Sweet Stuff
Sugar Festival 2017 is happening from March 30 to April 4 at the Muséoparc Vanier Museopark, 300 Pères-Blancs Avenue in Vanier. Highlights include maple taffy on ice, farm animals, sled dogs, entertainment, face painting, sleigh rides and an artisanal fair. See museoparc.ca.
At Fulton’s Pancake House and Sugar Bush in Pakenham, this year’s maple harvest runs until April 23 and there are plenty of special events on tap in between. See fultons.ca.
Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Sugarbush opened February 25 for maple season. You
can visit the sugar shack, go for a sleigh ride, try ta y in the snow and have a feast
of pancakes at the Pancake House. The farm is at 2452 York’s Corners Road in Edwards.
A popular event here is the annual Easter Egg Hunt. It’s happening April 1, 2, 8, 9 and 15. See stanleysfarm.com for tickets and details.
At Proulx Maple and Berry Farm, 1865 O’Toole Road in Cumberland, maple season started February 26 and ends April 17. Maple tours, brunch, farm activities and weekend horse-drawn hayrides are part of the fun. See proulxberryfarm.com for details.
Once you get home from your sugar bush adventure and have a couple of pancake feasts, it’s time to bake some maple-based treats. And these scrumptious maple pecan tarts are a hit with all ages.
They’re great served warm with a dollop of vanilla ice cream too.
Maple Pecan Tarts
Ingredients
2 eggs
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ tsp vinegar or lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup maple syrup
½ cup softened butter
1 cup pecan pieces
Directions
Cream butter and sugar.
Beat in vanilla, eggs, vinegar.
Blend in maple syrup until thoroughly combined.
Line tart tins with pastry (or use thawed, pre-made tart shells), then place on foil-lined cookie sheet.
Place 1 tsp pecan pieces and 2 tbsps filling in each shell.
Bake at 375º F for 20 minutes or until filling is set and pastry is golden. Let cool and serve.
