SHOVE TUESDAY OR EAT SOME PANCAKES

40 days before Easter. Sh rove Tuesday. The tradition of eating pancakes is here. Even the local Sunrise restaurant is offering $1.00 per pancake today. Lent begins tomorrow. So for those who fast or give up something for Lent, pancakes are a way to eat your heart out! Personally, I do not give up anything as it is more of a Catholic tradition. Being Protestant and from the United Church of Canada, it is not a must in my faith. However, the cook may be asked to make this blogger some pancakes for breakfast with some Canadian back bacon to boot. That is more of my tradition. Those that are lucky today and are in New Orleans, Louisiana can enjoy the Mardi Gras parade and celebrations. Maybe that should be on my bucket list. A shove Tuesday in New Orleans. There may be a chance to view some of the parade on TV. What are you eating on this day? Do you fast or give up something for Lent? What are your traditions?

CANADA DAY 2013-PANCAKES WITH MAPLE SYRUP AND PEAMEAL BACON

Canada Day is always celebrated on July 1 of each year. We are 146 years old since Confederation but of course Canada has a longer history. Canadians like pancakes for breakfast, attending local ceremonies and fireworks at night. There is often coverage from Ottawa of the hoopla there! T-shirts in red and white are worn. I actually have a purple one- not surprised eh? It is a time to be thankful we live in one of the best countries in the world. Peace earned by many times of conflict-with a price! Tolerance! Acceptance! Lots of good manners! And smart people! Never assume good manners and honesty mean we are stupid! Just nice! Hard working! Love our family! We know how to eat well. There are traditional dishes from all parts of the country. Today-fresh maple syrup on my pancakes with some Canadian peameal bacon. Then off to Richmond Green for some of the day's festivities and may return for the fireworks or not! For those with a birthday today-have a good one! What are you doing to celebrate our special day? Alittle history-it used to be called Dominion Day! So what year was it changed to Canada Day? What 4 provinces were the first to become United? What was the last province to join the Confederation in 1949?

MAPLE SYRUP-CANADIAN EH!

Maple Syrup is very Canadian. I have been very fortunate to live near several Maple Sugar Bushes in the York Region area.
In 2007 I visited Thompson's which is
a major producer on St. Joseph's Island near
Sault Ste Marie Ontario.
It is so interesting to know how the syrup is
made.

March is the time of year when the sap runs in the Maple trees prolific for maple syrup. The two main sources are the sugar and black maple trees. We have 2,600 producers in Ontario alone. Quebec has the most production and locales in the USA are renown as well. The farmers use a plastic tub collection 80% of the time while the traditional bucket tapping can still be seen in some locations. The Native Canadians introduced the white man to maple syrup. School children will have spring trips to Maple bushes to learn about the process and to taste the raw product. As for me, love it on pancakes, in my oatmeal and have used maple syrup as a sugar substitute in baking. Do you have favourite dishes that include maply syrup?