WORLD Fall Guide 2022

Perfect Apple for the Perfect Pies
It’s apple season. What better way to showcase the
delicious fl vor of apples than in a pie or cake?
Some apples are better made for baking than others. Here are the nine of
the best to consider. Should an apple variety prove a little too soft for baking, it
can always be turned into applesauce instead.
1. Granny Smith: These tart and fi m apples are probably among the most
turned-to for pie filling . Mix with a sweeter apple for a different balance of
fl vor.
2. Jonathan: These tart, tangy apples have been favorites for pies for years.
3. Golden Delicious: Goldens are less fi m than other apple varieties, so they
are good for individuals who prefer a sweeter, softer pie.
4. Jonagold: If you like the taste of Golden Delicious apples and Jonathans,
try this hybrid of the two.
5. Honeycrisp: These are sweet and slightly soft apples, but they won’t break
down much during baking. Grab these apples quickly because they have a
limited window of availability.
6. Winesap: The tough skin of these apples enables them to be stored for a
long time. Plus the fi m, white flesh holds up ell to baking.
7. Braeburn: These apples are known for their spicy-sweet fl vor.
8. Rome: These round, attractive apples have a mild fl vor, but hold up well.
So for a more intense apple fl vor, mix Rome slices with another variety.
9. Gala: Crisp, sweet Gala apples offer the perfect balance of fi mness for
pies. With natural sweetness, a baker can use less sugar than with other
apples.
Know Your Vermont Maple Products
WHAT IS THE BEST GRADE OF MAPLE SYRUP TO BUY?
Answer: The best grade of syrup to buy is the one that you like the best!
Each grade of Vermont maple syrup has the same density and clarity but the
color and fl vor varies. Vermont Fancy is the lightest grade in color and has
the most delicate fl vor while Vermont Grade A Dark is darker in color and
has a more pronounced maple fl vor. If you want to cook or bake with syrup,
it is better to buy the darker grades so that the fl vor of the syrup isn’t overpowered
by the other ingredients in your recipe.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO STORE MAPLE SYRUP?
Answer: Maple syrup should be stored in a cool place until opened. Once
opened it must be refrigerated. For long term storage pure maple syrup retains
its fl vor best when kept in the freezer. Maple syrup will not freeze solid
and can be poured into smaller containers for use. If you purchased syrup in
tin containers, it is recommended, after opening, that you pour it into clean,
odor-free plastic or glass jars (like canning jars) and then put those into the
refrigerator or freezer.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO STORE MAPLE CREAM?
Answer: Maple Cream is made from pure maple syrup which is cooked and
stirred to a cream consistency. Maple cream should be refrigerated when not
in use. If you plan to keep Maple Cream for any period of time before using,
put it into the freezer to keep the consistency and fl vor at its best.
If Maple Cream separates, simply stir the syrup back into the cream with a
sturdy knife or spoon. If the container of Maple Cream has been opened for
some time and has hardened, it can be restored by placing the container in
very warm water, being careful the keep the water level below the top of the
container, and stirring the cream, once it is warm, until it softens.
DOES TAPPING AND TAKING SAP
FROM A TREE DAMAGE IT?
Answer: Tapping and collecting sap do not harm the tree, if the guidelines
spelled out in the North American Maple Producer’s Manual 2nd edition
are followed. The North American Maple Project has monitored hundreds
of maples in Vermont for 20 years, and has found no significant dif erence
between the health of maples tapped yearly for syrup making and maples
that have never been tapped.
IS ANYTHING ADDED TO VERMONT MAPLE SYRUP?
Answer: Vermont maple syrup consists of maple sap, from which water has
been boiled off to achieve a density of 66.9% sugar. Vermont maple law
reads: “Maple syrup shall not be processed in any manner which adds or
removes naturally occurring soluble materials.”
16 The WORLD ~ Fall Guide 2022