At VPR we’ll take any excuse to cook for each other. So when Vermont Edition had Katie Webster, author of Maple: 100 Sweet and Savory Recipes Featuring Pure Maple Syrup, on the show we had the perfect reason to get together and flaunt our maple cooking prowess.
During lunch, we gathered for a staff potluck and shared some of our own creations, along with ones taken from Webster’s book. The Performance Studio hummed with music, laughter, and discussions of favorite recipes and preparation techniques. Some of the highlights included sweet potato-ginger soup, peanut noodles, chia pudding, and Vermont Edition Producer Ric Cengeri’s milkshakes that many of us drank as “appetizers” – all flavored with but not overpowered by some Vermont liquid gold.
You’ll find Katie Webster’s recipes for smoky and sweet maple chili and a maple-almond torte here, but here are a few more of our favorite recipes that have been passed around VPR for years:
Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette
1 small clove of garlic, finely minced
¼ small shallot, finely minced
1 heaping tablespoon fine Dijon mustard
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
Salt and fresh pepper to taste
Whisk all of the above together then add 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil by drizzling it slowly into the mixture and whisking briskly at the same time. Finish by whisking in Grade B maple syrup to taste. Start with about 1 tablespoon.
Sugarhouse Chicken
4 boneless chicken breasts
6 Tbsp. butter + 1 Tbsp. more
1 shallot, chopped
6 Tbsp. flour
6 Tbsp. tomato paste
3 c. chicken broth
2/3 c. maple syrup
1 large granny smith apple
1 1/2 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Melt 6 Tbsp. butter in pot. Lightly brown the shallot. Whisk in flour. Cook until light brown. Add tomato paste, chicken broth and maple syrup. Cook until it bubbles and thickens. Set aside. Slice the apple. Saute it in 1 Tbsp. butter in frying pan on both sides until it is lightly browned. Remove apple. Brown two chicken breasts at a time in the same pan.
Put chicken in a broiler-safe pan. Cover with half of the sauce. Bake, partially covered, at 350° for 1/2 hour. Remove. Put apple slices on top of chicken. Pour the rest of the sauce on top. Sprinkle cheese on top. Broil until cheese is melted. Serve with mashed potatoes. Serves 4.
If you have a favorite maple recipe to share, post it in the comments below!
