Oh, how I love this time of year! Some of my favorite holiday memories have nothing to do with gifts or decorations and everything to do with being outside on a cold winter morning.
Growing up in Ohio, my cousin and I spent countless winter days playing in the snow, making snow forts, and going on wonderful adventures.
One of those adventures happened when I was about seven or eight years old. My family took us on a field trip to Amish country for an adventure that I still cherish to this day. All I knew was that we were going for a special breakfast…what happened next was an educational, life-changing experience!
When we arrived in the small Amish town, I immediately spotted several horses hitched to buckboards and I was BEYOND excited! If you know me, you know I LOVE horses, so my day was already wonderful. Anything that involved horses...I was ALL IN!
When we got out of our car, we were told to grab our gloves, scarves, and earmuffs so we could bundle up for the cold. As my family and I walked up a slight incline of the hill, we were heading right toward the buckboards! OH MY…my heart almost leapt out of my chest! We were going for a ride in the back of the horse-drawn buckboard!!!! I couldn’t believe it!!!!
Once we climbed aboard, we trotted into the woods as part of a two-wagon caravan, with our buckboard leading the way. Snow blanketed the ground, the air was crisp and quiet, and everything felt slower in the best possible way. The bells on the horses’ harnesses jingled with every step as the cold wind hit my face…and I was ABSOLUTELY IN HEAVEN!!!
When we got deep into the woods, we reached a stand of trees where the drivers stopped and began removing wooden buckets that were hanging from each tree trunk. The semi-full buckets were loaded onto the back of our buckboard and replaced with empty ones before we continued on to the next cluster of trees. That’s when my family and I were invited to help tap a few maple trees ourselves, hanging the buckets so the clear sap could begin dripping slowly but steadily into the buckets.
After tapping the trees, we headed back toward what looked like a log cabin, though not just any cabin. One entire side of the massive building was open, and as we drew closer, the smell of maple syrup started wafting through the air. Oh, that smell was heavenly! The scent was warm, sweet, and comforting, like one giant maple-infused pancake floating through the woods.
Inside, we were guided to a large trough heated by an open fire. We carefully poured the sap we had just collected into the trough and watched as it slowly cooked down into rich, golden syrup. I remember standing close to the fire for warmth, taking turns stirring with my cousin and others, and watching the liquid deepen to a beautiful amber color. OHHHH, the smell was incredible, and I felt like I was part of something very important.
I remember leaving the warmth of the open-air sap cooker and heading to the gift shop, where I bought a set of maple pilgrim candies. By then I was starting to get hungry. And then I remembered that we were supposed to have a special breakfast.
That’s when we were escorted out of the gift shop and into a HUGE auditorium lined with wooden tables. Sitting on each table was a pitcher of warm maple syrup…the syrup we had just helped collect and cook down ourselves.
As we sat down on the wooden benches, a lovely lady dressed in pilgrim attire came to our table with a LARGE stack of hot, fluffy ‘flap-jacks’ (aka pancakes), followed closely by a plate of sizzling bacon! OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Warm pancakes, fresh warm maple syrup, crispy bacon, ice-cold milk, fresh steaming coffee, and cold air still clinging to our coats. Who could ask for anything better!!! It was pure perfection.
Those pancakes, with that fresh maple syrup, were THE BEST breakfast I have ever eaten before or since! The whole experience, from start to finish, was simple, hands-on, and unforgettable.
Even now, all these years later, the smell of warm maple syrup paired with the smell of cooked bacon and a hot cup of coffee brings that memory rushing back.
There is something about maple’s warm, comforting flavor and smell that feels especially right during the holidays. It is more than just a sweetener. It is a reminder of a special winter morning, shared moments, exciting times, and traditions that stay with us long after the season passes.
So, here’s to you and yours as you celebrate the holiday season! And Merry Christmas to you and all of your loved ones! May you have the merriest of times celebrating and making memories that last a lifetime! 🍁❄️🎄🎁☕
PS: Be sure to check out the Christmas issue of Coffee Lovers Digest and try out this week's Maple Pecan Coffee recipe.
