picked up a lot of information from him over the years and now know just about every which way to use maple syrup in cooking.
Every November a group of family members gather to help package the holiday syrup orders in either Girard Maple Sugarhouse jugs or the fancy decorative bottles. A long, long day but full of memories.
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When you stop by my booth you’ll also meet some of my volunteers Jackie, Angela and Paul and meet my daughter, Gretchen. She'll be there around 5p.
And I'll be there to talk about my campaign for Simsbury's State Representative.
Should be a lot of fun...and educational.
