Maple Harvest Day
MAPLE SUGARING SHOWCASED AT STORROWTON VILLAGE,
STORROWTON TAVERN AND NEW ENGLAND GRANGE
Storrowton Village Museum, Storrowton Tavern and the New England Grange will join forces to present the third annual Maple Harvest Day, Sunday, March 9 from noon to 4 p.m. on the grounds of Eastern States Exposition.
The history and lore of maple sugaring, a practice in Massachusetts since before the Pilgrims arrived, will be showcased through ongoing sap gathering and boiling demonstrations in the Gilbert Farmstead's front yard with Dennis Picard, director of Storrowton Village Museum.
The free event will feature Sugar Maple tree tapping, sumac spile making and sap boiling over an open fire to educate the public about the origin and legend of the tradition.
Inside the historic building, docents will demonstrate 19th century open hearth cooking at the cozy fireplace as well as basket weaving and wool spinning. A selection of gifts and maple-themed items will be available nearby.
The roaring fireplace in the nearby New England Grange building will create a cozy atmosphere for visitors. Grange members who are in the Maple Sugaring field will share personal experiences and provide information on their individual operations and the process of sugaring.
Across the Green, Storrowton Tavern will offer a special one-day luncheon menu of regional foods featuring this "northeastern gold." The maple-themed offerings include maple glazed salmon, Yankee pot roast with maple squash or roast turkey with cranberry maple chutney. The full meal includes choice of main course, salad with maple vinaigrette, family style maple laced butternut squash and New England baked beans with maple, an assorted bread basket with maple butter, and a maple walnut brownie with ice cream and Massachusetts maple syrup. The children's entree will be a choice of chicken fingers with maple honey mustard, or roast turkey. An array of warming beverages will be available.
The Storrowton Village & New England Grange presentations are free. The Storrowton Tavern luncheon is priced at $19.95 for adults and $9.95 for children. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the educational programs at Storrowton Village Museum. All events are open to the public.
Storrowton Village Museum, an educational arm of Eastern States Exposition, presents hands-on school programs and guided tours of its historic buildings throughout the year as well as seasonal 19th century-themed events. It is the site of Storrowton Tavern/Carriage House and Storrowton Village Museum Gift Shop and is a picturesque, popular site for weddings held in its Meetinghouse and Gazebo.
For more information on this and other Storrowton Village events, visit www.thebige.com or call 413-205-5051.
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Nut Sweets
2 cups maple sugar (or dark brown sugar)
¼ cup apple juice or cider
1 tbsp. butter
1 cup English walnuts, broken
In pan, warm juice and dissolve maple sugar and butter. Cook, stirring frequently until 230F is reached on a candy thermometer or until soft ball stage (syrup dropped in cold water forms a soft ball). Drop in nut pieces, remove from heat and mix until syrup thickens. Drop tablespoonfuls onto waxed or parchment paper and allow to cool.
Recipe from: Out of the Crackerbarrel, a publication of Storrowton Village Museum and available during Maple Harvest Day.