maple syrup

Imagine this scenario: you have just sat down to a beautiful plate of french toast and begin to pour sticky maple syrup over the stack, when out plops a funky black lump from the bottle. This picture-perfect moment is ruined, and you can't help but leap back from the table from shock and disgust. What the heck could be growing in the bottle?

This not-so-pleasant predicament actually happened to me, so I'm sharing my learnings with you. Maple syrup, as it turns out, should always be refrigerated upon opening, otherwise you could wind up with the situation I just described, with mold growing inside the bottle. Personally, I have never refrigerated any sugary syrups (agave, honey, brown rice syrup), so I can't believe I've lived this long not refrigerating maple syrup. While some claim you can scrape off the mold and boil the syrup to kill the remaining strands of bacteria, I prefer to live by the mantra "When in doubt, toss it out."

Can you relate to this experience? Did you know to refrigerate maple syrup?

It's easy to be intimidated by the prospect of making your own ice cream — after all, it's one of the few dishes that requires its own dedicated piece of equipment. Use an ice cream maker once, however, and you'll find that it's the easiest appliance you'll ever need to use. In truth, that's not the tricky part; tempering your ice cream is.

To eliminate any potential disaster on your first ice cream try, start out with a recipe that doesn't call for an egg yolk or custard base. That way, you won't have to worry about your egg yolks curdling or scrambling, or the lengthy cooling time that follows. While gelato and frozen sorbet contain eggs, ice cream in its purest incarnation actually doesn't. This light, airy ice cream incorporates the rich flavors of maple syrup and walnuts with cream and a touch of milk. Beginners, if you're interested, keep reading for the basic recipe.

When you need a sweetener, what do you turn to? Honey, agave nectar, or maybe just plane ole sugar? I'm far from being this "freaky" eater, but my sweetener of choice is organic, Grade A maple syrup. Aside from smothering pancakes and waffles in this delicious brown syrup, maple syrup is a very versatile sweetener. I like adding it to yogurt, oatmeal, or apple sauce, but you can also use it in dressings for salads, in fish or chicken dishes, or in a granola parfait, or roast some almonds in maple syrup and spicy cinnamon for a light, healthy snack. These maple syrup recipe ideas are sure to inspire you.

Pure maple syrup tastes great, and it offers a myriad of health benefits. Here are just a few:

• It's an antioxidant powerhouse. Researchers at the University of Rhode Island found that maple syrup is filled with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that may help prevent several chronic and inflammatory diseases like diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's. It also comes packed with phenolics — the beneficial antioxidant compounds in maple syrup — that may help diabetics keep their blood sugar levels balanced since phenolics inhibit the enzymes that are involved in the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar.

Here are more reasons why it's good for us.

• The secrets to making perfect pizza. — Eatocracy
• Freaky eaters who are addicted to maple syrup. — TLC
• Must make: shrimp and grits with arugula. — Serious Eats
• How going gluten-free changed the life of one girl.— Gilt Taste
• 60 awesome images from this weekend's Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. — Skollie Magazine
• Things you need to know about the food crisis. — Food Republic
• Tips for a budget-friendly destination wedding. — The Daily Meal
• Top Chef's Dale Talde has got a new gig. — Grub Street NY
• Watermelon! 14 Summer recipes. — Kitchen Daily

After complaining about muscle soreness to my yoga teacher, he suggested that I start concocting my own all-natural recovery drink. It's a simple recipe, too: one to two tablespoons of maple syrup and water. My teacher informed me that the sweet syrup not only provides the body with a little shot of carbs, but, more importantly, it helps with muscle recovery. Real maple syrup is an excellent source of manganese, which helps repair muscle and cell damage; it also keeps bones strong and blood sugar levels normal. Besides this important nutrient, maple syrup also contains zinc, iron, calcium, and potassium. And while it's definitely not a post-workout snack replacement, it's become my go-to drink after yoga.

Source: Flickr user little blue hen

There's something so wonderful about eating a perfect piece of bacon. My favorite kind is thick-cut with both a chewy and crispy texture, fatty and juicy mouthfeel, and porky, yet slightly sweet flavor. Put a plateful of this ridiculously tasty bacon in front of me and I won't be able to control myself. I'm like a kid licking a brownie bowl, I can't stop until the entire thing is gone.

Recently my dad made me some bacon that put this spell on me. It was Ina Garten's roasted bacon. Baking bacon is an easy and great way to cook it, especially when you don't need to use the grease for another part of the recipe. Since we were just having a frittata with bacon on the side, he used her technique.

The secret ingredient that makes this bacon so memorably addictive? Maple syrup. Once you've mastered this method, feel free to get creative. Use brown sugar or barbecue sauce or honey or chocolate — whatever floats your fancy. Learn how it's done now.

Ever since two Fridays ago, I've been chained to my television watching the Vancouver Olympics. I'm not much of a sports spectator, but I have a soft spot for stories of sacrifice and redemption, and the Winter games have plenty of those.

Last night, I watched the USA face off against Canada in the hockey rink. The match had plenty of excitement and energy — plus those Canadian hotties in their maple leaf uniforms weren't too hard on the eyes, either.

I took it all in with a tipple that couldn't have been more fitting: a play on the hot toddy that's laced with cinnamon, pineapple, and the country's oh-so-emblematic maple syrup. To be the best Olympics couch cheerleader you can be, get the recipe.