That maple syrup poured over pancakes at Canada Day breakfasts likely will have come from the maple trees of Quebec, the largest producer of Canadian maple syrup.
In 2020 Canada produced 80 per cent of the world’s maple syrup, representing 13.2 million gallons of pure maple syrup valued at $487 million.
And did you know that the leaf on the Canadian flag represents the country’s abundance of sugar maple trees.
This week’s recipes, from the Chatelaine Celebrate Canada Cookbook, feature a number of ways to use maple syrup in celebration of the July 1 Canada Day — but also tasty every day of the year.
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Maple French Toast Bake
- 6 thick crusty bread slices
- 6 eggs
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. salt
Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.
Pack the bread slices into the dish.
Whisk the eggs with the milk then stir in the maple syrup, cinnamon and salt.
Pour mixture over the bread.
Bake, uncovered until golden, about 20-30 minutes. Makes 6 servings. Serve with warmed maple or berry syrup or drizzle with icing sugar.
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Maple Salmon
- 2 salmon steaks, 1 inch thick
- 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 2-3 tbsps. maple syrup
- 2 tbsps. soy or teriyaki sauce
Mix mustard, maple syrup and soy or teriyaki sauce. Spoon half this mixture over the salmon steaks that have been placed on a foil-lined dish.
Bake, uncovered, at 450 degrees F for five minutes. Add remaining sauce and bake another 5 minutes. Do not over-bake.
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Canadian Maple Ribs
- 2/3-1 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 crushed garlic cloves
- 2 tbsps. lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp. hot pepper sauce
- 1-2 full racks of pork ribs
Mix all the ingredients except the ribs.
Place ribs in a baking dish. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and place ribs in oven to bake for 1-1 1/2 hours or until a fork inserted is able to pull a sample away from the bone. Ovens may vary so check often.
Drain off most of the fat and then brush both sides of the ribs with the sauce and bake for another 15 minutes. Be careful ribs don’t burn. Serve with rice or salad.
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Maple Coffee
- 1/2 cup strong coffee
- 2 tbsps. maple syrup
- 2 tbsps. rye whiskey
- whipped cream
- more maple syrup for drizzling
Place coffee in a large mug and add maple syrup and whiskey. Mix to combine flavours. Top with a dollop of sweet whipped cream and then drizzle with maple syrup. Makes 1 serving.
Joyce Walter can be reached at [email protected]
