the 47th Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday , maple syrup

Welcome to....


the 47th Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

It was a delightful visit-perfect,
in being much too short.

Jane Austen

I always find our visits delightfully perfect and yes, too short.  Reading your kind comments and visiting your posts help to extend the pleasure through the week and inspires me. Everyone is welcome at the tea table. Linger as long as you are able. While you introduce yourselves to our new followers and catch up with familiar friends, I will fetch the tea treat for the day.

Speaking of visits that are too short, my next few months have several.  I am most excited to be heading to Nova Scotia, end of April, to our beloved Wanda's home. She graciously opened her doors to our Kristina, last fall. Kristina has been an addition to the household , as she attended  Dalhousie University.  This has been a haven for my daughter, as her first experience,  away from us in Ontario. Wanda has been a great support and  mentor. There will never be enough thank you's to express our appreciation.  A month away from giving you all a hug - in person.

As the month of March draws to a close I think often of my dad. He loved Spring and it was the month of March that he passed, four years ago. Can you smell spring in the air? My dad would tell me he could. As the winter days grew longer and warmer with sunshine some people have the ability to smell the subtle essence of spring in the air. My dad grew up on a small farm in southern Ontario and on occasion would share his memories of his childhood.

As the farmers enter into mid winter, they look forward to preparing for the tree tapping process in the Maple sugar bush. There is a certain smell in the air when the time gets close. The mature maples require three weeks of warm days and cold nights to get the sap flowing. By the end of March the biological marvel has begun and nutrients, water and sugar (sap) from the roots of the tree is flowing up the trunk to nourish the branches and leaves.

My dad used to talk about this when I was very young and I soon made the connection between the early spring weather patterns and the trip to the sugar bush near the end of March. After walking through the bush to a clearing to see the huge kettle on the fire. The sweet smell of sugar and steam permeated the air as the water was boiled away from the sap, reducing it to a sticky, delectable syrup. I would carry my precious container of maple syrup along the muddy path through the bush to the car. Once home there would be fluffy pancakes for lunch combined with full tummies and grins upon tasting a delicacy that only God and the angels could create. Sweet memories. The sweet taste of spring.

With an abundant host of disease-fighting antioxidants in the sugary sap I am eager to incorporate it in simple ways. Maple syrup in my coffee feels likes an extravagance on Saturday morning.  

Johnnycake

Ingredients
 1 cup sifted all purpose flour

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 egg, well beaten

1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk

1/3 cup dairy sour cream

Directions
Blend flour, cornmeal, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

Mix in brown sugar.

Add a mixture of egg, buttermilk, and sour cream all at one time to dry ingredients.

Beat with a rotary beater until just smooth.

Turn into a greased 11x7x1 1/2 inch baking pan; spread evenly.

Bake at 425°F about 20 minutes.

Break or cut johnnycake into squares and serve with warmed Maple Syrup.

If you have a moment to linger I invite you to stop in to Silken Purse to see what our darling hostess, Wanda, has for us to savour.

The more the fun!

We don't want to miss a single teacup or teapot!

*************

As always, we cherish your comments and participation

with our Tuesday meme.

~You will be warmly welcomed if you choose to become a follower!~

Welcome to, Tuesday Tea Time In Blogland!

These are the links to the other oh-so-delightful tea parties and tabletop parties that I attend.

I invite you to drop in. ~ Many thanks to those who faithfully host each week.

~ Hope to see you there!!

( Our own memes are marked with an asterisk * )

*~The 75th, 'Tuesday Tea For Two'

@ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/

~ Tuesday Teatime with Lady Katherine

@ http://www.ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/

~ Teatime Tuesday with Sandi

@ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

~ Teacup Tuesday with Martha

@ http://marthasfavorites.blogspot.com/

~ Teacup Tuesday with Terri

@ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/

~ Tabletop Tuesday with Marti

@ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

~ A Return to Loveliness with Kathy

@ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

*~ The 47th, 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday', with Wanda Lee and Pam @

http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/

and  http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/

Other favorite places I may visit this week:

~Tablescape Thursday with Susan

@ http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

~ Foodie Friday with Michael

@ http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

~Show and Tell Friday with Cindy

@ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

~Sunday Favorites with Chari

@ http://happytodesign.blogspot.com

Cheers and hugs from Pam and Wanda Lee; ( Wanda Lee is the other half of our weekly blog tea party meme; 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday'.., @ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com