tis the season

what to bring

Categories: Breads, Pizza, Tarts, Breakfast/Brunch, Posted on December 19, 2011 by Sandy Bergsten

Here’s a sweet holiday/hostess treat that’s sure to cheer up the chilliest of mornings. There's nothing quite like pure maple syrup, especially if you know the trees that were tapped. Last weekend my husband went back to his family farm and picked up several pints of this year’s yield.

Warm maple syrup conjures up many memories. One that tops the list is a big stack of Barking Dog Farm pancakes. I made my acquaintance with these fluffy flapjacks on my first, of what would be many, northern Nordic weekends. Each February I would migrate north to the tippy top of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to join my roommate from college and her hub for a marathon weekend of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, feasting and imbibing.

Because this frosty weekend held such a warm place in my heart I thought it would be the perfect place to introduce my not-yet-husband to this band of best friends. Truth be told this was our first "date trip”. Never mind that he had never skied, or that several in the group were half iron-men. I was mad about this weekend and pretty sure I was crazy about him too. In anticipation for Christmas I had just given him an enviable pair of Atlas snowshoes (iron men are very into their gear and I wanted him to feel at ease).

With backpacks packed and wind chills well below zero we set out for a full day. Fast forward to when the afternoon skies brought my cutie literally to his knees. While my roommate and I carted out his gear he crawled to a service road where we whisked him to a big whiskey, a hot shower, a hot bath and several kisses. He certainly won the good sport award that year and as we boarded the plane in Marquette I knew in my heart that when we landed he would either dump me or ask me to marry him.

Happily I'm still bringing him stacks of these jacks on many a Sunday. And when the wind blows and snow drifts his snowshoes are contentedly collecting dust in the garage.

But enough of this tale, back to the present at hand.

gift bags

Top a bottle of pure maple syrup with an ornament and a recipe card for Barking Dog Farm pancakes.

pancake ingredients

For these pancakes combine the eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

pancakes

Stir in the flour last. Immediately drop spoonfuls on a hot buttered skillet or griddle.

pancakes

When bubbles form on the surface, flip.

pancakes

A little warm Gray Horse Farm on top of Barking Dog’s finest. Who knows what a stack of these just might bring you…

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