How many of you stuck at home during this quarantine have found yourself eating more than usual? Here’s a simple but delicious recipe for some homemade granola, perfect for topping some Greek yogurt for a healthy snack. 

Did I say recipe? It’s more of an idea or guideline because you can make this a little bit different each time, based on what you have on hand as well as your own preferences. The mix in the picture includes the following:

• Peanuts
• Pecans
• Walnuts
• Slivered almonds
• Chia seeds
• Coconut flakes
• Some rolled oats
• A dash of cinnamon 

I mixed all these together with some maple syrup (just enough to coat the mixture, if there’s too much it will pool on your cookie sheet and burn in the oven). Spread the mixture out on a cookie sheet (I sprayed mine with some cooking oil) and pop it in the oven at 325°F for 5-10 minutes, checking on it periodically to make sure it doesn’t burn. Once done, store in an airtight container for… I honestly don’t know how long, it generally doesn’t last longer than 4-5 days at our house (but I suppose it depends how big of a batch you make)! Sprinkle generously over your favorite yogurt (I like honey vanilla Greek yogurt) or oatmeal and enjoy!

Some of our 2020 tapping crew ready to get started this morning. Temperatures in the teens won’t stop us!

We’ve been busy and are over halfway through tapping our 22,000+ trees. Stay tuned for more updates!

Over the weekend I participated in a Christmas cookie exchange with some friends. It’s a fun tradition that my friend Katie has been organizing and hosting for the past 6 years and it’s always a good time! I usually feel the need to include one (or more) of our maple products in the recipe I decide to make, and this year was no exception. Instead of a cookie recipe, though, I thought I’d try something new – maple brittle! I had never made it before and was a bit nervous. The original recipe I tried did not turn out as it should have, so I did some research and looked at several other recipes before coming up with my own, which I will share below. The second attempt was much better, and pretty delicious if I do say so myself. (My friends at the exchange agreed, and some of our NMS family taste tested as well!)

1 cup light brown sugar
1/4 C real maple syrup
1/4 C water
1 stick unsalted butter
1 C toasted pecans
1/2 t baking soda

1. Prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat and set aside. 
2. Mix first four ingredients in a heavy bottomed pot/pan (I used cast iron) over medium heat until melted/combined. Put a candy thermometer in it and let it boil. Once it boils, do not stir (it will cause the sugar to crystallize and the mixture to thicken too soon, making it likely to burn). 
3. Let come to 300 F (about 15-20 minutes). Take off heat, and immediately stir in toasted pecans and baking soda before pouring it onto your prepared cookie sheet. Try to spread it out with a silicone spatula, or cover with another piece of parchment paper and use a rolling pin. Sprinkle coarse salt across the top and let it cool.
4. Once it has cooled and hardened, break into pieces and store in an airtight container.